Carnacki, The Ghost Finder

Carnacki, the Ghost Finder is a collection of short stories by British author William Hope Hodgson, first published in 1913. The stories follow the adventures of Thomas Carnacki, a paranormal investigator who uses scientific methods to investigate hauntings and other supernatural phenomena.

Carnacki is a unique character in the world of paranormal fiction, as he is a rationalist who refuses to accept the existence of ghosts and other supernatural beings until he has evidence to prove their existence. He approaches each case with a cool, analytical mind and uses various gadgets and tools, such as a camera that can capture ghostly images, to help him in his investigations.

The stories themselves are classic examples of the "weird tale" genre, and feature a wide range of supernatural creatures and phenomena, including haunted houses, spectral hands, and even a haunted violin. While the stories are somewhat formulaic, with each one following a similar pattern of Carnacki being called in to investigate a haunting, conducting his investigation, and ultimately solving the mystery, they are also highly entertaining and well-written, with a strong sense of atmosphere and tension.

William Hope Hodgson (1877-1918) was a British author who wrote in a variety of genres, including horror, science fiction, and fantasy. He is perhaps best known for his novel "The House on the Borderland" (1908) and his short story collection "Carnacki, the Ghost Finder" (1913).