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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

A World of Horror

Name: A World of Horror
Price: 36.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781949491036

✍️ Eric J Guignard, Steve Lines, Kaaron Warren

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$36.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An international speculative fiction anthology collecting twenty-two original horror stories illustrated by Steve Lines.

This hardcover volume features original short horror fiction from authors representing South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, Canada, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Sweden, Australia, Uganda, India, Ukraine, Jamaica, Italy, England, Brazil, and Scotland. Award-winning editor Eric J. Guignard gathers contributions that focus on regional myths, localized fables, and legendary creatures. Steve Lines provides artwork for the collection. Selected works inside examine Chernobyl forests, veldt monsters, Canadian meals, and mountain troll battles. The assembled fiction provides American readers with diverse horror perspectives from multiple continents.

Key Themes

global horror folklore international myths and monsters speculative short fiction

Literary Context

Published by Dark Moon Books, this anthology collects global horror perspectives to give American readers diverse regional voices beyond traditional western tropes. It presents contemporary speculative fiction rooted in specific cultural superstitions, national fables, and local monster traditions from around the world.

Guignard, Eric J; , Lines, Steve; , Warren, Kaaron

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

World Horror Convention anthologies · The Book of the Damned series · Tales from the Loop

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“This is the book we need right now! Fresh voices from all over the world, bringing American audiences new ways to feel the fear. Horror is a universal genre and for too long we have only experienced one western version of it. No more. Get ready to experience a whole new world of terror.”

— Becky Spratford; librarian, reviewer, RA for All: Horror

“Guignard's editorial prowess is evident throughout; he has selected works that are as shocking as they are thought-provoking. This breath of fresh air for horror readers shows the limitless possibilities of the genre.”

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A cultural tour in the sacred art of horror--definitive proof that ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and more are equally terrifying in every corner of the world.”

— Fanbase Press

🏛 Dark Moon Books 📅 2018 📖 334 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781949491036

Fun Fact

This anthology excels in delivering a truly global perspective on horror, showcasing a remarkable diversity of voices and cultural fears not often found in single collections. The bespoke illustrations add a compelling visual layer. While its strength lies in its breadth, readers looking for a cohesive narrative arc or a very specific subgenre focus might find its variety a bit disorienting. It carves out a vital niche as a definitive survey of contemporary international dark fiction, a must-have for any serious connoisseur of the macabre.

📝 Description: A World of Horror

Edited by award-winning editor Eric J. Guignard and illustrated by Steve Lines, this 334-page dark and speculative fiction anthology collects twenty-two new stories exploring global folklore, monsters, fables, and fears. The volume opens with Guignard's introduction on diversity in fiction, followed by tales set in specific international locations. Mohale Mashigo's Mutshidzi and Charlie Human's Chemirocha represent South Africa, while L Chan's One Last Wayang covers Singapore. Readers encounter Canadian dining in David Nickle's On a Wooden Plate, On a Winter's Night, and radioactive Ukrainian forests in Valya Dudycz Lupescu's Honey. Other selections include Thersa Matsuura's The Wife Who Didn't Eat and Yukimi Ogawa's Warashi's Grip from Japan, Johannes Pinter's How Alfred Nobel Got His Mojo from Sweden, and Dilman Dila's Obibi, which features a mirror monster in Uganda. Additional contributions include Nadia Bulkin's Things I Do For Love from Indonesia, Kristine Ong Muslim's The Disappeared from the Philippines, and Suyi Davies Okungbowa's The Secret Life of the Unclaimed from Nigeria. Italian stories include Carla Negrini's Arlecchino and Claudio Foti's The Shadows of Saint Urban, alongside Australian entries Kaaron Warren's Sick Cats in Small Spaces and Ashlee Scheuerman's The Mantle of Flesh. The collection also includes Billie Sue Mosiman's Country Boy set in the United States, Rhea Daniel's The Nightmare from India, Marcia Douglas's Warning: Flammable, See Back Label from Jamaica, Ray Cluley's The Man at Table Nine from England, Carlos Orsi's The White Monkey from Brazil, and David McGroarty's The West Wind from Scotland. This collection suits readers seeking international horror fiction that incorporates regional superstitions and myths outside standard western perspectives. It does not suit readers looking for single-author novels or non-fiction historical studies.

📑 What's inside

"Introduction: Diversity in Fiction" by Eric J. Guignard
"Mutshidzi" by Mohale Mashigo (South Africa)
"One Last Wayang" by L Chan (Singapore)
"Things I Do For Love" by Nadia Bulkin (Indonesia)
"On a Wooden Plate, On a Winter's Night" by David Nickle (Canada)
"Country Boy" by Billie Sue Mosiman (United States of America)
"The Wife Who Didn't Eat" by Thersa Matsuura (Japan)
"The Disappeared" by Kristine Ong Muslim (Philippines)
"The Secret Life of the Unclaimed" by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Nigeria)
"How Alfred Nobel Got His Mojo" by Johannes Pinter (Sweden)
"Sick Cats in Small Spaces" by Kaaron Warren (Australia)
"Obibi" by Dilman Dila (Uganda)
"The Nightmare" by Rhea Daniel (India)
"Chemirocha" by Charlie Human (South Africa)
"Honey" by Valya Dudycz Lupescu (Ukraine)
"Warning: Flammable, See Back Label" by Marcia Douglas (Jamaica)
"Arlecchino" by Carla Negrini (Italy)
"The Man at Table Nine" by Ray Cluley (England)
"The Mantle of Flesh" by Ashlee Scheuerman (Australia)
"The Shadows of Saint Urban" by Claudio Foti (Italy)
"Warashi's Grip" by Yukimi Ogawa (Japan)
"The White Monkey" by Carlos Orsi (Brazil)
"The West Wind" by David McGroarty (Scotland)

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This anthology succeeds in its ambitious goal of showcasing global dread through twenty-two distinct voices, offering a refreshing departure from monolithic horror narratives. However, it may not suit readers seeking cohesive plotlines or traditional linear storytelling, as the fragmented nature of an anthology prioritizes thematic variety over narrative continuity. Fans of highly structured, classic Gothic tales might find the diverse, culturally specific superstitions disjointed or overly abstract. Additionally, those with a low tolerance for visceral or unsettling imagery, given Steve Lines' evocative illustrations, may find the content too intense. It is best appreciated by open-minded readers willing to engage with unfamiliar mythologies and the chilling unknown inherent in diverse homelands.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave fresh perspectives on fear will find immense value in this collection, as it moves beyond familiar Western horror stereotypes to explore unique cultural anxieties. The book serves as an excellent gateway for those interested in how different societies process ancestral fears and local superstitions through the lens of speculative fiction. Those who appreciate the intersection of folklore and modern dread will enjoy the variety of settings, from radioactive forests to ancient veldt monsters. It is particularly suited for anthologists and collectors seeking high-quality, brand-new contributions that highlight the universality of terror while celebrating its specific cultural manifestations. The evocative illustrations further enhance the experience for visual learners who enjoy atmospheric storytelling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you crave horror that transcends conventional boundaries and explores the rich tapestry of global folklore and unique cultural fears, this collection is for you. Prepare for a journey into the dark heart of humanity's diverse nightmares.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This anthology succeeds in its ambitious goal of showcasing global dread through twenty-two distinct voices, offering a refreshing departure from monolithic horror narratives. However, it may not suit readers seeking cohesive plotlines or traditional linear storytelling, as the fragmented nature of an anthology prioritizes thematic variety over narrative continuity. Fans of highly structured, classic Gothic tales might find the diverse, culturally specific superstitions disjointed or overly abstract. Additionally, those with a low tolerance for visceral or unsettling imagery, given Steve Lines' evocative illustrations, may find the content too intense. It is best appreciated by open-minded readers willing to engage with unfamiliar mythologies and the chilling unknown inherent in diverse homelands.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this anthology exclusively features twenty-two all-new, original dark and speculative fiction stories commissioned specifically for this volume, ensuring fresh material for every reader.

You'll find a wide spectrum of dark and speculative fiction, deeply rooted in the myths, monsters, and fables of various homelands. Expect atmospheric, creature-based, psychological, and culturally specific horrors.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Global Horror Traditions

This collection acts as a passport to the world's diverse fears, presenting how different cultures interpret and manifest the monstrous, the supernatural, and the unsettling through their unique folkloric lenses. It emphasizes the cultural specificity of dread, far beyond Western tropes.

Myth & Folklore Reimagined

The stories skillfully draw upon ancient myths, local legends, and traditional fables, breathing new life into timeless tales of terror. Readers will encounter both familiar archetypes and discover entirely new creatures born from the depths of human imagination and cultural heritage, seen through a modern lens.

The Universal Fear

Beneath the surface of distinct cultural narratives, the anthology explores the foundational fears common to humanity: loss, the unknown, mortality, and the corruption of the familiar. It demonstrates how these universal anxieties are articulated through unique regional lenses, proving fear is a global language.

📜 Historical context

Anthologies exploring diverse cultural horror have a long tradition, but 'A World of Horror' distinguishes itself by presenting entirely new works from a truly global roster of authors. It stands as a contemporary testament to the enduring power of folklore and local legend in shaping our deepest fears, offering a vital counterpoint to often Eurocentric horror narratives.

📚 Glossary

Speculative Fiction
Anthology
Folklore

📔 Questions to reflect on

Which cultural fear or monster presented in this collection resonated most deeply with you, and why do you think it had that effect?
How do the unique settings and cultural contexts in these stories amplify the sense of dread compared to more generic horror narratives?
Consider a fear from your own cultural background. How might it be adapted into a speculative horror story, similar to those found in this anthology?