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A review by steveatwaywords
The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1 by James D. Jenkins, Ryan Cagle
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