This Strange Way of Dying

This Strange Way of Dying is a collection of fifteen short stories that blend Mexican folklore with elements of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The stories take place across various settings, from modern Mexico City to otherworldly realms. Each tale introduces unique supernatural elements: shape-shifters who transform in the night, urban vampires in Mexico's capital, and magical creatures drawn from Latin American mythology. The collection includes stories about scorpion magic, skull-adorned trees, and even an apocalyptic scenario featuring giant penguins. The stories first appeared in various science fiction and horror publications between 2008 and 2013, marking Silvia Moreno-Garcia's debut book collection. The work garnered attention in the speculative fiction community and earned a nomination for the 2014 Sunburst Award. Through these stories, Moreno-Garcia explores themes of transformation, cultural identity, and the intersection of traditional folklore with contemporary life, creating a distinctive fusion of Mexican cultural elements with speculative fiction genres.

Readers found this short story collection blends Mexican folklore with horror and magical realism in unique ways. Many reviews note the fresh take on vampire and ghost stories through a Mexican cultural lens. Liked: - Strong character focus despite short formats - Atmospheric writing style - Cultural authenticity in the supernatural elements - Stories "The Death Collector" and "Shade of the Ceiba Tree" highlighted as standouts Disliked: - Some stories feel underdeveloped or end abruptly - Uneven pacing across the collection - A few readers found certain stories too abstract Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (224 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) Reader quote: "Each story has its own dark magic, but they're connected by themes of love, death and Mexican culture." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers mentioned the collection serves as a good introduction to Moreno-Garcia's writing style before tackling her novels.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Stories blend folklore, horror, and feminism in a format that mixes supernatural elements with contemporary settings.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Set in a fantasy world with Mexican influences, the text weaves magic with social expectations and romance.

Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano Mexican-American magical realism meets family tradition in a tale of brujas and bakeries.

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi Generations of women connect through haunted spaces and folklore-inspired magic in an ancestral home.

So Far from God by Ana Castillo Mexican folklore and magical realism blend in a story about four sisters in New Mexico who experience supernatural transformations.

🌟 Silvia Moreno-Garcia grew up in Mexico City surrounded by her grandmother's stories about magic, ghosts, and folk remedies, directly influencing her storytelling style. 🌟 The anthology's title "This Strange Way of Dying" reflects a common theme in Mexican folklore where death is viewed not as something fearsome, but as a natural part of life's cycle. 🌟 Mexican supernatural creatures featured in the book, like the Nahual (shape-shifters), have been part of Mesoamerican mythology since pre-Columbian times. 🌟 The author has won multiple prestigious awards, including the World Fantasy Award and the Locus Award, and became the first Mexican-born author to make the NYT bestseller list in the horror category. 🌟 The collection's blend of sci-fi and Mexican folklore represents a growing literary movement called "Mexican Gothic," which reimagines traditional horror through a Latin American lens.