The Medusa in the Shield is a solid collection of horror that takes a broad definition of the genre. David Hartwell has included works from authors recognized for modern horror (Stephen King, Richard Matheson) as well as works from the Gothic era (Henry James, SJ LeFanu, etc.) "Dread" by Clive Barker certainly peaked my sense of dread. Sleep did not happen that night. Hartwell though also includes works by well-known, yet unexpected authors (DH Lawrence and Flannery O'Connor). These stories clearly go beyond the simple "goal" of horror, reading to be scared. Instead, they explore what we most want to protect. Is it our lives? Or is it simply our image of ourselves? Definitely a collection worth reading if your aim is to see what makes horror tick. ( )