** I received an ARC for an honest review **
Publisher’s Description
With an introduction by Shirley Jackson Award-winner Gemma Files, this oustanding anthology of all things monstrous includes spine-chilling stories from Bentley Little, Simon Clark, Elizabeth Massie, Tim Waggoner, Sumiko Saulson, plus some of the best emerging horror writers working today.
Summary
The Horror Zine’s Book of Monster Stories edited by Jeani Rector and Dean H. Wild contains a chilling variation of monsters and what it means to become monstrous.
Review
The Horror Zine’s Book of Monster Stories was an interesting array of horror and dark fiction. Although the anthology shied away from classic monster stories of werewolves, vampires and other common horror tropes, there was often a repetition of forest, river or lake monsters and insects. A greater selection of interpretations of monster horror would be welcome but nonetheless, there are some truly terrifying and fascinating tales in this anthology.
Those stories that really stood apart from others in this anthology for me were “That Summer” by Bentley Little, “The Man Who Could Talk To Monsters” by Tim Waggoner, “See Me” by Terry Grimwood, “All Hail the Queen” by Sumiko Saulson, “Mouths” by Shawn Phelps, “Breaking and Entering” by Jared Spears, “Somewhere in the Swamps of New Jersey” by Shawn P. Maddison, “His Majesty’s Revenge” by Donna J.W. Munro and “The Scarecrow” by Keiran Meels.
Among this anthology are monsters of unusual forms spawned from nightmares or gelatinous eggs, a hive of insects taking over human form, the folk horror of the Jersey Devils and Scarecrows and monsters made of shadowy substances that leech into reality and formless monsters that possess humanity. These are strongly written tales but a stronger representation of female protagonists, queer or disabled and tales from different cultural heritage would have made a more representative anthology of monster tales. Despite this, there is a uniting essence of monsters stepping from nightmares into twilight worlds and these manifestations of the human mind made terrifying and real.
Conclusion
A recommended read for fans of monster tales, body horror, weird horror and folk horror. This anthology is well worth reading and represents a great addition to horror and dark fiction.
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Leanbh Pearson 