Tag Archives: Connie Willis

Hauntings edited by Ellen Datlow

November 22, 2023Book ReviewAdam L.G. Nevill, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Connie Willis, Dale Bailey, David Morrell, E. Michael Lewis, Elizabeth Hand, Ellen Datlow, F. Paul Wilson, Gemma Files, Ghosts, Hauntings, Horror, James P. Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Jonathan Carroll, Joyce Carol Oates, Kelly Link, Lucius Shepard, Michael Marshall Smith, Neil Gaiman, Pat Cadigan, Paul Walther, Peter Straub, Richard Bowes, Short Story Collections, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Stephen Gallagher, Terry Dowlingskyebjenner

Hauntings: Datlow, Ellen: 9781616960889: Amazon.com: Books

Title: Hauntings
Author: Ellen Datlow, Pat Cadigan, Dale Bailey, E. Michael Lewis, Lucius Shepard, David Morrell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Carroll, Terry Dowling, Paul Walther, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Connie Willis, Stephen Gallagher, Michael Marshall Smith, Richard Bowes, James P. Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Gemma Files, Kelly Link, Adam L.G. Nevill & Peter Straub
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

This is, as with all Ellen Datlow collections, seriously fun and enjoyable. The fact that this fantastic collection is full of seriously creepy stories made it that much more enjoyable. Mostly because it’s out of my usual genre of choice. Horror and ghost stories might not be quite my usual speed, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t love reading this collection!

Although I really enjoyed reading all of these short stories, I did find that this was not an anthology I should be reading late at night. Or when I was home alone. Whilst some of the stories were kind of mild and not too terrifying, some made it really difficult to sleep after turning the final page. Or just made it difficult to turn off the lights. Which is why this took me a little bit longer to read than I had anticipated.

Hauntings runs the gambit of horror and ghost stories, from horrible hauntings to stories that had a little bit more hope at the end. They made me feel all of the feelings, and I would most definitely read this collection again in the future.

<- The First Lunar Halloween

Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie ->

Image source: Amazon

Distress Call by Connie Willis

June 14, 2023Book ReviewConnie Willis, Hauntings, Horrorskyebjenner

Title: Distress Call
Author: Connie Willis
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Admittedly, I found this a little bit hard to follow exactly what was going on. But I actually think that that lent to the air of horror in this story. I mean, when it is hard to pinpoint something, you tend to feel more uncomfortable about it. That whole fear of the unknown thing. And in the case of this short story, it definitely left me feeling a whole lot more “haunted” when I turned that final page.

Maybe another reason why I found this story so unexplainably emotionally poignant was the fact that it was all about a mother wanting to protect her child. I mean, even after death, she is driven to protect her baby and make sure that she is safe. I completely understand that drive, and anytime you can relate to the characters, there’s going to be a much stronger emotional connection.

The part that made this kind of hard to follow was the constant talk of the titanic. It definitely leant to the feeling of fatality and haunting in this. But I spent half the story wondering if they were titanic ghosts haunting, or just that there were some lovely parallels. And honestly, I’m still not 100%. But I enjoyed it anyway. It’s kind of fun to fill in those gaps and confusions on your own…

<- The Pennine Tower Restaurant

The Horn ->

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Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow

January 28, 2020Book ReviewAlien Sex, Aliens, Bruce McAllister, Connie Willis, Edward Bryant, Ellen Datlow, Geoff Ryman, Harlan Ellison, James Tiptree, Jr., K.W. Jeter, Larry Niven, Leigh Kennedy, Lewis Shiner, Lisa Tuttle, Michaela Roessner, Pat Cadigan, Pat Murphy, Philip Jose Farmer, Richard Christian Matheson, Rick Wilber, Roberta Lannes, Science Fiction, Scott Baker, Short Story Collectionsskyebjenner

Title: Alien Sex
Author: Ellen Datlow, Leigh Kennedy, Rick Wilber, Harlan Ellison, Scott Baker, Larry Niven, K.W. Jeter, Philip Jose Farmer, Lisa Tuttle, Bruce McAllister, Edward Bryant, Pat Cadigan, Geoff Ryman, Connie Willis, Richard Christian Matheson, Lewis Shiner, Roberta Lannes, James Tiptree, Jr., Michaela Roessner & Pat Murphy
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Science fiction, Short story collections
Dates read: 27th August – 29th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: The front row of pews was reserved for the faculty.

In these 19 evocative pieces of short fiction, best-selling and award-winning writers tackle such intriguing issues as sex by telepathy, the pick-up scene on other planets, and making love with Superman. Thought-provoking, often shocking, always entertaining, Alien Sex daringly explores those barriers between men and women that can make them seem so “alien” to one another. Probing the current and future state, shape, and complex problems of the human male/female relationship, this fantastic collection will make you think about sex in a whole new way.

This is the single most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever read. Like wow uncomfortable. And not in bits and pieces. But pretty much every single story in this was uncomfortable. Not that that’s bad. But it’s very hard to read a book quickly when you know that things aren’t going to be, well, pleasant. Which makes it incredibly WOW to read. I suggest this to everyone who loves their science fiction.

This collection seriously makes you think about the world around you and how we perceive it. More importantly, it repeatedly makes you question sex, our approaches to sexuality and even how we deal with the opposite gender. And sometimes even questions of gender. By using these insane, far out storylines, it makes you seriously consider this aspect of our lives.

Sex is really weird. I don’t know that anyone can argue that it isn’t. Using science fiction and aliens just helps to highlight that fact. And kind of act as enlightenment for a number of my own practices and beliefs. Definitely an interesting collection…

<- The Marker Review

Her Furry Face ->

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All My Darling Daughters by Connie Willis

January 6, 2020Book ReviewAlien Sex, Connie Willis, Horror, Lustskyebjenner

Title: All My Darling Daughters
Author: Connie Willis
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Lust
Dates read: 7th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: xx
5th sentence, 74th page: To save yourself.

She’s boarding in Hell… and all she wants is a bit of jig jig. Yet, the boys have found a new companion and things are going to get MUCH worse.

This story is twisted, lustful and deeply disturbing. It talks a bit about the college experience… but I don’t EVER want to experience this version of college. So damn not okay. So damn twisted. And that was my thoughts at the beginning. Those feelings intensify drastically when you read the ending. I actually had to close my eyes and go to my happy place at the ending…

I did really love the language used in this short story. It was completely crass and uncomfortable. But yet, somehow still really polite. And well educated. It was like a literature-heavy version of filthy talk. A weird little juxtaposition, but one that actually worked brilliantly.

One word to the wise though… this tale does have some serious triggers. Namely incest and rape. Or at least, that’s how it felt to me… I’m going to go and find myself a nice, happy story to read now…

<- Omnisexual Review

Arousal Review ->

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

Tag Archives: Connie Willis

Hauntings edited by Ellen Datlow

Distress Call by Connie Willis

Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow

Image source: Amazon

All My Darling Daughters by Connie Willis

Image source: Amazon