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Field Notes from a Nightmare: An Anthology of Ecological Horror
Pollution. Extinction. Warming. Sea level rise... Mother Nature heard our crimes and found us guilty.
Field Notes from a Nightmare is an anthology of ecological horror, containing 18 stories from some of the strongest voices in indie horror.
Edited by Alex Ebenstein; with a Foreword from New York Times-Bestselling author Tim Lebbon
Cover art and interior illustrations by David Bowman
Stories
A.K. DennisAlexis DuBonJonathan Louis DuckworthEddie GenerousKC GrifantS.L. HarrisTim HoelscherTom JollyGwen C. KatzJoe KochCarter LappinNikki R. LeighJ.R. McConveyMatthew PrittEric RaglinSara TantlingerGordon B. WhiteAlex Woodroe
Field Notes from a Nightmare is an anthology of ecological horror, containing 18 stories from some of the strongest voices in indie horror.
Edited by Alex Ebenstein; with a Foreword from New York Times-Bestselling author Tim Lebbon
Cover art and interior illustrations by David Bowman
Stories
A.K. DennisAlexis DuBonJonathan Louis DuckworthEddie GenerousKC GrifantS.L. HarrisTim HoelscherTom JollyGwen C. KatzJoe KochCarter LappinNikki R. LeighJ.R. McConveyMatthew PrittEric RaglinSara TantlingerGordon B. WhiteAlex Woodroe
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2021
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275 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 29, 2021
When I asked indie horror publisher Dreadstone Press for a review copy of their debut title, Field Notes from a Nightmare, I thought I had some idea of what I was in for. I’d read prior work by several of the collected authors, so I knew to prepare myself to be unsettled. Half a story in, I discovered that I was not anywhere near braced for the impact of this devastating anthology.
Field Notes from a Nightmare’s 18 stories of ecological horror compose a symphony of tragedy and terror. There is little more frightening on scales either local or global than climate catastrophe and environmental degradation. These stories showcase the sheer innumerability of ways in which our environment could—and, if we do not change our ways, probably will—go wrong. Equally frightening is their focus on the manners in which we humans, faced with environmental collapse, could (and do) go wrong. There are so many possibilities, so few of them bearable.
As in any short story collection, particularly a multiply-authored anthology, some of these stories worked better for me than others (though I found none of them bad or bland and all of them scary). The collection is bookended by what, for me, were two of its highest notes, beginning with the atmospheric menace of Sara Tantlinger’s “As Humans Burn Beneath Us” and ending with Tom Jolly’s gripping survival epic “When the Rains Come.” Other standout stories included Gordon B. White’s truly disturbing “Dandelion Six”, Joe Koch’s upsetting (and wonderfully titled) “We Have Always Lived in the Soil”, Jonathan Louis Duckworth’s note-perfect Thoreau pastiche “Considering a Pond in Massachusetts”, and Alex Woodroe’s horrifyingly funny academic satire “The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine”. And also: if you, like me, like to read while you cook, I implore you not to read Tim Hoelscher’s “The MeatTM” while you cook meat. I promise that you will regret it and the regret will linger.
This collection’s indelible creepiness is enhanced through interior illustrations by cover artist David Bowman, whose shadowy ink drawings—a little reminiscent of shadow master Mervyn Peake, though Bowman’s style is ultimately his own—highlight memorable details from the texts. The illustrations’ tone is well matched to the stories and helps sustain a sense of overall coherence.
Field Notes from a Nightmare is an unforgettable book. Though the disturbing nature of its themes result in an emotionally and intellectually challenging experience, the overall quality of its stories’ writing and editor Alex Ebenstein’s well-considered sequencing of stories result in a propulsive, even compulsive, read. I would recommend this anthology to anyone looking for high-quality modern horror, particularly readers who turn to horror for help in processing pressing and distressing issues such as climate change.
Field Notes from a Nightmare’s 18 stories of ecological horror compose a symphony of tragedy and terror. There is little more frightening on scales either local or global than climate catastrophe and environmental degradation. These stories showcase the sheer innumerability of ways in which our environment could—and, if we do not change our ways, probably will—go wrong. Equally frightening is their focus on the manners in which we humans, faced with environmental collapse, could (and do) go wrong. There are so many possibilities, so few of them bearable.
As in any short story collection, particularly a multiply-authored anthology, some of these stories worked better for me than others (though I found none of them bad or bland and all of them scary). The collection is bookended by what, for me, were two of its highest notes, beginning with the atmospheric menace of Sara Tantlinger’s “As Humans Burn Beneath Us” and ending with Tom Jolly’s gripping survival epic “When the Rains Come.” Other standout stories included Gordon B. White’s truly disturbing “Dandelion Six”, Joe Koch’s upsetting (and wonderfully titled) “We Have Always Lived in the Soil”, Jonathan Louis Duckworth’s note-perfect Thoreau pastiche “Considering a Pond in Massachusetts”, and Alex Woodroe’s horrifyingly funny academic satire “The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine”. And also: if you, like me, like to read while you cook, I implore you not to read Tim Hoelscher’s “The MeatTM” while you cook meat. I promise that you will regret it and the regret will linger.
This collection’s indelible creepiness is enhanced through interior illustrations by cover artist David Bowman, whose shadowy ink drawings—a little reminiscent of shadow master Mervyn Peake, though Bowman’s style is ultimately his own—highlight memorable details from the texts. The illustrations’ tone is well matched to the stories and helps sustain a sense of overall coherence.
Field Notes from a Nightmare is an unforgettable book. Though the disturbing nature of its themes result in an emotionally and intellectually challenging experience, the overall quality of its stories’ writing and editor Alex Ebenstein’s well-considered sequencing of stories result in a propulsive, even compulsive, read. I would recommend this anthology to anyone looking for high-quality modern horror, particularly readers who turn to horror for help in processing pressing and distressing issues such as climate change.
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January 29, 2022I have a story in this one, so I don't usually star rate books I have stories in -- BUT I truly loved the anthology and wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading every single tale. I really appreciated the range of stories; there are some that used dark humor so well, and others that really showed the terror that could arrive with climate change. Every story had something to offer, and many stayed in my head long after reading. I'm so proud to be a part of this book.
I also wanted to highlight a few of my favorites, but again, I thought everyone did excellent work:
"Dandelion Six" by Gordon B. White -- I loved this one so much; I think it would make an incredible short film
"The Last of Her Kind" by Eric Raglin -- Beautifully written, heartbreaking (I love birds), and that ending!
"The Bog People" by S.L. Harris -- The visuals in this one really stuck with me; it's a short piece that really succeeds in getting so much across on every page
I also wanted to highlight a few of my favorites, but again, I thought everyone did excellent work:
"Dandelion Six" by Gordon B. White -- I loved this one so much; I think it would make an incredible short film
"The Last of Her Kind" by Eric Raglin -- Beautifully written, heartbreaking (I love birds), and that ending!
"The Bog People" by S.L. Harris -- The visuals in this one really stuck with me; it's a short piece that really succeeds in getting so much across on every page
November 2, 2021
Field Notes from a Nightmare begins with an insightful foreword by author Tim Lebbon, followed by 18 stories, selected by editor Alex Ebenstein, that portray an array of terrifying scenarios. Each story is accompanied by an illustration by David Bowman, who also did the beautiful cover artwork.
I was enthralled right away--the opening story, "As Humans Burn Beneath Us" by Sarah Tantlinger paints horrifying imagery of what may be in Earth’s future if we don’t open our eyes and make changes.
Some stories serve as warnings, others visit revenge or Poesque guilt. Humans vs. nature; you can probably guess which is the guilty party. The tales are often bleak but nonetheless enjoyable horror reads. The writers in this book created imaginative stories that went to unexpected places -- in nature (strange blooms, ancient growth, species: endangered, extinct, new, or invasive), environmental science, eco-disaster, death, and desperation.
I was eager to read this anthology and thank Dread Stone Press for providing a free advance ebook copy. Difficult to choose favourites, I enjoyed reading each story. I did like the well-written second-person POV in “Los Angeles is Sinking” by Gwen C. Katz, and the horrifying outcome of simply touching a caterpillar as told in Matthew Pritt’s “Urticate”. I was emersed in the haunting aftermath of a desperate natural history museum owner’s decision in “The Last of Her Kind” by Eric Raglan, and something terrifying grows in the cornfields in Alex Woodroe’s “The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine”. The book ends with a bang – or I should say, a devastating account of oxygen-stealing, life-dissolving, Earth-corroding, acidic downpours in “When the Rains Come” by Tom Jolly.
Whether you are an avid eco-horror reader or would like to discover what this type of fiction is all about, I recommend ordering a copy of Field Notes from a Nightmare.
I was enthralled right away--the opening story, "As Humans Burn Beneath Us" by Sarah Tantlinger paints horrifying imagery of what may be in Earth’s future if we don’t open our eyes and make changes.
Some stories serve as warnings, others visit revenge or Poesque guilt. Humans vs. nature; you can probably guess which is the guilty party. The tales are often bleak but nonetheless enjoyable horror reads. The writers in this book created imaginative stories that went to unexpected places -- in nature (strange blooms, ancient growth, species: endangered, extinct, new, or invasive), environmental science, eco-disaster, death, and desperation.
I was eager to read this anthology and thank Dread Stone Press for providing a free advance ebook copy. Difficult to choose favourites, I enjoyed reading each story. I did like the well-written second-person POV in “Los Angeles is Sinking” by Gwen C. Katz, and the horrifying outcome of simply touching a caterpillar as told in Matthew Pritt’s “Urticate”. I was emersed in the haunting aftermath of a desperate natural history museum owner’s decision in “The Last of Her Kind” by Eric Raglan, and something terrifying grows in the cornfields in Alex Woodroe’s “The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine”. The book ends with a bang – or I should say, a devastating account of oxygen-stealing, life-dissolving, Earth-corroding, acidic downpours in “When the Rains Come” by Tom Jolly.
Whether you are an avid eco-horror reader or would like to discover what this type of fiction is all about, I recommend ordering a copy of Field Notes from a Nightmare.
October 24, 2021
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.
This is a decent anthology with some really good stories. I felt like the second half was far better than the first. The theme was mother nature going crazy and some of these visions were truly terrifying. In particular I enjoyed the story the pond and the final story in the collection about the acid rain.
This is a decent anthology with some really good stories. I felt like the second half was far better than the first. The theme was mother nature going crazy and some of these visions were truly terrifying. In particular I enjoyed the story the pond and the final story in the collection about the acid rain.
March 13, 2022
I don't have enough words to express how much I loved this book. The TOC is full of talented and diverse writers, all of them bringing something different to the genre and a new perspective on what eco-horror can be. It's shocking how the authors can write something that sounds impossible but realistic at the same time, especially with things you see every day like clouds, insects, or food. I think this anthology is perfect. Each story is memorable and horrifying in its own way. An amazing read to be horrified and entertained!
November 16, 2021
Excellent collection, lots of variety in both authors and material!! I did a full review for Hobs:
https://horrorobsessive.com/2021/11/1...
https://horrorobsessive.com/2021/11/1...
February 27, 2023
I am trying to read a short story a day for 2023. And the collection I originally picked up for February was making me feel a reading slump come on; so I switched gears to my kind of horror comfort read-eco-horror (it seems a bit off to say that, but reading about Nature taking back what is hers is cathartic, actually). I am glad I had this anthology there and ready to pick up because it made me want to continue reading a story a day. Not every story was for me, but all are worth reading. Also, the interior artwork by David Bowman is haunting and beautiful. Bring more art into interiors of books! It just adds an extra layer of nostalgia and joy, and who doesn't need that right now?
July 29, 2024
“Ignorant eyes win devastating prizes.“
Edited by Alex Ebenstein with a foreword from Tim Lebbon, this collection of stories explore the heart of ecological horror. Each tale is dark and harrowing, bringing unease to the idea of such horrific events happening from the natural environment around us.
Featured are 18 stories of terror from a huge variety of authors such as Sara Tantlinger, Tom Jolly, Gordon B. White, Joe Koch, Jonathan Louis Duckworth and many more.
Each story begins with an illustration by artist David Bowman. This felt like a snippet into the disaster story that was to follow.
I enjoyed a lot of the stories in this anthology. I haven’t read many Eco horror anthologies such as this one. The majority of these were disturbing and entertaining.
Edited by Alex Ebenstein with a foreword from Tim Lebbon, this collection of stories explore the heart of ecological horror. Each tale is dark and harrowing, bringing unease to the idea of such horrific events happening from the natural environment around us.
Featured are 18 stories of terror from a huge variety of authors such as Sara Tantlinger, Tom Jolly, Gordon B. White, Joe Koch, Jonathan Louis Duckworth and many more.
Each story begins with an illustration by artist David Bowman. This felt like a snippet into the disaster story that was to follow.
I enjoyed a lot of the stories in this anthology. I haven’t read many Eco horror anthologies such as this one. The majority of these were disturbing and entertaining.
November 26, 2024
Some of these stories were amazing and downright terrifying. In particular I enjoyed “As Humans Burn Beneath Us” by Sara Tantlinger, “The Meat™️” by Tim Hoelscher, “Root Structure” by Eddie Generous, “Los Angeles Is Sinking” by Gwen C. Katz, “The Last of Her Kind” by Eric Raglin, “The Huitlacoche Is Doing Fine” by Alex Woodroe, and “When the Rains Come” by Tom Jolly. The tone in these stories and the morally grey characters present in some of them made them a fun read.
Overall, it was an intriguing albeit a bit uneven collection of eco-horror. Mother Nature fighting back in all kinds of ways, with some very eerie and others a little convoluted.
Overall, it was an intriguing albeit a bit uneven collection of eco-horror. Mother Nature fighting back in all kinds of ways, with some very eerie and others a little convoluted.
September 3, 2022
A truly magnificent cornucopia of ways in which we break the planet. The stories are arranged with a specifically keen eye for how themes can bleed and alchemize amongst one another. Personal favorites include:
* Dandelion Six (Gordon B. White)
* Bug Bite (Alexis DuBon)
* The Last of her Kind (Eric Raglin)
* The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine (Alex Woodroe)
But there truly are no misses among the bunch and it even ends with one which might be mistaken as a glimmer of hope.
* Dandelion Six (Gordon B. White)
* Bug Bite (Alexis DuBon)
* The Last of her Kind (Eric Raglin)
* The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine (Alex Woodroe)
But there truly are no misses among the bunch and it even ends with one which might be mistaken as a glimmer of hope.
January 30, 2022
As with any anthology, not every story resonated with me, but the ones that did I’ll be thinking about for a long time. That said, all of the stories were well written, but the ones I can’t stop thinking about were those by Sara Tantlinger, Gordon B. White, Joe Koch, Johnathan Louis Duckworth, Eric Raglin, Alex Woodroe, and Tom Jolly.
March 7, 2022
Really enjoyed this anthology. There was a great mix of creepy, gross and absolutely terrifying stories here, all exploring nature vs. humanity and sparking existential dread at what we're doing to the planet... And what the planet might do back to us. Definitely gonna be keeping an eye on some of these authors for their future work!
March 20, 2022
Bleak, cathartic, and powerful, this anthology brings us acid rain, fungal zombies, and capitalist planet-murder. Things are awful, but art like this can bring us together in our pain, and remember that we can grow things out of rot, even if they aren't what we planned for. A beautiful, if not easy, bunch of stories.
September 25, 2025
Been a while since a short horror collection hit me like this one did.
From sad and melancholic to absolutely disgusting (ew, I love it), with a wide gamut between.
Loved all of these stories even if they made me look out my window and wonder how soon they'd start being our reality.
From sad and melancholic to absolutely disgusting (ew, I love it), with a wide gamut between.
Loved all of these stories even if they made me look out my window and wonder how soon they'd start being our reality.
January 17, 2022
Ecological horror stories that will inspire dread. Favorite stories: Gordon B. White's "Dandelion Six," Alex Woodroe's "The Huitlacoche is Doing Fine," and Tom Jolly's "When the Rains Come.”
February 27, 2022
I loved this collection of ecological horror ranging from body horror to quiet horror. Highly recommend!
December 10, 2024
There's enough reality in these horror stories that you can't help but find them plausible. For that reason, this is the one of the scariest anthologies I've ever read. Truly haunting. Five stars.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews