Enclosed within these pages are twenty-two all-new dark and speculative fiction stories written by authors from around the world that explore the myths and monsters, fables and fears of their homelands.
• In “The Wife Who Didn’t Eat,” a modest Japanese farmer’s prayer to the gods comes true . . . much to his dismay.
• In “Things I Do For Love,” the intertwined lives in an Indonesian village are upended by as diabolical and otherworldly a device as a simple whisper.
• In “Mutshidzi,” an African teen must raise her brother and run the household after their mother dies. But there is so much to do . . .
• In “Sick Cats in Small Spaces,” a vacationing Australian family come upon a ghost town where the actual ghosts are bottled and kept.
Also encounter the haunting things that stalk those radioactive forests outside Chernobyl in Ukraine; sample the curious dishes one may eat in Canada; beware the veldt monster that mirrors yourself in Uganda; or simply battle mountain trolls alongside Alfred Nobel in Sweden. These stories and more are found within A World of Horror.
Enter and discover, truly, there's no place on the planet devoid of frights, thrills, and wondrous imagination!
Table of Contents includes:
“Introduction: Diversity in Fiction” by Eric J. Guignard
“Mutshidzi” by Mohale Mashigo (South Africa)
“One Last Wayang” by L Chan (Singapore)
“Things I Do For Love” by Nadia Bulkin (Indonesia)
“On a Wooden Plate, On a Winter’s Night” by David Nickle (Canada)
“Country Boy” by Billie Sue Mosiman (United States of America)
“The Wife Who Didn't Eat” by Thersa Matsuura (Japan)
“The Disappeared” by Kristine Ong Muslim (Philippines)
“The Secret Life of the Unclaimed” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Nigeria)
“How Alfred Nobel Got His Mojo” by Johannes Pinter (Sweden)
“Sick Cats in Small Spaces” by Kaaron Warren (Australia)
“Obibi” by Dilman Dila (Uganda)
“The Nightmare” by Rhea Daniel (India)
“Chemirocha” by Charlie Human (South Africa)
“Honey” by Valya Dudycz Lupescu (Ukraine)
“Warning: Flammable, See Back Label” by Marcia Douglas (Jamaica)
“Arlecchino” by Carla Negrini (Italy)
“The Man at Table Nine” by Ray Cluley (England)
“The Mantle of Flesh” by Ashlee Scheuerman (Australia)
“The Shadows of Saint Urban” by Claudio Foti (Italy)
“Warashi’s Grip” by Yukimi Ogawa (Japan)
“The White Monkey” by Carlos Orsi (Brazil)
“The West Wind” by David McGroarty (Scotland)
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.
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