2024 the best horror 2023 review
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(as of Dec 06, 2024 11:10:09 UTC - Details)
It was a killer year for horror fiction of the harder kind. Authors, editors, and publishers presented readers with some startling works of horrific imagination, stories graphic in the extreme yet with subtleties suggesting larger meanings, tales that explore humanity by plumbing depths of soulless inhumanity and, in some cases, outright depravity. The stories here represent the best of them, disturbing tales that dig deep and take you into the dark heart of horror itself, unrelenting and unapologetic.
“So Sings the Siren”, by Annie Neugebauer, takes us onto a dark fantasy stage for a one-night-only performance of mythological torture. Ryan Harding’s “Junk” gets right to the hardcore stuff with the ultimate dick-pic horror tale. Robert Levy’s “The Cenacle” is a literary cemetery feast you may have a hard time stomaching (Tums won’t save you). Luciano Marano made his first pro sell when he sold “Burnt” to DOA III, and the tale has its own fiery fetishistic twist. Tim Waggoner’s “Til Death” is Lovecraftian post-apocalypse horror at its absolute best. “Letter from Hell” comes with that special delivery you only get from Matt Shaw. Dani Brown gets down and very dirty in her “Theatrum Mortuum”, which may be the most extreme thing you hear all year. In “Bernadette”, Ramiro Perez de Pereda gets medieval in his tale of a djinn summoned by a desperate priest. Brian Hodge takes you on a trip to Mexico you will never forget in “West of Matamoros, North of Hell”.Bracken MacLeod’s “Reprising Her Role” takes us behind the scenes of a porno snuff film for a gut-wrenching reprisal and unexpected bonus footage. A real-life death threat inspired Doug Ford’s “The Watcher”, and we think it shows. “Scratching from the Outer Darkness” showcases Tim Curran’s descriptive prowess and gives you a tale of hardcore Cthulhu mythos. Brace yourself when Adam Howe’s “Foreign Bodies” takes you deep into the bowels of a nasty abyss. Sean Patrick Hazlett introduces us to “Adramelech”, an ancient demon with a taste for broiled children. Scott Smith (A Simple Plan and The Ruins) wraps up this year’s fat package of the hard stuff in a big bloody bow with “The Dogs”. The canines in this tale are not "man’s best friend" variety, nor are they woman’s besties, as you will see. And many more!
Thanks for coming along into this year’s heart of hardcore darkness. We hope to see you on the other side.
Reviewer: steven gibson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: "Hardcore Horror 3." *Tales Forged In The Flames Of The Abyss.*
Review: "Hardcore Horror Volume 3", Is Back With a Vigilance." Taking You On a Tour Into Carnage,Madness,and Horrors From a Dark,Grim,Hellscrape. Includes Tales,"Til Death",By Tim Waggoner,"Letter From Hell",By Matt Shaw,"Burnt",By Luciano Marano","Adramelech",By Sean Patrick Hazlett","Break",By Glenn Gray",and Many Other Horrors Of Blood and Carnage. Each Tale Is Unique,and Told By Many Different Authors In This Anthology./Note/Introduction By Randy Chandler and Cheryl Mullenax,and Book Includes Authors Story Notes and Bios. "A Horror Extreme Mustread."
Reviewer: Scott A. Bradley
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Visceral Viscera Visions
Review: If you are a connoisseur of the darker and grittier side of horror, I highly recommend this anthology series. The stories in this volume cover a wide swath of tones and styles and I was quite impressed by some of the subject matter.Some stories are as fast and abrupt as the recoil of a pistol, and others creep like a fog and patiently wait to spring the trap on the reader.There are no throwaway stories in this volume, but there are those that I personally feel stand out. The very first story, "So Sings The Siren" by Annie Neugebauer, sets the stage that this collection is not going to be an unimaginative bloodbath but that the carnage would be hard-earned. The story is truly horrible-beautiful.Some of the stories show their hybrid vigor by mixing science fiction horror, like Nathan Ballingrud's "The Maw", which reminded me of the dark fantasy works of Harlan Ellison.There is a great, simple story in Glenn Gray's "Break" that is gleefully a cross between Roald Dahl and Stephen King and gleefully makes you wiggle your toes with the nastiness within its paragraphs.If you want a straightforward lesson in the art of dread and violent payoff, look no further than Brian Hodge's "West of Matamoros, North of Hell." The suspense and the set up of the story is masterclass stuff.Last but not least, is Scott Smith's "The Dogs", which will have you saying to yourself, "oh, he's not going to go thereâ¦" And, of course, he does. This may be one of the most upsetting stories of the year. I highly recommend all four of the volumes of this anthology series to those who want original and thought-provoking ideas and aren't afraid to get a little bloody to experience them.
Reviewer: reading addict
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Just ok
Review: My favorite was the last story The dogs.I am not a fan of mini stories but thought I would try this book on therecommendations. If you are hardcore horror, pass.
Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Extreme
Review: Loved it! Extreme horror, great authors..enjoyed a bedtime story everynite..sleep like a baby bound to a bbq being eaten by rats..being eaten by cats..being eaten by dogs..centipede formation.
Reviewer: janiec
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Morbid Assortment
Review: Volume 3 of Year's Best Hardcore Horror has something for anyone who loves the genre. There is plenty of body horror, though some of it was a bit much for me. Demons, a djinni, and an aberrant monstrosity in a hotel closet will satisfy those with a craving for monsters and otherworldly forces. There is surreal and cosmic horror to be found to stimulate the imagination. Not all of these stories were for me, but I greatly enjoyed others.My favorites:The Maw - by Nathan Ballingrud, master of atmosphere and emotion.West of Matamoros, North of Hell - by Brian Hodge, who paints the darkest picture.Foreign Bodies - by Adam Howe, who puts humor in all the right places.The Dogs - by Scott Smith. If you go home with someone and they have dogs, make a dash for the night table. Trust me.
Reviewer: David Lange
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: It is Hard, It is Awesome 🙂
Review: Worth purchasing. Cool stories I hadn't read before, hardcore without being completely revolting... just revolting enough. Love it!
Reviewer: Dona Murphy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Brace Yourself - Not for the Weak
Review: Great, cringe-worthy horror - did not disappoint!
Reviewer: Cynthia Steward
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Chilling to the bone!
Review: This is a fantastic edition to an awesome series! Out of all the stories, I liked "Bernadette" by Ramiro Perez de Pereda the most. Randy Chandler and Cheryl Mullenax really know horror! Watch out though, these stores really are hardcore and not for the faint of heart like it says right in the title.
Reviewer: BenWReviews
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: While this doesn't meet the same stomach-worrying levels that the first two volumes did, this anthology series is fast becoming my preference for not just the year's best hardcore horror, but the year's best horror in general. It covers a wide range of styles, even bringing in crime and fantasy elements alongside the more gloopy horror and outright troubling stories.If you're sick of the older style of year's best horror collections, this will be a great addition to your collection.