Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - After Sundown

 

TITLE: After Sundown

AUTHOR: Anthology edited by Mark Morris

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2- week open submissions window. It is the first of what will hopefully become an annual, non-themed horroranthology of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer.  

MY THOUGHTS: Oh please let this be an annual thing.  This is definitely one of the best anthologies I've read in a long time.  Morris and Flame Tree Press did a great job of gathering some of the today's most popular names and adding a few new names to the bunch.  The result, a great collection of horror tales which I could simply not read fast enough.

I always find it hard to review anthologies but not in this case.  Many of the names you will recognize - C.J. Tudor, Grady Hendrix, Laura Purcell, Ramsey Cambell and Tim Lebbon to just name a few.  If that isn't enough to grab your attention, then I don't know what is.  In fact, if Morris could have added Hunter Shea to the collection, then I think it would have been as close to perfect as possible.  I think it's hard to rate an anthology a 5/5 because I can 't imagine every tale of the 20 to be a 5 star read.  However, this is as close as I've seen in ages.  Let me mention a few of my faves.

First there is Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor.  I've had some difficulty with Tudor's full-length novels in the past but this is a story which I wish had been a complete novel.  I loved the sarcasm and wit of the MC and narrator and while I wasn't thrilled with the ending, it still remains one of my faves.  

Next is Tim Lebbon's story, Research.  This is an author I have loved in the past and this tale is no exception. It takes a deep look into a horror writer's mind.  And oh are the inner workings truly remarkable.  

And finally I have to mention Bokeh by Thana Niveau. This author is certainly new to me but she only confirms what I always suspected - never trust a fairy.

If you are looking for a wonderful collection to add to your shelf, then look no further.  I've only mentioned a few of the gems held between the cover but there is so much more for you to discover.  If you love short story collections, then this is one you won't want to miss!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Mark Morris has written and edited almost forty novels, novellas, short story collections and anthologies. His recent work includes the official movie tie-in novelizations of The Great Wall and (co-written with Christopher Golden) The Predator, the Obsidian Heart trilogy (The Wolves of London, The Society of Blood and The Wraiths of War), the anthologies New Fears (winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Anthology)and New Fears 2 and many more.