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sed9770's review against another edition
4.0
A solid collection! Worth reading even just for Khaw, Jones, and Link's stories. Khaw's especially stood out from the rest for me and felt very in line with Shirley Jackson's work/legacy.
wdianasheppard's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 rounded up to 5. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!
This is a really excellent short story collection that is successful in its initial aim: to embody the feeling of Shirley Jackson's work. Jackson's stories and novels run the gamut from "unsettling" all the way to "horrifying", and generally rely more on creeping dread than full-out gore to frighten. Jackson also tended to center her stories around the anxieties of women.
There are eighteen stories in this collection, and while some are stronger than others, there were only a few that I felt were weak. My favorites of the bunch were as follows:
For Sale by Owner – Elizabeth Hand - This was an excellent example of something unseen causing a disturbance, and built and built on tension until it was almost too much.
Take Me, I am Free – Joyce Carol Oates - Short and decidedly NOT sweet, this brief tale is a truly creepy portrayal of a mother who doesn't love her child.
The Party – Paul Tremblay - Atmospheric, intriguing, and gone before it wears out its welcome, this story had notes of the film "The Invitation" turned up to ten.
This collection is highly recommended if you enjoy Jackson's work, creepy tales light on the gore, and a feminist perspective in horror.
This is a really excellent short story collection that is successful in its initial aim: to embody the feeling of Shirley Jackson's work. Jackson's stories and novels run the gamut from "unsettling" all the way to "horrifying", and generally rely more on creeping dread than full-out gore to frighten. Jackson also tended to center her stories around the anxieties of women.
There are eighteen stories in this collection, and while some are stronger than others, there were only a few that I felt were weak. My favorites of the bunch were as follows:
For Sale by Owner – Elizabeth Hand - This was an excellent example of something unseen causing a disturbance, and built and built on tension until it was almost too much.
Take Me, I am Free – Joyce Carol Oates - Short and decidedly NOT sweet, this brief tale is a truly creepy portrayal of a mother who doesn't love her child.
The Party – Paul Tremblay - Atmospheric, intriguing, and gone before it wears out its welcome, this story had notes of the film "The Invitation" turned up to ten.
This collection is highly recommended if you enjoy Jackson's work, creepy tales light on the gore, and a feminist perspective in horror.
mrusbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book is an anthology of horror stories inspired by Shirley Jackson's writing and written by the best horror writers of the day.
It includes many greats like Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand, and more.
Shirley Jackson's stories were always out of the ordinary, chilling, and yet touching in so many ways. These writers here try to emulate or evoke these themes.
I'll be honest I enjoyed some of them immensely, but sadly they were only a couple or so. Hag and A Trip to Paris were some of the ones I enjoyed.
Stories that leave readers to do a lot of thinking and guessing are not to my particular liking. I better relate to clinical writing and stories that leave no questions unanswered. So I did not enjoy this collection as much as I expected to.
But a short story collection always refreshes me and pumps me up to read more, and this book did that for me. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.
It includes many greats like Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand, and more.
Shirley Jackson's stories were always out of the ordinary, chilling, and yet touching in so many ways. These writers here try to emulate or evoke these themes.
I'll be honest I enjoyed some of them immensely, but sadly they were only a couple or so. Hag and A Trip to Paris were some of the ones I enjoyed.
Stories that leave readers to do a lot of thinking and guessing are not to my particular liking. I better relate to clinical writing and stories that leave no questions unanswered. So I did not enjoy this collection as much as I expected to.
But a short story collection always refreshes me and pumps me up to read more, and this book did that for me. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.
bookbloggerjanine's review against another edition
4.0
When Things Get Dark edited by Ellen Datlow
I give this Anthology 4 stars
Shirley Jackson is a seminal writer of horror and mystery fiction, whose legacy resonates globally today.
This anthology, edited by legendary horror editor Ellen Datlow, will bring together today’s leading horror writers to offer their own personal tribute to the work of Shirley Jackson.
Featuring Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Carmen Maria Machado, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand, Kelly Link, Cassandra Khaw, Karen Heuler, Benjamin Percy, John Langan, Laird Barron, Jeffrey Ford, M. Rickert, Seanan McGuire, Gemma Files, and Genevieve Valentine.
This book contains 18 short stories influenced by Shirley Jackson’s writing style.l loved being able to sample the brilliant writing of so many different authors all in one sitting.And they’ve definitely managed to pull it off…. l was left feeling I’d experienced that deep chill,a spooky hidden dark side that leaves you to interpret it in your own way.An unsettling domestic horror mystery vibe.
With thanks to Netgalley,Ellen Datlow and Titan books for my chance to read and review this book.
I give this Anthology 4 stars
Shirley Jackson is a seminal writer of horror and mystery fiction, whose legacy resonates globally today.
This anthology, edited by legendary horror editor Ellen Datlow, will bring together today’s leading horror writers to offer their own personal tribute to the work of Shirley Jackson.
Featuring Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Carmen Maria Machado, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand, Kelly Link, Cassandra Khaw, Karen Heuler, Benjamin Percy, John Langan, Laird Barron, Jeffrey Ford, M. Rickert, Seanan McGuire, Gemma Files, and Genevieve Valentine.
This book contains 18 short stories influenced by Shirley Jackson’s writing style.l loved being able to sample the brilliant writing of so many different authors all in one sitting.And they’ve definitely managed to pull it off…. l was left feeling I’d experienced that deep chill,a spooky hidden dark side that leaves you to interpret it in your own way.An unsettling domestic horror mystery vibe.
With thanks to Netgalley,Ellen Datlow and Titan books for my chance to read and review this book.
juffnstuff's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Child abuse
Moderate: Death
sil3nos's review against another edition
3.0
A very mixed bag for me.
I reviewed each of the story in 1-2 sentences along the way but I don't want to copy paste it here.
Instead, I will highlight the stories I highly enjoyed and found especially worth reading.
- Quiet Dead Things by Cassandra Khaw
- Money of the Dead by Karen Heuler
- Hag by Benjamin Percy
- Take me, I am Free by Joyce Carol Oates
- A trip to Paris by Richard kadrey
- Special Meal by Josh Malerman
- Tiptoe by Laird Barron
- Skinder's Veil by Kelly Link
This seems like quite a lot and it is, but this collection includes a lot of stories and those that aren't listed above did really pull those gems down. I think most of them will be enjoyed by other readers, they just weren't for me, so much so that I actively dislike most of them.
My top three are highlighted above.
I reviewed each of the story in 1-2 sentences along the way but I don't want to copy paste it here.
Instead, I will highlight the stories I highly enjoyed and found especially worth reading.
- Quiet Dead Things by Cassandra Khaw
- Money of the Dead by Karen Heuler
- Hag by Benjamin Percy
- Take me, I am Free by Joyce Carol Oates
- A trip to Paris by Richard kadrey
- Special Meal by Josh Malerman
- Tiptoe by Laird Barron
- Skinder's Veil by Kelly Link
This seems like quite a lot and it is, but this collection includes a lot of stories and those that aren't listed above did really pull those gems down. I think most of them will be enjoyed by other readers, they just weren't for me, so much so that I actively dislike most of them.
My top three are highlighted above.
renmarshallbrown's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic collection that absolutely delivers on what it aimed for.
Favorite stories:
“Funeral Birds” M. Rickert
“For Sale By Owner” Elizabeth Hand
“Money of the Dead” Karen Heuler
“The Party” Paul Tremblay
“Pear of Anguish” Gemma Files
“Skinder's Veil” Kelly Link
Favorite stories:
“Funeral Birds” M. Rickert
“For Sale By Owner” Elizabeth Hand
“Money of the Dead” Karen Heuler
“The Party” Paul Tremblay
“Pear of Anguish” Gemma Files
“Skinder's Veil” Kelly Link
terese_utan_h'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0