The Monstrous by Ellen Datlow / Reviewed by Will Lasley
Killer Nashville Book of the Day
Find The Monstrous at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*
Ellen Datlow
One of the greatest things the horror genre can do is expand on traditional ideas, particularly those pertaining to fear. And Ellen Datlow’s newest collection of horror stories, The Monstrous, gives several different writers, each with their own unique sensibilities, the chance to play with our traditional notion of monsters.
The Monstrous combines 20 different creepy little tales, and it is most definitely a book by horror fans, for horror fans. Everyone who contributed has a clear grasp of the genre and a worthy concept, and they all seem to have their own way of playing in the sandbox. Subject matter ranges from the more psychological to the more supernatural to full-blown science-fiction. It’s so nice to see the kind of enthusiasm that these authors bring to the table.
These are also writers who clearly understand atmosphere. In an age where most horror is all about jump scares and startlingly loud noises, it is comforting to see that there are still people out there who are able to create real, spine-chilling horror. Because that’s what the genre is, and should always be, about.
This book is most definitely a beast best tackled blindly, so I’m not going to go into story synopses. However, just to draw you in, I will say that my favorite one, written by Peter Straub, involves a kindergarten teacher who has finally had enough, which is a fantastic premise. That’s the kind of inspired lunacy that genre fans crave.
Other than that, if you are the horror junkie that I am, you will enjoy reading it most without any idea of where each story is going. If horror is your thing, you will most definitely find a lot to love here.
Will “Savage” Lasley is a writer and self-described horror junkie who simply loves a good story. He's also met Bruce Campbell, so there's that.
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