Reviews with content warning for Racism - Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror

This was a fantastic anthology! I loved it! The stories were spooky and the right length to be great! I loved the mix of horror/thriller/suspense! I highly recommend the audio as its read by a full cast.

Content Warnings

p_ttyb_tch's review

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

distinct lack of shivers going down my spine. i don't know if i would class many of these as horror, per se, but there's value to be gleaned from each story in their own way :)

the star of the show by far was The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson! god, but she shines. 🌟

honourable mentions:
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Lasirèn by Erin E. Adams
Flicker by L. D. Lewis
A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott

Content Warnings

whatthekatdraggedin's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really liked the variety of stories included. Some read like fables, some were had a sci fi/dystopian vibe and some were quite unnerving. It certainly went out on a high note with the last story, I couldn't put it down.

Content Warnings

ruthypoo2's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This a collection of very striking and what feel like deeply personal stories. All of them are a fresh take on old tropes with history woven into the narrative of many stories. There’s also a lot of social commentary presented in a surprisingly subtle tone, but it’s not like any punches are being pulled from the message most readers will receive. Such a wonderfully diverse variety of voices and topics- there’s easily something to satisfy a wide variety of audiences.

A lot of the stories are so memorable because of a broken-hearted emotion and/or family devotion that permeates. I have to say, at least on this reading, these are the stories that really landed for me, though there’s something truly innovative and captivating about every story.

Eye and Tooth
Lasiren
A Grief of the Dead
Dark Home (one of the most creepy)
Flicker (disorienting)
Your Happy Place
Hide and Seek

I listened to the audiobook and there was at least one unique performer per story. I say performer instead of narrator because it feels like the narrators embody the intention of every story and they were all superb.

Content Warnings

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

Read a few stories by authors I know and love and didn't feel compelled to keep reading.

Content Warnings

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I picked this up because it was the Literally Dead Book Club pick for the month of February.
"Out There Screaming" is an anthology of 19 short stories written by black authors. Each story is meant to be horror in nature, and the anthology explores all different types of horror one might encounter.
My two favorite short stories were "Eye & Tooth" and "The Other One". "Eye & Tooth" follows a brother sister duo who investigate strange phenomena and often get roped into wild, supernatural experiences. "The Other One" follows a woman trying to get over a breakup, when she receives a text message from her ex's new girlfriend that appears to be her ex without his heart.
My biggest gripe with this book is that it is not horror. Yes, some of the stories have some horrific elements, but I think this book is far more science fiction than anything. This is not a bad thing per say, but I think it is mis marketed, and a different audience would enjoy it more.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the supernatural and science fiction.

Content Warnings

astrangewind's review

Go to review page

dark 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

5.0

Out There Screaming left me breathless. It changed the way I feel about horror as a genre. I've never liked how the paranormal tends to be written, in books or in movies; the stories tend towards the Catholic concept of demons, which make each one of those stories predictable and, as a result, boring. But as I've journeyed into non-paranormal horror, it's always been too much for me, like the authors spend more time trying to cram in every gross and gory thing into the same package than actually writing a good story. Out There Screaming is different. It's gross and gory, sure, but it's not just those things. These Black authors' oubliettes - their Sunken Places - reveal the frightening underbelly of things that lurk in the corner of your vision, in the fabric of your interaction with the world, in your own psyche, deep and hungry and sometimes even hopeful.

I couldn't put it down. Out There Screaming is a shining example of what horror should be, not as violence for the sake of it but blooming outward from the real and tangible.

Content Warnings

More...