This is Horror 2016 Award Winners

The winners were announced today. Click through to read all of the winners, but I have posted the novel and novella of the year winners with the author reactions below.

In general, the This is Horror Awards, both winners and long lists, make for a great collection development tool for libraries. These are all titles, especially the winners and runners up each year, that you should own and promote in a public library collection. See for yourself with this link that brings up all of the awards info in reverse chronological order.

This Is Horror Awards 2016: The Winners

March 20, 2017

Novel of the Year

Winner: The Fisherman by John LanganRunner-up: Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

“I’m thrilled and humbled that the voters have selected The Fisherman as Novel of the Year. To have been nominated alongside the other novels in this category was already an honor, and the ballot as a whole is a reminder of the talent flourishing in the horror field. I’m grateful to everyone who sat down with my book and gave it a chance, and I’m thankful to everyone who cast a vote for it. The Fisherman owes its publication to Ross Lockhart, for which, many, many thanks. It owes its composition to my lovely wife, Fiona, for which all, all of my love.”

—John Langan, author of The Fisherman
THIS IS HORROR NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2016

Novella of the Year

Winner: The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValleRunner-up: X’s For Eyes by Laird Barron

“Holy shit! I’m honored to get this news and to get such love from the This Is Horror community. I knew The Ballad of Black Tom was a bit of a risky proposition—throwing shots at an icon like Lovecraft could make a lot of people defensive. Instead this book has been warmly received by the horror community and as a lifelong horror head I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that.”

—Victor LaValle, author of The Ballad of Black Tom
THIS IS HORROR NOVELLA OF THE YEAR 2016

31 Days of Horror: Day 4-- Why I Love Horror with Konrad Stump

Today I begin the "Why I Love Horror" portion of the blog-a-thon, and my first participant is my partner in coordinating the Horror Writers' Association's Library Committee, Konrad Stump. 

Konrad is a Local History Associate for the Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library, where he works on Big Read and the library's popular "Oh, the Horror!" series, which attracts hundreds of patrons during October. He also created the Donuts and Death horror book group, featured in Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists (ALA Editions).

Konrad is on the section committee for the HWA's Summer Scares Reading Program and is the point person for the creation of our Summer Scares Programming Guide. You can click here to see the 2021 Guide.

It just made sense to ask have Konrad kick us off, and he delivers. Not only does Konrad share his personal story of Horror as his safe and happy place, but he also offers examples of how to use Horror with library patrons, as well as sharing some of his favorite books along the way.

💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

WHY I LOVE HORROR

Konrad Stump

Sometimes it seems like I was just born to love horror. My favorite part of Fantasia was the Night on Bald Mountain segment full of spirits risen from the graveyard and Hell figures dancing in flames. The Disney characters I was drawn to were always the villains (I mean, they had the best songs!). I wanted to be the vampire for halloween; I wanted the skull stickers; I wanted the skeleton candy. I can’t quite explain this innate attraction to all things spooky. Perhaps it’s because my parents took me traipsing around cemeteries on the regular. Perhaps it’s because I have older siblings, and nothing is quite so maliciously satisfying as trying to terrify your younger siblings. I am also guilty of this, being the baby of the family that turned into that most dreaded of positions, the second middle child. Surely all these things have made me the weirdo that I am today.

I can’t explain why I have always loved horror, but I can try to explain why others would find it appealing, or informative, or cathartic, or “worthwhile” (though it need not be any of those things, only enjoyable to the person reading it). And that’s what I think I love most about horror; I love what readers can get out of it, especially younger readers. Life is scary, especially when you’re a kid. It’s full of changes, uncertainty, processing mortality, feeling like an outsider.

My father was in the Army, so we moved every year or two until I was in high school. That meant a new home, a new town, a new school with a whole new set of peers, many of whom already had established friendships. I also failed first grade. That is, until I skipped it. And I was a cute kid. That is, until I wasn’t. I was also painfully, very apparently gay (a less astute person might call me “spirited”). Needless to say, I did not fit in. And horror was a refuge to process all of that. Because horror takes what is scary in the world and wraps it up in a story about someone, usually an outsider who, at the end of the day, more often than not defeats the monster or banishes the ghosts. It tells us that moving into a new house or neighborhood can be an opportunity to learn something new or meet new people. It tells us that outsiders have attributes beyond attractiveness and cool guy swagger like resourcefulness and ingenuity. And it tells us that there is more out there than what we can see and maybe there is something beyond death.

As I mentioned, school was tough. I struggled. I had to take speech classes. I was regularly reminded about my potential. I was just not interested. But I did love R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. And through it I learned about Egyptology, insects, British royal intrigue and history. Horror is a fantastic way to get kids who are non-readers interested in reading and wanting to learn. Horror made me interested in learning because I was interested in the story, and then I wanted to find out more about what I read about. Horror took me to my family’s set of Encyclopedia Britannica; horror made me excited to boot up that Encarta 95 disc. I think I would have been a better student if someone told me that I could make a living studying just how insects play into human decomposition.

This is why I’m enamored with the Horror Writers Association’s annual summer reading program, Summer Scares, which works to get more people of all ages reading horror during the summer, when more people are looking for reading material, and keeping kids engaged with their imaginations is especially important. What better way to find out more about all the weird things in the world and the people who study them. You can grow up to be the curator at an occult museum (“The Diviners” by Libba Bray), you can care for the bodies of the dead (“Whichwood” by Tahereh Mafi), or you can become a grave robber (“Rotters” by Daniel Kraus)! Okay, maybe not a grave robber, but you can study all the weird things that happen to bodies after they die, burial practices, or the historic preservation of cemeteries. Horror can introduce kids to all the weird and neat things in the world and maybe make them realize they have an interest in studying those things further.

As a library worker, I love how horror can connect people. Fear is universal. No matter what country you live in, no matter your race, no matter your sexual orientation, we are all afraid and we all, sadly, will die. Shared mortality is a great reminder to be a bit more gracious toward people. And that fear, that mortality, helps readers connect with stories and histories different from their own. That’s what I’ve tried to do with Springfield-Greene’s horror book discussion group, Donuts & Death, which I’ve run since 2015. I’ve tried to choose stories that allow readers to question what they know and think, because horror gives us so many avenues by which to explore and interpret our world.

One of my favorite books of the last few years is the novella “The Ballad of Black Tom” by Victor LaValle (also a 2020 Summer Scares pick). Not only is it a great story, but it takes one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most racist short stories and reimagines it from the perspective of a Black man, Charles Thomas “Tommy” Tester. Through Tommy, we can see Brooklyn for its culture and diversity instead of the fearful and bigoted way Lovecraft saw it. So the reader can question how they might see a certain area, or culture, and explore what they might be missing in the way they’re thinking about it. We understand the familial and monetary reasoning for Tommy’s hustle. So the reader can question how they view people with more unconventional professions or life choices; there’s usually more than what appears on the surface. We understand the racism and corruption of the officers of the law in the story, so the reader can question how they see people in professions that might generally be seen as more honorable. And we can see how Tommy is driven to become Black Tom, so the reader can question how they think of monsters and what might make someone monstrous. It’s an incredible tale with a ton to delve into, and what I always love about horror is how it can be a means for people to introspect and examine their viewpoints without feeling like they are being preached to or coerced. Horror can explore uncomfortable topics with the buffer of a well-written, thrilling story.

As someone who works in local history, I know that history is really interesting, it’s just that history sometimes isn’t presented in the most interesting of ways. I love how horror can be a way for people who maybe don’t normally enjoy history to learn about a particular time period, or explore their city, find out about the folklore of their region, or reexamine a historical event they think they know. Take Alma Katsu’s novel “The Hunger.” The story of the Donner Party is already interesting, but what if there were a supernatural element to the story, wouldn’t that add so many more layers and pose so many new questions? Historical horror like “The Hunger'' also allows the reader to gain insight into or imagine the lives of the lesser-known characters in historical narratives. Horror and history pair well together because so much of history is horrifying, and no matter where you live, your town has ghost stories, murders, monstrous folkloric creatures. Some of the most popular events in Springfield-Greene’s annual October program series, “Oh, the Horror!” have been local history programs, from the real-life story that inspired The Exorcist, to cryptozoologist Lyle Blackburn discussing Bigfoot lore, to guided tours of a local theatre purported to house multiple ghosts. Horror programming is a great way for people to learn about and experience history in a fun way.

31 Days of Horror: Day 4- The Pull of Horror's Past

Most of my work in helping you to assist horror readers focuses on living, currently publishing  authors so that you can keep up to speed on the current state of the genre and its trends, while understanding what you should be ordering to create a collection you can use to make suggestions and for your horror readers to browse on their own.

However, I do want to peek into the past a little bit today because one of the biggest trends in horror is the pull of the past and its influence on the present. Specifically as seen in 2 HUGE Trends.

The first, is the return of the classic paperback horror titles from the 70s and 80s. The trend entered the mainstream with the publication of the award winning Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix, with help from Will Errickson from Too Much Horror Fiction. You can see what I said about this amazing book in my ALA Annual Read 'N Rave back in 2017. And since it's publication, people cannot get enough of these paperback titles.

In response to the demand for more of these books to come back into print, Hendrix and Errickson have teamed up with Valancourt to produce the "Paperbacks From Hell" reissue line. Now in its second year, the line pairs some of the best gems from this era, titles that have been out of print of decades and many, lost to history, with brand new introductions by Errickson and Hendrix.

As Hendrix told me, Valancourt was prepared for these to sell well and even they were surprised by the demand. The books are priced well and you can buy the entire set at once. I would highly suggest adding these vetted titles to your collections.

Even academic libraries are getting in on the trend. University of Indiana Librarian Rebecca Baumann has long been an advocate for these classic paperback pulps, and in the current issue of Fine Books Magazine, she has a fascinating, academic article about collecting paperbacks from hell and why these titles "bewitch" collectors. This article also addresses the appeal of these titles to readers.

This trend is worth noting not only because you should be aware of the reissuing of older titles that you can add to your collections, but also because you should be aware of new authors who write in this style. Understand that readers are looking for a modern, 21st Century take on the pulp horror experience too. For libraries, the best place to find quality [both in writing and book construction] works to satisfy these readers is through Flame Tree Press. Click through to see their authors, books, and read reviews. Of their crop of new authors, the best one for libraries [if you can only get a few] would be Jonathan Janz. But all are a great and appropriate choices for all library collections.

The other trend, and it is one I have written and talked about for a while now but it is still growing and gaining in momentum, is the reemergence of Lovecraft in horror fiction. Click here for a book talk I did a few years ago on the topic.

Look, it needs to be said that Lovecraft was an awful human being. He was a racist, sexist, anti-gay, basically, he hated everyone. But, he created themes, images, characters, and an entire subgenre of horror fiction whose influence can no longer be ignored.

As a result, today's authors who are writing in that Lovecraftian style are very open about contending with his problematic legacy. And it is the people Lovecraft hated the most who are leading the charge-- women, LGBTQ, and authors of color.

As I describe one of the best piece of modern Lovecraftian fiction, The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle in that book talk linked above, it is as if LaValle is both giving Lovercraft the middle finger and honoring him all in one great story.

Speaking of LaValle, over on Goodreads, he has this piece about Lovecraft's long lasting influence. It also has a great book list and a shout out to the new annotated collection of Lovecraft stories to which LaValle wrote the introduction. Add the titles you don't have and use LaValle's annotations to book talk the others.

Debut author, Shaun Hamill, whose novel A Cosmology of Monsters [which I am currently reading] also deals directly with Lovecraft, both the author and his influence, wrote this article about contending with the Lovecraft legacy for Crime Reads. Even if you don't enjoy horror, this essay will introduce you to the current spate of Lovecraft retellings and allow you to understand this trend better.

These are not the only instances where the pull of horror's past is effecting the present, but they are the most obvious.

If you want to know more about the history of horror and specifically how it plays out in our present, maybe even preemptively get in on a few trends, I would highly suggest following horror author Brian Keene's fantastic History of Horror Fiction series hosted by Cemetery Dance.

Eventually, it will all be gathered into a book, but for now you can read it online. What I like about this series is that it not only considers the history of the genre in the context of today, but it is also very readable. The essays themselves are fun to read and they are not presented in a typical order. The series itself makes for a very useful tool at understanding the appeal of horror in general, so it is a great resource for all of you library workers who are too afraid to try a book on your own.

To wrap up today, know that I understand the past's pull on the genre, but my place here on this blog is to help you stay current. Use the past to help you help readers, but do not only suggest Dracula or Frankenstein or Lovecraft. Today's post should help you reconcile the past's pull on the present, and give you some fresh collection development, display, and suggestion ideas.

#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

Announcing Summer Scares 2020

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Library Journal/School Library Journal, is delighted to announce the second annual Summer Scares Reading List, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.

Each year, three titles will be chosen in the Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade categories, and for 2020 they are:

ADULT [links to my reviews]

In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson (Skyhorse, 2017)

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle (Tor.Com, 2016)

She Said Destroy: Stories by Nadia Bulkin (Word Horde, 2017)

YOUNG ADULT [links to Goodreads]

The Agony House by Cherie Priest, Illustrated by Tara O’Connor (Scholastic 2018)

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (Sourcebooks Fire, 2017)

Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics (Harlequin Teen, 2015)

MIDDLE GRADE [links to Goodreads]

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh (HaperCollins, 2017)

Case Files 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage (HarperCollins, 2012)

Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith (Clarion Books, 2015)

The goal of the Summer Scares program is to introduce horror titles to school and public library workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. Along with the annual list of recommended titles for readers of all ages, the Summer Scares committee will also release themed lists of even more “read-alike” titles for libraries to use when suggesting books to readers this summer and all year long. And, in order to help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and horror authors from all over the country, to provide free programming to libraries. From author visits (both in person and virtual) to book discussions to horror themed events, Summer Scares is focused on connecting horror creators with libraries and readers all year long.

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) will also be hosting a Library Day special stand alone program May 7, 2020 at the Naperville, IL Public Library. Authors from the Summer Scares reading list, as well as the committee members, will be in attendance. Authors and committee members will also be available throughout the year for on-site and/or remote appearances to libraries and schools to promote the Summer Scares program and discuss the use of horror fiction as a tool to increase readership and nurture a love of reading.

The Summer Scares program committee consists of award-winning author Stephen Graham Jones (Mongrels, The Only Good Indians, Night of the Mannequins), Becky Spratford (library consultant, author of The Readers Advisory Guide to Horror, 2nd Ed.), Carolyn Ciesla (library director, academic dean, book reviewer), Kiera Parrott (reviews director for Library Journal and School Library Journal), Kelly Jensen (editor, Book Riot, author of [Don’t] Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health), and JG Faherty (HWA Library Program director, author of Sins of the Father, The Cure, and Ghosts of Coronado Bay).

The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals, and the oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. One of the HWA’s missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.

For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the authors/committee members, visit the HWA’s Libraries web page (www.horror.org/libraries), Becky Spratford’s Reader’s Advisory Horror Blog RA for All: Horror (http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html), or the Book Riot, School Library Journal, Library Journal, or United for Libraries websites and social media sites.

You can also contact JG Faherty, HWA Library Program Director (libraries [at] horror [dot] org) or Becky Spratford, HWA Secretary (bspratford [at] hotmail [dot] com).

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.

New Library Journal Horror Column by Me

Click here for the full column on the Library Journal site, complete with graphics. Click here for comments on the list and the importance of celebrating Halfway to Halloween on RA for All.

The Road to Halloween | The Reader’s Shelf, April 15, 2016

Halloween may be six months away, but a crop of new horror titles are generating huge buzz and are just dying to be checked out now. From tales of monsters to ecological threats to humanity’s darkest souls, these selections will keep patrons primed for the fear-fest to come. 

The biggest release of the genre this spring is The Fireman by Joe Hill (Morrow. 2016. ISBN 9780062200631. $28.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062200655). A deadly fungus is starting to infect humans, causing them spontaneously to combust and sparking the destruction of society as we know it. When pregnant nurse Harper falls ill, her husband attempts to kill her. Luckily, a mysterious hero is there to intervene and takes Harper to a camp where the sick have learned to control the problem. How long will this utopia last? With impressive action scenes, a well-developed cast of characters, and the hope of salvation resting on original MTV VJ Martha Quinn, this read is another menacing win from Hill.

Grady Hendrix has a penchant for 1980s references, as proven in his much-­anticipated follow-up to Horrorstör, My Best Friend’s Exorcism (Quirk. 2016. ISBN 9781594748622. $19.99; ebk. ISBN 9781594748639). Packaged to look like a school yearbook, the novel tells the chilling story of Abby and Gretchen as they stumble through high school. That is until one fateful night when, after experimenting with drugs, Gretchen disappears. She resurfaces claiming to be just fine, yet Abby can tell things are anything but. Is Gretchen possessed by the devil? Why is no one beyond Abby concerned? Told with Hendrix’s blend of sardonic humor and frightening dread, this is one scary tour down memory lane.

LaValle is the reigning king of ­literary horror and his new novella, The Ballad of Black Tom (Tor. 2016. ISBN 9780765387868. pap. $12.99; ebk. ISBN 9780765386618), is set in New York City during the height of the Jazz Age. Tommy is a dutiful son caring for his dying father and making money by hustling wherever and whenever he can. Dressed in his best clothes, he leaves his Harlem residence with an old book, intent on returning with a ­wallet full of cash. But Tommy’s trip is to the home of a sorceress and his book is the key to awakening a dark magic. He must now navigate the very real threat of racism and the supernatural evil out to destroy everything he holds dear.

In Security (Algonquin. 2016. ISBN 9781616205621. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781616205973), the violent, bloody, sexy debut thriller by Gina Wohlsdorf, readers witness events as they unfold as seen through security cameras deployed throughout Manderley Resort. The footage is delivered to a bank of screens watched by a guard. The book quickly switches between the screens and the disturbing story lines taking place across the hotel—at times so fast that the page physically splits into different sections, occasionally requiring the book to be rotated to keep going. This stylistic choice adds tension and unease. With its twisty plot, great characters, and detached tone, ­Security is a tale that will maintain the interest of even the most jaded fan.

World Horror Grand Master Brian Keene brings fear to the ocean’s depths with a brand new story of a monster so petrifying that it makes Jaws look like a goldfish. In Pressure (Thomas Dunne: St. Martin’s. 2016. ISBN 9781250071347. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466882492), readers follow Carrie, a champion free diver, as she works alongside scientists to find out why the floor of the Indian Ocean is collapsing. This ecological disaster is complicated by the nefarious in two forms: murderous, corporate henchmen and a deadly alien that is intent on destroying us all. This frenetically paced, gory novel is filled with action and a protagonist to uphold. Pulp horror of the highest caliber.

While Keene has carried the banner for smart, fun, pulp horror for a while, a new author is rising to help shoulder the load. Last year, Jonathan Janz received accolades for The Nightmare Girl, but his latest offering, Children of the Dark (Sinister Grin. 2016. ISBN 9781944044145. pap. $17.59; ebk. ISBN 9781944044169), is even better. From the first line of the novel, Will, a 15-year-old from rural Indiana, makes it known that he has a story to tell—one about the summer when he watched 17 people die. With a serial killer possessing a surprising connection to Will, a recently awakened ancient evil, a boatload of blood, an intensely driven narrative, and fleshed-out characters, this original work exudes that classic horror feel. A perfect choice for those missing old-school Stephen King.

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This column was contributed by Becky Spratford, a Readers’ Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons age 13 and up. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All. You can follow her on Twitter @RAforAll

50 Best Horror Books of All Time via Esquire and Comments on Diversifying Your Lists

Click here to enter the list via Esquire's webiste

Normally, when main stream magazines do a list of Horror books, I roll my eyes before diving in and I predictably, end up disappointed. But this time, I had high hopes because friend of the blog and podcaster, Neil McRobert did his list of the 50 Best Horror Books of All Time for Esquire Magazine and it is awesome. 

Last October, I invited McRobert to participate in my 31 Days of Horror: Why I Love Horror series. McRobert has the top notch Talking Scared Podcast and holds a PhD in Gothic Literature. He has spent years studying Horror as a scholar, yes, but he is also a fan. Click here to see McRobert's appearance on my blog and learn more about him. 

Anytime someone posts a best list of any kind, there are going to be haters. In this case, I saw some criticism that this list has too much of a recency bias. But I loved that recency bias for a couple of reason and applaud McRobert for it.

First, and the most important part for libraries, the recently bias of this list means you can be assured that these are titles that will be enjoyed by today's readers. I loved that about this list. Yes there were a few old classics, but it is focused on what books a general Horror reader today would most connect with and enjoy. This is VERY important both because the venue is a mass market magazine, not a Horror specific publication, and because as a library worker, you can check your shelves for these titles [most of which you already have], add those you are missing, and most importantly, promote them to your general readers. This is a list you can use anytime of year, not just to target Horror readers. It is a list for everyone who wants to feel the fear, even if just a little. This is not for Horror fans; it is for readers [full stop]. 

This is also a list that you can build a display from today! And Add a QR code to access the list. Or post it on your website. Even better, if you have Esquire in your print or digital magazine collection, use this list to promote that holding and increase circulation on it as well.

Second, by giving his list a recency bias, McRobert's list is not only white men. This is a diverse list of excellent Horror. Many "best" list makers use the fact that the "classics" were from a time when only white males published in order to argue for why their lists are not diverse. This is not an  acceptable excuse any longer.. Making sure our best lists represent marginalized voices is more important than anything. As I say frequently, classics change. Not only do people not want to read many books that are 100 years old anymore, but they also need to see an established genre in a modern light where all voices are represented. Because of systemic oppression, we only have the voices of non-white males from a more recent time. That is a societal problem that people  who make these best lists can actively help  to fix.

In the introduction to the list, McRobert mentions that there are some big names missing and says straight up something I wanted to point out:

"Certain big names are missing ...because their books tread ground better travelled by others."

I think a great example of this on the list is including Victor LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom over the Lovecraft original it is based upon. LaValle's excellent novella is a rewrite of Lovecraft's most racist story. "The Horror at Red Hook." As I said here, in this novella it is as if LaValle is giving Lovecraft a hug and the middle finger at the same time. It is brilliant classic for today's readers.

Kudos to McRobert for being willing to consider the contributions of systemically marginalized voices and judge them by the quality of their work, not the era in which they were published.

I also have two observations from my point of view. Not really criticisms but just points I wanted to make about the list.

1. Anyone who listens to McRobert's podcast knew that IT by Stephen King was going to hold the number 1 spot on his list. He is unapologetic about his love for this book and I applaud that. It would not be my number 1 but I do love consistency. Also, you have got to own your biases when you do these lists. I would have been disappointed if a list by McRobert did NOT have IT number one.
2. As much as I love the addition of more marginalized voices here, we also have to work to keep hateful humans and their books out of our lists. This is the other side of the anti-racist RA Service coin that must work in tandem with diversifying our lists on order for any progress to be made. It would be hard to argue that The Terror by Dan Simmons is NOT one of the best Horror books; however, he is a horrible human being. Click here for a sampling of reasons and examples. I have stopped supporting him in anyway. I left any mention of him out of my book, even choosing to not include him in my lists of important Horror authors of the late 20th Century-- which he most definitely was. This choice is a glaring omission, and that is 100% the point. By not including him, I make people think about why he was omitted. Clearly, if you read my book, it is clear I know my stuff, so his omission forces you to ask, why he isn't there. I would have replaced The Terror on principle with my favorite recent Horror book from that era, The Ruins by Scott Smith. 

But those are small quibbles. This is an excellent list, one that is especially useful for library workers. I hope you check it out and use it sometime soon for a display. Don't wait until October, these are excellent year round reads.

And finally, big props to McRobert. Going out on a limb to make a list of the best of anything is a brave activity. I know, I have done it many times. He did a great job.