Out of Tune edited by Jonathan Maberry

Out of Tune, edited by Jonathan Maberry boasts a strong lineup of fantasy and horror authors writing short stories that are based on folk ballads. The end result is some very enjoyable fiction. The stories range from very dark and somewhat depressing to light-hearted and humorous. One thing that remains consistent throughout is strong writing and an overall high quality of fiction. The ones that really stood out to me were “Fish Out of Water” by Keith DeCandido and “John Henry, the Steel-Drivin’ Man” by Jeff Strand, which I thought was absolutely hilarious. Jeff Strand is one of the best writers on the planet and he never disappoints. This might be the best anthology I’ve read, certainly one that ranks right at the top. If you like dark fiction, then this is an anthology that you should be reading.