(Yes, I have a short story in this one. The closing story is "Sentenced to the Crucible." So consider this review to be for the other 200 plus pages..._)
From the back cover: "SPACE DOESN'T CARE IF YOU SCREAM.Ten Stories of Horror Science-Fiction!
From
derelict ships haunted by madness to alien planets steeped in dread,
this chilling anthology of space horror and sci-fi terror takes you on a
journey into the deepest, darkest reaches of the cosmos—where no one
can hear you beg for mercy and no one cares.
Space Horrors
gathers some of the sharpest voices in horror and speculative fiction
to explore what happens when the vast unknown becomes a breeding ground
for the unimaginable. As humans venture to the stars, humanity must go
head-to-head with the mysteries of the cosmos.
Rogue AI and unregulated science gone wrong.Sentient voids that swallow entire ships.Alien ecosystems that react to your every thought.Cosmic viruses and chilling ghost signals.And the evil that lives not in the stars, but in ourselves.
With stories by award-winning and acclaimed authors including Vanessa Fogg, Eric J. Guignard, Mike D. McCarty, KC Grifant, Jon Cohn, John Palisano, Kathryn Blanche, Vincent V. Cava, David Agranoff, and E.S. Magill, this anthology delivers both nightmare fuel and razor-sharp commentary on the human condition when we dare to venture to the stars. Terrifying or darkly satirical, each tale ventures beyond the familiar into the final frontier—and proves that space isn’t just cold. It’s merciless."
* *
Might sound like a broken record when talking about the origins of this anthology, and it is much like the creation of Dread Coast. This anthology started as a conversation between writers gathered at a table at Stokercon. The topic was the lack of good space horror. The foundation for the anthology was just the people in that conversation.
Even though I have a story in this anthology I think I was the one author who did not take part in the entire conversation, since I was very busy with Stokercon stuff, I just showed up at the table to ask Eunice (Editor E.S. Magil) a question, and she asked me ¨David, do you think there needs to be more space horror?”
Of course, I feel that way. Alien is one thing, but we need more Space horror like Lemś Solaris, Malzbergś Beyond Apollo, and PKDś Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Alien-like stories can be great, and I can only speak for myself, but I tried to build my story around the scale and power of the sun and put human beings on Mercury. Did I pull it off? That is for you, the readers, to decide.
I think you should not just because I have a story, but I can say that this is a fine anthology, and Magill did a wonderful job of putting this project across the finish line. Every story was quality and worth reading. Vincent V Cava’s horny update of PKD’s Behind Lies the Wub, First Cumtact, a funny story, is probably the opposite in tone from my piece.
My three favorites stood out, but it doesn’t mean there wasn't something worthy in all the stories. San Diego HWA’s own KC Grifant might take top spot for me with Eaters Band. The setting is a spooky region of space, and I thought that was a cool original idea. In the tradition of PKD’s I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon is Make VFX artist and podcaster Mike D. McCarty’s The Directive. The story had a cool structure. Editor E.S. Magill also brought her A-Game to the story Dog Eat Dog. It is a first-person narrative that works; it has subtle and carefully executed world-building. Overall, the story builds like an ascent to the final paragraph.
Pick up Space Horrors if you are a SF horror fan, a short story fan, or dig these authors. If you are not sold yet, check this podcast I did with most of the line-up!
Video of Space Horrors interview panel
Audio of the Space Horrors panel
