I found Out There Screaming to be a good selection of anthologies. I definitely enjoyed some more than others but that's usually a given when it comes to anthologies. Overall, I found it to be enjoyable and I would recommend it, but I can't say I loved every single story. Reckless Eyeballing was definitely my favorite from the collection, and it was a frightening time for sure. If you enjoy anthologies, you should give this one a try.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading

I love Jordan Peele and this book was amazing.. it brings light to horror genre and African Americans. We plan on buying this for our collection.

I feel like this was a mixed bag for me.
This collection started off so strong for the first few stories, and then I just didn't get it. I didn't get the horror. Some of the stories felt more educational or drama than horror. And then others were really trying to be horror, but I just did not understand what was happening.
I will say that there were a couple of stories near the end that got better. So, I definitely feel like the not-as-good stories were sandwiched between the better ones. (Which I think is a very common thing in collections. Start the readers off on a bang, and then make sure the last thing they read is memorable.) And the hits were great! The ones that were not averaged getting 2 stars.
I did want to mention my favorite stories and their authors. Each of these was rated 4.5 or 5 stars:
- Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse (which I have read from before)
- Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull (which I have not)
- Lasiren by Erin E Adams (have not)
- A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree (have not)
- Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor (have not)
- Hide & Seek by P Djeli Clark (have)
I love that this collection introduced me to some new authors that I HAVE to check out.
But I do wish, for a subtitle saying "An Anthology of New Black Horror", I was missing some horror from these.

I love Jordan Peele's movies and would love to see if he will write something himself one day.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read a ton of anthologies, but Jordan Peele is one of my favorite voices in modern horror, so I had to take a chance on this anthology that he put together. The roster includes authors that I already love, like Erin E. Adams, N.K. Jemisin, P. Djèlí Clark, Nnedi Okorafor, and Tananarive Due, plus a bunch of others that seem like they're going to be new favorites of mine.

Peele and his collaborators brought together voices that show the true diversity that exists within the Black community, with characters drawn from a range of backgrounds. Some are biracial, some were adopted, some are immigrants...and some are genetically engineered creations. They live in cities, on farms, by the ocean, in the suburbs. Their experiences are varied and rich, presenting glimpses into Black life that are as unique as the authors writing them.

The history of slavery and racism provide plenty of real-life horrors that authors can draw from, and some of them do in this anthology, but the authors find plenty of other sources of nightmare fuel, too. Genres include cosmic horror, folk horror, technohorror, and more, with tones ranging from irreverent to serious and cynical. You seriously don't know what you're going to get from a given story until you start reading it.

I genuinely enjoyed every single short story in this book, but these were standouts for me:

Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah - Maybe it's because I just re-watched the original Body Snatchers, but this sci-fi horror story really did it for me. The premise was, of course, terrifying, but Arimah balances it with a punchy sort of humor that had me actually laughing out loud. Such a fun read.

The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus - This story, set in early 20th Century Indianapolis, tells the story of a resilient Black community that is thriving despite the racism boiling right outside their door, and the folk magic that helps to keep them safe. It features a sweet relationship between a father and his young daughter, both of whom fight to assert their right to exist, even when it would be safer to stand down. Even in a short story, their characters feel so vivid.

A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers - This story was just so much fucking fun. It focuses on the unlikely (and often fraught) sisterhood between two dead girls, Del and Amber. Aside from the fact that they died in wrecks along the same stretch of road about 15 years apart, Del and Amber have basically nothing in common until they're brought together by a violent bet between the two of them and the shared problems of...y'know, being a ghost. It's gory, it's over the top, but it still has heart.

I would recommend this book to literally anyone. Even if they're scaredy cats when it comes to horror, I think I can find a story or two in there that would appeal to anyone.

This is a strong set of stories with a wide range of time periods, gore, experiences. Standouts are...honestly, it's hard to choose. Reckless Eyeballing? Lasirèn? Your Happy Place? Hide & Seek? I think everyone could easily have a favorite here, the collection is so solid.

Out There Screaming review

4/5 stars - I don’t read a lot of anthologies in general, but when I heard this one was horror stories from black authors AND it was edited by Jordan Peele…I was hooked. And while I didn’t love every story in this book, I had a profound appreciation for the perspectives within. Horror comes in all forms, as what one person finds terrifying might be wholly unique. What was clear to me in reading this book was that there are themes in the telling of black horror that set it apart from its white counterparts, but there are also commonalities. I may not share the same cultural background or experiences as the protagonists in these stories, but as I read them I was deeply disturbed, and I think that was the point. Horror transcends.

As a huge fan of Jordan Peele's movies, I was so excited to start reading this anthology. I was familiar with some of the authors who contributed, like N. K. Jemisin, but many of the authors were new to me. Often, with anthologies, I typically have a pretty mixed experience. Some of the authors' writing styles just don't work for me, and I end up skimming through several stories. That was not the case with this book: I loved all of these stories. I consume a ton of horror media and I'm pretty desensitized to it, especially around this time of year, but some of the stories in this anthology actually gave me nightmares, and stuck in my head long after finishing reading.
Although these stories deal with the supernatural, many of them also deal with racism and injustice. I found that the more realistic and everyday horrors tied in very well with the paranormal.

As far as anthologies go, I have a love/hate relationship. But this one definitely kept me reading and wanting more. While there are some heavy topics that are covered overall this collection was a delight to read. One of my favs from the collection was of course from NK Jemisin and it set the tone for the collection. A Bird Sings in the Etching Tree by Nicole Sconiers, I also loved this one.

Worthy collection.

OUT THERE SCREAMING
Jordan Peele

Nineteen stories, nineteen amazing Black authors ready to show you horror can be fascinating, actually horrific, a little funny, and altogether out of this world.

Jordan Peele has collected a group of authors and set out to publish their stories. From the eye-popping opener, RECKLESS EYEBALLING to EYE AND TOOTH my favorite(spoiler), and the creepiest story called THE OTHER ONE. There is something here for every horror fanatic.

This was so much fun to read in the days leading up to Halloween. I read a couple of stories a day and each reading session felt like I was attending an event. Every story is so different, all exploring some facet of black horror. It felt like you were being dropped into a new world. Every world with different rules and creatures to watch out for. A monster around every corner.

I read this book with my Amazon Book Club and enjoyed discussing it with friends. I was inspired by reading this anthology so much I decided to rewatch all of Peele’s movies. What a great way to pass these cool October days.

10/10 recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House for the advanced copy!

OUT THERE SCREAMING...⭐️⭐️⭐️

so fun!
I love Jordan Peele and his judgment and this collection. I found so many new authors that I'm excited to check out more work from.
There were definitely a few that I think could've been better not as short stories — it's sometimes hard to get immersed in a horror story's lore or fear factors in such a short time. but honestly there isn't a single story that I would rate less than a three.
My favorites were...
-Reckless Eyeballing by N.K. Jemisin
-The Aesthete by Justin C. Key (I would LOVE for this to have been a book)
-Flicker by L.D. Lewis
-A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott (SO GOOD)
-Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor
-Hide & Seek by P. Djèlí Clark

The master of horror cinema is now the master of horror literature. Each story is different than the last, but stays true to the overall central theme of the story. Each story has amazing pace and tone and keeps you guessing until the end.

A very heady collection of stories that make you think while giving a dose of creepiness.
This anthology was a fun read. It's not scary per se but much like Jordan Peele's movies there's a statement to be made about the black experience. I enjoyed all the stores but there were a few that really stood out to me and made me think. Among those are EYE & TOOTH, YOUR HAPPY PLACE and HIDE & SEEK.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for granting me an e-ARC to read, review and enjoy.

it’s always a little difficult reviewing anthologies bc they’re always going to have their hits and misses and i do feel like this one pretty much landed down the middle. NK Jemisin and Tananarive Due had my favorite stories in the collection, but overall i was a bit underwhelmed considering this was from Peele. a lot of the stories fell flat, or were confusing and i felt a lot of them would’ve benefited from being a bit more fleshed out, but i suppose that’s the nature of a short story.

I am thrilled to be provided with ARC for Out There Screaming. It’s an edited collection of horror stories by some of the best horror writers of color. Each story has its own unique creepiness and deals with racism and how we deal or don’t deal with the realities of daily life as a person of color in this world. The stands outs were Tananarive Due, Rebecca Roanhorse and N.K. Jemisin. A great addition to the spooky season TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

OUT THERE SCREAMING edited by Jordan Peele & John Joeseph Adams

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9780593243794

Release Date: October 3rd, 2023

General Genre: An Anthology of New Black Horror

Sub-Genre/Themes: Supernatural, folklore & legend, social commentary, historical fiction, sci-fi & fantasy, magical realism, straight-up horror, creature-feature, and lots of genre-bending, speculative fiction.

Writing Style: Eclectic mix of voices working together as a curated representation of what modern horror storytelling has to offer

What You Need to Know: Don’t skip the foreword by editor, Jordan Peele (not that anyone would. Or I should say, I can’t imagine anyone would…but it’s profoundly important in understanding the vision for the anthology as a whole)


My Reading Experience:
“A place where you were stripped of all agency and left alone with your struggle. Where you could see life going on around you, but you were essentially a bystander–forgotten.”

“I view horror as catharsis through entertainment.”

“In this collection, nineteen brilliant Black authors give us their ‘Sunken Places’, their oubliettes”

After Peele’s introduction to these stories, I read each one of them with the context of the personal oubliette. I have starred the ones that stood out to me the most

RECKLESS EYEBALLING | N. K. Jemisin
[A cop sees eyes on cars
He’s a real asshole
People he pulls over films him
He’s abusive]

*EYE & TOOTH Rebecca Roanhorse (I loved her story in the Never Whistle at Night anthology)
[Cornfield
Creepy kid-hungry
Old blood
Monster hunters]

WANDERING DEVIL | Cadwell Turnbull
[This was about men who are devils on earth.
"You know, wanderers like us could fall right through the Earth and no one would know where to look. Or even bother.”]

INVASION OF THE BABY SNATCHERS | Lesley Nneka Arimah
[Alien invasion.
Pregnancy
Tried to be humane to the aliens
Now it “how about we just shoot them policy”
People/cults/join the alien race]

THE OTHER ONE | Violet Allen
[I don’t really understand this one. Oglethorpe. The photo of the human heart. ]

*LASIRÈN | Erin E. Adams (Jackal/Read, One of You-coming 2024)
[Haitian Creole
A lady in the water. Steals you if you listen
Their sister turned into a siren]

*THE RIDER| Tananarive Due (The Between, The Good House, Ghost Summer, The Wishing Pool)
[Freedom Rides
On a bus
Detour RECLAMATION SWAMP-reminded me of a couple of stories from Ghost Summer & The Wishing Pool with sundown town vibes. They always scare/disturb me]

THE AESTHETE | Justin C. Key
[The collector and the creator
Pieces of Art
Spectators/sex acts]

PRESSURE | Ezra Claytan Daniels

*DARK HOME Nnedi Okorafor (Remote Control/Read)
[-funeral
-dead father
-a ring
-a secret society
-father’s restaurant
-an entity to get the ring back]

FLICKER | L. D. Lewis
[-global phenomenon
-darkness
-home invasion
-no faces
-bleak
-no escape]

*THE MOST STRONGEST OBEAH WOMAN OF THE WORLD | Nalo Hopkinson (Falling in Love with Hominids- 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered)
[-hunting a beast
-MC: Yenderil
-the devil fish changes her
-raw chicken
-tried to kill the fish devil but it grew stronger
-battle of wits & will
-folklore
-like the fish devil, her strongest nature was to get what she wanted, even if that meant pulling others out of their natural stations
-body horror]

THE NORWOOD TROUBLE | Maurice Broaddus ( I saw Maurice speak at the Merrimack Valley Book Festival and he impressed me so much)
[I loved the world building of Norwood and could read a whole book in this universe.
“Everything we needed was in Norwood. Family, friends, food. If there was anything anyone needed but didn’t have, someone in the community provided it. Everyone shared without thinking twice.”]

A GRIEF OF THE DEAD | Rion Amilcar Scott
[I skipped this one. The suicidal ideation, intrusive thoughts, and planning a mass shooting were too much for my mental headspace at the time]

*A BIRD SINGS BY THE ETCHING TREE | Nicole D. Sconiers
[This one was super entertaining/compelling. Roadside killers playing a murderous game
-etching kills
-dead man’s curve
-masks]

AN AMERICAN FABLE | Chesya Burke
[-January 1918
-war
- “ White people’s moods dictated Black people’s lives.”
-racial violence, very disturbing
- “Mama de Agua, The Mother of Water”
- a man protecting a little girl, or her protecting him



YOUR HAPPY PLACE | Terence Taylor
[ - prisoners
The Process (radical prison reform)
slavery/ “brings jobs back to America”
Sort of “Matrix” vibe

*HIDE & SEEK | P. Djèlí Clark (one of my favorite books ever is, Ring Shout)
[ “This is Hide & Seek and it is not a game.”
Young kids with an addict mother
Weird people coming around
“Yeah, magic can be cool. But most times it’s not.”
Heartbreaking (reminds me of On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel) the child neglect
Terrifying ending]

ORIGIN STORY | Tochi Onyebuchi
[wrtten like a screenplay-almost too cringe to read
“Oppression is cool. Being oppressed. You get to claim a marginalization…”
Ugh, this was a tough read


Final Recommendation: I thoroughly enjoyed my journey through this anthology. I’m thankful for the explosion of diversity we’re seeing in modern horror. It’s a wonderful time to be a horror fiction fan. A must-have for any and all horror libraries. I loved reading new stories from my favorite authors here and my introduction to some new-to-me authors.

Comps: The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell, Never Whistle At Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Rena Mason

Fabulously edited collection from Jordan Peele. There wasn’t a single story that I disliked. I’ll drop my story reviews in a bit, thank you netgalley!

this was everything I needed and more in a horror anthology and one put together by jordan peele? even BETTER. there were a few misses scattered in here but honestly, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the stories. i’m not a big horror reader but after this i’ll definitely be branching out and picking up some more horror reads similar to these stories/by these same authors!

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele
Pub date: October 3, 2023

I enjoyed every story in this anthology but Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse was my favorite! These monster hunters stumble upon someone with a secret agenda but they may have a secret of their own. Truly fantastic story.

There’s a lot of fantastic stories that I loved. A rogue cop who see’s evil eyes in others headlights, delivering his own justice but what will he see in his own? A woman breaks all the rules when she takes a token to remember her deceased father. There’s so many! Read or listen to this!

Highly recommend this eclectic collection of horror stories!

My thanks to Random House for this gifted copy

3.5 stars. I wanted to love this collection so much. Who doesn't love Jordan Peele? But this is an anthology, not his direct work. Some works shine brighter than others, and some left me just confused (these stories very well could be brilliant, but I personally don't get them). I do hope we get some kind of sequel so I can discover other black authors whose writing I resonate with!