Short stories

Recently I picked up two volumes of short stories - Blood, and other cravings (a collection of short Horror fiction) and Teeth, vampire tales (a collection of short Horror fiction themed around, obviously, vampires), both edited by Ellen Datlow. My selection of these two books was not because I like to read Horror (I would generally say that I don't) but because I was curious to know just how much Horror fiction we have within the library's collection (not a lot). Searching for some good Horror authors led me to these two volumes and me being me I decided to read them.
I am so glad I have.

What makes these two volumes stand out is the superb quality of the writing. Each story is so short and so precise and flirts around the theme so cleverly that to read them is a treat. Yes, they detail the macabre and scary but you are left so enthralled by the writing and the skill of presentation that the content lies secondary to the experience. These volumes feature the work of Margo Lanagan, Kaaron Warren, Elizabeth Bear, Melissa Marr, Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix, Tanith Lee, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black among so many others. These two books are shining examples of very clever storytelling and a worthy addition to the reading lists of anyone who is entranced by the rewarding experience of reading something that has been excellently written (and are willing to step outside the themes to have that experience).

CatyJ