A World of Horror by Eric J. Guignard

A World of Horror Reviews

• 
  Michael Flores

  This anthology, A WORLD OF HORROR, is simply superb. Well planned, well implemented, gorgeously designed, and fantastic stories. Almost every contribution in this book is worth the ticket of admission. I really appreciated the chance to read dark-natured fictions stories from all over the world in just one place. Surprisingly, it’s hard to find good horror stories from a diverse group of authors all brought together in one book, but the editor Eric J. Guignard succeeded in this admirably. Some of my favorites were “Sick Cats in Small Spaces” by Kaaron Warren, where a family tests its bonds while bottling ghosts in an outback town. And “The Nightmare” by Rhea Daniel was very sensible and this slow-burn that took a surprising and multiply-shocking set of twists. “The West Wind” by David McGroarty was another slow burn that was just as thoughtful and psychological as any gothic tale of the ancient literaries. “The Secret Life of the Unclaimed” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa was terribly saddening, but a very realistic view of a “monster” in adolescence. And so many others. Again, just an excellent and fulfilling collection of well-written stories! (disclaimer: this book was provided in exchange for an honest review)
• 
  Joanna Parypinski

  I absolutely loved this anthology of horror stories from around the world, and I hope it's a herald of things to come as speculative fiction publishing continues to shift toward embracing diverse voices. The great thing about this book is that it offers a broad range of stories from various countries, like South Africa, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil, Italy, and more. With that incredible range, you feel like you really are getting to see different perspectives of horror from around the world that we wouldn't ordinarily get to experience, as readers, compiled all in one place. I especially liked that each story captured some element of the country it was from, either some particular voice, flavor, cultural experience, or mythology. That made it especially engaging and brought to life the purpose of the anthology. This entire enterprise feels like an untapped goldmine--I'd love to see a sequel to this with more stories from around the globe! Eric Guignard has done a great job compiling a diverse catalogue of compelling fiction here. I have a feeling this one is going to become an important part of every horror fan's bookshelf.
• 
  Anita Patel

  This whole book of bringing together authors from around the world was an exceptional idea, and beautifully executed both in terms of story content and in visual appeal (nod to artist Steve Lines!). There’s a great variety of stories and tones, exploring myths and fears and tastes from 22 authors (in 18 countries, with a few countries represented twice). I loved Rhea Daniel in India, and Kaaron Warren in Australia, and David McGroarty in Scotland, and Suyi Davies Okungbowa in Nigeria, and so many more. Great book all around, and very much recommended!
• 
  Ben Arzate

  
  Full Review
  
  A World of Horror is essential reading for fans of horror and dark fiction. The stories are all well-written, entertaining, and fascinating looks into the cultures from which they came. I hope that in the future Guignard will put together another book in the same vein.
• 
  Ian Welke

  This anthology is wonderfully dangerous. In addition to a story from one of my favorite short story writers, Nadia Bulkin, this anthology has generated a giant list of writers I need to search for more material from. The stories in here are diverse not just in the author origins and tone, but they also vary in makeup so much that it felt like a course in world literature in one volume. A day after reading the final story and I’m still thinking not just about individual stories, but how mind expanding the anthology is as a whole. Highly recommended.
• 
  Sarah Scott

  An enjoyable collection of dark speculative fiction, horror, and general strangeness from around the world. My personal favorites were One Last Wayang, The Shadows of Saint Urban, and The Man At Table Nine - but most of the stories were a fun read, and only two were eventually skimmed. Absolutely recommended to anyone who enjoys a little bit of dark weirdness!
• 
  Elle

  The premise of this book is absolutely fantastic – to seek out as many different stories from as many different countries as possible. And though there are a couple of stories from countries very familiar to Western horror readers, more come from places likely unfamiliar to English speakers. Inside this anthology, readers will find stories from Japan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Singapore, Sweden, Philippines and more. And each, in their own way, is an absolute delight.
  
  I am constantly blown away by anthologies, the sheer dedication of the editors and the talent of various authors, gathered in one place, but this is a collection taken to the next level. The variety provides something unique, allowing readers to delve into the myths of places they might perhaps never visit.
  
  Personal favourites – Honey¸ set in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, where strange creatures roam. The Shadows of Saint Urban, about the dangers lurking in the shadows, and the madness found within, which feels almost like it could be a Carpenter movie. How Alfred Nobel Got His Mojo, where Nobel discovers the true extent of dynamite’s destructive powers. Sick Cats in Small Spaces, about bottles found in the Australian outback, and the spirits trapped within.
• 
  Hayley

  It's rare that I find an anthology where every story is great, and this is one of them. I really enjoyed the variations of stories in the book - there are some fantastic monster stories, hauntings, and more. And one of the shortest stories in the book, "Warning: Flammable, See Back Label" disturbed me to no end.
  
  Some of my favorites were:
  On a Wooden Plate, on a Winter's Night by David Nickle (Canada)
  The Secret Life of the Unclaimed by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Nigeria)
  Obibi by Dilman Dila (Uganda)
  Honey by Valya Dudycz Lupescu (Ukraine)
  Warning: Flammable, See Back Label by Marcia Douglas (Jamaica)
  The Shadows of Saint Urban by Claudio Foti (Italy)
  Warashi's Grip by Yukimi Ogawa (Japan)
  
  Incredible collection! I'll be keeping an eye out for these authors in the future - I was pleased to learn that Suyi Davies Okungbowa has a novel coming out later this year, which is going straight onto my TBR list. Great anthology; highly recommended.
• 
  Jimmy Tam

  This is an anthology with horror or weird short stories written by writers from all around the world (aptly named, WORLD OF HORROR!). What a great idea and a great execution. The book is beautifully designed and there’s an artist with exceptional old school art. The stories are intense, raw. Some of them funny, bizarre, but all well written and thoroughly interesting to read these points of view from all over the world! Good job to editors and writers involved!
• 
  Lizzy Walker

  Review for Monster Librarian forthcoming. I love this anthology.
• 
  Erica Robyn Metcalf

  A World of Horror edited by Eric J. Guignard is an amazing collection of tales from all over the world! If you’re a horror fan, you have to check this one out!
  
  Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the editor in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
  
  This was such an awesome collection! I really loved how it was organized and how it allowed me to read from authors from many countries that I hadn’t read from before!
  
  Each tale had an illustration before it with a caption below that was pulled from the story. These illustrations were created by Steve Lines.
  
  On the page where we see the title, there was also a graphic to indicate which nation the writer was from as well as a lovely blurb from the editor that introduced the tale!
  
  Introduction: Diversity In Fiction by Eric J. Guignard
  I loved that the editor discussed why he wanted to undertake this project and how he went about completing it! He also included some stats that I was happy to learn! The diversity of the authors included in this book is awesome; 22 stories from 18 nations, with a 45/55 percent gender split!
  
  “Truly, there’s no shortage of tales to be
  shared from the rest of the world,
  but not everyone has the opportunity.
  Which is why I wanted to undertake this venture.”
  
  Mutshidzi by Mohale Mashigo – 5/5
  South Africa
  Heartbreaking and spooky! These two siblings are so brave. I loved how positive Mutshidizi was with what she was going through as she tried to keep the home together after the death of their mother.
  
  One Last Wayang by L Chan – 5/5
  Singapore
  I loved this one! A tale of monsters and shadows that are alive, told to a grandson by a grandfather. The last line really got me!
  
  Things I Do For Love by Nadia Bulkin – 3/5
  Indonesia
  From curses to seers, this one was so interesting!
  
  On A Wooden Plate, On A Winter’s Night by David Nickle
  Canada
  I unfortunately missed something here…
  
  Country Boy by Billie Sue Mosiman – 3/5
  United States
  Phew! What a smart kid! This tale was about a town where a murderer was on the loose. When shovels started going missing, a young kid that was a fan of Sherlock books solved the case. But would the adults listen to him?
  
  The Wife Who Didn’t Eat by Thersa Matsuura – 3/5
  Japan
  Creepy! I’m gonna have to do research on this fairy tale!
  
  The Disappeared by Kristine Ong Muslim – 4/5
  Philippines
  A very sad and spooky piece of flash fiction about a river that claims a life once a year.
  
  The Secret Life of the Unclaimed by Suyi Davies Okungbowa – 3/5
  Nigeria
  Oh goodness! This poor teen. What a nightmare! Puberty is rough enough, but add a more unnatural transformation to the mix…
  
  How Alfred Nobel Got His Mojo by Johannes Pinter – 3/5
  Sweden
  What a fun but heartbreaking tale!
  
  Sick Cats in Small Spaces by Kaaron Warren – 3/5
  Australia
  Oh, this was a neat one! I kept waiting for the horror to show, and when it did… wonderful.
  
  Obibi by Dilman Dila – 4/5
  Uganda
  Phew! What a dark and sad start. the chase in the woods was certainly creepy! I loved the shapeshifting element and how this one turned out!
  
  The Nightmare by Rhea Daniel – 4/5
  India
  Interesting! I did not see that ending coming. I really enjoyed this one but I was so nervous for the girl the whole time.
  
  Chemirocha by Charlie Human – 3/5
  South Africa
  What an interesting tale! While this one wasn’t horror focused, there was an underlying unsettling vibe.
  
  Honey by Valya Dudycz Lupescu – 5/5
  Ukraine
  This was definitely one of my favorites from the collection! I really felt for the characters and didn’t want harm to befall either of them. There’s also just something about homes in the middle of the woods that draw me in. Add the setting of this one and the fear around both the radiation from Chernobyl and unseen monsters… this was right up my alley.
  
  Warming: Flammable, See Back Label by Marcia Douglas – 4/5
  Jamaica
  Woah! This one was like a fever dream! I’m not sure what exactly was happening, but it was eerie!
  
  Arlecchino by Carla Negrini – 4/5
  Italy
  Yikes! This poor guy. What a tale! Nothing like being haunted by monsters from childhood…
  
  The Man at Table Nine by Ray Cluley – 4/5
  England
  How odd and creepy!! What a premise.
  
  The Mantle of Flesh by Ashlee Scheuerman- 3/5
  Australia
  A eerie tale of family tradition, lore, and the quest to end a cycle.
  
  The Shadows of Saint Urban by Claudio Foti – 3/5
  Italy
  How spooky! Not a good one if shadows already creep you out. Also, not a brilliant idea to finish the tale and then immediately go into your basement to gather your Spring decorations either…
  
  Warashi’s Grip by Yukimi Ogawa – 4/5
  Japan
  Woah! This tale. I did not see the end coming! So frustrating and sad that it was all tied to selfishness.
  
  The White Monkey by Carlos Orsi – 3/5
  Brazil
  Another tale similar to a fever dream and quite spooky!
  
  The West Wind by David McGroarty – 3/5
  Scotland
  Another sad and spooky one!
  
  My Final Thoughts
  This was such a great collection! I had so much fun picking it up from time to time to read a tale.
  
  I highly recommend this collection to those that love horror, and to those that are just dipping into the genre!
  
  
• 
  E.F.

  Chilling, suspenseful. An excellent collection.
• 
  S.J. Townend

  A cracking collection of stories. Fresh voices. My favourites were:
  The Wife Who Didn't Eat (Matsuura),
  Sick Cats in Small Places (Warren),
  Honey (Lupescu) and
  The Mantle of Flesh (Scheuerman).
• 
  Dominique Lamssies

  This anthology features several wonderful authors and delves into a great deal of folk horror from all over the world and you will definitely learn something when you read this.
  
  The stories come from a variety of sub genres, so any fan will find something they like. And the stories are uniformly high quality, the qualms I have are largely a matter of taste. Also, there's a little too much editor involvement for my taste. I don't really need the editor to sell me on the story. He chose it for inclusion. That's recommendation enough.
  
  Recommended for everyone because it's all good.
• 
  Irene Well Worth A Read

  I suppose I say it too often, but I love horror anthologies. They are especially good for when I'm between novels or don't have a lot of time and just want to read a few pages here and there, on a lunch break or before bed. What I really loved about this anthology is that it took me on a trip around the world without having to leave the safety of my home. I also loved that each story was accompanied by an illustration, because what good is a trip around the world without pictures! All of these authors are new to me except for the dearly departed Billie Sue Mosiman. I have been a fan of her work for ages, she was a talented writer and a wonderful lady.
  I found this book to be an interesting mix of the supernatural, serial killers, and folklore and a peek into the customs and superstitions of other countries. I enjoyed every story but the ones that are still etched in my mind are On a Wooden Plate, On a Winter’s Night which was not just the normal reunion story that I thought it was at first. I love the way it surprised me. Country Boy, which was about a killer on the loose, The Wife Who Didn't Eat, about a lonely man who has his prayers answered... sort of. The Secret Life of the Unclaimed which I can't really go into without spoiling it for you Sick Cats in Small Spaces finds a family on what is liable to be their last ever family road trip...
  I would recommend this anthology to any horror fan, particularly if you are wondering where is the diversity in horror? Because here it is!
  4 out of 5 stars
  I received a complimentary copy for review.
• 
  Nicole Willson

  Awesome collection-great variety of stories.
• 
  David Agranoff

  Cool book full Audio review coming with my Dickheads co-host Anthony Trevino coming soon.
  
• 
  Sally

  A World of Horror, edited by Eric J. Guignard, is the longest lingering collection on the review shelves, an anthology I started exploring at the tail end of the summer. It was an entirely new-to-me slate of authors, which is probably why I lingered over it for so long. While there are a handful of Western stories - Canada, USA, England, Australia - the others are from South Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Japan, Philippines, and more. A truly global slate of horror.
  
  That diversity was something of a challenge for me. Some of the stories were just too different from what I am used to, from what I look for in horror, that I struggled to find my way into them. Highlights for me included the weird horror of ON A WOODEN PLATE, ON A WINTER’S NIGHT
  David Nickle and THE MAN AT TABLE NINE by Ray Cluley; the body horror of THE SECRET LIFE OF THE UNCLAIMED by Suyi Davies Okungbowa; the creepy road trip horror of SICK CATS IN SMALL SPACES by Kaaron Warren; and HONEY by Valya Dudycz Lupescu, a story of ghosts and memories.
  
  
  
  https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...
• 
  Jess

  4.5 stars rounded up. This was my first short story horror anthology and won't be my last! I have normally had a really hard time enjoying the short story format; I think it works for me in the horror genre though. I really loved reading stories from all over the world - the similarities and differences in what constitutes horror among various cultures is fascinating.
• 
  Paula Hartman

  Like most anthologies, this was a hit or a miss but it was great to read stories based on folklore from around the world.