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.
Co-owner of the distinguished British publishing house Tartarus Press, editor, author and music composer RB Russell has collected in one hefty volume most of his short stories. The book includes tales of very different type and content, which have in common one feature: good quality.
Commenting upon every single story would be tedious and in a way, useless. Thus, I will mention only the stories that I’ve especially liked and which, to me, make the book absolutely worth reading.
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Remains, issues 4 and 4. Cover art by Richard Wagner
There are readers who, like me, prefer dark fiction in short form, because their suspension of disbelief is too brief to sustain — with a few exceptions — a full novel.
For people like us here’s a real treat: the new magazine/anthology Remains, edited by Andy Cox and illustrated by Richard Wagner, both well known for their previous work with the mythical Black Static magazine.
The first two issues are already sold out, but volume 3 ( published in late 2025) and the brand new volume 4 are available to entertain and disquiet.
Lansdale is the well known, prolific author both of mysteries (Hap and Leonard series) and of famous horror stories, which made him the recipient of multiple Bram Stoker awards.
The present collection does not include new stories but assembles a bunch of his best horror tales, making the book a real treat for horror fan. His narrative output is so huge that even a confirmed horror lover like myself has found here a few tales I was not familiar with.
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This Haunted Heaven (Tartarus Press, October 24, 2024). Cover artist unknown
Reggie Oliver is a British actor, playwright, illustrator and dark fiction author. He has published several short story collections and a few novels. As a matter of fact he’s also my favorite writer.
His latest collection, published once again by the excellent imprint Tartarus Press, includes ten stories, some of which are previously unpublished. As my favorite author it’s a bit difficult for me to produce an unbiased review but I’ll try my best, by choosing the more outstanding among the stories featured in the book.
“South Riding” an atmospheric, subtly disturbing piece depicting the unusual experience of an old actor temporarily moved into a secluded small town, while “ Grey Glass” is a superb supernatural tale revolving around a famous actor’s hand mirror.
Folk Horror is one of those terms that’s never quite fashionable or unfashionable.
To me there’s only either good or bad horror fiction, and that’s what really matters to the readers.
This anthology — part of the Beyond & Within series from Flame Tree Publishing — fortunately is very good, regardless of labels. So kudos to the editors (excellent horror writers themselves) for assembling such an amount of creepy and entertaining material.
To be precise the book includes two little poems and fifteen stories.
Dastardly Damsels (Crystal Lake Publishing, October 11, 2024)
Dark fiction anthologies are currently very popular and, with a few exceptions, tend to be a medley of horror, fantasy, mild SF or something in between. I don’t like the expression “speculative fiction” but maybe this is an acceptable label.
Some are published exclusively in digital format, which explains why the number of stories included is getting increasingly higher.
The present anthology, for instance, features thirty-two contributions (including a couple of short poems). A distinctive characteristic of this book is that the contributing authors are all female (including the editor), and so are the leading roles in the various tales.
Death Comes Too Late (Hard Case Crime,
March 12, 2024). Cover art by Paul Mann
Charles Ardai is the creator and the editor of the famous, successful Hard Case Crime series (featuring novels by the likes of Rex Stout, Lawrence Block, Stephen King, Earle Stanley Gardner, Cornell Woolrich, and Ray Bradbury, just to mention a few) now reaching its 20th Anniversary.
But Ardai is no minor author himself, as proved by the present volume, which collects twenty short stories (including some prize winning tales) previously appeared in various venues.
On the whole the book represents a very interesting and entertaining showcase of Ardai’s work. Among the various stories some are particularly worth mentioning.
The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fifteen (Night Shade, January 16, 2024)
Once again legendary editor Ellen Datlow has released her annual anthology featuring the Best horror stories that appeared in print the previous year.
And once again the volume includes, in the front, a detailed, invaluable overview of the year in horror (this time 2022). Being a short story lover I am particularly interested in anthologies and collections and, as it happens, once again I discovered how many interesting books I missed…
I always enjoy Datlow’s selections but, naturally enough, some I found particularly accomplished. Here they are.
Time of Passing by John Gaskin (Tartarus Press, August 20, 2023)
This is the fifth and apparently the last collection of short stories by John Gaskin, an excellent author of ghostly tales who has been entertaining and fascinating his readers for more than twenty years. Most of his books have been published by the independent British press Tartarus Press. An elegant, classy imprint for an elegant classy writer.
In the present volume Gaskin reproposes a few of his previous stories in a revised version.
“The Gathering “ is the masterful report of the dramatic last reunion of a group of friends during a frightening storm, while “Avernus” is a dark, unsettling story revolving around a mysterious and dangerous amulet.