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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This anthology features a diverse lineup of voices and presents horror that genuinely has something to say. It’s unsettling in all the right ways, alternately supernatural, grounded in reality, or exploring technology and speculative futures. The mix feels intentional and cohesive, as one would expect from a well-crafted anthology. Although some stories resonate more than others, the overall tone remains consistent.
If you’re a fan of the horror Peele creates in "Get Out," "Us," and "Nope," you will likely find a familiar energy here. While it may not reach the same level as his films, you can definitely sense his influence in this anthology.
Every story is well written, though preferences will vary based on the type of horror that resonates most with you. Some tales delve into folklore and mythology, while others embrace speculation or technology elements. Personally, I found the supernatural and grounded stories to be stronger, but that's a matter of individual taste. Overall, it’s a well-balanced collection that allows different styles to complement one another.
I rate it four stars. It may not be perfect, but it’s certainly worth reading. The stronger stories leave a lasting impression, and even the quieter ones contribute to the anthology’s overall voice. I'm glad I picked it up.
If you’re a fan of the horror Peele creates in "Get Out," "Us," and "Nope," you will likely find a familiar energy here. While it may not reach the same level as his films, you can definitely sense his influence in this anthology.
Every story is well written, though preferences will vary based on the type of horror that resonates most with you. Some tales delve into folklore and mythology, while others embrace speculation or technology elements. Personally, I found the supernatural and grounded stories to be stronger, but that's a matter of individual taste. Overall, it’s a well-balanced collection that allows different styles to complement one another.
I rate it four stars. It may not be perfect, but it’s certainly worth reading. The stronger stories leave a lasting impression, and even the quieter ones contribute to the anthology’s overall voice. I'm glad I picked it up.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror, edited by Jordan Peele. Read for the 'Author of Colour' square on the r/fantasy Bingo challenge. Hard mode: lots of authors of colour. Okay, no. Hard mode: horror novel. Check!
Like any anthology, this is going to be hit and miss, though of course everyone's hits and misses will vary. There's a broad range of stories in here, with threats ranging from the protagonist's own character flaws to the individual jerkbag ghost or parent to systemic injustice to universal collapse. 'A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree' by Nicole D. Sconiers, is a riff on the phantom hitchhiker. 'Origin Story', by Tochi Onyebuchi, is the most off-beat; it's a script for a chorus of four white boys talking about how they fear decentralisation. 'Your Happy Place' by Terence Taylor feels like the one that could have been most closely inspired by Get Out, what with marginalised people's bodies being taken over for the gain of the upper classes, but also with a heavy dose of Black Mirror; 'The Aesthete', featuring artificial life forms who sell their experiences to voyeurs to avoid having their organs sold on the black market, is on similar lines.
My favourites were 'The Rider', by Tananarive Due, following two sisters who set out for Montgomery to join the Freedom Riders and find trouble waiting on the road, and 'The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World', by Nalo Hopkinson, a folktale about a girl who drops into a sinkhole to kill the devil that ate her parents. Obviously, that shows a fondness for strong female characters. Honorary mention to 'The Other One', by Violet Allen; Violet might be an intolerable ball of neuroses but she gets what she wants, doesn't she? . A near-hit was 'Invasion of the Baby Snatchers', by Lesley Nneka Arimah, in which aliens have got really good at faking human pregnancy. This is great right up until the last couple of pages, with a creepy body-horror premise and constantly-rising tension. Unfortunately it ends really abruptly and not very clearly - do the fetuses have mind control now? is that's what going on? .
My least favourite was 'Eye & Tooth', by Rebecca Roanhorse, in which two siblings take a job hunting a monster on a farm down in Texas. The problem is, they are just so bad at their job! I figured out all the surprises well before they did, and my monster hunting experience ends at spiders in the bathroom.
challenging
dark
emotional
An anthology unlike many I’ve read before I’ve become such a huge fan of Jordan peeled vision in horror media. He did an amazing job putting together and finding some fantastic authors
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's really difficult to review an anthology of stories as one given how variable they were. Overall, I enjoyed this collection and I'd consider it worth reading. Unfortunately more than a few of the stories were difficult to get through and lacked the impact I expected. That being said, the best shorts were beyond excellent and even the weaker ones engaged with blackness in such meaningful and innovative ways that they were still worth a read. I'll be looking into reading more by Terence Taylor, Maurice Broadus, and Tochi Onyebuchi.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
such a great collection! i'm dying for some of these stories to be longer actually like let's keep the scary vibes goinggggg
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Out There Screaming is an impressive, wide-ranging anthology showcasing new Black horror talent, some deeply memorable stories - others less so, but that’s the nature of a collection with depth constraints. Each tale must land in under an hour, and several here absolutely succeed with eerie, speculative vibes reminiscent of Black Mirror and Love, Death + Robots. If you're a fan of those, you'll find gems here.
My pick for standout? The story featuring Dr. Wexler overseeing prisoners in psychological confinement; utterly fucked up and gasp-inducing. The layer of systemic oppression woven into a horror setting made it visceral.
Edited by Jordan Peele and John Joseph Adams, this collection balances social commentary with supernatural chills. Themes range from ancestral curses and monstrous justice to tech paranoia and ghostly hauntings. Some pieces hit harder than others, but the variety keeps it engaging.
In short, Out There Screaming is a must-read anthology for fans of diverse, thought-provoking horror—though don’t expect every story to stick, the highs are worth it.
My pick for standout? The story featuring Dr. Wexler overseeing prisoners in psychological confinement; utterly fucked up and gasp-inducing. The layer of systemic oppression woven into a horror setting made it visceral.
Edited by Jordan Peele and John Joseph Adams, this collection balances social commentary with supernatural chills. Themes range from ancestral curses and monstrous justice to tech paranoia and ghostly hauntings. Some pieces hit harder than others, but the variety keeps it engaging.
In short, Out There Screaming is a must-read anthology for fans of diverse, thought-provoking horror—though don’t expect every story to stick, the highs are worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs
Minor: Blood