At Home in the Dark: Stories

At Home in the Dark is a collection of short stories from various authors edited by Lawrence Block.

I received a free copy from the editor in exchange for an honest review.

When asked about what is the common denominator that links these stories, editor Lawrence Block said – “…two come to mind. They’re all dark stories, with nothing cozy or comforting about them. And every last one of them packs a punch.” While there were some that I enjoyed more than others, I can absolutely agree with Block’s assessment.

Two of my favorite authors – Duane Swierczynski and Joe Hill – come armed with memorable tales (Giant’s Despair and Faun, respectively) that stuck with me after I finished the collection. Others I enjoyed were Nancy Pickard’s “If You Would Only Leave Me” – a story about a failing marriage with deadly consequences, and Jill D. Block’s “O, Swear Not By The Moon”, a quick tale about two teens who meet a tragic end following a secret love affair. Joe R. Lansdale’s “The Senior Girls Bayonet Drill Team” was another memorable tale about a dystopian future where high school girls viciously slaughter each other for an audience’s enjoyment.

Overall, I thought the collection was worth my time. I’m a big fan of darker fiction in general, so it was up my alley to begin with. Lawrence Block has put together a good collection of bleak stories but I would have liked Block to have contributed something himself.