Out There Screaming is an anthology of horror tales edited by Jordan Peele that centers around not just specters or other things lurking in the dark, but the worst horrors of all… humanity.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Out There Screaming edited by –
Not an easy read in the slightest, but my goodness, the raw edge that sits with each tale is so sharp. One wrong move will leave you reeling.
I listened to this on audio, which I think made it even more intense.
From this collection, my three favorite tales were:
- Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse
- Flicker by L.D. Lewis
- A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers
Let’s jump into my notes on each tale!
Foreword by Jordan Peele –
What a neat foreward! This kicks off with the explanation of a word for a terrifying type of dungeon and how it was used. Jordan Peele then makes a point of coming full circle and kicking us off on a strong note.
Reckless Eyeballing by N. K. Jemisin –
A police officer convinced he’s a soldier of righteousness gets a bit too much enjoyment out of punishing those he deems as wrongdoers. But the eyes are always watching…
What an absolutely brutal start!
Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse –
These two siblings have special gifts that allow them to do what they do as monster hunters. Traveling to take on a job, they’re unsettled by their host almost immediately. Even so, they’re determined to figure out this case.
WILDLY unsettling! I was so nervous for these two from the moment they arrived. This took such a heartbreaking and scary path! I loved this one!
Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull –
Hooked on a bad case of wanderlust, this man is given a message from someone expressed paths with. When the first part comes true, he gets the itch to run again, not heeding the second half, which was a warning.
Oh, I was so rooting for this guy! He had such a good thing going, but his fears and need to run were just too strong. That ending!!
Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley
Nneka Arimah –
When a job goes sideways, this woman, who had previously seen this cause (of fighting against aliens who use humans to breed) as an issue in black and white, suddenly finds herself in the gray, seeking answers.
This was so unsettling! The images that came to mind of these facilities were chilling.
The Other One by Violet Allen –
What in the toxic and spooky relationship?! This was a trip!
He’d never done anything like that before, but people often never do things right before they always do them.
Lasiren by Erin E. Adams –
Not heeding their mother’s warning, these siblings find what happens when they are tricked by a monster of the sea.
What an awesome tale of the supernatural and sisterhood!
The Rider by Tananarive Due –
Heading to Montgomery to join the Freedom Riders, one sister has a sudden thought that something will go terribly wrong on their trip. And boy, is she right.
This foreboding message adds such a suspenseful tone to this tale. What a terrifying ride! What a powerful woman!
The Aesthete by Justin C. Key –
In a wild world where creators make AI humans, we follow one through his life as he copes with the loss of his creator and what life brings him next.
The spectators’ element was so lightly presented here, but so chilling to me. This one plays out SO well in the mind, it was like I was watching it!
Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels –
Returning to his hometown brings many tough childhood scenes back to the surface. But that horror is balanced out by the terror of what’s to come with the violent weather patterns.
This sci-fi horror has so much pressure that builds while we quietly walk in these characters’ shoes.
Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor –
Struggling through the grief of losing her father, she decides to take his ring back with her rather than letting it go… and even after warnings to bring it back, she refuses.
My gosh, the dread of what could be coming here was so potent! The security camera scenes had me so on edge! What an awesome grief horror tale.
Flicker by L.D. Lewis –
Worries about her eyesight, this woman asks her brother what it’s called when her sight goes dark for just a flicker. Thinking she’s lining him up for a joke about blinking, he brushes her off. But soon, the flicker turns to minutes of darkness… and the darkness isn’t just for her.
Oh my goodness. This was absolutely terrifying! Not just the sudden and unexpected darkness, but what happens in the dark. That last line!!
The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson –
After trying to kill a being for revenge, this young girl walks away with a bigger problem.
This poor girl! Her journey was so sad to see, but what a lesson in the end! I loved how this came around in a perfect circle.
The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus –
After the war, this group settles in a small town. But the horrors aren’t behind them just yet. White supremacy lurks. Can their magic keep them safe when they’re attacked?
Gut punch after gut punch with this one. The wording here feels so impactful with each and every sentence.
A Grief of the Dead: Rion by Amilcar Scott –
Struggling with grief after the loss of his twin brother, this man soon learns that his brother, as he knew him, may be gone, but a form of him is still out there.
There was so much packed into this tale! Family drama, supernatural elements, stories, and more!
A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers –
After passing in 1993, this woman meets a friend in 2008, and they begin a game to pass their afterlife…
This was so upbeat and yet so eerie at the same time! My goodness. I had to listen to this one twice.
An American Fable by Chesya Burke –
A man who just wants to travel to his destination isn’t surprised when he runs into trouble. But what does surprise him is the little girl who follows him.
The hate here will make your blood boil. When the fable was introduced, I was so excited to see where this was headed!
Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor –
While working in a prison, this man learns the darker underside of what’s going on.
Human bodies under AI control?! Nooooo thanks. Oh gosh, the turn this one took was gut-wrenching. And then there was more and more heartbreak after that!
Hide and Seek by P. Djeli Clark –
With very strict and startling hide-and-seek rules in place, these two young boys struggle to stay hidden from their mother during her drills. But what are they practicing for?
HOLY the circular path this took!!! Tread lightly with drug use triggers, by my god. The very last few lines!!
Origin Story by Tochi Onyebuchi –
What a tale to end on. Phew…
My Favorite Passages from Out There Screaming –
Never a good time to follow a cop with power issues… This line was a total gut punch: Probably better to shoot than arrest her really. Dead women file no lawsuits.
— Reckless Eyeballing by N. K. Jemisin
No matter what, I was either about to be consumed by the monster in front of me or the pain within me.
— Lasiren by Erin E. Adams
It’s hard to get excited about rights we can’t use.
— The Rider by Tananarive Due
Of all the tools of oppression, fear was the cruelest.
— The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus
Glass sparkles in her hair like a broken tiara.
— A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers
My Final Thoughts on Out There Screaming –
It may have taken me a bit to get to this one, but I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially if you choose to listen on audio!
Thanks for reading!
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