​BEST NEW HORROR #30 EDITED BY STEPHEN JONES

The long awaited 30th volume of this classic anthology of short horror fiction is finally here and it was worth the wait. Due to the late appearance of the book the stories included therein are chosen among those published in 2018 (not 2019) but it doesn’t matter at all in view of the excellent quality of the featured material.

Well respected editor Stephen Jones has assembled twenty-three stories previously  appeared in horror collections, anthologies and magazines in 2018, introducing the volume with an incredibly exhaustive overview of what has happened in the horror area in that particular year concerning both books and movies.

As for the selected stories, I must say that a good number correspond to those that attracted my attention, as a reader and as a reviewer, at the time of their publication.

First of all I’d like to mention the two stories by Peter Bell, a fantastic author of ghostly tales, whose body of work has appeared so far only in books from small, indie imprints ,hence is not as widely known as it would deserve. “The House” is an eerie piece of fiction about three gentlemen following the traces of an elusive, ambiguous ghost story writer, and  “ The Virgin Mary Well” is a dark, atmospheric story where ancient,unholy secrets about a mysterious well are unearthed and brought back to the present.

One of my favorite authors, the prolific and eclectic Reggie Oliver ( actor,playwright,writer and illustrator) contributes  “Porson’s Piece” ,a great supernatural story featuring a retired professor and philosopher compelled to deal with some unexplained phenomena.

“The Deep Sea Swell” by John Langan is a tense,thrilling story where the ghost of a past sea tragedy gets loose during a storm, while “ Holiday Reading” by Rosalie Parker is a delightful tale suspended between literature and reality.

In the creepy “The Smiling Man, by Simon Kurt Unsworth, violating the grave of a disreputable character brings about serious disturbances in a quiet small village.

Alison Littlewood’s excellent ”The Marvellous Talking Machine” conveys a feeling of dread by depicting a disquieting technical device, while Rio Youers’ very dark and quite enjoyable
“ The Typewriter”revolves around a haunted typewriter endowed with evil powers.

Mark Samuels provides “Posterity”, an Aickmanesque story ( not a simple coincidence...) describing the uncanny experience of a literary researcher exploring the legacy of a deceased writer whose initials are R.A.

In Thana Niveau’s  truly outstanding “ Octoberland” nostalgia and childhood horrors blend to create an insightful, unforgettable mix.

Other distinguished contributors are: Graham Masterton, NIcholas Royle, Michael Chislett, Christopher Harman, Ramsey Campbell, James Wade, Ken Mackenzie, Michael Marshall Smith, Tracy Fahey, Daniel McGachey, Damien Angelica Walters, Caitlín R Kiernan, Brian Hodge.

Highly recommended.




MARIO GUSLANDI