Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror

One never has to worry about an anthology edited by the award-winning Ellen Datlow being a dud, but some are better than others. This one is definitely at the “better” end of that continuum to be sure. It’s one of my favorites in recent memory. There are no ghosts or cosmic monstrosities within these pages. The monsters are strictly of the human variety. If your taste in horror runs in that vein you will not be disappointed. A truly stellar compendium of nastiness. Highly recommended,

I loved the psychological horror element in this anthology. It worked with everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed each stories in this collection. It uses the horror element perfectly and glad it had everything that I wanted. I was never bored when reading this and thought the overall storyline worked with this anthology. I enjoyed the stories and how every author worked with the theme.

A journey ‘cross an aluminum tinged landscape, spattered with blood, brutalized with suffering and the memories thereof. 

A journey as gleefully thrilling as shocking. 

Come along, see the world through the eyes of murderers and all around bad people. 

You might cringe, might have to keep or force one thing or another down — hopefully not fleshy bones — but you’ll have a blast all the same. 

Seriously. 

Last time I had so much fun reading about the terrible, horrible, no good, just bad bad bad some people do? Hard to say. I mean, being a horrorhound, that’s kind of a daily, to an extent. 

But still.

Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror delivers, and keeps on delivering. 

Here is the world where mysteries start to haunt you, and the longer you stay, the more haunted you become. 

Here, if you don’t know the steps, don’t know the dance, well, it was nice knowing ya?

Here, fairytales and life are one and the same, as nasty and bloody as anything. 

Here, in the land of murderers and Starbucks, you never know who you might meet. Thought it may just be your very own murderer. 

Here, the faces are masks and the dead are wanting. 

Here, you’ll be shaken, like me, to your core. But, you’ll savor it. You, too, will hunger, want more, much more. 

So throw your keys into the river — they’ll only end up there anyway. Let’s go for a ride. Let’s take a tour of fears.

This book was a reminder of the power of a great editor. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. It starts off super strong and kept me intrigued through the end. Like any anthology, the mix of stories has some real gems and some I’ve already forgotten; however, the writing and skill is superb of all the included authors. I am a huge fan of psychological horror and would definitely recommend this to someone looking for bite-sized chunks!

I love short stories and anthologies. Even the best author must flex their writing skills to deliver quality short stories. In less than a usual chapter length, they must introduce us to the characters and their communities/ back stories, commit to an "event" and then solve it, all while keeping the reader engrossed and flipping pages. I often find that an author will switch genres in an anthology, which gives me an even better appreciation for their talent.
Many have a similar theme with the writers giving their story an unusual “spin” to meet the theme’s intent without copying each other. It is not unusual to find a true gem mixed in with the overall excellent stories, making anthologies a triple threat/ treat.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror” edited by Ellen Datlow:

“Fears” delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the darkest corners of our fears and anxieties. The stories are not just about supernatural entities or grotesque monsters; they are about the horrors that lurk within us and around us. 

Datlow’s curation is impeccable, with each story meticulously chosen to evoke a sense of unease and terror. The writing styles vary, offering a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives.

Among the standout stories is Stephen Graham Jones’ contribution, which masterfully blends psychological horror with a touch of the supernatural. Priya Sharma’s tale is another highlight, offering a haunting exploration of familial bonds and the darkness that can fester within them. 

“Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror” is not just a collection of scary stories; it is a profound exploration of the human condition. Datlow has once again proven why she is considered the gold standard of horror anthologists. 

Trigger warnings: if you are a fan of this type of book, you will likely enjoy it, however if this is your first foray into a book of this type, realize this contains tales such as a mother drowning her children and other relatives (alive) in a tar pit, a grandfather telling a child how he pulled out his wife's eyeballs to put them into his own empty eye sockets (also when she was alive) and much, much more.

Thanks to Netgalley I managed to read this ARC ahead of publication. Due to be published on 10/09/24.

I love horror but hadn't read anything for a while so thought a collection of short stories would be a good reintroduction to the genre!

These are absolutely brilliant. Some more captivating and intriguing than others. 21 short stories in total by a range of different authors.

I particularly enjoyed that a number of stories detail women as the aggressor showing that females can be much deadlier than the male - and often more calculating! Bait is a good start to the collection and has a vigilante type that dishes out cold justice. It kind of sets the tone for the book where you learn quickly not to take anything for granted and things aren't all what they might initially seem.

There's a collection of killers, ghosts and cannibals here! A great anthology of horror 😁

Twenty-one stories by many of my favorite horror authors?!? I was definitely all in when I saw this book. I absolutely loved these stories! Honestly, I could not pick a favorite because they were so different and made me feel different things. I do enjoy an anthology from time-to-time because sometimes you don't want to read a whole novel. This anthology definitely fit the bill and now I have some new authors to follow!