Anthologies

Sometimes some of the best horror writing can be found in anthologies and collections of short stories. Anthologies or collected works that have a common theme such as zombies, vampires, or werewolves will be found under those horror fiction sections. The works reviewed here tend to be collections of stories that touch upon a variety of themes and don't neatly fit under any other categories.

Feminine Wiles by John Grover*New Review

Blu Phi'er, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9823845-1-0
Available: New

Feminine Wiles is a collection of sixteen short stories by John Grover. Instead of stereotypical male protagonists, Grover casts a woman as the villain of each story. The various villains range from witches and crones to dolls and even Medusa herself, so the reader gets a bit of variety. Highlights of the book were "Eden Revisited", a story about the Garden of Eden with a bit of a spin, "Blood IS Thicker Than Water", where a woman believes that blood is the latest in skin care products, and "The Bride Wore Red", where the wedding doesn't end up going quite as the groom expects. I was a bit disappointed at the end of several stories, which ended up going a different direction than expected. A few of the stories also felt clichéd. Also troublesome is the editing of the book. I struggled throughout with numerous grammatical errors that could have easily been corrected. It's a great concept for a collection, however, and a little editing would make it a much more enjoyable read. Grover shows promise, and I'd be willing to try reading something else by him down the road.

Review by Rhonda Wilson

The Monster Within Idea by R. Thomas Riley*New Review

Apex,2009

ISBN: 9780982159613
Available: New

Short story collections tend to be hit or miss. That’s not the case, here, though! R. Thomas Riley has compiled a book of short, wicked tales that are thrilling, exciting, gruesome, terrifying, and above all, well-written. The stories include vampires, zombies, wishes gone bad, and more. Each is engaging and hooks the reader into feeling the need to devour the next story too, and the next one after that. You'll find yourself tearing through this book as if your life depended on it. Among my favorites are "The Run" and "Twin Thieves" both of which are a bit longer then some of the others, but are just flat out FUN reads. These horrifying tales delve into the dark nature of man. Even the supernatural tales are rooted in our own human shortcomings - the "what ifs" of life. Greed, remorse, vanity- all of our deadly sins are represented, twisted with the natural ease of a truly gifted storyteller. Riley is the man you want to have telling the tales around your campfire at night - provided you don't mind lying awake in horror that evening.

Rated R - violence, monsters, gore

Review by K.D. Payne

Experiments in Human Nature by Monica O’Rourke

Two Backed Books,2008

ISBN: 978-1933293455

Available: New

Monica O’Rourke writes with confidence and swagger, and this short story collection offers up a wide variety of tales that take the reader on a veritable roller coaster ride of emotions. These stories run the gamut, from the grotesque and perverse to the heart-wrenching and spine tingling, and there are even a few laughs to be had. The darker additions to this compilation are certainly not for the faint of heart, invoking the malefic fiction of writers such as Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee. Experiments in Human Nature is an impressive collection that showcases the talents of a master storyteller familiar with the ins and outs of the human condition. Monica O’Rourke has her finger on the pulse of what makes us tick, and deftly uses that knowledge to put the reader through the wringer.

Appropriate for private and public collections.

Contains Adult Language and Situations, Extreme (and shocking) Violence.

Review by Bob Freeman

Unspeakable Horror ed. by Vince A. Liaguno & Chad Helder

Dark Scribe Press, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-9818632-0-7

Available: New

Unspeakable Horror is a standout anthology with a unique focus on queer-themed horror tales. There's a lot to recommend, from tales where horror takes a back seat to the characters and musing tales of their challenges, to stories starring vampires,

zombies, ghosts, evil faeries, doppelgangers, and more who complicate already conflicted lives. These tales do not isolate or exclude, but rather put readers in the heads of those who feel lost, struggling with ideas of society, sexuality and themselves.

Standout stories include (but are certainly not limited to); “Black Annis” by Joy Marchand, the tale of a true faerie who desperately wants to protects a pair of gay lovers; “Memento Mori” by Elissa Malcohn, about a lover who comes back from the grave for her mate; “I Am the Shadow that Walks There” by Michelle Scalise, a World War II era tale of love and devastating loss; and “Memory Box” by Reesa Brown, a tale whose true darkness hits suddenly and unrelentingly. Unspeakable Horrors is highly recommended for all libraries.

Contains: Sex, Violence, Language

Review by Michele Lee

Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel

Apex Publications, 2008

ISBN: 9780981639079

Available: New

Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales is a collection of works by Fran Friel. The diversity of the stories within is amazing. Each tale takes the reader down a twisted, dark road that sticks in the mind long after the book has been put down. The stories are varied not only in their telling, but also in length- they range from flash fiction to novella. Each story grasps the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. One story that really stands out is “The Sea Orphan”, a sad story of a boy who looses both of his parents and finds himself in servitude to an innkeeper, then the plaything of pirates. A story that is certain to send shivers down the reader’s spine is “Close Shave”, a flash fiction piece that is painful to read and hard to forget. The final story, “Mama’s Boy”, is one that will drag the reader, kicking and screaming through the filth of a serial killer’s mind and the sad life that drove him to his horrendous deeds. “Mama’s Boy” doesn’t stop there though. Not only is it a twisted story of psychological terror, but it also blends in horror of the supernatural variety. Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales is a well-written, imaginative and well thought out collection of stories that I would highly recommend for both public and private libraries.

Contains: rape, incest, pedophilia and violence

Review by Bret Jordan

Traumatized by Alexander S. Brown*New Review

Xlibris,2008
ISBN: 143637409X

Available: New

Traumatized is a collection of fifteen tales of horror, and nothing else. The reader is saved from reading an introduction, any sales pitch for additional books, or even author information. The tales contained within the book range from thrillingly creepy and horrific to mediocre. There are stories of serial killers, demons, vengeful spirits, psychotic cults, voodoo curses, and even a bigfoot creature. Brown is in his element when writing about haunted houses, and his writing really shines in his haunted house stories. The opening tale – “Bloodlines” is one of the two strongest in the book. It’s a tale of four people called for a “treasure hunt” in a mysterious house learn that there is far more to the treasure than what they bargained for. Tied with the previous story is “It’s All True”, another haunted house tale that ends is a terrifying and gruesome way. Outside his haunted house stories, “The God Complex” was an interesting tale. I found his murderer tales to be the weakest in the book, specifically “April” which seems to have been written long before the author really hit his writing stride. It comes across as forced and stilted with problematic dialogue and unbelievable characters. The final tale in the book, “Zoe’s Swan Song” is both gruesome and familiar. It’s pretty clear how the setup of someone offering to show a vindictive person their “inner beauty” will turn out.

On the whole this collection is well worth the purchase. Any collection will have stories that are stronger than others, and the percentage of excellent versus weak stories is in the reader’s favor here, with far more good than not. Recommended for horror fans.

Contains: profanity, gore, sex, rape and murder.

Review by Kristen D Payne

Hot Blood edited by Jeff Gelb and Lonn Friend*New Review

Pinnacle, 2004

ISBN: 9780786016433

Available: New and Used

Hot Blood is the first in a series of erotic horror anthologies and consists of twenty-four stories each written by different authors. Within this collection Robert R. McCammon's "The Thang" introduces us to a man who makes a wish he soon regrets, Gary Brandner's "Aunt Edith" has a special "test" she puts all of her niece's boyfriends through, Ray Garton's story "Punishments" gives us a run-down on the relationship that a church organist and a teenage boy have together, and Rex Miller lets us find out just who's behind "The Voice" that the radio DJ has been talking to. In addition to these there are many, many other great stories included within this book. Hot Blood is a great introduction for readers wanting to branch into the erotic horror sub-genre, giving them a chance to try out various authors. Highly recommended for large public libraries and private collections.

Review by Rhonda Wilson

Sheep and Wolves By Jeremy C. Shipp*New Review

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

ISBN: 9781933293592

Available: New

    There is no moment reading this collection where you feel grounded in reality. I don’t want to give readers the impression that Shipp hasn’t created very real unsettling moments- he has just done it differently than most horror writers.

    Conventional horror wisdom is that you create characters and situations that the reader can relate to and build suspense from there. The horror in this collection doesn’t come from conventional wisdom. Shipp creates a horrific ecosystem of surreal prose that the characters have to inhabit.

    Shipp has written short but sweet tales with no wasted words. He weaves each story together tightly, like a basket. I took the opening story to be an exploration of patriarchy but here is the thing – I am not sure. That is not a slight on Shipp, it’s simply that he has created stories that can be, and probably are, interpreted in various ways.

    My favorite stories in the collection were “Those Below”, “Long Metal Sigh” and “American Sheep.” Recommended for fans of dark surrealist fiction, and recommended for libraries looking to expand their collection to represent young fresh surrealist authors.

Contains: Gore, violence, not for young readers.

Review by David Agranoff

Note: This is a second look review, the original review was done by KD Payne and can be found here

Tattered Souls edited by Frank J. Hutton

Cutting Block Press, 2007

ISBN: 9780977826230

Available: New

Tattered Souls is a collection of six stories that are almost novellas in length. Each of the tales brings a new and refreshing aspect of horror to the block. In “The Monkey Skin Cloak”, a couple returning from a safari hunt in Africa accidentally runs over a woman wearing a cloak made of monkey pelts. They load the body up, but it disappears on the road to camp so the wife claims the cloak as her own. In the cloak she finds something primeval and alluring that changes her in ways that her husband and the rest of the camp didn’t think possible. “Other People” is the story of people living in the same apartment complex, interacting without knowing the sickness that exists in their neighbors and in them as they seek unique forms of death so they can ascend into purer beings. “The End of Flesh” was a real treat for the science fiction lover in me as it told the story of a future world where animal life had all but vanished and some men had turned to cannibalism to quench their thirst for flesh. In “Cupped Dirty Wings”, a man gambles away the cash of a mob boss and knows that his time on this earth is short. He meets a woman who claims to be a goddess and wishes to journey with him to his fate. One of the more twisted tales in Tattered Souls was “Drool”, the story of a man who has taken a morbid step out of reality in his pursuit of the love of a young girl. Finally, “Terminal Condition” is the story of police officer that seems to be a magnet for death.

This is an excellent collection of stories with truly unique storylines in most cases. None of the stories, with the possible exception of “The Monkey Skin Cloak”, uses common villains, such as werewolves, vampires, or zombies. Each story attacks the reader with fear from a different direction and each tale paints its own picture of our world in vibrant color. Readers advisory note: this is a good title to recommend to horror readers who are looking for something a little different in the horror genre and to those who enjoy long short stories. Recommended for horror fiction and short story collections in public and private libraries.

Contains: sex, gore, mild pedophilia, violence, self mutilation, torture

Review by Bret Jordan

Note this is a second look review, the original review was done by David Agranoff and can be found here.

Horror Library III Edited by R.J. Cavender

Cutting Block Press, 2008

ISBN: 9780977826254

Available: New

Horror Library III is an anthology containing 30 horror stories by both well-known and not-so-well- known writers. Within the pages of this volume the reader will find a barn that has the strange and terrifying ability to digest things that get trapped inside. They will stop at a way station where the dead briefly linger before continuing on to the afterlife. The reader will become involved in a poker game where the chips represent time that the gambler has left to live and to win is to gain life, but to lose could mean instant death. They will meet an anorexic woman who knows a disturbing truth that prevents her from eating and a hospital photographer will take a picture that will haunt him for the rest of his life. These are just a few of the stories in this book and it is one of the best anthologies that I have had the pleasure to read all year.

Within the pages of Horror Library III the reader will find very few of the canned monsters we all have come to know, such as vampires and werewolves. No, this volume holds several new nightmares that will draw the reader in and keep them wondering until it is too late. I would certainly recommend this 3^rd volume of the Horror Library to anyone who likes well written tales of horror.

Contains: Violence, mild pedophilia, gore

Review by Bret Jordan

Sheep and Wolves By Jeremy C. Shipp

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

IBSN: 9781933293592

Available: New

Sheep and Wolves is an interesting little short story compilation, with thirteen short stories of a very high caliber. The stories in this particular compilation are all horror stories, with some leaning into the realm of science fiction gone bad. The writing is concise, yet descriptive. Each story feels like it is just the right length for the reader's comfort level. As with all short story collections, some stories are more effective than others. All are horrifying in one aspect or another. Some thrilled me, others confused me, and some left me perplexed and disturbed. I consider this to be a fine collection which was both very entertaining and disturbing from beginning to end.

My only real criticism for this book is the order of the stories. There are certain horrifying visuals that Mr. Shipp is very fond of and uses over and over again. They can be very effective. However, the stories that use these common images would have been more effective if they had been broken up instead of having one right after another. I would also have liked a little more clarification on exactly what I was reading in some of the stories... for example there is a story where a man has something locked up in a VW in his back yard, he feeds this thing and it seems fairly hostile. At one point in the story I thought I had a grasp of what it was, but by the end I was even more perplexed. I still enjoyed the story, but would have liked it more if I had been able to close the book knowing what the thing in the VW was.

"Those Below," a tale of life after death in a strange way, was probably my favorite of the stories, with very interesting social implications that could leave the reader pondering about humanity afterward. “American Sheep” was also a very interesting tale. I would love to see that one expanded to the length of a novella. On the whole this is a fun little short story book. Recommended..

Review by KD Payne

Lowlife Underdogs by Dustin LaValley

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

ISBN: 1933293640

Available:New

Lowlife Underdogs is a short story book in the strictest sense of the word. Many of these stories are one page, with some only a paragraph long. There are a total of 32 stories. The title story is the longest, coming in at 23 pages long. The writing style and tone are reminiscent of something a depressed emo would write while spending a month in the local inpatient “happy house”. There are several stories about suicide, murder, and difficulty having children. There’s no author information, making it difficult to gauge his age, but based on what I read, I would guess the author is relatively young. If he is, we have a lot to look forward to, because his actual writing is very good.

My main complaint is that the execution in each story actually undoes the terror that it should induce. Most of these stories are tales we've heard before, urban legends or scenes we've all viewed in various "B" horror movies. I'm not sure if they were meant to be tributes, but if we all know what is going to happen, then they cease to have the ability to shock and horrify.

This book would be most highly entertaining for the 15-18 year old group.

Contains: Murder, Suicide, Violence, Profanity, Sex, Low level Gore (predominantly aftermath).

Reviewed by KD Payne

Sudden Victims by Dennis Latham
Y.S. Gazelle Books, 2008
ISBN:100979674441
Available: New

Sudden Victims contains 18 tales from an alternate reality. The narrator is walking through a train and every time he enters a new car the next story begins. Readers are introduced to the victims before delving into their storylines. Dennis Latham is a Marine and Vietnam veteran whose writing was obviously influenced by the war Every story is different and a creative extension from this man’s past and his imagination. His detailed accounts of living in the field watching the enemy shoot and destroy his fellow marines seem very real. "Party Favors" was a strong story and a fun find within those pages. Recommended for public libraries.
Contains: War, violence, drug use, gore, suicide.

Review by the Angry Princess

The White Hands and Other Weird Tales by Mark Samuels

Tartarus Press

ISBN: 9781872621890

Available: New

Atmospheric and almost lyrical, Mark Samuels’ short story collection, anchored by the surrealistic White Hands, is a testament to a bygone era when eloquent and intelligent prose were at the fore. Samuels’ style harkens back to the haunted writings of the giants of the weird and supernatural as if he were Arthur Machen, reincarnate. For the aspiring writer, Mark Samuels’ literary excellence is nothing short of inspiring, even as you are raked over the coals of his surrealistic visions of the strange and unusual. Though not for everyone, this is wordsmithing at its finest. Sheer unadulterated brilliance, this title is recommended for all lovers of the weirdly fantastic.

Review by Bob Freeman

Strange Tales edited by Rosalie Parker

Tartarus Press,2003

ISBN: 9781872621807

Available: New

Strange Tales is an anthology that is just that, strange. This eclectic mix of weird horror reminds us that horror does not come neatly packaged with an entrailed bow and wrapping of human flesh. Although Strange Tales collects pieces divergent in style and content, there is a cohesiveness in the authors’ mutual exploration of and descent into an unsettling and disturbing arena of the bizarre. Guttural terror oozes from Adam Daly’s “The Self Eater” and Nina Allan’s “Terminus” is chaotic and dysfunctional. True horror grips us on a visceral level, and settles in our psyche. Strange Tales accomplishes that effectively. .

Review by Bob Freeman

Bound for Evil ed. by Tom English and ill. by Allen Koslowski

Dead Letter Press, 2008

ISBN: 9780979633522

Available: New

Bound for Evil is an homage to the terrible power of books. The stories and their authors span across time and location, including classic authors H.P. Lovecraft and Nathaniel Hawthorne as well as contemporary writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Angeline Hawkes, and Christopher Fulbright. It’s a nice touch that information about each author is provided before each contribution. Although the stories vary in tone and genre, with humor, mystery, science fiction, and fantasy all making an appearance, the passion of the editor for bibliomania at its most horrifying comes across clearly. Bound for Evil has strong stories and remarkable writing. The book itself is beautiful with effective illustrations by artist Allen Koslowski. Bound for Evil is a limited edition. It would make an excellent gift for the book lover or collector of horror, or an addition to the collection of a horror reader suffering from a serious case of bibliomania. An excellent anthology that will appeal to a wide audience, Bound for Evil is very highly recommended for public library collections.

Reviewed as part of the Halloween Horror Review Project, click here to see other Halloween themed horror book reviews.

Slivers of Bone by Ray Garton

Cemetery Dance, 2008

ISBN: 9781587670947

Available: New

Slivers of Bone collects thirteen fantastic tales by Ray Garton. Each story in this varied collection grabs the reader by the throat, or, sometimes, by something besides the throat. The story “The Guy down the Street” is about a neighbor that no sane man would care to have around his teenage daughter, but the true horror of the story lies elsewhere. In “The Homeless Couple”, Mr. Garton goes into the ether with a chilling, yet touching, ghost story. “The Picture of Horror” will terrify and repulse the reader with its telling of a loss of innocence, the dire consequences of immorality, and the mistake of dealing with the devil.

The stories from this collection will not only have the reader double checking their doors at night, but also taking a hard look at the window locks while looking around the nearby houses for that odd neighbor or religious fanatic. Slivers of Bone is one of the best story collections I have read and I would certainly recommend it for any collection.

Contains: Sex, bondage, pedophilia

Review by Bret Jordan

...The Dead Will Inherit The Earth... by Thom Olausson

Thom Olausson, 2008

ISBN: 9781847993472

Available: New

Author Thom Olausson hails from Sweden and proclaims that "these stories are the ones deemed TOO scary for American readers". If only that were the case. In point of fact, there are very few thrills and chills within this collection's pages. While several stories do show promise, “The Crooked Cross,” in particular, they suffer from abysmal editing (which may be due to English not being the author's native tongue) and more than a few are substandard examinations of clichéd horror tropes. When Mr. Olausson is inspired and writing outside the box, there is a raw energy to his prose that shows a glimmer of potential. One would hope that he continues to grow as an artist, honing his craft for future publications.

Review by Bob Freeman

Fright House by Lydia Roberson

Publisher: Lydia Roberson,2007

ISBN: 9780615148120

Available: New

In this ambitious collection of short stories, poems, and biographical notes, Ms. Roberson has attempted to delve into the very heart of psychological fear, to show the monsters that lurk within as much as without. Unfortunately, Fright House fails to fulfill the author’s ambition. Although the themes are very mature, the stories are written in a simple and straightforward manner, a jarring combination of content and style. Additionally, the storytelling is less than compelling. The author chooses time and time again to tell us about the horrors within rather than show us, and there’s no real follow through, focus or linear thought to keep the reader turning pages. Ms. Roberson’s one true accomplishment is her fervent honesty. She attacks her prose like a true believer in what she’s trying to share with her audience. Fright House has many of the same problems as other self-published books. Atrocious editing hinders this project, with grammatical errors scattered throughout. There is a germ of a great idea here… in fact, there are several. The book was simply not ready for publication.

Review by Bob Freeman


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