Johnny Mains has resurrected his annual collection of short stories for the Best British Horror 2018 edition.  This volume contains seventeen tales that are truly eclectic and prioritize classic horror themes of irony and psychological dread over gore.  Settings span from gothic 19^th century to futuristic science fiction, urban to isolated locales. The collection has something to please all horror fans: haunted houses, cursed objects, Lovecraftian creatures, doppelgangers, ghosts and transfigured humans.  As in any collection, there are stronger and weaker entries, but each selection has obviously been curated with care-making Best British Horror 2018 a chilling and worthwhile read from beginning to end.

Thanks to Library Thing and NewCon Press for an ARC of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

Rat's rat's Everywhere!...

For a city worker like Me I often sit on the tube and imagine what is under us on the tube... Or Even below us in London in the sewage system's. I mean everyone Knows rats love the sewers and old derelict houses. Places were people don't necessary live. This book put's The what if?? into total perspective.

For millions of years man and rats had been natural enemies. But now for the first time - suddenly, shockingly, horribly - the balance of power had shifted and the rats began to prey on the human population.

James Herbert I salute you, Yet again since I've read the fog you have yet again come up with an other classic! I love his style and his chars. The fact I know Most of the place's and location's he writes in his book's, Is just awesome! it's honestly so cool when you know you have such a good horror author on your own little island cause England is just that.

He wrote 3 book's in this Series.

1.the Rat's.

2.The lair.

3.Domain.

Give them a read well worth it!

P.s if you don't like rat's i wouldn't advise to read this ;o)

With copies seemingly hard to come by on this side of the pond, I was fortunate to be offered an ARC of Best British Horror 2014 for review. I'm always up for discovering some new horror, and there's something about the British flavor of the genre that always appeals to me, so I was eager to see what kind of authors and stories Johnny Mains pulled together.

Much to my surprise, the more recognizable authors who drew me into the anthology were actually some of the weakest reads for me. Maybe it's a case of being too familiar with their work, I don't know, but it was the authors who were new to me whom I seemed to enjoy the most.

Ian Hunter got things off to a great start with Exploding Raphaelesque Heads, a story of life imitating art, and the sacrifices we're willing to make in the name of perfection.John Llewellyn Probert offers up a creepy tale of parasitic infections and Cthulhu inspired horrors in The Secondary Host, with an ending that's as gruesome as it is cruelly enjoyable. Gary Fry, the one recognizable author to stand out for me, distinguishes himself with Biofeedback, a story that's exceedingly simple on the surface, requiring you to read between the lines, but which is told in a novel sort of manner.

Adam Nevill offers up a tale called Doll Hands that revisits familiar tropes, but which manages to keep post-apocalyptic cannibalism interesting. Thana Niveau was a definite favorite for me, with Guinea Pig Girl offering an interesting look at Japanese torture porn, personal obsession, and unexpected consequences. Elizabeth Stottwas another favorite, inviting us to Touch Me With Your Cold, Hard Fingers, a story that puts a fantastic twist on jealousy, sex dolls, and revenge.

The Arse-Licker by Stephen Volk is a complete gross-out that exploits the darkest side of office politics to make the corporate arse-licking truly earn his brand. Someone To Watch Over You was an old fashioned sort of ghost story, creepy and unsettling, with Marie O'Regan mixing a little sorrow in with her horror. With characters named Cecelia J. Burden and Andrew Blithe, Namesake was an interesting tale from V.H. Leslie that indulges in its own word-play. Wrapping things up for me, The Magician Kelso Dennett by Stephen Volk was a great story about a small town that's seen better days, until a Criss Angel type magician returns home to film the greatest stunt ever . . . one that ends 40 days later with a great twist.

Johnny Mains has done a great job here of mixing authors, genres, and styles, offering up a Best British Horror 2014 anthology that has a little bit to offer for every fan of the genre. 

I'm participating in an evening of ghost and horror stories tonight at the Jenny Lind, Hastings, East Sussex, England.

There'll be other authors, too, including Jonathan Broughton.

If you're there, say hello. :-)