Beyond the Bounds of Infinity

by Vaughn A. Jackson (Editor), Stephanie Pearre (Editor), S.A. Cosby

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Lovecraftian

190 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2024

About the author

Vaughn A. Jackson is an Horror Writers Association affiliated author, editor, and sometimes poet of dark speculative fiction. His work generally focuses one one of three categories: Creatures, Kaiju, or Cosmic Horror. Often blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, he refers to his works as unholy abominations of terror. His published novels include the Kaiju thrillers Up from the Deep and Deepspore: Death Below the Sea, the cosmic horror Touched by Shadows, and the vampire hunter revenge novel Southern Cross. He is also the co-editor of the diverse cosmic horror anthology Beyond the Bounds of Infinity. When not writing, he can usually be found hanging with his wife and pets, cracking jokes, and making sure H.P. Lovecraft turns over in his grave.

You can find Vaughn on Bluesky @madnessandmonsters.bksy.social or on Instagram @madness_and_monsters. He also has a newsletter: https://madnessandmonsters.substack.com/

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange, ambiguous, bleak, and dark.

This anthology opens with one of my favorite types of horror, radio horror, and perhaps it did the whole thing a disservice for me because I got drunk on that story (The Birth of Sound by Timaeus Bloom) and nothing could quite live up to that high, I don't get nearly enough of that type of horror in my life ok?

On a more serious note, Fractures of Her Reflections by Amanda Headlee (what if your OCD wasn't lying to you?), The Eye of God by Rachel Searcey (a cautionary tale about being mean to people who could strand you somewhere) and Beggars Can't be Choosers by L. Marie Wood (sometimes it's not about what you get but HOW) were also favorites. Oh and of course SA Cosby's story 24 Points didn't disappoint either.

There were a couple of stories that gave me strong "this should be an SCP" vibes (You Have Joined the Live Stream by Jessica McHugh and Silent Letter by Chris Nelson) which I enjoyed.

While there were a few stories I wasn't crazy about (almost impossible to avoid in a multi-author anthology featuring 20 stories) there wasn't any that felt like they were bad either, just not for me, the overall feel of the anthology was really polished and intentional.

Many thanks to the editor (Stephanie Pearre) for the opportunity to read and review this anthology.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ☆

cosmic horror leans heavily into the bizarre and that was definitely the case with this anthology. i always find it hard to rate short stories since there’s always some i’ll love more than others. unfortunately there were more stories that i didn’t care for than ones i actually liked.. so it ended up being more of a miss for me overall.

favorite short stories in the collection:

• You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh
• Cracks by Mari SanGiovanni
• 24 points by S.A. Cosby
• On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona

➙ thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[Diana Almeida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was quite a journey. It was my first time diving into the horror genre and it did not disappoint.

I figured that an anthology was the best place to start and I was right, I loved so many of these stories! Some of them definitely kept me up at night... I'm looking at you 'Effigies of Monstrous Things' and 'You Have Joined the Livestream' 🫠

Thank you to RDS Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Beyond the Bounds of Infinity' deals with cosmic horror's origins, offering stories that aim to surpass Lovecraft's bigotry and promote diversity (per Vaughn A. Jackson's, one of the two editors, foreword). Though all the stories succeed wonderfully in this, ranging over so many different kinds of horror, the results in the first half of the anthology, as far as cosmic horror specifically is concerned, are mixed, Ultimately, in that half, the only story I found impressive enough to mention is the opening story, "The Birth of Sound" by Timaeus Bloom: a story hard to understand, insane enough to stay in memory, the writing distinctive, original, intriguing. Definitely not a story that can be summarized easily, so I limit myself to pointing to the title itself. The second half, however, starting with Christopher Hann's "A Dampened Embrace," is an absolutely brilliant collection of awesome stories: both the writing and the premises are brimming with creativity and imagination. Indicative of the quality is, perhaps, the beginning of "A Dampened Embrace", which I'll quote in its entirety:

"It was the first week of summer and the events that transpired
were thus:

"Mother passed away on Sunday

"She was buried on Wednesday

"Her grave was reported to have been robbed on Friday

"And on Saturday, at the first light of a dreadfully humid morning, my mentally unstable father called me over landline, informing me that he had come into possession of a mermaid."

I was instantly hooked. There follows S. A. Cosby's "24 Points," a truly engrossing Lovecraftian story about hunting and family. Those two stories (Hann's and Cosby's) were my favorites. But all the stories after them are highly recommended and are worth the price of the book alone. They deal with loneliness, marginalization, transphobia, mental issues, all though a supernatural prism.

OVerall, this is the kind of horror anthologies that make you feel very hopeful for the future!

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosmic horror is just so fascinating but so many of us struggle with the origin of cosmic horror as Lovecraft's creative channel for his fears rooted in blatant bigotry. We are so lucky to live in the 21st century where books are becoming increasingly diverse and writers are reclaiming genres which traditionally spurn minorities and little understood cultures. This anthology is a gem of a book collecting diverse cosmic horror, showing us that Lovecraftian can still mean fear of the unknown and incomprehensible without othering whole communities.

I enjoyed most of the stories collected, with some special mentions:
Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee
An exploration of OCD that meant a lot to me. It explores how it feels to be constantly hounded by a crippling conviction that past and future ill fortunes befalling loved ones are cosmically your fault. Your fault simply for not performing some illogical ritual like tapping the doorknob three times. What if the seemingly irrelevant ritual is what keeps devastating horror at bay? No... that's silly, right?

Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski
Small town bigotry tied up with the occult that I desperately want to see made into a movie.

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez
Hansel and Gretel but make it ✨ cosmic horror ✨

Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni and The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey
I didn't want these two to end! The former featured some truly creepy kids which genuinely frightened me, and the latter was a small town occult story festering with bad blood and themes of misogyny. I wish these were novels with fully built worlds and fleshed out characters.

Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha
Themes of cosmic horror are a given in a story belonging in this anthology, but this one is brutal with its exploration of the violent racism rife in the USA.

Thank you Raw Dog Screaming Press, the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the advanced copy. 3.5 stars.

I was excited to see this at first as cosmic horror is easily one of my top favorite genres, and it advertised a story by SA Cosby, who've I've enjoyed from the little I've read of her so far. I enjoyed that the collection of stories in Beyond the Bounds of Infinity were varied and diverse, and there is likely at least one story here that a reader will enjoy... but that's the rub. I think most people will walk away from this liking and/or remembering only a few of the stories in this collection, and I've been trying to think of why.

While every story is related to cosmic horror in some way, a few stretch the connection. Some are more drama than horror. Some are not horror at all (or weren't to me). Some are a bit too derivative of more famous stories Most are strange, which I appreciate. I also appreciate a bit of experimentation with medium, which is done in some of the stories, through the use of transcripts or text-speech. I know that might annoy some people but I enjoy it!

The stand-outs to me:

Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski - I like the mix of cosmic and folk/rural horror here

The Silent Letter by Chris Nelson - Derivative, very SCP or There Is No Antimemetic Division but I still enjoyed it. Also reminiscent of The Empty Man.

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez - reminded me of Evil Dead Rises meets The Black Phone. I liked the idea of it a lot and Iniguez is a good writer.

24 Points by SA Cosby - Another spooky nature-y story. I'm also super into nature horror, so this was tickled me. Reminiscent of Annihilation or The Fisherman.

On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona - a spooky and unsettling story that maybe affected me more because I used to live on a foggy beach coast lol

Burning Slumber by Jessica L Sparrow - turns colonialism into cosmic horror and it works.

Passage by Cyrus Amelia Fisher - Some truly classic cosmic horror. Very much At the Mountains of Madness or The Terror. Also reminded me of the world of Dishonored lol

The Comfort of a Cold Pit by Michelle Tang - probably the story that stuck with me most, and weirdly the second story about a pit in this collection, but the better of the two. I really wanted a whole novel out of this one, it was so good.

Not a bad collection overall, but one I'd probably only recommend to those open-minded lovers of weird fiction or cosmic horror.

[Mindy'sBookJourney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy for review through NetGalley.

This anthology is mix of cosmic and folk horror. It was great to see cosmic horror from diverse voices and perspectives. All these stories veer toward the weird side which is a big plus for me.

There were a handful of stand out stories in this anthology. Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski is about a trans teacher taking on a bigoted occult group. Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniquez is about a father living in a run down apartment with his daughters with unspeakable secrets hiding just under the surface. The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey involves women performing rituals in a dark pit. Burning Slumber by Jessica L. Sparrow is a supernatural indigenous story. Finally, Gyges by Vaughn A. Jackson gives a very unique exorcism story. All these stories were rated 5 stars for me.

I would recommend this collection to those who want to see more diversity in there horror anthologies.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with many anthologies, ratings are so subjective. Some stories I may like, others may dislike (and vice versa).

This collection was certainly interesting in its themes, and a great introduction to many new-to-me authors. The stories themselves were a little hit and miss. Some I didn’t completely understand, or wasn’t a fan of the formatting. A few really stood out to me however, with my favourite being “Cracks” by Mary SanGiovanni.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the authors, RDS Publishing, and the editors for a copy.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.

When I saw this book on netgalley as a cosmic horror short story collection that focusses on diversity and overcoming the bigotry often baked into the idea of "the Other" in horror, I knew I had to read it. Having read a bunch of Cosmic horror recently as well I also thought I'd know what to expect. And yes, some of the pieces here do fit very well into the typical tropes (cult that wants to summon a God with too many tentacles, weird ocean creatures by the seaside, trying to appease an angry God through sacrificing young girls to it etc), but many of them manage to either takes the tropes and turn them into something new and interesting through a reversal of roles (Life Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski is a great example of the scary cult in the forest that wants to sacrifice the MC to their God, but manages a great Reversal of roles that would make Lovecraft spin in his grave. And that's beautiful!). Other short stories do things with Cosmic Horror that I haven't really seen done before (such as eldritch music in The Birth of Sound). The anthology also explores many topics such as racism, sexism, transphobia, mental illness, poverty and homophobia and does, as promised, extend the Genre further to marginalized voices.
There weren't any short stories I disliked and quite a few I really loved, such as "The Silent Letter" by Chris Nelson, "Six Underground" by Vicky Velvet, "Cracks" by Mary SanGiovanni, "The Things We Did in the Dark" by Julia Darcey, "A Dampened Embrace" by Christopher Hann, "24 Points" by S.A. Cosby, "On the Shores of Midnight" by Marnie Desdemona and "Burning Slumber" by Jessica L. Sparrow.
In general, if you enjoy horror or weird fiction I can absolutely recommend you to dive into this collection and enjoy!

Starting now I also wrote a short list with some thoughts on each piece as well as some trigger warnings I think apply to each piece, slight spoilers ahead:

The Birth of Sound by Timaeus Bloom: eldritch music, short and sweet and scary tw: loss of bodily autonomy
Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee: a woman's repetitive behavior due to OCD might literally be the only thing that keeps the world standing, I liked the dread but a bit more explanation on why characters besides the main character acted that way would have been nice, also shoutout to this story for including a disabled character, which I loved! tw: mass death, apocalypse, gaslighting from a medical professional, hospital, injury, past death, car accident mention, past abuse

Life Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski: A nonbinary teacher is fired from their job after getting doxxed online, very reminiscent of the real case of AV Schwandes and other teachers caught up in the anti trans panic, on their way home they get kidnapped, the reversal of transphobic white supremacists as the scary Lovecraftian cult is fun but unfortunately this short story feels a bit unfinished to me and as if it tried to do a bit too much for such a short story, I would love to see an extended version though and I really enjoyed the author's writing style, tw: transphobia, misgendering, discriminatory firing, attempted human sacrifice, white supremacy, hate crime, injury
*FAV* The Silent Letter by Chris Nelson: an investigation of an eldritch word, very SCP-esque, but interesting and fun and I adored the dread it built, tw: death, coma, gore, body horror
Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez: a rotting housing complex and its inhabitants stuck in poverty and a single father trying his best to keep his daughters save, fun! Fucked up but fun! tw: child death, murder, body horror, gore, unsanitary living conditions
*FAV* Six Underground by Vicky Velvet: a couple is trapped underground slowly running out of air, soooo fucked up, i love a good cave creature and transgender wrongs! tw: child death, murder, violence, confined spaces
You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh: Two ghost hunting bros (including all the worst frat bro stereotypes from homophobia, sexism, patriotism and covid denial) are challenged to go to an incredibly haunted location by their haters, fun and with a satisfying end, tw sexism, covid denial, police brutality, homophobia
*FAV* Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni: A teacher notices some children's obsession with a glowing stone. Then people start getting into accidents. Scary and I love a protagonist you just can't vote for (no matter how much you understand their actions). Fun!!! tw: graphic injury, accident, death, child murder
*FAV* The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey: Two girls sacrificed to serve a dark god and keep him from destroying the world, really atmospheric and interesting and heartbreaking, tw: violence, physical abuse as punishment, death, confinement, human sacrifice (in a way), blood, body horror
In the House, There Were Teeth and There Were Eyes by Ichabod Cassius Kilroy: A lonely man and a fucked up house. Very fun. I love it when architecture weeps and droops and fucks up your life <3, tw: death, body horror
*FAV* A Dampened Embrace by Christopher Hann: A family worshipping an eldritch god and the son that tried to change this legacy, scary and fascinating! tw: death, murder, body horror
*FAV* 24 Points by S.A. Cosby: a father-son-uncle hunting trip goes very wrong, really great horror that manages to be both cosmic and grounded in the natural world and so even more terrifying, tw: suicide, cannibalism/self harm/self-mutilation, injury, death, gore
*FAV* On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona: a grieving woman on the seaside searching for a church hidden by the tides, lyrical and with very interesting imagery, tw suicide, harm to animals, drowning, vomiting, starvation, death
The Eye of God by Rachel Searcey: two sisters are stranded on a small island and their food reserves are running low, manages to portray the isolation and desperation really well, tw starvation
Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha: A black boy starts hearing the voice of a friend shot by police through his radio and has to deal with the intense racism of his community, very intense and vivid, tw: police brutality, murder, racism, gun violence, death
*FAV* Burning Slumber by Jessica L. Sparrow: Colonization as eldritch horror, incredibly well done and super interesting! tw: gore, violence, murder, colonialism, self mutilation, eye gore, mention of sexual assault
Passage by Cyrus Amelia Fisher: A group of sailors and a witch trapped in endless ice as the ship captain has to decide if her loyalty truly lies with her crew, very The Terror with added eldritch beast, very fun tw murder, unsanitary food, starvation, cannibalism, death, self harm for ritual purposes
The Comfort of a Cold Pit by Michelle Tang: the old servant of a God meets her successor, i love textile art in horror fiction, so that was cool! Very emotional and introspective, but I enjoyed it! Tw past familial and spousal abuse, death, eye gore
Gyges by Vaughn A. Jackson: urban fantasy meets cosmic horror when a detective who knows some alchemy takes on the creature possessing a little girl, it was fine but might work better as a longer work to really explain the worldbuilding further, tw child endangerment, blood, fire, severe burns
Beggars Can't be Choosers by L. Marie Wood: A director desperately trying to find a good script to work with as his higher ups are pressuring him to deliver something good, okay, but not really my style, tw death, kidnapping (in a way?)

[Brian James Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY
Edited by Vaughn A. Jackson & Stephanie Pearre
July 10, 2024
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Greetings Horror Fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with a great new collection from Raw Dog Screaming Press. Lovecraftian horror is a cool mashup of fantasy, dream worlds, and elder gods that have existed since the beginning of time itself. H.P. Lovecraft and his contemporaries came up with some really unique story concepts, but their beauty was marred by the narrow white lens it was pushed through. People of color, working class folks, and women were not respected and treated as equals. Those that were physically or mentally disabled were usually portrayed as ignorant freaks. This was because the majority of publishers and writers were white males.

Fortunately, Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is here to showcase a diverse cast of authors and put a new spin on weird fiction and cosmic horror. It’s a great step towards eliminating boundaries and giving readers a kaleidoscopic view of the weirdness that draws us into these types of stories. Speaking of great views, how about that awesome book cover by Lynne Hansen? I’m really becoming a fan! Let’s take a peek within at the horrors that await us…
In Effigies of Monstrous Things, Pedro Iniguez uses the too familiar backdrop of crummy apartments and low income living that Latin Americans are forced to endure in their quest to make it. At first it just seems like Mario is dealing with another cheese bag white slumlord in a janky neighborhood, but a trip into the vast basement of the ancient, mold-ridden apartment complex reveals something much bigger and more terrifying that wants more.

Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee tackles the general public’s lack of interest in taking mental health issues seriously. Everyone tells Dava that her tapping rituals are useless and a waste of time, making her feel small and stupid. They’re more concerned about how they feel uncomfortable and weirded out by her behavior. But as this short story reaches its conclusion, something appears on the horizon and the last thing it wants is to be stuck under the rug.

S.A. Cosby takes us out into the woods for 24 Points. It’s hunting season for a trio of men who arrive in the forest with the plan of harvesting the largest deer they can find to get their family through the cold winter ahead. But there’s a line between taking what you need and being greedy. Mother nature is the governess of those laws and when Uncle Ricky oversteps her boundaries, she requires a payment. If it is not forthcoming, the entire fabric of the cosmos opens wide to correct the wrongs. Great balance of the familiar and the terrifying with social commentary.

In Live Free or Die, Danny Brzozowski opens up the cute curtains of a small Connecticut (state motto: Live Free or Die) town to show the rot hidden inside. Many people consider the northeastern states to be safe territory for more liberal thinkers. Unfortunately, I can say from my own personal experiences in a small upstate New York town, that is not always the case. Don’t be doing different loud and proud there unless you want to meet a lot of scary people who masquerade as good ones. When a trans teacher gets fired from a school for teaching both sides of reality in a particularly privileged community, something horrible awakens beneath the hilly ground. Is it a savior or is it a killer? Seeking to make their escape, the teacher comes across a scene that reveals just how deep that evil runs in Briarbrook and prays that they won’t have to follow the latter part of the state motto.
Other great stories in this anthology include Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni, Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha, Six Underground by Vicky Velvet, and You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh. Every story inside Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is excellent. You won’t find any filler or pieces you can coast through, here! Like a flourless chocolate torte, this collection is super rich, delightfully dark, and very satisfying. Raw Dog Screaming Press crushes that narrow white lens and hands readers a kaleidoscope to view cosmic horror and weird fiction with. Because when limits are removed, possibilities open wide, and that’s what it’s all about. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Beyond the Bounds of Infinity FIVE STARS! If you think that Lovecraft’s work is old and stuffy, this book is for you. Raw Dog Screaming Press brings weird fiction and cosmic horror into the present day and makes it relevant to readers right now.
For more information about Raw Dog Screaming Press, please visit them at: www.RawDogScreaming.com
For more information about Pedro Iniguez, check out www.pedroiniguezauthor.com
To find out more about Amanda Headlee, go to: www.amandaheadlee.com
To follow Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer, please visit: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com Thanks!
About your reviewer:
When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWrit... where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!
You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76
And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis
Until next time, be well, stay safe, and keep reading independent horror!

[Shrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Bounds of Infinity subverts cosmic horror's historic bigotry and uplifts diverse voices.

I really enjoyed the variety in this anthology. There's existential horror, body horror, eco horror, and more.
In my opinion, the most disturbing tales combine very real horrors marginalized people face with otherworldly elements.

As with most anthologies, some stories resonated with me more than others. Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski hit me especially hard as an openly queer trans man.

Thank you to RDS Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc from NetGalley. This collection of horror short stories is perfect for those who don’t need gore to be haunted and like thought provoking stories. A lot of these stories left me wanting to know what would the next scene be and had me imagining in my head how the story would continue.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is an inclusive anthology focusing around the theme of cosmic horror. Within, the stories hold narratives involving body horror and transformation/disfiguration, haunted locations that drive the characters mad, creatures , objects, ideas, and entities that exist outside of our realm of knowledge, and, most importantly, one story with creepy, creepy children.

As with every anthology that exists, many of the stories are a hit, and some could use improvement. I found that a lot of the shot stories within Beyond the Bounds of Infinity would have been perfect to be expanded into novellas, or at the very least, just longer works overall. Every story within this collection was superb, but many met the downfall of "not enough pages." That said! The ideas presented in this collection, again, were superb! There is a diverse array of cosmic horror ideas that come through from front to back, and the range of the actual cast of characters is equally diverse, whether at times more blatant or more subtle.

Overall, this is both a fascinating and thought provoking collection of short stories that anybody who wants to read modern day cosmic horror should pick up.


Stand out stories within this anthology are:
The Silent Letter, Chris Nelson
Effigies of Monstrous Things, Pedro Iniguez
Cracks, Mary SanGiovanni
The Things We Did In The Dark, Julia Darcey
A Dampened Embrace, Christopher Hann
The Eye of God, Rachel Searcey
Passage, Cyrus Amelia Fisher
Gyges, Vaughn A. Jackson

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is a cosmic horror anthology that sets out to offer a collection of stories from several diverse perspectives and it does a nice job of it. It begins with stories on the shorter side with punchier and more chaotic themes, slips into denser and more traditionally gothic tones for the middle, and then finishes with a nice range of more modern themes. I was especially fond of Effigies of Lost Things by Pedro Iniguez, 24 points by S. A. Cosby, Cracks by Mary San Giovanni, On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona, The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcy, and A Dampened Embrace by Christopher Hahn. These ones felt like they had some interesting elements and spoke about different themes than we usually get from Cosmic Horror even when some of the tropes reflect those older stories, not an easy thing to do with such a widely explored genre!

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the stories in this collection. Some better than others, and my two favorites were Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski and Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni. Great characters, great story, and great pacing in each. #BeyondtheBoundsofInfinity #NetGalley

[ElphaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a good intro to Cosmic horror that showcases a lot of diverse perspectives and voices, this is a collection that would be a grand choice. I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, and even the ones that didn't click were more an issue with my own tastes as opposed to the stories themselves. S.A. Cosby's 24 POINTS was probably my favorite, and it's just another reminder that I need to read his novels.

[Heather O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I love most about anthologies is that they showcase a range of voices, providing different entry points for readers so that each person that comes into it can find a story that speaks to them. Beyond the Bounds of Infinity accomplishes this beautifully, delivering on the subtitle “An Anthology of Diverse Cosmic Horror” both within the authors identities and the scope of the subgenre it covers. There is a good mix of expansions to classic Lovecraftian mythos and new concepts introduced by the authors that personalizes the cosmic horrors to modern fears. Along with solid entries from well-established authors in the horror genre like S.A. Cosby and Mary SanGiovanni, this anthology provides impressive selections from the open submission contributors that give readers a great table of contents of names to watch out for.

Standouts for me included: Cracks by Mary SanGiovani - a stressed out teacher tries to make sense of horrific events that begin occurring after her students develop a strange obsession with a glowing rock; A Dampened Embrace by Christopher Hann – after the death and subsequent grave robbery of a man’s shaman mother, he visits his aged father to discover what his cryptic call about coming “into possession of a mermaid” could possible mean; 24 Points by S.A. Cosby – a family hunting trip goes wrong after an unbelievable creature is shot; On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona – a woman attempting to reach a mysterious Church that appears when the sea recedes each night meets a stranger who might have the answers she seeks; Gyges by Vaughn A. Jackson – two exorcists struggle against an eldritch being that proves more difficult to exorcise than the demons they are used to. While these stories stuck with me the most, there are several other great entries that explore the depths of cosmic horror in exciting ways making this anthology well worth the read.

Thank you RDS Publishing (Raw Dog Screaming Press) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY – An Anthology of Diverse Cosmic Horror –
Edited by Vaughn A. Jackson Stephanie Pearre

‘This collection houses nineteen phenomenal stories by a cast of authors new and known that will give you a healthy glimpse of just what the genre can be: from cozy to gothic, enraging to empowering, and so many kaleidoscopic ideas in between. By casting a wide net and seeking diversity in the authors we accepted, we created an anthology that is not only a stellar introduction to cosmic horror, but a variety pack showcasing all the different forms that cosmic horror can take when viewed through a different lens.’ — Vaughn A. Jackson

The following are my Favorites:

‘The Birth of Sound’ – by Timaeus Bloom

‘Fractures of Her Reflection’ – by Amanda Headlee – Creepy Good!

‘Live Free or Die’ – by Danny Brzozowski

‘Effigies of Monstrous Things’ – by Pedro Iniguez

‘Six Underground’ – by Vicky Velvet – Love The End!

‘You Have Joined the Livestream’ – by Jessica McHugh

‘Cracks’ – by Mary SanGiovanni – Creepy Good!

‘The Things We Did in the Dark’ – by Julia Darcey – Love This One!

‘In the House, There Were Teeth and There Were Eyes’ – by Ichabod Cassius Kilroy – That Was Good!

‘The Comfort of a Cold Pit’ — by Michelle Tang

Thank you, NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press, for providing me with an eBook of BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY at the request of an honest review.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pretty open about my struggle with the short story. I want to read more anthologies and collections, but tend to do better with those door stopper books I can fully immerse myself into for days. I love flowing prose and extensive world and character building, and obviously there’s less of that within shorter stories. It’s also no secret, though, that I Stan hard for S.A. Cosby. I tend to fall in the “everyone likes different things” train of thought, but find myself almost offended when someone doesn’t think Cosby’s work is amazing. So between his inclusion and the fact that this is cosmic horror, I went for it.

The first half had some good ones, but I really found myself into it by the second half. These are SHORT stories, but a few of them really packed a punch.

My favorites included:

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez
The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey
24 Points by S.A. Cosby (obvs!)
On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona
Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha
Gyges by Vaughn A. Jackson
Beggars Can’t be Choosers by L. Marie Wood

There were a couple stories I struggled to understand and vibe with, but I’d absolutely pick up a book from any of these authors in the future. All of them had some unique imagery and fantastic writing.

Highly recommend this to cosmic horror lovers looking to mix up the genre a bit.

[Indy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full-flavored cosmic horror with none of the racism. Favorite stories were Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez, Live Free or Die by Danny Brzozowski, Passage by Cyrus Amelia Fisher, 24 Points by S.A. Cosby, and Beggars Can't be Choosers by L. Marie Wood.
Hoping to have a full review for you guys by the end of the day.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: My story is in this antho, "Eye of God"

I honestly loved almost every single story! Of the couple that weren't for me, the writing was still beautiful and well done. There are veteran writers as well as new authors, and you'll get a nice variety of genres. This is honestly why I read so many anthos! I enjoy discovering new names and also dipping my toes into some genres I may have never read before.

Thank you for reading :)

[Lisa Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quick spooky read

I always enjoy a short story or too and if they are creepy, all the better! S.A. Cosby’s story was my favorite now I’ll have to check out his other stuff.

[Smallbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

This book begins with a foreword by the editor about how he was inspired to create this anthology; to put together a collection of diverse cosmic horror stories by diverse authors to push back against the genre's racist and xenophobic origins.

This anthology does exactly that. There are a good variety of authors of different races, orientations, gender etc. and the stories are also incredibly varied in terms of character diversity, plots, and Horrors™️. This anthology recasts marginalised people as the protagonists of their stories, with some stories even subverting cosmic horror's xenophobic origins to portray the oppressors as what they are.

My enjoyment varies from story to story, as do the writing styles, but for the most part I found most of the stories to be at least interesting and engaging. Some of the stories take on more experimental approaches to storytelling, though some attempts are more successful than others.

I'm going to go ahead and shout out some of my favourite stories from this collection, in no particular order.

My personal favourite was The Silent Letter by Chris Nelson. The author does an excellent job of setting up the premise and nails the writing. I was totally unnerved reading it and had to take short breaks between sections.

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez begins quite straightforwardly, but the set up pays off big time. The twist is excellent, and the gore was gruesome. I am not good at visualising in my head, but the descriptions were so vivid it gave me the ick. In a good way!

Another story I quite enjoyed was Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee. Although I found it to be among the less terrifying stories of this collection, the premise is really interesting, and I found the protagonist to be rather compelling. I wish there was more of this story, I would love a whole book of this, but I suppose the beauty of short fiction is that it makes you crave more. Unrelated, but while I was reading the hospital scene the song Chihiro by Billie Eilish came on, and it was like watching the epic climax of a movie with an amazing soundtrack, which elevated my experience of this story for sure.

The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey was rather straightforward, but surprisingly tender and sad.

In the House, There Were Teeth and There Were Eyes by Ichabod Kassius Kilroy is super weird, possibly the weirdest story here. I have no idea what's going on, but I liked this. I think. (Also the author has the coolest name ever.)

I have included the list of stories, as well as content warnings, although it's possible that I may have missed some, and I'm straight up not sure how to warn for some things without giving spoilers, so do be warned.

The Birth of Sound - Timaeus Bloom
CW: none?

Fractures of Her Reflection - Amanda Headlee
CW: gaslighting from a medical professional, medical content, hospital, injury, past death, car accident mention, past abuse

Live Free or Die - Danny Brzozowski
CW: transphobia, hate crime, blood, injury

The Silent Letter by Chris Nelson
CW: death, coma, gore, body horror

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez
CW: body horror, gore <- every other story has this, but take this one seriously

Six Underground by Vicky Velvet
CW: death, violence, confined spaces

You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh
CW: sexism, misogyny, implied murder

Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni
CW: death, injury

The Things We Did in the Dark by Julia Darcey
CW: blood, death, darkness, confinement, confined spaces

In the House, There Were Teeth and There Were Eyes by Ichabod Kassius Kilroy
CW: blood, death mention, body horror, blood, bodily fluids

A Dampened Embrace by Christopher Hann
CW: death, body horror

24 Points by S. A. Cosby
CW: death, gore, body horror, injury, self-mutilation

On the Shores of Midnight by Marnie Desdemona
CW: death, starvation, vomiting, drowning

Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha
CW: death, off page police brutality, gun violence mention

Burning Slumber by Jessica L. Sparrow
CW: self mutilation, eye gore, colonisation, mentions of sexual assault, murder

Passage by Cyrus Amelia Fisher
CW: death, starvation, non-graphic cannibalism, self harm for ritual purposes, blood

The Comfort of a Cold Pit by Michelle Tang
CW: past physical parental abuse, non-explicit eye gore

Gyges by Vaughn A. Jackson
CW: blood, fire, severe burns

Beggars Can't be Choosers by L. Marie Wood
CW: a little blood, held hostage

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those tentacles are not consentacles”
This Lovecraftian anthology’s theme is horror without hate. Meaning, as a community, we can have great cosmic horror stories for everyone that doesn’t include hating on entire peoples. Cosmic horror viewed through a different lens. The cover art is pretty magical for this book. It got me thinking of the Nothing But Trouble House with Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, and John Candy but………. with Lovecraft tentacles. The train sausage scene from the movie especially is a memorable one. It does not deserve the hate it gets.

Packed full of great tentacle and mind altering short stories, I picked out my top three to highlight

-Fractures Of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee-

After two horrible trauma inducing accidents involving a semi and then later on a bicycle, the main character is working a lowly job having space dreams and space vision. The main character is living with a serious case of ocd and taps some things to prevent all of humanity falling to Cathulhu……..Besides seriously disturbing her fellow employees at lunch after giving them a brief rundown of infinite universes (space breakdown). A little analogy of some cracked glass (think silent hill looking into the mirror scene with James looking all lost) and more infinite universe stuff.

-Effigies Of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez-

A single father is working and attending night school to better the lives of his children and doing so in a rundown ramshackle wet and leaky apt building with a slumlord hiding bodies in the basement. A mysterious effigy is being worshipped and preying on the unsuspecting building occupants by taking their children and amnesiaing the parents in forgetting and ground hogging the next day. The effigy wants to become whole again. The effigy yearns for the tasty tasty children and possibly his ex wife. Make sure you have snacks for this story.

-You Have Joined The Livestream by Jessica McHugh-

Dared to go by the haters, The Ghost Bros (think frat version of Ryan and Shane) decide to visit a super haunted mountain named Milk-Tooth armed only with spicy cookies sent by a fan girl that really likes watching people eat her cookies in front of other people. My favorite part of this short was the mantra the bros came up with- All Twinkie, no cream. All mountin’, no comin’ The Ghost Bros are coming all over Milk-Tooth Mountain-.

-In The House, There Were Teeth and There Were Eyes by Ichabod Cassius Kilroy-

This is the short story the cover of this book is based on and there is NO mention of train sausage anywhere. Its about a lonely warehouse worker that has had a super creepy house passed on to him and he seems to be in charge of feeding it. Gets a little weird with the contractor but he also seems to be able to see the weird house things happening. His wife dies and he nopes it away from the house. A bathroom gets jaundice and some lightbulbs fill up with blood……………….10/10 Reminded me of The Pantry Ghost Documentary which is a great watch if bored and want to see people freak out over a pantry door for an hour.

A great quick spooky read from Raw Dog Screaming Press. They have a TON of great horror books to check out

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it’s always a treat to read a collection of horror stories, it’s a particular pleasure to read an anthology of “weird fiction” or cosmic horror. I’m surprised more collections like this don’t exist given the increase in interest in cosmic horror recently but hopefully this delightful assortment is a sign of things to come.

This offering was as chilling in its delivery as it was broad in scope; from unknowable entities that live in radio static, to cursed linguistics, to massive eldritch deer guardians, this collection has it all. While there were no slouches in this anthology by any means, a few titles stood out to me as exceptionally good and I’ll briefly mention them here.

In “You Have Joined the Livestream” some unscrupulous ghost hunters go up against forces far beyond their understanding, all while their online audience watches on. This story had a fascinating conceit and a gratifying, spine-chilling pay off. The characterization was spot on and in a brief span of time the story manages to pack quite a punch. Easily one of my favorites in this book, this story reminded me of what it felt like to be a kid and read a new Goosebumps book. I mean that in the best possible way.

The story “24 Points” had my attention even before I started since it was written by S.A. Cosby, a phenomenal author whose book “Razorblade Tears” was as close to perfect as any novel is likely to get. Cosby’s foray into short fiction did not disappoint either. The tale follows a young boy with his father and uncle as they hunt bucks in the Virginia woods only to have the tables turned on them and become prey themselves. This story was a masterclass in brevity and how to artfully dole out exposition when dealing with cosmic horrors that are, by definition, beyond human comprehension. Despite its relative simplicity, this story was profoundly upsetting in the best possible way.

Finally, the last story in this anthology “Beggars Can’t Be Choosers” was one of my favorites for the sheer brilliance of its basic plot. I won’t spoil the tale by giving away that set up here but suffice to say it’s one of the most original, most terrifying ideas I’ve come across in recent memory. I didn’t realize what was happening until the end but when I did I was shocked and oddly satisfied. It was a brilliant story and a great choice to end on.

“Beyond the Bounds of Infinity” offered a great selection of new and refreshing takes on the cosmic horror genre. The stories in this collection show why this specific type of horror is so enduring and powerful. I’d recommend this title to anyone who likes horror in general by especially fans of Lovecraftian horror and weird fiction. A book like this is necessary, both to reinvent the genre for a new generation of readers and to show that cosmic horror can and is moving on from the more unsavory aspects of some of its founding authors (looking at you H.P.).

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a weird relationship with anthologies. I usually find my way to them because they include a story by an author I love that I can’t find anywhere else. If I’m lucky, I find another couple of stories to enjoy, then drag myself through the rest. By the end, I decide it wasn’t worth the effort. Until the next time a favourite author is included in one.

It’s Mary SanGiovanni’s fault that I’m here. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read of hers and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read something new. It didn’t surprise me that I loved her contribution to this anthology. What did surprise me was that I didn’t find a bad one in the bunch!

Sure, I enjoyed some more than others but I didn’t dislike any! I don’t know if that’s ever happened before. It was actually difficult to pick my favourites. In the order you’ll find them in the book because they’re all so different and I can’t rank them…

Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee

If Dava doesn’t tap her bedroom door three times, bad things will happen. Her therapist doesn’t understand this.

The horror when people with preconceived ideas don’t trust your judgement about what your reality looks like. When professionals believe that their expert opinion trumps your lived experience. When validation comes at a cost.

“Does this have something to do with awakening?”

Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez

Mario just wants his kids to be able to live in a home without mould. It’s clear his landlord isn’t going to fix the problem so Mario has decided to investigate for himself.

The horror when, no matter how hard you try, you’re stuck in a loop. Of being a single parent and doing your very best but not being able to get ahead. The illusion of safety. The injustice when people in authority abuse their power.

“The sculpture is nigh complete…”

Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni

Billy shows his classmates the rock he found in the woods. It’s a pretty rock. His classmates also like looking at the rock.

The horror of being the only one who can truly see what’s going on, understanding the gravity of it and knowing that the someone who needs to do something about it is you.

“Don’t make it harder to play the games.”

I am so glad I read this anthology. I have renewed hope for the ones my favourite authors will make me read in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the opportunity to read this anthology.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com

[Nereis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is a short-story anthology about mostly cosmic horror and things beyond what you can imagine.
As with many collection this was very hit or miss for me, even though none of them were outright bad, I just found myself being unmoved by a lot of them.

I think that choosing The Birth of Sound to open up the collection was a smart choice because it was definitely the wildest story in my opinion. It is really hard to grasp what is happening but it gets you in the mood.

Fractures of Her Reflection was excellent in my opinion as it blurs the lines between what could be real and what truly is. It is a story about a woman with OCD who is convinced that if she does not tap her bedroom door every morning it will cause the end of the world.

I also enjoyed :
- Effigies of Monstruous Things : a single father of two decides to fix things in his building but finds something he shouldn't have.
- Cracks : A group of young children find a pretty glowing rock and bad things start to happen to the people around them.
- The Things We Do In the Dark : unwanted girl is sent down a pit to take care of a slumbering evil.
- A Dampered Embrace : the son's mother dies, her grave is robbed, and his father calls him to tell him he found a mermaid.
- 24 Points : hunting trip gone wrong.
- Passage : expedition stuck in the ice and blood sacrifices
- Gyges : a surprisingly fun exorcism

I would like to mention that some short stories such as The Silent Letter or Burning Slumber had very interesting premises but did not work for me. But I think they still deserve to be mentionned here.

It was not the best short story collection I was given to read, I already knew many of the tropes, but I think it could be a good introduction to the genre of cosmic horror. There is body horror but truly not that much so definitely beginner friendly.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of the book.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in the April 2024 Issue of Library Journal

Three Words That Describe This Book: existential dread, wide range of writing styles, compelling

Draft Review:
Cosmic Horror is popular precisely because its horror stems from a powerful force that is indifferent to human suffering, a feeling to which people can unfortunately relate. But it also has a public relations problem as its founder, Lovecraft, was not only virulently xenophobic but also, embedded this hatred into his stories. Thankfully a new generation of authors, the very best of which identify as the people Lovecraft despised, are taking the genre back. Editors, Jackson and Pearre, set out to share tales created by marginalized voices inviting guest authors like S.A. Cosby and Mary SanGiovanni to anchor the volume while saving 15 of the 19 slots for an open call that resulted in 350 submissions. The resulting anthology highlights the vibrancy and breadth of the genre, as readers are taken on a journey from the attention grabbing second person voice, ominous static, and immersive anxiety of Timaeus Bloom’s opener straight through to the closing terrors that emerge from L. Marie Wood’s movie director in an impossible situation, a story that leaves readers with the uneasy, Lovecraftian realization that the fear may never let up, and in fact, it may already be too late for us all.

Verdict: A great introduction to both today's Cosmic Horror and a plethora of new, talented voices. An easy handsell to fans of Jordan Peele, The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, or the work of rising star, Hailey Piper.

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an exciting idea for a collection that spreads its tentacles out wide and encompasses a massive realm of possibilities. Unfortunately, the overall collection was a little underwhelming for me. In a collection of this size, I generally hope for a few really stand-out stories, complemented by a handful of really good stories, with the rest filled out by enjoyable but not great, and maybe a stinker or two just to keep things balanced. Well, there weren’t any stinkers. There just wasn’t too much that really excited me, instead it was a solid collection of just-so. There were some that stood out of the pack, notably the stories by Julia Darcey, Christopher Hann, S. A. Cosby, Jessica L. Sparrow, and Vaughn A. Jackson.

The collection is diverse and explores different shades of the cosmic and unthinkable. It is a solid effort, but didn’t always reach its potential, in my opinion.

(Rounded up from 2.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Raw Dog Screaming Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DustyBookSniffers - Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a bit uncertain about this one. While the stories range from good to great, many don’t resonate with me. As someone who is relatively new to cosmic horror, I’m not sure if I was the target audience for this particular anthology.

That said, I found some favourites in the collection and would love to see more from these talented authors. Effigies of Monstrous Things by Pedro Iniguez and Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee were standout stories for me.

However, I felt that some stories ended just as they were starting to build momentum. If these authors had more space to develop their narratives, I might have enjoyed more of the stories. But as I mentioned earlier, I don’t think I’m the ideal reader for this genre.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and RDS Publishing for gifting me the e-book in exchange for my honest review. I’m just sorry I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.