Darkness 101: Lessons Were Learned

by Elizabeth Suggs

Class is in session. We hope your mind is open. Collective Tales Publishing presents 101 new dreadful lessons. Each trimmed down to exactly 101 appalling words for your repulsive reeducation. Depicting a wide range of subjects, we visit the classics, such as vampires, mummies, and werewolves, but we also venture into the darkness and shockingly horrific. Like an absurd Aesop’s Fable, you’ll study the failings of students who were unwilling to learn. You’ll see victims get their payback. You’ll experience tangles and knots on a whirlwind of misbehavior. We guarantee lessons will be learned, whether you want them to or not.

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

Published February 7, 2025

About the author

Elizabeth Suggs is co-owner of the indie publisher Collective Tales Publishing, owner of Editing Mee, and is the author of several stories, two of which were in a podcast and poetry journal. She is the president of two writing groups, and she is a book reviewer and popular bookstagramer. When she is not writing or reading, she is playing video/board games or making cookies.

Current Projects:
http://ctpfiction.com/

https://www.editingmee.com/

Reviews

[Virginia Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

quick scares

Just in time for Halloween this little book will school you right! Each story is just scary enough to steal your breath or make your heart pound. All are horrific and terrifying despite their small size. An excellent stocking stuffer for All Hallows Eve.

[Russell Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the biggest fan of microfiction, but I am a short story enthusiast, especially when it's horror. This felt like a good pickup between more lengthy reads and was perfect for October. Each story weighed in at exactly 101 words to fit with the title, so it was easy to breeze through this book in a few short sittings.

My hands-down favorite of the bunch was Library Meet Cute by Jonathan Reddoch. It was the perfect mix of quirky detail and delivery on the promise set by the title. The ending made me genuinely laugh out loud and I think the neighbors heard me.

Other favorites in order of appearance were:
Relationship Resurrection by Elizabeth Suggs
Whisked Away by Jonathan Reddoch
Banquet by Robin Knabel
Thank the Lord! by Elizabeth Suggs
Package by Joshua Insole
Radio Silence by P.S. Tom
DIY Shampoo by Elizabeth Suggs
A Visit From the Elders by Jonathan Reddoch
Fresh Apricots by Alex Child
Too Late by Robin Knabel
Champain Room by Taylor Crook
Follow the Rules by Morgana Price
Those Who Dig by McKenzie Richardson

I can't help but view micro fiction through the lens of open mic nights at a comedy club. You have to hit fast and hard with quick setups and punchlines. Once you think a joke has legs, you can expand it to a longer bit with a few related jokes on the way to a larger payoff. I guess the parallel would be when a micro-story lengthens to flash fiction, allowing more words for characterization and plot elements to increase the payoff. Despite that example, I'm not a comedian, so don't look for me at the Comedy Attic.

Some stories in this collection used unique ideas for a surprise twist. Others springboarded a simple idea with excellent descriptive prose and turns of phrase. My favorite stories combined all these elements. The sheer number of entries in this collection helped me narrow down common elements of stories that worked for me and ones that didn't. So besides being enjoyable, I learned a few things for my writing, which is always a plus. My sweet spot for short fiction length is 1,000 words, so it's possible for many stories in this collection to hit other readers differently.

I think this collection is a great pickup for anyone who enjoys flash and micro fiction. If you prefer longer stories, this might be more hit or miss, but I would imagine all readers will find some stories they enjoy.

[Daniel Yocom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories are defined by their word count. But depending on the publication, or who you are talking to, the word count varies. Generally, it is considered a tale that is told with 15,000 words or less (that is because a novella is considered to have at least 17,500 words—but let’s not worry about the dead zone between the two). Then there is flash fiction, completing a story within 1,000 words. In Darkness 101: Lessons Were Learned, the publisher put on a restriction that every story is to be told with 101 words. To make it more interesting they included 101 tales.

I was given a PDF copy of Darkness 101 by the publisher for review purposes.

This collection is different, and I am sure it created a challenge for everyone involved. The publisher needed enough stories to choose from to get 101 stories. The authors needed to create and submit a story that fit the word count. The editors, Jonathan Reddoch and Elizabeth Suggs, had to ensure that when the stories were ready for publication, they still met the parameters.

For the reader, me, this created a different experience. With each entry being less than a single page of the book, consider a standard magazine page of text is about 1,000 words, Stories only take a minute or two to get through. A great little collection for those times when that is all the time you have.

Being such short tales it is impossible to tell you about what these stories are about. If I do that there would be no reason for you to check them out for yourself. Allow me to then give you an overview of the collection as a whole.

This is a collection of horror stories. They are not dark horror that longer tales usually delves into, but there are some unnerving points throughout that may cause someone to check out those dark corners in the room. They cover most of the subgenres of horror. This gives every connoisseur a bit of what they are looking for. If you are unfamiliar with some of the different areas of horror fiction, this is a great way of getting a small taste of what is available on the grander buffet.

It isn’t broken into sections. It is more like opening that old barn door and having to look to see what is waiting inside that darkened interior with only the moonlight creasing its way through the clapboards. You really don’t know what you are going to get. And by the time you see what is there—you’re ready for the next one.

I had fun reading I. There are so many different tales and styles and genres that moving from one tale to the next went quickly. Yet when I needed to step away from my reading, I wasn’t caught up in the middle of a larger story.

I recommend Darkness 101: Lessons Were Learned to those who enjoy short stories with a touch of horror. It would also be a wonderful introduction to different styles of horror for those who aren’t sure if they would like it.

You can read the complete review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...

[Winona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this collection in a little less than an hour an a half. A collection of flash fictions, each of the 101 stories are exactly 101 words long. The very first story had me hooked and instead of "just a couple of stories" I just kept reading 'til I ran out of things to read. I can't say I loved every single one of the stories, but I loved enough of them to give it 5 stars and fully recommend it to anyone who loves flash fiction and horror.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darkness 101 is a quick read at just 130 pages. The book features 101 "lessons" (stories) that are 101 words each featuring various creatures, myths and ways to die.

As with any short story collection, some are better than others, but none of these were really bad. My favorite of the bunch is "My Lips are Sealed" by AudraKate Gonzalez. It has a main character named Tanya in it!

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes short stories, drabbles, horror and spooky things.

[Robin Knabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for October! Readers can indulge in as many of these bite-sized pieces of horror as desired in a sitting.

I'm a contributor to this book, but I'm also a reader. I enjoyed the variety of stories, and I am a sucker for collections with interesting themes or formats. This one hit the mark for me.

This is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read!

[Robert Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkness 101 is a fun, fast, frightening read. You'll be glad you weren't the one who had to learn these particular lessons.

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun escape into some twisted minds. Worth a read.