Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror edited by Jordan Peele

Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror

Author: Various

Genre: Horror, Short Stories

Format: Physical purchase

Publish Date: October 2023

Read: August 2024

Why does this book beguile? Growing up, I was never a fan of horror for two reasons: first, my mom wouldn’t let me watch it (fair!), and second, I (incorrectly) assumed all horror was gory, sadistic brutality. After watching Jordan Peele’s films (Get Out, Us, and my personal favorite, Nope), I was eager to read the anthology he edited.

I’ve grown to appreciate the horror genre because it includes things I love like monsters and creepy, psychological themes. I especially like reading horror because I can put the book away if and when it gets too scary.

Out There Screaming is an incredible collection of short stories from Black authors. Each one is unique, but similar in that each story creeps out the reader. The stories are like episodes of Black Mirror: unsettling and a little too real. From aliens to spirits to historical fiction white supremacy and present-day racism, Out There Screaming covers big topics in thrilling and psychologically creepy ways.

Rating: 4/5

Link*: Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror edited by Jordan Peele

If you’re interested in this, read*: Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology