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liznannigans's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.25
circularcubes's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Interesting book design () but ultimately, like most short story anthologies, an uneven read. Some of these stories I strongly disliked, especially the overly gory stories.
My favorites of the bunch:
The Givens Sensor Board by Josh Malerman (also the author of Bird Box, which I've been meaning to check out)
Rosabelle, Believe by Amanda Hard (that ending!! I read this story at midnight, right before bed, and that was a mistake)
The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold (originally published in 1926)
Armageddon Baby by John C. Foster (my absolute favorite of the bunch - weird, supernatural depictions of native peoples aside, this was just the right level of unsettling and gory)
Interesting book design (
Spoiler
I love the fake ending and the "No Signal Found" page at the end of the bookMy favorites of the bunch:
The Givens Sensor Board by Josh Malerman (also the author of Bird Box, which I've been meaning to check out)
Rosabelle, Believe by Amanda Hard (that ending!! I read this story at midnight, right before bed, and that was a mistake)
The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold (originally published in 1926)
Armageddon Baby by John C. Foster (my absolute favorite of the bunch - weird, supernatural depictions of native peoples aside, this was just the right level of unsettling and gory)
jdcorley's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really dithered over how to rate this - one of the best horror anthologies I've ever read - should I give it the full five stars that I give to the greatest of the greatest, the best of the best of written work of all time, up there with Shakespeare and Le Guin, up there with Christie and Faulkner? Higher than some John Steinbeck? And I have to say, yeah, I can't not put it that high.
There's a lot of third rate horror anthologies out there, especially in this digital age. Oddly, though, I don't necessarily blame them for their difficulties. Horror can be exceptional in short form, so it attracts writers to it in that form, and it's quite difficult to edit through to something that's worthwhile at all. Usually you get 2-3 top form short stories and 2-3 mediocre jumpscare stories and then a smattering of failed experiments, ideas that might be fleshed out into something longer but which lack substance in this form, or dull retreads that rely on outside knowledge of the genre or theme. But this anthology plays to the strengths of its established writers and elevates the work of those who aren't, as well as trying new experimental things here and there that are exciting to see even if not every landing is hit perfectly.
Bartlett is doing his Bartlett thing here (twice!), predictably, but in a grounded, focused form that tones down his worst impulses. The freeform, experimental Givens Sensor Board feels meandering and even a little boring until the titular board snaps us to wild attention - if told in a straightforward way it might work or it might not but told this way we are swept away. Sharks With Thumbs is barely horror at all, but psychologically we feel the emotions of being spoken about, of being judged. These and more, no failures amongst them, nothing less than "solid" can be said about any of them. If you wanted me to point to a horror anthology that I thought horror anthologies could be or should be, it would be this one.
There's a lot of third rate horror anthologies out there, especially in this digital age. Oddly, though, I don't necessarily blame them for their difficulties. Horror can be exceptional in short form, so it attracts writers to it in that form, and it's quite difficult to edit through to something that's worthwhile at all. Usually you get 2-3 top form short stories and 2-3 mediocre jumpscare stories and then a smattering of failed experiments, ideas that might be fleshed out into something longer but which lack substance in this form, or dull retreads that rely on outside knowledge of the genre or theme. But this anthology plays to the strengths of its established writers and elevates the work of those who aren't, as well as trying new experimental things here and there that are exciting to see even if not every landing is hit perfectly.
Bartlett is doing his Bartlett thing here (twice!), predictably, but in a grounded, focused form that tones down his worst impulses. The freeform, experimental Givens Sensor Board feels meandering and even a little boring until the titular board snaps us to wild attention - if told in a straightforward way it might work or it might not but told this way we are swept away. Sharks With Thumbs is barely horror at all, but psychologically we feel the emotions of being spoken about, of being judged. These and more, no failures amongst them, nothing less than "solid" can be said about any of them. If you wanted me to point to a horror anthology that I thought horror anthologies could be or should be, it would be this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Self harm, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Emotional abuse
michaellouisdixon's review against another edition
5.0
So, I made a note after each story as I read it. This anthology was THAT good. Here are my thoughts below:
If He Summons His Herd by Matthew M. Bartlett. This is how you do Weird fiction! I absolutely loved this story.
Transmission by T. E. Grau. Another brilliant story for this anthology, and I'm only 2 in! Cosmic Horror at its finest!
The Dangsturm Interruption by Joseph Boutiette Jr. Science Fiction/Cosmic Horror. Super short experimental weirdness.
The Givens Sensor Board by Josh Malerman. I had a little trouble getting started on this. There is a rhythm to the text, and once I hooked into its cadence, the story unfolded in disturbing darkness.
Sharks With Thumbs by David James Keaton. This story is written in second person, and Keaton pulls it off excellently. The prose is so eloquently crafted that it's a joy to read them. I will definitely be revisiting this story again in the future.
Bad Lieutenant by Tony Burgess. This was a very short, and odd, stream of consciousness piece. I'm not entirely certain that I followed it. With this kind of story you experience it as you process the words. Narrative degrades as cadence and flow supersede story. Words turn on images and patterns. Like signals disrupted.
Yes, there are signals that connect us to everything from visual light, radio waves, and neurons in our brains. If something goes wrong, or is altered at any point, then our perceptions can change radically.
Yes, it's kinda like that.
How the Light Gets in by Michael Paul Gonzalez. Another excellent Cosmic Horror tale in this superb anthology.
Darkhorse Actual by George C. Cotronis in Lost Signals by Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing. Here we delve into a War story. It reminded me of the Weird War comics from when I was a kid. I loved those tales, and this one is right in there with the best. This felt like only a slice of a bigger story. Or, maybe I just wanted more because it was that good.
The Desert of Wounded Frequencies by Betty Rocksteady. This story reminds me of the old EC Comics stories, or something from The Night Gallery. Somewhat of a morality play that ends in a full on nightmare. Betty is a very good writer, and I recommend checking out more of her work.
Eternity Lie in its Radius by Christopher Slatsky. This is the kind of story that perfectly merges Horror and Metal. I want the movie!
Where Night Cowers by Matthew M. Bartlett. A boy finds a box that talks to him and nothing will ever be the same. A weird and surreal fairy tale.
Rosabelle, Believe by Amanda Hard. This story was as good as some of the most memorable Stephen King short stories. Seriously.
The Last Scream by Gabino Iglesias. I can easily imagine this story as an episode of Creepshow. That end! Fucking gnarly. Gabino Iglesias is a brilliant writer. I highly recommend you seek out his works.
The Man in Room 603 by Dyer Wilk. Another good story in this excellent anthology.
The Sound of Yesterday by Ashlee Scheuerman.
Children of a German Autumn by Matt Andrew. A good story for me to read today. This was an homage to Lovecraft, and it got me warmed up for seeing Color Out of Space this evening. Good stuff!
The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold. Another good and spooky story in this anthology. I'm loving this book.
Armageddon Baby by John C. Foster. A Noir style story. The premise is awesome, and I love where the story goes, but I personally feel it needs to be longer--like a novella length. I still really like this story, I just want more time with the characters.
The Small Hours by Vince Darcangelo. Short, sad, and disturbing.
Hush by Regina Solomond. Another short and sad story.
Feedback Loop by Joshua Chaplinsky. Another good story.
Little Girl Blue, Come Cry Your Way Home by Damien Angelica Walters. Maybe if you've never been the parent of a newborn child you might not connect with that special kind of terror that is so unique. Still, this story conveys it so well.
All That You Leave Behind by Paul Michael Anderson. I believe that this is the longest story in this anthology. This story will make you think deep thoughts. There is loss and despair. There is fear and confusion. But, there is ultimately hope. Beautifully done. It is a great story to put near the end of this book.
SOMETHINGINTHECODE by James Newman. A bonus track at the end of the book. Very funny guys! That sudden popup on my phone claiming to be the NSA. Hahaha! Wait, someone is pounding on my front door. Is that a helicopter overhead? What the hell is goi-
If He Summons His Herd by Matthew M. Bartlett. This is how you do Weird fiction! I absolutely loved this story.
Transmission by T. E. Grau. Another brilliant story for this anthology, and I'm only 2 in! Cosmic Horror at its finest!
The Dangsturm Interruption by Joseph Boutiette Jr. Science Fiction/Cosmic Horror. Super short experimental weirdness.
The Givens Sensor Board by Josh Malerman. I had a little trouble getting started on this. There is a rhythm to the text, and once I hooked into its cadence, the story unfolded in disturbing darkness.
Sharks With Thumbs by David James Keaton. This story is written in second person, and Keaton pulls it off excellently. The prose is so eloquently crafted that it's a joy to read them. I will definitely be revisiting this story again in the future.
Bad Lieutenant by Tony Burgess. This was a very short, and odd, stream of consciousness piece. I'm not entirely certain that I followed it. With this kind of story you experience it as you process the words. Narrative degrades as cadence and flow supersede story. Words turn on images and patterns. Like signals disrupted.
Yes, there are signals that connect us to everything from visual light, radio waves, and neurons in our brains. If something goes wrong, or is altered at any point, then our perceptions can change radically.
Yes, it's kinda like that.
How the Light Gets in by Michael Paul Gonzalez. Another excellent Cosmic Horror tale in this superb anthology.
Darkhorse Actual by George C. Cotronis in Lost Signals by Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing. Here we delve into a War story. It reminded me of the Weird War comics from when I was a kid. I loved those tales, and this one is right in there with the best. This felt like only a slice of a bigger story. Or, maybe I just wanted more because it was that good.
The Desert of Wounded Frequencies by Betty Rocksteady. This story reminds me of the old EC Comics stories, or something from The Night Gallery. Somewhat of a morality play that ends in a full on nightmare. Betty is a very good writer, and I recommend checking out more of her work.
Eternity Lie in its Radius by Christopher Slatsky. This is the kind of story that perfectly merges Horror and Metal. I want the movie!
Where Night Cowers by Matthew M. Bartlett. A boy finds a box that talks to him and nothing will ever be the same. A weird and surreal fairy tale.
Rosabelle, Believe by Amanda Hard. This story was as good as some of the most memorable Stephen King short stories. Seriously.
The Last Scream by Gabino Iglesias. I can easily imagine this story as an episode of Creepshow. That end! Fucking gnarly. Gabino Iglesias is a brilliant writer. I highly recommend you seek out his works.
The Man in Room 603 by Dyer Wilk. Another good story in this excellent anthology.
The Sound of Yesterday by Ashlee Scheuerman.
Children of a German Autumn by Matt Andrew. A good story for me to read today. This was an homage to Lovecraft, and it got me warmed up for seeing Color Out of Space this evening. Good stuff!
The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold. Another good and spooky story in this anthology. I'm loving this book.
Armageddon Baby by John C. Foster. A Noir style story. The premise is awesome, and I love where the story goes, but I personally feel it needs to be longer--like a novella length. I still really like this story, I just want more time with the characters.
The Small Hours by Vince Darcangelo. Short, sad, and disturbing.
Hush by Regina Solomond. Another short and sad story.
Feedback Loop by Joshua Chaplinsky. Another good story.
Little Girl Blue, Come Cry Your Way Home by Damien Angelica Walters. Maybe if you've never been the parent of a newborn child you might not connect with that special kind of terror that is so unique. Still, this story conveys it so well.
All That You Leave Behind by Paul Michael Anderson. I believe that this is the longest story in this anthology. This story will make you think deep thoughts. There is loss and despair. There is fear and confusion. But, there is ultimately hope. Beautifully done. It is a great story to put near the end of this book.
SOMETHINGINTHECODE by James Newman. A bonus track at the end of the book. Very funny guys! That sudden popup on my phone claiming to be the NSA. Hahaha! Wait, someone is pounding on my front door. Is that a helicopter overhead? What the hell is goi-
moonkissedtiger's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
I loved everything about this book. The cover by Matthew Revert is brilliant. The introduction by Scott Nicolay reads like it could have been an entry on its own, his tone is that light and entertaining. And every story is thoroughly well written and original and utterly engaging. Standout entries for me include Amanda Hard's 'Rosabelle Believe' which was unexpectedly touching, T.E. Grau's 'Transmission' which brought the cosmic horror in spades, 'Armaggedon Baby' by John C. Foster which had some of the best description and was told with a really authentic voice, and Josh Malerman's 'The Givens Sensor Board' which begins rather slowly but with some clever use of onomatopoeia (yes, I had to look it up) increases the tension almost imperceivably.
I feel like I'm listing half of the book but 'Darkhorse Actual' by George C. Cotronis, 'Feedback Loop' by Joshua Chaplinsky and 'Little Girl Blue, Come Cry Your Way Home' by Damien Angelica Walters deserve some special attention also.
Each story is accompanied by an original illustration by the talented Luke Spooner and the overall layout (by Lori Michelle) is extremely well done. I thoroughly recommend this book to any horror fan.
I feel like I'm listing half of the book but 'Darkhorse Actual' by George C. Cotronis, 'Feedback Loop' by Joshua Chaplinsky and 'Little Girl Blue, Come Cry Your Way Home' by Damien Angelica Walters deserve some special attention also.
Each story is accompanied by an original illustration by the talented Luke Spooner and the overall layout (by Lori Michelle) is extremely well done. I thoroughly recommend this book to any horror fan.
tyler_j's review
2.75
24 stories, total average 2.79. There were some stories I liked but over-all it just wasn't the anthology for me.
hildegardia's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed bag, as anthologies tend to be. There were few excellent pieces here and coupke that were less than stellar, but all in all I had good time with this.
maxprovo's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25