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Nightmare Yearnings
A thrill-seeker studies a language learned through close encounters with death. A flock of extinct birds haunt a grieving woman for reasons unknown. A boy participates in a public access cannibal cooking show to win his family's love. A couple panics when Mothman shows up to their slice of rural paradise with omens in tow.
In his debut short story collection, Eric Raglin presents sixteen queer and weird horror stories.
In his debut short story collection, Eric Raglin presents sixteen queer and weird horror stories.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2021
2 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Eric Raglin
25 books69 followersEric Raglin (he/him) is a horror/Weird fiction writer. His short story collections include Nightmare Yearnings, Extinction Hymns, Sick! Stories from the Goop Troop (co-authored with Lor Gislason and Shelley Lavigne, currently out of print), and Lonesome Pyres. He owns Cursed Morsels Press and has edited No Trouble at All (co-edited with Alexis DuBon), Bitter Apples, Shredded: A Sports and Fitness Body Horror Anthology, and Antifa Splatterpunk. Find him on Bluesky or Instagram @ericraglin1992.
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September 2, 2021
This debut short story collection from Eric Raglin collects sixteen stories of weird horror including tales of;
• A father and son attending the annual Running of the Bulls, where familial pressure and toxic masculinity combine with tragic results
• A decrepit apartment complex where residents seem to disappear without warning, and the terrible secret that resides on the top floor
• A house that boasts five spectral residents, and the heart-rending story behind their deaths.
• A cable TV show starring a cannibal cook, and one young boy yearning to be next on the menu
• A couple seeking solitude receive a cryptid visitor, unsure whether its appearance is an ill omen or a sign of the changing times
With only a handful of previous publishing credits to his name in the indie horror short story market, Eric Raglin may not be a well-known name right now, even among the most ardent of horror fans, but ‘Nightmare Yearnings’ is surely about to change that. When a book boasts blurbs from indie horror titans such as Eric Larocca and Hailey Piper, it is a book that people should take note of.
We’re firming in ‘weird fiction’ territory with these sixteen shorts, but there is a surprising diversity of tones throughout. Some of the books earlier offerings (such as “Mother’s Tongue” or “Ivory”) are quite downbeat meditations on grief or loss, whereas other tales lean a little more fun and light (“The Patch”). Raglin is also more than capable of unsettling, disturbing or otherwise scaring the pants off his reader as well, with shorts such as “Grey Matter” boasting some strong body horror in an otherwise heartbreaking metaphor for Alzheimer's, or pieces that read like nightmares committed to page (“Sick Leave”, “Under the Hoof, Upon the Horns”). There's no complacency and no filler with ‘Nightmare Yearnings’.
This book may prove to be a bit of an acquired taste. Every story within leans heavily into the bizarre and whether this is used as a metaphor (“Smaller”, “My Better Half”) or simply to deliver a uniquely memorable and entertaining story (“The Reveal”, “For My Final Girl”), there isn’t a single entry that could be accused of being predictable. One of the books biggest strengths is how the weird is used to enhance the story being told, never being its focus. Some shorts present a bizarre scenario used to tell a very personal and human story (“Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook”) or takes a seemingly standard premise and enhances it with a strange new twist (“The Patch”, “Lockdown”).
My personal favourites included “The Lord Above”, one of the collections most unsettling stories, and “Top 5 Ghosts Caught on Camera”, which begins as perhaps the books most light and overtly comedic tale, before taking a particularly dark turn. ‘Nightmare Yearnings’ though, where there is no weak link and each and every story could well prove to be a favourite to another reader.
2021 is proving to be a stellar year for short story collections and this new release from Eric Raglin is no doubt going to feature heavily on a lot of ‘top’ release lists come the end of the year. His distinctive voice and unique take on themes of fractured relationships, sexuality and humanity demonstrate his assured grasp of weird fiction and promise an exciting future of what I hope will be many more fantastic books to come.
• A father and son attending the annual Running of the Bulls, where familial pressure and toxic masculinity combine with tragic results
• A decrepit apartment complex where residents seem to disappear without warning, and the terrible secret that resides on the top floor
• A house that boasts five spectral residents, and the heart-rending story behind their deaths.
• A cable TV show starring a cannibal cook, and one young boy yearning to be next on the menu
• A couple seeking solitude receive a cryptid visitor, unsure whether its appearance is an ill omen or a sign of the changing times
With only a handful of previous publishing credits to his name in the indie horror short story market, Eric Raglin may not be a well-known name right now, even among the most ardent of horror fans, but ‘Nightmare Yearnings’ is surely about to change that. When a book boasts blurbs from indie horror titans such as Eric Larocca and Hailey Piper, it is a book that people should take note of.
We’re firming in ‘weird fiction’ territory with these sixteen shorts, but there is a surprising diversity of tones throughout. Some of the books earlier offerings (such as “Mother’s Tongue” or “Ivory”) are quite downbeat meditations on grief or loss, whereas other tales lean a little more fun and light (“The Patch”). Raglin is also more than capable of unsettling, disturbing or otherwise scaring the pants off his reader as well, with shorts such as “Grey Matter” boasting some strong body horror in an otherwise heartbreaking metaphor for Alzheimer's, or pieces that read like nightmares committed to page (“Sick Leave”, “Under the Hoof, Upon the Horns”). There's no complacency and no filler with ‘Nightmare Yearnings’.
This book may prove to be a bit of an acquired taste. Every story within leans heavily into the bizarre and whether this is used as a metaphor (“Smaller”, “My Better Half”) or simply to deliver a uniquely memorable and entertaining story (“The Reveal”, “For My Final Girl”), there isn’t a single entry that could be accused of being predictable. One of the books biggest strengths is how the weird is used to enhance the story being told, never being its focus. Some shorts present a bizarre scenario used to tell a very personal and human story (“Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook”) or takes a seemingly standard premise and enhances it with a strange new twist (“The Patch”, “Lockdown”).
My personal favourites included “The Lord Above”, one of the collections most unsettling stories, and “Top 5 Ghosts Caught on Camera”, which begins as perhaps the books most light and overtly comedic tale, before taking a particularly dark turn. ‘Nightmare Yearnings’ though, where there is no weak link and each and every story could well prove to be a favourite to another reader.
2021 is proving to be a stellar year for short story collections and this new release from Eric Raglin is no doubt going to feature heavily on a lot of ‘top’ release lists come the end of the year. His distinctive voice and unique take on themes of fractured relationships, sexuality and humanity demonstrate his assured grasp of weird fiction and promise an exciting future of what I hope will be many more fantastic books to come.
Read
April 28, 2021I read my own book and, dang, it was pretty good!
July 13, 2021
Eric Raglin is quickly becoming one of my favorite proprietors of short fiction. To understand why, you only need to glimpse the variety showcased in his debut collection, Nightmare Yearnings.
Raglin understands how to distill a story to its core elements, forcing the reader to focus on the pieces that make the story truly scary without having to wade through anything superfluous to get there. The end result is sixteen stories that will all make you feel. Every one. Sure, some might make you feel afraid to turn the light off at night. Some might make you feel nervous about visiting Spain. Some might make you feel a little hesitant about what those birds outside your window are really up to. Some might make you feel all kind of ways about drain cleaner.
But they’ll make you feel.
Nightmare Yearnings is not shy about embracing the weird either. “Mother’s Tongue” lets you know the kind of thing you’re in for right off the bat. It’s followed by “Ivory”, one of my favorites from the book. Equal parts creepy and fantastic, it sinks its talons into the reader, drawing them in for the remainder of the ride.
Stories like “Gray Matter” and “For My Final Girl” stand on their own, but benefit immensely from Raglin’s author notes at the end, providing insight into what went into writing the piece, as well as where you might have seen it appear before. Putting these at the end of the book allows readers to learn a little more without risking spoilers.
Story collections rarely earn five stars from me. By their nature, they are striking diverse tones and attempting to appeal to a wide audience, often ending up uneven. Nightmare Yearnings brings sixteen stories to the table over the course of 190 pages and never drags for a moment. While I enjoyed every story on some level, some of my favorites not yet mentioned included “Under the Hoof, Upon the Horns”, “Lockdown”, “Smaller”, and “When Mothman Came to Queer Lake”.
If you consider yourself a fan of short fiction, or if you’d like to see what can be done in the medium, I can’t recommend Nightmare Yearnings highly enough.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
Raglin understands how to distill a story to its core elements, forcing the reader to focus on the pieces that make the story truly scary without having to wade through anything superfluous to get there. The end result is sixteen stories that will all make you feel. Every one. Sure, some might make you feel afraid to turn the light off at night. Some might make you feel nervous about visiting Spain. Some might make you feel a little hesitant about what those birds outside your window are really up to. Some might make you feel all kind of ways about drain cleaner.
But they’ll make you feel.
Nightmare Yearnings is not shy about embracing the weird either. “Mother’s Tongue” lets you know the kind of thing you’re in for right off the bat. It’s followed by “Ivory”, one of my favorites from the book. Equal parts creepy and fantastic, it sinks its talons into the reader, drawing them in for the remainder of the ride.
Stories like “Gray Matter” and “For My Final Girl” stand on their own, but benefit immensely from Raglin’s author notes at the end, providing insight into what went into writing the piece, as well as where you might have seen it appear before. Putting these at the end of the book allows readers to learn a little more without risking spoilers.
Story collections rarely earn five stars from me. By their nature, they are striking diverse tones and attempting to appeal to a wide audience, often ending up uneven. Nightmare Yearnings brings sixteen stories to the table over the course of 190 pages and never drags for a moment. While I enjoyed every story on some level, some of my favorites not yet mentioned included “Under the Hoof, Upon the Horns”, “Lockdown”, “Smaller”, and “When Mothman Came to Queer Lake”.
If you consider yourself a fan of short fiction, or if you’d like to see what can be done in the medium, I can’t recommend Nightmare Yearnings highly enough.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
June 5, 2021
There is something oddly satisfying about getting scared. This collection of Queer/Horror stories hits when it needs to hit. Obviously not all of the stories were scary but all were creepy. This being a debut is incredible. Eric writes with such confidence that you easily forget it’s a debut.
September 20, 2021
I received a paperback ARC of Nightmare Yearnings, authored and published by Eric Raglin, for review consideration. Cover art/design: Matthew Revert. Editor: Rachel Oestreich, owner/editor of The Wallflower Editing, LLC. Interior design/typesetting/layout: Sam Richard. What follows below is my honest review freely given.
I rated this debut collection 5 stars.
MOTHER’S TONGUE
So now I am left wondering if the world has places that are constantly thin, or if we are responsible for every spot created, every time. The needs for each breach to be successful would be varied in terms of acknowledgment and price required, but holy shit could I be on to something?! A favorite.
IVORY
Out of all the shorts in this collection this is one that I read and enjoyed but don’t really have any thoughts on.
GRAY MATTER
Have you ever read/watched a scene of horror so well done that you can only describe the reaction as being in the realm of delicious? Think splinter in the eye a la Zombi 2 (1979), this short will cause a flinch, a drawing back in defense of oneself. A favorite.
SICK LEAVE
I can’t help but see an evil store of any type in literature, think of Bentley Little and smile. This sadly hits a little too close to home for many.
THE PATCH
American Gods by Neil Gaiman had new gods, ones brought into being by people’s need. I believe internet was one of them, I’m too lazy to go to the other room to grab my copy atm. Interesting concept, because humans have tons of unhealthy coping mechanisms for basically anything. What could we create without *really* wanting to? A favorite.
THE LORD ABOVE
So most fantasy/supernatural stories have hierarchies for the bloodsuckers right? So those big sprawling complexes would be the goal, living the life of luxury (in theory) less chance of being noticed if draining from a larger pond.
UNDER THE HOOF, UNDER THE HORNS
There is a line in this short that is, imo, ‘metal as fuck’, but I don’t want to repeat it here and ruin it organically crossing your gaze, because when it hits, man the story just comes together. It gives it this aching weight, like a bruise that also is somehow scooped out? Can’t describe it well enough, but you’ll understand.
FOR MY FINAL GIRL
Brilliant. In any genre there is room to tweak and twist things just a hair and create something wholly new. A favorite.
LOCKDOWN
Is this one that would strike as much fear in a non-American? In the way that I noticed Japanese say suffered brain death, instead of braid dead, in the horror novels I have, is this a way to know you are reading an American story?
TOP 5 GHOSTS CAUGHT ON CAMERA
I thought this short was chef’s kiss! I felt uneasy right away, knowing that the worst was to come made the tension building painful to endure. And the delivery, when it came, not prepared dude. Seasoned horror reader, still hits hard. Top favorite.
REMI ROOK THE CANNIBAL COOK
Give me more of this universe, please and thank you. I am not sharing anything on purpose, just the title should give you enough clues. A favorite.
MY BETTER HALF
The audacity of this bitch. A favorite.
THE REVEAL
Celebrities may go the whole pregnancy and birth before alerting anyone there is a baby, boy or girl. Then you have Amy and Allen buying pounds of explosives to let all their neighbor/cousins know if number five is going to drive a tractor or be a ballerina (because those are only for a boy or a girl respectively, duh). This was so fun to read.
SMALLER
What We Do in the Shadows has an energy vampire by the name of Collin Robinson, hilarious character. This struck me as a type of stealing from another being, but not by choice of either party.
GHOST OF THE OCEAN
Interesting but also dangerous feeling. No good deed goes unpunished was a saying my parents raised me on, it’s not one I agree with, but in some situations caution has to be the dominating emotion, right? But what if?
WHEN THE MOTHMAN CAME TO QUEER LAKE
I’ll admit that Mothman never really graced my mind from the cryptid stockpile, so I didn’t really know his shtick until this short. Now I stan him and feel that he deserves all the love and support his poor shoulders could handle.
I rated this debut collection 5 stars.
MOTHER’S TONGUE
So now I am left wondering if the world has places that are constantly thin, or if we are responsible for every spot created, every time. The needs for each breach to be successful would be varied in terms of acknowledgment and price required, but holy shit could I be on to something?! A favorite.
IVORY
Out of all the shorts in this collection this is one that I read and enjoyed but don’t really have any thoughts on.
GRAY MATTER
Have you ever read/watched a scene of horror so well done that you can only describe the reaction as being in the realm of delicious? Think splinter in the eye a la Zombi 2 (1979), this short will cause a flinch, a drawing back in defense of oneself. A favorite.
SICK LEAVE
I can’t help but see an evil store of any type in literature, think of Bentley Little and smile. This sadly hits a little too close to home for many.
THE PATCH
American Gods by Neil Gaiman had new gods, ones brought into being by people’s need. I believe internet was one of them, I’m too lazy to go to the other room to grab my copy atm. Interesting concept, because humans have tons of unhealthy coping mechanisms for basically anything. What could we create without *really* wanting to? A favorite.
THE LORD ABOVE
So most fantasy/supernatural stories have hierarchies for the bloodsuckers right? So those big sprawling complexes would be the goal, living the life of luxury (in theory) less chance of being noticed if draining from a larger pond.
UNDER THE HOOF, UNDER THE HORNS
There is a line in this short that is, imo, ‘metal as fuck’, but I don’t want to repeat it here and ruin it organically crossing your gaze, because when it hits, man the story just comes together. It gives it this aching weight, like a bruise that also is somehow scooped out? Can’t describe it well enough, but you’ll understand.
FOR MY FINAL GIRL
Brilliant. In any genre there is room to tweak and twist things just a hair and create something wholly new. A favorite.
LOCKDOWN
Is this one that would strike as much fear in a non-American? In the way that I noticed Japanese say suffered brain death, instead of braid dead, in the horror novels I have, is this a way to know you are reading an American story?
TOP 5 GHOSTS CAUGHT ON CAMERA
I thought this short was chef’s kiss! I felt uneasy right away, knowing that the worst was to come made the tension building painful to endure. And the delivery, when it came, not prepared dude. Seasoned horror reader, still hits hard. Top favorite.
REMI ROOK THE CANNIBAL COOK
Give me more of this universe, please and thank you. I am not sharing anything on purpose, just the title should give you enough clues. A favorite.
MY BETTER HALF
The audacity of this bitch. A favorite.
THE REVEAL
Celebrities may go the whole pregnancy and birth before alerting anyone there is a baby, boy or girl. Then you have Amy and Allen buying pounds of explosives to let all their neighbor/cousins know if number five is going to drive a tractor or be a ballerina (because those are only for a boy or a girl respectively, duh). This was so fun to read.
SMALLER
What We Do in the Shadows has an energy vampire by the name of Collin Robinson, hilarious character. This struck me as a type of stealing from another being, but not by choice of either party.
GHOST OF THE OCEAN
Interesting but also dangerous feeling. No good deed goes unpunished was a saying my parents raised me on, it’s not one I agree with, but in some situations caution has to be the dominating emotion, right? But what if?
WHEN THE MOTHMAN CAME TO QUEER LAKE
I’ll admit that Mothman never really graced my mind from the cryptid stockpile, so I didn’t really know his shtick until this short. Now I stan him and feel that he deserves all the love and support his poor shoulders could handle.
December 6, 2021
This collection is rich with unique ideas well-explored. "Gray Matter" hit especially hard for me.
June 27, 2023
3.5 stars
I feel like this is one of those books that depends heavily on who the reader is and whether their interpretation of the stories is literal or metaphorical. Some of the stories "worked" for me (made sense) while others... didn't. Mothers Tongue was just very confusing to me. However, My Better Half was incredibly well done, as was Smaller. I absolutely loathed The Lord Above though, it was just plain disgusting honestly 💀
I appreciated the the Author's brief explanations of each story/how he came up with the ideas for them at the end, it helped me understand a few of them a bit better than maybe I had originally when first reading them.
I feel like this is one of those books that depends heavily on who the reader is and whether their interpretation of the stories is literal or metaphorical. Some of the stories "worked" for me (made sense) while others... didn't. Mothers Tongue was just very confusing to me. However, My Better Half was incredibly well done, as was Smaller. I absolutely loathed The Lord Above though, it was just plain disgusting honestly 💀
I appreciated the the Author's brief explanations of each story/how he came up with the ideas for them at the end, it helped me understand a few of them a bit better than maybe I had originally when first reading them.
September 9, 2021
NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS is a dark and propulsive book of mind-splinters. From page one you’ll be hooked by the voice, the images, and the uneasy sense that these really are nightmares, dictated from a place just beyond dreaming.
September 5, 2021
*** I received a copy of this book for interview purposes; this has not influenced the honesty of my review ***
As a fledgling horror reader, I find it intimidating to get into the genre. Thankfully, Eric Raglin's NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS was a wonderful place to start, and leaves me craving more: more of his unique voice, and more tales that leave me with loose ends that all lead to frightening, this-just-might-be-possible threads of thought.
A few details: Raglin's anthology is a crisp read that, on average, might take around four hours to complete. The stories predominantly feature queer characters, so the LGBTQIA+ representation is off the charts, and what I loved is that at no point is their queerness the focus of that horror—these are characters who are thrust into horrifying circumstances and just happen to be queer.
Raglin's language is easy to read but peppered with lines that absolutely smash. A particular favorite: the description of an oil pipeline as "a black snake that would soon plunge its fangs" into a lake. Fans of Stephen King's short story collections will absolutely be enthralled with these tightly-told stories, and while they're each a separate experience, there are some thematic threads that bind them together.
I personally classify this book as eco-cosmic horror, because that's exactly what it feels: it's filled with stories that deal with the unknown, the just-beyond-our-comprehension terror of great beings and terrifying beyond-the-realms influencers; likewise, so many of the stories ("The Patch," "When Mothman Came to Queer Lake," "Ghost of an Ocean") carry sentiments that suggest horrors born out of the ecological damage done to our planet. Yet, none of it is "preachy" (if that's what someone would even be concerned about): Raglin is bringing our attention to present damages and dangers, and it's this inevitability that wraps itself up so well with the cosmic horror.
Among my favorite stories are those that also deal with the matters of identity: "My Better Half," "Smaller," and "The Reveal." Never once does Raglin lean into gratuitous violence for the sake of it, nor does he make an aim to damage the characters for shock value. In most every care, the horror is just beyond their reach, and completely familiar to those whose experiences are similar to the protagonists.
Short story readers won't be disappointed at all. Raglin's tales will rarely answer everything, which is part of their charm. Good horror, to me, leaves me glancing at the darkness, never knowing what the danger looks like, but hearing it all the same...and there's little more that I can imagine that relates more to the world we live in.
As a fledgling horror reader, I find it intimidating to get into the genre. Thankfully, Eric Raglin's NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS was a wonderful place to start, and leaves me craving more: more of his unique voice, and more tales that leave me with loose ends that all lead to frightening, this-just-might-be-possible threads of thought.
A few details: Raglin's anthology is a crisp read that, on average, might take around four hours to complete. The stories predominantly feature queer characters, so the LGBTQIA+ representation is off the charts, and what I loved is that at no point is their queerness the focus of that horror—these are characters who are thrust into horrifying circumstances and just happen to be queer.
Raglin's language is easy to read but peppered with lines that absolutely smash. A particular favorite: the description of an oil pipeline as "a black snake that would soon plunge its fangs" into a lake. Fans of Stephen King's short story collections will absolutely be enthralled with these tightly-told stories, and while they're each a separate experience, there are some thematic threads that bind them together.
I personally classify this book as eco-cosmic horror, because that's exactly what it feels: it's filled with stories that deal with the unknown, the just-beyond-our-comprehension terror of great beings and terrifying beyond-the-realms influencers; likewise, so many of the stories ("The Patch," "When Mothman Came to Queer Lake," "Ghost of an Ocean") carry sentiments that suggest horrors born out of the ecological damage done to our planet. Yet, none of it is "preachy" (if that's what someone would even be concerned about): Raglin is bringing our attention to present damages and dangers, and it's this inevitability that wraps itself up so well with the cosmic horror.
Among my favorite stories are those that also deal with the matters of identity: "My Better Half," "Smaller," and "The Reveal." Never once does Raglin lean into gratuitous violence for the sake of it, nor does he make an aim to damage the characters for shock value. In most every care, the horror is just beyond their reach, and completely familiar to those whose experiences are similar to the protagonists.
Short story readers won't be disappointed at all. Raglin's tales will rarely answer everything, which is part of their charm. Good horror, to me, leaves me glancing at the darkness, never knowing what the danger looks like, but hearing it all the same...and there's little more that I can imagine that relates more to the world we live in.
August 30, 2021
What a wild treasure.
I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS from the author im exchange for my honest review. Spoiler alert, I loved it!
In this collection there were elements of horror, gore, mind-blowing "visuals", wtf's, twists, laughs and somber moments. There were very unique plots and I really appreciated how Eric changed up his style of writing/storytelling with some of the different stories. It kept the anthology refreshing and easy to digest.
I think my top favorites from this are: "IVORY", "GRAY MATTER", "UNDER THE HOOF, UPON THE HORNS", "MY BETTER HALF" and "SMALLER".
The author does an amazing job bringing up topics of sexual identity, grief, love and so many other themes. He has such an imagination and a way of conveying it through to the reader--the stories really do play out like a movie or fever dream in your mind.
Another thing that I just love is that he added brief "story notes" in the back that explain more about the stories (I'm always a fan of this). Also, I would like to note that in the back the CW/TW are listed for each story. One story sort of hit me in the gut so I definitely suggest checking the list out in case you have some triggers. You can also always message me for specifics as well.
Again, Eric Raglin grabbed the bull by the horns 😉 and hit a home run with this one. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS from the author im exchange for my honest review. Spoiler alert, I loved it!
In this collection there were elements of horror, gore, mind-blowing "visuals", wtf's, twists, laughs and somber moments. There were very unique plots and I really appreciated how Eric changed up his style of writing/storytelling with some of the different stories. It kept the anthology refreshing and easy to digest.
I think my top favorites from this are: "IVORY", "GRAY MATTER", "UNDER THE HOOF, UPON THE HORNS", "MY BETTER HALF" and "SMALLER".
The author does an amazing job bringing up topics of sexual identity, grief, love and so many other themes. He has such an imagination and a way of conveying it through to the reader--the stories really do play out like a movie or fever dream in your mind.
Another thing that I just love is that he added brief "story notes" in the back that explain more about the stories (I'm always a fan of this). Also, I would like to note that in the back the CW/TW are listed for each story. One story sort of hit me in the gut so I definitely suggest checking the list out in case you have some triggers. You can also always message me for specifics as well.
Again, Eric Raglin grabbed the bull by the horns 😉 and hit a home run with this one. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
September 15, 2021
This is a strong debut, and as someone new to reading short story horror fiction like this, I thoroughly enjoyed the quick terrors and flash horror Raglin produced here. Best of all, many of his stories feature queer main characters. Below are my individual ratings of the stories, but the thing to remember is that art is subjective. Others may have liked stories I disliked or disliked stories I loved. There’s something here for every horror fan though!
Mother’s Tongue: 4/5 strong story to grab the readers attention. Loved it. Creepy ending
Ivory: 1/5 lost me here
Gray Matter: 4/5 regained traction, creepy af
Sick Leave: 4/5
The Patch: 2/5
The Lord Above: 4/5
Under the Roof, Upon the Horns: 2/5
For My Final Girl: 2/5
Lockdown: 2/5
Top 5 Ghosts caught on camera: I really loved the way this was written, but I couldn’t figure out the web connecting the 5 ghosts…I think I missed something here. 3/5
Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook: 5/5 I loved loved loved this story.
My better Half: 4/5 this and the one beneath it are my other favs of the entire book
The Reveal: 4/5
Smaller: 4/5 this was a tale that resonated and although its not my top 4 star in this list, it still really stuck with me afterwards
Ghost of an Ocean: 3/5
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake: 2/5
Mother’s Tongue: 4/5 strong story to grab the readers attention. Loved it. Creepy ending
Ivory: 1/5 lost me here
Gray Matter: 4/5 regained traction, creepy af
Sick Leave: 4/5
The Patch: 2/5
The Lord Above: 4/5
Under the Roof, Upon the Horns: 2/5
For My Final Girl: 2/5
Lockdown: 2/5
Top 5 Ghosts caught on camera: I really loved the way this was written, but I couldn’t figure out the web connecting the 5 ghosts…I think I missed something here. 3/5
Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook: 5/5 I loved loved loved this story.
My better Half: 4/5 this and the one beneath it are my other favs of the entire book
The Reveal: 4/5
Smaller: 4/5 this was a tale that resonated and although its not my top 4 star in this list, it still really stuck with me afterwards
Ghost of an Ocean: 3/5
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake: 2/5
September 4, 2021
I just finished Eric Raglin's NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS. For a debut collection, I was impressed with the quality of the writing. There's something for everyone here: weird, horror, thriller, queer, sci-fi, you name it. I enjoyed the variety. Many of the stories kept me guessing and, in my book, that's a good thing. I dug "The Lord Above," but most of my favorites are in the second half: "Top 5 Ghosts," "The Reveal" (so awesome!), "Smaller" (I can relate), and "When Mothman Came to Queer Lake." (Loved this: "His eyes were large and red as stoplights, and his wings were long enough to graze the gutters on both sides of the roof.") If you're looking for eclectic, dark, and a tad literary, I recommend these nightmares to you.
September 2, 2022
a rare short story collection in which every story is an absolute banger! this collection is too good and quenches the ever present need for more, more, more queer weird horror. i can’t stress enough that every story here is great, but some standouts are:
• “mother’s tongue”
• “for my final girl”
• “remy rook the cannibal cook” (perhaps my overall favorite, so unique and inventive)
• “smaller”
• “when mothman came to queer lake”
i highly recommend this collection and i look forward to reading more of raglin’s writing!
• “mother’s tongue”
• “for my final girl”
• “remy rook the cannibal cook” (perhaps my overall favorite, so unique and inventive)
• “smaller”
• “when mothman came to queer lake”
i highly recommend this collection and i look forward to reading more of raglin’s writing!
August 20, 2021
Feels like wanderings of a somnambulist through loosely conjoined dreams of none sequential imagery, snapping back to reality only once more to be swallowed up by the abyss. Great, great collection.
May 12, 2021
Raglin’s NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS is really something else.
Gloriously weird, it still manages to remain empathetic and grounded in a way that will leave you no choice but to connect with the characters and witness these oddities through their eyes.
NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS has heart, laughs (laughed aloud more than once), and most importantly, is honest, and damn well written.
I was lucky to snag a signed copy before the release, and I loved this collection. All of the stories were solid, but standouts for me were Mother’s Tongue, Gray Matter, and The Lord Above (My personal favorite).
This isn’t out yet, but it’s not one to miss. I’ll say it again, don’t sleep on this one, folks.
Gloriously weird, it still manages to remain empathetic and grounded in a way that will leave you no choice but to connect with the characters and witness these oddities through their eyes.
NIGHTMARE YEARNINGS has heart, laughs (laughed aloud more than once), and most importantly, is honest, and damn well written.
I was lucky to snag a signed copy before the release, and I loved this collection. All of the stories were solid, but standouts for me were Mother’s Tongue, Gray Matter, and The Lord Above (My personal favorite).
This isn’t out yet, but it’s not one to miss. I’ll say it again, don’t sleep on this one, folks.
August 15, 2024
These stories make my imagination all tingly. I love how Raglin's narratives can tackle topics head-on while still remaining subtle and making space for genuine horror and discomfort to creep in. Each piece here is a marvel, and Raglin excavates their central metaphors with the precision of a very talented embalmer.
5/5
5/5
January 1, 2022
This collection was a great read and aptly named. Full of surreal horror that captured the jarring nature of a nightmare, seeded in reality yet layered with an overwhelming sense that things aren't quite right. There were no duds, but definitely some stories that stood apart from the rest. Some of the best stories explore themes and topics relevant to millennial and gen z readers. I'll list my favorites below.
Gray Matter - A caretaker of an elderly widower with dementia recounts the events leading up to his patient's disappearance. This one is a fantastic take on the story-within-a-story structure, the tension and pacing are deft, the scares come in early and it has one of my favorite body horror moments I've read all year long.
Sick Leave - An employee at a home improvement shopping center escorts a fellow employee to confront their boss about not allowing them sick leave. This one felt timely given COVID and the very real abuse employees face when they try to call in sick to work. I can't count the times I was forced to choose between my health and my livelihood when I worked minimum wage jobs. The horror that ensues felt otherworldly and I loved it.
For My Final Girl - A couple get their cancer surviving daughter a neurotransference to make up for all of the lessons she missed during her treatment. The doctor who performs the surgery, however, has dubious intent and soon after they arrive home following the procedure, their daughter begins acting strangely. A well-paced sci-fi thriller with well-layered mysteries and plenty of tension. This one was marvelous.
My Better Half - A girlfriend can't handle the protagonist's two halves - one gay and one straight - and decides to take matters into her own hands. A brilliant allegory for the way bisexuals are pressured to parcel ourselves into separate parts in order to accommodate whoever we happen to be with at the time. A shorter piece, but with well-worked themes that make this one a standout.
The Reveal - A couple host a gender reveal party in the Red Woods and things go awry. The character work in this piece was remarkable. Raglin fantastically drew a character who was, on one hand, meager and resigned, yet made her resignation relatable. Sometimes we don't realize we're with the wrong person until we're already in a life commitment with them. The dynamics between her and her husband had me looking forward to the tragedy that seemed to await them and and the horror elements and dramatic ending were particularly memorable.
Definitely recommend all horror fans to give this one a read!
Gray Matter - A caretaker of an elderly widower with dementia recounts the events leading up to his patient's disappearance. This one is a fantastic take on the story-within-a-story structure, the tension and pacing are deft, the scares come in early and it has one of my favorite body horror moments I've read all year long.
Sick Leave - An employee at a home improvement shopping center escorts a fellow employee to confront their boss about not allowing them sick leave. This one felt timely given COVID and the very real abuse employees face when they try to call in sick to work. I can't count the times I was forced to choose between my health and my livelihood when I worked minimum wage jobs. The horror that ensues felt otherworldly and I loved it.
For My Final Girl - A couple get their cancer surviving daughter a neurotransference to make up for all of the lessons she missed during her treatment. The doctor who performs the surgery, however, has dubious intent and soon after they arrive home following the procedure, their daughter begins acting strangely. A well-paced sci-fi thriller with well-layered mysteries and plenty of tension. This one was marvelous.
My Better Half - A girlfriend can't handle the protagonist's two halves - one gay and one straight - and decides to take matters into her own hands. A brilliant allegory for the way bisexuals are pressured to parcel ourselves into separate parts in order to accommodate whoever we happen to be with at the time. A shorter piece, but with well-worked themes that make this one a standout.
The Reveal - A couple host a gender reveal party in the Red Woods and things go awry. The character work in this piece was remarkable. Raglin fantastically drew a character who was, on one hand, meager and resigned, yet made her resignation relatable. Sometimes we don't realize we're with the wrong person until we're already in a life commitment with them. The dynamics between her and her husband had me looking forward to the tragedy that seemed to await them and and the horror elements and dramatic ending were particularly memorable.
Definitely recommend all horror fans to give this one a read!
May 15, 2021
Nightmare Yearnings is the debut short story collection by Eric Raglin. There are sixteen queer and unsettling stories here, many of them super memorable and chill inducing. I was sent a copy by Eric to honestly review. Here I will highlight my favorite stories from the collection!
Ivory
A grieving woman photographs a strange bird in her yard and posts it online to see if others know what it is. Chaos begins as people and more of the birds flock to her yard. This is a very twilight zone-esque story, with an ending from nowhere, which Raglin really does well in this collection. This story is one of the stranger, less scary ones.
The Lord Above
I imagine this one will be a fan favorite. A spooky landlord known as “The Lord” is up to no good. Raglin really brings out the creepy crawlies in this one. Cockraoches, cats behaving strangely, leaky ceilings, a missing neighbor…..renters will be surely uneasy from this weird tale.
For My Final Girl
A child named Serena undergoes a neurotransference once finishing chemotherapy treatments. The doctor conducting the surgery is definitely creepy. The parents of Serena suspect that something has been added into her brainwaves, and when one of her fathers takes it upon himself to investigate, he discovers something very grim.
Lockdown
Lockdown is the tale of a lockdown drill with consequences, both real life, and other worldly. A girl has visions of a future school shooter, who has his eyes and hands on her. This one was creepy on a real life level.
The Reveal
A woman with an asshole husband and family is dreading the gender reveal party for her baby, but maybe it won’t end up being as bad as she thought, especially when revenge is thrown into the mix.
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake
Definitely a story for the times. When a couple tries to create a safe haven for their love, they get unexpected visits from a crytpid, as well as some real life terror.
One of the reasons I loved this collection is that Raglin was able to blend tales that belong to another dimension of time and space to our very current, and real life horrors. I can’t wait to read more from Eric. I give this collection 5 starts because each story was unique. Some of them I would love to see turned into a novella, such as “The Lord”. These little nightmares will cling to your brain for a while.
Ivory
A grieving woman photographs a strange bird in her yard and posts it online to see if others know what it is. Chaos begins as people and more of the birds flock to her yard. This is a very twilight zone-esque story, with an ending from nowhere, which Raglin really does well in this collection. This story is one of the stranger, less scary ones.
The Lord Above
I imagine this one will be a fan favorite. A spooky landlord known as “The Lord” is up to no good. Raglin really brings out the creepy crawlies in this one. Cockraoches, cats behaving strangely, leaky ceilings, a missing neighbor…..renters will be surely uneasy from this weird tale.
For My Final Girl
A child named Serena undergoes a neurotransference once finishing chemotherapy treatments. The doctor conducting the surgery is definitely creepy. The parents of Serena suspect that something has been added into her brainwaves, and when one of her fathers takes it upon himself to investigate, he discovers something very grim.
Lockdown
Lockdown is the tale of a lockdown drill with consequences, both real life, and other worldly. A girl has visions of a future school shooter, who has his eyes and hands on her. This one was creepy on a real life level.
The Reveal
A woman with an asshole husband and family is dreading the gender reveal party for her baby, but maybe it won’t end up being as bad as she thought, especially when revenge is thrown into the mix.
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake
Definitely a story for the times. When a couple tries to create a safe haven for their love, they get unexpected visits from a crytpid, as well as some real life terror.
One of the reasons I loved this collection is that Raglin was able to blend tales that belong to another dimension of time and space to our very current, and real life horrors. I can’t wait to read more from Eric. I give this collection 5 starts because each story was unique. Some of them I would love to see turned into a novella, such as “The Lord”. These little nightmares will cling to your brain for a while.
April 2, 2022
This was a very fun, creative and weird collection of stories that was a joy to read it. All of it filled with anti-capitalist themes and queer characters pushed into interesting and unsettling scenarios. Stories have different topics, like biphobia, child neglect, trauma, toxic masculinity and abusive relationships.
Some personal favorites:
story about a guy living in a shitty appartement whose landlord is a vampire - I'm not a particular fan of vampires but this story really pulled it off with connecting these blood sucking creatures with landlords
story about ghosts that starts like a dark comedy but ends in the most chilling conclusion - these one hit hard emotionally and is one of the most... haunting (lol)
story about bull running - that one had the dreamlike atmosphere and one of the best visuals in the whole collection - truly disturbing and gut-punching
story about dementia but turned into a creepy sewage monster - that one was just so amazingly weird
story about a cannibal cooking show - I mean, the idea itself, I have no words, and the way it was done, just amazing
and of course the story about a man split in gay half and straight half that made me laugh and a bit cry inside, I think it beautifully captures living as a bisexual person in the world, I was not surprised learning that the author was also bi in the story notes.
The stories were all very easy to read, so give this collection a chance if you like weird queer horror.
Some personal favorites:
story about a guy living in a shitty appartement whose landlord is a vampire - I'm not a particular fan of vampires but this story really pulled it off with connecting these blood sucking creatures with landlords
story about ghosts that starts like a dark comedy but ends in the most chilling conclusion - these one hit hard emotionally and is one of the most... haunting (lol)
story about bull running - that one had the dreamlike atmosphere and one of the best visuals in the whole collection - truly disturbing and gut-punching
story about dementia but turned into a creepy sewage monster - that one was just so amazingly weird
story about a cannibal cooking show - I mean, the idea itself, I have no words, and the way it was done, just amazing
and of course the story about a man split in gay half and straight half that made me laugh and a bit cry inside, I think it beautifully captures living as a bisexual person in the world, I was not surprised learning that the author was also bi in the story notes.
The stories were all very easy to read, so give this collection a chance if you like weird queer horror.
June 6, 2021
Nightmare Yearnings is a near-perfect collection of queer, weird, and downright fantastic horror stories. Every story is solid and well-written, which is rare for a book like this; usually with short fiction collections you'd find one or two clunkers in the bunch, but not here. They're all good. The characters are interesting, the premises are thought-provoking, and the weirdness is in full form. There's plenty of wonderful weirdness here: toilet ghosts, garbage gods, gender reveal party demons, cannibal celebrity chefs, and more. I also appreciated the insights the author gives to the creative process for each story. It's a fun book. Pick it up, you won't want to put it down.
November 23, 2021
What. A. Ride!!!! There are no more honest words that stating that Eric Raglin's collection has some of the most unique, darkly twisted, wholly original tales I've ever experienced. The dedication to the weird and bizarre has never been more apparent in a work for me than here in Raglin's. "Mother's Tongue", is a brilliant first entry that drags the reader neck first in the filthy, queer, frightenings. Every story afterwards is either etherial dark beauty, or atmospheric dread and horror (both of which I enjoyed!). Having now read this collection, I can say I am an instant fan of Raglin and am equally inspired to delve into my own demented fantasies as soon as I recover from these!
June 1, 2021
This is quite the debut! Nightmare Yearnings is a collection of fever dreams that gave me all the weird, cosmic, queer spooks. Each story burrowed under my skin and urged me to turn the page, learn more, succumb to the awesome oddities borne in Raglin's imagination. Standouts for me include Mother's Tongue; Gray Matter; The Lord Above; Under the Hoof, Upon the Horns; and My Better Half - but truly, I enjoyed every single story. Tuck yourself in and get ready to dream some strange and scary dreams.
July 13, 2022
I have never connected to a writer's work the way I do to Eric Raglin's. I originally discovered his writing through his story in Queer Saints about blowing up Hobby Lobbies and immediately sought out everything I could that he's written. I'm happy to say that I'm equally pleased with this collection. I had the uncanny feeling throughout the book that Raglin and I have the same brain; I felt that emotionally connected to each of the stories. Looking forward to scrounging up all the rest of the collections he's published in so I can read more!
March 13, 2022
I love Eric Raglin's creativity and style! The narrator is also excellent. Hearing these stories narrated definitely enhanced the creepiness factor for me. At times, I was literally saying "NOPE" out loud. My favorite stories were "The Patch," "The Lord Above," "Remi Rook the Cannibal Cook," and "Smaller." Some of these stories are very intense, so I do recommend checking the content warnings at the end if you have any triggers.
November 7, 2023
Would highly recommend this short story collection by Eric Raglin. "Nightmare Yearnings" combines effortlessly diverse characters (including mostly queer leads) with weird and otherworldly tales that are a breeze to go through but pack a wallop. If they're not tackling social commentary, then they're pondering upon life's complications and mysteries but never ceasing to be unsettling. Highly recommend this one!
September 20, 2021
This collection of short stories proves Eric Raglin is a master of the short story. Some of my favorites were “Under Hoof, Upon the Horn,” “Sick Leave,” “For My Final Girl,” “Lockdown,” and the body horror masterpiece “Gray Matter.” Love the variety of the stories and they are all solid on their own, but they also flow beautifully as a collection. Highly recommend!!
January 11, 2022
The stories in this collection are creative, using different horror elements to tell terrifying stories, with diverse characters and scenarios, but all of them with an ending that will definitely scare you. This collection shows the talent Eric has, and you should read it if you want to read enjoyable, queer, and scary stories.
July 22, 2022
Some great range shown in this collection, there are some dark and messed up stories in here, so obviously I really enjoyed it. Some were stronger than others, but overall it was really solid. Loved hearing Eric's inspiration for every story at the end aswell, highlights include Top 5 Ghosts Caught On Camera, My Better Half and When Mothman Came to Queer Lake.
May 14, 2021
This was amazing! I think I actually loved every story!
Here are a few of my highlights:
Sick Leave gave me PTSD. I worked at a very similar store with a very scary stock room. This just put detail to everything I thought was lurking behind every dusty box. The room seemed longer than the actual building (impossible) and of course there were monsters. A true dread inspiring story.
The Lord Above, urban vampire tale? Cat lovers worst nightmare? Roach infested haunted apartment? This was one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. Such a unique take on the role of the landlord or “The Lord”.
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake has one of my favorite cryptids, Mothman. And I loved the humanizing of this “monster”. I always had a soft spot for him, after all he’s trying to WARN you! But he’s so misunderstood. I’m glad he has a safe place to go!
This was one of my favorite reads this year. I flew through every story because every story was that good. Eric is a genius of horror short stories!
Here are a few of my highlights:
Sick Leave gave me PTSD. I worked at a very similar store with a very scary stock room. This just put detail to everything I thought was lurking behind every dusty box. The room seemed longer than the actual building (impossible) and of course there were monsters. A true dread inspiring story.
The Lord Above, urban vampire tale? Cat lovers worst nightmare? Roach infested haunted apartment? This was one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. Such a unique take on the role of the landlord or “The Lord”.
When Mothman Came to Queer Lake has one of my favorite cryptids, Mothman. And I loved the humanizing of this “monster”. I always had a soft spot for him, after all he’s trying to WARN you! But he’s so misunderstood. I’m glad he has a safe place to go!
This was one of my favorite reads this year. I flew through every story because every story was that good. Eric is a genius of horror short stories!
May 29, 2021
There is a consistency of language and themes throughout these stories that makes this collection work. The stories themselves vary from the creepy to the sad to the cosmic to the horrifying. Very strong debut collection from an author I can’t wait to read more from.
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