Screams From the Dark - An Impeccable Collection of Horror
I received this ARC via a link to Netgalley sent to the Horror Bound team.
This is a large collection of excellent stories. Honestly, it took me almost a month to read it all, but a part of me also really didn't want it to end. Every new story brought with it interesting and strange facets, and they were all worth reading. There are so many talented and freaky authors collected within this monster of a book, and it is a clear testament to Ellen Datlow's unbelievable skills as an editor who chooses only the best.
While each of these were unquestionably entertaining and special, there were a couple that I found to be total knock-outs:
You Have What I Need by Ian Rogers - A wicked opening story about working in an ER with vampirism being a very real issue. A monster story with more memorable humanity in it than I can bear to forget.
Wet Red Grin by Gemma Files - Probably my favourite one in this whole book. Just an absolutely terrifying concept borne of an old ritual of the "reddening of bones." I found myself reading all about the historical context of this ritual afterwards and was astonished by how cool it was that Gemma Files invented this terrifying story from that idea.
The Atrocity of Exhibitionists by Brian Hodge - As I write this, I realize that this story is competing for first place with the one from Gemma Files. I want to tell everyone about this story's concept. We are in an age of social media that includes a ravenous need for attention and likes. More frighteningly, people seem to believe everything they read online and can no longer think for themselves. Loved this one so much.
Crick Crack Rattle Tap by A.C. Wise - A startling tale of a new mother and her steadily darkening thoughts mixed with some disturbing folklore. The Blair Witch meets postpartum depression.
The Smell of Waiting by Kaaron Warren - This story felt like a mix of Pet Sematary by Stephen King and From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz. It had dogs, a kind of chemically induced supernatural ability, and it left me with such a remarkably empty and used up feeling at the end. In a good way.
Three Mothers Mountain by Nathan Ballingrud - A story about witches who grant the requests of townspeople desperate enough to seek their services, and the prices paid for those 'gifts.' The imagery from this story will stay with me until I am in the ground.
Bloedzuiger by John Langan - This guy knows how to spin a yarn. He also seems to love writing disturbing stories about fishing that compel me to feel dread when near any bodies of water. Mixing Danish scenery with blood sucking creatures, this one is a winner.
Honourable mentions for Stephen Graham Jones' Children of the Night and Brian Evenson's Knock, Knock. Just reviewing the stories I feel so excited about how great they all were and I am so pleased that I got to read this in advance. Pick it up when it comes out in June 2022!
