Ellen Datlow, Editor

Ellen Datlow's 2003 Reviews

Novels:

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk (Doubleday) is another intriguing, oddly structured novel from the point of view of the wife of a comatose attempted suicide and the island community to which she was brought as a bride.

The King's Evil by Will Heinrich (Scribner) is a riveting and increasingly creepy short novel about the relationship between a lawyer living a comfortable and tranquil life and the young teenage boy who he takes in after finding him bruised and beaten on his doorstep. An excellent bad seed story.

Michael Gruber's Tropic of Night (William Morrow), makes good use of African anthropology and was marketed as mainstream fiction by its publishers.

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett (Knopf) is an excellent dark mystery touching on the supernatural.

Collections:

Peaceable Kingdom by Jack Ketchum (Subterranean Press) contains over two dozen stories published between 1992 and 2002 (three stories, are original to the collection). Two of the stories "The Box" and "Gone" won Bram Stoker awards and were reprinted in earlier editions of Year's Best Fantasy and Horror series. Ketchum writes clean, sharp prose, believable characters, and his short work has the ability to draw readers into the action immediately.

The Two Sams by Glen Hirshberg (Carroll & Graf) is the excellent first collection by a writer who specializes and excels in the contemporary ghost story. Since his 1999 story "Mr. Dark's Carnival" (reprinted in an earlier volume of YBFH) Hirshberg has been dazzling readers with his elegant and disturbing tales. "Dancing Men," reprinted herein, was first published simultaneously in the ghost story anthology The Dark and in The Two Sams. One of the best horror collections of the year.

Told by the Dead by Ramsey Campbell (PS Publishing) contains no previously unpublished stories, but is nonetheless a very strong selection of the master's work from 1975 -2002. Several of the stories were reprinted in YBFH or Best New Horror. The jacket art by David Kendall and the interior b& w illustrations (not enough of them) by Richard Lamb are effective. There is also an introduction by Poppy Z. Brite.

Open the Box by Andrew Humphrey (Elastic Press) is an impressive first collection of thirteen stories, most appearing in the book for the first time. Some of Humphrey's stories have been published in The Third Alternative and CrimeWave. Several of the most effective stories are about unhappy relationships within families and with lovers and how those failures can retain a powerful ghostly malevolent hold when not put to rest. The good-looking cover photography is by Dave Bowen and the cover design is by publisher Andrew Hook.

Dangerous Red by Mehitobel Wilson (Necro Publications) is the first collection of a writer whose short fiction has unfortunately so far mostly been published (or barely, as noted by her individual story notes) on fly-by-night Web sites. Her work deserves better. The two originals are just dandy. Cover and interior art is by Erik Wilson and David J. Schow provides a gracious introduction. Walk in Shadows by Nicholas Kaufmann (House of Dominion) has eleven stories, three of them original to the collection. The new ones are fast-moving and horrific. Brian A. Hopkins provides an introduction. Cover art is by Damon Andrews.

Kissing Carrion by Gemma Files (Prime) is the first collection of this talented Canadian writer. The title story is the only original among these seventeen stories. With an introduction by Caitlin Kiernan and afterword by the author. The cover art is by Dale Sproule and is designed by J. T. Lindroos.

The Eerie Mr. Murphy by Howard Wandrei (Fedogan & Bremer) is the companion volume to Time Burial, published in 1995. This collects more fantasy tales and includes uncollected published stories plus a section of previously unpublished stories and fragments. The book includes a preface and introduction to each of three sections, and a gallery of Wandrei's art. The grotesque but beautiful jacket art is also by the late author.

Ravenous Ghosts by Kealan Patrick Burke (3F Publications) is an entertaining first collection of sixteen stories (ten published for the first time) by a promising newcomer. The fine cover art and design of this trade paperback is by Mike Bohatch.

The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini & Other Strange Stories by Reggie Oliver (The Haunted River) is an excellent, mostly original collection of weird and supernatural fiction by a contemporary writer whose work goes beyond the pastiche mode in which some admirers of earlier tales seem be stuck. Visions & Voyages by Chico Kidd is the second self-published chapbook by this interesting newer writer of dark fantasy and horror. Two of the stories return to her hero Captain da Silva who can see ghosts. Two others are dark fantasies about fairies.

Subterranean Press published two collections. Dating Secrets of the Dead by David Prill has one reprint from 2002 and three originals--one very early story that eventually became the novel Serial Killer Days; a short, bitter story about the decline of carnivals; plus "The Last Horror Show," a novella that is a love letter to the vanished spook shows of the 50s and 60s. Prill is one of the quirkier fantasists writing today. The cartoon front and back dustjacket art and design by Tom Bagley are perfect.

Night Shade Books published several collections including Ghosts of Yesterday by Jack Cady, an excellent, and beautiful-looking collection by the late multi-award winning writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Of the several original stories in the volume three are among the best Cady's written.

Earthling Publications published More Tomorrows by Michael Marshall Smith containing over two dozen of this brilliant writer's short stories and a novella. Smith is versatile and his literate and creepy short fiction always hooks the reader. This is his first US collection, far more comprehensive than What You Make It, published by HarperCollins UK in 1999. Several stories have appeared in earlier editions of YBFH. Five of the stories are originals to the collection and one, "Open Doors," is reprinted herein. The book's attractive cover art was created and designed by John Picacio. The collection is available in numbered and lettered editions. Also from Earthing: Graveyard People: The Collected Cedar Hill Stories, Volume 1 by Gary A. Braunbeck is an excellent collection of stories taking place in the fictional town of Cedar Hill, Ohio, setting of many of Braunbeck's most powerful stories and novellas have been set. There are about six completely original stories and all the other stories have been revised to fit in with the continuity of the book. Jacket and interior art is by Deena Holland. Available in two limited editions.

Mixed-genre collections:

Things that Never Happen by M. John Harrison (Night Shade) is the first collection of Harrison's short stories in way too long. His fiction moves smoothly between science fiction, fantasy, mainstream, and horror, and is mysterious, disturbing, challenging. Always well-worth reading. In For a Penny by James P. Blaylock (Subterranean) has seven stories--five originally published on SCIFICTION and one lovely original ghost story. The title story is perhaps the darkest even though at least three others concern facing mortality. The book looks beautiful, with jacket art by created Gnemo and designed by Gail Cross, and with embossed end papers. No individual story publication credits or dates are given. Tales From the Crypto-System by Geoffrey Maloney (Prime) is the first collection of an Australian writer who has been drawing notice primarily for his science fiction. But some of these sf stories are dark enough to be considered horror. The attractive cover art is by KJ Bishop and the excellent jacket design is by Garry Nurrish. Partial Eclipse and Other Stories by Graham Joyce (Subterranean Press) is the first collection by this terrifically versatile writer. Joyce's work roams all over the place from the brilliant and poignant science fictional title story "Partial Eclipse" to his ghost story "Black Dust" and the novella "Leningrad Nights. Bibliomancy by Elizabeth Hand (PS Publishing, UK) is one of the best collections of the year, despite only containing four novellas, all previously published. Hand is not a prolific writer so readers have to cherish each bit of short--and long fiction she produces. Her writing style is lush, her storytelling engrossing, her stories often heartbreaking. Two of the novellas included won the International Horror Guild Award, three were nominated for the World Fantasy Award, and two have been chosen for earlier editions of YBFH. Written in Blood by Chris Lawson (MirrorDanse Books, Australia) is billed as an sf collection but this author's work is very dark. The books has six stories and five essays. The good-looking cover art is by Shaun Tan. Do the World a Favour by Mat Coward (Five Star) is the first collection by this excellent writer of crime fiction. It has fourteen stories, two original to the collection. Sleepwalkers by Marion Arnott (Elastic Press, UK) showcases eleven stories by this award-winning Scottish writer (CWA Short Dagger for "Prussian Snowdrop," reprinted in an earlier volume of YBFH) and features a very good original dark novella called "Dollface" (nominated for the CWA Short Dagger). The Devil You Know by Poppy Z. Brite (Subterranean Press) is Brite's third collection of stories and in her foreword she explains its apparent schizophrenia. There are still some terrific horror stories here but a goodly portion of the contents is not horrific--there are stories about young people coming to terms with their sexuality, stories about cooking, and about different aspects of New Orleans, far from the Goth culture Brite's early fiction portrayed so lovingly. Powerful jacket art by Alan M. Clark. And here's a special salute to Gail Cross, the Subterranean jacket designer, whose work is consistently excellent. Bradbury Stories by Ray Bradbury (William Morrow) is a massive collection of one hundred stories chosen by the author and representing all facets of his more than sixty years of writing short fiction. from the mid-nineteen forties through 2001. I can't believe anyone who doesn't read YBFH hasn't read Bradbury but whether you have or haven't go out and buy this book--at $30 for almost 900 pages it's a bargain. The Devils in the Details, a collaborative three story collection by James P. Blaylock and Tim Powers (Subterranean) is excellent. There is a story each by Blaylock and Powers and one collaboration. All three stories are powerful and all three verge, if don't actually fall over, into the horror genre. The dust jacket and interior art is by Phil Parks. Tim Powers provides a brief introduction. There is a separate chapbook by Blaylock that serves as an afterword--it's a detailed and entertaining essay about the various elements that went into the creation of his solo story. In other words, it answers the ubiquitous question asked of writers: where do you get your ideas from? GRRM: A Rretrospective by George R.R. Martin (Subterranean Press) is a massive book of more than 1250 pages, containing thirty-two stories and novellas plus television scripts, commentary by the author, an introduction by Gardner Dozois, and a comprehensive checklist. Before Martin became a best-selling writer of fantasy he was already well-known for his award-winning science fiction and horror stories such as "The Way of Cross and Dragon," Sandkings," "The Pear-Shaped Man," and "The Monkey Treatment." The book has full page illustrations by Phil Parks, Tim Truman, Janet Aulisio, Ron Brown, and Mark A. Nelson.

Anthologies

Gathering the Bones edited by Dennis Etchison, Ramsey Campbell, and Jack Dann (Tor) is a non-theme anthology with an international flavor. The three editors are from the United States, Great Britain, and Australia, and each chose a third of the stories. The stories are an entertaining mix of the supernatural and psychological and a number of them are quite excellent. My favorites were those by Kim Newman, Peter Crowther, Michael Marshall Smith, Melanie Tem, Steve Rasnic Tem, Scott Emerson Bull, and Joel Lane. The Bull and Crowther are reprinted herein.

The Dark: New Ghost Stories edited by Ellen Datlow (Tor Books) is an all original anthology of ghost stories by such writers as Jack Cady, Ramsey Campbell, Sharyn McCrumb, Kelly Link, Kathe Koja, Terry Dowling, Lucius Shepard, and others. The Kelly Link, Glen Hirshberg, and Mike O'Driscoll stories are reprinted herein.

Southern Blood: New Australian Tales of the Supernatural edited by Bill Congreve (Sandglass Enterprises, Australia) is an excellent, mostly original anthology with terrific new stories and novellas by Rick Kennett, Geoffrey Maloney, and Lucy Sussex and strong work by a host of other Australian writers. Each story is illustrated in B&W and the cover illustration is by Nick Stathopoulos.

13 Horrors edited by Brian A Hopkins (KaCSFFS Press) celebrates the thirteenth World Horror Convention in Kansas City. Thirteen writer guests of honor were asked for original stories--most are very good, particularly those by Gene Wolfe, Steve Rasnic Tem, and Charles L. Grant. Available in a hardcover limited edition and as a trade paperback.

Mojo Conjure Stories edited by Nalo Hopkinson (Warner Aspect) provides a nicely mixed brew of tales about the uses of personal magic emanating from African traditions. Many of the nineteen original stories are very dark and should appeal to horror readers. Some of the darkest are by Eliot Fintushel, Neil Gaiman, Kiini Ibura Salaam, Nisi Shawl, Jarla Tangh, and Steven Barnes.

Beneath the Ground edited by Joel Lane (The Alchemy Press, UK) is a good mix of thirteen horror stories (all originals but three) taking place under ground. All the authors are British and the most effective originals are by Paul Finch and Simon Bestwick. The excellent cover art is by Jim Pitts and the frontispiece is by Dave Carson. An errata sheet accompanies the book with the correct (2003 for the originals) copyright date.

By Moonlight Only edited by Stephen Jones (PS Publishing, UK) is the second annual volume in a mostly reprint anthology series inspired by the classic "Not at Night" series edited by Christine Campbell Thomson. The first was published in October 1925 and subsequently eleven further volumes were published by Selwyn & Blount in the UK during the 1920s and '30s. Keep out the Night, published in 2002 (and which I forgot to mention despite taking the one original story in it for YBFH#16) was the first volume of the series. Marc Laidlaw's "Cell Phone," from By Moonlight Only is reprinted herein.

Borderlands 5 edited by Elizabeth E. Monteleone and Thomas F. Monteleone (Borderlands Press) is a worthy successor to the previous four volumes of this non-theme anthology series. A good portion of the stories are not horror but there's enough darkness to satisfy horror readers with particularly notable stories by Bentley Little, John McIlveen, Adam Corbin Fusco, and Whitt Pond. The Fusco story, "N007-JK1" is reprinted herein.

Strange Tales (Tartarus Press, UK) has no official editor but Rosalie Parker in her introduction takes credit for the selection of supernatural tales for this all original anthology follow-up to the publisher's Tales From Tartarus eight years earlier. An entertaining mix with fourteen effectively disturbing stories by David Rix, Nina Allan, Brendan Connell, Quentin S. Crisp, Anne-Sylvie Salzman, Don Tumasonis, and others. Shadows Over Baker Street edited by Michael Reaves and John Pelan (Del Rey) is appealing in its theme, which collects Lovecraftian-related cases for the great detective to solve but there is at least one story with no Lovecraftian aspect at all and the similarity of structure in some of the stories makes for too little variety in tone. Also, in almost every story poor Dr. Watson is shocked just shocked at the secret evil discovered in that particular story, so taken as a series of shocks, one wonders how the poor man didn't go mad by the end of the book. But those caveats aside, many of the stories entertain, and the one by Neil Gaiman is particularly imaginative. It is reprinted herein.