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Escalators to Hell: Shopping Mall Horrors
Escalators to Shopping Mall Horrors is a collection of neo-gothic tales, nostalgic yarns, capitalist monstrosities, and one stop shopping gone very wrong (or a little too right!). Featuring 22 stories by established and new horror writers from around the world examining the dark side of malls, Connor Boyle, Liam Burke, Pines Callahan, Anjum N. Choudhury, Wendy Dalrymple, Cassandra Daucus, Jude Deluca, Coyote Victoria Dembicki, Derek Des Anges, Cyrus Amelia Fisher, Lor Gislason, Eirik Gumeny, Ria Hill, Rick Hollon, Somto Ihezue, Wan Phing Lim, Angela Liu, Avra Margariti, J.A.W. McCarthy, Christi Nogle, Jennifer Lee Rossman, and J.R. Santos.
Edited by Jennifer Jeanne McArdle and Michael W. Phillips Jr. Cover art by Jessica Checkeroski.
Edited by Jennifer Jeanne McArdle and Michael W. Phillips Jr. Cover art by Jessica Checkeroski.
260 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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April 14, 2024I'm dnf'ing - these stories somehow don't speak to me. I'm surprised to find out, but it happens, what are you gonna do? Not rating.
February 20, 2024
Happy release week!
Thanks so much to the folks at From Beyond Press for letting me into the mall to review this! It'll be out February 20th.
Watch your step on the Escalators to Hell, where the contributors are as diverse as the aisles of stores, layaway means something sinister, and flickering neon tube store signs might have you seeing things you never should.
For horror fans who grew up in the aughts and earlier, I think this book will hit best; the nostalgia sucked me in like an interdimensional void. In Escalators, Sam Goody rises from its grave, Waldenbooks' corpse is unearthed, and Woolworth's is reanimated, its doors open and beckoning once more.
Everything in this is varied. Formats, from creepy diary-style epistolary to sounding like a teen horror flick straight from the 80s, the eras they take place in, the countries the malls are in, and a whole range of queer representation. There's body horror, occult and Eldritch horror, cyberpunk horror.
There were a few standout stories for me, as usual. Angelia Liu's "The Philosophical Quandaries of Meeting Your Doppelgänger in Moonshine City" had an awesome cyberpunk feel, fused with the creepy style of Japanese horror cinema. There was a tragically romantic feel to "This Place Belongs to Us" by Wendy Dalrymple that immediately lured me in. And I found myself chuckling at Coyote Victoria Dembicki's "The Basement of Crowley's Artefacts and Interests of the Occult", which brought to mind those awesome Goth stores that were sold everything from replica fantasy blades, to gargoyle statues, to intricate jewelry and incense. But Crowley's is deliciously next-level.
I think there's something for any horror fan in here, because the mall concept is just so malleable; like the empty shop front that might have been a jewelry store, then a froyo joint, and then a candle store, the possibilities are limitless.
Thanks so much to the folks at From Beyond Press for letting me into the mall to review this! It'll be out February 20th.
Watch your step on the Escalators to Hell, where the contributors are as diverse as the aisles of stores, layaway means something sinister, and flickering neon tube store signs might have you seeing things you never should.
For horror fans who grew up in the aughts and earlier, I think this book will hit best; the nostalgia sucked me in like an interdimensional void. In Escalators, Sam Goody rises from its grave, Waldenbooks' corpse is unearthed, and Woolworth's is reanimated, its doors open and beckoning once more.
Everything in this is varied. Formats, from creepy diary-style epistolary to sounding like a teen horror flick straight from the 80s, the eras they take place in, the countries the malls are in, and a whole range of queer representation. There's body horror, occult and Eldritch horror, cyberpunk horror.
There were a few standout stories for me, as usual. Angelia Liu's "The Philosophical Quandaries of Meeting Your Doppelgänger in Moonshine City" had an awesome cyberpunk feel, fused with the creepy style of Japanese horror cinema. There was a tragically romantic feel to "This Place Belongs to Us" by Wendy Dalrymple that immediately lured me in. And I found myself chuckling at Coyote Victoria Dembicki's "The Basement of Crowley's Artefacts and Interests of the Occult", which brought to mind those awesome Goth stores that were sold everything from replica fantasy blades, to gargoyle statues, to intricate jewelry and incense. But Crowley's is deliciously next-level.
I think there's something for any horror fan in here, because the mall concept is just so malleable; like the empty shop front that might have been a jewelry store, then a froyo joint, and then a candle store, the possibilities are limitless.
February 11, 2024
Sentient escalators try to form a cult and demand blood sacrifices. A demolished mall rises again with the help of some creepy fungus. Problematic customers find themselves at the business end of some hellish monstrous. These are just some of the incredibly creative stories found in this exciting new anthology by From Beyond Press.
22 stories by 22 authors, each set in a shopping mall - the physical embodiment of late stage capitalism is ripe for horror and speculative sci-fi.
I was particularly impressed with how so many themes - alienation, mental health, LGBT+ awareness, cultural appropriation and climate change were woven into many of these stories without taking away the narrative propulsion or the horror. There were a few that really got me emotional, like ‘Posers’ by Liam Burke, and ‘Onitsha Main, Ochanja, The Twins, NKpor, and the Shadows of Shoprite’ by Somto Ihezue, and Avra Margariti’s ‘How my Self finds me’ made me bawl. Kudos to Anjum Choudhury for ‘You Must Drop Buy’ which weaves climate anxiety with the horrors of mindless consumption for a story that is as funny as it is surreal. So excited for this anthology, which releases this month. Check out the From Beyond Press website to know how you can get your hands on a copy!
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March 26, 2024Escalators to Hell is an expansive and vivid homage to setting, specifically The Mall. To many, a refuge. To others, a prison. Sometimes an oasis, often a chore. In this anthology, the mall becomes even more. An afterlife. A monster. A god. These stories explore dark corners, abandoned plazas, and hidden passageways in malls of past and future. Try not to get lost in this bleak capitalist landscape. The shutters are dropping. The mall is closing soon.
December 18, 2024
Although I don't read horror as much as I used to, every October I try to find something in that genre to get in the spirit of things, even if temperatures are fifteen degrees above normal.
This anthology's theme is horror stories that have some connection to shopping malls, those dying bastions of consumerism. Not that consumerism is dead, mind you. It's that we're transitioning from roaming their vast corridors of myriad wares to surfing the digital versions on our phones and laptops. To wit, the editors thought that the demise of shopping malls would make for an excellent theme for a horror anthology. And I thought so too.
The stories cover a wide gamut of horror sub-genres, so it isn't all about gore. There's a "Content Warnings" section—something I've never seen in a horror anthology—which I thought was odd. I mean, it's horror. If your mental health is such that certain things will trigger a traumatic emotional reaction, maybe you shouldn't be reading horror. I know that there are certain aspects that I won't read because of my issues. So I guess a content warning is considerate of the editors; can one find it before purchasing it?
Author representation is quite diverse. While North American authors are present, there are stories from African and Asian authors. Also, there are many non-binary authors in this collection.
Ok, onto the stories. Of the 22 stories in this collection, I liked 15 of them. Of those that I didn't enjoy, a good deal of them were too focused on gender identity, with the mall serving as mere setting. A couple of the others were too esoteric or allegorical to connect with.
On with the good stuff! The opening story, "Hard to Be a Mall God," was excellent. It deals with a demonically possessed escalator. "The Intercessor" shows how retail associates deal with trollish customers. "Why I Won't Eat at the Food Court" is part of the Generation Dead series. It drags in some cosmic horror for teen mutant superheroes to deal with but doesn't forget to add a dash of humor. "A Plague Upon Both Our Houses" is Romeo and Juliet with Zombies in a mall. "A Quick Trip to Ryan's" delves into masochism on a whole another level. "Kim, Ray, Trey, and Morgan" delves into drugs as a mind expanding experience with a dash of cosmic horror.
Some stories confront serious matters. "You Must Drop Buy" tackles the subject of rampant materialism and false promises made by deceptive marketing. In "Poseurs," a teen girl deals with her father's suicide by re-enacting a drama with mannequins.
In case anyone feels I'm being unfair to non-binary character stories, there were good stories that had non-binary characters and authors. These stories didn't lose sight of the objective. For example, "The Basement of Crowley's Artefacts and Interests of the Occult" has some non-binary teens dealing with demonic invocation in the supply room of an odd store in the mall. "Cherry Cola Lips" features a woman reflecting on her first crush back in high school, a girl who wouldn't come out and later disappeared. Rumors are that she was murdered, but the truth is stranger.
My favorite story was the closer, "The Temple of All." Makoma is forced by ritual to take her dead husband's remains into the ancient ossuary. It's a post-apocalyptic story with a touch of Handmaid's Tale where the ultimate act of rebellion is to live.
Yes, I'm glad I read this anthology. While I wish some of the stories were better, the good stories made it worth the price and my time.
Full Disclosure: I backed this book on Kickstarter and received a digital copy as a reward.
This anthology's theme is horror stories that have some connection to shopping malls, those dying bastions of consumerism. Not that consumerism is dead, mind you. It's that we're transitioning from roaming their vast corridors of myriad wares to surfing the digital versions on our phones and laptops. To wit, the editors thought that the demise of shopping malls would make for an excellent theme for a horror anthology. And I thought so too.
The stories cover a wide gamut of horror sub-genres, so it isn't all about gore. There's a "Content Warnings" section—something I've never seen in a horror anthology—which I thought was odd. I mean, it's horror. If your mental health is such that certain things will trigger a traumatic emotional reaction, maybe you shouldn't be reading horror. I know that there are certain aspects that I won't read because of my issues. So I guess a content warning is considerate of the editors; can one find it before purchasing it?
Author representation is quite diverse. While North American authors are present, there are stories from African and Asian authors. Also, there are many non-binary authors in this collection.
Ok, onto the stories. Of the 22 stories in this collection, I liked 15 of them. Of those that I didn't enjoy, a good deal of them were too focused on gender identity, with the mall serving as mere setting. A couple of the others were too esoteric or allegorical to connect with.
On with the good stuff! The opening story, "Hard to Be a Mall God," was excellent. It deals with a demonically possessed escalator. "The Intercessor" shows how retail associates deal with trollish customers. "Why I Won't Eat at the Food Court" is part of the Generation Dead series. It drags in some cosmic horror for teen mutant superheroes to deal with but doesn't forget to add a dash of humor. "A Plague Upon Both Our Houses" is Romeo and Juliet with Zombies in a mall. "A Quick Trip to Ryan's" delves into masochism on a whole another level. "Kim, Ray, Trey, and Morgan" delves into drugs as a mind expanding experience with a dash of cosmic horror.
Some stories confront serious matters. "You Must Drop Buy" tackles the subject of rampant materialism and false promises made by deceptive marketing. In "Poseurs," a teen girl deals with her father's suicide by re-enacting a drama with mannequins.
In case anyone feels I'm being unfair to non-binary character stories, there were good stories that had non-binary characters and authors. These stories didn't lose sight of the objective. For example, "The Basement of Crowley's Artefacts and Interests of the Occult" has some non-binary teens dealing with demonic invocation in the supply room of an odd store in the mall. "Cherry Cola Lips" features a woman reflecting on her first crush back in high school, a girl who wouldn't come out and later disappeared. Rumors are that she was murdered, but the truth is stranger.
My favorite story was the closer, "The Temple of All." Makoma is forced by ritual to take her dead husband's remains into the ancient ossuary. It's a post-apocalyptic story with a touch of Handmaid's Tale where the ultimate act of rebellion is to live.
Yes, I'm glad I read this anthology. While I wish some of the stories were better, the good stories made it worth the price and my time.
Full Disclosure: I backed this book on Kickstarter and received a digital copy as a reward.
April 7, 2024
I have enjoyed reading this book immensely. The creativity with regard to the content and the craft and language shown by the writers have been both inspiring and eye-opening. All the stories are unique and will leave lingering impressions long after you have finished reading them, depending on readers' individual preferences of course, which can vary immensely from person to person. I am so impressed and in awe of all the stories but my personal favourites are (in chronological order):
A Gift for the Bitch-a deliciously horrific spin on the dilemma of getting a present;
A Quick Trip To Ryan's-I think it really drives home the message the things one is prepared to lose for the ultimate headrush;
Posers-using mannequins as part of the setting and also as (plot device?) is inventive and makes for a wonderful read;
The Silver Sneakers-the sentences just read beautifully to me, the cadence and the rhythm just made me hang onto every word and it was such a delight from start to finish. What a rare treat;
Closing Time-I enjoyed reading the description of the abandoned mall and the hidden dangers, and the characters' struggle;
The Philosophical Quandaries of Meeting Your Doppelganger-it was emotional, intentional and fantastical, all at the same time, plus seamless inclusion of Pokemon is always a plus. It led me from start to finish in a delightful manner;
Let's Go and Sit by the Pool-there are so many things I like about this story I don't know where to begin. I think it's the vividness that strikes me most, and the word choice, that keeps me invested in a pleasurable way from start to finish, I was hooked and did not tire once. The important details are fleshed out so well, creatively and so effortlessly, and there's a balance between different aspects of the writing that every sentence feels new, refreshing, exciting. The writing style is very distinctive as well, it feels visual and lyrical. Perhaps it is poetic painting, perhaps it's cinematic poetry, perhaps it's both. Plenty of memorable quotes too, short, powerful, brilliant. To sum it up, in the words of the enigmatic mannequin, 'ten out of ten';
Cherry Cola Lips-From the title, to the plot, to the characters, and language, this story feels perfect. There are a few twists, and the hints are right there from the start. I love the mix of romance and (body?) horror, how love can be all-consuming, the word choice, the well-crafted internal and external world, if the previous story was more external (I think?), then this feels more internal (?), it feels masterful;
Onitsha Main, Ochanja, The Twins, Nkpor and the Shadows of Shoprite (it was written in a matter-of-fact manner that feels very real, and I suppose in a way, it is, the relationship between small stores and giant malls, tradition and modernity, how greed can consume everything, betrayal-very real, very true, and the eating scene feels delicious (!); This Place Belongs to Us-short and sweet and well-crafted, it made me reminisce and nostalgic and identify with the protagonist, to yearn for the past, no matter the consequences;
How Myself Finds Me- this is a perfect example of how horror can be healing, what a gem;
The Temple of All-it's a wonderfully written story about an age-old, unjustified tradition being subverted, wrong being righted, justice being served.
I wish there was more I could write about the stories, and I apologise if my opinion or lack of opinion does not do enough justice to them. All the stories warrant a second reading, if not more; they are well written, complex and there is always something juicy to be found: a morsel of truth, a slice of culture, a wave of emotion. It reminds me how fiction can be both empowering and liberating. And one thing I haven't found in any book I have come across, (I probably haven't read enough but still...) there are mentions of dimple and its beauty and significance, and I am glad to have read that. Last but not least, if I can write like any of the writers in this anthology, I think I will be very happy. Thank you.
A Gift for the Bitch-a deliciously horrific spin on the dilemma of getting a present;
A Quick Trip To Ryan's-I think it really drives home the message the things one is prepared to lose for the ultimate headrush;
Posers-using mannequins as part of the setting and also as (plot device?) is inventive and makes for a wonderful read;
The Silver Sneakers-the sentences just read beautifully to me, the cadence and the rhythm just made me hang onto every word and it was such a delight from start to finish. What a rare treat;
Closing Time-I enjoyed reading the description of the abandoned mall and the hidden dangers, and the characters' struggle;
The Philosophical Quandaries of Meeting Your Doppelganger-it was emotional, intentional and fantastical, all at the same time, plus seamless inclusion of Pokemon is always a plus. It led me from start to finish in a delightful manner;
Let's Go and Sit by the Pool-there are so many things I like about this story I don't know where to begin. I think it's the vividness that strikes me most, and the word choice, that keeps me invested in a pleasurable way from start to finish, I was hooked and did not tire once. The important details are fleshed out so well, creatively and so effortlessly, and there's a balance between different aspects of the writing that every sentence feels new, refreshing, exciting. The writing style is very distinctive as well, it feels visual and lyrical. Perhaps it is poetic painting, perhaps it's cinematic poetry, perhaps it's both. Plenty of memorable quotes too, short, powerful, brilliant. To sum it up, in the words of the enigmatic mannequin, 'ten out of ten';
Cherry Cola Lips-From the title, to the plot, to the characters, and language, this story feels perfect. There are a few twists, and the hints are right there from the start. I love the mix of romance and (body?) horror, how love can be all-consuming, the word choice, the well-crafted internal and external world, if the previous story was more external (I think?), then this feels more internal (?), it feels masterful;
Onitsha Main, Ochanja, The Twins, Nkpor and the Shadows of Shoprite (it was written in a matter-of-fact manner that feels very real, and I suppose in a way, it is, the relationship between small stores and giant malls, tradition and modernity, how greed can consume everything, betrayal-very real, very true, and the eating scene feels delicious (!); This Place Belongs to Us-short and sweet and well-crafted, it made me reminisce and nostalgic and identify with the protagonist, to yearn for the past, no matter the consequences;
How Myself Finds Me- this is a perfect example of how horror can be healing, what a gem;
The Temple of All-it's a wonderfully written story about an age-old, unjustified tradition being subverted, wrong being righted, justice being served.
I wish there was more I could write about the stories, and I apologise if my opinion or lack of opinion does not do enough justice to them. All the stories warrant a second reading, if not more; they are well written, complex and there is always something juicy to be found: a morsel of truth, a slice of culture, a wave of emotion. It reminds me how fiction can be both empowering and liberating. And one thing I haven't found in any book I have come across, (I probably haven't read enough but still...) there are mentions of dimple and its beauty and significance, and I am glad to have read that. Last but not least, if I can write like any of the writers in this anthology, I think I will be very happy. Thank you.
January 24, 2024
Sometimes I read a book that makes me wish I was a better reviewer so that I can convey just how good that book is. Escalators to Hell is one of those books. The stories inside are full of nostalgia, heartbreak, hope, love and death, loss and decay, longing and desire. Some are gut-wrenching, some are downright terrifying (as if mannequins weren’t creepy enough and a mall in a cave, what atrocity is this?), some are cheeky and hopeful, coming-of-age and coming-to-terms; they all have one thing in common. They are all powerfully written.
I was never really a mall kid. There wasn’t one close enough to my house to spend my free time there, but malls are a space that shaped generations, liminal and often transient, and almost universally recognizable. I expected this anthology to be more about the Great Decline of the Mall: The Horrors of Capitalism but it is so much more than that. Threaded throughout is a yearning for these lost third spaces, these spaces we could go to escape, or just exist outside the constraints of our lives. Just as This World Belongs to Us, From Beyond Press’s first anthology was a love letter to bugs, Escalators to Hell is a love letter to mall culture, full of stories from a diverse and rich author pool.
When anthologies are so full of talent and excellent stories, I generally refuse to list favorites, because it is too hard and I make the rules in my reviews. I loved these stories. They all bring their very own life to the book, unique even with a unifying theme. BUT, The Intercessor by Eirik Gumeny gets a shout out simply because it was just what I wanted on the day I read it.
I was never really a mall kid. There wasn’t one close enough to my house to spend my free time there, but malls are a space that shaped generations, liminal and often transient, and almost universally recognizable. I expected this anthology to be more about the Great Decline of the Mall: The Horrors of Capitalism but it is so much more than that. Threaded throughout is a yearning for these lost third spaces, these spaces we could go to escape, or just exist outside the constraints of our lives. Just as This World Belongs to Us, From Beyond Press’s first anthology was a love letter to bugs, Escalators to Hell is a love letter to mall culture, full of stories from a diverse and rich author pool.
When anthologies are so full of talent and excellent stories, I generally refuse to list favorites, because it is too hard and I make the rules in my reviews. I loved these stories. They all bring their very own life to the book, unique even with a unifying theme. BUT, The Intercessor by Eirik Gumeny gets a shout out simply because it was just what I wanted on the day I read it.
February 3, 2025
This was a fun read. A collection of offbeat, creepy, and sometimes quite funny short stories centered around old shopping malls. Very unique and creative idea. I highly recommend it for anyone who grew up hanging out at the mall.
April 22, 2024
It's a wonderful anthology!
My favorites were :
Onitsha main
You must drop buy
The temple of all
My favorites were :
Onitsha main
You must drop buy
The temple of all
May 19, 2024
Fell asleep. Not for me. Not horror. Cult escalator story was cringe. Second one with the mannequins was like an episode of Goosebumps. Dnf
July 7, 2024
A very enjoyable anthology brimming with nostalgia and heart.
March 17, 2025
Great anthology! Review to come.
June 3, 2025
Multiple terrifying stories all having to do the scariest places in the world: the mall.
October 25, 2024
I had a good time with this anthology, as someone who used to enjoy going to the mall as a teen. The stories in this anthology explore themes such as gentrification, capitalism, consumerism, and the nostalgia of shopping malls. My favorite stories are "Hard to Be a Mall God" by Connor Boyle, "Posers" by Liam Burke, "The Silver Sneakers" by Pines Callahan, "Closing Time" by Lor Gislason, "Cherry Cola Lips" by J.A.W. McCarthy, "You Must Drop Buy" by Anjum N. Choudhury, "The Intercessor" by Eirik Gumeny, "This Place Belongs to Us" by Wendy Dalrymple, "How My Self Finds Me" by Avra Margariti, and "The Temple of All" by Cryus Amelia Fisher. 10/10 shopping malls :)
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