The Monstrous

?Superstar editor Datlow makes no missteps...."?Publishers WeeklyTake a terrifying journey with literary masters of suspense, including Peter Straub, Kim Newman, and Caitlín R. Kiernan, visiting a place where the other is somehow one of us. These electrifying tales redefine monsters from mere things that go bump in the night to inexplicable, deadly reflections of our day-to-day lives. Whether it's a seemingly devoted teacher, an obsessive devotee of swans, or a diner full of evil creatures simply seeking oblivion, the monstrous is always there?and much closer than it appears.

Publishers Weekly, starred review

“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.”

Library Journal

“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.”

Diabolique

“[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.”

Portland Book Review

“Vivid imagery and compelling narratives”

Suspense Magazine

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

Ensuing Chapters

"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."

Killer Nashville

“If horror is your thing, you will most definitely find a lot to love here.”

TeleRead

“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).”

The Warbler

“Honestly, every story in this anthology is excel­lent. It’s really a testament to Datlow’s wealth of experience in the genre, and her masterful touch in edit­ing and compiling the best stories around.”

Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing

“Ellen Datlow presents us with yet another utterly compelling cornucopia of horrors.”

This Is Horror

“The Monstrous is one of the most impressive themed anthologies of the year, varied in terms of theme and style, but not in quality.”

The Book Lover’s Boudoir

“The Monstrous is one of the best collections of stories I’ve read in recent years. Every story in this collection shines.”

Reclusive Reads

“A must-have for every fan of horror. Highly recommended.”

RisingShadows

“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!”

Paper Blog

“This anthology is thrilling and readable, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to read about unusual monsters.”

Shattered Ravings

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

Errant Dreams

"[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."

Shotgun Logic

“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.”

Fantasy Literature

“There is something here for everyone and just about every monster.”

Washington Independent

“This collection has something disturbing for everyone.”

Book Hooked Blog

“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.”

Suspense

“It is the monstrous worlds that come from the intelligent minds of these authors that make this book amazing.”

Reading 1000 Lives

“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.”

The Emporia Gazette

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

About the Author

Peter Straub lives in New York City. Ten-time World Fantasy Award?winner Ellen Datlow is one of horror’s most acclaimed editors. Datlow was the fiction editor of OMNI for nearly 20 years and also edited the magazines Event Horizon and Sci Fiction. Her many best selling anthologies include the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror series; Snow White, Blood Red; Lovecraft's Monsters; Naked City, and Darkness. She has won multiple Hugo, Locus, and Shirley Jackson awards and has received several lifetime achievement awards, including the Bram Stoker. Datlow lives in New York City.

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