The contributors in this first edition, hailing from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, and elsewhere, are indicative of the worldwide nature of the weird poetry renaissance. New poets who have emerged in recent years-Ann K. Schwader, Wade German, Leigh Blackmore, K. A. Opperman-join such veterans as Bruce Boston, W. H. Pugmire, and Richard L. Tierney in contributing vital original work.

In addition to publishing new, original poetry from modern practitioners, Spectral Realms also resurrects classic poems from prior ages as one component of its educational function; another component is the inclusion of essays on weird poets or on topics related to the field and reviews of contemporary work, whether it be volumes of poetry, anthologies, works of criticism and scholarship, or other volumes of ancillary interest.