The Ones That Got Away

The Ones That Got Away is a collection of horror short stories by Stephen Graham Jones. The thirteen stories traverse various horror subgenres, from supernatural threats to psychological terror. The stories feature characters facing moments of crisis or confrontation with dark forces. Settings range from summer camps to suburban homes to remote wilderness locations, with plots incorporating both traditional horror elements and contemporary fears. The narratives examine survival, loss, and the price of escape. Through a mix of supernatural and real-world horror, Jones explores how past trauma shapes present actions and what remains after surviving an encounter with the unknown. The collection speaks to broader themes about memory, guilt, and the ways people carry their histories. These stories connect through an underlying current of what happens to those who make it out alive - and what it costs them to do so.

Readers note Jones' creative blending of horror with dark humor and his ability to subvert genre expectations. Many reviews highlight the unpredictable endings and the author's skill at building tension through mundane situations that turn sinister. Readers appreciated: - Fresh takes on familiar horror tropes - Sharp, economical prose style - Atmospheric build-up - Memorable characters Common criticisms: - Some stories feel unfinished or abrupt - Uneven collection quality - A few tales are confusing or unclear - Violence can be excessive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (80+ ratings) "The stories hit like a punch to the gut" - Goodreads reviewer "Several gems but also some duds" - Amazon reviewer "Jones knows how to craft dread from everyday moments" - LibraryThing review "The endings sometimes fizzle rather than pop" - Storygraph user

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones A supernatural revenge story follows four Native American men who are haunted by a violent act from their past.

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones A teenage prank with a department store mannequin leads to a spiral of horror and death.

Feed by Mira Grant Bloggers pursue truth in a post-apocalyptic America where the dead rise and traditional media crumbles.

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones A half-Indian teenager uses her encyclopedic knowledge of slasher films to make sense of murders in her small town.

The Last Final Girl by Stephen Graham Jones A meta-slasher narrative deconstructs horror movie tropes through the story of a high school student who survives a massacre.

🏆 The collection won the 2011 This Is Horror Award for Short Story Collection of the Year. 🖋️ Stephen Graham Jones wrote this collection in various locations including parking lots, coffee shops, and even while walking - he often composes stories on his phone while in motion. 👻 While categorized as horror, the stories blend multiple genres including crime fiction, western, and contemporary literary fiction, reflecting Jones' diverse storytelling range. 🎓 The author wrote these stories while working as a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches creative writing and currently holds the Ivena Baldwin Chair in English. 📚 Several stories in the collection were previously published in different forms in various literary magazines, but Jones significantly revised them for this book, making the collection version unique from their original appearances.