THE FOURTH CORONA BOOK OF HORROR STORIES
Edited by Lewis Williams
Available in paperback and eBook format
THE FOURTH CORONA BOOK OF HORROR STORIES is, as the name suggests, an anthology of horror stories and Corona’s fourth in the series, though they have also published a book on ghost stories and science-fiction too.
This is my first look at Corona’s short horror books, and I have to say that the fourth instalment is a brilliant mixture of stories. It includes stories written in a very classic way, with similarly old-fashioned style of storytelling, whilst others are modern and relaxed for a fresh and vibrant approach. What is a joy to see is that some particular authors aren’t afraid to get rough and raw with their plots, with some scenes that will shock the reader.
As a book, this is very much like a pick n mix bag of short horrors rather than them all taking a familiar tone. As someone who always likes to discover authors that write stories that fit my tastes, THE FOURTH CORONA BOOK OF HORROR STORIES is an ideal opportunity for doing just that.
Some of the stories are written with a darkly comic tone, whilst others stick it to you straight. With horror being such a varied genre, you can expect the same from this book with stories involving physical horror as well as spiritual and supernatural horror. Not everything involves horror in the literal “blood and guts” sense. Some horror is more of the mind and a perception of a hellish result, which brings about some fantastic stories to sink your teeth into. Some of the topics the stories touch upon include murder, night terrors, transformations and death, but with plenty of stories to explore, there’s no shortage of exciting and enthralling stories to get lost in, showcasing that the art of short storytelling is still very much alive.
The shortest of the stories is around two pages and the longest is around 18 pages, which means this 251 page book manages to squeeze in 20 stories from a range of British and international authors. My personal highlights include The Best Weapons In The World by Wondra Vanian, There Is A Man In Edith’s Home by Sam Rebelein, Musica Mortis by Wink Taylor and Gloria by Donna L. Greenwood, but each and every story included has its own particular merit which is no doubt why it was included in Corona’s anthology. Some stories are the type to simply shock in the moment whilst others embed themselves and reverberate around your skull long after you’ve finished the book. It all depends on your tastes as to which ones will tickle your fancy.
With tales that will spook, unnerve and chill, and perhaps spark a wicked cackle from the reader, THE FOURTH CORONA BOOK OF HORROR STORIES is a thrilling anthology book that will surely delight fans of the genre.
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