Dark Screams: Volume One - Edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar
Strong start to the series that features short stories by:
1) "Weeds", by Stephen King
King wrote this way back in 1976, but outside of its initial appearance in Cavalier Magazine and most recently in Cemetery Dance's 2013 horror anthology Shivers VII, this story has never been part of a Stephen King short story collection.
It was also adapted for the screen in 1982's Creepshow as 'The Lonesome Death of Jordy Virgil' with King himself playing the titular role. Until now that was the only version of the story I was familiar with. That version played the story much more as a comedy - in part amplified by King's acting talent - so I was pleasantly surprised when I read this story to find the horror aspects were more prominent.
The comedic elements are still present - mostly in the persona of Jordy - but his transformation is a gross affair detailed as only King can do.
2) "The Price You Pay", by Kelley Armstrong
This was the surprise of the collection and ended up being my favorite one of the bunch. This is a tale of obsession and paying the price for it. Wonderfully written.
3) "Magic Eyes", by Bill Pronzini
This is a solid if somewhat predictable tale.
4) "Murder in Chains", by Simon Clark
Well written but ultimately underwhelms because it fails to answer the basic question of WHY? Without that, this story ends up seeming like a long setup for a punchline.
5) "The Watched", by Ramsey Campbell
Atmospheric in that Campbell British way, the attractiveness of this story depends on how well you like that type of story telling. Campbell is an acquired taste and I must be acquiring that taste because I enjoyed the story.