In the title story "Polyphemus," an exploration team on a desolate planet confronts a terrifying alien creature, facing imminent death. Meanwhile, "The Angel of Death" introduces a city on edge due to a serial killer, who may finally have met his match in a formidable interplanetary traveler. In the darkly comedic tale "Uncle Tuggs," a string of grisly and bizarre fatalities seems linked to the mysterious vanishing of the eponymous old uncle. "The Horror on the #33" unfolds a man's harrowing battle with a deadly and sinister monster aboard a city bus.

The highlight of the collection, "The Autopsy," has been praised by Algis Budrys as “one of the most successful meldings of science fiction with horror that I have ever encountered.” This gripping story has also been adapted for Guillermo del Toro's Netflix series Cabinet of Curiosities. In "The Autopsy," an aging pathologist is summoned to conduct an autopsy, but the horrifying discovery he makes during his examination is both chilling and unimaginable.

Michael Shea (1946-2014) stands out as one of the premier American writers of modern speculative fiction. "Polyphemus," originally published as a limited edition hardcover by Arkham House in 1987, showcases the finest of his short stories, where he skillfully intertwines elements of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. This remarkable collection of contemporary speculative fiction makes a long-awaited return in this edition, allowing readers to appreciate Shea's masterful storytelling once more.

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