Shadows Over Main Street, Volume 2 by Joe R. Lansdale, Joyce Carol Oates, Gary A. Braunbeck, Lucy A. Snyder, John F.D. Taff, Ronald Malfi, James Chambers, William Meikle, Erinn L. Kemper, Damien Angelica Walters, Michael Wehunt, Suzanne Madron, Max Booth III, C.W. LaSart, Eden Royce, Jay Wilburn, Douglas Wynne; Editors: Doug Murano, D. Alexander Ward.
You know this place. Seems normal enough. But you know better, don't you? You've heard rumors of strange histories. You've seen hints of dark deeds. Turns out, you can go home again...and the shadows will be waiting for you.
A good collection of stories. Some I liked. I liked some more than others. 3*.

Well, it did take a few years to finish this. More or less. Slow going. Some authors who I thought would rock, didn't. Other's that I've never heard of did. A mixed bag, and in truth, I never did get to the end of this ungainly beast!
What this anthology taught me is, to keep any of these request to review beasts down to a manageable size.
I can't tell you how much I liked it didn't like this. I do recall I liked some, but somewhere I read too many stories that I didn't like, in a row. That is when I have up. Also, most anthologies that I love I will read completely within a week. This obviously didn't make the cut!

A series of lovely variations on a Lovecraftian theme, I thoroughly enjoyed this. As a genre that’s been literally “done to death” (and grown a few gills to boot) there has to be something fresh in a short story to make it interesting and these have that in spades.

Wonderful new release from two editors whose collaborations are always fantastic. The calibre of the stories included is fantastic, which I knew they would be going in. Excellent anthology and great follow up to the first anthology.

Some anthologies I am drawn to because of just one author, or maybe two and I hope the authors I haven't read before I end up liking. Lucy A. Snyder, Max Booth III, John F.D. Taff and Ronald Malfi were the writers I saw in the TOC that had me wanting to read Shadows Over Main Street Vol 2. Shug and It Really is a Beautiful Town were hits for me. I've been a fan of John F.D. Taff for longer than I can remember and Ronald Malfi hasn't written a book or story I didn't like. There are many more really great stories here than ones I didn't like. I think this volume was better than the first.

Michael Wehunt is a standout here, though there are other great stories. The tone ranges from the enigmatic to the grisly.

Advance Review Copy

Some of the best authors in the business contribute to this collection of dark horror that is sure to give you the shivers. Check 'em out: Gary Braunbeck, Willie Meikle, Joe Lansdale, Max Booth III, and the names go on and on. Joe and Max's stories were very dark - and very enjoyable. I'm used to them writing more humorous stories. Lucy Snyder's story was so good, such a great way to start the collection. John F.D. Taff is in there as well. I don't think he can tell a bad story.

Don't miss the foreword by Laird Barron! I tend to just skim forewords, but hey, it's Laird Barron. You'll want to read this one.

Yeah, there were a couple of stories that were just ok. That's the way it falls. But the great stories more than make up for that. Don't miss out on this one. It's awesome.

Pretty good read. This collection has more good stories than bad. There are a couple of duds but for the most part an enjoyable read.

Review: SHADOWS OVER MAIN STREET VOLUME 2 (Various Authors. Editors, Doug Murano and D. Alexander Ward)

This extraordinary anthology series continues, with this new volume. It's readily understandable that the Editors, Doug Murano and D. Alexander Ward, are Bram Stoker Award nominees. Their ability to identify and collate excellence is definitely gifted.

Often when reading a collection or anthology, I keep a mental running total of my personal favorites, but for SHADOWS OF MAIN STREET VOLUME 2, I would have to list every single entry. Here we have horror: subtle, scary, all-consuming. We have Lovecraftian overtones, of Elder Gods, of cosmic horrors inconceivable, worshipped by incalculable monsters, holding the universe hostage. If your spine doesn't chill, if your hair doesn't stand vertical, if your skin isn't 100% goosebumps_then you must not have read this anthology.

While not every story is equal in this terrific little anthology, most of them are exactly the sort of classic horror bites I want to read