Elemental Forces

Elemental Forces is the fifth volume in the non-themed horror series of original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer, and edited by Mark Morris. This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in horror, and 4 selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a short open submissions window. A delicious feast of the familiar and the new, the established and the emerging.

Previous titles in the series, all still in print, are: After Sundown, Beyond the Veil, Close to Midnight and Darkness Beckons.

Contents List:

THE PEELER by Poppy Z. Brite

A HOUSE OF WOE AND MYSTERY by Andy Davidson

THE WRONG ELEMENT by Aaron Dries

JACK-A-LENT by Paul Finch

NOBODY WANTS TO WORK HERE ANYMORE by Christina Henry

THE CALL OF THE DEEP by Laurel Hightower

EIGHT DAYS WEST OF PLETHORA by Verity Holloway

THEY EAT THE REST by Jim Horlock

THE ONLY FACE YOU EVER KNEW by Gwendolyn Kiste

MISTER REAPER by Annie Knox

I MISS YOU TOO MUCH by Sarah Langan

UNMARKED by Tim Lebbon

THE DOPPELGÄNGER BALLET by Will Maclean

THE SCARECROW FESTIVAL by Tim Major

THE PLAGUE by Luigi Musolino

THE DAUGHTERS OF CANAAN by Kurt Newton

THE ENTITY by Nicholas Royle

RED MEAT FLAG by David J. Schow

THE NOTE by Paul Tremblay

A REVIEW OF ‘SLIME TUTORIAL: THE MUSICAL’ by P.C. Verrone

FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at and connect on social media @FlameTreePress.

Praise for the series:

"This rich and masterful collection of horror highlights both up-and-coming and established authors in an interesting twist on the standard anthology [...] Highly recommended for longstanding horror fans and those readers who may not think horror is for them. There is something for everyone in this one."

Praise for the first books in the series:

“Beautifully written pieces that lean into the intuitive and fantastic.” — Publishers Weekly

"This rich and masterful collection of horror highlights both up-and-coming and established authors in an interesting twist on the standard anthology [...] Highly recommended for longstanding horror fans and those readers who may not think horror is for them. There is something for everyone in this one." — Booklist

"There is no end to the talent Mark Morris has brought together here. Fans of the genre will be pleased to see new work from such favorites as Nathan Ballingrud and Gemma Files, among others. So if you’re ready for a long fall night, pick up a copy of this massive anthology and fall into the mysterious worlds Beyond the Veil." — Phantastiqa

"This is a short story collection that does exactly what it sets out to, delight and scare. With stories from well-known authors in the genre as well as a few from emerging voices, After Sundown has something for everyone. Highly recommended." — The British Fantasy Society

"An entertaining, slickly written, mainstream, fun, something-for-every-horror-fan anthology.” — HorrorTree

“There’s a refreshing lack of pretentiousness about these stories. The authors span several continents so there’s a decent array of themes and styles. Each tale had a very distinct voice, with a superb variety that perfectly illustrates what a broad church the genre covers. I had a blast reading this book. It really has reinvigorated my interest in the horror genre.” — Stephen Bacon, author & critic

“I'm impressed with the imagination and variety coming from the writers. Beyond the Veil, from Flame Tree Press, is another happy clump of ickiness...and I mean that in a good way.” — The Happy Horror Writer

Mark Morris (editor) has written and edited over fifty novels, novellas, short story collections and anthologies. His script work includes audio dramas for Doctor Who, Jago & Litefoot and the Hammer Chillers series. His most recent work includes the Obsidian Heart trilogy (The Wolves of London, The Society of Blood and The Wraiths of War), the original Predator novel Stalking Shadows (co-written with James A. Moore), the official novelization of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special Wild Blue Yonder, new audio adaptations of the classic 1971 horror movie Blood on Satan’s Claw and the M.R. James ghost story A View From a Hill, a 30th anniversary short story collection Warts And All, and, as editor, the anthologies After Sundown, Beyond the Veil, Close to Midnight and Darkness Beckons for the Flame Tree Press series ‘ABC of Horror’.

Blood on Satan’s Claw won the New York Festival Radio Award for Best Drama Special. A View From a Hill won the New York Festival Radio Award for Best Digital Drama Program, and was also awarded Silver at the 2020 Audio & Radio Industry Awards. Mark has won two British Fantasy Awards, and has also been nominated for several Stokers and Shirley Jackson Awards.

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