Best New Horror 22

The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror #22

by Stephen Jones (Editor), Richard L. Tierney (Contributor), Karina Sumner-Smith (Contributor)

The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror series continues to be the world’s leading annual anthology dedicated solely to showcasing the best in contemporary horror fiction. The latest volume is comprised of more than 20 of the most outstanding new short stories and novellas by both contemporary masters of horror and exciting newcomers.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Supernatural

560 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Stephen Jones is an eighteen-time winner of the British Fantasy Award.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this in order to try Mark Valentine, who keeps getting recommended by friends whose taste I respect. "A Revelation of Cormorants" was finely crafted and certainly did not leave me unwilling to read more by this author.

Since I had the book already, I also read "Lavender and Lychgates" by Angela Slatter. I've only read a few of her stories prior but have been consistently impressed.

Caitlin Kiernan's offering, "Red as Red," I had already read in Haunted Legends. It is fine but not one of her best.

I tried a few others (Langan, Smith, Fowler) but wasn't into them. I'm more a "dark fantasy" reader than a strict horror person, though.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so, with this edition, my goals have changed somewhat - read the new edition every year while working my way backwards through the previous editions I haven't read yet (coin toss - whether or not I'll reread the ones I'd read before Goodreads existed, and so didn't review - I do have notes, but not enough to make a review out of, just to steer me away from the bad stories) - I figure if I can jam in 3 back volumes in a year, that's pretty good headway...

This would probably be a 3.5, BTW. So, the Year in Horror section was notable to me this time around for a few reasons: Stephen Jones paid attention to my email and so PSEUDOPOD got a mention. Also, this is the year that I realized that the section that tracks audio horror productions (mostly by the BBC) was very useful, as the BBC is still committed to dramatic productions and fine readings of horror fiction and its nice to know what I missed. The personal note at the end of the year observations, this time around, was about the glut of horror, paranormal romance, etc. He's right but, what can you do? Also of note - the Necrology listed the passing of my sister, Susan M. Garrett in 2010, really touched me.

Okay, so, the stories...

You may (or may not) know the drill by now - least impressive to most. Well, "Autumn Chill" by Richard L. Tierney gets a pass because it's horror poetry and I really don't do that - if it floats your boat, more power to ya! Angela Slatter's "Lavender and Lychgates" features an odd family with magic powers in a tale of revenge and sibling rivalry - eh, dark fantasy and not my cuppa. Slatter's story here reminded me of the same problem I've had with Kelly Link's work so far - I'm pretty catholic in my horror tastes, open to a lot of approaches, but I found the style (or perhaps just the specific voice) of this story off-putting. A little over-considered and yet precious are the only ways I can think to put it - or perhaps calculatedly literate and yet "cheeky". Eh.

Next up are the tales that strike me as solid but have some little flaw that niggles at me. "Substitutions" by Michael Marshall Smith starts with a lot of promise, as a man who has all his groceries delivered by mail gets someone else's shipment - and while it doesn't pay off in exactly the way you might be thinking, the way it does pay off is a little *odd* - effective but perhaps the tiniest bit underwhelming. Still, a nice illustration of the "be careful what you wish for/be satisfied in your small pond" idea. Garry Kilworth, in "Out Back", works a very familiar set-up: writer craving isolation rents cottage at desolate place, something is in the woods and brush out back - there are rumors of previous renters missing, his cat is killed. It's formulaic, but it's a fun formula and this was an enjoyable read, except for a feeling that the writing itself was occasionally weak, especially during the final confrontation with the monster, which has to rely on that old "it's an obscure monster from mythology that I happen to know about" card that too many writers play - it is a cool monster to dig up, though, I'll admit. Hadn't thought of that one for ages..

"Fort Clay, Louisiana: A Tragical History" by Albert E. Cowdrey has a solid setting - an old island fort in the Gulf being documented with photos before it succumbs to rising water. A dark history of a yellow fever plague, a raging hurricane and an imprisoned serial killer is related to our main character. The voice of this piece was good as well, although the end felt a little fuzzy (always a problem with historical flashback stories). Another interesting set-up but less than satisfying pay-off plagues "The Lemon in the Pool" by Simon Kurt Unsworth, in which a vaguely antisocial woman retires to a villa and keeps finding food in her pool, presumably from the next villa up the hillside. Doesn't go where you might think, but that's because it really doesn't go - intriguing but unsatisfying.

A couple visits the dilapidated titular local in "The Pier" and finds enigmatic plaques, like memorials. The ending of this piece by Thana Niveau is as indirect as "Pool", but this quality is helped along by a consistent and mounting atmosphere of imbalance. Kirstyn McDermott's "We All Fall Down" - in which a couple crash into a kangaroo while driving in Australia and end up spending the night at a remote hotel with a creepy dollhouse in the guest room - has some nice character development and the exploration of the two girls' relationship going sour is well done. There are also some very creepy dream sequences here - disorienting echoes of previous events and the nonsense logic of a deepening nightmares is well conveyed. But the ending spells out too much, while also delivering an unneeded and unexpected whammy.

Steve Rasnic Tem gives us a piece wherein a painter and her husband move into an old home and various odd things happen. But "Telling", the ending of which also captures a profoundly strong feeling of nightmare logic, has the writing and events that led there feel choppy and rushed. "As Red As Red" by Caitlín R. Kiernan flips back to the "leaves a little something to be desired" ending problem that plagues many stories here (and much horror fiction in general, truth be told). The story, in which a researcher looks into legends of New England vampires, is moody, well-written, emotionally interesting and engaging - I especially liked the touches of "Old Hag" folklore imagery found in this one - but, as I said, wanting for a wrap-up (also, I found the authorial conceit at the beginning of hanging a lantern on the expected foreshadowing to be a bit too much of the "Daffy Duck" approach - you can only really do it once). "When The Zombies Win" by Karina Sumner-Smith offers a short sketch of a world exactly as it says on the label, a world suffused with the success of death. Sumner-Smith is to be lauded for being sharp and realizing that the idea only had about 2 pages in it, and writing accordingly.

Moving on to the solid stories, and also on the zombie tip (which, in all honesty, is becoming very tired) was "What Will Come After" by Scott Edelman, an emotionally honest piece from the POV of the zombie (again, already becoming a but too familiar - we did one on Pseudopod, in fact) - a satisfying read. Mark Valentine's "A Revelation of Cormorants" is an old style macabre humor piece in which an over-involved academic remains distracted a little too long. Speaking of Pseudopod, I liked this story so much I bought it for the podcast and you can hear our production here (for free, no less!). "Fallen Boys" by Mark Morris has good character dynamics (teacher-bully-victim) and legend-haunted setting (class trip to the haunted tin mine in Cornwall!) although a minor detail caught my editor's eye (its pitch black, but then they have helmet lights!) and the ending was just... okay.

Toothy cherubs cluster around a couple trapped in a crash car, while the husband watches his wife undergo a disturbing transformation in "Featherweight" by Robert Shearman - a good read, the setting/situation is compelling and the long slide into unreality is nicely done. Joel Lane's "Black Country" features a detective returning to his old home town (now redistricted into a non-locale) to investigate strange outbreaks of child-like robbery which ends with him confronting his own unhappy familial past (and present) in the bargain. Good story with a possibly-too-abrupt ending.

The always reliable Joe R. Lansdale turns in (yet another - for this compilation, at least) zombie tale in "Christmas With The Dead", a fun read with an enjoyable ending (and I loved the shout out to The Day of the Triffids!). Young punks try to escape in Christopher Fowler's gritty, grotty homage to the rotting and derelict seaside amusement towns of Britain - "Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside". There's a nice rising sense of desperation and engulfment (even with the actual supernatural aspect comes completely out of left field). Mark Samuels tries to play it cagey about the horror author (fallen into desperation and self-loathing) that he's "homaging' in "Losenef Express" (*psssst - I'm pretty sure it's Karl Edward Wagner - keep it under your hat!*) - as said author tries to escape a moribund Polish town, commits murder (or does he?) and eventually achieves the destination he secretly craves. Familiar in general, and reads as a bit rushed, but effectively done.

Norman Partridge admits to trying to approach Lovecraft from his own hard-boiled stylistic direction in the introduction to "Lesser Demons" - what you get is some cracking good action-horror as a tough sheriff survives the post-apocalyptic world created by the rise of the Old Ones as best he can. A bit long (for what story you actually get, overall), but the character voice was compelling and enjoyable. Ramsey Campbell, meanwhile, continues his recent fiction's focus on aging, memory, parents and family dynamics, and houses that feel like they're imprinted with lives lived in "With The Angels". As a bonus, you also get horrible, skittering, dessicated stillborn child-things and nasty kids games! Reliably, a sober tale unlikely to find favor among the callow youth readership (and, in truth, a bit cluttered - just like the house!) but adults will find its growing ominous tone very effective. Awful (in a good sense) final image!

"City of the Dog" by John Langan is a longish tale, almost a novella - a mashup of "Pickman's Model's" ghouls and early-90's college town angst and romance (cheating girlfriends, alternative music, the bar scene, you know the drill!). It's an enjoyable read, though, evoking Lovecraft's ghouls and tying them to Albany, New York (I love stories that attempt to capture the feel of actual, less-famous, cities).

The best story in the collection? The real stand-out? "Just Inside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls" by Brian Hodge, in which a shut-in boy with a singular "wild talent" makes friends with the girl across the way. It's a wonderfully creepy, fable-like tale with a truly unnerving ending and I was also lucky enough to be able to purchase it for Pseudopod, the episode featuring the reading is available as a download (for free) here.

[Armand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is another serving of quality horror fare, featuring stories written in 2010. The term "best" is of course subjective, but some of them do deserve to be classed as such.

I found some worthy recommendations from the understandably overlong Introduction. While helpful, it's a bit of a trying affair so I don't know if I'd have the fortitude to read those in subsequent volumes.

There are more misses here compared to the last one that I read, but I still liked it. I found the following stories especially entertaining:

Out Back - suffering from writer's block, an author secludes himself in an isolated cottage in a village that's afflicted by a spate of disappearances

Fort Clay, Louisiana: A Tragical History - the two strange weeks of disease, drownings, and beheadings in a now-condemned military fort hide a dark secret that comes to the fore in the structure's immortalization

Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls - how to make someone special an irrevocable part of you

The Pier - a rickety pier exhibits some Iago-like memorial plaques, whispering of sweet murder and release

We All Fall Down - about the thinness of memory and an obsession that never lets go

I'm rating this 6/10 or 3 stars out of 5.

[Rosie]

at this point i have to accept that i don't have the patience for a book which is by its very nature tonally insane and extremely variable in quality. however i did love the one with the stomach monster

[GD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror fiction would be my guilty pleasure if I thought there were anything in it to feel guilty about, which I don't, so it isn't! Sometimes these books are terrible, usually pretty good, and this one was awesome. There was only one story I actively disliked, the very first one, a too-serious dramatic zombie story. But since it was out of the way quickly, the rest of the book just flew by. Here's a run down of what's in the rest of the book.

The second story was had a chick who looks hot from behind but hideous from the front, and her neighbor sees her through the window eating raw meat in her living room. I know I just ruined the ending, but you shouldn't have read a review with the spoilers alert thingy on.

Then there was a kind of short, funny one about a dude who right before dies trapped up on a cliff with evil black birds finally decides the perfect way to describe them in the book he'll never write.

A writer trying to get away to write something ends up with a pretty evil medieval monster in the woods behind his house.

An American Civil War story with a gross old supernatural man who collects heads story was next.

Something straight out of the Twilight Zone, with a kid who can draw things and make them real, with a very cool ending.

A kind of bullied kid's ghost gets a kind of revenge or something deep down in a mine shaft 100 years later. This one seemed kind of confusing, I'm not sure who the ghost was or why he was trying to kill everyone, but the ending was horrifying.

Random pieces of fruit start popping up in this lady's pool when she's sleeping, then hunks of meat, then strange sea creatures...

A surreal, dark story about a pier that has dead people talking to you through plaques put up all over the place, and THEY HATE THE LIVING!!!

A freaky story about a couple trapped in a car wreck with evil, carnivorous angelks flapping around outside.

A kind of crime story that I didn't really get, maybe about a ghost in a tree? Maybe the only other really weak point of the book, really easy to forget about. (in addition to the first zombie story).

A kind of bizarre fantasy about the ghost of a dead brother scaring everyone.

I have to call out Joe R Lansdale by name with his "Christmas for the Dead," because this dude never ever ever fails to deliver, like David Schow, who unfortunately isn't in this book. "Christmas for the Dead" is typical Lansdale, totally decrepit, extreme, and funny. I'm sick to death of zombies, but this one had a kickass zombie-fighting dog, and there was some hilarious Christmas stuff at the end.

A couple of lesbians crash a car and spend the night in a creepy house, twist ending.

A couple of punks stuck in a dreary seaside town (the Morrissey song "Everyday is Like Sunday" is actually mentioned in the story) want to get out, and one of them ALMOST does.

An angry alcoholic could-have-been kills a dude and then takes a train... to a circular hell!!

"Lesser Demons" by Norman Partridge, new guy to me, was like a zombie story, but with demons, which I liked much more. They file their teeth into sharp points and have all kinds of monsters on their side to boot.

Steve Rasnic Tem, who in a previous volume of this series had two stories which were just fucking cheesey awful, wrote the scariest story in this book, "Telling." It made me mad to realize it was the same guy I had written off a couple of years ago, because I really like to nurse my literary dislikes.

Caitlin Kiernan, as usual, writes a pretty dark, atmospheric story, but really, she needs to cheer the fuck up.

Ramsey Campbell has his almost obligatory place in this collection, with a story that I had hoped would be about giant killer spiders but wasn't.

A weird POEM that doesn't take itself seriously at all, but actually has some pretty gruesome imagery in it, like the brain of a hillbilly wizard that popped out of its grave like a mole and was bouncing around in the weeds with the brainstem trailing behind it like a tail.

A story about ghouls, which I personally feel are kind of overlooked. It relies a lot on Lovecraft, which is fine by me, but the sub-plot about the cheating girlfriend took a little too much of the center stage. But great story, great ending. And the Smithereens are mentioned. Like three times.

What I had thought was going to be another fucking zombie story turned out to be kind of interesting, if a little too serious: what the world would be like if the zombies won, and there were no more people to eat. Really man, why the FUCK are zombies so popular? I'm sick of them!!!

[Mike Kazmierczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a few things you can count on when you read one of the Mammoth Books of Best New Horror. The first is some very solid writing; after all, the title of the book does promise it to you. The second is a nice summary of the year's events in horror; movie releases, new books, and anything else related to the genre. And the final is a necrology of people related to the genre who have passed that year; a fitting way to end the book. Volume 22, a summary for 2010, is no exception. Unlike previous years, I actually read it relatively recent to the summary year as opposed to four or more years afterwards. This made no difference to the stories but it made the year's summary a bit more relevant to me.

Anyway, on to the stories. I had an unusually large selection of favorites but that is also kind of normal for these collections. Most of them were poignant and had some depth to them with only an occasional light hearted romp. And as opposed to some public perception, the whole collection was not only zombies. My favorites are below.

"What Will Come After" by Scott Edelman - A zombie love story that strikes the heart and leaves one sad.

"Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls" by Brian Hodge - Across the yard and through their bedroom windows, two children make their worlds better and escape the hardness of reality.

"Featherweight" by Robert Shearman - A husband must deal with his wife and angels after a car accident.

"Christmas with the Dead" by Joe R. Lansdale - A man celebrates Christmas with some zombies.

"We All Fall Down" by Kirstyn McDermott - A couple must learn to let go. This one stuck with me for a while.

"As Red as Red" by Caitlin R. Kiernan - A woman hunts the libraries and folklore for vampires.

"City of the Dog" by John Langan - A man learns more about his girlfriend through betrayal and sacrifice. The story is also set in the Albany area where I have relatives and thus felt extra connected to the story.

[F.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here (he said in his best Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman voice) are my top five Pick of the Pops from ‘The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 22’ –

At number five we have Scott Edelman’s ‘What Will Come After’. One of a number of zombie tales in this volume, but the one which comes closest to being actually touching. A slow and sombre tune for the broken hearted amongst you.

Straight into number four is Mark Morris’s ‘Fallen Boys’. An effective little ghost story set on a school trip to a Cornish mine. More terrifying than even The Wurzels!

Holding steady at number three is Garry Kilworth’s ‘Out Back’. If you read only one headless monster tale this year, make it this one!

A new entry at number two is Ramsey Campbell’s ‘With The Angels’. Another short story hit from the master of the form! Two old ladies and some children visit a deserted house. Utterly superb, chilling and groovy!

And, finally, holding onto the top spot, is Norman Partridges’s 'Lesser Demons'. An exciting tale of the blood-faced undead attacking a small town. Gory, scary and thoroughly entertaining. A zombie tale with a taste of that good old hitmeister H.P. Lovecraft. Simply fab!

[Darlene Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good stories in here, but there are some down right boring ones too. I've been reading this series for a few years and will eventually post other reviews as well, but for now, here's my thoughts on this.
I guess one of my biggest issues as of late with the Mammoth series has been that the editor, Stephen Jones, seems to be picking stories solely based on people in his little circle than choosing great stories. Maybe it can soon be named The Mammoth book of My Best Friends New Horror. I can't be the only one who sees the exact same names volume after volume after volume. Don't call it a best of if you only want your bros in here.
As for the stories, yes, there are some good ones, a few amazing ones, but more than half lost me in the first few pages. Being who I am, I kept on reading, hoping to be pulled into the story, but alas, not so much. Lucky me, I have the next three volumes here at home to read. Hope they're better.

[Michael Samerdyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the stronger anthologies in this series. The stories explore different horror themes. I especially liked the stories by Cowdrey, Morris, Unsworth, Slatter, McDermott, Partridge and Campbell. This book leaves me looking forward to # 23 and hoping that the series continues for many years.

[Justyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 22
Although I have read Jones’ other anthologies, this is my first time reading this Mammoth series. Jones begins with a 100 plus page introduction of Horror in 2010. I admit I read some of it, but it was really a laundry list of various facts of horror in all sorts of media. Anyway, I skipped onto the stories. There are 23 in total. I thought it was interesting to place the author’s thoughts on the story at the beginning. Then there’s the Necrology of another long section of recently deceased people who have contributed to horror. Again I only skimmed this section. Finally Jones provides useful addresses of horror organizations, publishers, and websites.

“What Will Come After” by Scott Edelman
A man recounts how his undead life will look as a zombie. According to the author, it’s a really personal story and it shows. 4/5

“Substitutions” by Michael Marshall Smith
When grocery items get mixed up, a man wonders who ordered them. And so he begins to track down this mystery woman. I loved how Marshall Smith made something so mundane as groceries so creepy. 5/5

“A Revelation of Cormorants” by Mark Valentine
A writer searches for birds known as Cormorants, after that I didn’t follow. I wasn’t really into to this story. 2/5

“Out Back” by Garry Kilworth
A writer rents out a cottage in a village, but something out back in the wilderness lies in wait. It was interesting and amusing that the author put himself and his friends into the story. It was an enjoyable read. 4/5

“Fort Clay, Louisiana: A Tragical History by Albert E. Cowdrey
A photographer recalls her job documenting Fort Clay and the academic who tells its dark history and he might even be a part of it. It was an intriguing tale. 3/5

“Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls by Brian Hodge
A young boy with a unique power is locked upstairs in his room. Meanwhile, he befriends a neighbor where they talk through their windows. This story had a bittersweet ending, but it was a very nice and dark story about friends. 5/5

“Fallen Boys” by Mark Morris
A teacher and her students attend a tour of a mine where some boys go missing. This was an interesting read, though predictable. 4/5

“The Lemon in the Pool” by Simon Kurt Unsworth
A woman’s retirement in Spain isn’t what she thought it would be. This turned out to be more than a typical monster story when I read the ending which was a plus. 3/5

“The Pier” by Thana Niveau
A young couple visits a pier where strange memorials are communicating to them. It was a creepy story with an enveloping and creepy atmosphere. 4/5

“Featherweight” Robert Shearman
This is only my second time reading Shearman’s work and I do enjoy his humor he incorporates throughout. It’s lightheartedness amongst the dark. So, a husband and wife are on an anniversary trip in Scotland until the car crashes. It’s sad, but also sweet. 4/5

“Black Country” by Joel Lane
A detective returns to his hometown to investigate some strange juvenile crimes. This story is part of Lane’s weird crime collection which I might consider checking out after reading this piece. 4/5

“Lavender and Lychgates” by Angela Slatter
A dark fantasy story about a girl and her family and holding onto loved ones long lost. This was the second story I’d read by Slatter and you really get a feel for the unique fantasy world she creates which is a welcome departure from what I’m used to. 4/5

“Christmas with the Dead” by Joe R. Lansdale
Funny, since I was thinking shortly before I read this if anyone had ever written a Christmas horror story and here it is! A man who lives in a world overrun by zombies tries to survive and celebrate Christmas. This story’s a fun one. 5/5

“We All Fall Down” by Kirstyn McDermott
A story of trying to let go; Holly and Emma get in a car crash which leads them to a strange house at the top of the hill. This felt similar to something I’ve written before and I enjoyed it. 4/5

“Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside” by Christopher Fowler
This was a pretty weird story (a bit incoherent for my tastes) about some kids who want to leave their seaside town with its cast of weird characters. Though the “fuck offs” were funny. 3/5

“Losenef Express” by Mark Samuels
An American author (which the author says is based off an actual author) travels to Eastern Europe where he tries to get away from his life and a murder. This was an interesting story with a bit of psychological horror. 4/5

“Lesser Demons” by Norman Partridge
A sheriff fights to survive against the lesser demons that have ravaged the country. These zombie-type stories are usually fun reads. 4/5

“Telling” by Steve Rasnic Tem
When a husband and his wife (who’s an artist) move into a new house, a strange shadow appears in her painting. The author mentions this story came from a dream; an interesting read. 3/5

“As Red as Red” by Caitlin R. Kiernan
An intriguing vampire/werewolf/ghost tale of local legends in the New England area is investigated by a graduate student. 4/5

“With the Angels” by Ramsey Campbell
And that’s why you don’t throw your child into the air. I expected more from Campbell. 2/5

“Autumn Chill” by Richard L. Tierney
The only poem in this anthology, and I don’t rate poetry, though this piece was more narrative.

“City of the Dog” by John Langan
John Langan writes a about his dissatisfaction from his time in Albany and encounters with ghouls with this story of a young man who moves to Albany in order to spend time with his girlfriend. This was the longest story, but my favorite from the anthology; an engaging read about running from the inescapable past, moving to a new place start over, but ultimately finding disappointment. 5/5

“When the Zombies Win” by Karina Sumner-Smith
This was the shortest story and more of a hypothetical description of what would happen if zombies did win. An interesting idea to be explored further, but I was expecting more of a story rather than an essay of speculation. 3/5

Overall, this was a consistent anthology with some strong stories, and for the most part every story was worth reading except maybe a few. I’m definitely going to follow this anthology series in the future. 3.8/5

[Kali Napier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories have really stayed with me. 'A Revelation of Cormorants', 'Fort Clay, Louisiana: A tragical history', 'Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls', 'With the Angels' offer a highly varied range of ways to terrify, to fill me with dread for what will surely, inevitably come. The collection contains stories set across the globe, though it felt uneven in offering very few stories from female horror writers. The best of these was 'Lavender and Lychgates' by Angela Slatter, which I have read before, but enjoyed again. My favourite story in the collection was 'Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside', for the real-life horror of life in former holiday towns in sharp economic decline.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this anthology back when I read in 2015 and still enjoyed it on a second look. I am not sure how to review this or any of Mr. Jones' many anthologies - the best new horror ones I have always found to contain an excellent spread of good writers, but I don't often read 'horror' novels - my taste, or patience, runs no further then such tales in short story or novella formats. So I enjoyed most of the stories - I prefer stories which less of obvious horrors like zombies or vampires and more unpredictable horror (though I'll also be honest and say I have little tolerance for Love raft mythos stories). I enjoy dipping into the genre and for those likewise I can recommend this anthology.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

FIRST OF ALL AN ENTIRE AND VERY TEDIOUS INTRODUCTION A 105 PAGES LONGING BANGING ON ABOUT ALL THE HORROR BOOKS PUBLISHED IN 2010. THE AUTHOR SEEMED TO THINK THIS WAS SOMEWHAT OFF A BONUS! I CAN ASSURE YOU IT WASN'T AND TOWARDS THE END I WAS SKIM READING IT!! FINALLY FINISHED GOT TO THE MAIN EVENT THE 22 STORIES AND I WAS EXPECTING THESE TO BE VERY GOOD! BUT SADLY AFTER GETTING THROUGH THAT TEDIOUS AND LONG WINDED FARCE THEY WASN'T. IN FACT ONLY 3 STORIES I REALLY ENJOYED WHICH ENSURED THIS WAS NOT A KEEPER AS IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD EVER READ AGAIN!

[Chuck McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire run of Stephen Jone's annual 'Best New Horror' anthologies (early volumes entitled 'The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror') offers great reading, with each of the 31 individual volumes giving a great snapshot of the state of horror fiction Internationally for that particular year. Any fan of modern horror fiction will find it well worth the effort to track down copies of these books.

[Suvi Tartia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this collection of new horror. There were a couple of stories that were promising, but did not quite deliver. And there were few that did nothing.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting and original stories in this collection. A few that were crappy and I skimmed. All in all, pretty good stories.

[Devon Brumley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of short stories did not impress me.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the stories in this anthology were at least somewhat entertaining. I do have to admit though, that I wasn't really wowed by any of them. I didn't find anything in this particular edition that stood out or will be remembered for very long.

[Kara Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge horror fan so this book was right up my street. My dad bought me my first Mammoth book when I was about 8 or 9, it was a Mammoth Book of Vampires and I have been hooked on these types of books ever since.

The Mammoth books are great because you get to read all the well known writers shorts stories as well as some new ones you probably wouldn't have come across. There is so much talent out there, these are a great way to showcase it. Nothing beats an Autumn night, the dark nights drawing in, your breath in the cold night sky and sitting curled up on a nice warm sofa with a good horror story.

Best of Horror is edited by Stephen Jones and starts off with an introduction to Horror in 2010. He goes in depth into what is new in horror and covers all the great as well as any up and coming stars. This is Stephen Jones interpretation of what horror is over 2010.

This book is jammed packed fully of horror and great stories alike. There is something in here for everyone, you won't love them all, but there will be at least one story in here that will have the hairs on your neck standing on end. At least one story in here that will have you checking under your bed before you go to sleep and at least one story in here which will have you sleeping with the lights on.

One of my favourites in this book is Christmas with the Dead by Joe R Lansdale. I know it's not a Halloween story but how many horror Christmas stories which include zombies are there? Not many, this one was creepy but I felt so much empathy with the characters. It is a ding dong zombie ride. One that stuck with me out of all the stories.

Another was Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls by Brian Hodges. This was a story like no other, about a boy and a girl and their other world upstairs. The boys can transport the girl from her world to his just by writing about it. Then hides her from the adults when they come looking. Something deep and well constructed.

I would recommend this book to all horror fans young and old. Not just for Halloween but for life. You will pick this book up again and again. Remember you can always sleep with the lights on.

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always this anthology brings you what editor Stephen Jones thinks is the best new stories in the field of horror and dark fantasy. Having followed this series for a few years now, I find his predilection tends to be for atmospheric, disturbing and twisted little tales rather than for graphic violence and flashy monsters.

Also like every year there's a few stories I like and find disturbing, some I find entertaining but unremarkable and some that I don't like or that fail to impress me at all. But one thing almost all of them have in common and that is the solid quality of their writing.

This year's highlights for me were Brian Hodge's "Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls", Mark Morris's "Fallen Boys" and Robert Shearman's "Featherweight". I didn't like Mark Samuel's "Losenef Express", whose surprise ending was absolutely no surprise, since I saw it coming almost from the beginning. In fact the whole story felt like it was pieced together from stories I've already read. Ramsey Campbell and Caitlín R. Kiernan continually fail to impress me, although their technique is very good, so I guess I should face the fact that I'm not part of their intended audience...

[Hugo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As ever, a grab bag selection of the genre, which - the almost 200 pages of Introduction/Necrology material which I never read, notwithstanding - offers a great value summation of the year and a perfect introduction to new authors as well as old favourites from masters of the field.

The best stories, to my taste, were Albert Cowdrey's Fort Clay, Louisiana: A Tragical History, Brian Hodge's Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls, Thana Niveu's The Pier, Joe Lansdale's Christmas With the Dead, Kirstyn McDermott's We All Fall Down, Caitlin Kiernan's As Red As Red, and John Langan's City of the Dog. The rest of the collection was less memorable, but there were no abandoned stories in this volume, though With The Angels may well be the last time I bother with a Ramsey Campbell story.

[Bill Borre]

"Losenef Express" by Mark Samuels - Knox rides a train where the passengers are dead and lament their fate. The conductor is a corpse missing its lower jaw and informs him they've reached the last stop. The town is identical to the previous in which he believed he killed a man and Knox discovers he has arrived an hour earlier than he departed.

"Fallen Boys" by Mark Morris - When a class of students descend into a mine the spirits of two boys who died over a hundred years previously usurp two bodies in order to continue their feud.

"Out Back" by Garry Kilworth - The protagonist encounters a Blemmyae which is a creature that removes its victim's heads because it has no head of its own but a face in the chest.

"What Will Come After" by Scott Edelman - wc
"The Pier" by Thana Niveau - wc
"Lavender and Lychgates" by Angela Slatter - wc

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked this book a lot better if they hadn't decided to start it with every film and TV show created in the past year and to end it with every person who died in the industry this year, not just in horror but also porn and toys (the maker of the frisbee). In fact, the list of deaths cut into the beginning of a story so I didn't even get to read it. I think it might have been a problem with the kindle version of the book.

If it weren't for that to annoy me, I would have given it 3 stars. Some of the stories were good. I even discovered a new author I really, really like: Kirstyn McDermott. If you like the macabre, check out her short stories called "Caution: Contains Small Parts".

[Teipu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great collection of stories, there wasn't a single one which I outright disliked.
You can see that zombies are really popular at the moment, there weren't that many zombie stories in the older volumes as there were in this one.

My favorite stories:
"Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls" by Brian Hodge, which was a beautiful story about friendship between outsiders.
"Lavender and Lychgates" by Angela Slatter, a gothic ghost story, had a Diana Wynne Jones feel to it, but much darker.
"The Lemon in the Pool" by Simon Kurt Unsworth, which was really unsettling and sad in the end.

[Brice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any anthology, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 22 is a mixed bag with about 50 per cent hits and 50 per cent misses. It's somewhat disappointing when a book with the word "best" in the title leaves you wondering what the editor - in this case the well-respected Stephen Jones - considers an engaging read but we all have different tastes.
Much like Jones, many of the writers included here come from across the pond which is nice as there are some who aren't widely known this side of the Atlantic.
Worth reading? Absolutely.
However, anyone cracking this spine should go in expecting some of the "best" to be less than good.

[Angela Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyably varied selection of stories. Those readers only interested in the stories might be disappointed in the amount of the book that is dedicated to the introduction and other information at the back. The introduction alone is over 100 pages, but for someone interested in more than just reading some scary tales, it's a treasure trove. The stories are diverse in topic, style and length, and worth picking the book up for even if you're not interested in wading through the other sections.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

These things are so big that by the time I've finished I can't remember the stories in the beginning. Anyway, some better than others, as always, and the year in horror overview is always entertaining--and ends with a hopeful note that the romantic vampire genre would die soon so that we can go reclaim the cool guys.

[Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book with a lot of short horror stories compiled together. The stories were good but the issue I have is they were not really that scary. I understand that they are suppose to be short stories but they seemed a little to short and a bit confusing.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book of short horror Stories. I like the Stephen Jones line a lot.

[Angie Cavenor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few stories were excellent but on the whole unimpressed.