As someone who doesn't regularly gravitate towards horror and suspense genres when reading, I still find myself craving a bit of a fright near Halloween. I am wildly impressed with the authors and readers who are able to create and consume horror media so readily. It takes guts to engage in such dark world-building.
The horror genre is full of phenomenal authors and brilliant storylines; however, I don't read enough to recognize many authors. This October, I read Other Terrors, an anthology of short stories and poems written by various authors in the horror field and edited by Bram Stoker Award winners Vince A. Liaguno and Rena Mason.
This July release includes a plethora of well-written stories detailing captivatingly creepy characters and thrilling twists. It focuses on the concept of "othering," which, in this context, means that those who identify a specific way or don't follow specific social norms are often excluded from certain aspects of society, becoming the "other."
Because of this concept, a lot of people are excluded from mainstream media. The stories in Other Terrors feature diverse characters who don't often get the spotlight in horror media, such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ characters.
While some stories contain supernaturally spooky elements, the clear message is that sometimes it can be equally or possibly more frightening and difficult to deal with the reality of being "othered" by society.
I've found that horror media is far more terrifying when claimed to be based on a true story, since it offers the idea that it could also happen to you. This reasoning is exactly why this anthology is so intense for those deemed as "others," because while the supernatural elements of the stories are nonfiction, the very real terrors of harm, inequality, and constant fear are ever-present in many people's daily life.
Other Terrors is a gripping anthology as you bear witness to other people's experiences, which can make this a heavy read. Notably, because the contents are so dark, the supernatural, fantasy features of these tales lends an air of lightness that slightly balances out the dim, harsh display of disparities without detracting from the themes that thread throughout the anthology.
The first addition and one of my favorites from the collection is a poem titled "Other Fears" by Christina Sng, which details the emotional and physical abuse of very self-aware woman, who, after decades of her humanity being taken away piece by piece, decides to take it back.
In the poem, the woman explains how she feels by saying that her abuser "took away my voice" and took "a person worthy of life and love" and "left the fearful child behind." She describes herself as feeling like a child a few times in the poem, showing how her abuser stole her autonomy and left her choiceless. As the poem reaches its climax, the woman realizes that she only has one choice left: she must end his life to regain control of her own. But right before she makes that decisions, the woman notices how she "can see his true face now" and can see that "it is him who is other-."
Poetic horror is a subgenre that easily melds together to pack a hefty and thorough punch, effectively grabbing its intended audience. The poem plays out how "othering" abuse can feel and how someone could reclaim that feeling. It also encompasses how our reality has the potential to be far more horrific than fictional frights.
It's important to note that this anthology does not aim to push anyone into conformity in an attempt to avoid getting "othered," but it intends to use horror to shine a light on those who are usually left in the dark.
While I enjoyed most of these tales, I found myself thinking more deeply about the ones that focused on real issues and their complexities. I also noticed that reading about feeling or being "othered" felt more layered and intense than simply reading a classic horror novel around Halloween, though this anthology could be enjoyed any time of the year.
Overall, this was a very well-collected anthology, and while I preferred some stories to others, every story had endless eerie imagery and each led me to ruminate on their intentions for days.
In fairness, I'm not one to force anyone to engage in horror if it isn't their cup of tea. That said, if you enjoy horror or a good suspense story but long for more diversity and inclusion, then this anthology is one to check out.
Several of the featured authors, such as Tananarive Due, Jennifer McMahon, Alma Katsu, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Gabino Iglesias, and Michael Thomas Ford have other works currently available to check out in the Birmingham Public Library system.
By Julie Higginbottom | Library Assistant Ⅲ, North Birmingham Regional Branch Library
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