Franz Kafka s 1915 novella of unexplained horror and nightmarish transformation became a worldwide classic and remains a century later one of the most widely read works of fiction in the world. It is the story of traveling salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. This hugely influential work inspired George Orwell, Albert Camus, Jorge Louis Borges, and Ray Bradbury, while continuing to unsettle millions of readers. In her new translation of Kafka s masterpiece, Susan Bernofsky strives to capture both the humor and the humanity in this macabre tale, underscoring the ways in which Gregor Samsa s grotesque metamorphosis is just the physical manifestation of his longstanding spiritual impoverishment."

Five films from the hugely popular sci-fi franchise. In 'The Fly' (1958), a scientist (David Hedison) is obsessed with developing a molecular matter transmitter. When he attempts to test the invention himself, he is unwittingly joined by a companion - a fly that has sneaked into the transportation pod with him. The consequences of the experiment soon become clear, as the scientist begins to take on fly-like characteristics. 'Return of the Fly' (1959) sees the original scientist's son reconstructing the matter transporter which turned his father into an insect, with the young man's experiments leading him down the same insectoid path. In 'Curse of the Fly' (1965) the plot again revolves around the Delambre family, although this time it is the scientist's grandson, Henri Delambre (Brian Donlevy), who becomes obsessed with transporter experiments to the dismay of his two sons, who want to live normal lives and forget about their grandfather's invention. Henri's oldest son, Martin (George Baker), marries a young woman who just escaped from a mental hospital. After Martin's new wife discovers a closet filled with deranged humans left over from failed teleportation experiments, the police are called and Henri attempts to flee using the infamous transporter. 'The Fly' (1986) is the Oscar-winning remake of the 1958 horror classic. Scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), experimenting with transmitting matter uses himself as a guinea-pig, unaware that a fly has got into the machinery. As he embarks on a relationship with Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis), the journalist covering his project, his body slowly begins to take on fly-like characteristics. 'The Fly 2' (1989) is the sequel to the 1986 movie. Dr Seth Brundle is no more, but he has left behind a gruesome legacy: the teleportation device which transformed him into a human fly, and a son, Martin (Matthew Moore/Harley Cross). Infected with his father's insect metabolism, Martin's growth is hugely accelerated, and he is soon a fully grown man (Eric Stoltz). When he discovers the remains of his father's experiment, Martin decides to pick up where Seth left off.

Cronenberg on Cronenberg charts Cronenberg's development from maker of inexpensive 'exploitation' cinema to internationally renowned director of million-dollar movies, and reveals the concerns and obsessions which continue to dominate his increasingly rich and complex work. This edition brings Cronenberg's work up-to-date with an additional chapter on Crash.

Cult horror directed by David Cronenberg. Frank Carveth (Art Hindle)'s wife Nola (Samantha Eggar) is being treated at an institute run by the eccentric psychologist Dr Raglan (Oliver Reed), who is known for using bizarre techniques to break down defensive barriers in the psyche of his patients. After Nola's parents are brutally killed and his daughter returns from a visit to her mother covered in bruises, Frank comes to suspect that his wife and Raglan are up to no good. What he discovers is stranger still: a group of cloned midgets, apparently spurred on by Nora's psychopathic rages, are responsible for the attacks. Since no one else will believe him, it is up to Frank to try and put an end to the violence...

Cult horror director David Cronenberg found mainstream success with this remake of the 1958 horror classic and Chris Walas and Stephan Dupuis won an Oscar for their make-up effects. Scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), experimenting with transmitting matter uses himself as a guinea-pig, unaware that a fly has got into the machinery. As he embarks on a relationship with Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis), the journalist covering his project, his body slowly begins to take on fly-like characteristics.