A review by vexatiousbird
Body Shocks by Ellen Datlow

challenging dark reflective sad tense

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

4.0

As with all compilations it’s a mixed bag, but the good stuff is really good and memorable, and most of the less good stuff is at least interesting conceptually. A lot of it is very conceptual in fact, almost more psychological horror than body horror, but I like both so it worked for me. I skipped a few stories, but not a lot. Thought-provoking, often genuinely creepy, liable to haunt your dreams/nightmares.

Favorites: Natural Skin, Painlessness, Atwater, The Truth that Lies Under Skin and Meat, Spores, You Go Where it Takes You

Content warnings: all of them, probably. Not a lot goes unexplored, from suicide and terminal illness to sexual slavery and incest.