Weirdness is often part of horror, so we might call it a sub-genre that editor Michael Kelly has decided to further explore (after an excellent previous anthology) by collecting a number of dark short stories penned by a group of distinguished authors.

As a reviewer I enjoy the privilege of focusing on the stories that I’ve especially enjoyed, especially on the basis of their “weird” character.

[Click the images for weirder versions.]

The Best Weird Fiction of the Year, Volume 1, edited by Michael Kelly
(Undertow Publications, October 21, 2025). Cover art by Odilon Redon

“Pollen” by Steve Toase is an atmospheric, fascinating tale set on an island full of orchids and of subtle menaces as well.

Kay Chronister pens “The Shadow of his Vibrance,” an excellent weird story indeed, featuring a young woman visiting her father’s last residence after his death.

“The Subject” by Brian Evenson is a fascinating piece of disconcerting fiction, fully enjoyable yet rather obscure.

Lynda E Rucker provides “Nixie,” a wonderful piece of dark fiction, featuring a lonesome woman prisoner of a meaningless life still looking for her real self.

In a book devoted to weird fiction, John Langan’s “Snakebit, or Why I (continue to) Love Horror” is by far the weirdest, so much so that it’s very hard to describe it and/or summarize it. Better go and read it yourself…

“Diving Board” by Tomás Downey, yet another excellent but puzzling piece about the disappearance of a little girl after jumping into a public pool.

Other contributors are: Alison Littlewood, Woody Dismukes,Shaun Cammack, Mary Kuryla, Erin Brown, Samantha Mills, Jon Lasser, Nathan Ballingrud, CT Muchemwa, TJ Price, Audrey Zhou, Rebecca Campbell and Louis Inglis Hall.

---

Mario Guslandi was born in Milan, Italy, where he currently lives. He became addicted to horror and supernatural fiction (too) many years ago, after accidentally reading a reprint anthology of stories by MR James, JS Le Fanu, Arthur Machen etc. Most likely the only Italian who regularly reads (and reviews) dark fiction in English, he has contributed over the years to various genre websites such as Horrorworld, Hellnotes, The British Fantasy Society, The Agony Column and many more. See all his recent reviews for us here.