Human Monsters: A Horror Anthology
I received this book in my October 2022 "Human Monsters" Night Worms package. This was especially exciting because it is edited by the co-owners of Night Worms, so the stories were chosen by them.
I really appreciated the variety of authors included in this anthology. There were many I'd never heard of and I found myself most eager to read those ones because they were unknown voices to me. I ended up loving more than a few of those stories.
The theme is, of course, Human Monsters. I have a fondness for this motif. The darkness within other people (and even within myself) fascinates me, and how people choose to act on it or keep it at bay is a scenario that is intriguing to observe. Each story in this anthology allows the reader to bear witness to these human monsters, either as a fly on the wall or as a quiet ghost listening to their thoughts.
From the list of authors I was familiar with, some of my favourite stories included:
Jubilee Junction by Nat Cassidy - This one involved ventriloquism, which made it my favorite story in the whole book.
I Did a Thing by Caroline Kepnes - A very disturbing, yet fun story about a hair dresser's personal thoughts.
A Sunny Disposition by Josh Malerman - A grandfather tells his grandson a story about how he changed his view on life to match that of the happier grandmother.
Ambush Predator by C.S. Humble - An achingly sorrowful tale of abduction and one being's bleak and distorted plan to help others overcome pain and sadness.
From the list of authors I'd never read before, some of my favourite stories included:
Five Ways to Kill Your Rapist on a Farm by Emma Alice Johnson - Wow. This was such a powerful story that really finds its audience in people who have been violated by others and how that irreparably alters their trust in strangers.
Barry and Lich by Stephen S. Schreffler - A frightening take on how easily people can snap when taken to the brink, and the idea that their internal monsters can lie dormant just to take them by surprise one day.
The Heartbreak Boys by Andrew Cull - A painful story about bullying and vengeance; trying to know where humanity ends and monstrosity begins.
The Other Wives by Archita Mittra - A very cool story that takes its foundation from the alarming fairy tale of Blue Beard by Charles Perrault.
These were the stories I loved most in the anthology. All were worth reading and met the criteria well, but some were less poignant than others for me. I think that the great ones make this book a gem that is worthy of being read by horror lovers everywhere.
