Beneath: Hundred Word Horror

by A.R. Ward (Editor), Eric Raglin, Doungai Gam

Cave-dwellers. Grave-dwellers. Crypts, catacombs, nuclear bunkers. This volume of one-hundred-word stories will explore the horrors that lie beneath. From monsters lurking below the Earth’s crust to subconscious nightmares forced to the surface, you can be sure to find something to appeal amongst these bitesize tiny terrors.

Contributors:

A. Whittenberg, Aaron E. Lee, Alexis DuBon, Andrew McDonald, Anna Sanderson, Annabel Record, Antonia Rachel Ward, April Yates, Austrian Spencer, Benjamin Lawrence, Brianna Malotke, Caitlin Marceau, Cara Mast, Carys Crossen, Caytlyn Brooke, Claire Hunter, Claire Loader, Clay F. Johnson, Colin Leonard, Dale Parnell, David Fey, Dee Grimes, doungjai gam, E.M. Alores, Edward Brock, Eilidh Spence, Elford Alley, Emma K. Leadley, Emma Kathryn, Emma Murray, Eric Raglin, Erin M. Brady, Evelyn Freeling, Ezekiel Kincaid, Fusako Ohki, Gabbie Frulla, Georgia Cook, Gus Wood, Hazel Ragaire, Helen M. Merrick, Isaac Menuza, J.C. Robinson, J.J. Kīmmorist, J.R. Handfield, Jameson Grey, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, Jessica Wilcox, Joe Scipione, Josh Sippie, Julia Ross, Julie Sevens, Kati Lokadottir, Katie Young, Keely O'Shaughnessy, Kevin Skirrow, Kirin Sasa, Kristin Cleaveland, Laura Keating, Laura Nettles, Laura Shenton, Laurence Sullivan, Lily Tupa, Lyndsey Croal, M.M. MacLeod, Matthew Barron, Meera Dandekar, Melody E. McIntyre, Micah Castle, Michelle Mellon, Mike Murphy, Nerisha Kemraj, Nicola Kapron, Nicole M. Wolverton, Paige Johnson, Patrick Whitehurst, Patrick Winters, Petina Strohmer, R.J. Joseph, Robyn Pritzker, Ryan B. Green, Sean Reardon, Sheri White, Skye Pagon, Sophie Sadler, Stephen Howard, Tiffany Michelle Brown, Toshiya Kamei, Umiyuri Katsuyama, Vivian Kasley, Yukari Kousaka

Genres: Horror

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2021

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourites were numbers 23, 31, 33 and 65.

Note: I am an author on this book (story #98)

[J.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could've been better...

I know these were very short stories, but I have read similar collections that were, simply, better. Some were okay; others weren't up to par.

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In only 100 words, these writers manage to create complete stories, crafting tales based on real world terrors or steeped in the otherworldly! A great read, and one I highly recommend!

[Emma E. Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these short, creepy drabbles. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves horror and who's looking for a quick read.

[Dale Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great thing about anthologies like this, is that you are introduced to a host of writers from around the world - some of whom you may have read before, and some you haven't.
With 'Beneath', Ghost Orchid Press have put together a wonderful collection of drabbles from a wide selection of authors, with everyone exploring the theme of beneath is slightly different ways - from skin-crawling horror to metaphysical ponderings, from the "huh, that was clever" all the way up to "Damn, I'm not sleeping tonight!"

Of the one-hundred stories contained in this collection, there are far too many for me to list as noteworthy, and so I have undertaken the near impossible task of narrowing it down to ten stories that really made an impact on me. In order of appearance they are -

Wednesday Nights at the Town Cemetery by JR Handfield - a wonderfully sad tale
Fertiliser by Antonia Rachel Ward - evocative and creepy
House for Sale by Lyndsey Croal - deliciously creepy with a fantastic punchline
The Rot Beneath by April Yates - powerful and vital, and so well written
Skin Deep by Keely O'Shaughnessy - made me laugh at loud at the cleverness of the story
The Fluffer by Katie Young - dark and wonderfully written
Her Parting Gift by Anna Sanderson - a painfully real yet satisfying tale
Beneath her Skin by Toshiya Kamei - heartbreaking and tender, I loved this story
Unique Selling Point by April Yates - a 2nd for April, and my favourite in the book, a cracking story!
The Fish have Eaten her Eyes by Nicola Kapron - a great story with an old-fashioned folk-tale feel

There are many more great stories within this collection, and for lovers of creepy, clever horror, this is certainly worth checking out.
Note - I am honoured to have two stories featured in this collection, and count myself truly lucky to sit alongside so many brilliant writers!

[oh-deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

There were SO many stories I loved in this one. I thought it was a really solid collection, very creepy and eerie. I think this one and Cosmos one are the best in the series so far (I am in the process of reading Home so that could change!). As always I'll share my faves - and I have quite a few this time!

Wednesday Nights at The Town Cemetery by J.R. Handfield (very eerie, yay for zombies?), Use Plenty of Organic Matter by Darle Parnell (idk why but this gave Misdomer Murders vibes), Cold Feet by Caytlyn Brooke (feels like the start to a wacky thriller that me or my best friend would read), It is I by Gabbie Fulla (very dark, in the best way possible), Crawling by Jessica Wilcox (bugs are gross but this story is cool), Malignancy by Evelyn Freeling (this was clever and packed a punch), Resident of the Box by J.J. Kimmorist (I laughed at this one, in a good way), Interview Room One by Dale Parnell (this could be a good premise for a movie!), Fracking by Julie Sevens (the environment fights back, we love to see it!), Beneath Her Skin by Toshiya Kamei (this author is brilliant, excellent stories and translations), Skritch by RJ Jospeh (SO GOOD), The Fish Have Eaten Her Eyes by Nicola Kapron (this one was so sad, and eerie), and Ready for Drowning by Claire Hunter (another watery, creepy vibe).

HIGHLY recommend this one.

[Liora Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath: Hundred Word Horror, edited by A.R. Ward, is a masterful descent into the dark recesses of the human mind and the world beneath our feet. Each story precisely one hundred words delivers a sharp, chilling jolt, proving that true horror thrives in brevity. From ancient crypts to buried secrets and psychological nightmares, the anthology showcases an impressive range of voices and styles. The tales linger like whispers from the underground brief, haunting, and unforgettable. Perfect for readers who crave compact bursts of dread, Beneath is a brilliantly curated collection of tiny terrors that prove the shortest stories can leave the deepest scars.