Winter in the City: A Collection of Dark Speculative Fiction

by Ruadán Books, Anna Koon (editor), Mercedes M Yardley (foreword)

The city.

Noisy, crowded, and ever in motion, the city can be more than a setting—it can be a character, as nuanced and as fickle as a human being, with as many traits and quirks as the best mapped-out characters. The city can be the ever-present and constant companion (or foe) to the protagonist and antagonist alike.

Winter in the A Collection of Dark Speculative Fiction is an anthology of dark speculative fiction tales set in 18 cities around the world during the bleak—sometimes harsh—season of winter.

In Paris, a vagrant artist confronts a terrible truth while traveling across a frozen Seine and the well-walked paths of l’empire de la Mort…Children depart on a mystical quest to find their parents among the icy tombs of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem…In the snow-begotten slums of Manila, a young fighter must disobey her family and society to finally find freedom…The white-out conditions in Brooklyn are not nearly as dangerous as deals made in blood and bone…

Genres: Short Stories

414 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Winter in the City," edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, is more than just an anthology—it's an exploration of what it means to exist in the liminal spaces of life and place. This collection of 18 short stories, each set in a different city during the harsh season of winter, offers a blend of dark speculative fiction that is as haunting as it is illuminating.

The cities in this anthology are not mere backdrops; they are vibrant characters, each pulsing with their own life, history, and peculiarities. From the frozen Seine in Paris to the snow-laden Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, each locale is brought to life with vivid prose and meticulous detail. Here is an analytical deep dive into the tales that make up this chilling masterpiece.

1. Dhaka by Anjum Noor Choudhury

In the chaos of election-year Dhaka, Kubuddhi, a stranded supernatural being, roams the city, longing for home. Through haunting streets and fiery rallies, he attempts to protect humanity while grappling with the city’s corruption. His story intertwines political critique and mystical elements, portraying Dhaka as both a battleground and a prison. The blend of myth and reality creates a tense narrative about hope and disillusionment in a city teetering on the edge of collapse.

2. Paris by Sarah Read

Henri, a struggling artist, acquires enchanted pencils from a mysterious ice market on the frozen Seine. As he sketches, he realizes the drawings predict sinister events, including violence and murder. The pencils’ power overtakes him, and his creations blur the line between imagination and reality. Set against a chilling Parisian winter, the story is a dark exploration of obsession, creativity, and the cost of wielding unnatural power.

3. London by Lily Childs

Zillah, a psychic transient, confronts supernatural predators called The Gin Seekers after the mysterious death of her friend Suzannah. London becomes a gothic maze of paranormal threats, gritty streets, and strange alliances. As Zillah delves deeper into the city’s dark underbelly, she uncovers long-buried secrets. This atmospheric tale weaves psychic abilities, urban decay, and relentless danger into a thrilling narrative of survival.

4. Salt Lake City by Brian Evenson

A traveler’s late-night arrival in Salt Lake City turns surreal as he grapples with hunger and a sense of estrangement. Encountering a mysterious doppelgänger, he follows him to the eerie Gilgal Gardens, where bizarre sculptures and strange rituals blur reality. This introspective story masterfully combines urban alienation and existential dread, reflecting Salt Lake City’s split personality as a secular and religious space.

5. Jerusalem by Jonathan Papernick

Three children embark on a dangerous journey to Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, seeking rabbis to resurrect their lost parents. Pursued by Amalek, a personification of evil, they navigate snow-filled streets, sacred tombs, and mystical rites. The tale captures the city’s spiritual weight, blending Jewish folklore with themes of grief, resilience, and redemption.

6. Athens by Nick Mamatas

A man haunted by surreal visions journeys to wintertime Athens, encountering Karagozois, a shadow-puppet trickster from Greek folklore. Blurring ancient myths with contemporary struggles, the story delves into the cultural and personal conflicts of identity. Athens, cold and rain-soaked, becomes a surreal landscape of gods, wrestlers, and existential revelations.

7. Amsterdam by Tim Lees

Ahn, mysterious apparitions said to herald change, haunt a British expat searching for his missing friend Terri in Amsterdam. As he explores the city’s frozen canals and shadowy alleys, he uncovers a community longing to ascend to a higher plane. This eerie story examines memory, transcendence, and the blurred boundaries between belief and delusion.

8. Brooklyn by Richard Kadrey

In a snow-buried Brooklyn, a desperate deal with an occultist unravels a family’s fragile stability. As the protagonist confronts the demon lurking in the shadows of their brownstone, the story explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the dangers of meddling with the supernatural. The gritty urban setting intensifies the tension in this chilling tale of dark bargains.

9. Montréal / Tiohtià:ke by Rich Larson

Set in the icy streets of Montréal, a young immigrant battles supernatural entities feeding on the city’s despair. The story blends local folklore with speculative horror, exploring identity, belonging, and resilience. The frozen cityscape mirrors the protagonist’s internal struggle to find warmth and safety in an unforgiving world.

10. Dublin by Christian Fiachra Stevens

A grieving woman in Dublin encounters spirits during a stormy winter night. These specters offer cryptic wisdom and force her to confront the loss of her family. Rooted in Irish folklore, this poignant story reflects on grief, memory, and the city’s long history of ghosts and resilience.

11. Lewisburg by Mike Allen

A small town in Pennsylvania becomes the epicenter of strange occurrences when an ancient artifact is unearthed. As the artifact’s power grows, a young archaeologist uncovers the town’s hidden connection to otherworldly forces. The story masterfully blends academic intrigue with Lovecraftian horror.

12. Helsinki by Xan van Rooyen

In Helsinki’s icy heart, a tech-savvy teenager uncovers a glitch in reality while experimenting with virtual spaces. The boundaries between the digital and physical collapse as the cold city becomes a nexus of artificial intelligence and haunting presences. This speculative tale explores themes of connection and isolation in a hyper-connected world.

13. Queens by Sam Rebelein

In Queens, a single mother discovers that the snowstorms blanketing the borough are more than natural phenomena—they are sentient. The storms interact with the city’s inhabitants, offering terrifying insights and irrevocable choices. This imaginative tale examines urban life’s vulnerabilities in the face of an indifferent yet intelligent force.

14. Cleveland by Gwendolyn Kiste

A weary nurse in Cleveland during a devastating blizzard encounters a patient who seems to defy mortality. As the storm worsens, she uncovers a supernatural connection between the patient’s resilience and the city’s history. The story deftly examines themes of endurance, compassion, and the intersection of the mundane with the extraordinary.

15. Manila by Mars Abian

In the slums of Manila, a young fighter defies societal norms to pursue her dreams. As she faces supernatural challenges in the city’s shadowy corners, the story blends realism and myth, portraying Manila as a city of both struggle and magic. Themes of resistance, family, and freedom shine through this vibrant narrative.

16. Zagreb by Matt Hollingsworth

In post-war Zagreb, a journalist uncovers a secret cult using winter rituals to summon ancient spirits. The investigation plunges him into a deadly game of power and manipulation. This chilling tale explores the scars of conflict and the hidden magic of a city rebuilding itself.

17. Cambridge by Bracken MacLeod

In a snow-laden Cambridge, a reclusive professor’s experiments with alternate dimensions go awry. When his actions inadvertently unleash chaos on the city, he must navigate his own moral compass to restore balance. This cerebral tale combines academic intrigue with cosmic horror.

18. Prague by Katherine Traylor

A violinist in Prague confronts the ghost of a long-dead composer during a snowstorm. As the two forge a fragile bond, the story explores themes of artistic legacy, loneliness, and the eternal struggle between genius and obscurity. The city’s historic charm and eerie atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop.

Themes and Atmosphere

The anthology excels at exploring universal themes through specific local lenses. Each story grapples with isolation, transformation, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Winter serves as both literal setting and metaphorical state—a time of endings and beginnings, death and rebirth.

Technical Excellence

The editing by Wood and Koon deserves special praise. The stories flow naturally from one to the next, creating a cohesive reading experience despite their diverse settings and styles. The order of the stories builds an effective emotional arc while maintaining variety in tone and approach.

Impact and Resonance

Winter in the City demonstrates the continuing vitality of urban fantasy and horror. By setting supernatural tales in recognizable modern cities, the authors make their fantastic elements more immediate and affecting. The anthology serves as both entertainment and a mirror reflecting contemporary urban anxieties and hopes.

Final Thoughts

This collection stands as a significant contribution to contemporary speculative fiction. It proves that setting restrictions (winter, urban locations) can paradoxically free authors to create more focused and powerful works. Each story offers its own memorable moments while contributing to a larger mosaic of urban winter tales.

For readers interested in similar works, I'd recommend other urban fantasy anthologies like Ellen Datlow's Naked City or Haunted Legends. Fans of winter horror might also enjoy Michelle Paver's Dark Matter or Dan Simmons' The Terror.

Winter in the City is ultimately a testament to the enduring power of place in speculative fiction. These stories remind us that cities are more than just settings—they're repositories of memory and meaning, shaped by both natural forces and human desires. In the depths of winter, these urban spaces reveal their true nature as realms where anything might be possible.

[Khushbu Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter in the City, edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, is an anthology that takes the cold indifference of winter and weaves it into 18 speculative tales that shiver with humanity, myth, and the unknown. Each story stands as a tribute to its chosen city, bringing the urban sprawl alive with chilling precision and rich imagination.

The book begins with a haunting introduction to the transformative power of place. The editors, along with a stellar lineup of authors, deliver tales where the cities are more than mere settings—they are characters, histories, and echoes of those who inhabit them. Each story is meticulously crafted to reflect the essence of its locale, from Dhaka's fiery political turmoil to Prague’s ghostly, snow-dusted charm.

In Paris, a struggling artist grapples with the supernatural power of enchanted pencils, while in Jerusalem, three children navigate mystical dangers in a quest to reclaim their lost parents. Athens is a tapestry of modern struggles and ancient myths, where a man’s journey intersects with the shadowy trickster Karagozois. In Queens, snowstorms gain sentience, offering terrifying insights into urban fragility.

The collection’s strength lies in its thematic depth. Grief, resilience, and the intersection of human and supernatural are explored through lenses as varied as the cities themselves. Whether it’s Cleveland’s storm-driven endurance or Manila’s tale of societal rebellion tinged with folklore, the anthology deftly balances personal stories with the broader, often harsh realities of urban life.

Each story pulses with the unique writing style of its author, yet the anthology retains a cohesive rhythm. The editors’ careful curation ensures no tale feels out of place, creating a seamless journey across continents and perspectives.

Winter in the City is a celebration of storytelling, a dance of frost and fire that will leave readers breathless. It’s not just a book—it’s a passport to cities that thrive, crumble, and endure, all while wrapped in winter’s icy embrace. Highly recommended for lovers of speculative fiction with a touch of urban grit.

[Dipalee Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter in the City: A Collection of Shadows and Frost

Winter can cloak even the brightest of cities in shadows, and in Winter in the City, edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, those shadows take on lives of their own. This anthology of dark speculative fiction does not merely tell stories; it invites readers into the heartbeat of 18 cities, each rendered vulnerable and fierce under the season’s icy grip.

Every tale is a descent into the liminal, where urban familiarity twists into something unfamiliar and foreboding. Dhaka thrums with rebellion, its streets alive with flames and spirits caught between worlds. Paris offers a quieter despair, where an artist’s sketches draw the line between the real and the imagined. In Jerusalem, the stark whiteness of snow becomes a canvas for a child’s desperate hope, while Athens weaves ancient folklore into modern rain-slick streets.

The strength of this anthology lies in its ability to turn cities into characters. Here, the Seine freezes, not just in temperature but in time; Brooklyn bleeds with bargains forged in blood; and Manila breathes, struggling under the weight of societal chains and mythical whispers. The editors’ curation is masterful—each story has a voice of its own yet contributes to the anthology’s singular chill.

Themes of loss, resilience, and the eternal dance between humanity and the supernatural pulse through the pages. The writers’ styles shift seamlessly from lyrical to sharp, embodying the anthology’s exploration of light and dark, warmth and frost. The stories pull you in, not gently, but like the grasp of an unfamiliar hand in a blizzard—urgent and unyielding.

Winter in the City is not a book for the faint of heart. It demands to be read slowly, savored like the last light before nightfall. It is a celebration of storytelling’s power to transform place into emotion and winter into something more than a season—into an entity with claws, teeth, and an unrelenting grip. For those brave enough to step into its pages, this anthology offers a journey as cold and beautiful as a city under fresh snowfall, its hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call me crazy, but I'm starting to think Brian Evenson has issues with the Mormon church or something. If he wanted a creepy cult to still like him in his adulthood, he should have written more wholesome stuff like Brandon Sanderson!!!

[Krinal Savaliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Speculative Masterpiece Across Snow-Covered Cities

Winter in the City, edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, is a luminous anthology of speculative fiction that transforms urban landscapes into realms where the extraordinary thrives. Each of the 18 stories unfolds like a snowflake—delicate, intricate, and unique—woven together by the common thread of winter’s icy embrace.

The anthology’s brilliance lies in its transformation of cities into living, breathing entities. Dhaka pulsates with political fervor and otherworldly presences; Jerusalem’s ancient tombs whisper secrets to children yearning for their lost parents. Paris freezes its river and its souls, while Athens melds modern struggles with mythic resonance. Every city, rendered vulnerable under winter’s touch, becomes a canvas for tales that blur the line between the real and the imagined.

The speculative nature of these stories is as varied as the locales they inhabit. In one tale, snowstorms develop sentience and reshape life in Queens. In another, enchanted pencils in Paris bring macabre visions to life. Manila’s slums hum with the rebellious spirit of a young fighter, while Helsinki becomes a nexus where virtual reality glitches spill into the physical world. Each narrative challenges the reader to reimagine the ordinary as extraordinary, proving the genre’s power to redefine possibility.

Themes of resilience, grief, and transformation echo throughout the anthology. The storytelling is a masterclass in speculative fiction—rich in atmosphere, deeply introspective, and laced with a chill that goes beyond the weather. The editors’ vision is clear: to curate a collection that is as cohesive as it is diverse, where each story strengthens the anthology’s heartbeat while retaining its own identity.

Winter in the City is more than an anthology—it’s an odyssey through time, space, and emotion. It invites readers to experience winter not as a season, but as a force that reshapes cities and the lives within them. This is a collection for dreamers and wanderers, for those willing to step into the unknown and embrace the magic and menace that winter can bring.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy mysteries are a fall favorite, but if you're looking for something darker to pair with those chilly nights, Winter in the City: A Collection of Dark Speculative Fiction, edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, offers a different kind of intrigue. This anthology takes readers on a tour of 18 cities across the globe, transforming winter into an ominous force that influences each story. From an artist in Paris unraveling a chilling secret on the frozen Seine, to children navigating icy tombs in Jerusalem, and a fighter battling for freedom in Manila's slums, each tale unfolds against the backdrop of an unforgiving winter season. The result is a thrilling mix of mystery, danger, and survival.

What struck me most about this collection was the vivid imagery woven into each story. Whether you’re in the snow-dusted streets of Brooklyn or the cold, eerie tombs of Jerusalem, the settings are brought to life with meticulous detail. Winter isn’t just a season here; it’s a character in its own right, shaping the mood and tension of every narrative. You can practically feel the biting cold in each scene, and that relentless chill amplifies the sense of isolation and danger throughout the book. This anthology pulls you into each city’s unique atmosphere, making it easy to get lost in these dark, speculative worlds.

Another highlight is how the collection offers a global journey. Each story transports readers to a new city, maintaining a consistent tone of suspense while offering a fresh perspective on urban life under winter’s grip. The variety of locations adds richness and depth to the overall experience, making every tale feel distinct yet part of a cohesive whole. While I feel a few stories might be a tad predictable, the overall quality of writing and the gripping atmosphere more than make up for it.

Winter in the City is perfect for fans of dark speculative fiction who crave both eerie tales and the thrill of exploring new places. If you're in the mood to travel the world without leaving your cozy spot on the couch, this anthology delivers a suspenseful, chilling adventure through winter’s harsh embrace.

[Khushi Gadhiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Horizons in Frozen Streets

The wind sliced through the urban labyrinth, carrying whispers of secrets only cities could keep. That’s where Winter in the City, edited by R.B. Wood and Anna Koon, begins—not with warmth, but with a stark truth: cities are alive, and in winter, they remember everything.

This anthology of dark speculative fiction isn’t bound by the constraints of genre or geography. Its 18 stories are speculative thought experiments disguised as haunting narratives, each one transforming its chosen city into a character as complex as its inhabitants. These aren’t mere settings; they’re sentient worlds of ice and shadow, breathing life into tales that linger like frostbite.

In Dhaka, spirits prowl amidst political upheaval, embodying a city suffocated by unrest. In Paris, an artist finds his tools possessed, creating art that predicts a grim future. Jerusalem reveals its sacred and profane under layers of snow as children seek lost loved ones in a quest that feels both ancient and achingly immediate. The tales ripple outward—from the ghost-lit canals of Amsterdam to Cleveland’s haunting snowstorms, each narrative rooted in its locale but universal in its impact.

What makes this collection extraordinary is its deft melding of humanity and the uncanny. In Queens, sentient storms become existential mirrors. In Helsinki, a glitch between the digital and the physical suggests a future where reality is not what it seems. These are not merely stories of winter but of resilience and the unnerving beauty that exists in its harsh embrace.

The prose is as sharp as the season itself, crackling with tension and atmosphere. Each author brings a unique voice, yet the anthology feels like a singular creation—a testament to the editors’ curation. There’s a chill that clings to every story, a reminder of how cities keep us tethered to what is human, even as they reveal what is alien.

Winter in the City isn’t just a collection of stories; it’s an exploration of how we endure, transform, and connect in the face of cold truths. A must-read for those who seek the dark undercurrents beneath winter’s serene veneer.

[Cheryl S. Ntumy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for review. This is a unique anthology that explores winter in different cities across the globe. I loved the premise and the stories are rich, stark and sinister, much like the season they depict. From stranded gods seeking a way home in Anjum Noor Choudhury’s “Dhaka” and cursed artworks a la Dorian Grey in Sarah Read’s “Paris” to stories etched in bone in Richard Kadley’s “Brooklyn” and a losing battle against ravenous ghosts in Xan van Rooyen’s “Helsinki,” winter in these tales is often bleak, yet somehow beautiful. Characters keep awful secrets and make treacherous journeys, seek truth – or hide from it – and break their own hearts as well as the reader’s. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the souls of these cities. The fact that each story is named after the city it’s set in means the cities take on identities of their own and become characters in their own right.

[Maria Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding anthology of short stories, each one set in, and shaped by, a city. Every story here has a very original take on the anthology's premise, exploring the inner life of cities across the world. Dark fantasy, horror, surrealism, strands of science fiction, and profound strangeness - each writer brings something original in tales that explore the weird corners of reality at a party, the supernatural creatures flocking to a neighbourhood while looking for escape, the ravages of ice and snow and death in Paris, and the mysterious shapes found in snow, just to mention a few. All the stories are worth the price of admission, with memorable standouts by Anjum Noor Choudhury, Sam Rebelein, Sarah Read, Mike Allen, Brian Evenson, and more.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book when I read the description and it did not disappoint! Winter in the City is a collection of chilling tales about winter in several different stories. Each story is haunting and unique in its own way and I loved the characters in each story. They were so compelling in their own way and really make you feel as if you are in the city itself. I enjoyed how the authors told their stories and am looking forward to read more by them!