| Title | : | Horror Library, Volume 8 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1949491528 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 420 |
| Publication | : | First published July 25, 2023 |
Filled with Fears and Fantasy. Death and Dark Dreams. Monsters and Mayhem. Literary Vision and Wonder. Each volume of the +Horror Library+ series is packed with heart-pounding thrills and creepy contemplations as to what truly lurks among the shadows of the world(s) we live in.
Containing 31 all-original stories, read Volume 8 in this ongoing anthology series, and then continue with the other volumes.
Shamble no longer through the banal humdrum of normalcy, but ENTER THE HORROR LIBRARY!
Included within Volume 8:
• In "Saving the World," a family feeds their captive devil the sorrows of neighbors.
• In "We Can't Let Go," a welfare check by a child services worker proves that not all in life is as expected.
• In "Only the Stones Will Hear You Scream," a man meets his nightmares while caving through narrow underground passages.
• In “Broodmare," a teen girl yearns to be as free as her beloved horse while waiting to give birth to the savior-figure of her tribe.
• . . . and more!
• Also including a special guest-artist's gallery of Jana Heidersdorf!
Horror Library, Volume 8 Reviews
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What horror lover isn't down with reading anthologies? I love them and have since I was about 10-12 years old. My local librarians, (also known as life-savers), would hold new horror anthologies aside for me. I would read them and then the life-savers would help me track down novels by the author's whose work I really liked. I'm still following that pattern now in my mid-fifties.
All of this to say this anthology was awesome!
As far as new-to-me authors are concerned, I've found a few that I want to track down. The first being R. A. Busby. Her tale: ONLY THE STONES WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM freaked me out. Bad! Sitting outside, reading in the bright sunshine, this tale still brought home serious chills and a touch of claustrophobia. Any horror fan knows you don't just go exploring caves like that! Haven't these people seen The Descent?
Bryson Richard's tale ON THE COURDUROY ROAD also blew me away. Maybe I have a soft spot for drunks walking home? I don't know, but I do know I loved this story.
THE OLD TIP ROAD was a nasty little tale of young boys discovering an abandoned freezer. I had to see what happened when a knock came from inside the freezer. C. M. Saunders was the author of this one. I need to read some more work from them, stat!
LULLABY by Lorne Dixon was a science fiction type horror tale, involving old gods returning to earth, but this time they're radioactive. What kind of insane idea is this? I'll tell you, it's a damn good one!
One of the tales here involves an author I discovered way back then, thanks to my local life-savers. This author, friends, is Steve Rasnic Tem, and he always amazes me with his weird imagination. I feel like Tem is part of my life as he's been a favorite of mine for over 40 years. He is a national treasure and I am willing to read everything he writes. H IS FOR THE HUNT is weirdly wonderful and that sums up Tem's work in a nutshell.
THE REST CURE by by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd. This is yet another new author to me. With this tale, reminiscent of THE YELLOW WALLPAPER, Bradd won me over lickety-split. I don't know how women even survived dealing with this kind of treatment: lay there and do nothing, all day, every day. Just the thought of it gives me the shivers.
FISHERS OF...by Frances Ogamba. I don't even know what to say about this without giving anything away. They were fishing for....something. I'll let you figure it out!
IN FEAR AS DARK AS COAL (A POEM), Ron Perovich tells the tale of a coal mine. I know a lot of this stuff is actually true and to this day, I don't know why anyone would want to do this job.
WE CAN'T LET GO by Sheldon Higdon is a disturbing tale about how much we love our children. So much so that we can't let them go.
Finally, FELL MILL by Charles Hughes. This was another disturbing tale about a young man constantly being beaten by his dad. It ultimately ended in a satisfying way, but man, I felt sorry for this guy.
After all the tales here, there is a lovely section of illustrations from artist Jana Heidersdorf. In my ARC, these are in black in white, and they are stunning. Simply stunning.
Overall, this is a wonderful collection featuring all types of horror. Many of my favorites are listed here, but nearly all the stories worked for me. With a great mix of body horror, folk, weird and cosmic horror, this anthology hits a lot of high notes. Upon mulling these stories over the last few days, I decided to up my rating from 4 to 5 stars because so many of these stories were outstanding!
Highly recommended!
*Thank you to Eric Giugnard and Dark Moon Books for the paperback ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* -
Wonderful anthology with a great array of authors and stories. Horror encompasses so many things, and this anthology highlights that beautifully. Horror simply isn't comprised of one thing... this book is bound to have at least one story that will resonate with anyone.
There were a lot of authors that I had read things from previously, so I loved seeing what they brought to the table. I was also equally pleased to be exposed to some authors I haven't read before. I definitely have a lot more authors on my radar now!
This book also contains some pretty phenomenal art at the end. I kind of wish it had been incorporated throughout the book, but overall, no complaints! -
First off, we have 31 contributors to Horror Library #8 and some wonderful illustrations sure to catch your eye. Look closely. You never know what might jump out at you. Each short story has an amazing illustration to introduce you to the wonder of an author’s imagination. At the end of the book is a guest artist’s gallery by Jana Heidersdorf!
Whether you like stories based on claustrophobia, repercussions, broken rules, a child that….covens, masks, art, time travel, perversion, temptation or witchcraft, you are sure to find something that whets your appetite.
Probably the one that stood out the most for me was Only The Stones Will Hear You Scream. I am claustrophobic and felt shivers running up and down my spine as he squeezed and twisted into a space I feel no one was not meant to enter.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Horror Library #8 by Eric J Guignard.
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I don’t have a ton to say about Vol.8 of this very reliable series of horror fiction stories. Eric J. Guinard has become horror’s most prolific anthology editor and, amazingly, he keeps up the quality, the stories he publishes are wide and diverse. I understand that means that he is reading and passing on three times that number of stories, which in itself is impressive.
If you want markets for this kind of horror fiction, then you need to support it. The Horror Library series is not one Eric started, but he has taken a series with a good reputation, and it has been made better. What can you expect from a HL volume? A mixture of established big-name and award-winning authors like Bentley Little and Steve Rasic Tem and the newer voices. Guignard has an eye for new talent. Thanks to doing books like World of Horror he also is good at getting national diversity. There is always gender and racial diversity not exactly the strengths of the early volumes of this series.
All the stories in this collection were good and entertaining enough that rarely skipped or tapped out on stories something I do on occasion. My favorites were Only the Stones Will Hear Scream by R.A Busby, Blockchain by Dexter Mcleod, H Is for the Hunt by Steve Rasnic Tem, and Solace by Anna Zielgelhof.
Solace was my favorite a short, and experimental Sci-fi story with a corporate nightmare feel. Steve Rasnic Tem has always been a great short story writer and H is for the Hunt is also short but the story builds a dark vibe. Blockchain could also be at home in a science fiction anthology and is a story about technology. The R.A. Busby story is a very claustrophobic tale that stokes my fear of isolation.
If you are a devotee of the horror short story the work of Eric J. Guinard and Dark Moon books you should follow closely. Also the book comes Also including a special guest artist's gallery of Jana Heidersdorf, which is a special and fun part of the book. -
This series is a great resource, and this is true of this volume in particular. There are so many excellent stories in this volume, it’s great bang for the buck for a reader but also for writers. If you are starting out writing short fiction or even looking to better hone your craft, this is a great volume for seeing what makes great short fiction tick. A writing instructor could do a lot worse than assign this volume as required reading for a short fiction class.
Despite the depth of different tales and the quantity of content, I didn’t see one bad story. Some of my favorite pieces were Ai Jang’s “Mazu- Goddess of the Sea”, “The Rest Cure” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, and “Broodmare” by Jo Kaplan. My absolute favorite story was “Lise Meitner Speaks to the Living” by Octavia Cade, though in full disclosure I love researching the History of Science so historical scientists in fiction are often a favorite.
My only small criticism is that I wish that the artwork at the end had been interspersed throughout the volume instead of as a single gallery. Jana Heidersdorf’s artwork is brilliant, and I would’ve liked to get more time with it bit by bit than all in one place.
All in all this is a great entry for a wonderful series. I can’t wait for the next one. -
I do love a good horror anthology, and the Horror Library series never fails to impress.
There's no theme to these collections, other than the glory of horror in general. Editor Eric J. Guignard is one of my favorite anthologists; he knows how to assemble and arrange a perfect storm of scintillating stories.
Each story in this anthology is excellent, touching on every possible emotion that horror can inspire. Here you will find terror, dread, discomfort, fear, panic, anxiety, revulsion. You will encounter purely human horrors and supernatural specters, creature chaos and a few steep drops into the uncanny valley.
While every story is well worth the reading, a few of my personal favorites were:
"Only the Stones Will Hear You Scream" by R.A. Busby - fans (or perhaps strictly NON-fans) of claustrophobic horror will get all the heart-pounding anxiety-inducing terror they could ever want in this deep-delving tale.
"Mr. Hunicutt" by Bentley Little - a little figure made of walnuts shouldn't be terrifying, and yet... The sheer weirdness and just-off-from-reality of this story gave me actual goosebumps.
"Solace" by Anna Ziegelhof - Psychological, isolation horror at its creepy, anxious best.
"Unwind" by Christopher O'Halloran - A few brief moments in a single room turn into a bizarre weirdness that will have readers checking beneath them when they sit on the... well, spoilers.
"We Can't Let Go" by Sheldon Higdon - One of those purely human horrors, this story hits some disgusting notes while also tugging a bit at the heartstrings, and that ending... wow.
And of course, the special artist's gallery at the back of the book, featuring the hauntingly beautiful art of Jana Heidersdorf, is a feast for the eyes.
Horror Library, Volume 8 will keep you turning the pages late into the night, eager to find out what strange horrors await you next. -
HORROR LIBRARY, Volume 8, edited by Eric J. Guignard is a non-themed collection of short stories. A "Special Guest Artists" gallery was included at the end, which showcased some amazing illustrations!
While not every story hit as deeply as others (naturally, as in any anthology), these stories had quite a few that I considered solid 5 star reads on their own. Taken as a whole, I can't think of any that I felt weren't "up to par" with the rest, and am going with an overall review of 5 stars.
While I had quite a few "favorites" written down, I thought I would give a special mention to a few of them:
--"Fell Mill", Charlie Hughes
--"Poor Mad Isaac", Don Raymond
--"Mr. Hunicutt", Bentley Little
--"The Old Tip Road", C.M. Saunders
--"Holler Bridge", J.L. Hoy
--"The Rest Cure", Shenoa Carroll-Bradd
--"The Yearning Pool", Tomas P. Balazs
--"The Blind", James Owens
--"Zipper Back", Thersea Matsuura
Overall, I find the Horror Library anthologies to be some of the most consistent in terms of showcasing both emerging and established talent.
Highly recommended. -
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/horror-library-volume-8/
Horror Library, Volume 8 is a spectacular addition to the Horror Library anthology series and a magnificent addition to my personal library. The physical book is a beautiful thing to both hold and behold, but, of course, the stories are where the treasure lies.
The stories in this volume range from dark and disturbing to downright chilling. Each story is a unique experience in horror fiction, a unique journey into darkness. With 31 stories included, it’s not possible to do justice to all of them here, but I have chosen three from the ones that stand out for me.
“Poor Mad Isaac” by Don Raymond is an exceptional tale told with incredible voice, a seaside story with whispers of Lovecraft. I found it thoroughly engrossing.
“Mazu—Goddess of the Sea” by Ai Jiang is a deep and moving story that speaks of dark obsession, longing, and the torments of emotional abuse. It’s a beautifully told story. I felt it in my soul.
“We Can’t Let Go” by Sheldon Higdon is a compelling tale with layers of horror both subtle and not. It’s an intense story where nothing is quite what it seems. I found the ending rather scarring.
And, of course, there’s more.
As with Volume 7, the stories in Volume 8 are followed by a wonderful gallery of poignant artwork by the talented Jana Heidersdorf. These pieces are a feast for the eyes and mind.
Also as with Volume 7, I could go on and on extolling the brilliance of these literary pieces individually and the book as a whole, but I won’t. Suffice it to say Horror Library, Volume 8 is horror literature at its finest and a shelf-worthy, highly recommended read in any format. -
A very good anthology of horror tales with a wide range of types of tale and a host of great authors to now follow. Very enjoyable reading
Full review -
https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl... -
Long time fan of this horror anthology series. It’s been around for a long time and each volume is non-themed (general) horror short stories. They’re not grisly or triggering, but thoughtful and ominous stories by lots of different writers with very broad imaginations. Some of my favorite stories were “Zipper Back” by Thersa Matsuura (tragic backstory of kaiju warriors); “Hymns in the Dark” by Gordon Grice (folk horror with the devil creeping on a farm); “Under the Pale Mother Moon” by Garick Cooke (an ex-soldier versus a family of werewolves); and “Mr. Hunicutt” by Bentley Little (a couple are stalked by a creepy man made of… walnuts!); plus just about every other story in this book. They were all so good! 5 out of 5 stars.
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The short story format will always be one of my favorite story-telling tools. Some 5-star stories, and some 1-star stories. Oh, and 6-star art by Jana Heidersdorf!
