Ghastly Beyond Belief: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Phrase Book
Science Fiction Reference Horror Fantasy Parody Short Stories Collector’s Item Cult Fiction
Ghastly Beyond Belief: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Phrase Book is the 1985 first-edition paperback that cult readers still hunt for on eBay and AbeBooks. Compiled by a then-unknown Neil Gaiman and Kim Newman, this 256-page trove gathers the wildest, funniest and most eyebrow-raising lines ever printed in genre fiction—everything from pulp space-opera howlers to dark-fantasy zingers—making it the ultimate trivia weapon for trivia nights, convention panels and creative-writing prompts.
What makes the book collector-worthy is the snapshot it captures of mid-’80s fandom just before both authors exploded: Gaiman was still writing for British magazines and Newman was finishing his first novel. The Arrow first printing is already scarce; clean, unmarked copies with all pages tight and no previous-owner ink are especially desirable. Condition notes on this copy—light edge wear and printer’s scuffs only—place it in the top tier for readability and display.
For horror, fantasy or sci-fi devotees, owning the debut edition is like holding a piece of pre-Internet nerd culture. Flip to any page and you’ll find quotable gold that still turns up in modern memes, podcast intros and academic papers on genre history. If you want the book that every serious collector references but few can find, this affordable first printing is your quickest route to bragging rights.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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