Open All Night

by Eirik Gumeny (editor), J.A.W. McCarthy, Danger Slater

The witching hour. The graveyard shift. Whether it's ghosts and gremlins or simply folks with nowhere else to go, the middle of the night has never been for the faint of heart. But what happens when the ones only there for the paycheck bump into the ones out for blood?

Midnight turns the normal strange and makes the strange normal. Within these pages, you'll find diners and doppelgangers and dead sisters, old gods and creatures of the night coming to hurt -- and help -- in equal measure.

Featuring 17 stories of retail horror from J.A.W. McCarthy, Danger Slater, Lydia Bugg, Nathan Crowder, Megan Kiekel Anderson, Russ Bickerstaff, Tom Brennan, Laura Garrison, Shanna Germain, Elena Greer, Rik Hoskin, L.S. Johnson, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Steve Loiaconi, Zachary Rosenberg, Bailee Smith-Garcia, and Patrick Tumblety. Edited by Eirik Gumeny.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

210 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Eirik Gumeny is the [insert superlatives here] author of BEGGARS WOULD RIDE and the cult-favorite EXPONENTIAL APOCALYPSE series. He's written for Cracked, WIRED, Nerdist, SYFY, a couple of medical textbooks and even the New York Times once.

Born with cystic fibrosis, Eirik still has cystic fibrosis, because that's how genetic diseases work. In 2014, he received a double lung transplant and technically died a little. He got better.

Forged in the suburban sprawl of northeastern New Jersey, Eirik currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he regularly has to fight giant atomic ants with a flamethrower. Follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his newsletter for updates.

Reviews

[Cassia Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the horror anthology ‘Greater Than His Nature’ compiled by the same editor, I was eager to check out another anthology, ‘Open All Night’.

Full disclosure – I’m not a horror fan. I scare easily, I shudder at lurid, gory details, I go out of my way to avoid reading anything with violence in it. And yet, I was completely captivated by this collection.

Yes, I’m a fan of the short story form. When done well, a short story is a small but perfect gift, lovingly made, artfully presented, and deeply satisfying. My gratitude is to both the talented authors and the editor (because flawless writing only comes with meticulous editing).

As a reader, I’m looking for something other than an adrenaline rush. I’m looking for deeper meaning, for beauty, for something memorable. Am I insane to look for all that in horror? Apparently not, for more than a few stories in 'Open All Night' managed to deliver at least part of what I was looking for.

'Factor Fifty' and 'Night Customers' remind us of who the real monsters are. 'Always Hiring' shows us how thin the line really is between the oppressor and the oppressed. 'The Clown and the Chalupa' (a delightful breeze to read) sparkles with wit and moxie. 'Ed’s Worm Hole' shows us what it’s like when the tables are turned. 'The Clover Café' is an unexpectedly moving tribute to slasher movies, to all those smart girls who survived when the ‘too stupid to live’ characters did not.

Making a reader care about a protagonist in a short story takes considerable skill, especially when the author elicits not just sympathy but empathy from the reader. So many stories in this collection manage to do this, notably 'Open All Night' with its vulnerable protagonist and its poignant dream-like sequences.

Last in the anthology is 'Closing Time' - a beautiful, deeply moving, and utterly memorable story. It reminds us that we will never really know everything we want to know. Perhaps Life is not meant to be fully understood but fully experienced - heartache and beauty, good and bad, learning and forgetting, loving and forgiving. And at some point, we must yield and surrender to the unknown, and it need not be as fearsome as we’d imagined all along.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interestingly themed collection of horror stories

There's a wide variety of stories here, from Vampires, Ghosts and Evil clowns to some more existential horrors like doppelgangers, cosmic entities and deals with the devil

As always with an anthology there are a wide variety of stories here, most of which I enjoyed with only a few failing to hit the mark.

Highlights for me would be

Factor Fifty by Tom Brennan

Night Customers by Zachary Rosenberg

Always Hiring by Lydia Bugg

The Clown and the Chalupa by Steve Loiaconi

Cherry Boy by Danger Slater

Closing Time by Shanna Germain

With 17 stories in the collection there will be something for any horror fan

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the book and settled in for a good read. What I didn't expect was to have an epic collection of great stories. One of the standouts was "The Last Sunday" by Patrick Tumblety. As I started reading I thought I knew where it was going but then I went down a fabulous rabbit hole. At the end I wanted to grab someone, make them sit and read it.

The first story, "Not Working" took me a minute to get but once I did I really appreciated the writing. All these stories explore the out-of-step worlds of night and working. We know this world, whether it is in the downtown core, like in "Closing Time" or a place that no one can see except the very desperate, like "Night Customers". There are so many well crafted, and original tales that I give this five stars.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. It was quite a slow read for me, as some of the stories were really not my bag, but some were just wonderful. Star rating is my average from all the stories in the book.

Not Working: Er... I'm not sure what I just read. It was written as though it was meant to confuse, in a way that thought itself grander than it was. I didn't really get it. I read it again, just in case, but that didn't much help. Are they androids? I really don't know. 1/5

Factor Fifty: I think I am perhaps irrationally frustrated by the following extract: "“I need something for the sun, Miss.” He had a slight accent, nothing too heavy. He flattened his as, made them sound like es." There are no as in that sentence! This irked me a lot, and as I said, probably more than it deserved, but it just felt silly. That being said, it was a very cute story. I thought it was a bit odd that the protagonist identified the customer as a vampire straight away, but was unperturbed by this... 3/5

The Last Sunday: I loved this. It was brilliantly written; dark and sad. I do not understand what is meant by the last line and I would love an explanation if anyone can offer one, but otherwise, I thought this story was great. I liked the dystopian atmosphere and the humanity of trying to defeat impossible foes. 5/5

Night Customers: This was such fun! I learned a little about Judaism and got a rather charming horror story too. 5/5

Whispers in the Dark: Meh. I found this story a little boring, and very anticlimactic. It was well-set and I was into it at the beginning, but the plot lost me. The characters had some interesting things about them and perhaps a full-length story could have done them justice, but this did not hit its mark for me. 2/5

Drained: This was a weird little story and I did not find it particularly enjoyable. Normally I like stories that are based around games, but this one did not grip me at all. A shame. 1.5/5

Stripped Down: Nope. Very quick and boring. If you search Rock DJ on YouTube you can get a more entertaining version of this with a great song alongside. 1/5

Always Hiring: This one was kind of fun, kind of disappointing. I love the concept; I did not love the execution. 2/5

Closing Shift: Either this anthology is in a bit of a slump or I'm very hard to please, but this story didn't thrill me either. It was alright, but I found the imagery confusing and couldn't figure out what I was meant to be picturing. I didn't hate it; I'm just not really moved in any way. 2.5/5

King Corn: So many of these stories just make me feel bemused. I mean... What?! I liked the corn facts guy. 2/5

The Clown and the Chalupa: And we are back! This story was really fun. It had laugh-out-loud humour, some fascinating clown lore, and characters with enough backstory and personality that I was rooting for them immediately. Big fan. 5/5

Ed's Worm Hole: I felt like too many things were thrown into this short story for it to really stand out - too many characters to care about. 2/5

Cherry Boy: This started off funny, and then just seemed bizarre. Not a fan, really. 2/5

Meaningless Flesh: This was pretty intense. It made me feel atypically squeamish to read! I liked the relationship between Anne and Caroline; didn't love the story. 2.5/5

The Clover Cafe: I really enjoyed this celebration of final girls. The story took an unexpected turn which was an excellent choice. 4/5

Open All Night: Here's another one I didn't understand. Shame. I liked the authorial style though. 2/5

Closing Time: This one was so sweet! I really liked the way the dark concepts were used for such a gentle story. It felt kind of comforting. A lovely ending. 4.5/5

[Naito Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Open All Night" offers a mixed bag of horror tales that will surely leave readers with a chill down their spine. Upon the recommendation of a fellow author who hailed it as the best in the genre, I decided to delve into this anthology despite not being a regular reader of such collections. What I found was a varied assortment of stories, some of which were truly gripping while others failed to leave a lasting impression.

The anthology excels in its exploration of the recurring theme of night shifts and jobs, providing a fascinating backdrop for the horrors that unfold. Standout stories such as "Night Customers," "Always Hiring," "Closing Shift," "Closing Time," "Open All Night," and "The Clover Cafe" captivated me with their eerie atmospheres and well-crafted narratives. These tales skillfully tapped into the primal fears that lurk in the shadows, leaving me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

However, not all stories hit the mark, with some falling flat and leaving me indifferent to the fate of their protagonists. In fact, there were instances where I found myself actively rooting for the demise of certain characters due to their irritating traits. It became evident that the writing styles of the contributing authors varied greatly, with some displaying a mastery of the craft while others seemed to be still finding their footing.

Despite its shortcomings, the anthology maintains a sense of cohesion thanks to its recurring theme and the consistently high quality of certain stories. After the first few tales, I found myself anticipating the twists and turns that awaited me, and I was not disappointed.

In conclusion, "Open All Night" is a worthwhile read for horror enthusiasts looking to discover new voices in the genre. While not every story may hit the mark, the standout contributions more than make up for any shortcomings, leaving readers with an overall satisfying experience.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy.
This anthology really surprised me. I only recognized a couple of the author's names, but I love a good themed anthology. An anthology about late night workplaces really appealed to me and I'm glad I picked it up. The quality of the writing here is excellent and I found a few new authors to check out.

Not Working by Russ Bickerstaff ⭐⭐⭐
Factor Fifty by Tom Brennan ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Last Sunday by Patrick Tumblety ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Night Customers by Zachary Rosenberg ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Whispers in the Dark by Bailee Smith-Garcia ⭐⭐⭐
Drained by Megan Kiekel Anderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stripped Down by Rik Hoskin ⭐⭐⭐
Always Hiring by Lydia Bugg ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Closing Shift by Elena Greer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
King Corn by Nathan Crowder ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Clown and the Chalupa by Steve Loiaconi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ed's Worm Hole by Laura Garrison ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cherry Boy by Danger Slater ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Meaningless Flesh by J.A.W. McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Clover Café by Amanda Cecelia Lang ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Open All Night by L.S. Johnson ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Closing Time by Shannon Germain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[s ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot! I first heard about it on Twitter because a friend of mine is in it (shoutout to El! loved their story so much), but I found myself enjoying the others too. Definitely recommend for anyone who loves the weird late-night atmosphere, all the stories captured it so well. There honestly isn't much else to say because it's great, go read it, and go in blind.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of interesting, fun stories here, some of which grabbed me more so than others. Night Customers, Closing Shift and Ed's Worm Hole were my favourites. I remember a Stephen King quote that said if he couldn't get the scare, he'd settle for a gross out, and some of that applies to a few stories here as well. Overall definitely worth a read for my fellow horror junkies.

Thanks to the authors and Booksirens for providing me an advanced copy.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I loved all these short stories especially Germain’s, Bickerstaff’s, and Slater’s. They were creepy and spooky in so many different ways.

ARC from BookSiren

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Bronte Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this for free via Book Sirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This is a generous and interesting collection on the whole with quite a few stories whose authors I will be looking out for in future. Particular favourites were :

Factor Fifty by Tom Brennan

The Last Sunday by Patrick Tumblety

Night Customers by Zachary Rosenberg

Closing Shift by Elena Greer

Open All Night by LS Johnson and

Closing Time by Shanna Germain….

all names whose other work I'll be searching for.

I also enjoyed The Clown and the Chalupa by Steve Loiaconi which reads as possibly being part of or a precursor to a series. It would certainly would lend itself to that and I'd be likely to read it.

There are a couple which I felt might benefit from tighter editing to make them move at a better pace but which had original and engaging premises.

Only a couple really disappointed.

Drained is basically a rehash of Stephen King's short story "Battleground" and Meaningless Flesh was, for me, a meaningless story that I found silly, protracted and boring. I gave up on it.

So overall a very decent, large collection of stories, with more better than average offerings than usual

[Anastacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Open All Night" is a collection of stories that have to do with late night. There are waitresses, retail workers, guards, and more. The stories are excellent and varied. Ghosts, demons, killers, and more are in this anthology. Of course, there are Lovecraft monsters as well, hence the tentacle on the cover. A good anthology!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome cover and cool concept. Each story has its own kind of strange and I enjoyed them all. As a night owl myself and familiar with late shifts, I thought the book was relatable and tapped into the sacred essence of liminal spaces. I want to emphasize that I really liked all the stories, and if I had to pick a top three my personal favorites were Drained by Megan Kiekel Anderson, King Corn by Nathan Crowder, and Open All Night by L.S. Johnson.

[Winona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a copy of this one from booksirens as my first read of 2024.

I almost gave 3 stars, because several of the stories just were not that enjoyable to me. However, the ones that I enjoyed were excellent (The Clown and the Chalupa, Always Hiring, Night Customers to name a few), and the final story, "Closing Time" by Shanna Germain bounced it up to a 4 star read.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the editor and writers

This collection main theme is the hospitality industry, especially after midnight , and the various foods, both regular and exotic. The stories are original and sooooo twisted. Both the First and the Anchor books enhance the collection. I recommend this collection to horror lovers. There is something for everyone

Graphic

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What hides in the dark. The people in these stories are about to find out. Creepy read full of surprises.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be a liiiiiiittle bit bias but there are so many great stories in this collection by a multitude of talented authors.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Look forward to more from the author.