The Monstrous

Praise for The Monstrous

[Starred Review] Datlow, horror anthologist extraordinaire, brings together all things monstrous in this excellent reprint anthology of 20 horror stories that explore the ever-widening definition of what makes a monster, with nary a misstep. The varied sources of monstrosity include a very troubled kindergarten teacher, a catering company that puts humans on the menu, and spirit-devouring creatures out of Japanese mythology, all creating distinctive microcosms where monsters reign in many forms. In Gemma Files's "A Wish from a Bone," an archeological reality show filming in Sudan uncovers evidence of the Terrible Seven, ancient beings who are bent on destruction and domination. Adam-Troy Castro's "The Totals" skewers bureaucracy and the daily grind by populating a drinking hole with monsters, who create mayhem, commit murder, and kvetch with their deadly coworkers with the same sense of ennui felt by any office drone. Other standouts by Sofia Samatar, Dale Bailey, and Christopher Fowler round out this atmospheric and frequently terrifying collection."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The only direction editor Datlow gave her contributors when compiling this collection was that she didn't want any human monsters. While some of the twenty stories here skirt that rule, there are a nice variety of inhuman beasties as well. A moody Japanese tale from Jeffrey Ford, "A Natural History of Autumn," opens the collection, followed by Peter Straub's school-set riff on Cinderella, "Ashputtle." Other standouts include Adam-Troy Castro's "The Totals," which gives us a competitive monster office and "Down Among the Dead Men" from Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois about a vampire imprisoned in a World War II concentration camp. The anthology also finishes strong with John Langan's Scottish-set "Corpsemouth," the single story original to this collection. VERDICT The list of contributors, including Gemma Files, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Adam L.G. Nevill, and Kim Newman, will be enough to get horror fans excited. The assortment of styles means that there is a monster here for everyone's taste."
--Library Journal

"[T]he writers whose yarns appear in this collection are definitely responsible for eliciting some genuinely unsettling responses to their tales. Unsettling is a desired response for those who write and read horror fiction, and The Monstrous fulfills the desire. . . .The twenty high caliber tales in Tachyon Publications' The Monstrous delve into egregious behavior with intelligent observations. Eerie and artfully executed, the narratives are highly imaginative and chilling."
--Diabolique

"Vivid imagery and compelling narratives"
--Portland Book Review

It is the monstrous wonders that come from the intelligent minds of these authors that make this book amazing.
--Suspense Magazine

For my money, this is the official book for Halloween 2015, a collection of shadows, scales, flesh and bone that is beautiful and unsettling all at once.
--Ensuing Chapters

"If horror is your thing, you will most definitely find a lot to love here."
--Killer Nashville

"Datlow has more backed-up expertise and accumulated assets than almost any other horror/dark/weird editor in the business. It certainly shows in this collection. It's one of the most monstrous compilations around, and you may find yourself dreaming of its various manifestations for weeks or months afterwards (just not tentacled ones)."
--TeleRead

"Honestly, every story in this anthology is excel-lent. It's really a testament to Datlow's wealth of experience in the genre, and her masterful touch in edit-ing and compiling the best stories around."
--The Warbler

"Ellen Datlow presents us with yet another utterly compelling cornucopia of horrors."
--Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing

"The Monstrous is one of the most impressive themed anthologies of the year, varied in terms of theme and style, but not in quality."
--This Is Horror

"The Monstrous is one of the best collections of stories I've read in recent years. Every story in this collection shines."
--The Book Lover's Boudoir

"A must-have for every fan of horror. Highly recommended."
--Reclusive Reads

"The Monstrous will chill and darken your day in a terrifyingly sweet way. When you begin to read it, you'll most likely have problems putting it down, because all of the stories are intriguing and they may cause a few moments of unease and distress to readers. Highly recommended!"
--RisingShadows

"This anthology is thrilling and readable, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about unusual monsters."
--Paper Blog

"I highly recommend it. The twenty tales in this tome will leave you sleepless for many nights to come, and yet begging for more."
--Shattered Ravings

[There are] excellent stories in here by such authors as Peter Straub, Brian Hodge, Dale Bailey, and Kim Newman. Each story is horrific, touching, dark-it's easy to get drawn in.
--Errant Dreams

"Every story is written with mastery and the kind of originality and attention to detail that gets you into a Datlow anthology in the first place."
--Shotgun Logic

"There is something here for everyone and just about every monster."
--Fantasy Literature

"This collection has something disturbing for everyone."
--Washington Independent

"If you like horror, monster stories, or are looking for something to dip in and out of on chilly fall nights, this is a great selection. I can't rave enough about Datlow and the authors included here."
--Book Hooked Blog

"It is the monstrous worlds that come from the intelligent minds of these authors that make this book amazing."
--Suspense

"For anyone familiar with editor Datlow the short review for her recent horror anthology The Monstrous would be that it is everything you've come to expect from her superb taste and expert experience."
--Reading 1000 Lives

"For those of us who enjoy reading both horror and short stories, Ellen Datlow's new anthology, The Monstrous, is a real treat.
--The Emporia Gazette