Today, May 3, is the birthday of John Collier (1901-1980). Collier was primarily a short story writer. This is a different person than the artist with the same name. Although he’s faded into obscurity today, he wrote some good fantasy. My favorite is a little called “Evening Primrose”. I had intended to reread it today, but with the semester winding down, I’ve had hardly a free minute. It’s a story I’ll try to revisit sometime later this weeks.

“Evening Primrose” is about a man who hides out in a department store only to discover that there is a whole society of people who live in various businesses and only come out at night. He’s welcomed among them, unlike the woman he falls in love with, who got locked in one night by accident and is now treated as an indentured servant among them.

It’s been years since I read it, but it’s a chilling little horror story. If you haven’t read Collier, check him out. His collected fantasies are available in electronic format.