A review by readundancies
Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele, John Joseph Adams

adventurous dark mysterious tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

This was a bit of mixed bag for me as a short story horror anthology. I was familiar with 8 out of 19 authors who contributed to the collection, and discovered 4 more who I had never heard of but will definitely be looking for more from.

For future me, these were the standout thoughts you had throughout the collection. If there's no notes, it didn't have much of an impact, or rather there was not much I felt needed to be stated about it. Also, this was read non-chronologically because of course it was, I - and I cannot stress this enough - am a chaotic mood reader.

Reckless Eyeballing | N. K. Jemisin: 5/5
  • This is how you start a short story collection! In contention for favourite of the collection - Top 3, for sure.
  • This was fantastico. Carl's characterization was impeccable. The horror elements were horror-ing in the most sinister kinds of way. Carl's thoughts were DARK and I could got not get enough of it.
  • It is a crime against reading that I have not picked up N.K. Jemisin before this despite having her on my shelves. 

Eye & Tooth | Rebecca Roanhorse: 4.5/5
  • Rebecca Roanhorse just cannot stop writing bangers.
  • Love the sibling dynamics, the monster vs hunter trope twist, the glimpse of found family, all of it.
  • And the writing? Sublime. I just wish it was longer - like novella-length.

Wandering Devil | Cadwell Turnbull: 3.75/5

Invasion of the Baby Snatchers | Lesley Nneka Arimah: 5/5
  • This was so Aliens-adjacent and I freaking loved it. Every bit of it was brilliant.
  • The tone of the unnamed MC was everything. Easily the most memorable and likeable character of the whole collection. There was sass, experience, ingenuity and storytelling and that is all I wanted and needed and breathed for the entirety of the tale.
  • Part of me is also imagining this being written in 2nd person and it killing it just as hard, if not more. Need to get me some more of Lesley Nneka Arimah.

The Other One | Violet Allen: 4.5/5
  • Oooooh this is so my brand of fucked up.
  • I was expecting a clone or doppelganger to that effect, but not upset with what I got instead.
  • The creepy factor was high with this one, and the way it all evolved and culminated towards the end was masterful.

Lasiren | Erin E. Adams: 4/5
  • Sirens/mermaids can be a little hit or miss for me, but I liked this one.
  • I loved how this could be interpreted as a villain origin story. It's giving prequel vibes, and I would definitely interested in reading more about this world.
  • Erin E. Adams is better for the me the second time around, will have to keep tabs on what she publishes next.

The Rider | Tananarive Due: 3.75/5

The Aesthete | Justin C. Key: 3/5

Pressure | Ezra Claytan Daniels: 3.5/5

Dark Home | Nnedi Okorafor: 3.25/5

Flicker |  L. D. Lewis: 4.25/5
  • This was just great conceptually - the time lengths over each section, the terror infused within the writing, the last sentence - just phenomenal in execution.
  • First time author for me and am immediately seeking out more from L. D. Lewis because I was hooked.
  • I still can't over that last sentence. It just hits so good.

The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World | Nalo Hopkinson: 4/5
  • The storytelling in this one is just so comfortable and easy to settle into.
  • There is this almost parable-like quality to writing that draws you in and makes you feel like you're about to learn something important so you better listen carefully.
  • Come for the plot, stay for the storytelling. Nalo Hopkinson's writing is just mesmerizing.

The Norwood Trouble | Maurice Broaddus: 3.75/5

A Grief of the Dead | Rion Amilcar Scott: 3.5/5

A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree | Nicole P. Sconiers: 4.5/5
  • The animosity of being stuck with someone for perpetuity that you don't in particularly like or care for is captured so well in this one.
  • The perfect amount of morbid. There's something so relatable about Del, something hackle-raising about Amber, and eerie about the notch marks of each kill that just grips you.
  • The time jumps are utilized really effectively in terms of pacing. I like the non-chron aspect and the time jumps because they really stretch this ominous tone across the entire tale and make it linger deliciously.

An American Fable | Chesya Burke: 3.75/5

Your Happy Place | Terence Taylor: 3.5/5

Hide & Seek | P. Djeli Clark: 4.25/5
  • This one is rooted in a dark side of reality and hits differently than everything else in this collection because of that.
  • The sibling dynamics in this one made me want to wrap myself in a blanket with how they championed one another, tempered the other and survived for one another.
  • After a quick re-read, this one definitely gets even better upon each reacquaintance. 

Origin Story | Tochi Onyebuchi: 2/5