Out of the Darkness edited by Dan Coxon

SHORTLISTED FOR THE FANTASY HIVE’S
YEAR-END AWARDS 2021

stories by Aliya Whiteley, Verity Holloway and Simon Bestwick longlisted for the BSFA Awards 2021

Out of the Darkness, in collaboration with mental health charity Together for Mental Wellbeing, challenges some of the most exciting voices in horror and dark fantasy to bring their worst fears out into the light. From the black dog of depression to acute anxiety and schizophrenia, these stories prove what fans of horror fiction have long known – that we must understand our demons to overcome them. 

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, what began as a mental health crisis has rapidly become an unprecedented tsunami. The Centre for Mental Health has estimated that 10 million people will need mental health support in the UK as a direct consequence of Covid-19, with a staggering 1.5 million of those being under eighteen.

Edited by Dan Coxon (This Dreaming Isle) and featuring exclusive stories by Alison Moore, Jenn Ashworth, Tim Major and Aliya Whiteley, this collection harnesses the power of fiction to explore and explain the darkest moments in our lives. Horror isn’t just about the chills – it’s also about the healing that comes after.

All royalties and editor’s fees from this collection are being donated to the mental health charity Together for Mental Wellbeing.

Featuring new stories from:

  • Jenn Ashworth, author of Fell, Cold Light and more

  • Alison Moore, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Lighthouse, Missing and more

  • Aliya Whiteley, Arthur C. Clarke Award-shortlisted author of The Beauty, Greensmith and The Loosening Skin

  • Nicholas Royle, author of Ornithology, First Novel and more

  • Laura Mauro, British Fantasy Award-winning author of Sing Your Sadness Deep

  • Tim Major, author of Snakeskins and Hope Island

  • Sam Thompson, Booker Prize-longlisted author of Communion Town

  • Gareth E. Rees, author of Unofficial Britain and Car Park Life

  • Eugen Bacon, author of The Road to Woop Woop and Claiming T-Mo

  • Simon Bestwick, author of Wolf's Hill and more

  • Richard V. Hirst, co-author of The Night Visitors

  • Ashley Stokes, author of Gigantic (forthcoming from Unsung Stories)

  • Malcolm Devlin, author of You Will Grow Into Them

  • Verity Holloway, author of Pseudotooth

  • Gary Budden, author of Hollow Shores and London Incognita

  • Anna Vaught, author of Saving Lucia and Famished

  • Georgina Bruce, author of This House of Wounds

FURTHER READING

When I first came up with the idea for this anthology, it struck me that an above average number of people in the genre community suffer from mental health issues, and it would be to everyone’s benefit to bring the discussion of those issues out into the light.
- Editor Dan Coxon introduces the anthology at Ginger Nuts of Horror

Reviews

Fast, gripping and powerful enough to haunt. Each tale has brilliantly identifiable and unique characters… An absolute must-read for any lover of dark tales and horror chills.
- Aurealis magazine

This is a great thoughtful collection, exploring difficult subjects sensitively and eloquently while also delivering chills and shivers where required… Strongly recommended that you get this as the dark nights approach.
- Runalong the Shelves

Paperback ISBN: 9781912658114
ePub ISBN: 9781912658138
Publication date: 16 September 2021
Format: Paperback, ePub and mobi