01/24/2022

The 12 horror shorts in Taff’s latest anthology (after Diabolica Americana: A Dark States Horror Compendium) meld the modern and the mythic, but most never quite rise from the realm of creepy to be truly terrifying. Among the best are “Papa Eye” by Priya Sharma, in which a remote island holds its residents enthralled for hundreds of years; “Trinity River’s Blues” by Chesya Burke, about a young woman whose longing for talent leads her to inadvertently invite a malicious spirit to possess her body; and “The Sanguintalist” by Gemma Files, centered on a “forensic necromancer” who seeks justice using blood to astral project into the past. Taff’s own “Swim in the Blood of a Curious Dream” presents an unconventional joint custody agreement as a mother’s fierce love defies death itself. Less successful pieces, like “Enough for Hunger and Enough for Hate” by John Langan, overly rely on telling over showing, resulting in very few scares. Horror fans will be pleased with the all-star lineup—which also includes Stephen Graham Jones and Josh Malerman—but shouldn’t expect anything too hair-raising. (Mar.)

"A fabulous collection of heady, inventive, and scary-as-hell novelettes written by many of my favorite horror writers. They'll become your favorites too, if they aren't already." —Paul Tremblay, author of Survivor Song

"This collection of suspenseful horror resonates deeply, haunting the soul on many levels." —Brom, author of Slewfoot

"A perfect snapshot of modern horror fiction and an essential showcase for its many voices, Taff's Dark Stars is to this generation what Kirby McCauley's seminal Dark Forces was to mine." —Brian Keene, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rising

"There isn't a fading star in this gripping, thought-provoking collection, which showcases the tremendous talent of the writers, and the stylistic and thematic variety of contemporary horror fiction." —Indrapramit Das, author of The Devourers

"Featured here are rubies strung on wire — or droplets of blood suspended in air — each story crafted by one of the best horror and suspense authors writing at the top of their games. This anthology left me in awe.” —John Hornor Jacobs, author of A Lush and Seething Hell

"John F.D. Taff has gifted us with a collection of stories that takes in the vast expanse of the horror genre today and guides our eye toward the furthest corners of the cosmos, where these twelve brand-new celestial forms wait to take shape in our nightmares." —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Whisper Down the Lane

“Dark Stars provides not only an image of where horror is now, but a roadmap of where horror is going.” —Brian Evenson, author of The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell

“Masterfully bringing together the very best of the best voices in contemporary horror, Dark Stars fairly resonates with an assured sense of sadness, mystery and wonder. As soulful as it is disturbing, these stories linger like smoke long after the reading is done. An absolute treat.” —Gemma Amor, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of Dear Laura

"Taff gathers a galaxy of horror geniuses whose engrossing, unsettling stories unveil every empty place inside us....An essential anthology for 21st century horror." —Hailey Piper, author of The Worm and His Kings

“Strange and sinister, uncanny and unforgettable, Dark Stars is an absolute must-read. With an utterly stellar lineup of today's best horror authors, this is one anthology you don't want to miss.” —Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens

“Horror author Taff has curated some of the most dynamic horror fiction anthologies in recent years, and his newest is a healthy mix of established horror legends and newcomers.” —Booklist, starred review

“The 12 horror shorts meld the modern and the mythic.... Horror fans will be pleased with the all-star line-up.” —Publishers Weekly

“Taff selects 12 of the most imaginative authors in horror today and gives them a long leash to dive into terror...and the stories take brilliant chances.” —Library Journal

★ 09/01/2022

Author and editor Taff (The End in All Beginnings) draws together 12 original horror stories, featuring writings from horror luminaries such as Josh Malerman, Ramsey Campbell, Alma Katsu, and Stephen Graham Jones. This collection is a perfect entry point for new horror readers, who will gain an understanding of the many facets of the genre and may be surprised at the depth and breadth of the field. Experienced readers will recognize many of the authors and enjoy their skillful manipulation of familiar tropes. The stories cover every aspect of the genre—from eerie to terrifying, from real world terrors to dark fantasy, from bloodless to bloodbath. This remarkable variety is enhanced by the seven brilliant narrators who perform the stories. Each narrator reads an entire story (never two in a row), allowing the authors' unique voices to shine through. The cast of narrators ensures that the characters are imbued with authentic accents and speech patterns. Reader may not love each story equally, but this well-planned anthology has something for everyone. VERDICT This is a collection to put on prominent display. A must-buy that will lure horror fans and horror newbies alike.—Matthew Galloway

10/01/2021

In this genre-expanding anthology, featuring a foreword by horror superstar Josh Malerman and a thoughtful afterword by legend Ramsey Campbell, Taff selects 12 of the most imaginative authors in horror today and gives them a long leash to dive into terror. The result is that each story is like a mini novel, and the anthology as a whole will be held up as a "snapshot" of this moment in horror for years to come. A clear choice for fans of horror's bigger names (Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Stephen Graham Jones), but don't sleep on the stellar tales by Chesya Burke, Priya Sharma, and Usman Malik. At 500 pages, this volume is a beast, and the stories take brilliant chances that will be worth the time investment; expect many to be in the running for major genre awards in 2022. VERDICT Most readers will focus on the epic table of contents, but ardent horror fans will appreciate this volume's ode to the seminal out-of-print Dark Forces anthology edited by Kirby McCauley.Dark Forces similarly strove to bring horror to a wider audience in the 1980s and featured both an early Campbell story and Stephen King's The Mist (which many consider to be his best novella).