When Under the Crust was self-published in 1993, few people outside the ghost story world in England heard about the book; but those who had managed to obtain a copy were incredibly enthusiastic about this bright new talent in the genre. Few people were more enthusiastic than Ramsey Campbell, who helped to bring the book to the attention of the late Karl Edward Wagner, thus ensuring that it was nominated for an amazing three World Fantasy Awards, eventually winning the award for Best Novella. Since then the book has been virtually unobtainable, and Ash-Tree Press is proud to be publishing it as a companion volume to 1996’s Conference With the Dead. As with the earlier book, there is a stunning wraparound dust jacket design by Douglas Walters, and the author has provided an Introduction describing the book’s genesis.