SMILER

Cover illustration for The Year's Best Horror Stories: SERIES VI

Jan 20, 2025

A skeletal intruder brandishes a long knife with curving blade as it props open a door to peer inside. Its hand appears desiccated—decomposing flesh not bone—as it extends slender fingers against the well-worn wood to widen the gap. A bright red handkerchief is tucked into the neckline of its brown overcoat, concealing chest and throat. A wide brimmed hat completes its disguise. Perhaps from behind it could pass as human, but leering through the door its murderous intent is clear. Blue light gleams from a dark sphere set in one bony socket, and it's jaw hangs open in a grim toothy smile. The view out reveals tall buildings beyond—somewhere urban—and the cool glow of streetlights reduced to hazy saucers runs in a diagonal along a dark street unseen. — SMILER (1978), Acrylic on Masonite - 24" x 16"

Inspired by an evening walk through downtown Los Angeles. I was with a large group of authors and artists from the World Fantasy Convention, chatting away as we strolled back to the hotel, when 2 large rats scuttled by.

We also passed an old wooden door on the side of a building and that struck me as odd amid all the glass and steel of the city streets. I kept imagining what could be behind that door—but ended up doing the painting from the inside looking out!

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