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Nightmerica: Corruptions of the American Dream
James Truslow Adams coined the term, "American Dream" in his book, The Epic of America. Therein, it was defined as the hope for, "a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank which is the greatest contribution we have as yet made to the thought and welfare of the world."
This vision has yet to be attained. The American Dream as it currently exists functions as the carrot, urging us forward in the desperate race to stabilize, build, and thrive while we still have breath in our overworked and undermaintained bodies. The time of reckoning is upon us. It's time for a greater contribution, one in which a diversity of voices is amplified rather than silenced.
Stories for this collection will fall into one of three areas: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, those inalienable rights we were promised at this nation's founding. This anthology seeks to tell tales that emphasize the ways in which interwoven systems fail all but the most privileged among us. This failure might come in the form of poor prenatal care, lack of access to quality healthcare, inability to progress in one's field, racism, sexism, ableism... the sky is the limit.
This vision has yet to be attained. The American Dream as it currently exists functions as the carrot, urging us forward in the desperate race to stabilize, build, and thrive while we still have breath in our overworked and undermaintained bodies. The time of reckoning is upon us. It's time for a greater contribution, one in which a diversity of voices is amplified rather than silenced.
Stories for this collection will fall into one of three areas: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, those inalienable rights we were promised at this nation's founding. This anthology seeks to tell tales that emphasize the ways in which interwoven systems fail all but the most privileged among us. This failure might come in the form of poor prenatal care, lack of access to quality healthcare, inability to progress in one's field, racism, sexism, ableism... the sky is the limit.
244 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2025
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 24, 2025
"Nightmerica" is essentially a protest against the wiles of the so-called "American Dream," an illusion, in its current form at least, that has affected and is affecting a large part of today's ideological makeup in the States. According to editor Amanda Worthington's preface, the American Dream was "force-fed" to people "at an early age," as the idea that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were my birthright as an American if I did as I was told." Disastrously, the dream not only has been corrupted, the promise of equal rights and access to quality healthcare, for instance, never fulfilled - it is also corrupting "our minds, hearts, and bodies." No wonder, then, the authors contributing to the anthology are justifiably angry, bitter, even occasionally resigned to the collapse of this precious vision, coming up with stories and poems brimming with grief, rage, or a loss of heart, expressed straightforwardly as plain opposition and strong disapproval.
"Nightmerica," however, is not a political anthology - at least it's not meant to put forward arguments or debate any actual situation in detail. It's a horror anthology, with some very good stories (out of the 11 tales, I liked more than half) and several interesting poems (seven poems and one in prose - which poems, however, I won't comment upon, since I dislike poetry in general).
The stories cover many kinds of horror (medical, political, queer, family, job, tech, sci-fi), but there's a special emphasis on futuristic and speculative science fiction; the longer stories rest on science fictional premises, mostly about how politically manipulated and/or subdued Americans survive in a dystopian future. The stories are very clever and often challenging. Admittedly, though, the quality is very uneven, some stories taking too long to make a point, others slowed down by indecision about which element (horror or politics) they want to highlight. I'll mention my favorites.
The opening story, C. S. Magnuson's "This Place Has Good Roots," was by far the story I enjoyed most: an old woman has lost her home and is put to the curb; the company now owning it has sent two guys to witness the eviction; the old lady warns them that she can't leave, her children "have roots here." The story's about discovering what this means. Excellent eco-horror.
Dan B. Fierce's "Natural Selection," a Cabin 187 tale, though a little too much on the nose about queer rights, combines hillbilly horror with a serial killer theme in the context of gay marriage, and offers an entertaining tale about never judging a book by its cover.
"Exceptional Wretches" by Joe Koch, about a pregnant trans man seeking to get rid of "the thing inside" him (to put it bluntly), is a very weird tale, told in a most mind-bending way, with a very sad ending.
"Company Policy" by Larry Hinkle and Valerie B. William is an excellent ghost story about a medical insurance company manager, whose decision to keep blindly following company policy (written, of course, by himself) and denying coverage to terminally ill clients, leads him to his own personal hell. The ending is AMAZING. I never expected he'd do that.
Finally, Austin Gragg's "Feeding America" was a creepy futiristic tale of job horror, with the most unsettling ending in the volume.
I recommend the anthology for its visceral imagery and its "no quarter" approach to the political darkness it's undertaken to explore.
"Nightmerica," however, is not a political anthology - at least it's not meant to put forward arguments or debate any actual situation in detail. It's a horror anthology, with some very good stories (out of the 11 tales, I liked more than half) and several interesting poems (seven poems and one in prose - which poems, however, I won't comment upon, since I dislike poetry in general).
The stories cover many kinds of horror (medical, political, queer, family, job, tech, sci-fi), but there's a special emphasis on futuristic and speculative science fiction; the longer stories rest on science fictional premises, mostly about how politically manipulated and/or subdued Americans survive in a dystopian future. The stories are very clever and often challenging. Admittedly, though, the quality is very uneven, some stories taking too long to make a point, others slowed down by indecision about which element (horror or politics) they want to highlight. I'll mention my favorites.
The opening story, C. S. Magnuson's "This Place Has Good Roots," was by far the story I enjoyed most: an old woman has lost her home and is put to the curb; the company now owning it has sent two guys to witness the eviction; the old lady warns them that she can't leave, her children "have roots here." The story's about discovering what this means. Excellent eco-horror.
Dan B. Fierce's "Natural Selection," a Cabin 187 tale, though a little too much on the nose about queer rights, combines hillbilly horror with a serial killer theme in the context of gay marriage, and offers an entertaining tale about never judging a book by its cover.
"Exceptional Wretches" by Joe Koch, about a pregnant trans man seeking to get rid of "the thing inside" him (to put it bluntly), is a very weird tale, told in a most mind-bending way, with a very sad ending.
"Company Policy" by Larry Hinkle and Valerie B. William is an excellent ghost story about a medical insurance company manager, whose decision to keep blindly following company policy (written, of course, by himself) and denying coverage to terminally ill clients, leads him to his own personal hell. The ending is AMAZING. I never expected he'd do that.
Finally, Austin Gragg's "Feeding America" was a creepy futiristic tale of job horror, with the most unsettling ending in the volume.
I recommend the anthology for its visceral imagery and its "no quarter" approach to the political darkness it's undertaken to explore.
July 25, 2025
I know this was horror, but it was mostly heartbreaking. Through a collection of short stories and poetry, we see what the “American dream” has turned out to be and isn’t pretty. I suggest this for all horror lovers and also to everyone SICK of the nightmare America has become.
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July 11, 2025DRP release, no review.
The American Dream as it currently exists functions as the carrot, urging us forward in the desperate race to stabilize, build, and thrive while we still have breath in our overworked and under maintained bodies. But beneath the veneer of prosperity lie nightmares untold.
A sleep-deprived man caught in a strange dream sequence. A strange woman whose eviction tears her away from her beloved children. An insular sanctum where the rebels of a dying world power the very corruption they seek to fight. A new mother whose desperation leads her to make a deal with the devil. A romantic hiking trip gone terribly wrong. This is just the beginning of what you'll find lurking in this volume of never-before published stories and poems.
The diverse voices contained herein lead you further into the disturbing, uncanny, and monstrous as they explore the barriers to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In a time of unprecedented political and ideological instability, you are invited to explore the shifting terrain of Nightmerica. Both familiar and distorted in equal measure, you can hear it calling your name.
The American Dream as it currently exists functions as the carrot, urging us forward in the desperate race to stabilize, build, and thrive while we still have breath in our overworked and under maintained bodies. But beneath the veneer of prosperity lie nightmares untold.
A sleep-deprived man caught in a strange dream sequence. A strange woman whose eviction tears her away from her beloved children. An insular sanctum where the rebels of a dying world power the very corruption they seek to fight. A new mother whose desperation leads her to make a deal with the devil. A romantic hiking trip gone terribly wrong. This is just the beginning of what you'll find lurking in this volume of never-before published stories and poems.
The diverse voices contained herein lead you further into the disturbing, uncanny, and monstrous as they explore the barriers to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In a time of unprecedented political and ideological instability, you are invited to explore the shifting terrain of Nightmerica. Both familiar and distorted in equal measure, you can hear it calling your name.
June 25, 2025
America, It is time to meet these authors that put a face to your inequalities and prejudices!!
With a mix of 18 short stories and poems, 18 authors bring a range of amazing horror-ific themes of the many injustices in America. From healthcare, to race, to gender, and even some workplace matters, each of these authors brings to the forefront the unfairness all across America.
A lot of different emotions rose up within me when reading each story. I was sad, angry, and sometimes, relieved. Many of the topics are relatable to me, which added more of a punch. Lots of them have a little bit of a twisted ending that gives me a bit of a revenge feeling.
Perhaps a copy of this should be sent to the people that need an eye-opening experience? Grab a copy to read, and then see if you know someone that needs their own copy to put a little different perspective on our society in America.
P.S. If you are in a debate club, or even a book club, (be careful of those that are narrow minded) consider this anthology. Some of these might even work for highschool students to read and discuss.
Here’s a list of the authors:
C.S. Magnuson
Dan B. Fierce
K. M. Bennett
Sumiko Saulson
Joe Koch
Larry Hinkle & Valerie B. William
Donan J.W. Munro
Lucy A. Snyder
L. Marie Wood
Austin Gragg
Lindsey Beth Goddard
Anton Cancre
TK Brave
Ken Hueler
Angela Yuriko Smith
Shane David Morin
Rocky Colavito
Xavier Poe Kane
With a mix of 18 short stories and poems, 18 authors bring a range of amazing horror-ific themes of the many injustices in America. From healthcare, to race, to gender, and even some workplace matters, each of these authors brings to the forefront the unfairness all across America.
A lot of different emotions rose up within me when reading each story. I was sad, angry, and sometimes, relieved. Many of the topics are relatable to me, which added more of a punch. Lots of them have a little bit of a twisted ending that gives me a bit of a revenge feeling.
Perhaps a copy of this should be sent to the people that need an eye-opening experience? Grab a copy to read, and then see if you know someone that needs their own copy to put a little different perspective on our society in America.
P.S. If you are in a debate club, or even a book club, (be careful of those that are narrow minded) consider this anthology. Some of these might even work for highschool students to read and discuss.
Here’s a list of the authors:
C.S. Magnuson
Dan B. Fierce
K. M. Bennett
Sumiko Saulson
Joe Koch
Larry Hinkle & Valerie B. William
Donan J.W. Munro
Lucy A. Snyder
L. Marie Wood
Austin Gragg
Lindsey Beth Goddard
Anton Cancre
TK Brave
Ken Hueler
Angela Yuriko Smith
Shane David Morin
Rocky Colavito
Xavier Poe Kane
October 14, 2025
“This Place Has Good Roots” by C.S. Magnuson - I wanted this one to be longer! If it’d been drawn out more, it could’ve packed an even bigger punch when it came to instilling fear in the reader.
“Natural Selection” by Dan B. Fierce - Always choose the bear.
“Mrs. Merriweather’s Lactation Services” by K.M. Bennett - This story had me running through a rollercoaster of emotions. I was sad. I was angry. I almost felt physical pain, and I almost felt numb. Incredibly evocative.
“A Rise in Red” by Sumiko Saulson - I love a poem with a strong ending.
“Exceptional Wretches” by Joe Koch - That was a lot. I think I’d need to reread it to fully grasp what it’s trying to say.
“Company Policy” by Larry Hinkle and Valerie B. Williams - Haunting. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Bravo.
“His Edges” by Donna J. W. Munro - I could’ve read a whole book of this. I wanted that world more fully fleshed out!
“Vicious” by L. Marie Wood - I loved the line “Cosmic, the reach, cold, the touch.”
“Feeding America” by Austin Gragg - That’s it?? I want more!
“The Traveling Freak Show” by Lindsey Beth Goddard - My favorite line was “Like she knew pain but longed to transcend it.”
“The First Law, Unbendable Until Snapped” by Anton Cancre - I’ll admit it: The end got a resigned chuckle out of me.
“Capitalism Kisses Your Self-Care Commodified Smile Into Cash” by TK Brave - The play with sounds here was really clever when I read it aloud.
“Counting Sheep” by Ken Hueler - Glad I read this sober because it was frighteningly trippy!
“Fake Muse” by Angela Yuriko Smith - This story left me viscerally angry.
“Velvet Bag” by Shane David Morin - This poem was real rather than dystopian.
“First Person, Shooter” by Rocky Colavito - I spent so much of this wishing for an ending that wasn’t the one I knew was coming.
“The Social Lottery” by Xavier Poe Kane - My favorite! I’m biased! Xavier is a long-time client of mine as an editor, and I’m grateful that Amanda was open to collaborating with me on the editing of this piece for her collection. Check out more of his work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
While the horror elements are very present in this anthology. The scariest part of the book are the main aspects: evictions, miscarriages due to lack of proper health care because of abortion bans, women's bodies alive or not being used as incubators with no say in their own lives, healthcare that's out of reach for many, ICE, these are the scariest parts of this book because every one of them are currently happening at exponential rates in the United States.
Honestly, I wouldn't even consider this just fiction. It's a testimony to how we Americans feel right now and should definitely be preserved in the annals of history. It's the fear l unbridled fears, the anguish, and the dying hope we still have in a country who's government hasn't seen us as anything except fodder, incubators, cheap labor, the wrong color (or religion, sexuality, gender identity, etc). It's the lie of the American Dream exposed as only those who were dupped can see and understand it.
I give this book 5 of 5 Paws and hope if another volume is planned they will allow me to add my own experience.
Honestly, I wouldn't even consider this just fiction. It's a testimony to how we Americans feel right now and should definitely be preserved in the annals of history. It's the fear l unbridled fears, the anguish, and the dying hope we still have in a country who's government hasn't seen us as anything except fodder, incubators, cheap labor, the wrong color (or religion, sexuality, gender identity, etc). It's the lie of the American Dream exposed as only those who were dupped can see and understand it.
I give this book 5 of 5 Paws and hope if another volume is planned they will allow me to add my own experience.
June 27, 2025
Thanks NetGally for the eARC!
This book consists of short stories and poems by different authors that brings a range of horror themes and many injustices in America. The American Dream is just an illusion that everyone’s trying to achieve. This book isn’t for narrow minded people- I suggest reading with an open mind. Maybe you know someone who could benefit from reading this book.
*This is my personal, honest opinion of this book*
This book consists of short stories and poems by different authors that brings a range of horror themes and many injustices in America. The American Dream is just an illusion that everyone’s trying to achieve. This book isn’t for narrow minded people- I suggest reading with an open mind. Maybe you know someone who could benefit from reading this book.
*This is my personal, honest opinion of this book*
November 22, 2025
Ah America! The land of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What more could you want? I mean besides healthcare, food, homes, and all that other non-essential stuff.
Based on the book’s title, you could probably guess that “Nightmerica” focuses on the disillusionment of the American Dream. There is nothing wrong with the ideals of life, liberty and happiness. The words just start to ring a bit hollow when we look at the struggles of America’s citizens. It’s easy to feel resentment when systemic abuse actively hinders us from pursuing the American Dream.
“Nightmerica” is an anthology composed of different short stories and poems centered around the American Dream. The collection was divided into three segments: Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. I appreciate the candidness of the sections’ names. At least to me, it shows that the anthology doesn’t intend to be coy about the frustrations its pieces will reveal. It holds the promise of raw emotion and that excites me.
As with any anthology, there will be pieces that stand out from the others. Sometimes this is a reflection of the author’s talent, the reader’s own personal tastes, or any other reason. While I think all the pieces are good, some did not match the same writing quality as the others. Also, sometimes the actual story lengths didn’t feel as consistent as they could throughout the book. It feels odd to critique this since I do appreciate diversity in an anthology, but there were times stories felt longer or shorter than expected due to previous entries.
That said, I feel confident that you will find at least a few pieces that you’ll thoroughly enjoy! You want a story about men being hunted in the woods? “Natural Selection” has you covered. What about a lactation nurse being too invested in a mother’s breastfeeding habits? “Mrs. Merriweather’s Lactation Services” is all about that! Want a poem about people not accepting accountability of their racist ideas or how they don’t take your comments seriously? Sounds like an uphill task that “Fragility and the Modern Sisyphus” tackles.
I was quite surprised how different all the pieces were. It was refreshing to read a story with eco-horror (“This Place has Good Roots”), later read a sci-fi dystopian (“His Edges”), then coming across something totally surreal (“Exceptional Wretches”). At the very least, there is a story about an insurance company manager being haunted by the clients that suffered under his policy. If that isn’t therapeutic then I don’t know what is.
While some of these stories have exaggerated themes or might be too “on the nose”, I think it works for most of them. When done properly, exaggerating the threat sometimes makes it easier to distance ourselves from the real horror long enough to reflect on it. Then you get to a story like “Fake Muse.” There is no exaggeration or campiness to separate us. In fact, it felt familiar despite it taking place in the near future. There is a strength in an author gut-punching you with only paper and words. But, ouch, that hurt.
“Nightmerica” is a horror anthology that guarantees to twist your heart one way or another. While the pieces are born from dissatisfaction with America, it looks at how people suffer as opposed to focusing on our government and its policies. Admittedly, this is a relief since Thanksgiving is coming up and that should cover all headache-inducing political talk.
I believe that makes this collection more approachable since most people (like me) get stressed even thinking about our government. It also shifts to focus on what’s most important: people. Reading stories that focus on the people allows us to empathize with those frustrations of an unjust life and hopefully spur some to help others in those situations.
Or maybe we should all grow man-eating plants in our homes. I can’t tell you what to do with your life. Before you do that, be sure to give this book a read.
Based on the book’s title, you could probably guess that “Nightmerica” focuses on the disillusionment of the American Dream. There is nothing wrong with the ideals of life, liberty and happiness. The words just start to ring a bit hollow when we look at the struggles of America’s citizens. It’s easy to feel resentment when systemic abuse actively hinders us from pursuing the American Dream.
“Nightmerica” is an anthology composed of different short stories and poems centered around the American Dream. The collection was divided into three segments: Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. I appreciate the candidness of the sections’ names. At least to me, it shows that the anthology doesn’t intend to be coy about the frustrations its pieces will reveal. It holds the promise of raw emotion and that excites me.
As with any anthology, there will be pieces that stand out from the others. Sometimes this is a reflection of the author’s talent, the reader’s own personal tastes, or any other reason. While I think all the pieces are good, some did not match the same writing quality as the others. Also, sometimes the actual story lengths didn’t feel as consistent as they could throughout the book. It feels odd to critique this since I do appreciate diversity in an anthology, but there were times stories felt longer or shorter than expected due to previous entries.
That said, I feel confident that you will find at least a few pieces that you’ll thoroughly enjoy! You want a story about men being hunted in the woods? “Natural Selection” has you covered. What about a lactation nurse being too invested in a mother’s breastfeeding habits? “Mrs. Merriweather’s Lactation Services” is all about that! Want a poem about people not accepting accountability of their racist ideas or how they don’t take your comments seriously? Sounds like an uphill task that “Fragility and the Modern Sisyphus” tackles.
I was quite surprised how different all the pieces were. It was refreshing to read a story with eco-horror (“This Place has Good Roots”), later read a sci-fi dystopian (“His Edges”), then coming across something totally surreal (“Exceptional Wretches”). At the very least, there is a story about an insurance company manager being haunted by the clients that suffered under his policy. If that isn’t therapeutic then I don’t know what is.
While some of these stories have exaggerated themes or might be too “on the nose”, I think it works for most of them. When done properly, exaggerating the threat sometimes makes it easier to distance ourselves from the real horror long enough to reflect on it. Then you get to a story like “Fake Muse.” There is no exaggeration or campiness to separate us. In fact, it felt familiar despite it taking place in the near future. There is a strength in an author gut-punching you with only paper and words. But, ouch, that hurt.
“Nightmerica” is a horror anthology that guarantees to twist your heart one way or another. While the pieces are born from dissatisfaction with America, it looks at how people suffer as opposed to focusing on our government and its policies. Admittedly, this is a relief since Thanksgiving is coming up and that should cover all headache-inducing political talk.
I believe that makes this collection more approachable since most people (like me) get stressed even thinking about our government. It also shifts to focus on what’s most important: people. Reading stories that focus on the people allows us to empathize with those frustrations of an unjust life and hopefully spur some to help others in those situations.
Or maybe we should all grow man-eating plants in our homes. I can’t tell you what to do with your life. Before you do that, be sure to give this book a read.
January 18, 2026
Sometimes you read a piece of work and immediately know that it is more than just entertainment because of the importance of its content. I felt like this powerful collective is one of those types of books.
C.S. Magnuson kicked off this collection with a Botanical Horror piece that will make you think twice before serving eviction papers.
Dan B. Fierce was next up with an important tale about misconceptions, and hatred getting its due.
K.M. Bennett then dropped a short story that was outrageous and gave me Clive Barker vibes in a way.
Sumiko Saulson offered up a strong one about the struggles of the poor and pregnant.
Joe Koch brought out an interesting take on the cost of freedom.
Larry Hinkle and Valeria B. William followed with one about karma and the despicable greed of the American Healthcare system. I didn't like the ending but otherwise felt it was very good.
Donna J.W. Munro came next with a powerhouse of a story.
Lucy a Snyder fired off two poems about people victimizing others, while L Marie Wood's poem showed us the leech system that seems to be the American way.
Austin Gragg followed with a story that was very interesting but left me with many questions.
Lindsey Beth Goddard, Anton Cancre, and TK Brave each had poems that were smart and makes you stop to think. I love being provoked into contemplation.
Ken Hueler brought an interesting character and plot about the price of dreaming.
Angela Yuriko Smith kicked me in the face with a tale about hopelessness at the hands of prejudice.
Shane David Morin left me feeling several emotions about the unfairness of custody battles and their outcomes.
Rocky Colavito delivered a brutal one that was full of truth bombs about the facade of the education system.
Xavier Poe Kane ended this one with a powerful narrative that foreshadows what the future could look like if we allow it to.
Overall, this book felt not only unique but also crucial in these uncertain times we are living here in America and abroad. None of us are alone in our fights, so put a copy of this collective in one hand and raise the other in the air and make a fist. This is resistance in literature form, and it serves to reminds us that it's okay to stay in a state of discontent and hopefully encourages each reader that picks it up to lift their voice.
C.S. Magnuson kicked off this collection with a Botanical Horror piece that will make you think twice before serving eviction papers.
Dan B. Fierce was next up with an important tale about misconceptions, and hatred getting its due.
K.M. Bennett then dropped a short story that was outrageous and gave me Clive Barker vibes in a way.
Sumiko Saulson offered up a strong one about the struggles of the poor and pregnant.
Joe Koch brought out an interesting take on the cost of freedom.
Larry Hinkle and Valeria B. William followed with one about karma and the despicable greed of the American Healthcare system. I didn't like the ending but otherwise felt it was very good.
Donna J.W. Munro came next with a powerhouse of a story.
Lucy a Snyder fired off two poems about people victimizing others, while L Marie Wood's poem showed us the leech system that seems to be the American way.
Austin Gragg followed with a story that was very interesting but left me with many questions.
Lindsey Beth Goddard, Anton Cancre, and TK Brave each had poems that were smart and makes you stop to think. I love being provoked into contemplation.
Ken Hueler brought an interesting character and plot about the price of dreaming.
Angela Yuriko Smith kicked me in the face with a tale about hopelessness at the hands of prejudice.
Shane David Morin left me feeling several emotions about the unfairness of custody battles and their outcomes.
Rocky Colavito delivered a brutal one that was full of truth bombs about the facade of the education system.
Xavier Poe Kane ended this one with a powerful narrative that foreshadows what the future could look like if we allow it to.
Overall, this book felt not only unique but also crucial in these uncertain times we are living here in America and abroad. None of us are alone in our fights, so put a copy of this collective in one hand and raise the other in the air and make a fist. This is resistance in literature form, and it serves to reminds us that it's okay to stay in a state of discontent and hopefully encourages each reader that picks it up to lift their voice.
July 11, 2025
Thank you to Dragon's Roost Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.
Nightmerica is a collection that follows in the tradition of other anthologies like The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, The Night Gallery, and Tales from the Crypt, though I applaud the inclusion of poetry alongside prose exploring this most timely topic. It explores the darkest present and future of the United States given the steady decline towards authorianism as seen in the past decade and with increasingly rapidity under the current regime. Some are more speculative than other pieces while some are alarmingly grounded and all the more effective for it.
To the point of effectiveness, given how subjective stories (and indeed anything created is), some stories will hit more for some readers than others--with some stories suffering from predictable or unsatisfactory conclusions. For me, the parental terror and unexpected shifts in K.M. Bennett's "Mrs. Merriweather's Lactation Services," the eco-horror of C.S. Magnuson's "This House Has Good Roots," The shuddering suspense of Angela Yuriko Smith's "Fake Muse," and Donna J.W. Munro's epic "His Edges" were the standouts for me. Sumiko Saulson's poem "A Rise in Red" is a rallying cry for the entire collection. Overall, standout work from a number of voices in horror writing that address various ills in our society at large. Recommended.
Final note, I don't know that I found the piece "First Person, Shooter" by J. Rocky Colavito to be a necessary addition to the collection both for the base content (schizophrenic school shooter) and it's apparent lack of anything to say other than "Hey, this is bad." Maybe I missed something in the mix, but that one story drug the collection down quite a bit for me. I think a lot of creative writing instructors have fatigue from this sort of story for a number of reasons, perhaps the greatest among them being the difficulty of making something truly new. The active shooter story in Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's short story collection Friday Black is the only one that comes to mind. I get the feeling Colavito was reaching for a Thomas Ligotti mode in this work, but it just didn't hit the mark in my mind.
Nightmerica is a collection that follows in the tradition of other anthologies like The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, The Night Gallery, and Tales from the Crypt, though I applaud the inclusion of poetry alongside prose exploring this most timely topic. It explores the darkest present and future of the United States given the steady decline towards authorianism as seen in the past decade and with increasingly rapidity under the current regime. Some are more speculative than other pieces while some are alarmingly grounded and all the more effective for it.
To the point of effectiveness, given how subjective stories (and indeed anything created is), some stories will hit more for some readers than others--with some stories suffering from predictable or unsatisfactory conclusions. For me, the parental terror and unexpected shifts in K.M. Bennett's "Mrs. Merriweather's Lactation Services," the eco-horror of C.S. Magnuson's "This House Has Good Roots," The shuddering suspense of Angela Yuriko Smith's "Fake Muse," and Donna J.W. Munro's epic "His Edges" were the standouts for me. Sumiko Saulson's poem "A Rise in Red" is a rallying cry for the entire collection. Overall, standout work from a number of voices in horror writing that address various ills in our society at large. Recommended.
Final note, I don't know that I found the piece "First Person, Shooter" by J. Rocky Colavito to be a necessary addition to the collection both for the base content (schizophrenic school shooter) and it's apparent lack of anything to say other than "Hey, this is bad." Maybe I missed something in the mix, but that one story drug the collection down quite a bit for me. I think a lot of creative writing instructors have fatigue from this sort of story for a number of reasons, perhaps the greatest among them being the difficulty of making something truly new. The active shooter story in Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's short story collection Friday Black is the only one that comes to mind. I get the feeling Colavito was reaching for a Thomas Ligotti mode in this work, but it just didn't hit the mark in my mind.
July 9, 2025
I don't think I knew this was an anthology of short stories when I picked it up, but as I worked my way through them I was impressed with the creepy, eerie vibe. Each author takes the idea of Life, Liberty, or The Pursuit of Happiness as it relates to the dying American Dream and turns those ideas into stories filled with demons, man eating plants, sacrifice, and more.
I picked this book up because I wanted horror and it certainly was horrifying, There are stories related to discrimination, medical, political, job insecurity, tech, and so much more. I think it was horrifying (for me) because even though the stories are presented in a fictional way, they are not too far from the truth of many situations people currently face. I would actually go so far as to say the demons and plants eating men probably make the stories less horrifying because we are then able to spin them with sci-fi, and fiction elements.
Natural Selection comes near the beginning and does hit pretty close to the vest with regards to queer rights and mountain men horror stories. Just remember not everything is as it seems and the ending is... well deserved.
Company Policy also highlights some of the issues with health insurance companies and their denial to pay as well as others who blindly seem to follow the policies. It ultimately turns into a ghost story which is a great story.
This book does not pull it's punches and can be a bit triggering but I think it's well worth the read. Some of the depictions of "life" will trigger visceral reactions so just be aware.
I picked this book up because I wanted horror and it certainly was horrifying, There are stories related to discrimination, medical, political, job insecurity, tech, and so much more. I think it was horrifying (for me) because even though the stories are presented in a fictional way, they are not too far from the truth of many situations people currently face. I would actually go so far as to say the demons and plants eating men probably make the stories less horrifying because we are then able to spin them with sci-fi, and fiction elements.
Natural Selection comes near the beginning and does hit pretty close to the vest with regards to queer rights and mountain men horror stories. Just remember not everything is as it seems and the ending is... well deserved.
Company Policy also highlights some of the issues with health insurance companies and their denial to pay as well as others who blindly seem to follow the policies. It ultimately turns into a ghost story which is a great story.
This book does not pull it's punches and can be a bit triggering but I think it's well worth the read. Some of the depictions of "life" will trigger visceral reactions so just be aware.
July 11, 2025
Nightmerica had such a strong vision. There were moments in here that seriously hit. Some of the poems were raw in the best way, and certain lines really lingered with me. The themes? Heavy and important. You can feel the passion, the anger, the grief, and the need to be heard pulsing through these pages.
That said, some pieces didn’t fully land for me. A few stories felt a little disjointed or like they needed more polish to reach their full potential.
Still, I admire what this collection was trying to do. It is unafraid to speak, to scream, to question. And for readers who crave horror with teeth and heart, it might just be exactly what they are looking for.
That said, some pieces didn’t fully land for me. A few stories felt a little disjointed or like they needed more polish to reach their full potential.
Still, I admire what this collection was trying to do. It is unafraid to speak, to scream, to question. And for readers who crave horror with teeth and heart, it might just be exactly what they are looking for.
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