Genre: Publication.Date August 30th 2016 Pages: 512 Published By: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers Author Jonathan Maberry Scary Out There on Goodreads My review copy: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:
Multiple Bram Stoker Award–winning author Jonathan Maberry compiles more than twenty stories and poems—written by members of the Horror Writers Association—in this terrifying collection about worst fears.
What scares you? Things that go bump in the night? Being irreversibly different? A brutal early death? The unknown?
This collection contains stories and poetry by renowned writers such as R. L. Stine, Neal and Brendan Shusterman, and Ellen Hopkins—all members of the Horror Writers Association—about what they fear most. The stories include mermaids, ghosts, and personal demons, and are edited by Jonathan Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker award winner and author of the Rot & Ruin series.
(Goodreads)
You're only as good
as your word.
"All of you. Every one of you who takes a razor to your wrist or swallows too many pills. Every one of you who jumps in front of a bus. Every one of you who stands on a bridge and thinks about jumping." The boy shook his head again, his features filled with disgust. "You don't know shit about what's waiting at the bottom of that river. And if you think it means peace, then you know less than shit about it."
He likes to peer his head around the corner of doorways, make a face at you.
Why is it that the most incredible books are the hardest ones to review? I've been sitting here, at my desk, for a little over two hours now, trying to find just the right words to describe this phenomenal, heart-pounding and profoundly affecting anthology, but every sentence I write falls flat and I feel like no matter what I say, I can never do this book justice. It's just one of those books that every one has to experience for themselves, for just like Jonathan Maberry said in his introduction to the collection, fear is very personal and everyone is afraid of something different.
To me, this book is more than just a collection of exquisite horror stories. It's a beautiful reminder that we all have our demons to fight and that it's perfectly fine to be scared. Fear is very human and nothing to be ashamed of. It's there to warn us, it's there to motivate us, and as long as we don't let it control us, we can get through everything.
The SCARY OUT THERE anthology contains 21 hand-picked horror stories written by some of the most talented authors of our times. Take a look at the contents list and you'll see names like Brenna Yovanoff, Madeleine Roux, Ellen Hopkins, Carrie Ryan, R.L Stine, Kendare Blake and more. If you'd ask me about my favorite stories from this collection, I would tell you that I loved them all (and that would be true), but the ones that got to me the most were: Danny by Josh Malerman (I was seriously pissing my pants while reading this one-- alone, at night), The Old Radio by R.L.Stine (I grew up with the Fear Street, and this story was a quintessence of Stine's ability to thoroughly creep you out and leave you on edge), The Invisible Girl by Rachel Tafoya (such a powerful and meaningful story about self-harm and depression, and fear of being invisible, unimportant, forgotten..), Kendare Blakes story about bloody revenge (it can seriously turn your stomach inside out) and the so very Stephen King-ish The Boyfriend by Steve Rasnic Tem (for obvious reasons).
But to tell you the truth, each and every single one of these stories has something incredible and meaningful to offer. Some of them are pure fear-fests - like Danny! Boy oh boy, was I sweating profusely while reading this one! I even took little breaks freaking out on Twitter about it, totally stalling and not wanting to find out what happens next - or rather wanting, but not being brave enough to. It's such an intense piece of fiction, I actually went ahead and ordered the author's novel (The Bird Box) right after finishing it. I'm still trying to find it in me to crack it open, though...
At the same time, there are also stories in this collection that are more subtle and poetic, yet very powerful and important. Take Death and Twinkies. It's a story about a boy whose life is so miserable, he decides to end it, because he believes death will bring him peace. How absolutely heart-breaking, especially if you consider the fact that there are actual real teenagers and kids out there who really feel this way.
Some of these stories end on a hopeful note, some are as dark as their character's black souls, but they all have something important to say, and they were all included in this collection for a good reason. I really believe that this anthology is a must, and not only for every self-respecting horror fan, but simply for anyone who enjoys good writing, interesting stories and food-for-thought kind of reads. This is a particularly delicious box of chocolates, my friends.
To me, this book is more than just a collection of exquisite horror stories. It's a beautiful reminder that we all have our demons to fight and that it's perfectly fine to be scared. Fear is very human and nothing to be ashamed of. It's there to warn us, it's there to motivate us, and as long as we don't let it control us, we can get through everything.
The SCARY OUT THERE anthology contains 21 hand-picked horror stories written by some of the most talented authors of our times. Take a look at the contents list and you'll see names like Brenna Yovanoff, Madeleine Roux, Ellen Hopkins, Carrie Ryan, R.L Stine, Kendare Blake and more. If you'd ask me about my favorite stories from this collection, I would tell you that I loved them all (and that would be true), but the ones that got to me the most were: Danny by Josh Malerman (I was seriously pissing my pants while reading this one-- alone, at night), The Old Radio by R.L.Stine (I grew up with the Fear Street, and this story was a quintessence of Stine's ability to thoroughly creep you out and leave you on edge), The Invisible Girl by Rachel Tafoya (such a powerful and meaningful story about self-harm and depression, and fear of being invisible, unimportant, forgotten..), Kendare Blakes story about bloody revenge (it can seriously turn your stomach inside out) and the so very Stephen King-ish The Boyfriend by Steve Rasnic Tem (for obvious reasons).
But to tell you the truth, each and every single one of these stories has something incredible and meaningful to offer. Some of them are pure fear-fests - like Danny! Boy oh boy, was I sweating profusely while reading this one! I even took little breaks freaking out on Twitter about it, totally stalling and not wanting to find out what happens next - or rather wanting, but not being brave enough to. It's such an intense piece of fiction, I actually went ahead and ordered the author's novel (The Bird Box) right after finishing it. I'm still trying to find it in me to crack it open, though...
At the same time, there are also stories in this collection that are more subtle and poetic, yet very powerful and important. Take Death and Twinkies. It's a story about a boy whose life is so miserable, he decides to end it, because he believes death will bring him peace. How absolutely heart-breaking, especially if you consider the fact that there are actual real teenagers and kids out there who really feel this way.
Some of these stories end on a hopeful note, some are as dark as their character's black souls, but they all have something important to say, and they were all included in this collection for a good reason. I really believe that this anthology is a must, and not only for every self-respecting horror fan, but simply for anyone who enjoys good writing, interesting stories and food-for-thought kind of reads. This is a particularly delicious box of chocolates, my friends.
About the author:
JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and thriller author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of SCARY OUT THERE (US Only)
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