Dan Coxon

So overall a great horror anthology that tapped into some of the fear that people had during the pandemic and "lockdowns" in 2020. The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is that a few of the stories were total misses to me. All of them have isolation as a theme though, some authors just did better with using that as a springboard into a larger story.

"The Snow Child" by Alison Littlewood (5 stars)-A strong first story that follows a woman named Tilda who is dealing with her Mother show more who is obsessed with her children made of actual snow. This takes place in Sweden in the winter and who knew how lonely and isolating the woods can be in the winter. And how deadly. I felt for the Mother in this story because there's a long winding road that can make you sort of empathize with her and then quickly snatch that back.

"Friends for Life" by Mark Morris (5 stars)-It's a homage to a famous horror short story. I gave it 5 stars mostly because I was intrigued by how Morris set this up.

"Solivagant" by A.G. Slatter (5 stars)-Not your typical story of a vampire. Here there lies darkness and maybe a sliver of hope.

"Lone Gunman" by Jonathan Maberry (4 stars)-This one dragged in parts. A solider who is dealing with a zombie apocalypse. I started to run out of sympathy for him halfway through the story. There's a certain darkness going on here that Maberry leaves open-ended.

"Second Wind" by M.R. Carey (3 stars)-Absolutely not. This is a zombie story with I guess humor? I don't know, it didn't work and nothing made sense about the dead coming back and the main character in this story, I guess embalming himself so he doesn't smell? I don't know guys. A woman is introduced and at least that didn't go sideways.

"Under Care" by Brian Evenson (3 stars)-This really didn't make any sense to me. I think at the end I went, so heads are just roaming around? What?

"How We Are" by Chikodiili Emelumadu (5 stars)-What would you do if just by touch alone you can bring about death? Most of the stories for the most part take place in the U.S. or England, but this one takes place in Nigeria. I loved the main character of Gifty and her realizing how much in the end her grandmother does love her. But the ending. That ending. Brutal.

"The Long Dead Day" by Joe R. Landsdale (5 stars)-Another zombie tale, this one was heartbreaking.

"Alone is a Long Time" by Michael Marshall Smith (5 stars)-I loved how this ended. Magical objects that cause a lot of trouble are some of my favorite stories. Reminded me a bit of the Twilight Zone too.

"Chalk. Sea. Sand. Sky. Stone." by Lynda E. Rucker (3.5 stars)- I was confused by the ending. But a widow dealing with her grief of losing her husband and left pregnant definitely fit the theme of isolation.

"Ready or Not" by Marian Womack (5 stars)-When gaslighting a woman goes wrong. Very very wrong. Loved this one.

"Letters to a Young Pyschopath" by Nina Allan (3.5 stars)-Not bad, but halfway through it kind of lost the plot and I don't know, the ending gave me pause. It was definitely not happy, at least from my point of view. Which doesn't make it a bad horror story. I was just confused about how I should feel when I got to the end.

"Jaunt" by Ken Liu (2 stars)-Nope. And it didn't help I kept thinking of Stephen King's story about a family going on the whole jaunt. This story had too many excerpts (fake) from articles, etc. that I just didn't get immersed in the story.

"Full Blood" by Owl Goingback (5 stars)-Another zombie tale with a wicked twist that brings in COVID-19 as part of the plot.

"The Blind House" by Ramsey Campbell (3.5 stars)-Not bad, I just thought it rambled on too much. I got bored before I hit the ending.

"There's No Light Between Floors" by Paul Tremblay (1 star)-This made no sense and I re-read it twice.

"So Easy to Kill" by Laird Barron (1 star)-I refuse to even relive this story.

"The Peculiar Seclusion of Molly McMarshall" by Gwendolyn Kiste (5 stars)-A local woman does not leave her home and seems to have an alien presence that only she can see. A very dark ending.

"Across the Bridge" by Tim Lebbon (5 stars)-a young girl finds a town that was part of the before times.

"Fire Above, Fire Below" by Lisa Tuttle (5 stars)-the horrors of a mass shooting and a girl who has a gift of prophecy that no one believes. It someone leaves to something even darker. What a great ending. show less

So overall a great horror anthology that tapped into some of the fear that people had during the pandemic and "lockdowns" in 2020. The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is that a few of the stories were total misses to me. All of them have isolation as a theme though, some authors just did better with using that as a springboard into a larger story.

"The Snow Child" by Alison Littlewood (5 stars)-A strong first story that follows a woman named Tilda who is dealing with her Mother show more who is obsessed with her children made of actual snow. This takes place in Sweden in the winter and who knew how lonely and isolating the woods can be in the winter. And how deadly. I felt for the Mother in this story because there's a long winding road that can make you sort of empathize with her and then quickly snatch that back.

"Friends for Life" by Mark Morris (5 stars)-It's a homage to a famous horror short story. I gave it 5 stars mostly because I was intrigued by how Morris set this up.

"Solivagant" by A.G. Slatter (5 stars)-Not your typical story of a vampire. Here there lies darkness and maybe a sliver of hope.

"Lone Gunman" by Jonathan Maberry (4 stars)-This one dragged in parts. A solider who is dealing with a zombie apocalypse. I started to run out of sympathy for him halfway through the story. There's a certain darkness going on here that Maberry leaves open-ended.

"Second Wind" by M.R. Carey (3 stars)-Absolutely not. This is a zombie story with I guess humor? I don't know, it didn't work and nothing made sense about the dead coming back and the main character in this story, I guess embalming himself so he doesn't smell? I don't know guys. A woman is introduced and at least that didn't go sideways.

"Under Care" by Brian Evenson (3 stars)-This really didn't make any sense to me. I think at the end I went, so heads are just roaming around? What?

"How We Are" by Chikodiili Emelumadu (5 stars)-What would you do if just by touch alone you can bring about death? Most of the stories for the most part take place in the U.S. or England, but this one takes place in Nigeria. I loved the main character of Gifty and her realizing how much in the end her grandmother does love her. But the ending. That ending. Brutal.

"The Long Dead Day" by Joe R. Landsdale (5 stars)-Another zombie tale, this one was heartbreaking.

"Alone is a Long Time" by Michael Marshall Smith (5 stars)-I loved how this ended. Magical objects that cause a lot of trouble are some of my favorite stories. Reminded me a bit of the Twilight Zone too.

"Chalk. Sea. Sand. Sky. Stone." by Lynda E. Rucker (3.5 stars)- I was confused by the ending. But a widow dealing with her grief of losing her husband and left pregnant definitely fit the theme of isolation.

"Ready or Not" by Marian Womack (5 stars)-When gaslighting a woman goes wrong. Very very wrong. Loved this one.

"Letters to a Young Pyschopath" by Nina Allan (3.5 stars)-Not bad, but halfway through it kind of lost the plot and I don't know, the ending gave me pause. It was definitely not happy, at least from my point of view. Which doesn't make it a bad horror story. I was just confused about how I should feel when I got to the end.

"Jaunt" by Ken Liu (2 stars)-Nope. And it didn't help I kept thinking of Stephen King's story about a family going on the whole jaunt. This story had too many excerpts (fake) from articles, etc. that I just didn't get immersed in the story.

"Full Blood" by Owl Goingback (5 stars)-Another zombie tale with a wicked twist that brings in COVID-19 as part of the plot.

"The Blind House" by Ramsey Campbell (3.5 stars)-Not bad, I just thought it rambled on too much. I got bored before I hit the ending.

"There's No Light Between Floors" by Paul Tremblay (1 star)-This made no sense and I re-read it twice.

"So Easy to Kill" by Laird Barron (1 star)-I refuse to even relive this story.

"The Peculiar Seclusion of Molly McMarshall" by Gwendolyn Kiste (5 stars)-A local woman does not leave her home and seems to have an alien presence that only she can see. A very dark ending.

"Across the Bridge" by Tim Lebbon (5 stars)-a young girl finds a town that was part of the before times.

"Fire Above, Fire Below" by Lisa Tuttle (5 stars)-the horrors of a mass shooting and a girl who has a gift of prophecy that no one believes. It someone leaves to something even darker. What a great ending. show less

Some very helpful and accessible essays (by which I mean not stuffy or so esoteric that its best use would be a cure for insomnia) on various aspects of the uncanny and a lovely reference list of suggested reading at the back. Marked up my copy and will refer back often, I'm sure. Many thanks, Dan Coxon, for this collection!

A good collection of stories. The first section of stories stands out through good writing and storytelling. They have a very British feel and touch on the classic British ghost story. The remaining stories are also good. This is a great example of how a kickstarter can deliver a positive outcome. Most enjoyable.