Legendary editor Ellen Datlow, winner of multiple Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy awards, joins Night Shade Books in presenting the Best Horro...
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May 12, 2011
Brendanmoody
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It's important to start with what this volume is not. It's not a collection of a particular type of horror story; Datlow's taste, while tending toward the subtle over the blatant, is wide-ranging, and includes stories traditional and modern (to the extent that these labels are useful), long and short, serious and comic. Some are closer to dark fantasy than "horror" as some readers define it. This book is also not necessarily cued to your specific tastes. the editor has not magically re
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Dec 16, 2009
Clark
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The problem with most horror anthologies, including this one, is the loose, free and easy application of the term “horror” to what ultimately ends up in the table of contents.
In my strange world (it’s okay, they know me there), red meat, arteries bustin’ wide open, grey matter going up in flame, and writing that attacks the beast and gets in and gets out without carrying any excess baggage – in other words, something that actually repulses, horrifies, or even causes your gorge to ris More...
In my strange world (it’s okay, they know me there), red meat, arteries bustin’ wide open, grey matter going up in flame, and writing that attacks the beast and gets in and gets out without carrying any excess baggage – in other words, something that actually repulses, horrifies, or even causes your gorge to ris More...
May 30, 2011
Lee
rated it: 
Strong without being iconic, this volume tends towards intellectual horror over the visceral, and its weakest moments are, arguably, weaker than would be expected for a Year's Best.
That said, there is really only one genuinely bad story amongst them-- an interminal Laird Barron effort that goes on forever with nothing much actually happening and then fizzles out into an empty, predictable ending-- and fine, fizzing efforts from Landsdale, Kaysen and Bestwick that provide balance, and More...
That said, there is really only one genuinely bad story amongst them-- an interminal Laird Barron effort that goes on forever with nothing much actually happening and then fizzles out into an empty, predictable ending-- and fine, fizzing efforts from Landsdale, Kaysen and Bestwick that provide balance, and More...
Mar 26, 2011
Daryl
rated it:
Loved the fantasy and horror collections that Datlow used to edit along with Terri Winding. I miss those for the stories and for the long, year-in-review introductions the editors provided. This is a lighter version of those books, concentrating solely on the horror half. Not as well put together as the older series (I didn't like the author bios and info lumped together at the back instead of with each story, for example), but it's a fine collection nevertheless. Some stories better than others
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Nov 25, 2011
Anastasia
rated it:
My Rating ★★★ 1/2
Datlow draws upon the many sources of the horror to find the best collection of horrific, spine-tingling, and grotesque short stories of the year. The stories range from the obviously gore-filled to the more subtle tales of dark fantasy.
Cargo, E. Michael Lewis - ★★★
Davis, a cargo-hold tech, is sent out to retrieve a most precious cargo - human bodies. Hoping it stays a routine pick-up, he is surprised to find that it won't be a quiet ride home.
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Datlow draws upon the many sources of the horror to find the best collection of horrific, spine-tingling, and grotesque short stories of the year. The stories range from the obviously gore-filled to the more subtle tales of dark fantasy.
Cargo, E. Michael Lewis - ★★★
Davis, a cargo-hold tech, is sent out to retrieve a most precious cargo - human bodies. Hoping it stays a routine pick-up, he is surprised to find that it won't be a quiet ride home.
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Aug 03, 2009
Ross
rated it:
Read in manuscript. A solid collection of terrifying tales, collecting the best short stories and fiction published in 2008. High points include E. Michael Lewis's "Cargo," William Browning Spencer's "Penguins of the Apocalypse," Laird Barron's "The Lagerstatte," Adam Golaski's "The Man From the Peak," and Simon Bestwick's "The Narrows."
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Nov 24, 2010
Brendan
rated it:
Honestly, I rarely finish anthologies. I usually burn out about 2/3 of the way through, which seems to be the anthology equivalent of the post-weekend-update part of Saturday Night Live--the place where you stash the weaker material to fill the thing out.
This one, though, is top-notch beginning to end, and the last story is probably my 2nd favorite in the entire book. (the first story is my favorite.) Of course I didn't love every story, but the quality is consistently high all t More...
This one, though, is top-notch beginning to end, and the last story is probably my 2nd favorite in the entire book. (the first story is my favorite.) Of course I didn't love every story, but the quality is consistently high all t More...
Sep 13, 2010
Still currently reading this great collection. There are 21 stories. Here are a few words/or one blogged review about the stories I have completed:
"The Goosle" by Margot Lanagan - a very dark fairy tale "post telling". Here is a review of the short story at Layers of Thought.
Two others:
"The Clay Party" a sort of Donner party story with a paranormal twist
"Esmeralda" a post book dystopian
What I re More...
Mar 17, 2011
Rowan
rated it:
This book took me a ridiculously long time to read. There was nothing wrong with it, it just didn't grab my attention. "Penguins of the Apocalypse" will probably stick with me, and not only because of the absurd title. I expect "Esmeralda" and "Very Low-Flying Aircraft" will, too. But other than that, none of the other eighteen stories really spoke to me, and there were even a couple that I flat-out disliked instead of just being indifferent.
Feb 22, 2011
The stories themselves are an interesting read but none of them were horrifying. I reccomend the book to those who are easily creeped out if they are looking for a good scare but for the seasoned horror reader this book is a good place to see what does and doesn't work.
Apr 26, 2010
Heather
rated it:
Change of heart, this collection of short stories is fantastic... I do however blame the editor for the order--putting the less interesting stories in the beginning... approaching the end, but it is good.
Update-finished was excellent, couple great folktales... def worth the read.
Update-finished was excellent, couple great folktales... def worth the read.
Dec 16, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
My favorite story was The Hodag, which was a perfect slice of Americana - isolated, violent, haunted, creepy Americana.
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Feb 22, 2011
Char
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It was very hit or miss. Some stories were amazingly chilling. Others made no sense and fell flat. It was just alright.
Feb 22, 2011
Tabi
rated it:
Some of the stories didn't really strike me as horror, but most of them were pretty creepy. Like.
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