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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
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