Fears, Tales of Psychological Horror Edited by Ellen Datlow
Tachyon Publications 2024
A Horror Book Review by Mario Guslandi
Arguably the world’s most famous and prolific editor of horror fiction, Ellen Datlow provides yet another anthology of horror stories, this time all reprints ,selected on the basis of the psychological nature of the dark tales.
The result is a disturbing book, which, although,in my humble opinion, not quite up to the level of her usual production, will elicit shivers in those readers who prefer a more subtle ( i.e. psychological) kind of horror rather than a more physical, graphic type.
Not all the stories hit the target, but some really do, and quite effectively.
Here’s the list of my own favorites.
“ Bait” by Simon Bestwick is an excellent example of a piece of psychological horror,featuring a female serial killer, toying with a man casually encountered in a bar.
Dale Bailey provides “ The Donner Party” an extremely entertaining tale revolving around the secret menu of the social dinners taking place in the house of an important lady.
Joyce Carol Oates’ “ Where Are You Going, Where Are You Coming From?” is most likely the story in the book better representing what psychological horror means, as shown by the confrontation between a girl alone in her house and an unconventional, aggressive suitor.
The offbeat “ The Wink and The Gun” by John Patrick Higgins reports a strange incident involving a lonesome photographer and a group of nefarious kids.
“ A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” by Charles Birkin provides yet another wonderful example of psychological ( but also physical) horror by showing how SS officers “play” with a group of Jewish prisoners.
Read, if you dare.
Author
Discover more from The Ginger Nuts of Horror Review Website
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
