#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway: 2 winners of Azathoth: Ordo ab Chao, Edited by Aaron J. French

Today I have two finished copies for two winners of a volume featuring many authors whose work you have on your sleeves, presented by a trusted editor, and part of a series of books which I have reviewed titles from in the past. Details below but first, here are the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American Library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. Meaning you enter once, and you are entered until you win. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that week. I use Random.org and have a member of my family witness the "draw"based off your number in the Google Sheet.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Last week's winner was Jessica from IN. Now on to this week's giveaway.

Today I want to talk about author and editor, Aaron J. French, specially his work taking Lovecraftian Gods and asking a diverse group of today's authors to write new and original to him stories for his anthologies.

I have read and reviewed (for Booklist) The Gods of H.P Lovecraft and The Demons of King Solomon. Click through to read my reviews of each anthology and to see the impressive contributors.

This Fall, French released Azathoth: Ordo ab Chao. From the publisher description:

The first in a series of anthologies devoted to the Lovecraftian gods, Ordo ab Chao follows the highly successful The Gods of HP Lovecraft (published in 2015 by JournalStone Publishing). We begin our series with the primal origins and the god Azathoth, who represents primordial chaos in the Lovecraftian Mythos. H.P. Lovecraft described Azathoth as a demon king ruling from a dark throne in the middle of the fiery cosmic void, out of which all created things emanated. Surrounding this orbiting spiral of infinite chaos and creation sounded the repetitive notes of an incessant flute, a reference to the Greek god Pan and the symbol of chaos behind the orderliness of nature. Taking this as our departure, the stories in this volume approach Azathoth through the concept of "order out of chaos" (or Ordo ab Chao in Latin). Ordo ab Chao includes new work from some of the most talented and respected authors in horror and dark fantasy, featuring stories from T. Kingfisher, Ruthanna Emrys, Adam L. G. Nevill, Kaaron Warren, Brian Evenson, Donald Tyson, Richard Thomas, Richard Gavin, Matthew Cheney, Erica Ruppert, Jamieson Ridenhour, Maxwell I. Gold, Lena Ng, Nathan Carson, Samuel Marzioli, Lauri Taneli Lassila, Akis Linardos, and R. B. Payne.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

• ORDO AB CHAO: TOWARD THAT ENDLESSNESS by Maxwell Ian Gold
• “Agent of Chaos” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• AGENT OF CHAOS by T. Kingfisher
• “Expatriate” illustrated by Yves Tourigny
• EXPATRIATE by Jamieson Ridenhour 
• “...And Peer Aloft to Glimpse Some Fragment” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar .
• ..AND PEER ALOFT TO GLIMPSE SOME FRAGMENT by Ruthanna Emrys
• “Making a Difference” illustrated by Ayham Jabr
• MAKING A DIFFERENCE by Brian Evenson
• “The Recreationist” illustrated by Ayham Jabr 
• THE RECREATIONIST by Kaaron Warren
• “The Blind God’s Game” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE BLIND GOD’S GAME by Matthew Cheney
• “In the Grove” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• IN THE GROVE by Erica Ruppert
• “Church of the Void” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• CHURCH OF THE VOID by Donald Tyson
• “Upon an Iron Bed, Under the Eyes of Chaos” illustrated by Sofiya
• UPON AN IRON BED, UNDER THE EYES OF CHAOS by Richard Gavin
• “The Root King” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• THE ROOT KING by Lauri Taneli Lassila
• “The Infinite Beat” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE INFINITE BEAT by Nathan Carson
• “The Door at 21 Bis Rue Xavier Privas” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• THE DOOR AT 21 BIS RUE XAVIER PRIVAS by R. B. Payne
• “An Unusual Pedigree” illustrated by Andrej Kapcar
• AN UNUSUAL PEDIGREE by Richard Thomas
• “Dust-Clotted Eyes” illustrated by Ayham Jabr
• DUST-CLOTTED EYES by Samuel Marzioli
• “The Revelations of Azathoth” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• THE REVELATIONS OF AZATHOTH by Lena Ng
• “Primordial Jack” illustrated by Sofiya Kruglikova
• PRIMORDIAL JACK by Akis Linardos
• “Respect Your Elders” illustrated by Yves Tourigny
• RESPECT YOUR ELDERS by Adam L. G. Nevill

Look at the TOC! These are names you know, some of your most popular horror voices, and plenty that will be new to you and your patrons.

While that TOC alone is enough for you to add this book, what I really love about all of the anthologies French has edited is that he introduces today's horror readers to the Lovecraftian Gods, allowing us all to see why they are enduringly terrifying, and making sure their horrible human of a creator is paired with a diverse group of today's voices (which I hope is making Lovecraft roll over in his grave).

It is the responsible way to present this man and his work. We cannot ignore that Lovecraft is responsible for creating some of the best horror of the 20th Century. We cannot also ignore that his work has inspired and continues to inspire many of today's authors-- especially many who come from he marginalized communities who Lovecraft actively and publicly expressed his hate for. Take The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle and House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias for example. These are two works that have been nominated for major awards and both actively grapple with Lovecraft's racism in their works.

Thanks to JournalStone I have 2 finished copies that 2 winners will be able to add to their collections. But everyone should check out all three anthologies mentioned in this post and consider adding them to your horror collections.

Good luck!

The giveaway is off next week for Thanksgiving.

#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway is Back with 2 Books for 1 Winner

After a 2 week hiatus coming on the heels of the flurry of October posts and giveaways, I am back and offering 2 titles-- one an ARC and one a finished copy, both great options for all libraries and both going to one lucky winner. Details below but first, here are the rules on how to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American Library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. Meaning you enter once, and you are entered until you win. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that week. I use Random.org and have a member of my family witness the "draw"based off your number in the Google Sheet.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Click here for the previous giveaway. Our winners were Kristin and Nicole. Now on to this week's giveaway.

In the most recent issue of Booklist. I reviewed a great Lovecraft satire. Click here for the full post and below I have the draft review and my three words:

Strange Stones
By Edward Lee & Mary SanGiovanni
Jan. 2025. 140p. Clash, paper, $16.95 (9781960988416).
REVIEW. First published November 1, 2024 (Booklist).

Weird fiction scholar, Professor Everard is a regular on the Horror convention circuit giving lectures and sleeping women attendees. While promoting his latest book– proclaiming Lovecraft to be a hack- he angers a beautiful witch, both with his bad take and lecherousness. She casts a spell that sends Everard into Lovecraft's stories, forcing him to use his knowledge of the author’s work to get himself out of danger– without losing his life or his mind, difficult challenges for any Lovecraft protagonist. Presenting a modern retelling of Lovecraft, stripped of the original’s archaic language, with full acknowledgement of Lovecraft’s horrific world view, Lee (a critically acclaimed author of Extreme Horror) and SanGiovanni (an award winning novelist and Lovecraft scholar) have created an immersive, visceral, and existentially terrifying tale, injected with just the right amount of satire, a story that showcases what is enduring about Lovecraft’s work, inviting new readers in the process, much like in I Am Providence by Mamatas, The Ballad of Black Tom by LaValle, and Sister, Maiden, Monster by Snyder. 

Three Words That Describe This Book: retelling, Cosmic Horror, satire

Thanks to Clash I am offering this ARC today in conjunction with another book by an author I had the privilege to work with on an awesome event we had in September to promote my book with ALA Editions-- Matthew Salinas. Click here to watch the hour long presentation/discussion of The Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, 3rd edition on YouTube.

Salinas is offering a finished copy of his collection, As It Stands for me to give away to one of you. First though let me tell you a bit more about this collection which I am recommending here today for all public libraries.

Salinas' stories range widely but they are all more of the psychological horror subgenera, so creepy, spooky, atmospheric tales that linger on your skin and in your head. Do not expect jump scares and gore here. Rather character centered, unsettling tales of ghosts in graveyards, vampires, and unreliable narrators. There is some Lovecraftian influences here as well.

One of the neat things Salinas does is break a few of the stories into Part 1 and Part 2 but they are not back to back. So you get Part 1 and then a handful of stores later, you get Part 2. I really enjoyed this. It was unique and added an extra layer of unease and enjoyment. It happens 3 times and it was a great narrative choice that makes this collection stand out from others.

I would compare his writing to Steve Toase. I have a review of his collection here. But overall a very good new voice whop will appeal to a wide range of your Horror readers. And in general, story collections are an excellent way for our patrons to find new to them authors.

So enter now and you have a chance to win both of these books this week, and of course you are also entered going forward. 

Good luck!

31 Days of Horror Day 4 -- What I'm Reading: Booklist Online Only Reviews

I have reviews of a collection by a bestselling author and an anthology highlighting the work of a forgotten classic author, both as e-only reviews out for Booklist right now. As always, draft reviews are below. I highly recommend both for all library collections.

They also both are a great conversation starter to connect new readers to the history of the genre through today's writers-- my theme for everything I do here on the blog as mentioned a few days ago here.

Please note, online reviews have a much higher word count so I don't have much in my "further appeal" section for these books.

In the Mad Mountains: Stories Inspired by HP Lovecraft
By Joe R. Lansdale
Oct. 2024. 256p. Tachyon, paper, $16.95 (9781616964245).
First published September 27, 2024 (Booklist Online). 

Lansdale has captured the hearts of readers with his quirky characters, sardonic wit, and gritty tone. His latest collection gathers 8 stories, published in various anthologies since 2009, stories he describes in the book’s introduction as the “best” inspired by Lovecraft that he has written. Taking on the troublesome racism and sexism of the classic author head-on, Lansdale also actively eschews Lovecraft’s use of cumbersome prose, instead employing his trademark direct and folksy narrative voice to the Lovecraftian concept of “the Old Ones,” terrifying but also alluring beings from another realm, trying to intrude upon our world. The result is a collection that makes the enduring appeal of Lovecraft’s brand of existential dread and terrifying nihilism more accessible to today’s readers. Looking into well mined tropes such as selling your soul, the supernatural detective, and a stranded polar ship, Lansdale adds a layer of Cosmic Horror which makes these stories both familiar and fresh at the same time. There are even characters from across the literary landscape that make some fun appearances from Huck Finn to Auguste Dupin to his own Dana Roberts and more. Readers new to Lovecraftian Horror should start with “The Tall Grass,” the shortest story in the volume, and one that perfectly captures the visceral and immersive pull of Cosmic Horror as a subgenre. A man steps off a train, gets lost in a field, and experiences a terror like he has never known. Lansdale has a wide fan base for good reason, but this book presents a wonderful opportunity to expand it even further by suggesting this collection to fans of 21st Century Cosmic Horror authors such as Hailey Piper and Lucy Snyder.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Quirky Characters, Sardonic, Direct and Folksy Narration

Further Appeal: Lansdale is very popular. Readers, even those who do not read Horror will be interested int his one. Also every story has a great introduction setting it up by Lansdale himself writtenin his distinctive voice.

Readalikes: Any cosmic horror or Lovecraftian story is a good read here. The House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias and The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle. But use any resource to find more options for readalikes. This may introduce new people to Lovecraftian Horror, so be ready. (click the link for more titles from me)

Side note: one of the stories here was first published in The Gods of H.P. Lovecraft, an anthology I reviewed for Booklist back in 2015. 

Also, I will have a giveaway of my review copy on the Horror blog next week. Stay tuned.

Where the Silent Ones Watch: Stories of the Borderland, the Night Land, the Sargasso Sea, and More!
 Edited by James Chambers
Oct. 2024. 278p. Hippocampus, paper, $25 (9781614984436).
First published September 27, 2024 (Booklist Online). 

William Hope Hodgson may be the most powerful and the most neglected fantasist and horror writer of the twentieth century, argues Chambers, the Bram Stoker Award Winning editor of this collection of 26, original to this volume, stories and poems that celebrate the author and his legacy. Using the ideas, themes and narrative devices of the classic author, one of the foundational voices in Weird Fiction, as their springboard, the contributing authors showcase how his style of wildly imaginative, atmospheric horror, featuring malevolent, unexplainable, supernatural forces as they enter our known world, told in a confessional first person narration that heighten the unease with every word, still resonates today. Readers can expect strange happenings on trains and boats, in space or isolated towns, even in the shadow of Elvis Preseley’s death and amidst Black Lives Matter protests– some places Hodgson set his own stories and others which he could never have imagined. However, what elevates this collection is in how the authors place Hodgson-esque ideas into modern settings while eschewing the classic author’s tendency to use distractingly ornate prose. These choices work in tandem to heighten the fear for a 21st Century reader both in these 26 pieces and Hodgson’s own tales as well. The table of contents includes a nice mix of authors whose works are already widely available on library shelves such as Steve Rasnic Tem, Linda D. Addison, Wendy N. Wagner, John Langan, and Andy Davidson, but there are also plenty of up and coming voices worth checking out. For example, Todd Keisling’s “Little House on the Borderland,” takes the themes and fear inherent in Hodgson’s own classic novel, House on the Borderland, but frames it in the world of podcasts and social media while the anthology’s unforgettable opening story, “The Events at Apoka Station” by Pete Rawlik and Sal Ciano uses a fateful train ride to tell an unsettling story that is both timelessly terrifying and yet clearly set in our present. A great option for Weird fiction fans new and old.

Three Words That Describe This Book: confessional narration, malevolent forces, fantastical Horror

Further Appeal: This anthology gave me a brand new appreciation for Hodgson. Just as the Lansdale Collection above will draw people to Lovecraft, this book will bring people back to Hodgson.

Also, Hippocampus Press is a very trustworthy press. Click here to learn more about them.

Readalikes: Any books by Chambers, the editor, or anyone in the TOC will be a great place to begin-- besides Hodgson himself. I have reviewed books by many of the authors.

Here is the list of authors from the publishers website:

Linda D. Addison • David Agranoff • Meghan Arcuri • Sal Ciano • Michael Cisco • L. E. Daniels • Andy Davidson • Aaron Dries • Patrick Freivald • Teel James Glenn • Maxwell Ian Gold • Nancy Holder • Todd Keisling • John Langan • Adrian Ludens • Lee Murray • Lisa Morton • Peter Rawlik • Sam Rebelein • Ann K. Schwader • Steve Rasnic Tem • Tim Waggoner • Wendy N. Wagner • Kyla Lee Ward • Robert E. Waters • L. Marie Wood • Stephanie M. Wytovich

New Book Bonus Annotations: Chapter 12: Lovecraftian and Cosmic Horror

When I was writing the Third Edition of the Readers' Advisory Guide to Horror, I originally had over 20 annotated choices per subgenre appearing in chapter 4-13. However, for word count sake, I had to reduce each lists to a well packaged dozen. Obviously making the cuts was hard, but I was able to include the tittles of those deleted annotations in an appendix at the end of the book with a promise that the annotations would run here on the blog.

And that promise begins today. Each list will be posted on the blog over a series of 10 weeks, every Tuesday, beginning June 1, 2021 and running through August 3, 2021. This weekly series will serve to promote the book's upcoming release in August of 2021, but I have also created an archive of all of the lists that will live here. That page is the official index of this bonus content.

In the book, my top three choices in each list are marked to denote Becky's Picks. I will also do that in these lists to give you a place to begin as you suggest. Just like the titles in the print book, every title appearing here is a great options for all public libraries. You can use these lists for collection development, displays, lists, and suggestions. Each subgenre has an essay discussing its history and appeal in the book which you can order here. 

Bonus Annotations

Chapter 12: Lovecraftian and Cosmic Horror*

[+] Denotes Becky’s Picks

Baker, Jacqueline. Broken Hours: A Novel of H.P. Lovecraft. 2016.

 

It’s 1836 and Arthor Crandle is offered a job to be an assistant to a reclusive author in Providence, RI. Crandle has no idea what he is getting himself into, but readers will know right away due to the setting and novel’s subtitle. What follows is a story of Crandle’s odd experiences including nightmares, strange happenings, and even tentacles all of which are now a part of his everyday experience. This is a story that is more focused on recreating the atmosphere and tone of a Lovecraft novel and less interested in crafting terror. There are also basic Lovecraft biographical details sprinkled in amidst the weirdness. A great choice for Lovecraft novices who want to understand both the man and this subgenre.

Campbell, Ramsey. Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach. 2015.

Most of Campbell’s work tends to fall within this subgenre and this is a recent example of how Lovecraftian horror manifests itself in our modern world. Three generations of a family head to a Greek Island for a vacation. The grandparents are hiding a dark secret, but the island itself is holding onto an even darker one. A secret that is slowly infiltrating itself into the family, and it might not ever let go. A terrifying story that is all about the oppressive atmosphere, the details piling up on top of one and other, pressing down on the characters and the reader. Another recent option is The Searching Dead, the first book in a new autobiographical, Lovecraftian trilogy. 

Cantero, Edgar. Meddling Kids. 2017.

Scooby Doo meets H.P. Lovecraft as four kids and their dog spent the summer of 1977 solving a series of mysteries. But 13 years later, one of those mysteries, involving a lake monster, draws these now troubled and aimless adults back, and the truth is way more sinister and dangerous than they ever realized. Mixing fast paced horror action with a witty tone, this is a quirky and nostalgic tale, filled with monsters, ghosts, and extremely likable protagonists. 

Emrys, Ruthanna. Winter Tide. 2017.

This, the first book in the Innsmouth Legacy alternative history series mixes details from the Cthulhu Mythos with the Cold War paranoia through a Jewish lens. It’s 1948 and Aphra and Caleb are the only two survivors from the massacre and internment of the “Deep Ones,” a species of humans who lived in the sea and worshipped the Cthulhu elders. The FBI recruits them to reconnect with their spiritual culture to help fight the Russians who have harnessed some of their people’s supernatural powers. While this series is in direct conversation and debate with Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” Emrys has created her own world that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and even spy thrillers. Deep Roots is the sequel

Johnson, Kij.  The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe. 2016.

Dramatic and lyrical, this novella is set at a prestigious women’s college where the eponymous professor must go on a quest through the Dreamlands to rescue a star pupil. Inhabited by elder gods, the land is beguilingly beautiful and terrifyingly dangerous. Boe’s adventure is two-fold: to save her student and come to terms with her own life choices as she traverses a landscape that will enthrall readers, captivating those new to the subgenre with wonder and roping in experts with places straight out of  the Lovecraft cannon.

Keene, Brian. Darkness on the Edge of Town. 2008.

The residents of a small Virginia town wake up to find that they are cut off from the outside world. It is just gone. There is nothing but impenetrable darkness surrounding them with no way for others to get in, or they to get out. The story follows the citizens as it explores their isolation and varying reactions as darkness permeates their lives and the entire tone of the book. Action and character development work hand in hand to create an unsettling, richly detailed story of survival in the face of unknown supernatural forces that easily eclipse human civilization. 

Kenemore, Scott. Lake of Darkness. 2020.

Click here for my review in ALA Booklist. I added this one to the book's appendix at the last minute.

Kepnes, Caroline. Providence. 2018.

John, an odd kid, disappears. His best friend Chloe holds onto the hope that he will be found, and four years later, he is, but he may not be the same boy she knew. He wakes up with no memory of what happened after his teacher kidnapped him. He also has new powers, powers he doesn’t quite understand, powers that cause others harm just by being near him, powers that might be explained by a Lovecraft book. A move to Providence, RI, a series of strange murders, lead John, Chloe, and the detective on the case on a journey to find answers. A compelling, haunting, and suspenseful cosmic horror-thriller hybrid that is a great option for introducing the trendy subgenre and its themes to a wider audience.

+Klinger, Leslie, ed. The New Annotated HP Lovecraft. 2014.

Renewed interest in Lovecraft has drawn readers to his stories, but given the problematic nature of his beliefs it is important to provide the right edition. Award winning editor has multiple volumes collecting the cosmic horror master’s stories which he extensively annotates providing insight, context, and details to enhance the experience of reading Lovecraft in the 21st Century. This particular volume includes both an introduction by Victor LaValle and an annotated version of “The Horror at Red Hook,” the story that LaValle used to frame The Ballad of Black Tom.

Liu, Marjorie M. Monstress series. 2016.

Set in a lavishly rendered, art deco inspired, steampunk world, of an alternate early 1900s, matriarchal Asia, readers follow the strong but flawed teenager, Maika Halfwolf, as she struggles to discover her personal history in the aftermath of war, how she is connected to a monster, and what this discovery means for the world, both human and supernatural. Over multiple compiled volumes of this popular and critically acclaimed  graphic novel series, Maika goes through dramatic, emotionally resonant, and violent adventures framed by well-trod cosmic horror themes and tropes.

+Miller, Sam J. The Blade Between. 2020.

Ronan had to leave small, blue collar hometown of Hudson, NY in order to safely live as a gay man and pursue his career as a photographer, but now returns to care for his dying father. However, to his surprise,  the town has been completely transformed into a hip retreat for wealthy city dwellers. Reconnecting with his first love, Dom, a police office and his community organizer wife, Attalah, Ronan begins to realize that their fight against gentrification is complicated by a supernatural power buried in the land itself, a menace that doesn’t see humanity as a significant obstacle, a terror that might be on their side this time, but is not under their control. Intense dread and unsettling unease permeates this Lovecraftian tale from the very first lines while the issue oriented small town horror tropes keep the cosmic plot grounded enough for subgenre novices to easily follow along.

+Piper, Hailey. The Worm and His Kings. 2020.

It’s 1990 in New York City and Monique’s girlfriend, Donna, has simply vanished. After hearing of the disappearances of other women who, like themselves, live on the fringes of mainstream society, Piper learns that Donna might not be the victim of a human monster. Rather a crack underground has opened a wormhole, a portal to a cult world where strange, dangerous creatures rule, creatures that may have Donna in their talons. Piper must take the plunge to save Donna, but is her mind ready for what she will find hidden just below the surface? Both an exploration of the holes in our modern social services that force many into poverty and a fun, cosmic adventure through multiple, mind-bending, dimensions set in an original and wholly new mythos with obvious Lovecraftian roots, this novel announces Piper as an emerging voice in the horror community that cannot be overlooked.

Snyder, Lucy. Garden of Eldritch Delights. 2018.

One of Snyder's numerous story collections, this one contains 12 tales that are unapologetically Lovecraftian and feminist; fact, many of the stories make obvious nods to Lovecraft and his peers, ones that you don’t need to “get” in order enjoy this volume. A woman wakes up realizing that her girlfriend has ripped her heart out of her chest, a fresh take on the vampire trope, and revenge against a rapist are example plots of these tales featuring inclusive characters in original and shocking cosmic horror situations. In general Snyder’s story collections are reliable, sure bets in this subgenre.

Wong, David. What the Hell Did I Just Read?: A Novel of Cosmic Horror. 2017.

Combining his trademark comic horror tone with Lovecraftian elements, Wong bring in the characters from his previous novels to send them on another gruesome, intricately plotted, dangerous adventure that uses all of the tropes of cosmic horror to create the satisfying emotions of fear that horror fans crave while at the same time actively satirizing both the subgenre and the absurdity of modern life. Readers need not be familiar with Wong’s previous novels to enjoy this one in all of its weird and psychologically terrifying glory. 

*This chapter also relies on a longer essay that Mary SanGiovanni wrote for me in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal which you can find here.

Becky's Top 10 Horror of 2020

Each year I make a specific list of my Top 10 Horror reads of the year. This is not technically a "best" list. I complete that as part of a committee for Library Journal. I wrote about that process and proved the list at this link.

Rather this is a list of MY personal favorite horror titles that came out in 2020, in order from 10 to 1, but to be fair 10-5 could change in order based on how I am feeling that day. 4-1 though, those are in order.

While I will write about this next week on the general blog, 2020 was interesting because the VERY BEST book I read all year, hands down, the book that stayed with me the most, was also my top horror read. I don't think that has ever happened, although I will say it is apt for 2020. 

Interestingly, I don't have a story collection on the list this year, which is odd for me. I did read some excellent collections and anthologies and this list has 3 short novels/novellas, but unlike many who had trouble reading this year, I found that when I did sit down with a book, I wanted it to grab me and pull me in for longer. I actually found story collections and anthologies more distracting this year, in terms of my personal enjoyment.

The list below has links to my reviews for each book [the title is linked to the review], my "three words," and a little extra commentary about why it made the list. They are here to stand in perpetuity as my official "Best Horror of 2020." You can see all my year in review lists going back to 2005 with this link.

Becky's Top 10 Horror of 2020

10. The Taxidermist's Lover by Polly Hall [claustrophobic, harrowing, absorbing]

I always like to have a debut in this list each year. Why though at the expense of another book I really enjoyed? Good question. The reason is, I love finding new voices and new authors. It brings me joy. I always have a "best debut" category in my overall best list too. Some year's my best debut makes it quite high on this list. This year's entry is #10, but not because it is only making the list on a technicality, rather it is because I have read a lot of very good debuts this year, but this novel, by Egyptian-British author Hall rose to the top because this book was so utterly captivating. To honor that is squeaked in as the best of the debuts, I put it at #10. This novel starts slow, uneasy, and disorienting but then crawled inside me. I couldn't stop and look away. Also it had a killer ending. She nailed it, which is often a problem with debuts. I will have a much longer piece on my top 10-15 horror debuts of 2020 in January.

9. Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess [carnival, slasher trope, bunches of gory fun]

I love the entire Rewind-or-Die series of novellas that came out from Unnerving this year. Click here to access a full list. However, Guess' title rose above the rest for me. I should be honest that dark carnival or circus books is one of my personal favorite frames, so I was predisposed to like this. However, others on my Library Journal Best Horror team completely agreed. Novellas in general are my favorite format to deliver horror because they are long enough to develop characters  but still short enough to be read in 1 or two sittings. For me horror is best when it envelopes me and I can blot out everything but the book. That is harder with longer works though. A close runner up to best novella of 2020 would be Crossroads by Laurel Hightower. It was a nail biter as to which I enjoyed more personally, but the carnival frame tipped the scales.

8. Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth [immersive, character centered, intricately plotted]

This is a book that traps you into its well developed and layered world. It is a story within a story within a story within a story [maybe one more within]. A small part is based on a historical figure which is key because it adds to the overall feeling that this is all real, it all happened., and that intensifies the anxiety With its unapologetically intense female focus, an unease constantly seeping in from the perimeter, spilling fear all over the page at key moments, and characters that leap off the page, this novel was a treat. It is also an excellent example of a horror novel that has no gore.

7. Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay [compressed time frame, lyrical, ode to friendship]

This book was flawless, but I think a combination of it being a little too on the nose for 2020 and because Tremblay is always amazing that people just expect it meant it got left off of many best lists. I have a detailed review linked above, but I especially loved 2 things about this book. 1. The entire book is framed as a song. 2. It is focused on 2 women and their friendship. There is nothing about their love interests; in fact the only love interest, the husband of one, is killed off in the opening scenes. How refreshing to have a novel centered around strong women and their strong friendship.

6. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix [thought provoking, terrifying, dark humor]

The fact that I picked a vampire framed story for my best list underscores how excellent this book is [vampires are my least favorite trope]. This is a well constructed novel that is both scary and sweet, about many important issues across society. It is a book about books. And it is the best original vampire novel I have read in a few years. You will laugh and cry, and possibly want to hide the book in the freezer for a bit too. 

5. Ring Shout by P. DjèlÍ Clark [thought provoking, fun, satire]

All I want to say about this book is that it is a seriously contemplation of systemic racism in America told as a fun and exciting creature feature. To say much more would ruin other's enjoyment. Seriously, go spend a day or 2 with Maryse and her crew. You will thank me after.

4. Boneset & Feathers by Gwendolyn Kiste [lyrical, fluid style, social justice]

An original and suspenseful witch framed horror story that holds more than meets the eye. It is also an honest look at what it means to be a woman who doesn't conform to societal stereotypes, one who bravely stands up to systemic oppression. "Witches" is a trending subgenre right now and this novel sets the standard at the moment.

3. The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson [lyrical, haunting, complex characters]

This is a crime novel with a creepy fairy tale, timeless feel feel. There are monsters both human and supernatural. It is a story that is dripping with atmosphere, in which complicated characters and a foreboding setting took the lead and drew me into this brutal yet beautiful tale. I am not a re-reader, but I would read this again.

2. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia [Gothic, family secrets, escalating dread]

Read the full review, but let me say this was one of the best Gothic horror books i have ever read. The entire psychological situation was well done, the human monster awesomely bad and evil, but the supernatural evil behind it all....it was great! I loved how the entire story built perfectly to the awesome climax. You think you like classic British Gothics, try this title and you will never want something that boring and tame again.

1. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones [lyrical, revenge, heartbreakingly beautiful]

I read a super early ARC of this book, reading it at the end of 2019 and nothing I read all year came close to dethroning it as the best book I read, for any genre. It ponders cultural identity, family, and traditions without ever losing sight of the Horror [with a capital H]. In my review I couldn't fit how it had an excellent twist on the final girl trope or comment on the amazing basketball scenes. I bought a copy of this book in hardcover because I need to own it and read it again. It is awful, terrifying, and intense, but it also ends with hope. And one final word of warning to share-- you will never be able to look down on a ceiling fan from above ever again. Nope, not going to be able to do it. I can't even look at a ceiling fan from the ground the same way again.  

#HorrorForLibraries Giveaway #25[!]- Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

 31 Days of Horror is over, but the #HorrorForLibraries giveaways live on. As a reminder I began these giveaways back in April. Click here to  read the first post.

Those of you paying close attention may have also noticed I lost track of the numbers at some point, mostly due to have more than 1 winner multiple weeks. I have gone back and manually counted and this is week 25 and honestly, I see no end to the giveaways.

As a reminder, here are the basic rules to enter:

1. You need to be affiliated with an American public library. My rationale behind that is that I will be encouraging you to read these books and share them with patrons. While many of them are advanced reader copies that you cannot add to your collections, if you get the chance to read them, my hope is that you will consider ordering a copy for your library and give away the ARC away as a prize or pass it on to a fellow staff member.
2. If you are interested in being included in any giveaway at any time, you must email me at zombiegrl75 [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "#HorrorForLibraries." In the body of the email all you have to say is that you want to be entered and the name of your library.
3. Each entry will be considered for EVERY giveaway. I will randomly draw a winner on Fridays sometime after 5pm central. But only entries received by 5pm each week will be considered for that  week.
4. If you win, you are ineligible to win again for 4 weeks; you will have to re-enter after that time to be considered [I have a list of who has won, when, and what title]. However, if you do not win, you carry over into the next week. There is NO NEED to reenter.

Click here to see last week's giveaway. Our winner was Heather from Poquoson [VA] Public Library. 

This week, in conjunction with the giveaway, I wanted to point you to the recording of the Library Journal conversation I was a part of last week, "True Monsters of Lovecraft Country". You can watch the roundtable discussion here or click the image below.

The publisher sent me a copy of the novel so I could re-read it. Here is my original review of Lovecraft Country from back in 2016. Since I am done with the program, I want to pass this copy on to your library so you can add it to your collections as demand has risen.

Good luck. And although there can only be one winner of the book, everyone can watch the program.

Recap: True Monsters of Lovecraft Country Virtual Roundtable

This past Friday Library Journal capped off it’s #LovecraftFridays discussion with a virtual roundtable. The panelists included were Alex Brown, Becky Spratford, Gabino Iglesias, Mary SanGiovanni, Steffan Triplett and Matt Ruff! Together they talked about the true meaning of Cosmic Horror, what fair representation looks like in both literature and media, as well as differences between the hit HBO show and the novel. There are also a few tips for librarians as well on how to introduce this growing genre into their community. Overall, it is something you do not want to miss. So, grab some snacks and enjoy. 

31 Days of Horror: Day 30- #LovecraftFridays Finale and How to Get Up to Speed

This year on 31 Days of Horror I worked in partnership with @ItsNiaMya from Library Journal as we hosted #LovecraftFridays on Twitter and here on the blog. This was part of the larger Library Journal #LJReads program. Every Friday in October we will dissected LOVECRAFT COUNTRY the novel by Matt Ruff and the hit HBO show. We came up with 4 larger themes and took a deep dive into them each week.

Each Friday in October around 5pm eastern, Nia posted a thread on Library Journal's Twitter to start the larger discussion on the topic. To supplement the discussion, I prepared some more reading lists and background information to help you put it into a broader context and help your library patrons.

I hope you enjoyed the month long discussion and engaged with us. Actually, even though we are done, you still can participate in the conversation anytime using the #LJReads and #LovecraftFridays hashtags. Pass it on to your patrons and encourage them to participate too.

Today to wrap it all up we have a live, free, wrap up program. Sign up now and find all the details by clicking here or on the graphic.

I know the event will be recorded, so if you cannot join us, you will still have access to the recording. 

One of the participants is Alex Brown, an award winning critic, who wrote the official episode reviews for Tor.com which you can access here.

Brown's episode recaps with commentary along with the #LovecraftFridays threads will help you get up to speed on the conversation, the show, the book, and the intersection of modern horror and racism. 

I hope you can join us, but if not, I will make access to the recording available as soon as I can.

And as I said here on the blog last week:

I can't wait. I don't know if I am more excited that we all get to nerd out together or that I know our entire program will be making Lovecraft spin in his grave while we do it.

*Cue Evil Laugh*

31 Days of Horror: Day 23- #LovecraftFridays with Library Journal Continues

This year on 31 Days of Horror I am working in partnership with @ItsNiaMya from Library Journal as we host #LovecraftFridays on Twitter and here on the blog. This is part of the larger Library Journal #LJReads program. Every Friday in October we will be dissecting LOVECRAFT COUNTRY the novel by Matt Ruff and the hit HBO show. We have come up with 4 larger themes and will be taking a deep dive into them each week.

Each Friday in October around 5pm eastern, Nia will post a thread on Library Journal's Twitter to start the larger discussion on the topic. To supplement the discussion, I have prepared some more reading lists and background information to help you put it into a broader context and help your library patrons.

You can engage with the conversation anytime using the #LJReads and #LovecraftFridays hashtags. Pass it on to your patrons and encourage them to participate too.

We also have a live, free, wrap up program planned for 10/30, the final Friday and you can sign up now. by clicking here or on the graphic.

Now it is time for the discussion and this week's topic-- H.P. Lovecraft and His Racism [or his issues with the "other."].

For this week's Twitter Nia combines biographical information about Lovecraft with quotes from Mary SanGiovanni's primer on Lovecraft and Cosmic Horror from this month's Library Journal.

This intersection of Lovecraft and his inspiration for those he would have hated in real life, is the main reason while he is still so relevant. The man's racisms, anti-semitism, misogyny, and just hatred of all "others," cannot be separated from his art, and yet, today we find the best stories in the Cosmic Horror subgenre are being created by the women and people of color who Lovecraft hated in real life.

In 2016, I explored this topic in a recorded book talk for the Massachusetts Library System, a talk which included Lovecraft Country, the book. You can click here to hear me discuss some of these titles. MLS made a video to go with the audio too.

Here are some of my favorite books that take Lovecraft's work as an inspiration. These are the titles that I like to say both acknowledge his influence and give him the middle finger at the same time, and I use these, and NOT Lovecraft's own works to introduce people to this complicated, modern conversation between the long dead racist and those who currently ply him as their muse. Clicking on the titles will give you more information about each.

• The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle is a retelling of the extremely racist [but also fascinating and terrifying] Lovecraft story, "The Horror at Red Hook," from the perspective of a black man in the 1920s.
• The Broken Hours by Jacqueline Baker is a fictional biography of Lovecraft but told from the perspective of a female author. I found it fascinating. I often suggest this novel to readers who know nothing about Lovecraft and want to "see what the fuss is about." It frames him and his process very well for a general audience.
• I Am Providence by Nick Mamatas is a fictional look at the intense Lovecraft fandom. Intense might not be a strong enough word even. All of the characters are caricatures of actual people, and some of them aren't even exaggerated that much. [I have met some of these people myself.] This is also a great place for beginners to enter the Cosmic Horror community. I love this book so much and for so many reasons. It is in the linked book talk, above, and this link goes to my star review from Booklist.
• The Innsmouth Legacy series by Ruthanna Emrys [begins with Winter Tide] is a fantasy series that combines Lovecraft's mythos with the Cold War, specifically introducing a Jewish perspective to the story. Emrys likes to describe this series as being in an argument with Lovecraft. Click here to read a longer piece about Emrys and her work via Tor.com.
• And while I could go on all day, this list would be incomplete without mentioning Caitlin Kiernan who has spent an entire, award-winning career working within a Lovecraftian framework as an openly gay woman. Kiernan and her work are both so intertwined with Lovecraft that recently,  her papers were acquired by the same archive that holds all of Lovecraft's papers at Brown University. Her most recent novella series that begins with Agents of Dreamland is a good place to start exploring her work. Kiernan applies the themes and cosmic horror issues first explored by Lovecraft in a way that is new and original. Her conversation with the man is less overt than the other titles in this list, but, I would argue, more important because she has made it her own.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg, and the popularity of Lovecraft Country on HBO is thankfully bringing this necessary conversation, a conversation many of us have been having within the milted confines of horror genre for years, out into the public discourse. And this is also the place where our live virtual conversation will begin next week.

So please join us as we gather a group of experts, many of us who identify as someone Lovecraft would have hated [personally I'm repping the Jews, oh and women], to have an honest conversation about Lovecraft and race.

I can't wait. I don't know if I am more excited that we all get to nerd out together or that I know our entire program will be making Lovecraft spin in his grave while we do it.

*Cue Evil Laugh*

See you next week. Signup now to join us for free.