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A review by twicomb
When Things Get Dark by Ellen Datlow
2.0
I wanted wanted wanted to love this, based on the premise. But story after story just did not grab me, and I found myself skimming faster and faster, trying to find even a single one that I felt was actually “Shirley Jackson”-esque.
I finally did, and no surprise here: it was the one by Joyce Carol Oates. THAT story (Take Me, I Am Free) was 5 stars.
The last story is the book, Skinder’s Veil by Kelly Link, was also excellent.
The rest…well, here’s what I’ll say. Having weird random shit happen in a short story and not bothering to explain it does not make said short story Shirley Jackson-esque. Unfortunately, this seemed to be unclear to many of the writers.
As always, your mileage may vary!
I finally did, and no surprise here: it was the one by Joyce Carol Oates. THAT story (Take Me, I Am Free) was 5 stars.
The last story is the book, Skinder’s Veil by Kelly Link, was also excellent.
The rest…well, here’s what I’ll say. Having weird random shit happen in a short story and not bothering to explain it does not make said short story Shirley Jackson-esque. Unfortunately, this seemed to be unclear to many of the writers.
As always, your mileage may vary!