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Reviews
The Best of the Best Horror of the Year: Ten Years of Essential Short Horror Fiction by Ellen Datlow
kuranes's review against another edition
5.0
All read previously of course, all still super enjoyable!
tricapra's review
4.0
Just in time for Halloween, I'm eternally grateful for the long list of Novel recommendations she included at the beginning. I love Ellen datlow.
jiggityjog's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
faustian_bargain's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
colinmeldrum's review
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Stand-outs:
Black and White Sky—Tanith Lee
The Monster Makers—Steve Rasnic Tem
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine—Peter Straub
This Stagnant Breath of Change—Brian Hodge
Other favorites:
Lowland Sea—Suzy McKee Charnas
Little America—Dan Chaon
In a Cavern, in a Canyon—Laird Barron
The Days of Our Lives—Adam L. G. Nevill
Black and White Sky—Tanith Lee
The Monster Makers—Steve Rasnic Tem
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine—Peter Straub
This Stagnant Breath of Change—Brian Hodge
Other favorites:
Lowland Sea—Suzy McKee Charnas
Little America—Dan Chaon
In a Cavern, in a Canyon—Laird Barron
The Days of Our Lives—Adam L. G. Nevill
smalefowles's review
4.0
A well-curated collection of horror stories with divergent approaches. Overall top-shelf stuff, even if it wasn't all to my tastes. It actually gives a nice sense of the breadth of the genre, and I bet there's something for every horror reader in here.
My top five:
1. "Black and White Sky" - Lee: A surreal and unique story of what happens when the magpies get weird.
2. "The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine" - Straub: A nasty tale about some nasty people, with some very creepy and ambiguous moments.
3. "Lowland Sea" - Charnas: This was the first story in the collection, and its 'Masque of the Red Death' vibes hit extra strong in 2020.
4. "The Days of Our Lives" - Nevill: Now this is a bad marriage.
5. "The Man From the Peak" - Golaski: The narrator is an unbearable person, but he still doesn't deserve a visitor from the peak.
The stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Laird Barron, and John Langan were also very good, but I already like those writers.
My top five:
1. "Black and White Sky" - Lee: A surreal and unique story of what happens when the magpies get weird.
2. "The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine" - Straub: A nasty tale about some nasty people, with some very creepy and ambiguous moments.
3. "Lowland Sea" - Charnas: This was the first story in the collection, and its 'Masque of the Red Death' vibes hit extra strong in 2020.
4. "The Days of Our Lives" - Nevill: Now this is a bad marriage.
5. "The Man From the Peak" - Golaski: The narrator is an unbearable person, but he still doesn't deserve a visitor from the peak.
The stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Laird Barron, and John Langan were also very good, but I already like those writers.
seanml's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This, like most short story collections, is a mixed bag. However, the best of the BEST horror of 10 years of publishing should skew higher than the average collection, right? All in all I think it does - the concepts are fun, and of course there's a very diverse list of authors with different voices.
Lowland Sea - A spooky concept that throws you right into the middle of it. The prose was just as bleak as the author meant it to me, so your mileage may vary. 7/10.
Wingless Beasts - Love some desert horror; this one takes a turn in the end, but not to the degree I was maybe hoping for. 6.5/10.
The Nimble Men - Even if the execution is not as dazzling as it could have been, the author did a great job setting up the tension. 8/10.
Little America - Very nice and very freaky. 8.5/10.
Black and White Sky - The first standout of the collection to me. It is a strange and ludicrous concept, and yet treated with all the awful gravity of it happening in real life. 9/10.
The Monster Makers - Again, an interesting concept, but one whose execution I found lacking. 7/10.
Chapter Six - A fun and novel lens to look with at the zombie genre. 7.5/10.
In a Cavern, In a Canyon - The very creepiest of the bunch! Well done. 9/10.
Allochthon - I think the author did a great job at putting in writing an eldritch descent into madness beyond the greater scope of human thought. 8/10.
Shepherd's Business - I get it, but I feel there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Did I just not get it? Am I dumb? 7.5/10.
Down to a Sunless Sea - Spooky-ish sea story. 6.5/10.
The Man from the Peak - This one is freaking bizarre in the weirdest way. It's just some monstrous dude that comes down to chill with some partygoers. At least it's memorable though. 8/10.
In Paris, in the Mouth of Kronos - Again, like the concept, but I thought it focused too much on the buildup, when at the same time it fairly clearly hinted at the big ending the whole time. 7/10.
The Moraine - Classic monster story done very well. Doesn't need to be anything more! 8.5/10.
At the Riding School - This one is weird and plain demented. 7.5/10.
Cargo - Love it, very creepy and borders just enough on real life to make you stare at dark corners. 9/10.
Tender as Teeth - A funny and sad look at the aftermath of a world cured of a zombie apocalypse. Not very scary, but sobering. 7.5/10.
Wild Acre - This is the best one. 9.5/10.
The Callers - It's evil old people. 6.5/10.
This Stagnant Breath of Change - I like the idea, it's alright! If not a little long. 7.5/10.
Grave Goods - I love anything horror with archaeological digs. Very nice. 8.5/10.
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine - Some people think it's great, some don't get it. I don't get it. Why did they have to be like 20 years separated in age? 6/10.
Majorlena - It is what it is. 7/10.
The Days of Our Lives - I hate the characters in this one. Lois is (obviously) the worst, but our guy just doesn't let go. 7.5/10.
You Can Stay All Day - Very nice. 8.5/10.
No Matter Which Way We Turned - Cool, not sure I entirely get it, though. 8/10.
Nesters - I liked it! The dustbowl was a fun choice of setting that gave credence to the isolation of the whole story. 8.5/10.
Better You Believe - It's okay! 7.5/10.
I think my main problem with most of the stories is that every author had a great idea. However, in many cases, the stories here might go on for a bit too long, or try to be too clever with their concept. The best ones are explicit in what they want to accomplish, and don't try and trudge the reader along for their big finish. I suppose it reflects more on the taste of Ellen Datlow, the editor who compiled the stories, than the ability of any of these authors. At the very least, I appreciate each author trying out something novel. 8/10.
Lowland Sea - A spooky concept that throws you right into the middle of it. The prose was just as bleak as the author meant it to me, so your mileage may vary. 7/10.
Wingless Beasts - Love some desert horror; this one takes a turn in the end, but not to the degree I was maybe hoping for. 6.5/10.
The Nimble Men - Even if the execution is not as dazzling as it could have been, the author did a great job setting up the tension. 8/10.
Little America - Very nice and very freaky. 8.5/10.
Black and White Sky - The first standout of the collection to me. It is a strange and ludicrous concept, and yet treated with all the awful gravity of it happening in real life. 9/10.
The Monster Makers - Again, an interesting concept, but one whose execution I found lacking. 7/10.
Chapter Six - A fun and novel lens to look with at the zombie genre. 7.5/10.
In a Cavern, In a Canyon - The very creepiest of the bunch! Well done. 9/10.
Allochthon - I think the author did a great job at putting in writing an eldritch descent into madness beyond the greater scope of human thought. 8/10.
Shepherd's Business - I get it, but I feel there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Did I just not get it? Am I dumb? 7.5/10.
Down to a Sunless Sea - Spooky-ish sea story. 6.5/10.
The Man from the Peak - This one is freaking bizarre in the weirdest way. It's just some monstrous dude that comes down to chill with some partygoers. At least it's memorable though. 8/10.
In Paris, in the Mouth of Kronos - Again, like the concept, but I thought it focused too much on the buildup, when at the same time it fairly clearly hinted at the big ending the whole time. 7/10.
The Moraine - Classic monster story done very well. Doesn't need to be anything more! 8.5/10.
At the Riding School - This one is weird and plain demented. 7.5/10.
Cargo - Love it, very creepy and borders just enough on real life to make you stare at dark corners. 9/10.
Tender as Teeth - A funny and sad look at the aftermath of a world cured of a zombie apocalypse. Not very scary, but sobering. 7.5/10.
Wild Acre - This is the best one. 9.5/10.
The Callers - It's evil old people. 6.5/10.
This Stagnant Breath of Change - I like the idea, it's alright! If not a little long. 7.5/10.
Grave Goods - I love anything horror with archaeological digs. Very nice. 8.5/10.
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine - Some people think it's great, some don't get it. I don't get it. Why did they have to be like 20 years separated in age? 6/10.
Majorlena - It is what it is. 7/10.
The Days of Our Lives - I hate the characters in this one. Lois is (obviously) the worst, but our guy just doesn't let go. 7.5/10.
You Can Stay All Day - Very nice. 8.5/10.
No Matter Which Way We Turned - Cool, not sure I entirely get it, though. 8/10.
Nesters - I liked it! The dustbowl was a fun choice of setting that gave credence to the isolation of the whole story. 8.5/10.
Better You Believe - It's okay! 7.5/10.
I think my main problem with most of the stories is that every author had a great idea. However, in many cases, the stories here might go on for a bit too long, or try to be too clever with their concept. The best ones are explicit in what they want to accomplish, and don't try and trudge the reader along for their big finish. I suppose it reflects more on the taste of Ellen Datlow, the editor who compiled the stories, than the ability of any of these authors. At the very least, I appreciate each author trying out something novel. 8/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Cannibalism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Rape
the_weirdling's review
4.0
An anthology book is always a mixed bag- some good, some ok, some outright bad. This one is a collection of “best of” stories from ten years of “best of” books. So, on the whole, the quality of these stories is very high. There’s a little of something for everyone here- monsters, supernatural, psychological, sci-fi and futuristic, period pieces, fantasy. All lovers of horror short fiction will find something that plays to their favorites, and a few things that stretch their boundaries. Good book!
bgergen1's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
2.0
I listened to this book as an audio book and have never listened to a book more boring and atmospheric. It’s about nothing where nothing happens. I imagine if you were reading it quietly and being fully absorbed it might be good as it’s very metaphoric—all of the stories, but as an audiobook in the background, it is horrible. There is absolutely no action and all of the stories are centered around the main character’s inner dialogue and existential crises.
read_late's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A giant compilation of a decade's worth of truly fantastic horror. Highly enjoyable, dark, moody, tense, and creepy.
Editor Ellen Datlow is a mad genius and this is an anthology worth reading.
5 stars. Highly recommend.
Editor Ellen Datlow is a mad genius and this is an anthology worth reading.
5 stars. Highly recommend.