The beast you are Stories

These 15 invigorating horror shorts from Tremblay (The Pallbearer's Club) showcase the author's imagination and versatility. Two are radically different ghost stories: in "Ice Cold Lemonade 25¢ Haunted House Tour: 1 Per Person," the narrator reflects on the youthful experiences that haunt his adult self, while "I Know You're There" explores the ways in which grief repeatedly reshapes a character's perceptions of reality. There are also two prescient pandemic stories, both originally published before the Covid-19 outbreak: "The Blog at the End of the World" works backward chronologically through online posts about a mysterious epidemic to form an incisive critique of the dissemination of disinformation on social media; "The Last Conversation" delivers a poignant sci-fi riff on the difficulty of letting a loved one go. The brilliant title novella takes the form of an animal fable, laced with references to fear-mongering authorities and cultish believers that resonate deeply with the contemporary zeitgeist. Whether he's writing a subtly disarming tale in the manner of Shirley Jackson ("The Party") or a grisly monster story ("The Large Man"), Tremblay draws well-developed characters whose recognizable humanity makes it easy for readers to accept the weird events happening around them. This will be a smash with horror fans. Agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell. (July)

Tremblay returns with another horror story collection, this time gathering 15 tales--some from award-winning anthologies; others, gems previously only available in smaller outlets--all of which will be enjoyed by long-time fans and new readers alike. Showcasing his award-winning brand of psychological horror, which derives its emotional terror from the characters, he reveals a terrible truth and then makes readers watch as the characters confront both the horror itself and their reactions to it. Every story, no matter the specific details, will break readers' hearts but ultimately leave them with hope. The titular new novella which anchors this volume is a great example, subtly nestled into his A Head Full of Ghosts universe; Tremblay presents an unsettling, anthropomorphic animal story told in free verse--a captivating, visceral, and menacing tale that, while fantastical, is also clearly about humanity right at this moment. Readers will be unable to look away, even as they see themselves in the horror. VERDICT Yet another not-to-miss release by the popular and critically acclaimed Tremblay (The Pallbearers Club), showcasing a discomfort that is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson but still new and thought-provoking.