This book contains H. G. Wells' 1936 novella, "The Croquet Player". A soul-corrupting evil has invaded the remote English village of Cainsmarsh, infesting the minds of the local residents. An old woman fears her own shadow; a petrified farmer plots the murder of a scarecrow; family pets are brutally killed, and previously-happy couples descend into anger and violence. A prophetic insight into the primitive distrust that threatens the modern world, "The Croquet Player" is not to be missed by fans of horror fiction. Herbert George Wells (1866 - 1946) was a prolific English writer who wrote in a variety of genres, including the novel, politics, history, and social commentary. Today, he is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to the science fiction genre thanks to such novels as "The Time Machine" (1895), "The Invisible Man" (1897), and "The War of the Worlds" (1898). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.