Anna Taborska

Short story collections by a single author is right there at the bottom of the list of things I usually review, but when Mortbury Press’ name was affiliated with For Those Who Dream Monsters, I put away my silly preferences and jumped at the chance to read Anna Taborska‘s tales.

Anna Taborska, the author of some fantastic short stories that will thrill, chill and give you the heebie-jeebies in more ways than you’d feel comfortable with, made sure to put together a collection of her best show more horror stories for our enjoyment. Her featured stories from the Black Books of Horror also made the cut, which means you’re in for an absolute treat. You see, horror is an art and it’s a challenging genre when you’ve got a limited word count to work with, especially if you’re trying to creep your readers out, show character growth and have a plausible plot. But Taborska seems to have mastered this craft and For Those Who Dream Monsters shows that she’s able to overcome those challenges with ease. It’s not only a collection of short stories, it’s a testament of what she’s able to do with her talent… and yes, Taborska has a lot of talent.

The writing is fantastic, the editing even better and with Reggie Oliver‘s old-school illustrations which lends a certain je ne sais quoi to the whole atmosphere that was captured between the pages, I can honestly say that it’s been beautifully put together. Like all of Mortbury Press’ books, Those Who Dream Monsters is a book that you can proudly display on your shelf and reread whenever you’re in the mood for something terrifying. It’s got wonderful stories – 18 tales to be exact – and it ranges from the fears you are aware you have to the monsters from the deepest pits of your psyche.

In other words, this is a definite must-have for your library…

If you love horror, get your hands on Anna Taborska’s For Those Who Dream Monsters. If you enjoy the Black Books of Horror, you need to have this book. If you’re in the mood to be scared, then what are you waiting for? Believe me, you won’t be disappointed in purchasing this book.

My only question to Taborska is… when are we getting a full horror novel?

(review originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com) show less

For Those Who Dream of Monsters, is a collection of short stories by Anna Taborska, and illustrated in turn by artist Reggie Oliver, who also provides the introduction.

(Incidentally, the illustrated prints accompanying each story are available to purchase from the publisher's website.

It is clear from the offset that Anna possesses an eye for rich cinematic composition and it is not surprising that she has a dual career in film as a director, script writer and as a short story writer. Each show more piece is evocative, conjuring up some fairly vivid visual imagery. Not content with keeping us in the same location Anna takes us on a seesaw tour around the world and through the centuries, from the London tube to a small village in a war torn country in Africa. From Poland during World War 2, to modern Poland and medieval England.

This collection of 18 stories contains death, revenge, sadness and betrayal, despair, also loss, madness, companionship, longing, fear, abandonment, and just pure evil. Whilst all of the stories have some degree of darkness in common, they are not all horror stories.

'Your mother sucks cocks in hell', a quote from the film the exorcist, is probably one of the most unfriendly things you could ever learn to say when mastering a new language, but it does not stop Pierre the stubborn blacksmith. In, 'Buy A Goat For Christmas' when his tiny African village is gifted a werewolf, stubborn Pierre's flair for languages may just come in handy.

In 'Fish', Harry Tomlinson's fear is quickly banished and he is remarkably accepting of his new predicament, which is beyond horrific, with surprising stoicism and schadenfreude, when he realizes just what he is now capable of.

'The Coffin', and 'The Creaking', and 'A Tale of Two Sisters: Rusalka', are three excellent tales in the vein of terrifying traditional fairy tales, with foreshadowing, premonition and ghostly embraces.

I thought that the very first story in the collection, 'Schrodinger's Human', was the sort of story that would have been filmed by the iconic British film studio Hammer, if they were still in existence. Nonchalant and superior, cats often have the upper paw in their dealings with humans and Schrodinger is not different to any other cat in that respect. However, unlike other cats, he is not a fan of the normal processed fare available to domestic felines.

Schrodinger, might have found a friend in, 'Underbelly', which was compellingly macabre, and terrifying at the same time. Just how far would you go to take away the pain?

My favourite story by far was in fact the previously unpublished, 'Dirty Dybbuk', a non-horror, (depending on which character you are), horror tale, in which a young woman is possessed by the spirit of her late aunt. Filled with wry humour this story caught hold of and rigorously, but delightfully shook my funny bone and for me it ended all too soon. Whilst all of the stories were excellent I would have loved to have seen this particular one develop into a novella.

A special mention to the incredibly sad, 'The Girl in the Blue Coat'.

The book's guest introduction was spot on, wow she's good.


When I grow up I am going to write just like Anna Taborska, (of course I am already over 100 years young).

The book was provided by the publisher Mortbury Press in exchange for an honest review.

Urthwild show less

For Those Who Dream of Monsters, is a collection of short stories by Anna Taborska, and illustrated in turn by artist Reggie Oliver, who also provides the introduction.

(Incidentally, the illustrated prints accompanying each story are available to purchase from the publisher's website.

It is clear from the offset that Anna possesses an eye for rich cinematic composition and it is not surprising that she has a dual career in film as a director, script writer and as a short story writer. Each show more piece is evocative, conjuring up some fairly vivid visual imagery. Not content with keeping us in the same location Anna takes us on a seesaw tour around the world and through the centuries, from the London tube to a small village in a war torn country in Africa. From Poland during World War 2, to modern Poland and medieval England.

This collection of 18 stories contains death, revenge, sadness and betrayal, despair, also loss, madness, companionship, longing, fear, abandonment, and just pure evil. Whilst all of the stories have some degree of darkness in common, they are not all horror stories.

'Your mother sucks cocks in hell', a quote from the film the exorcist, is probably one of the most unfriendly things you could ever learn to say when mastering a new language, but it does not stop Pierre the stubborn blacksmith. In, 'Buy A Goat For Christmas' when his tiny African village is gifted a werewolf, stubborn Pierre's flair for languages may just come in handy.

In 'Fish', Harry Tomlinson's fear is quickly banished and he is remarkably accepting of his new predicament, which is beyond horrific, with surprising stoicism and schadenfreude, when he realizes just what he is now capable of.

'The Coffin', and 'The Creaking', and 'A Tale of Two Sisters: Rusalka', are three excellent tales in the vein of terrifying traditional fairy tales, with foreshadowing, premonition and ghostly embraces.

I thought that the very first story in the collection, 'Schrodinger's Human', was the sort of story that would have been filmed by the iconic British film studio Hammer, if they were still in existence. Nonchalant and superior, cats often have the upper paw in their dealings with humans and Schrodinger is not different to any other cat in that respect. However, unlike other cats, he is not a fan of the normal processed fare available to domestic felines.

Schrodinger, might have found a friend in, 'Underbelly', which was compellingly macabre, and terrifying at the same time. Just how far would you go to take away the pain?

My favourite story by far was in fact the previously unpublished, 'Dirty Dybbuk', a non-horror, (depending on which character you are), horror tale, in which a young woman is possessed by the spirit of her late aunt. Filled with wry humour this story caught hold of and rigorously, but delightfully shook my funny bone and for me it ended all too soon. Whilst all of the stories were excellent I would have loved to have seen this particular one develop into a novella.

A special mention to the incredibly sad, 'The Girl in the Blue Coat'.

The book's guest introduction was spot on, wow she's good.


When I grow up I am going to write just like Anna Taborska, (of course I am already over 100 years young).

The book was provided by the publisher Mortbury Press in exchange for an honest review.

Urthwild show less

For Those Who Dream of Monsters, is a collection of short stories by Anna Taborska, and illustrated in turn by artist Reggie Oliver, who also provides the introduction.

(Incidentally, the illustrated prints accompanying each story are available to purchase from the publisher's website.

It is clear from the offset that Anna possesses an eye for rich cinematic composition and it is not surprising that she has a dual career in film as a director, script writer and as a short story writer. Each show more piece is evocative, conjuring up some fairly vivid visual imagery. Not content with keeping us in the same location Anna takes us on a seesaw tour around the world and through the centuries, from the London tube to a small village in a war torn country in Africa. From Poland during World War 2, to modern Poland and medieval England.

This collection of 18 stories contains death, revenge, sadness and betrayal, despair, also loss, madness, companionship, longing, fear, abandonment, and just pure evil. Whilst all of the stories have some degree of darkness in common, they are not all horror stories.

'Your mother sucks cocks in hell', a quote from the film the exorcist, is probably one of the most unfriendly things you could ever learn to say when mastering a new language, but it does not stop Pierre the stubborn blacksmith. In, 'Buy A Goat For Christmas' when his tiny African village is gifted a werewolf, stubborn Pierre's flair for languages may just come in handy.

In 'Fish', Harry Tomlinson's fear is quickly banished and he is remarkably accepting of his new predicament, which is beyond horrific, with surprising stoicism and schadenfreude, when he realizes just what he is now capable of.

'The Coffin', and 'The Creaking', and 'A Tale of Two Sisters: Rusalka', are three excellent tales in the vein of terrifying traditional fairy tales, with foreshadowing, premonition and ghostly embraces.

I thought that the very first story in the collection, 'Schrodinger's Human', was the sort of story that would have been filmed by the iconic British film studio Hammer, if they were still in existence. Nonchalant and superior, cats often have the upper paw in their dealings with humans and Schrodinger is not different to any other cat in that respect. However, unlike other cats, he is not a fan of the normal processed fare available to domestic felines.

Schrodinger, might have found a friend in, 'Underbelly', which was compellingly macabre, and terrifying at the same time. Just how far would you go to take away the pain?

My favourite story by far was in fact the previously unpublished, 'Dirty Dybbuk', a non-horror, (depending on which character you are), horror tale, in which a young woman is possessed by the spirit of her late aunt. Filled with wry humour this story caught hold of and rigorously, but delightfully shook my funny bone and for me it ended all too soon. Whilst all of the stories were excellent I would have loved to have seen this particular one develop into a novella.

A special mention to the incredibly sad, 'The Girl in the Blue Coat'.

The book's guest introduction was spot on, wow she's good.


When I grow up I am going to write just like Anna Taborska, (of course I am already over 100 years young).

The book was provided by the publisher Mortbury Press in exchange for an honest review.

Urthwild show less