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Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet
Something unspeakable is coming out of the closet...
From the ghosts of dead lovers and malevolent queer faeries to devious doppelgangers and twisted psychopaths, an eclectic lineup of award-winning writers from the horror and GLBT literary communities come together in this groundbreaking collection of queer horror stories. These tales will surprise with their universally resonant themes while exploring the deeper aspects of the closet experience - coming out, staying in, and being haunted by. Join Lee Thomas, Sarah Langan, Jameson Currier, Rick R. Reed, Scott Nicholson, Kealan Patrick Burke and others as they throw open their literary closet doors with 23 chilling tales. Be prepared as these master dark scribes reveal what lurks in those shadowy corners at the back of our closets. And the horrors found there promise to be unspeakable.
From the ghosts of dead lovers and malevolent queer faeries to devious doppelgangers and twisted psychopaths, an eclectic lineup of award-winning writers from the horror and GLBT literary communities come together in this groundbreaking collection of queer horror stories. These tales will surprise with their universally resonant themes while exploring the deeper aspects of the closet experience - coming out, staying in, and being haunted by. Join Lee Thomas, Sarah Langan, Jameson Currier, Rick R. Reed, Scott Nicholson, Kealan Patrick Burke and others as they throw open their literary closet doors with 23 chilling tales. Be prepared as these master dark scribes reveal what lurks in those shadowy corners at the back of our closets. And the horrors found there promise to be unspeakable.
340 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
About the author
Vince A. Liaguno
17 books80 followersVince Liaguno is the Bram Stoker Award-winning editor of UNSPEAKABLE HORROR: FROM THE SHADOWS OF THE CLOSET (Dark Scribe Press 2008), an anthology of queer horror fiction, which he co-edited with Chad Helder. His debut novel, 2006’s THE LITERARY SIX, was a tribute to the slasher films of the 80’s and won an Independent Publisher Award (IPPY) for Horror and was named a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Awards in the Gay/Lesbian Fiction category.
He also edited BUTCHER KNIVES & BODY COUNTS (Dark Scribe Press, 2011), a collection of essays on the formula, frights and fun of the slasher film, UNSPEAKABLE HORROR 2: ABOMINATIONS OF DESIRE (Evil Jester Press, 2017), and UNSPEAKABLE HORROR 3: DARK RAINBOW RISING (Crystal Lake Publishing, 2023). Most recently, he co-edited OTHER TERRORS: AN INCLUSIVE ANTHOLOGY (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2022), which was nominated for both the prestigious Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy Awards. His debut poetry collection, DEMO REELS AND ARTHOUSE MADNESS, releases February 2025 from Raw Dog Screaming Press.
He currently lives in the mitten-shaped state of Michigan, where he is a licensed nursing home administrator by day and a pop culture enthusiast by night whose jam is books, slasher films, and Jamie Lee Curtis. He is a member (and former Secretary) of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC).
He also edited BUTCHER KNIVES & BODY COUNTS (Dark Scribe Press, 2011), a collection of essays on the formula, frights and fun of the slasher film, UNSPEAKABLE HORROR 2: ABOMINATIONS OF DESIRE (Evil Jester Press, 2017), and UNSPEAKABLE HORROR 3: DARK RAINBOW RISING (Crystal Lake Publishing, 2023). Most recently, he co-edited OTHER TERRORS: AN INCLUSIVE ANTHOLOGY (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2022), which was nominated for both the prestigious Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy Awards. His debut poetry collection, DEMO REELS AND ARTHOUSE MADNESS, releases February 2025 from Raw Dog Screaming Press.
He currently lives in the mitten-shaped state of Michigan, where he is a licensed nursing home administrator by day and a pop culture enthusiast by night whose jam is books, slasher films, and Jamie Lee Curtis. He is a member (and former Secretary) of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 19, 2012
This is possibly one of the best anthologies I've ever read. True, there are some few selections which are not up to the outstanding level of the rest, but even those few would stand out amongst less skilled company. Unlike in many other anthologies where the editors may sacrifice theme in favor of an individual author's name value, Liaguno and Helder almost universally stick to their theme. The one exception is a lovely story by Sarah Langan which, while extraordinary, does not quite fit into the anthology's overall theme and seems more of a sci fi/fantasy piece than a work of traditional horror.
The stand out story for me was clearly "Epistle of the Sleeping Beauty" by Vander Laenen, quite possibly the most brilliant horror short story I have ever read. If for no other reason, reading this story is worth picking up a copy of the anthology. Yes, it's that good.
"Portico Angel", however, was in a very close second place and, in my opinion, it is the story that most begs to be expanded into a full length novel. Other standouts included "The Bloomsbury Nudes" and Rick Reed's extraordinarily chilling "Sublet".
On the negative side, some of the lesbian offerings were a little too feminist in tone for my taste, but that flaws lies with me and not with the work itself. On the whole though, you will emphatically NOT be sorry to have read this anthology. It's a truly remarkable collection of works.
The stand out story for me was clearly "Epistle of the Sleeping Beauty" by Vander Laenen, quite possibly the most brilliant horror short story I have ever read. If for no other reason, reading this story is worth picking up a copy of the anthology. Yes, it's that good.
"Portico Angel", however, was in a very close second place and, in my opinion, it is the story that most begs to be expanded into a full length novel. Other standouts included "The Bloomsbury Nudes" and Rick Reed's extraordinarily chilling "Sublet".
On the negative side, some of the lesbian offerings were a little too feminist in tone for my taste, but that flaws lies with me and not with the work itself. On the whole though, you will emphatically NOT be sorry to have read this anthology. It's a truly remarkable collection of works.
November 23, 2011
This was a very interesting collection of shorts. I can understand why it won awards. There were a few stories that I had to ask myself, how is this horror, or how is this gay. There were a few standouts for me. "Black Annis" by Joy Marchand was extremely entertaining, a tale I was definitely able to get into. "Epistle of the Sleeping Beauty" by Vander Laenen was ...disturbing but isn't that what horror is suppose to do? I hear they are working on a second anthology, I can't wait to see what's in it.
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February 4, 2010Midway through the anthology. It is really quite good, and not just because I have a story in it.
September 2, 2012
This book blows (pardon the gay pun).. It's lame
May 10, 2026
Most of the stories were great. Only a couple of duds.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews