* Edgar Allan Poe: Widely considered a pioneer of the genre, Poe's stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Raven" are known for their dark atmospheres, psychological torment, and macabre themes.
* M.R. James: A British author famous for his chilling ghost stories. His stories, often set in old English country houses or ancient churches, explore themes of the supernatural, psychological terror, and the fragility of human reason.
* H.P. Lovecraft: While known for his cosmic horror, Lovecraft also wrote many chilling short stories that explored themes of madness, isolation, and the monstrous. His tales, like "The Dunwich Horror" and "The Call of Cthulhu," are often characterized by their bleak and unsettling atmosphere.
* Nathaniel Hawthorne: A 19th-century American author whose stories often explored themes of guilt, sin, and the dark side of human nature. His stories, like "The Birth-Mark" and "Young Goodman Brown," feature elements of the Gothic, with their focus on psychological torment and the supernatural.
* Mary Shelley: While known for her novel "Frankenstein," Shelley also wrote several short stories that explored themes of Gothic horror, such as "The Mortal Immortal," "The Last Man," and "The Transformation."
Beyond these prominent figures, many other authors contributed significantly to the development of the Gothic horror short story, including:
* Shirley Jackson: Known for her chilling and suspenseful stories, such as "The Lottery" and "The Haunting of Hill House."
* Stephen King: While primarily known for his novels, King's short stories often delve into the realms of horror and the supernatural, often with a focus on the psychological torment of his characters.
* Algernon Blackwood: A British author known for his eerie and atmospheric stories, such as "The Willows" and "The Wendigo."
Ultimately, the "master" of Gothic horror in short stories is a matter of personal preference and interpretation. Each of these authors, and many others, contributed unique and influential works to the genre.