Simon Strantzas

Simon Strantzas is a Canadian author of supernatural horror and weird fiction who has published multiple short story collections since 2006. His work frequently deals with themes of psychological unease, cosmic horror, and the uncanny within seemingly ordinary settings. Strantzas has released several acclaimed collections including Beneath the Surface (2008), Cold to the Touch (2009), Nightingale Songs (2011), Burnt Black Suns (2014), and Nothing is Everything (2018). His stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines including The Year's Best Weird Fiction, Postscripts, and Cemetery Dance. His writing style draws influence from authors like Robert Aickman and Thomas Ligotti, focusing on atmospheric dread and psychological tension rather than overt horror. Strantzas also works as an editor and has compiled horror anthologies including Aickman's Heirs (2015), which won a Shirley Jackson Award. The author maintains an active role in the contemporary weird fiction community through convention appearances, interviews, and critical writing about the genre. His work has been nominated for multiple awards including the British Fantasy Award.

Readers praise Strantzas's atmospheric writing and building of psychological tension, particularly in his short story collections "Burnt Black Suns" and "Nothing is Everything." Many reviews note his Lovecraftian influences while developing his own distinct voice in weird fiction. Readers appreciate: - Slow-building dread and unease - Complex character psychology - Ambiguous endings that prompt reflection - Literary prose style Common criticisms: - Pacing too slow for some readers - Stories can be overly subtle or abstract - Endings sometimes feel incomplete - Writing style occasionally dense Average ratings: Goodreads: - Burnt Black Suns: 3.8/5 (226 ratings) - Nothing is Everything: 3.7/5 (89 ratings) - These Last Embers: 3.6/5 (45 ratings) Amazon: - Burnt Black Suns: 4.1/5 - Nothing is Everything: 3.9/5 One reviewer called his work "cerebral horror that rewards careful reading," while another noted "beautiful prose but sometimes at the expense of narrative momentum."

Nightingale Songs (2011) A collection of nine short horror stories dealing with characters who encounter strange and unsettling phenomena in urban settings.

Cold to the Touch (2009) Thirteen dark fiction stories exploring themes of isolation and psychological unease in both wilderness and city environments.

Beneath the Surface (2008) A collection of eight supernatural horror stories focusing on characters who discover disturbing realities hidden behind everyday appearances.

Nothing is Everything (2018) Thirteen weird fiction stories examining the intersection between reality and unreality, featuring characters facing inexplicable situations.

Burnt Black Suns (2014) Nine cosmic horror stories involving characters who confront otherworldly entities and face psychological transformation.