Scan barcode
zlaza's review
4.0
I fell in love with Aliya Whiteley's writing and creativity after reading her fascinating novella, 'The Beauty', when it first came out in 2014.
'From the Neck Up' is Whiteley's collection of 16 short stories that both scare and inspire you.
Her stories are an interesting blend of science fiction and speculative horror.
The stories cover a variety of themes about the world we live in, ranging from environmental apocalypse to exploring the uglier parts of the human psyche.
The genius of her writing is in how normal and mundane surroundings grow increasingly more strange and uncanny.
Like most short story collections this is a bit of a mixed bag, some stories are more gripping and impactful than others. My personal favourites were 'Into Glass' and 'Blessings Erupt', which I suggest you look up online.
But what this collection does best is highlight Whiteley's dreamlike prose and her wild imagination.
I highly recommend this to anyone who's into semi-disturbing and weird fiction like I am.
'From the Neck Up' is Whiteley's collection of 16 short stories that both scare and inspire you.
Her stories are an interesting blend of science fiction and speculative horror.
The stories cover a variety of themes about the world we live in, ranging from environmental apocalypse to exploring the uglier parts of the human psyche.
The genius of her writing is in how normal and mundane surroundings grow increasingly more strange and uncanny.
Like most short story collections this is a bit of a mixed bag, some stories are more gripping and impactful than others. My personal favourites were 'Into Glass' and 'Blessings Erupt', which I suggest you look up online.
But what this collection does best is highlight Whiteley's dreamlike prose and her wild imagination.
I highly recommend this to anyone who's into semi-disturbing and weird fiction like I am.
alpha_build's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
apologiesforeverything's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
raforall's review
4.0
Review appears in the June 2021 issue of Library Journal here:https://www.libraryjournal.com/?reviewDetail=from-the-neck-up-1781555
Three Words That Describe This Book: beguiling, the ordinary made strange, unnerving
Draft Review:
Winner of numerous awards for her short fiction, Whiteley is back with another excellent collection of 16, lyrical, thought provoking, and original stories that on the surface, incorporate the tropes of science fiction and fantasy but, at their heart are all more about making the reader feel the unease and discomfort of Horror. The stories, of varying lengths, feature cli-fi, monsters, aliens, fairy tale frames, and general weirdness that is just on the speculative side of normal, grabbing readers’ attention but leaving them unsettled at the conclusion of each. “Into the Glass,” a short but powerful body horror tale of love and art found near the center of this volume is a perfect example of how Whiteley melds darkness with beauty into her stories, showcasing how she lures the reader in, unsettles them, but still hooks them into turning the page and experiencing it all over again,
Verdict: This beguiling and beautiful, yet undeniably unnerving collection of tales of the ordinary made strange will captivate readers as it explores the similar provocative and intriguing feelings found in the short works of Samanta Schweblin, Kelly Link, and Carmen Maria Machado.
Notes: Lyrical and original. 16 stories. So unnerving yet readers are drawn to the beauty and originality of the storyline, it's weirdness that is just the speculative side of normal, but only a bit so that you, the reader, can see yourself in her protagonists.
Cli-fi, fairytales, monster, aliens...it's all here but "Into Glass"-- halfway through, perfect example of the entire book. Beautiful, thought provoking, and yet dark.
I think the first story-- novella length should have been later because the peppering of the shorter stories right after it captivated me, made me want more. Putting that further in might make it easier for people to be captivated from the start. That's really my only complaint. As a story collection goes this was great.
A great example of how women are taking the all speculative genres together to create stories that make us take a look at our real world through this lens of what cannot be, but infuse it all [sf or fantasy] with dread and unease and discomfort. It will be marketed as SF/Fsy but it is Horror. All about how it makes you feel.
Readalikes: Kelly Link and Samanta Schweblin- Mouthful of Birds. Carmen Maria Machado too.
Three Words That Describe This Book: beguiling, the ordinary made strange, unnerving
Draft Review:
Winner of numerous awards for her short fiction, Whiteley is back with another excellent collection of 16, lyrical, thought provoking, and original stories that on the surface, incorporate the tropes of science fiction and fantasy but, at their heart are all more about making the reader feel the unease and discomfort of Horror. The stories, of varying lengths, feature cli-fi, monsters, aliens, fairy tale frames, and general weirdness that is just on the speculative side of normal, grabbing readers’ attention but leaving them unsettled at the conclusion of each. “Into the Glass,” a short but powerful body horror tale of love and art found near the center of this volume is a perfect example of how Whiteley melds darkness with beauty into her stories, showcasing how she lures the reader in, unsettles them, but still hooks them into turning the page and experiencing it all over again,
Verdict: This beguiling and beautiful, yet undeniably unnerving collection of tales of the ordinary made strange will captivate readers as it explores the similar provocative and intriguing feelings found in the short works of Samanta Schweblin, Kelly Link, and Carmen Maria Machado.
Notes: Lyrical and original. 16 stories. So unnerving yet readers are drawn to the beauty and originality of the storyline, it's weirdness that is just the speculative side of normal, but only a bit so that you, the reader, can see yourself in her protagonists.
Cli-fi, fairytales, monster, aliens...it's all here but "Into Glass"-- halfway through, perfect example of the entire book. Beautiful, thought provoking, and yet dark.
I think the first story-- novella length should have been later because the peppering of the shorter stories right after it captivated me, made me want more. Putting that further in might make it easier for people to be captivated from the start. That's really my only complaint. As a story collection goes this was great.
A great example of how women are taking the all speculative genres together to create stories that make us take a look at our real world through this lens of what cannot be, but infuse it all [sf or fantasy] with dread and unease and discomfort. It will be marketed as SF/Fsy but it is Horror. All about how it makes you feel.
Readalikes: Kelly Link and Samanta Schweblin- Mouthful of Birds. Carmen Maria Machado too.
hauntedtesty's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
bookjenny's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0