Abraham Merritt (1884–1943), known by his byline A. Merritt, was an American editor and writer of speculative fiction during the early 20th century. Heralding from Beverly, New Jersey, Merritt built a reputation as a master of the fantasy genre, his works characterized by meticulous imagination and an affinity for the otherworldly. Best recognized for his lush landscapes and the complex mythologies he constructed, his literary style often delved into archaic language, which lent an otherworldly and ancient feel to his narratives. Merritt's career blossomed alongside his work as an assistant editor and later editor of The American Weekly magazine. Despite a demanding editorial career, Merritt became influential in the realm of speculative fiction, producing novels and stories that reached a wide audience. One of his notable works includes 'Creep, Shadow!' (1934), a dark fantasy novel which follows the continuation of 'Burn, Witch, Burn!' (1932) and showcases Merritt's characteristic amalgam of horror and fantasy. This novel, like much of his work, explores the intricacies of fear, the supernatural, and the boundaries of human understanding. Merritt's contribution to the fantasy genre has been considerable; his intricate world-building and narrative style anticipated and influenced the development of contemporary fantasy literature. Although not as widely remembered today as some of his contemporaries, Merritt's legacy endures in the homage paid by later authors and the continued interest in his visionary work among aficionados of classic fantasy.