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Echoes

Echoes The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories

Joyce Carol Oates, Aliette de Bodard, F. Marion Crawford, Richard Kadrey, Indrapramit Das, Ellen Datlow, Garth Nix, Ford Madox Ford, Jeffrey Ford, Stephen Graham Jones, Seanan McGuire, Alice Hoffman, Brian Evenson, Paul Tremblay, Carole Johnstone, Pat Cadigan, John Langan, A. C. Wise, Nathan Ballingrud, Nick Mamatas, Gemma Files, Dale Bailey, Alison Littlewood, Siobhan Carroll, Richard Bowes, Terry Dowling, Lee Thomas, Bracken Macleod, Vincent J. Masterson, M. Rickert, M. L. Siemienowicz — 2019
The essential collection of beloved ghost stories, compiled by the editor who helped define the genre—including stories from award-winning, bestselling authors such as Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Hoffman, Seanan McGuire, and Paul Tremblay. Everyone loves a good ghost story, especially Ellen Datlow—the most lauded editor in short works of supernatural suspense and dark fantasy. The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories is her definitive collection of ghost stories. These twenty-nine stories, including all new works from New York Times bestselling authors Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Hoffman, Seanan McGuire, and Paul Tremblay, span from the traditional to the eclectic, from the mainstream to the literary, from pure fantasy to the bizarrely supernatural. Whether you’re reading alone under the covers with a flashlight, or around a campfire with a circle of friends, there’s something here to please—and spook—everyone. Contributors include: Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Hoffman, Vincent J. Masterson, A.C. Wise, M. Rickert, Seanan McGuire, Lee Thomas, Alison Littlewood, M.L. Siemienowicz, Richard Kadrey, Indrapramit Das, Richard Bowes, Nick Mamatas, Terry Dowling, Aliette de Bodard, Carole Johnstone, Dale Bailey, Stephen Graham Jones, Bracken MacLeod, Garth Nix, Brian Evenson, Jeffrey Ford, Gemma Files, Paul Tremblay, Nathan Ballingrud, Pat Cadigan, John Langan.
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Reviews

Photo of Janice Hopper
Janice Hopper@archergal
3 stars
Nov 2, 2022

Sometimes I want to read something spooky, but not TOO spooky. The horror I like to read is usually stories that are subtle and unsettling. Ghost stories can fill this bill pretty well sometimes. This is a large and far-ranging collection. There are a couple of older stories, like "The Medium's End" by Ford Madox Ford and "The Upper Berth" by F. Marion Crawford. There are stories about abuse; about murder; about trauma and its effects over time. There's a lot of musing about death (duh, ghost stories.) There are lines like the one in Paul Tremblay's story: "Time doesn't run out; it continues forward and it continues without you." I learned a new word from Terry Dowling's story "The Unwrapping": "quatorzième" - a professional dinner guest, chosen to bring the number of people at a party from 13 (unlucky) to 14. Creepiest story? IMO, it's "Mee-Ow" by Garth Nix. Holy carp. "About the O'Dells" by Pat Cadigan is a pretty straight-forward ghost story with a satisfying ending. I bounced off the Aliette de Bodard story "A Burning Sword for Her Cradle". This has happened before with me and her stories. I'm sure it's me. But it was my least favorite. "Deep, Fast, Green" by Carole Johnstone sticks in my brain for ways that trauma can last for years and can affect every one around the traumatized person. "Natalya, Queen of the Hungry Dogs" by John Langan is a great story to end the book. It's about death and friendship and loss and anger and hope. Good stuff here. A solid 3.5 stars.

Photo of Maggie Gordon
Maggie Gordon@maggieg
3 stars
Aug 13, 2022