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The Black Train Paperback – January 1, 2009

4.2 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

Arriving at the Gast House, a Civil War-era bed and breakfast, Justin Collier finds his dreams of rest and relaxation shattered by strange voices, screams and an unspeakable horror in this place that harbors a carnal evil. Original.
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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

WELCOME TO THE GAST HOUSE - A historical bed and breakfast or a monument to the obscene? Collier doesn't need to know the building's rich history: women raped to death for sport, slaves beheaded and threshed into the soil, and pregnant teenagers buried alive. Who or what could mitigate such horrors over 150 years ago? And what is the atrocious connection between the old railroad and the house? Each room hides a new, revolting secret. At night, he can smell the mansion's odors and hear its appalling whispers. Little girls giggle where there are no little girls, and out back, when Collier listens closely, he can hear the train's whistle and see the things chained up in its clattering prison cars. Little does he know, the mansion and the railroad aren't haunted by ghosts but an unspeakable carnality and a horror as palpable as excited human flesh. WELCOME TO A PLACE WORSE THAN HELL...

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Leisure Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2009
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Original
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 340 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0843962275
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0843962277
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

About the author

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Edward Lee
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Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story “Mr. Torso,” and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket’s HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector’s items. While a number of Lee’s projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence. He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his “Lovecraft kick” and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, “Trolley No. 1852,” HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, “Pages Torn From A Travel Journal,” and “You Are My Everything.” Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Bibliography

Nightbait (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker

Nightlust (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker

Ghouls (1988)

Coven (1991)

Incubi (1991)

Succubi (1992)

The Chosen (1993)

Creekers (1994)

Sacrifice (1995) written under the pseudonym Richard Kinion

Header (1995)

Goon (1996) with John Pelan

The Bighead (1997)

Shifters (1998) with John Pelan

Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman (1998) with Elizabeth Steffen

Splatterspunk: The Micah Hays Stories (1998) with John Pelan

"Masks" (1999)

"Operator B" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 450-copy limited hardcover.

"Dahmer’s Not Dead" with Elizabeth Steffen (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.

"The Stickmen" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.

"The Deaths of the Cold War Kings: The Assassinations of Diem & JFK" with Bradley O'Leary (2000): Cemetery Dance Publications.

"City Infernal" (2001): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.

(April 2002): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"Mr. Torso" (2002): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.

"Sex, Drugs and Power Tools" (2002)

"Family Tradition" (2002) with John Pelan

"Monstrosity" (2002): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.

Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"Ever Nat" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.

"The Baby" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.

"Teratologist" (2003) with Wrath James White

"Incubi" (2003): Necro Publications.

"Infernal Angel" (2003): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.

(January 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"Messenger" (August 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"The Backwoods" (October 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

(December 2005): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.

"Monster Lake" (2005). Necro Publications. First book for young readers.

"Flesh Gothic" (February 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"Slither" (2006: Necro Publications.)

"Gast" (2007)

(October 2009): Leisure Books. Revised, retitled "Black Train", and published as a Mass Market Paperback.

"House Infernal" (October 2007): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

(February 2008): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.

"Minotauress" (December 2008): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.

"Brides of the Impaler" (September 2008): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.

(May 2011): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as Hardcover Limited Edition of 1000 signed copies bound in full cloth and Smyth sewn and Traycased Hardcover Lettered Edition of 52 signed and lettered copies bound in leather with a satin ribbon page marker.

"Golemesque" (March 2009): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.

(April 2009): Leisure Books. Published as "Golem" as a Mass Market Paperback.

"Trolley No. 1852" (May 2009): Bloodletting Press. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.(October 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.

"Haunter of the Threshold" (Summer 2009) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition. (December 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.

"City of Sixes" (2009) Necro Publications. Exclusive limited-edition chapbook included with copies of "Infernally Yours".

"You are My Everything" (January 2010) Necro Publications.

"Going Monstering" (January 2010) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition.

"Header 2" (June 2010) Camelot Books. Exclusive limited-edition.

"The Innswich Horror" (Summer 2010) Cemetery Dance. Exclusive limited-edition (Club Members Only), (July 2010), Deadite Press Trade paperback.

"Lucifers Lottery" (October 2010) Leisure Books. Currently eBook only, possible release date of July 2011 for physical book.

"Pages Torn From a Travel Journal" (January 31, 2011) Bloodletting Press.

"Vampire Lodge" (January, 2011) Necro Publications. E-Book only (second book for young readers)

"Witch Water" (Spring 2011) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition hardcover

"The Dunwich Romance" (tbd)

"Header 3" (Heads) (tbd) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition

Collections

The Ushers (1999)

Of Pigs and Spiders (1999) with John Pelan, Brett Alexander Savory and David Niall Wilson

Partners in Chyme (2001) with Ryan Harding

Sleep Disorder (2003) with Jack Ketchum

Haunted House (2007)

Brain Cheese Buffet (2010) Deadite Press

Bullet Through Your Face (2010) Deadite Press

Carnal Surgery (April 2011) Deadite Press

Anthologies

Infernally Yours (2009) 'The Senery' by Edward Lee Necro Publications, a limited-edition hardcover.

Dark Seductions: Tales of Erotic Horror (1993) ‘Private Pleasures’ by Edward Lee

Bizarre Sex and Other Crimes of Passion (1994) ‘I’d Give Anything for You’ by Edward Lee & Jack Ketchum

Deadly After Dark: The Hot Blood Series (1994) ‘Mr. Torso’ by Edward Lee

Seeds of Fear: The Hot Blood Series (1995) ‘Grub Girl’ by Edward Lee

Stranger By Night: The Hot Blood Series (1995) ‘Dead Girls in Love’ by Edward Lee & Gary Bowen

Darkside: Horror for the Next Millennium (1996) ‘The Stick Woman’ by Edward Lee

Fear the Fever: The Hot Blood Series (1996) ‘Love Letters from the Rain Forest’ by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee

White House Horrors (1996) ‘Night of the Vegetables’ by Edward Lee

The UFO Files (1997) ‘Secret Service’ by Edward Lee

Inside The Works (1997) ‘The Pig’ by Edward Lee

Whitley Strieber’s Aliens (1998) ‘Scripture Girl’ by Edward Lee

999 (1999) ‘ICU’ by Edward Lee

Graven Images (2000) ‘Masks’ by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee

Triage (2001) 'In the Year of Our Lord 2202' by Edward Lee

Excitable Boys (2002) ‘The McCrath Model SS40-C, Series S’ by Edward Lee

Damned: An Anthology of the Lost (2004) ‘Angel’ by Edward Lee

Small Bites (2004) ‘The Room’ by Edward Lee

Movies

Edward Lee’s story "Header" has been made into the film Header. Edward Lee and Jack Ketchum are featured in cameo roles in the movie.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
40 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining, with one describing it as a thrilling ride from the first page. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and writing quality, with one customer noting improvements in the author's writing skills. However, the book receives negative feedback for its depraved content, with one customer describing it as sickeningly depraved.

5 customers mention "Entertainment value"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one describing it as a thrilling ride from the first page, while another mentions it's full of surprises.

"...Very easy to follow and simply entertaining! Highly recommend this book to all horror fans." Read more

"...A thrillfest frm page one and the flashbacks show a side of Lee's fiction he rarely shows...but slowly that historical side of Lee is coming out in..." Read more

"A satisfying joyride. Lee is upping his writing skills. This was the first real purchase I've made for my Kindle and was well worth the price...." Read more

"...Although the book was a C+ at best, it was still enjoyable...." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable.

"...of his books, so I decided to try The Black Train I will say this book was crazy!..." Read more

"...GAST was a great read...gore, pornographic sex on a level no one writes...and a story filled with vibrant characters and twists and turns..." Read more

"Another great book by Mr. Lee. Had all the elements in a story that I was looking for...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing ability"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing ability of the author, with one noting their improvement and another describing them as a writer of the weird.

"...I'm very impressed by how well the book was written. Very easy to follow and simply entertaining! Highly recommend this book to all horror fans." Read more

"...A great novel from a wonderful writer of the weird. Get on THE BLACK TRAIN for a HELL of a ride!" Read more

"A satisfying joyride. Lee is upping his writing skills. This was the first real purchase I've made for my Kindle and was well worth the price...." Read more

3 customers mention "Depravity"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's content disturbing, with one describing it as sickeningly depraved.

"...nothing but a platform for Lee to conjure up the most depraved, disgusting tripe that I have ever read...." Read more

"...couldn't get into the story at all due to the just sickeningly depraved things that are described...." Read more

"DELICIOUSLY Dark & Devilish..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is the first book I read by edward lee. I have heard of him but never read any of his books, so I decided to try The Black Train I will say this book was crazy! It's a mix of railroads, civil war, sex, nightmares, and violence all in one book, loved it!!!! I read through this book really fast because it's one of those kind of books that keeps you wondering what happens next. I'm very impressed by how well the book was written. Very easy to follow and simply entertaining! Highly recommend this book to all horror fans.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    When I opened the HC small press GAST by Edward Lee, I was shocked to see that it was solely edicated to me...I have been a big fan/supporter of Lee's fiction since the early '90's but never thought a book by him would be dedicated to me...that said.

    GAST was a great read...gore, pornographic sex on a level no one writes...and a story filled with vibrant characters and twists and turns galore.

    Now Lee has dropped most of the absurd-like pornography and written a tighter verison of GAST. A thrillfest frm page one and the flashbacks show a side of Lee's fiction he rarely shows...but slowly that historical side of Lee is coming out in the Small Press.
    A great novel from a wonderful writer of the weird. Get on THE BLACK TRAIN for a HELL of a ride!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2011
    A satisfying joyride. Lee is upping his writing skills. This was the first real purchase I've made for my Kindle and was well worth the price. I've read quite a few Ed Lee books and find that he's growing as one of my favorite genre writers. This is a book that sticks with you for a while, not in a typical gross out manner but rather for many of the implied factors. I was impressed at the delving and seemless historical backdrop so cleverly inserted into the modern horror tale.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Another great book by Mr. Lee. Had all the elements in a story that I was looking for. The only problem was I purchased "The Black Train." and "Gast" . I found out they were the same book; I felt misled by the different titles.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I really enjoy Edward Lee's novels. In all honesty, he is pretty much the only author in horror I read. Although the book was a C+ at best, it was still enjoyable. Most who know of Edward Lee, understand that this was a full length novel originally called the Gast House. Hence, the majority of the good stuff was cut out. However, with that said, maybe i missed the section, but I was quite interested to why the book is called the Black Train?

    Anyhow, not one of his best, but not his worst. Anyone who has a few days, or even weeks to spare, pick up the book for a somewhat decent read. Ultimately though, this is not Edward Lee's best work, and please do not judge him solely on this book.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am normally not a fan of ghost stories, but there has never been a book written by Lee that I have not loved. The story really grabbed my attention from the start and held me throughout the book. Black Train is creepy, gross (which I love) and full of surprises. I highly recommend!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you have the heart to get past all the ridiculously dark subjects in this book, you will find, within its pages, one of the most terrifying books ever written. This book IS NOT for the squeamish. Remember that and be prepared for what this book has to offer. A+++++.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is by far one of the worst books I have ever read. The premise of a ghost train/haunted town, though over done, attracted me to this novel. This was nothing but a platform for Lee to conjure up the most depraved, disgusting tripe that I have ever read. Maybe if he focused more on writing an actual story that had a plot line beyond a main character that wanted to fornicate with everything that moved (because of the house, of course) and some twisted dreams/flashbacks which lead up to nothing other than a feeling of nausea, while building toward an actual ending, then this could have been something that resembled a true horror novel. I would suggest the author read some real horror writers before attempting to scribble out another example of how his perverted and twisted little mind works as his only goal seemed to be to describe murder, rape, and torture in the most detailing and vomit inducing manner possible. How this work is classified as horror escapes me as there are no truly scary or fear inducing moments. Save yourself the time and money and skip this book!
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • the reader
    3.0 out of 5 stars mmmmmmmmmmm
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I just can,t get into Lee,s books read a few and this had it,s good moments but sadly had it,s bad moments unfortunately more bad
  • Spieler7
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sex, Gewalt und gute Laune!
    Reviewed in Germany on June 12, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Justin Collier, ein Bierexperte mit eigener TV-Show, begibt sich zu Recherchezwecken für sein neues Buch in den tiefsten Süden der USA, nach Gast, Tennessee. Das Kaff ist benannt nach dem schwerreichen Howard Gast, der zu Zeiten des Sezessionskriegs eine Eisenbahnlinie bauen ließ und dafür -lokalen Gerüchten zufolge- seine Seele dem Teufel andiente. Collier steigt in Gasts ehemaligem Wohnhaus ab und merkt schon bald, dass es hier nicht mit rechten Dingen zugeht. Geistererscheinungen und schreckliche Alpträume aus der Vergangenheit sind hier an der Nachtordnung und dazu kommt noch seine Libido, die verrückt spielt und sich rasend steigert...

    Edward Lee brennt hier ein wahres Horror-Feuerwerk ab, das keine Wünsche offen lässt und dem geneigten Fan ein riesiges Lesevergnügen beschert. Trotz einiger Szenen, die auch abgehärteten Mägen alles abverlangen, überwiegt der pechschwarze Humor, den der Autor permanent und gekonnt einsetzt. Dass er sich dabei auch mit einem dunklen Kapitel der US-Geschichte, dem Bürgerkrieg auseinandersetzt, macht die Sache noch interessanter.

    Viel mehr abseits des Mainstreams geht kaum, denn der Autor schielt weder auf den herrschenden Publikumsgeschmack (und damit auf hohe Verkaufszahlen), er macht auch traditionsgemäß keine Gefangenen. Ein eingefleischter Fan des Genres schreibt Bücher für andere Fans und das macht er richtig gut, stets nach dem Motto „Sex, Gewalt und gute Laune“. Hier ist nichts pathetisch oder prätentiös, der Spaß steht im Vordergrund, auch wenn gesellschaftskritische Aspekte keineswegs ausgespart werden. Gerne mehr davon, Mr. Lee!
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  • Nils
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eine der besten Geschichten seit Langem!
    Reviewed in Germany on June 27, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Ich kann mich dem Vorrezensenten nur anschließen! Ed Lee übertrifft sich hier selbst. Die Story um den Bier-Verkoster, der in einem verschlafenen Südstaatenkaff die aberwitzigsten Dinge erlebt, bleibt einem noch lange in Erinnerung. Schwarzer Humor, perverser Sex, Folter, Inzest, unsägliche Gewalt, allerhand eklige Dinge und dazu noch witzige Dialoge - was will man mehr? Ed Lee testet bei dieser Geschichte in allen Belangen die Grenzen aus und zeigt, was "kreatives Schreiben" bedeutet.

    Diese Geschichte ist definitiv nichts für Feingeister. Kaufen, lesen, amüsieren - am besten mit einem kühlen Bier in der Hand und harter Musik im Ohr.