Scan barcode
A review by seanml
The Best of the Best Horror of the Year: Ten Years of Essential Short Horror Fiction by Ellen Datlow
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This, like most short story collections, is a mixed bag. However, the best of the BEST horror of 10 years of publishing should skew higher than the average collection, right? All in all I think it does - the concepts are fun, and of course there's a very diverse list of authors with different voices.
Lowland Sea - A spooky concept that throws you right into the middle of it. The prose was just as bleak as the author meant it to me, so your mileage may vary. 7/10.
Wingless Beasts - Love some desert horror; this one takes a turn in the end, but not to the degree I was maybe hoping for. 6.5/10.
The Nimble Men - Even if the execution is not as dazzling as it could have been, the author did a great job setting up the tension. 8/10.
Little America - Very nice and very freaky. 8.5/10.
Black and White Sky - The first standout of the collection to me. It is a strange and ludicrous concept, and yet treated with all the awful gravity of it happening in real life. 9/10.
The Monster Makers - Again, an interesting concept, but one whose execution I found lacking. 7/10.
Chapter Six - A fun and novel lens to look with at the zombie genre. 7.5/10.
In a Cavern, In a Canyon - The very creepiest of the bunch! Well done. 9/10.
Allochthon - I think the author did a great job at putting in writing an eldritch descent into madness beyond the greater scope of human thought. 8/10.
Shepherd's Business - I get it, but I feel there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Did I just not get it? Am I dumb? 7.5/10.
Down to a Sunless Sea - Spooky-ish sea story. 6.5/10.
The Man from the Peak - This one is freaking bizarre in the weirdest way. It's just some monstrous dude that comes down to chill with some partygoers. At least it's memorable though. 8/10.
In Paris, in the Mouth of Kronos - Again, like the concept, but I thought it focused too much on the buildup, when at the same time it fairly clearly hinted at the big ending the whole time. 7/10.
The Moraine - Classic monster story done very well. Doesn't need to be anything more! 8.5/10.
At the Riding School - This one is weird and plain demented. 7.5/10.
Cargo - Love it, very creepy and borders just enough on real life to make you stare at dark corners. 9/10.
Tender as Teeth - A funny and sad look at the aftermath of a world cured of a zombie apocalypse. Not very scary, but sobering. 7.5/10.
Wild Acre - This is the best one. 9.5/10.
The Callers - It's evil old people. 6.5/10.
This Stagnant Breath of Change - I like the idea, it's alright! If not a little long. 7.5/10.
Grave Goods - I love anything horror with archaeological digs. Very nice. 8.5/10.
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine - Some people think it's great, some don't get it. I don't get it. Why did they have to be like 20 years separated in age? 6/10.
Majorlena - It is what it is. 7/10.
The Days of Our Lives - I hate the characters in this one. Lois is (obviously) the worst, but our guy just doesn't let go. 7.5/10.
You Can Stay All Day - Very nice. 8.5/10.
No Matter Which Way We Turned - Cool, not sure I entirely get it, though. 8/10.
Nesters - I liked it! The dustbowl was a fun choice of setting that gave credence to the isolation of the whole story. 8.5/10.
Better You Believe - It's okay! 7.5/10.
I think my main problem with most of the stories is that every author had a great idea. However, in many cases, the stories here might go on for a bit too long, or try to be too clever with their concept. The best ones are explicit in what they want to accomplish, and don't try and trudge the reader along for their big finish. I suppose it reflects more on the taste of Ellen Datlow, the editor who compiled the stories, than the ability of any of these authors. At the very least, I appreciate each author trying out something novel. 8/10.
Lowland Sea - A spooky concept that throws you right into the middle of it. The prose was just as bleak as the author meant it to me, so your mileage may vary. 7/10.
Wingless Beasts - Love some desert horror; this one takes a turn in the end, but not to the degree I was maybe hoping for. 6.5/10.
The Nimble Men - Even if the execution is not as dazzling as it could have been, the author did a great job setting up the tension. 8/10.
Little America - Very nice and very freaky. 8.5/10.
Black and White Sky - The first standout of the collection to me. It is a strange and ludicrous concept, and yet treated with all the awful gravity of it happening in real life. 9/10.
The Monster Makers - Again, an interesting concept, but one whose execution I found lacking. 7/10.
Chapter Six - A fun and novel lens to look with at the zombie genre. 7.5/10.
In a Cavern, In a Canyon - The very creepiest of the bunch! Well done. 9/10.
Allochthon - I think the author did a great job at putting in writing an eldritch descent into madness beyond the greater scope of human thought. 8/10.
Shepherd's Business - I get it, but I feel there was so much more hiding beneath the surface. Did I just not get it? Am I dumb? 7.5/10.
Down to a Sunless Sea - Spooky-ish sea story. 6.5/10.
The Man from the Peak - This one is freaking bizarre in the weirdest way. It's just some monstrous dude that comes down to chill with some partygoers. At least it's memorable though. 8/10.
In Paris, in the Mouth of Kronos - Again, like the concept, but I thought it focused too much on the buildup, when at the same time it fairly clearly hinted at the big ending the whole time. 7/10.
The Moraine - Classic monster story done very well. Doesn't need to be anything more! 8.5/10.
At the Riding School - This one is weird and plain demented. 7.5/10.
Cargo - Love it, very creepy and borders just enough on real life to make you stare at dark corners. 9/10.
Tender as Teeth - A funny and sad look at the aftermath of a world cured of a zombie apocalypse. Not very scary, but sobering. 7.5/10.
Wild Acre - This is the best one. 9.5/10.
The Callers - It's evil old people. 6.5/10.
This Stagnant Breath of Change - I like the idea, it's alright! If not a little long. 7.5/10.
Grave Goods - I love anything horror with archaeological digs. Very nice. 8.5/10.
The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine - Some people think it's great, some don't get it. I don't get it. Why did they have to be like 20 years separated in age? 6/10.
Majorlena - It is what it is. 7/10.
The Days of Our Lives - I hate the characters in this one. Lois is (obviously) the worst, but our guy just doesn't let go. 7.5/10.
You Can Stay All Day - Very nice. 8.5/10.
No Matter Which Way We Turned - Cool, not sure I entirely get it, though. 8/10.
Nesters - I liked it! The dustbowl was a fun choice of setting that gave credence to the isolation of the whole story. 8.5/10.
Better You Believe - It's okay! 7.5/10.
I think my main problem with most of the stories is that every author had a great idea. However, in many cases, the stories here might go on for a bit too long, or try to be too clever with their concept. The best ones are explicit in what they want to accomplish, and don't try and trudge the reader along for their big finish. I suppose it reflects more on the taste of Ellen Datlow, the editor who compiled the stories, than the ability of any of these authors. At the very least, I appreciate each author trying out something novel. 8/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Cannibalism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Rape