Horrible Beginnings

by Steven H. Silver (Editor / Contributor), Stefan R. Dziemianowicz (Contributor), Robert Bloch (Contributor)

The biggest names in horror and dark fantasy reach into the literary vaults and dig up their long-buried fiction debuts-with a brand new introduction to each story from the author.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 4, 2003

About the author

Steven H Silver was the editor and publisher of ISFiC Press for 8 years. He has also edited books for DAW, NESFA Press, and ZNB Books. He began publishing short fiction in 2008, with "Les Lettres des Paston. Other stories include "Big White Men--Attack!" "Well of Tranquillity," and "The Prediscovered Country." His debut novel, After Hastings, was published in 2020.

In 1995, he created the Sidewise Award for Alternate History. He is a seventeen-time Hugo Award finalist and was the publisher of the Hugo-nominated fanzine Argentus.

Reviews

[Phil Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read the first stories sold by Robert Bloch, Ramsey Campbell, F. Paul Wilson, the great Poppy Z. Bright and many others whose novels I have enjoyed. I was surprised by how good some of the stories were, and how awful the others. I wondered what the editors of the magazines that bought the bad stories were thinking, but then, the sale did give the writer the inspiration to continue on with their dream to be a published writer.
Well worth the read, if not for the very good stories, then at least the bad ones will inspire someone else to contiue with their writing, because if this guy can have a writing career starting with this piece of crap, I can surely make a go of it with the beautiful gems I crank out.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the concept of this anthology far too much to give it any less than five stars. Getting to see the jumping off point for so many successful careers is cool any way you cut it. Is every story a winner? No, of course not, I'm editing some of my own early work now and it's a wonder the editors didn't take me out to shoot me to put me out of my reader's misery. But it is SO cool seeing the building blocks of these future careers and seeing what it took to get to that magical first sale. Some of the stories ARE absolute crackers, and even those that aren't, hint at what was to come. Just a cool anthology any way you cut it.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cool concept. The editors contacted some of the best horror authors out there and asked for their first sold horror stories, along with an introduction to each of how it happened and their mindsets now. I loved it. As a budding author myself, hearing the stories of these guys that I personally look up to struggling to strive and eventually making it brings hope to my heart despite the fear that their stories inject me with. I'll definitely reread this one in the future.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Contains around twenty stories - the first ones they published! - by well-established authors.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly fun and enjoyable.

Some of these stories are, well, horrible. Awkward and melodramatic, ("Amymone's Footsteps") or remarkably dated, ("They Only Come in Dreams") the worst offerings made me cringe. The good ones, however, were stultifying--Poppy Z. Brite's story, "Optional Music for Voice and Piano" was truly excellent, and she was only eighteen when it was published!

Although some of the shorter shorts in here were some of the best, (like Yvonne Navarro's "Surprise Fall") I was also surprised by how timid, even weak, a couple of offerings by future masters were. Robert Bloch's piece, "Lilies," is an example of that (a barely-there retelling of the classic 'it was a ghost after all' kind of horror fic.) I can't believe that story came from the same brain that later produced the brilliant "Sweets to the Sweet" and Psycho.

Horrible Beginnings is interesting (in an appropriately chilling way) for the gossipy details about where the authors were in their lives when they started out in their horror fic careers. (Ms. Brite disclosed that "Optional Music for Voice and Piano" was composed while she was on antibiotics for a case of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; I couldn't believe she volunteered that info.)

ETA: For those who like this book, Martin H. Greenberg also helped to publish an additional book that falls into the same sort of vein: My Favorite Horror Story. Another one of those 'what your favorite horror writers are really thinking about the genre' classics.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for what it is. If you are going in to it looking for stories of the highest quality, that is a mistake. It says right on the book that these are the first published stories of various writers. Even the best have to practice, and some of the stories in this anthology are very rough. Others, not so much. Each story is accompanied by a short intro that tells the publication tale for that particular piece. It's a reaffirmation that writing careers can progress in many different ways. Some of the authors started out writing short stories, or imitating influences. There is a heavy Lovecraftian influence upon Robert Bloch and Ramsey Campbell's pieces. But at the same time, Rick Hatula's piece is pretty polished, because he wrote it for an editor after already selling three novels. Some of the pieces are pretty loose, and it should be comforting, in a way, for beginning writers. On the other hand, you can really see the diamonds beneath the coal, and talent and the beginnings of style has a way of shining through the muck.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology,Horror