Horror Stories (magazine)

Horror Stories was a pulp magazine published in the United States during the 1930s. It is primarily remembered today for its extreme and often lurid content, even by the standards of the pulp era.

Horror Stories, along with its sister publication Terror Tales, was published by Popular Fiction Publishing Company and edited by Rogers Terrill and later by Harold Hersey. The magazine ran for 20 issues, from January 1935 to July 1936.

The stories featured in Horror Stories frequently depicted graphic violence, torture, and sexual themes. They often revolved around themes of madness, sadism, and the supernatural. Writers contributed under various pseudonyms, often to mask their involvement with such sensational material. While some notable writers, such as Arthur J. Burks, did contribute, the overall literary quality was considered low.

Horror Stories was controversial in its time and faced criticism for its excessive content. The magazine was targeted by decency campaigns and ultimately ceased publication due to pressure from these groups and changing market trends. Despite its short run and reputation for sensationalism, Horror Stories is a significant example of the "weird menace" subgenre of pulp magazines and provides insight into the tastes and anxieties of the Depression era. Its legacy continues in discussions about censorship, freedom of expression, and the history of horror fiction.