When it comes to horror, one story is never enough, and this is exactly why we read or watch horror anthologies because they are teeming with an armada of haunted and spooky stories that’ll keep us up at night.
The scares come from zombies, ghosts, vampires who suck blood, and mythical creatures that existed before mankind, and whatnot! If you, too, hate your good night’s sleep, here are the ten best horror anthologies with a collection of short stories.
The Essential Tales of H.P. Lovecraft
If you love reading stories that make you both shiver and scream at the same time, then you’ll love The Essential Tales of H.P. Lovecraft, a collection of 16 spine-chilling stories by the master of cosmic horror. The book has everything you need, from ancient gods, alien monsters, mad scientists carrying out crazy experiments, and doomed explorers who’ll never reach their destination.
The book encompasses the Necronomicon, the horrors of Cthulhu, and even the Dunwich Horror, which will alter the way you see the world.
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
20th Century Ghosts is one of those rare anthologies that’ll make your skin crawl and your heart race. This book is an armada of 16 terrifying tales by Joe Hill, the son of the author who writes the best horror, Stephen King.
Here, you’ll encounter haunted movie theaters, inflatable boys, killer phones, and more. At the same time, you’ll also come across the dark side of human nature and the even darker side of the supernatural. Mark out worlds; you’ll never forget these stories, even if you want to.
New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft
Lovecraft’s writing is so excellent that you can’t help but quote Lovecraft over and over again. One can even call his New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft an ultimate guide to his weird and wonderful stories.
In this series, you’ll explore the secrets behind his mythos, his world-breaking monsters, and his rage, with expert commentary by Leslie S. Klinger and a preface by Alan Moore. The book features 22 of his most scary stories, including the very famous The Call of Cthulhu, At the Mountains of Madness, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, and more.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
In this book, someone’s body becomes the battlefield for horror, fantasy, and satire, someone’s lover wants to unravel the ribbon around someone’s neck, someone has catalogued their entire sex life while a plague wiped out humanity, and someone, and someone has rewritten Law and Order: SVU (not literally) as a twisted nightmare?
You’ll find all of this in Her Body and Other Parties, a collection of stories that will make you laugh, cry, and shiver. Carmen Maria Machado is a master when it comes to mixing different genres with feminist storytelling.
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
Can you picture yourself living in a small town where everything seems normal and peaceful, but under the surface, the town actually isn’t? Why? Because once a year, people of the town have to take part in a lottery that can kill them.
This is how the lottery works in the film, and maybe for this reason, the book becomes the most unforgettable story ever written. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as it also gives you 24 other stories that are equally horrific and thought-provoking. It is a masterpiece.
Books of Blood by Clive Barker
Everyone likes a horror story that can make their blood boil and put a torch under the bead, just in case someone is hiding under it. If you’re a fan of such stories too, then you’ll fall in love with Books of Blood, a collection of six volumes by Clive Barker, who has also been called the master of horror.
It won’t be an exaggeration to say that it will take you to places you never imagined. A place where the dead speak, the living suffer, and the impossible becomes real, and most importantly, people never get home safely.
Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology, edited by Nico Bell and Sonora Taylor
Are you tired of diet culture and fatphobia and want to read stories that celebrate your curves while kicking some ass? Then you need to check out Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology.
For context, this is a collection of 12 horror stories that feature fat protagonists who are not here for your bullshit. In this book, you’ll see them fighting zombies, ghosts, cults, and corporations while being fierce, fabulous, and fearless. They don’t let anyone tell them how to live, love, or look.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
No one on this God’s Green Earth in their sane mind will dare to enter the Hill House, which is also called the most haunted place in America. However, four brave souls in the book did, and they hoped to find proof of the paranormal, but what they found was much more than they bargained for.
The house is alive, can play with your mind, and even knows your deepest and darkest fear, whether it is a scare from a spider or a crazy ex-girlfriend. The house won’t let you leave, EVER!
The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All by Laird Barron
The anthology series takes place in a world where ancient horrors live in the shadows and are just waiting for a window of opportunity to devour your soul. In this world, the dark is darker, the cold is colder, sleep is permanent, and death is inevitable.
The irony is that, at the same time, it is a world where you can hear the whispers of the beautiful thing that awaits us all. Try turning the pages, and you’ll meet hunters, cultists, spies, writers, and a rock star, all facing the unspeakable terrors that lie beyond the veil of normality.
The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen by Ellen Datlow
If you’re looking for horror stories that make you question reality, make you think if you’re crazy or sane, and make you fear for your life, then you need to read The Best Horror of the Year Volume Thirteen, the latest anthology from the legendary editor Ellen Datlow.
All 21 stories mentioned in the film are original, diverse, and daring, hailing from some of the most talented and well-known writers who ever walked the Earth. The likes of which include Stephen Graham Jones, Priya Sharma, Laird Barron, John Langan, and the list just goes on. WARNING, don’t read this if you love your night’s sleep!
So, these were our top 10 picks for best horror anthologies with a collection of short stories. Did your favourite make the cut? Leave a comment below and let us know!