Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror by Jordan Peele, John Joseph Adams
12 reviews
p_ttyb_tch's review
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. đ
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
the star of the show by far was The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson! god, but she shines. đ
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
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Mass/school shootings
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
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. Thereâs also a lot of social commentary presented in a surprisingly subtle tone, but itâs not like any punches are being pulled from the message most readers will receive. Such a wonderfully diverse variety of voices and topics- thereâs 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 thereâs 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.
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 thereâs 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
Moderate: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Racism
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Slavery, Alcohol, Bullying, Homophobia, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
journeywithrosie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
I went into this book purely because I had read Jackal by Erin E. Adams and wanted to read more from her. I honestly only planned to read her story, but when I discovered how many incredibly talented writers were involved, AND that it was edited by Jordan Peele, I knew I had to read the whole thing.
This anthology has a collection of various types of horror including paranormal, speculative, science fiction, fantasy, historical, and dystopian. There was body horror, ghost hunting, freedom rides, and evil mermaids. Along with the variety of themes and genres, the audiobook has an ensemble cast which was an incredibly enjoyable experience.
Here are my thoughts for the stories. I honestly forgot to write a review for the last two as I was reading. Now that I look back, I don't really remember exactly what they were about, they were just okay to me.
There were some major hits, some misses, and some outright DNFs. But the hits brought the book rating up for me.
Reckless Eyeballing by N.K. Jemisin
4/5
In this story we follow a corrupt cop who is able to tell when someone has done something wrong from looking at the lights on their cars. This story wasnât necessarily scary to me, it was just very unnerving. There is a realness to it that was difficult at times, and some body horror that was super cool. It was enjoyable and unique, but I did find the ending to be a bit predictable. TW for sexual assault off page.
Eye and Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse
5/5
This story was so cool! We are following siblings that are ghost/monster hunters who are called to a case that turned out to be much different than they expected. This was so creepy, but also really funny. Loved how this one ended, it took me totally off guard.
Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull
3/5
A story about a man who struggles to stay committed to one place or relationship and the repercussions of that. This definitely didnât feel like horror to me, more like speculative fiction. But I enjoyed the writing style, and the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. The ending was my favorite part, it was quite unique and not what I expected, but I can imagine some might not like it as much.
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah
2.5/5
An alien species invades earth by using women as incubators. Iâm not a huge fan of sci-fi, but I was willing to follow along. The beginning really drew me in. However, I found the pacing to be really off. As soon as I started to get interested in the story there would be some sort of shift in tone or storyline. At times I struggled to understand what was happening. I still donât understand what happened at the end of the story. Maybe that's just because of my experience, or lack thereof, with sci-fi.
The Other One by Violet Allen
5/5
A woman texts her ex and receives an eerie response from his new partner. I wonât say anything else because I wouldnât want to ruin it for anyone. I wonât lie, I wasnât sure about this one when it started, but it picked up right away and I loved all the twists and turns. This is the first one that truly felt like horror to me. It was tense and spooky, lots of body horror and gruesomeness. Loved it!
Lasirèn by Erin E. Adams
4/5
A tale of a mermaid luring 3 sisters away. I picked up this anthology because I read Jackal by Erin E Adams and wanted to read more from her. This story, like jackal, was amazingly written and had me fixed from start to finish. I didnât find it particularly scary, but it was unique and the fantasy elements were great. I audibly gasped at parts, and the ending made my heart ache.
The Rider by Tananarive Due
10/5
A 1960s freedom ride takes an unexpected turn.
WOWW. This one was it for me. This is the only story that had my heart beating out of my chest, I suppose since the stakes were so high, and the situation was so real. I loved everything about this one, from start to finish, I loved the fantasy elements, this was just a perfect story to me.
The Aesthete by Justin C. Key
3/5
A dystopian future where human-like android art pieces are created and made a spectacle to the world. One android is different from the rest.
There were moments I loved this story, but there were also moments I had no idea what was happening. The beginning was quite beautiful, and there was a romance subplot that I loved. The main character was endearing and complicated. The last portion enrapture me, but I totally do not understand what happened at the end lol perhaps with sci-fi I need to read physically to have a full understanding.
Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels
DNF
This one is in 2nd person, and I really do not enjoy 2nd person narration. It was stopping me from continuing the rest of the stories, so I decided to DNF.
Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor
5/5
A woman breaks cultural traditions angering an ancient being in a Nigerian funeral. This story was amazing. Loved learning about Nigerian traditions, loved the suspense and build up. There was so much tension throughout. Very cool!
Flicker by LD Lewis
3/5
Dystopian tale about the world turning dark which caused chaos. This was a fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish! Sort of sci-fi, end of the world, very interesting. I really enjoyed it, but I felt it was rushed at some points and I wish certain points were expanded upon more. Because so many plot points were rushed this one did not make a lasting impression on me.
The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson
5/5
A young girl swims to the bottom of a fishing hole to kill a creature terrorizing her village, but the creature clings to her instead.
This story made me so glad I read this book via audio. I loved the narrator, loved every minute hearing her. This story was so different from anything I'd ever read. There is a lot of body horror, at times I found myself cringing. But even so, I enjoyed it. And I really loved the ending, it was so satisfying!
The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus
3/5
In the late 1800s, after the civil war, a young girl experiences a lynching. This is beautifully written, lots of great commentary throughout, and there were many tense moments. However, I found myself a bit bored through the majority of the story. It was very slow moving.
A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott
DNF
This story starts with the suicidal ideations of the MMC as he reflects on his brother's murder. I found out from another reviewer that there is later a mass shooting⌠these are all topics that I personally donât feel I can mentally handle at the moment.
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers
DNF
I really didn't want to DNF another story, but I was so annoyed with this one. It's about two women who were killed, and who linger as ghosts to kill others. The characters were irritating, and I was honestly just really bored.
An American Fable by Chesya Burke
5/5
A black WWII veteran is saved from an angry mob by a mysterious girl. This was another hit for me. So much great commentary, a tense build up with the attacking mob and subsequent consequences, all linked with folklore. The ending was amazing. Loved it.
Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor
4/5
Prisoners are taught tasks through AI learning, a guard discovers the truth behind this system. I saw another reviewer say this story was predictable, but I personally was caught off guard! I really enjoyed the twist. However, I did find the ending to be a bit lack luster.
This anthology has a collection of various types of horror including paranormal, speculative, science fiction, fantasy, historical, and dystopian. There was body horror, ghost hunting, freedom rides, and evil mermaids. Along with the variety of themes and genres, the audiobook has an ensemble cast which was an incredibly enjoyable experience.
Here are my thoughts for the stories. I honestly forgot to write a review for the last two as I was reading. Now that I look back, I don't really remember exactly what they were about, they were just okay to me.
There were some major hits, some misses, and some outright DNFs. But the hits brought the book rating up for me.
Reckless Eyeballing by N.K. Jemisin
4/5
In this story we follow a corrupt cop who is able to tell when someone has done something wrong from looking at the lights on their cars. This story wasnât necessarily scary to me, it was just very unnerving. There is a realness to it that was difficult at times, and some body horror that was super cool. It was enjoyable and unique, but I did find the ending to be a bit predictable. TW for sexual assault off page.
Eye and Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse
5/5
This story was so cool! We are following siblings that are ghost/monster hunters who are called to a case that turned out to be much different than they expected. This was so creepy, but also really funny. Loved how this one ended, it took me totally off guard.
Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull
3/5
A story about a man who struggles to stay committed to one place or relationship and the repercussions of that. This definitely didnât feel like horror to me, more like speculative fiction. But I enjoyed the writing style, and the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. The ending was my favorite part, it was quite unique and not what I expected, but I can imagine some might not like it as much.
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah
2.5/5
An alien species invades earth by using women as incubators. Iâm not a huge fan of sci-fi, but I was willing to follow along. The beginning really drew me in. However, I found the pacing to be really off. As soon as I started to get interested in the story there would be some sort of shift in tone or storyline. At times I struggled to understand what was happening. I still donât understand what happened at the end of the story. Maybe that's just because of my experience, or lack thereof, with sci-fi.
The Other One by Violet Allen
5/5
A woman texts her ex and receives an eerie response from his new partner. I wonât say anything else because I wouldnât want to ruin it for anyone. I wonât lie, I wasnât sure about this one when it started, but it picked up right away and I loved all the twists and turns. This is the first one that truly felt like horror to me. It was tense and spooky, lots of body horror and gruesomeness. Loved it!
Lasirèn by Erin E. Adams
4/5
A tale of a mermaid luring 3 sisters away. I picked up this anthology because I read Jackal by Erin E Adams and wanted to read more from her. This story, like jackal, was amazingly written and had me fixed from start to finish. I didnât find it particularly scary, but it was unique and the fantasy elements were great. I audibly gasped at parts, and the ending made my heart ache.
The Rider by Tananarive Due
10/5
A 1960s freedom ride takes an unexpected turn.
WOWW. This one was it for me. This is the only story that had my heart beating out of my chest, I suppose since the stakes were so high, and the situation was so real. I loved everything about this one, from start to finish, I loved the fantasy elements, this was just a perfect story to me.
The Aesthete by Justin C. Key
3/5
A dystopian future where human-like android art pieces are created and made a spectacle to the world. One android is different from the rest.
There were moments I loved this story, but there were also moments I had no idea what was happening. The beginning was quite beautiful, and there was a romance subplot that I loved. The main character was endearing and complicated. The last portion enrapture me, but I totally do not understand what happened at the end lol perhaps with sci-fi I need to read physically to have a full understanding.
Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels
DNF
This one is in 2nd person, and I really do not enjoy 2nd person narration. It was stopping me from continuing the rest of the stories, so I decided to DNF.
Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor
5/5
A woman breaks cultural traditions angering an ancient being in a Nigerian funeral. This story was amazing. Loved learning about Nigerian traditions, loved the suspense and build up. There was so much tension throughout. Very cool!
Flicker by LD Lewis
3/5
Dystopian tale about the world turning dark which caused chaos. This was a fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish! Sort of sci-fi, end of the world, very interesting. I really enjoyed it, but I felt it was rushed at some points and I wish certain points were expanded upon more. Because so many plot points were rushed this one did not make a lasting impression on me.
The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson
5/5
A young girl swims to the bottom of a fishing hole to kill a creature terrorizing her village, but the creature clings to her instead.
This story made me so glad I read this book via audio. I loved the narrator, loved every minute hearing her. This story was so different from anything I'd ever read. There is a lot of body horror, at times I found myself cringing. But even so, I enjoyed it. And I really loved the ending, it was so satisfying!
The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus
3/5
In the late 1800s, after the civil war, a young girl experiences a lynching. This is beautifully written, lots of great commentary throughout, and there were many tense moments. However, I found myself a bit bored through the majority of the story. It was very slow moving.
A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott
DNF
This story starts with the suicidal ideations of the MMC as he reflects on his brother's murder. I found out from another reviewer that there is later a mass shooting⌠these are all topics that I personally donât feel I can mentally handle at the moment.
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers
DNF
I really didn't want to DNF another story, but I was so annoyed with this one. It's about two women who were killed, and who linger as ghosts to kill others. The characters were irritating, and I was honestly just really bored.
An American Fable by Chesya Burke
5/5
A black WWII veteran is saved from an angry mob by a mysterious girl. This was another hit for me. So much great commentary, a tense build up with the attacking mob and subsequent consequences, all linked with folklore. The ending was amazing. Loved it.
Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor
4/5
Prisoners are taught tasks through AI learning, a guard discovers the truth behind this system. I saw another reviewer say this story was predictable, but I personally was caught off guard! I really enjoyed the twist. However, I did find the ending to be a bit lack luster.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Body horror, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Mental illness, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
astrangewind's review
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.
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
Graphic: Racism, Gore, Body horror, Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Slavery, Drug use, Drug abuse, Car accident, Medical content, Police brutality, Grief, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, War, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Confinement, Colonisation, Misogyny, Infertility, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pandemic/Epidemic, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Car accident, Violence, Racism, Body horror, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Child death, Racial slurs, Drug use, Cannibalism, Police brutality, Abandonment, Gun violence, Medical content, Slavery, Drug abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Rape, Homophobia, Suicide, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
cherrywine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Physical abuse, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Body horror
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Drug abuse
directorpurry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
Even though I really should have finished this months ago, humongous, enormous thanks to Netgalley and Random House for my eARC! All opinions are my own.
At first glance, this anthology is a hard hitter. I haven't seen an author list this insane since the Norton Anthology of English Lit in college (/j đ) The authors list basically reads like a preview to my 2024 February Black History month TBR. And it was introduced by <i>Jordan Peele</i>, the creator of my favorite horror film of all time?! (If you're wondering, it's <i>Nope</i>.) So, of course, as with all things I am shiveringly excited for, it took me literal MONTHS to get to.
Here, finally, is my review.
Reckless Eyeballing - 4 stars
A Black cop is seeing eyes on cars where the driver has committed a crime (though, in many cases a "crime"). He also deals with his insecurities in the unhealthiest way possible.
The ending made me literally gasp, "Holy shit," out loud. Also, I've now finally, finally read an N.K. Jemison! Very excited to read more by her.
Eye & Tooth - 4.5 stars
Atticus and Zelda, the Eye and the Tooth. Two powerful siblings who make their living solving problems of the inhuman.
a;sdflkj;asdlfjasldkfj!!!!! OMG!!! I want them as a full novel. Please, please, please Rebecca Roanhorse, I am begging for a series. đ
Wandering Devil - 3 stars
Wandering's in Freddy's blood. First, he left to look for his mother. Then he stayed gone to wander. Could he really be considering settling down?
This one made me a little sad at first, and I'm not totally sold with the ending. I'm not necessarily <i>surprised</i> with how it ended, but I don't know if all the ends were woven in before we got there.
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers - 5 stars
Alien. Babies.
X-FILES WHOMST? BREAKING DAWN, IS THAT YOU? My literal worst fucking nightmare. I want to throw up. This is the optimal short story because it's the perfect bite. I don't want more, I don't want less.
The Other One - 4 stars
Angela's just been broken up with by Ogelthorpe. (What a truly terrible name.)
The weirdest shit you can imagine ensues.
Lasirèn - 2.75 stars
What do you do when your sister returns, but she's not your sister?
I found the writing and the language used in this story to be beautiful, but they were more compelling than the actual plot.
The Rider - 3.5 stars
Two sisters try to join the Freedom Riders in the fight against Jim Crow.
Loved the premise and some of the choices were really intriguing in this one, but I found the ending quite abrupt.
The Asthete - 2.5 stars
Androids, called Art, live in a world where they are nothing more than entertainment, without the rights of many humans.
I don't know about this one. Absolutely fascinating concepts, and I really applaud the author for the creation. But it contained a lot of language and concepts that really just get thrown at you. It's a bit unexpected and not as easy to digest in such a short amount of pages.
Pressure - uhhh 2 stars?
You are the only Black person in your family. You are having a family reunion.
I LOVE second person narration. I think it's under-utilized and I want to see more of it. But I have no fucking clue what happened at the end of that story.
Dark Home - 3 stars
Nwokolo's father has died. When she returns to the United States from Nigeria, spirits may have followed with her.
I wish I loved Nnedi Okorafor's writing like so many other people seem to. Conceptually, her stories always hit the mark. But there's just something about the writing that never grabs me. This one was pretty good though!
Flicker - 3.5 stars
The world is going black, a few seconds at a time...
I love a good optometry horror story. Oh, is that niche? TOO BAD because I wrote and published one too!This is the kind of apocalypse story I like, where the whole concept of the apocalypse is so insane that it circles around to cool again. Like Bird Box vibes, but this time everything just disappears for a bit at a time.
The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World - 4.5 stars
Yenderil has been training to kill the Devil that lives in the blue hole. But she hasn't been training for this.
WOAH this one is so weird and good!!! What a wild story. I love the way it's written, there's something so engaging about the stylistic format.
The Norwood Trouble - 3.75 stars
Segregation is strong in Norwood.
But damn the Black families that live there can kickass.
A Grief of the Dead - 5 stars
Mahad's identical twin, Jamal, is dead. So why is he knocking at their sister's door?
This story fucked me UP in a good way. Wow. Also really, really, really heavy. Major CW on this one for gun violence, mass shootings, description of injuries, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree - 4 stars
Nothing good can come of a stretch of road called Dead Man's Curve.
đťđťđťđť
An American Fable - 3.5 stars
Noble Washington returns home from WWI, traveling by train to Chicago.
I love, love the mythology and magic behind this one.
Your Happy Place - 4 stars
The Process teaches those in the prison system new skills via AI learning and computer interfaces.
as;dflkjasd;fl Wowza. Very important story. Definitely one to read paired with Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis. The opening quote from the Constitution is spot on.
Hide & Seek - 5 stars
a;fkldj I can't even summarize this story for you without spoilers. But I love P. Djèlà Clark so muchhhhhh. Body horror unmatched.
Origin Story - 4 stars
A play, set during the Unified Theory of Whiteness seminar course.
I don't think I'm capable of giving me feelings on this in two to three sentences. This one is a thinker.
Final thoughts: I'm not usually a short story reader, because I find when there's just a really good premise, I tend to get too attached to the idea. I want <i>more</i> than just the snippet we see of any give concept (see: Eye & Tooth). On the other hand, Invasion of the Baby Snatchers is basically my perfect short story because if I had been given <i>any</i> more I would have had nightmares!
This collection was wonderful and inventive and really explored the bounds of what is horror, some in the more standard ways and others showing the way an everyday event can turn. I would highly recommend checking this one out!
At first glance, this anthology is a hard hitter. I haven't seen an author list this insane since the Norton Anthology of English Lit in college (/j đ) The authors list basically reads like a preview to my 2024 February Black History month TBR. And it was introduced by <i>Jordan Peele</i>, the creator of my favorite horror film of all time?! (If you're wondering, it's <i>Nope</i>.) So, of course, as with all things I am shiveringly excited for, it took me literal MONTHS to get to.
Here, finally, is my review.
Reckless Eyeballing - 4 stars
A Black cop is seeing eyes on cars where the driver has committed a crime (though, in many cases a "crime"). He also deals with his insecurities in the unhealthiest way possible.
The ending made me literally gasp, "Holy shit," out loud. Also, I've now finally, finally read an N.K. Jemison! Very excited to read more by her.
Eye & Tooth - 4.5 stars
Atticus and Zelda, the Eye and the Tooth. Two powerful siblings who make their living solving problems of the inhuman.
a;sdflkj;asdlfjasldkfj!!!!! OMG!!! I want them as a full novel. Please, please, please Rebecca Roanhorse, I am begging for a series. đ
Wandering Devil - 3 stars
Wandering's in Freddy's blood. First, he left to look for his mother. Then he stayed gone to wander. Could he really be considering settling down?
This one made me a little sad at first, and I'm not totally sold with the ending. I'm not necessarily <i>surprised</i> with how it ended, but I don't know if all the ends were woven in before we got there.
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers - 5 stars
Alien. Babies.
X-FILES WHOMST? BREAKING DAWN, IS THAT YOU? My literal worst fucking nightmare. I want to throw up. This is the optimal short story because it's the perfect bite. I don't want more, I don't want less.
The Other One - 4 stars
Angela's just been broken up with by Ogelthorpe. (What a truly terrible name.)
The weirdest shit you can imagine ensues.
Lasirèn - 2.75 stars
What do you do when your sister returns, but she's not your sister?
I found the writing and the language used in this story to be beautiful, but they were more compelling than the actual plot.
The Rider - 3.5 stars
Two sisters try to join the Freedom Riders in the fight against Jim Crow.
Loved the premise and some of the choices were really intriguing in this one, but I found the ending quite abrupt.
The Asthete - 2.5 stars
Androids, called Art, live in a world where they are nothing more than entertainment, without the rights of many humans.
I don't know about this one. Absolutely fascinating concepts, and I really applaud the author for the creation. But it contained a lot of language and concepts that really just get thrown at you. It's a bit unexpected and not as easy to digest in such a short amount of pages.
Pressure - uhhh 2 stars?
You are the only Black person in your family. You are having a family reunion.
I LOVE second person narration. I think it's under-utilized and I want to see more of it. But I have no fucking clue what happened at the end of that story.
Dark Home - 3 stars
Nwokolo's father has died. When she returns to the United States from Nigeria, spirits may have followed with her.
I wish I loved Nnedi Okorafor's writing like so many other people seem to. Conceptually, her stories always hit the mark. But there's just something about the writing that never grabs me. This one was pretty good though!
Flicker - 3.5 stars
The world is going black, a few seconds at a time...
I love a good optometry horror story. Oh, is that niche? TOO BAD because I wrote and published one too!
The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World - 4.5 stars
Yenderil has been training to kill the Devil that lives in the blue hole. But she hasn't been training for this.
WOAH this one is so weird and good!!! What a wild story. I love the way it's written, there's something so engaging about the stylistic format.
The Norwood Trouble - 3.75 stars
Segregation is strong in Norwood.
But damn the Black families that live there can kickass.
A Grief of the Dead - 5 stars
Mahad's identical twin, Jamal, is dead. So why is he knocking at their sister's door?
This story fucked me UP in a good way. Wow. Also really, really, really heavy. Major CW on this one for gun violence, mass shootings, description of injuries, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree - 4 stars
Nothing good can come of a stretch of road called Dead Man's Curve.
đťđťđťđť
An American Fable - 3.5 stars
Noble Washington returns home from WWI, traveling by train to Chicago.
I love, love the mythology and magic behind this one.
Your Happy Place - 4 stars
The Process teaches those in the prison system new skills via AI learning and computer interfaces.
as;dflkjasd;fl Wowza. Very important story. Definitely one to read paired with Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis. The opening quote from the Constitution is spot on.
Hide & Seek - 5 stars
a;fkldj I can't even summarize this story for you without spoilers. But I love P. Djèlà Clark so muchhhhhh. Body horror unmatched.
Origin Story - 4 stars
A play, set during the Unified Theory of Whiteness seminar course.
I don't think I'm capable of giving me feelings on this in two to three sentences. This one is a thinker.
Final thoughts: I'm not usually a short story reader, because I find when there's just a really good premise, I tend to get too attached to the idea. I want <i>more</i> than just the snippet we see of any give concept (see: Eye & Tooth). On the other hand, Invasion of the Baby Snatchers is basically my perfect short story because if I had been given <i>any</i> more I would have had nightmares!
This collection was wonderful and inventive and really explored the bounds of what is horror, some in the more standard ways and others showing the way an everyday event can turn. I would highly recommend checking this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Addiction, Sexual violence, Racism, Mental illness, Police brutality, Sexism, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, and Slavery
Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Self harm
Minor: Child death
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
OUT THERE SCREAMING is an excellent collection of horror tales from a Black lens. Most of the stories are set in some version of the United States, and many deal either explicitly or implicitly with the distinctly American flavors of racism and anti-Blackness which are deeply imbedded in this country. Many of them come at it sideways, it's the water in which they swim but it's not the focus of their story, if its referenced at all.
I love "Reckless Eyeballing" by N.K. Jemisin for its sharp characterization and disturbingly literal execution of a titular pun. It's a great choice for opening the anthology. The ending of "Eye & Tooth" by Rebecca Roanhorse genuinely surprised me, and was well-placed to adjust my expectations of how ideas of monstrosity might play out through the collection. I appreciate "Invasion of the Baby Snatchers" by Lesley Nneka Arimah because pregancy is a triggering topic for me and one of the few ways I can comfortably engage with it is through horror. "The Aesthete" by Justin C. Key uses the language of Art to present a different and horrific system of denial of personhood and autonomy, making an incisive social commentary without ever stepping out of the story's frame (as the best horror does). "Flicker" by L.D. Lewis is a very cool premise which uses the short story format to great effect (I love apocalyptic stories). "Your Happy Place" is brilliantly layered, topping its own baseline for horror through a recombination of slavery and capitalism, two things which are awful on their own but even worse together.
The whole collection flows well, don't miss OUT THERE SCREAMING if you like horror. And, if horror isn't your thing, go find these excellent authors elsewhere, as many of them have published work in other genres.
I love "Reckless Eyeballing" by N.K. Jemisin for its sharp characterization and disturbingly literal execution of a titular pun. It's a great choice for opening the anthology. The ending of "Eye & Tooth" by Rebecca Roanhorse genuinely surprised me, and was well-placed to adjust my expectations of how ideas of monstrosity might play out through the collection. I appreciate "Invasion of the Baby Snatchers" by Lesley Nneka Arimah because pregancy is a triggering topic for me and one of the few ways I can comfortably engage with it is through horror. "The Aesthete" by Justin C. Key uses the language of Art to present a different and horrific system of denial of personhood and autonomy, making an incisive social commentary without ever stepping out of the story's frame (as the best horror does). "Flicker" by L.D. Lewis is a very cool premise which uses the short story format to great effect (I love apocalyptic stories). "Your Happy Place" is brilliantly layered, topping its own baseline for horror through a recombination of slavery and capitalism, two things which are awful on their own but even worse together.
The whole collection flows well, don't miss OUT THERE SCREAMING if you like horror. And, if horror isn't your thing, go find these excellent authors elsewhere, as many of them have published work in other genres.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Racism, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Infertility, Death of parent, Cursing, Sexism, Murder, Pregnancy, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Cancer, Animal death, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Fatphobia, Confinement, Child death, Vomit, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Suicide, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Self harm, Stalking, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, War, Rape, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Cannibalism
âReckless Eyeballingâ - CW for cursing, misogyny, sexism, sexual content, sexual assault, blood, violence, racism, injury detail, police brutality, murder, death. Minor CW for ableist language, domestic abuse, self harm. âEye & Toothâ - CW for cursing, blood, violence. Minor CW for ableist language, domestic abuse, cannibalism, murder, child death, death. âWandering Devilâ - CW for abandonment. âInvasion of the Baby Snatchersâ - CW for pregnancy, body horror, death. âThe Other Oneâ - CW for blood, gore, body horror, violence. Minor CW for ableist language, sexual content, mental illness, forced institutionalization, cursing, drug use, stalking, self harm, suicide, death. âLasirènâ - CW for kidnapping, violence. Minor CW for abandonment, pregnancy (brief mention). âThe Riderâ - CW for racism, blood, violence, death. Minor CW for police brutality, bus accident, rape (brief mention). âThe Aestheteâ - CW for sexual content, cursing, infertility, blood, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, cancer, suicide, parental death, child death, death âPressureâ - CW for racism, homophobia, racial slurs, cursing, fatphobia, blood, injury detail, animal death. âDark Homeâ - CW for grief, cursing, sexism, misogyny, blood, parental death, death. âFlickerâ - CW for vomit, blood, violence, gun violence, death. âThe Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the Worldâ - Graphic CW for blood, gore, body horror. CW for vomit, violence, medical trauma, animal death, child death, parental death, death. âThe Norwood Troubleâ - CW for cursing, racism, violence, gun violence. Minor CW for ableism, sexual assault, drug use, alcohol, slavery, parental death, death. âA Grief of the Deadâ - CW for grief, sexual content, alcohol, blood, gore, violence, gun violence, injury detail, suicidal thoughts, slavery, murder, parental death, death. âA Bird Sings by the Etching Treeâ - CW for racism, alcohol, blood, gore, violence, injury detail, car accident, murder, death. âAn American Fableâ - Graphic CW for racism, blood, violence, death. CW for injury detail, medical content. Minor CW for war. âYour Happy Placeâ - CW for blood, confinement, slavery, murder, child death, death. Minor CW for sexual content, drug use, drug abuse. âHide & Seekâ - CW for cursing, drug use, drug abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, blood, gore, body horror, parental death, death. Minor CW for excrement. âOrigin Storyâ - CW for racism, sexism. Minor CW for fire, blood, gore, violence, animal death.savvylit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This excellent collection of horror stories is brimming with immensely talented Black authors. Not only that, but the frights are non-stop - regardless of whether they are rooted in terrifying reality, magic, or mythology. One of my personal favorites in this collection is the opener: "Reckless Eyeballing" by N.K. Jemisin. In it, a cruel highway patrolman notices that some vehicles have developed human eyes. In another favorite, "Your Happy Place" by Terence Taylor, a former prisoner turns into a whistleblower at the experimental prison where he had been incarcerated. Lastly - but certainly not least - in "Lasirèn" by Erin E. Adams, a trio of sisters in Haiti reckon with a siren and her devastating demands. And those are just my own favorites! This anthology has so many more stories that are just as chilling and riveting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this collection to the following folks:
⢠fans of horror & speculative fiction.
⢠fans of Jordan Peele & his films.
⢠fans of the Netflix series "Black Mirror."
If you fit any (or all) of those categories, you will definitely not want to miss out on Out There Screaming!
Overall, I would highly recommend this collection to the following folks:
⢠fans of horror & speculative fiction.
⢠fans of Jordan Peele & his films.
⢠fans of the Netflix series "Black Mirror."
If you fit any (or all) of those categories, you will definitely not want to miss out on Out There Screaming!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Mental illness
2treads's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One thing that stuck with me as I read through each story is the familiarity I had with the writing style of the authors whose works I am familiar with, whether it be their shorter or longer works. They didn't disappoint here.
I am not normally a horror reader but I have come to realize that I enjoy the subtleties that can be used to unsettle and terrify.
It is clear that each writer brought their own style and genre-rich crafting power to these stories, mining the many ways in which existing as a Black body within certain and specific spaces can affect and warp us. I loved that these characters were allowed to spread their individualities across the page, be it in a sinister or innocent way. These stories looked into historical biases, contemporary anti-Black racism and violence, mental health struggles, family bonds, magic, hoodoo, identity, love, toxicity, and everything in between, making each story quite the reflection of cultural heritage and history.
I am not normally a horror reader but I have come to realize that I enjoy the subtleties that can be used to unsettle and terrify.
It is clear that each writer brought their own style and genre-rich crafting power to these stories, mining the many ways in which existing as a Black body within certain and specific spaces can affect and warp us. I loved that these characters were allowed to spread their individualities across the page, be it in a sinister or innocent way. These stories looked into historical biases, contemporary anti-Black racism and violence, mental health struggles, family bonds, magic, hoodoo, identity, love, toxicity, and everything in between, making each story quite the reflection of cultural heritage and history.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Police brutality, Mental illness, Car accident, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder