When Things Get Dark

“18 outstanding, atmospheric horror shorts from some of the biggest names in the genre … Any fan of Jackson’s oeuvre will delight in this anthology.” - Publishers Weekly starred review”Other stories are equally memorable, but for me, the outstanding one is Skinder’s Veil, a breathtaking blend of fairytale, dream and reality by the incomparable Kelly Link.” - The Guardian”This compilation of stories that make the mundane seem terrifying is chilling and uncanny, offering tropes that will be familiar to readers of Jackson’s work (witchy women, eerie suburbia) but with unique touches that could come only from these individuals authors.” - New York Public Library Best Books”A joy for Jackson fans, but no Jackson knowledge is needed to enjoy this anthology. A gem in its own right.” - SFX”If you’re a fan of Shirley Jackson, you’re bound to find something here that moves you the way her stories did.” - LitReactor”Perfect to dip in and out of as the nights draw in” - Culturefly”In short, another great anthology assembled by Ellen Datlow.” - Horror Tree”No one consistently delivers like Datlow does.” - Horror DNA”This anthology is classic horror in its appearance, but in the inside has modern sensitivities with standout prose. Shirley Jackson would’ve been proud” - Last Sentence”Compiling a short story anthology that caters to a wide audience’s taste is no small feat. Ellen Datlow has done a brilliant job of curating a selection of stories which are not only varied in style and topic, but of high quality. Whether you prefer your creepiness level at one or eleven, with a good dose of blood and gore or just with a hint of psychological suspense, you will find a favourite which appeals to your taste in this collection.” - Crime Fiction Lover”Unsettling, disquieting, even disorienting… This collection is special. Somewhere, Shirley Jackson is peering over those glasses of hers, one eyebrow raised, a sly smile on her lips” - Dave Writes and Draws”Even the most voracious of readers is sure to be swept away by the sheer magnitude of talent on display in When Things Get Dark.” - Phantastiqa”Datlow did it again… every piece was entertaining” - Happy Horror Writer”If you are looking for an overview of what the current literary horror world looks like, this is a fantastic example” - California Reading”[A] successful endeavour that shows just how much of an influence Shirley Jackson had with her writing” - Zachary Houle”A thrilling encounter with the uncanny courtesy of the some of the best contemporary horror writers.” - End of the Words”From haunting to eerie to downright terrifying, there is something for every reader” - Mandy McHugh”I thoroughly enjoyed reading this anthology [..] so I have no hesitation in recommending it.” - Stephen Bacon”These stories really linger in the back of my mind - like they’re creating a space of their own in my memory” - Girl Who Reads”Hands-down, my favorite anthology I’ve ever read.” - Quaint and Curious Volumes

Ellen Datlow has been editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction for forty years as fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and SCIFICTION. She currently acquires short stories and novellas for Tor.com. In addition, she has edited about one hundred science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year series, The Doll Collection, Mad Hatters and March Hares, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, and Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles.

She’s won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Bram Stoker Awards, International Horror Guild Awards, and Shirley Jackson Awards. Datlow was recipient of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for “outstanding contribution to the genre,” was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior achievement over an entire career, and honored with the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention.

She lives in New York.

Joyce Carol Oates is the author of more than 70 books, including novels, short story collections, poetry volumes, plays, essays, and criticism, including the national bestsellers We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde. Among her many honors are the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction and the National Book Award. Oates is the Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Princeton University, and has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978.

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