| Title | : | AHH! That's What I Call Horror: An Anthology of '90s Horror |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9798215796863 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 293 |
| Publication | : | First published January 25, 2023 |
You won’t need a dial-up connection to reach the beyond in this time-warp to the ‘90s. With undead grunge rock icons, menacing action figures, family sitcoms gone very wrong, and more: these terror tales will return you to the end of the old millennium.
How will you get back?
Like, who says you will?
AHH! That's What I Call Horror: An Anthology of '90s Horror Reviews
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AHH! That's What I Call Horror is a fun little bit of nostalgia, all dressed up as a horror anthology! When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure how many of the 90s references I'd appreciate. I spent the 90s raising a family. At times it feels like my life went from singing about 1999 with Prince in the 80s straight to Y2K. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. From the references in this book, I think my brain just rolled the 80s and 90s up into one nice little memory package and put a bow on it. But we're not here to talk about my failing memory. We're here to talk about this book!
I'm the type who enjoys a good collection of short stories. I'm prepared for at least one story to be a standout story that I wish was longer. And I'm prepared for at least one story to be an outlier, kind of the one that makes you wonder how it got mixed in with the other great stories. I'm here to tell you, there wasn't a single story that I didn't care for. I enjoyed every last one. In addition to the 90s throwbacks, there was a good mix of suspense, gore (but nothing too extreme), and even a couple of Lovecraftian type references. I truly enjoyed every last story and was only disappointed when the book came to an end.
Due to be published January 25, 2023, be on the lookout for this great anthology! I found some new-to-me authors in it that I'm going to keep on my radar. In full disclosure, I was given the opportunity to read this electronic ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm happy to give this anthology 5 out of 5 nostalgic stars. -
The horror anthology renaissance has left the market so saturated that most readers today can’t hope to keep up. I do try, but I confess that the average spoopy-themed anthology suffers from a severe lack of glue, a void of warmth and humanity, instead feeling more or less cobbled together for its short-lived burst of attention on social media before quietly fading into the abyss of forgotten books. Well, not this one.
AHH! That's What I Call Horror: An Anthology of '90s Horror, fills a hole in our hearts, a nostalgia engendered by the cold and dying world we’ve found ourselves in. We—and by “we” I mean all the 90s kids out there—long for the time that many of us consider the best period of our lives: before our addiction to instant gratification, a time when patience was rewarded, when our dopamine production wasn’t starved for a daily Amazon Prime package or a like on Instagram, a time when a new Tyco or Playmates toy commercial was the highlight of our weeks, when a single pop or rock album was enough to get us through the month. No wonder we find it so difficult to survive, to simply live, in this high-speed, overconnected (yet so isolated) world. A game we can never seem to win.
But it’s not over yet—it’s halftime. And the proverbial moms and dads are here, standing near the sidelines with warm smiles on their faces, containers in their hands—baskets overstuffed with drinks and snacks: Squeezits, HUG fruit barrels, Dunkaroos, and Kudos bars.
So dig in; take your fill. Dream of the past, forget the horror of the present, and perhaps you’ll come back for the second half revitalized and ready to return the world to its former grace.
Skrrrrt.
Psych! C’mon, did you really believe this anthology was going to be like a season of Full House, teeming with heartwarming themes and life lessons for the whole family? These are frickin’ horror stories, dude.
Prepare to get the crap scared out of you.
PSA: As a professional, I must admit that I know a number of these authors personally from our involvement in the HOWL Society writing community, and while at times my review may seem more like a love letter to the authors than public critique, what I can guarantee is that I had zero involvement in this project and my 5-star review is as genuine as they come. This book is by far one of my favorite reading experiences—if not the best one—of the year.
💿😎🪤 “Madame Crystal” by S.E. Denton
Tom Hanks once made the “You’ve Got Mail” soundbite stir our hearts; S.E. Denton has welcomed it into our worst nightmares.
In this story, an unlucky teenage Best Buy employee suffers a curse when he happens upon a shady website and subscribes to its fateful newsletter.
Of course we all know that our online behavior can come back to bite us in the real world, but that wasn’t much of a concept in the early internet days. Thus, our hindsight as modern readers only makes this story that much more of a nail-biter.
Looking for more S.E. Denton? She’s also the author of “Junco Creek,” a cabin-vacation horror story found in the anthology
Howls From Hell.
🌹🍽🔥 “The Harvest Queen” by Bridget D. Brave
There are enough 90s homecoming dresses described in this story to make a soft, cushiony landing spot—perfect for jumping out the window when you realize you can’t bear to witness the ending.
With touches of The Wickerman, Harvest Home, and Midsommar set in a 90s high school dance hall, it’s more Corn Maiden than Carrie, but the lingering essence of Stephen King paperbacks is just as welcome.
What makes this story so enjoyable for readers is the dramatic irony of having already experienced the past (especially for those of us versed in our history of pre-2000s teenage horror)—we’re all certain of what may happen to our doomed female character, but the tension makes getting there a nerve-wracking thrill ride.
Find more horror by Bridget D. Brave in the
Hell Hath Only Fury anthology with her story “The Unwanted.”
🔦🔮👨🏻 “Who in the World is The Hat Man?” by Chelsea Pumpkins
You might sigh when you see that the editor inserted her own story into the anthology, but think again! In fact, you may just discover this book is a collective community effort and that Chelsea Pumpkins simply volunteered to oversee the editing duties after already contributing her story. So you shouldn’t sigh—you should tremble in unrelenting reverence for her sacrifice.
As for the story, I have more advice. Don’t be fooled into thinking the innocuously cozy hook—something like classic Goosebumps meets creepypasta—is setting you up for a delightful little campfire story. If you’ve read Chelsea Pumpkins before, then you know she’ll rip your heart out the second you get comfortable. Think you’ll be ready this time? You won’t.
Still hungry for Pumpkins? Really? After what she’s just done to you? Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Try the anthology
Chromophobia, which includes her story “Toxic Shock.”
⚾️🦔🪚 “Between the Barbie and the Deep-Blue Ranger” by Christopher O’Halloran
Are you a parent? Have multiple kids? Ever let your oldest babysit your youngest? Yeah, you probably won’t do that again after reading this one.
It’s my personal favorite. Such a groundbreakingly fresh story, but if I was forced to make a comparison, I’d say it’s something like 90s babysitter horror meets Pin by Andrew Neiderman. And while I’m not usually a fan of multiple character perspectives/POVs in short fiction, this one is a definite exception.
I’m not even going to ask if you want to read more O’Halloran after this experience, because I know you do. Try his novella “Our Migraine” collected in
Bloodlines.
🪦🎥👊🏻 “The Grunge” by Caleb Stephens
If you could bring back any 90s rockstar, who would it be? Now imagine you could enlist said rockstar to help you kick someone’s freaking ass—who would that be? Take those two ideas, add a helping of 90s nostalgia and a dash of Grady Hendrix, and you’ve got “The Grunge.”
And it can’t arrive with better timing. The stories preceding it are so emotionally draining that a recess break of “fun horror” is just what the doctor ordered. Kudos to the editor for making that choice, and congratulations to Caleb Stephens for pulling off one hell of a story—without a doubt you’ll take a trip down memory lane, recalling the treasured posters of your favorite rock idol plastered on your bedroom walls, and how you’d do just about anything to meet them.
If you raised your metal horns and headbanged along with “The Grunge,” just know there are plenty more heavy riffs to be found in Stephens’s hot-off-the-press collection
If Only a Heart.
🐠🖖🪱 “Nona’s First and Last Album Drop” by Edith Lockwood
With a name like “Edith Lockwood,” I immediately expected Victorian-era prose and classic ghost story vibes, but of course the title belies the name, as does the upfront use of “beeyotch” and a dick joke (a really good one at that).
Admittedly, I struggled with this one, mostly because there are so many retro references and catchphrases—dropped nearly every other line—that at times it feels more like a game of 90s Bingo than a semi-authentic story ripped from the decade. That aside, I can’t deny the power of the witty character dialogue and clever creature horror—and the record-scratch twist at the end left me squirming long after the story had finished.
And it seems Lockwood’s a decades-horror extraordinaire: you can find more of her work in the anthology
Mixtape: 1986 with the story “Derailed”—and you’ll find a few other familiar names alongside hers.
😮💨🐒💼 “The One With the Mysterious Package” by C.B. Jones
Since we’re time traveling into the 90s, why not a time travel story? Just don’t expect the lightheartedness of Back to the Future.
We’ve all been posed this question at one point or another: if you could travel back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Jones’s story takes it to the next level by not only answering it but also narrating the ensuing fallout your younger self might suffer—a new rendition on the curse of knowledge.
But don’t get too comfortable. What starts as a simple thought experiment turns into a Dark Matter-esque rollercoaster of dread and suspense. And the voice is so captivating you might just forget it’s in third-person.
There’s plenty more Jones to go around with with his successful hybrid novel/collection of interrelated short stories:
The Rules of the Road.
🙉🥬👮♂️ “Caution: Choking Hazard” by Mathew Wend
After the slow, painful deaths of stores like Sears, Circuit City, and CompUSA throughout the early 2000s, we sometimes forget that department stores once ruled the earth.
Wend’s holiday-themed story, his first-time publication, impressively lands most of its tricks. I especially enjoy the way it reactivates my childhood wonder at exploring ten-foot-tall aisles of Lego sets and NERF guns at Toys “R” Us with my grandparents. And the added touch of Jingle All the Way—my favorite Christmas movie—is most welcome. Furthermore, this story contains one of my favorite lines from the anthology: “Stay hydrated, Cabbage Bitch.”
Keep on the lookout for more from Wend—I have a feeling he’ll be back soon.
🚪📼🏊 “Return to Gray Springs: Blockbuster Blues” by P.L. McMillan
Do I get to pick another personal favorite? Please? I’ll never ask for anything again, I swear!
But first let me explain why this story is so special to me:
In the summer of 1997 when I was 12 years old, I stayed at my grandparents’ house in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My grandpa often took me along for his graveyard shifts—he was the independent carpet cleaner contracted for most of the Blockbusters in the state. So for a few nights a week, he brought me along with a six-pack of Sam’s Club root beer and “let me” help him drag the hoses around the stores or scrape gum from the tile near the checkout stands.
When I learned the setting of this story, the floodgates opened, memories pouring forth—the chemical odor of the soap, the squishy texture of the plastic blue carpets, the towering walls of VHS cassettes, but most importantly the entertaining stories my grandpa would tell me over the loud whine of the vacuum.
So with the chance for one more Blockbuster story, I couldn’t resist diving right in. Even better, this one returns to the universe of Caleb Stephens’s tale included earlier in the anthology: Gray Springs, California.
Although the story begins with a comma splice, which never fails to irk my English-teacher brain, McMillan quickly alleviates any “oh no” anxiety with strong emotional tension between characters—and an especially horrifying situation at that: a character randomly running into an ex-girlfriend during an awkward period in his life. McMillan then builds onto Stephens’s mythos with a clever backstory that provides a new mystery to investigate, essentially taking us from Scooby Doo to X-Files. What follows is a break-neck pace of secret entrances, ritualistic cults, indescribable creatures—all my favorite things. But don’t let me spoil it. Enjoy your rental. Just be kind and rewind?
Oh, by the way, if this story rocked as hard for you as it did for me, there’s plenty more where that came from. Check out McMillan’s brand-new collection,
What Remains When The Stars Burn Out.
📖🫥🚘 “Alive and Living” by Carson Winter
Another salute to the editor, this time for following P.L. McMillan’s hefty novelette with a brief but oh-so-unsettling story. Carson Winter presents this experimental work as a live-audience television performance, which he pairs with its actual screenplay manuscript.
Winter gently eases you into your living room sofa with a Kid Cuisine TV dinner and glass of milk, feeding you familiar images from your childhood—a pilot episode for a 90s middle-class family television series straight from ABC. Yet before the cushy Boy Meets World-style character dynamic can settle in, and surely before your piping-hot chicken nuggets can cool off, the story drives right off the cliff. It tumbles into a daunting void of cosmic absurdism, your finger inching closer and closer to the power-off button on the remote—but it’s too late. The damage has already been done. Years from now you’ll joke with your fellow millennial friends about how this show “scarred” you for life, hoping they don’t notice your nervous laughter or the beads of sweat forming on your forehead.
I don’t know why you’d mess around with more Carson Winter fiction after this one, but hey, it’s your life, your trauma. Try “In Haskins” featured in
Apex Magazine, Issue 127t.
🤝✈️🥶 “The End of the Horror Story” by Patrick Barb
If you like 90s horror trivia, there’s lots to play with here. For example, the slasher star “Jennifer Leeson”—which I’m guessing is a nod to Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Jamie Lee Curtis … and Virgina Madsen? Not so sure on the last one, but I hope you have fun—just wait until you meet “Lester.” Barb provides the devil in the details.
As for the story itself, I’m a sucker for atmosphere, and this one’s a masterclass in building it: the isolated setting, frigid imagery, unnerving details, and concrete tension all mounting into an unstoppable blizzard of dread. Add some folklore, a found-footage format, and a twist ending—and I’m sold (although it probably helps that I’ve seen Rocky IV a dozen times, which only added to Barb’s exceptional portrayal of remote Siberia).
If you live under a rock, you should know The Barbster is published in just about every dark fiction magazine and anthology worth its salt. You really don’t need my help finding more of his work. However, you might consider his latest project: a novella called
Gargantuana's Ghost.
🚍📕🔥 “The Final Away Game” by J.W. Donley
Nostalgia supreme: an emotional, imagery-laden reminder of those transcendental experiences of long, nighttime bus rides home from a school event, the world so full of possibilities, the CD in your Discman more crucial to your existence than the baggy shirt on your back, all while you steal secret glances at your crush’s profile a few seats ahead of you as the passing street lights illuminate their features.
Even without its simple-but-powerful images, this story is arguably the most authentic 90s piece in the anthology, especially with Donley’s presentation of teenage angst and the perpetual struggle to belong in a world that was changing far too quickly. However, nothing sells the authenticity of this story more than the rampant homophobia employed by teenage boys to prove their manhood—a ridiculous but all-too-real game. Nearly anything remotely enjoyable in the 90s (and possibly other decades) was hands-off due to it being “gay,” which severely limited young men to a narrow band of identity expression. Not to say young women didn’t endure their own sufferings—I just can’t speak from that perspective. Nevertheless, this is without a doubt a horror story, so prepare for the bus driver to slam on the brakes in the middle of your spiritual reawakening.
Digging the Donley? Try his novelette,
Cats of the Pacific Northwest. The quaint little binding job is absolutely worth it, and he might just sign a copy for you. But don’t trust the cats. Any of them.
⛪️😵💋 “About a Girl” by J.V. Gachs
Three words: Metaphorical. Ghost. Orgasm.
Okay, maybe that’s just my interpretation of the repressed Catholic themes here—or maybe I taught “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin one too many times—but either way, you won’t want to skip this one.
And since the only criticism of this anthology might be that it goes a little too hard on the white, middle-class, suburban experience of the 90s, it’s a breath of fresh air to read a new experience here—both in religious and cultural points of view.
If you aren’t quite hollowed out after this one, you can find more of Gachs’s work in the anthology
What One Wouldn't Do. (Unfortunately, this is my first time reading their work, and I couldn’t find a table of contents anywhere for the specific story title.)
💾🕹♾ “Threshold” by Damien B. Raphael
As one of the few pieces taking place outside of the US—and actually outside the 90s too—this story helps transition us back into the present day. Yet another fantastic move made by the editor.
Given that I grew up on a Commodore 64 and later a Compaq Presario with a hefty collection of floppy disks like 4th & Inches and War in Middle-earth, I’m delighted to encounter a haunted video game story here. And like “The End of the Horror Story,” this tale also excels in atmosphere, namely a tangible urban grunge that I still can’t seem to wash from my hands. Enjoy getting lost in this one. But don’t go too far, or you might not come back at all.
Lucky for you, Raphael has a number of stories published in
The Ghastling magazine. You could almost pick one at random and be sure to find one of his pieces!
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Sorry, but my paragraph of congrats to the writers, artists, and editor exceeds the word-count max! -
Ahh! That’s What I Call Horror is an anthology of indie horror shorts all set in my most favorite decade, the 90’s. Every piece of common nostalgia is featured here, all the current events, popular toys, tech, snacks, fashion, music, stores, and more! We’ve got floppy discs and noisy internet, watermelon bubble gum and power rangers, brown lip liner and choker necklaces… I could keep going but some things need to stay a surprise.
The horror level/content ranges from story to story, but overall I found this collection to be quite fun. There are thorough content warnings if needed. This anthology starts with a clever short titled Madame Crystal that perfectly sets the 90’s tone and makes a stellar first impression. There is something for everyone in here and each reader will have their personal favorites. This just made my Halloween a whole lot happier 🎃
Thank you to Chelsea Pumpkins for the opportunity to review a digital ARC. I also preordered because the final copy will have a forward by Max Booth III which I’m particularly excited about! -
I really enjoyed this anthology of horror stories all set in the nineties. Like any anthology there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but overall it was a good book.
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This book hit me in the feels.
I grew up in the 90s so a lot of the settings and characters resonated with me.
My fave stories:
Madame Crystal by SE Denton
The Harvest Queen by Bridget D. Brave
Who in the World is the Hat Man? by Chelsea Pumpkins
Between the Barbie and the Deep-Blue Ranger by Christopher O'Halloran
Caution: Choking Hazard by Mathew Wend
The End of the Horror Story by Patrick Barb
The Final Away Game by JW Donley
If I didn't list a story it was due more to content preference than writing ability. I enjoy gore, Lovecraftian, folklore, and ghost stories the most. But, the entire antho flows nicely from one story into another and I found it easy to read. I'm looking forward to seeing more work from the authors collected here!
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review and leave this review willingly. -
Fun but shocking anthology of 90s-themed horror! Nostalgia with a twist. These great horror writers look back on the 90s not simply with fondness, but with dread and disappointment. What did the 90s promise us? In many cases, it promised that normal suburban life works and that wealth makes you happy. These stories of ravenous toys and failed sleepovers and evil sitcoms and doomed first loves and haunted video tapes all reflect on a time that pretended to be innocent and sweet, and they rip off the mask.
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*Note: I was provided an ARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.*
So here's the 411: nostalgia is all about what one remembers, and as we all know, memory is a shape-shifter. Despite that, nostalgia conjures up deep emotions that cling to these memories, and these stories mine that feeling for fictional responses to a particular decade: the 1990s. Some of these stories do more of that than others, but all of the stories share being set, in one way or another, during this period of time.
I enjoyed a great many of these stories, and especially enjoyed being treated to newer writers whose names are not quite as well-known as some others, while being entertained by those writers whose names I have come across in the past.
Oh, snap! "Madame Crystal," for example, by S.E. Denton, was a shot out of the gate, invoking such specters as Miss Cleo (the renowned psychic & fraudster—Call me now for your free psychic reading!). This particular story did more to invoke the 90s than any of the others, such as the invention of the Internet—but also numerous other indicators, touching on some of the calamities that dotted the 90s (at least, in the US). You'll have to read the story, though, to see how the author ingeniously weaves together these two seemingly disparate elements.
"Nona's First and Last Album Drop," by Edith Lockwood, was all that and a bag of chips. Lockwood has a distinctive voice, and that voice comes through like gangbusters in this story. The character of Nona is all spitfire and bubblegum, and her characterization was witty and deft, even as she encounters the midnight horrors of a strange radio station. This story was easily my favorite of the anthology, due to its strikingly descriptive language and propulsive narration. I liked, too, how it didn't shy away from some of the grimier aspects of growing up, and was unafraid to tackle the sometimes disturbing overlap between teacher and student. This story solidified for me the desire to read anything else Lockwood writes. (For more, check out her brilliant take on Baba Yaga in the pages of The Dread Machine.)
"Caution: Choking Hazard," by Mathew Wend, wasn't one of my favorites. PSYCH! Actually, this story brilliantly evokes a particular horror: working in retail (especially during a particular season during a particular time in the 90s) and warps a well-known toy into a thing of horror. I haven't seen toy horror done this well since the original version of Child's Play—you'll never look at a toy store quite the same way again, and if your teeth don't clench upon encountering a particular character (who we'll just call Karen, here) then you have no soul, or you've never worked in retail before.
"Alive and Living (Pilot)," by Carson Winter, is a highlight of this anthology as well. It brilliantly skewers the sitcom in a meta-fictional way that left me wanting to actually witness the script performed—though I would certainly not want to be in the studio audience. Fans of fourth-wall breaking such as the recent WandaVision will definitely enjoy this creepy take on the 90s sitcom world. This story definitely had me buggin' out. (For more of Winter's work, check out the brilliant "In Haskins" in Apex Magazine, or his recent novella "The Guts of Myth," in
Split Scream Volume One)
"Threshold," by Damien B. Raphael, which closes out the anthology, was also a creepy and well-written ride, evoking some great nostalgia via video games and the disturbing disappearance of a childhood friend. It takes a minute for the story to really get started, but once it gets into gear, the atmosphere begins to close in. The climax is harrowing, dropping you off in a frightening place: one where nostalgia and the present moment overlap, with the menacing aerosolized scent of Dulux emulsion lingering around your nostrils as the story wraps its coils around you. Can't wait to read more from this writer.
Special note must be made of the entire aesthetic of this anthology: Cassie Daley hits a home run with the stellar cover design (that font!), PL MacMillan and JL Kiefer do excellent work with the individual story illustrations, and I particularly loved the section-break image (which looks at once like the wallpaper at The Max in Saved by the Bell and some shirts I may or may not have owned back in the 90s).
A few caveats with this anthology, however: one, that the length of the stories included is somewhat variable. Most of them fall within an easy one-sitting read, but there are also some which approach novelette length, to this reader's eye, and this requires a shift in attention in order to fully enjoy. The second issue I had is that some of these stories don't really capture the same spirit or nostalgia of the 90s in the same way as some of the others do. Some of them are merely set during the 1990s, though they don't have the same connection to the underlying nostalgia that the others represent. This could be a good thing for readers who tire of the relentless spangles of color or the bad fashion choices (which have even now come back in style), but for this reader, I felt a disconnect between some of the stories, thematically. This is no way a comment on the quality of the writing of said stories, however.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, and I do recommend it, especially to those who lived through the 90s (as I did). As with any time period, there are highlights as well as tragedies, and this anthology does a great job of illuminating both of those aspects.
It must also be said that this is an effort made by a group of like-minded writers, without a central press, and it represents the spirit of independent publishing to a tee.
In short, this anthology is da bomb, bodacious, and hella cool.
Check it out for yourself, homeslice. You'll be glad you did. -
I admit that I had preconceptions about this anthology. I expected overused "cowabungas", Simpson references, and 90's movie tag lines on every page. Instead, I was surprised by how *smoothly* the era was brought back: these stories weren't written to merely showcase the 90's. No, they're true horror stories that just happen to take place three decades ago. (The fact that the 90's were three decades ago may be the real horror here). The level of subtle detail layered through these tales dredged up some surprising feelings for me: on the one hand, unexpected nostalgia for parts of my childhood I'd forgotten; on the other, genuine dread for the characters in the stories--there's an inherent isolation to the time before ubiquitous cell phones and data plans, and nothing adds more to a horror story than the inability to call for help.
Although every story in this collection is well-written by skilled authors (I recognized a few names from the horror pubs I read), there were two, I think, that weren't exactly to my taste. The rest were both fun and fearsome, with truly startling and vivid imagery (I regret finishing this book late at night). There are two stories that take place in the same world, involving the same characters, just set at different years, which I found quite clever and served to make the collection feel well-curated and cohesive.
Also, something I appreciated was the option to check content warnings, placed in the back of the book to avoid inadvertent spoilers.
I highly recommend this 90's collection for adult horror fans. It was tubular, dude.
**I received a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.** -
A spooky, creepy crawlie love letter to my childhood era!!! This collection has it all; from resurrected rock gods, to a blockbuster helmed by a monster worshipping cult, to a slasher film set overrun with witchy curses! This one is fun and nostalgic as hell!!
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Wow! A truly stellar anthology, loaded with excellent stories. And the editor has done a brilliant work, as well. The anthology is mostly about the early 90s (the last story goes outside that decade, but the connection is still there). There are 14 stories here, each story a gem, satisfying all horror cravings and covering just about every horror trope you can imagine. The editor has put together a stylistically diverse group of tales, yet they seem to fit together seamlessly.
All the stories appealed to me. However, I enjoyed some more than others. Let’s go briefly over those, trying not to spoil anything:
‘Madame Crystal’ by S.E. Denton
A very strong story, perfectly opening the anthology, with serious creepy vibes: a cursed newsletter in the early days of the Web, a teenager in love, cryptic predictions, and a nasty ending.
‘Who in the World is The Hat Man?’ by Chelsea Pumpkins
I only realized this was the editor’s story after finishing it. I will certainly check more of her work. This tale combines the trope of the urban legend with the eerie atmosphere of a ghost story, quite successfully, I must admit. I hoped for a happy resolution; nope, I didn’t get it. Or did I?
‘Between the Barbie and the Deep-Blue Ranger’ by Christopher O’Halloran
This story is about exactly what it says: toys. Awful story; in the best way. I wouldn’t recommend it to kids, they might get ideas. Another author I’d like to have read more of.
‘The Grunge’ by Caleb Stephens
What a story! Having been blown away by Caleb Stephens’ recently published collection, ‘If Only a Heart and Other Tales of Terror,’ I expected nothing less. A dash of humor, colorful characters, genuine insight into the teenage psychology of the 90s, metal music nostalgia, and disturbing, horrific developments. This one’s about a zombie; sort of.
‘Nona’s First and Last Album Drop’ by Edith Lockwood
This one has it all (perhaps, even, too much of everything): genuine 90s atmosphere, ghosts, creatures, Lovecraftian economics (if there’s such a thing; I don’t mean Lovecraft’s politics!) – very smart dialogue, and a rather sad ending. There’s something emotionally draining when reading an anthology about the 90s, knowing how it all turned out.
‘The One With the Mysterious Package’ by C.B. Jones
My favorite story, along with the Caleb Stephens one. It’s one of those “What would you do for love?” stories, but extremely intelligent. It hit me in the feels, since I found the protagonist’s behavior too familiar, too close for comfort. It’s a sort of a time-travel story, too, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The time-travel trope draws out the necessary emotional themes that drive the story to its wrenching conclusion.
‘The End of the Horror Story’ by Patrick Barb
This story was amazing. Really, even after so many good stories, this one stands out. It’s a type of found footage story. It takes place mostly in Siberia, and pulls no punches on the spooky folklore of the area. An aspiring director goes there to shoot a slasher sequel; by the end, he’ll regret it bitterly. Towards the end, too, in a throwaway line (or scene?), we recognize what’s been going on, but by then, it’s by far too late to untangle ourselves from this brilliant tale. I enjoyed this story immensely; actually, I went back to reread it. Judging by this one, the stories in the author’s collection, coming in 2023, ought to be top quality horror stories!
‘Threshold’ by Damien B. Raphael
Another strong story, closing the anthology. It doesn’t belong to the 90s, since it takes place today, but it manages to throw light on the 90s world (pun intended – read the story) via a very, very clever idea. It’s about a cursed (or haunted, or both) video game. It comes back to the urban legend motif, and exploits it in all manner of ways. The ending surprised me - a lot. I’d like to read more of this author’s work: the writing was flawless, beautiful plot, tight narrative details; it was very easy to feel the horror of the ending.
What a great anthology! Very highly recommended.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (The ARC unfortunately does not include the Max Booth III foreword, but that’s another reason to buy the anthology when it comes out; I certainly will!) -
This anthology might catch your eye, and you think: A collection of horror stories set around the 90s? Is this really going to work? Won’t that be cutesy, kitschy, something “only 90s kids” will appreciate?
Hell no.
AHH! That’s What I Call Horror is an incredibly fun, well-paced, and—above all—creepy collection of horror stories that find creative ways to engage and play (sometimes literally) with 90s iconography. Some of these stories will evoke feelings of nostalgia, sure, but they rarely rely upon it for effect. That’s a testament to the remarkable level of talent (both emerging and well-established) that you’ll find in this table of contents. All these writers know the 90s tropes, but each and every one transcends them.
[Full disclosure: I know many of the writers included in this collection through various online writing outlets. I’ll refrain from playing favorites. Instead, I’ve got an individual compliment for each story in the collection.]
Madame Crystal (S.E. Denton)—The single greatest depiction of 90s technology I have ever read. This cleverly plotted story excellently ties-in with real-life horror.
The Harvest Queen (Bridget D. Brave)—Impeccable attention to detail; the author has created a truly lived-in (and f*cking creepy) community. The climax will leave you bug-eyed.
Who in the World is the Hat Man? (Chelsea Pumpkins; also the editor of the collection!)—Incredibly disturbing and compelling central monster. Try getting the final pages out of your head (hat rack?).
Between the Devil and the Deep-blue Ranger (Chris O’Halloran)—Many authors struggle to adopt a believable child’s voice; not O’Halloran, who puts you effortlessly into the head of a kid dealing with the ultimate 90s devil & angel on his shoulders.
The Grunge (Caleb Stephens)—Encino Man with zombies? As a Pacific Northwest kid who grew up obsessed with Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, et al, the nostalgia factor of this one hit like a truck; never wanted to hear a fictional band more than Soundwave.
Nona’s First and Last Album Drop (Edith Lockwood)—Don’t pretend you also haven’t wondered what would happen if Airheads had a baby with Videodrome. Captures a 90’s teenage voice perfectly, both internally and externally.
The One with the Mysterious Package (C.B. Jones)—A simple but genius premise: “What if a kid in 1995 found a smartphone?” This kicks off an absorbing (and very funny) puzzle of a story.
Caution: Choking Hazard (Mathew Wend)—If you’re a fan of horror movies like Child’s Play, Chopping Mall, and Puppet Master (and boy, am I), this is the story for you. Made me nostalgic for 90s Christmas in all the wrong ways.
Return to Gray Springs: Blockbuster Blues (P.L. McMillan)—The most demonic Blockbuster you’ll ever be glad you never visited. This one is just a page-turning blast. We are in the 90s, after all. The collection wouldn’t be complete without a—well, I won’t spoil the surprise . . .
Alive and Living (Pilot) (Carson Winter)—Creepy, surreal metafiction pulled off expertly. I am confident that if Alive and Living were ever actually filmed it would have easily been a bigger cultural phenomenon than Friends.
The End of the Horror Story (Patrick Barb)—Wonderfully creepy homage to the notoriously transitory state of horror cinema in the 1990s. You can practically feel the setting of this one.
The Final Away Game (J.W. Donley)—Donley does a great job of establishing a distinctly 90s schoolyard crush . . . before dumping his cast into a meat grinder of memorable Lovecraftian insanity.
About A Girl (J.V. Gachs)—All due respect to the other nominees, but Gachs wins the award for best opening line in the anthology. One of the most viscerally conveyed possession stories I’ve encountered.
Threshold (Damien B. Raphael)—Primal Fear. Jacob’s Ladder. Se7en. The Sixth Sense. What would a 90s horror collection be if it didn’t end with one hell of a head-spinning plot twist?
And don’t for a single second think of skipping the author bios!
If this book catches your eye, don’t hesitate. AHH! That’s What I Call Horror is a must-read for horror fans, 90s kids, and fans of just-plain-good-writing alike. -
Equal part fun, equal part scary. It’s the anthology version of the head at the cool kids table. Join the table, and you won’t be disappointed.
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I kind of can’t get over how much I adored this anthology. I’m a sucker for horror anthologies as it is, but having one set in the 90s instantly drew me in. And I’m happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed.
AHH! That's What I Call Horror: An Anthology of '90s Horror is the perfect blend of nostalgia and classic horror tropes. With emails from mysterious, Geocities-esque websites to creepy cults in Blockbuster basements, this anthology brings so many creative, creepy stories to the forefront, while still including a healthy dose of AOL connection static. There’s also a good bit of humor in some of the tales, which I appreciated. (There’s a Tickle Me Elmo/Cabbage Patch Kid story that I couldn’t get enough of.)
I’ll admit, if you’re looking for some kind of terrifying, sleep-with-the-lights-on kind of horror anthology, this one probably isn’t going to fit that bill. But if you’re looking for stories that are more on par with Stanger Things (but set in the 90s) this anthology will hit all the right notes.
I love that this anthology has a bit of something for every horror trope you might love. There’s creepy dolls, cults, cosmic monsters, exorcisms, and necromancy. Along with all that, there’s a fun wave of nostalgia ranging from Barbie to radio mix tapes, Blockbuster Video, and sitcoms filmed in front of live studio audiences.
For me, this anthology was exactly what I wanted it to be and the only real downside was that it’s not released until after the holidays. I am beyond excited to have a hard-copy of this on my shelves and to gift it out to all my 90s loving, horror reading friends. And on top of all that, I’m super stoked to have found a whole bunch of new authors to check out.
Just a note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
Review: “Ahh! Now That’s What I Call Horror: An Anthology of 90s Horror”
Was lucky enough to get an early copy of “Ahh! Now That’s What I Call Horror” and am very thankful to @chelseapumpkins for the opportunity to review it!
For the most part, I really enjoyed this anthology of nostalgia driven horror. It’s my first collection of horror stories written by indie authors, and while the rough edges are there and some entries didn’t quite work, I loved how out there and crazy all of these stories were willing to go.
While I thought every story had great concepts, these 5 were the ones that really stood out and made the most of the 90s horror theme:
1. “The Harvest Queen”-Bridget D. Brave
2.”Returning to Gray Springs:Blockbuster Blues”-P.L. McMillan
3.”Who in the World is the Hatman”-Chelsea Pumpkins
4.”The End of the Horror Story”-Patrick Barb
5.”The Grunge”-Caleb Stephens
Overall, this was really fun anthology to read. So if you’re from the 90s or just love the vibe, this provides that in spades, along with some genuine scares.
Bonus: Also has some great illustrations at the beginning of every story!
Looking forward to seeing what these writers kick out next!
For more reviews, follow me on Instagram: @drews_reviews93 -
Okay obligatory disclaimer in 3...2...1...I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Now that we got that over with here are my thoughts on this book. First of all I feel like I was already their target demographic since I grew up in the 90's, love all things horror and am forever reading anthology collections. So we were starting out in a winning space before I even opened the book. That being said, I absolutely enjoyed every second of this collection. My lil 90's heart was beating double time with all the nostalgia and I thought all of the stories were enjoyable. Thrills, chills and all the best 90's vibes. It's a win folks. -
A collection of horror stories that all take place in the 90s?
I'm in!
The stories themselves are pretty fun, and some of the 90s nostalgia is perfectly executed!
Caution: Choking Hazard is one of those beautifully executed stories, and my favouite one in the collection.
Some of the other stories, the 90s nostalia felt forced into conversation. It made the story chunkier than it could have been. Nona's First and Last Album Drop had this one scene with a couple of lines about the Spice Girls that were just not necessary and totally dragged me out of the story trying to figure out what that had to do with anything.
This collection is a solid 3 stars for me, I enjoyed it and am open to more, but not something I would buy for myself.
Thank you BookSirens for my ARC. -
"Hey dorkward, if you agree to zip us up, I'll tease your bangs for you, too."
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A 90's themed horror anthology? Uh, don't mind if I do. Here's a breakdown of the wicked stories you'll find in this collection:
Madame Crystal by S.E. Denton: Adam, an employee at Best Buy struggling to make his computer software company a success, joins an email list for daily horoscopes after finding out his coworker, Angela, who he'd like to impress, has an interest in them. He starts receiving daily horoscope emails that are eerily similar to events in his own life. But that's just a coincidence, right?
The Harvest Queen by Bridget D. Brave: In a town blessed by fertility and bounty, is there any honor higher than being crowned the Harvest Queen? Or is the honor truly a horror?
Who in the World is the Hat Man by Chelsea Pumpkins: What starts out as a harmless sleepover story soon turns real for our narrator. Can she find someone to help her discover the secrets of the Hat Man and possibly the secrets of her past?
Between the Barbie and the Deep-Blue Ranger by Christopher O'Halloran: Imagine if the angel and devil sitting on your shoulders, weighing the good choices with the bad choices, were actually a 3 foot tall naked Barbie and a blue Power Ranger...which would help you decide whether or not to steal your sister's bag of Big League Chew?
The Grunge by Caleb Stephens: High School students Colin Hayes and Patrick O'Halloran set out on the night of "the big dance" to make a movie. Using a grimore they found in a pawn shop and the grave of Colin's favorite singer they begin the nights festivities. Awakening the singer from his grave, shenanigans soon ensue as the evening matures.
Nona's First and Last Album Drop by Edith Lockwood: All Nona wants is for her band to be heard. After breaking into the local radio station to try and get their demo tape played they meet Midnight Mike...or someone claiming to be him. (Sidenote: I LOVED all the Star Trek TNG references!)
The One with the Mysterious Package by C.B. Jones: Having fun yet? When Bryce gets a mysterious package in the mail containing a small black device strange things begin happening. Whoever's sending him messages through the device wants him to break up with his girlfriend, Sabrina. But why?
Caution: Choking Hazard by Mathew Wend: As if Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Dolls couldn't get anymore terrifying.
Return to Gray Springs: Blockbuster Blues by P.L. McMillan: Colin Hayes and Patrick O'Halloran are back at it again. This time Colin works at Blockbuster and Patrick is convinced it's haunted. When they notice all the romance tapes being returned for full refunds they begin to investigate, uncovering even more secrets of the town of Gray Springs.
Alive and Living (Pilot) by Carson Winter: Brian wants to go to Minneapolis but his parents won't let him. When his friend Ethan shows Brian an old looking book he has, Brian's parent problems may just be over.
The End of the Horror Story by Patrick Barb: Ben just got what could be his big directorial break. All he has to do is film the movie in Surbia. Does it matter that the film franchise is dying? No. What does matter is what's hiding in those Surbian woods.
The Final Away Game by J.W. Donley: Gerard Beecher and other members of the marching band are coming home from a Friday night football game when they notice a huge bonfire in the middle of the road. What started out as any other Friday night has now turned sinister.
About A Girl by J.V. Gachs: Verónica has an idea for her spooky new short film. She invites her friend's Virginia and Anahi over to try and communicate with Kurt Cobain via a ouija board. Things go horribly wrong when Verónica decided to use her own menstrual blood on the ouija board during the seance. She's awoken something, but it isn't Kurt Cobain.
Threshold by Damien B. Raphael: Wayne meets up with childhood friend, Paul, for drinks. After a few, Paul invites Wayne back to his place, the former home of the arcade owner and prime suspected in the case of their friend Laurence's disappearence. There they find the game that Laurence played when he disappeared. They play a few rounds just for fun but Paul has one more surprise for Wayne before the night is over.
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Booyah! This anthology was aiiight! My favorite stories were Between the Barbie and the Deep Blue Ranger and Threshold but all of them were fun and entertaining.
If you're still trying to figure out what flavor Zima was, forgetting to feed your tamagotchi, or ready to cuddle up with some fresh easy-bake oven brownies and some spooky tales then this anthology is for you.
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And of course thank you Chelsea Pumpkins for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review. This collection was all that and a bag of chips and I loved it✌️
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I'm not quite sure how an anthology of '90s horror hasn't been released before now. This book is dripping with nostalgia, and I found myself getting lost in pretty much every story. Kudos to Chelsea Pumpkins for putting together such a diverse set of horror stories here - they really span the decade, and what the '90s mean to different people. Plainly put, I was addicted to reading these stories, consuming each as quickly as I might finish a whole packet of Fun Dip.
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Aah! That’s what I call horror
A wonderful mix of horror short stories firmly based in the 90’s, there’s a small town sacrifice, creepy sleepover, an undead rockstar, creepy email (when email was a fairly new thing and we all thought it was a bit weird), killer toys, a dream demon, a Blockbuster video store with a secret, a screenplay with a twist, a slasher movie set turns deadly, a marching band’s bus trip into the weird, possession and revenge.
This is so nostalgic and I loved all the pop culture references although I was a young adult at the time, these made me smile and reminisce. I enjoyed all the stories, some more than others, they are creepy and stay with you after you finish reading. These little nuggets of everyday horror filled me with glee. These are such fun especially as it really warps the perception of what most people think of as an innocent time, the time before social media, no instant gratification, no 24hr entertainment to keep us distracted.
A really macabre walk down memory lane, excellent!
I received a free electronic ARC of this book and this is my honest review -
Yes, I was a 90s girl, obsessed with Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and anything that scared the bejeezus out of me!
I was so excited to be able to get an e-arc of this book!! Reading through, all the references hit me in the heart and I spent half the time reminiscing while reading (Unsolved Mysteries, Mix Tapes, 8 tracks, etc ♥️). Some parts were more horrifying to remember than what I was actually reading: dial up internet, hot pockets 🤮, cringey email addresses, and more!
My favourite stories in this collection were The Harvest Queen & Caution: Choking Hazard.
This book is a horror tribute to everything 90s, and I encourage everyone to give it a read!
Thank you to BookSirens & the author for a copy!! -
this was such a good anthology, it had the spirit of the 90s horror and I was here for it. Each story does what I was hoping for and each story grew and grew. I was glad to be able to read this and hope there is another anthology from this publisher.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
3.5 stars rounded up! I love the idea of a 90s horror anthology and the stories did deliver on the promised nostalgia, even if some references could have felt a bit more natural and less forced. As with all anthologies, I enjoyed some stories more than others. Some struggled with pacing, feeling like they dragged on forever, while others got the set up to scare ratio just right. I think the biggest disconnect for me was that the stories seemed to have a foot in the Young Adult horror genre, however we’re at the point where I’m not sure how many young adults would actually appreciate the 90s nostalgia, having not been around for most of it? The good news is, with 14 stories, everyone is bound to find something they’ll like.
Kudos for the premise of this anthology and special props to the authors for coordinating their stories to be cohesive in many ways! Favorite stories included The Harvest Queen, Caution: Choking Hazard, and The Final Away Game.
Shout out to BookSirens for giving me this ARC for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
A stellar collection of throwback horror to the decade I grew up in. An even collection without any real letdowns the reading experience was great throughout and the callbacks to the 90s were fun and varied. Highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
4.5+. Picked this up at a local horror book shop (shout out Butcher Cabin Books in Louisville, KY). I expected to enjoy some of these stories, sure. I love the 90s and I’m finding a real groove with short horror stories. There are 14 stories here and every single one ranges from enjoyable to a delicious. They all feel very authentically 90s in their tone and themes. A few heavy ones but most lean more into a “that was a blast!” feel. I wound up following almost every author on social media and excited to check out more of their stuff. This is pretty cheap on e-book and would highly recommend supporting indie authors and having yourself a little ‘Are You Afraid Of The Dark’ bedtime story for the next two weeks.
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As a 90s kid, this anthology slapped harder than a pog.
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Many thanks to the editor of this 90s themed horror anthology for providing me a complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
AHH! That’s What I Call Horror is a cleverly named horror anthology paying homage to the last decade of the twentieth century. I was super excited to take a stroll down memory lane and read some awesome stories set 20-30 years ago. For the most part, this anthology did not disappoint. Like most anthologies there are some great stories and some that less fantastic. There were no real stinkers, and stories ranged from serviceable to excellent. Some of my favorites included The Grunge by Caleb Stephens, Return to Gray Springs: Blockbuster Blues (set in the same town as The Grunge) by P.L. McMillan, Nona’s First and Last Album Drop by Edith Lockwood, The One with the Mysterious Package by C.B. Jones, Alive and Living (Pilot) by Carson Winter, and About a Girl by J.V. Gachs.
It was fun to see various 90s references sprinkled throughout the stories. I did notice that some themes and ideas seemed to be repeated throughout the anthology. Sometimes this is inevitable in a themed collection, but sometimes the repetition came from specific horror elements and not just the chronological context. I also found a couple of the stories confusing or less than fully developed. The short story format is challenging, and in a couple cases I felt like the author didn’t give me enough information to completely understand what happened, or why I should care.
Still, overall this was a fun anthology. Since there were a bunch of stories I liked in this book, I’m going to call this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5) -
Der Nostalgiefaktor dieser Anthologie ist riesig und als Kind der 90er fühlt man sich durch vielen der Geschichten wirklich wunderbar an die damalige Zeit erinnert. Die Ideen der einzelnen Kurzgeschichten haben mich auch durchweg angesprochen, aber es gibt in der Ausarbeitung doch immense Qualitätsunterschiede, so dass es am Ende insgesamt nur für drei Sterne reicht.
Empfehlenswert fand ich:
Caution: Choking Hazard von Mathew Wend
The Grunge von Caleb Stephens
About A Girl von J.V. Gachs
Between the Barbie and the Deep-Blue Ranger von Christopher O'Halloran -
The 90's was quite the time to be a teenager, and as someone who experienced it that way, I have a particular nostalgia for the period. I'm happy to say, this anthology was tailor made for a guy like me. If you love the 90's like I do, or maybe if you just love horror, and/or well written stories, check this one out immediately.
The stories in this collection run the gamut, and between them cover every major aspect of the decade. From Blockbuster to the Blue Ranger, it's all in here. The care the authors and editors took with the presentation and theme is to be commended. This book feels like it was made with deep love and understanding of the time.
This one gave me a warm SNICK feeling all over.
Favorite stories include: Alive and Living (Pilot) by Carson Winter, Caution: Choking Hazard by Matthew Wend, The End of the Horror Story by Patrick Barb, Return to Gray Springs: Blockbuster Blues by P.L. McMillan, and About A Girl by J.V. Gachs.
