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tocy777's review against another edition
5.0
This is one exceptionally good collection of weird and horror short fiction. Can't wait for the next volume :3
quetzi's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
I read Volumes 1 & 2 together, and so I will leave the same review for both.
This, foremostly, is an excellent and worthwhile project, not only for the need to move more works of horror into English translation but for the awesome global view of what makes horror fiction (mal)appealing. Working transparently and deliberately in selecting works for each anthology, any reader might challenge a choice or two along the way, but what is here is a wonderful introduction to so many new writers and expansions of the genre that English-speakers/readers can't help but recast their thinking, even finding something new (menopause?) to belong. In short, while demons and spooks abound, they are not the primary pathway to trigger us.
That said, short fiction horror is incredibly difficult to pull off beyond a momentary discomfort or unsettling idea, and not every story is crafted carefully enough to make even these consistently effective. That is a given for any anthology and the multiple tastes of its many readers. Here I found only several of the 40+ that really stood out as writers to watch for, and of these perhaps three or four that will stay with me (I'm looking at you, Hautala's "Pale Toes").
As an introduction to international horror literature, however, I know of no project like this one.
This, foremostly, is an excellent and worthwhile project, not only for the need to move more works of horror into English translation but for the awesome global view of what makes horror fiction (mal)appealing. Working transparently and deliberately in selecting works for each anthology, any reader might challenge a choice or two along the way, but what is here is a wonderful introduction to so many new writers and expansions of the genre that English-speakers/readers can't help but recast their thinking, even finding something new (menopause?) to belong. In short, while demons and spooks abound, they are not the primary pathway to trigger us.
That said, short fiction horror is incredibly difficult to pull off beyond a momentary discomfort or unsettling idea, and not every story is crafted carefully enough to make even these consistently effective. That is a given for any anthology and the multiple tastes of its many readers. Here I found only several of the 40+ that really stood out as writers to watch for, and of these perhaps three or four that will stay with me (I'm looking at you, Hautala's "Pale Toes").
As an introduction to international horror literature, however, I know of no project like this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Mental illness, Gore, and Death
reads_vicariously's review against another edition
4.0
I have to applaud the editors at Valancourt for the immense time and effort it must have taken to not only comb the globe for great stories, but to also translate them for this book. The magnitude of such an endeavor is overwhelming to me. Luckily it was all worth it as this is a fantastic collection of horrifying short stories from around the world!
The stories vary widely in their plots and the type of horror they contain, so there is truly something for everyone here. It was exciting reading this collection as each new story also introduced me to a new author, many of whom I would love to read more from. As with all anthologies there are hits and misses, but overall this is a solid group of entertaining and terrifying tales!!
Some stand outs for me are:
“Mater Tenebrarum” by Pilar Pedraza (Spain)
“The Time Remaining” by Attila Veres (Hungary)
“Señor Ligotti” by Bernardo Esquinca (Mexico)
“The Bones in Her Eyes” by Christien Boomsma (Netherlands)
“All the Birds” by Yvette Tan (Philippines)
The stories vary widely in their plots and the type of horror they contain, so there is truly something for everyone here. It was exciting reading this collection as each new story also introduced me to a new author, many of whom I would love to read more from. As with all anthologies there are hits and misses, but overall this is a solid group of entertaining and terrifying tales!!
Some stand outs for me are:
“Mater Tenebrarum” by Pilar Pedraza (Spain)
“The Time Remaining” by Attila Veres (Hungary)
“Señor Ligotti” by Bernardo Esquinca (Mexico)
“The Bones in Her Eyes” by Christien Boomsma (Netherlands)
“All the Birds” by Yvette Tan (Philippines)
kboglola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
nianarra's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0