Nightmares
A New Decade of Modern Horror
Ellen Datlow, Editor

Tachyon Publications
November 1, 2016 / ISBN 978-1616962326
Horror / Anthologies

Reviewed by Linda Morelli

Not for the squeamish: Contains cannibalism, murder, blood, zombies, serial killers, etc.

Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror is a collection of 24 modern tales collected by an exceptional anthologist and editor, Ellen Datlow, with stories published from 2005-2015, following her previous release, Darkness: Two decades of Modern Horror, a companion anthology. She’s culled some of the more fantastic and enjoyable short fiction stories written by both new and established writers. These are not tales for the easily scared, nor are they stories that would make your parents shrug their shoulders and say,“They’re okay.” Nope. These are tales written for an audience that is not shocked by the sight of blood in the latest horror movies, or that jumps in fear when the unexpected appears to shock and scare. (Of course, I still do the latter).

There’s definitely something for everyone in this outstanding collection. Do you like vampires? How about the Old West? Have you heard the tale of the pretty girls and the Ash Mount Man? Or want to read about a wagon train stranded in snow-filled mountains in a tale reminiscent of the Donner Pass? Or two young men who decide to rob an old man’s house for his hidden treasure, little expecting the horror that awaits them. Then there’s the immigrant family who unknowingly brought something horrible with them to their new home.

These tales are all designed to bring fear into the hearts of the most jaded of horror fans: those who believe nothing can scare them anymore. All of these stories left a lasting impression on me. Most made me cringe, some had my heart beating in fear, and others had me trembling with horror and cringing in disbelief. I’ve taken to double-checking that all my doors are locked at nights – including my closets! After reading this collection, you might just do the same.

Notes: Ellen Datlow is the most acclaimed and successful editor in the horror genre. She is a ten-time World Fantasy Award winner, and she has received multiple Hugo, Locus, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson awards. Datlow was the fiction editor of OMNI for nearly 20 years and edited the magazine’s "Event Horizon" and "Sci Fiction."