The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror

The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror is an anthology series edited by Stephen Jones that collects notable horror fiction published within the previous year. Each volume features around 20-25 short stories from both established horror authors and emerging voices in the genre. The collections begin with a comprehensive overview of developments in horror literature, film, television and publishing from that year. Following the stories, Jones provides detailed biographical notes about each contributing author and lists recommended horror readings. Most volumes include works that span horror sub-genres including supernatural tales, psychological horror, dark fantasy, and quiet horror. The series maintains editorial standards focused on literary quality while remaining accessible to general horror readers. The anthology series reflects evolving themes in contemporary horror fiction while preserving connections to classic horror traditions. These collections serve as both a showcase of current work and a historical record of horror literature's development since the series began in 1990.

Readers consistently rate this horror anthology series as one of the better annual collections, though quality varies between volumes. The foreword and "year in horror" summaries receive particular praise for documenting developments in the genre. Positives: - Strong author selection featuring established names and new talents - Diverse story styles from subtle psychological horror to graphic content - High ratio of memorable stories per volume - Detailed background notes on authors Negatives: - Some readers find the lengthy genre overview sections tedious - Story quality inconsistent within volumes - Later editions seen as declining in overall quality - Several readers note poor physical book quality in recent printings Average Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (across all volumes) Amazon: 4.1/5 "The year-in-review section alone is worth the price," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "Hit-or-miss like any anthology, but Jones has good taste and the hits outweigh the misses."

Dark Forces by Robert Silverberg This anthology collects horror stories from masters of the genre, focusing on psychological terror and supernatural elements from the 1980s.

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror by Paula Guran The collection presents contemporary dark fiction and horror stories from both established writers and emerging voices in the field.

The Dark Descent by David G. Hartwell This compilation traces the evolution of horror fiction through stories ranging from Victorian gothic to modern psychological horror.

Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural by Herbert Wise, Phyllis Fraser The anthology spans two centuries of horror literature, including works from Poe, Lovecraft, and other foundational horror writers.

Black Wings of Cthulhu by S. T. Joshi This collection features modern authors writing new stories in the Lovecraftian tradition with cosmic horror themes.

🦇 "The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror" has been published annually since 1990, making it one of the longest-running horror anthology series in existence. 🔖 Editor Stephen Jones has won multiple World Fantasy Awards and Bram Stoker Awards for his work in horror anthology editing and compilation. 📚 Each volume includes a comprehensive overview of the year in horror, covering books, films, television, magazines, and events in the horror industry. 🖋️ Notable authors who have been featured in the series include Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Stephen King, and Ramsey Campbell. 💀 The series has helped launch the careers of many horror writers who first gained exposure through having their stories published in these anthologies.