A massive thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publish group for this epic opportunity to read rage and review this arc which will be available October 3,2023.

Out There Screaming is a collection of 21 horror or speculative fiction stories written by black authors with an introduction by Jordan Peele.

This book was phenomenal. I loved Tananarive Due’s story about two sisters on a swamp road with sinister somethings. Rebecca Roanhorse’s tale Eye and Tooth was creepy as hell and should be a movie. It is actually my favorite one out of the stories.

Each tale in this anthology was superbly written, suitably creepy and a most read for all those who love the genre. Most fun I have had in a while

This collection was absolutely incredible. Each story was unique and immediately dragged you in. The length of the stories were perfect for short stories. Each of the authors in this collection had elegant prose and knew how to keep you wanting more.

jordan peele is so good at horror and i would die to see his book shelf. there are tons of different sub genres of horror represented in these stories and i loved the variety. for an anthology it is on the longer side and i had to push myself to finish and especially power through the lengthier ones. but there were a lot of strong stories in here that kept me reading. steeped in social commentary, each story scares you in a new and unexpected way. very excited to look into all these authors and add more books to my tbr!

my favorites were:
eye and tooth by rebecca roanhorse
the rider by tanarieve due
a bird sings by the etching tree by nicole d. sconiers
hide & seek by p. djèlí clarity

"Out There Screaming" is a groundbreaking anthology of horror stories curated by visionary writer and director Jordan Peele. This collection delves into the world of Black horror, weaving tales that not only explore supernatural terrors but also confront the chilling realities of injustice that haunt our society.

The anthology opens a gateway into a realm where the boundaries between the ordinary and the supernatural are blurred. Each story within "Out There Screaming" is a testament to the diverse voices and perspectives of Black writers in the horror genre. From eerie encounters on deserted roads to supernatural retribution, the stories tap into the deep wells of fear, dread, and uncertainty that lie within us all.

Jordan Peele's introduction sets the tone for the anthology, emphasizing the power of horror fiction to expose hidden fears and societal issues. The stories themselves span a range of themes and styles, offering a master class in the art of horror storytelling. The authors skillfully navigate themes of identity, racism, and inequality, intertwining them with elements of the supernatural to create narratives that are thought-provoking and spine-chilling.

The roster of writers includes both established and emerging talents, showcasing a diverse array of storytelling techniques and perspectives. From the uncanny to the supernatural, from the eerie to the terrifying, each story adds a unique layer to the tapestry of Black horror.

"Out There Screaming" is not just a collection of horror stories; it's a reflection of the societal anxieties and fears that shape our world. The anthology invites readers to explore the darkness that exists within and around us, using the lens of horror to shed light on the complexities of the human experience. With a mix of well-known names and rising stars in the genre, this anthology delivers a powerful and haunting reading experience that will linger in the mind long after the last page is turned.

Anytime I read anthologies or short stories I rate every story individually and then take the average. The average here was 3.7 so I’m rounding up to 4 although 3.5 seems more accurate. I did have two 5 stars towards the end and quite a few 4-4.5. I don’t know I guess I was expecting a little more from this. There was a lot more magical realism and folklore than I was expecting. And some I was questioning why it was in here at all. They were either not scary or completely confusing given the short time they had to be told. In all I don’t think this was a bad read at all I did however expect it to be more horrifying but dang there are some incredible writers in here and I can’t wait to read more from some of them. Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy

I would just like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for personally sending me an ecopy of this book.

The following opinions are my own.

I was very intrigued to be sent this book as admittedly I had no idea that Jordan Peele edited a horor short story collection that would be right up my alley. I don't typically read a lot of anthologies as it can be a bit of a mixed bag. I was happy overall with them though. Some were better than others. But I do recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys horror specifically.

An interesting collection of horror stories edited by Jordan Peele. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Overall, this was a great anthology filled with all types of horror, from cosmic horror to psychological horror to your typical hauntings and haunted houses.

I loved the inclusion and discussion of race and being black in America in some of these stories. Other stories drew upon the author's African cultures and their mythology and beliefs.

Of course, there were some duds, but the strong ones definitely carried this anthology. I found some new authors that I'd love to read more of.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this arc.

Below are short reviews of each individual story:



Reckless Eyeballing by NK Jemisin
4/5 stars

Black cop Carl sees eyes on car headlights, which leads him to suspect that the driver is guilty of a crime.

It's a tragedy that I haven't read any of NK Jemisin's works. She really knows how to write! Most of the story is setup, but in a short story format, this really works. The ending was a lovely bit of body horror that made me shudder.



Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse
4/5 stars

Sibling duo Zelda and Atticus, supernatural hitmen/cleaners (?), accept a job in rural Texas from a woman with a supernatural creature problem. Creepy farmhouse, creepy cornfields, and creepy child galore.

Another great short story! Loved the character study focus on the siblings. The atmosphere and setting were pretty spooky. All of these elements drew me in quickly.

But the ending was too abrupt for me. I wish there was more lead up or hints for Zelda's function/powers. It felt like it came out of nowhere, but for a short story, it worked.



Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull
2/5 stars

Freddy is a man who moves from town to town often. He meets Dilah, who wants him to settle down. He's torn between doing the right thing or doing what he's always done.

This one started started out well. Great character study with barely any horror elements. But while we see the "bad guy" halfway through, the ending made zero sense. I guess it's supposed to be allegorical?

But it looks like the author's books have the same issues, so I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get it.



Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah
3/5 stars

Aliens are impregnating humans to take over Earth. The protagonist works in an agency that does research on these human-alien babies.

Loved the writing style. For a body horror short story, it read very matter-of-fact and it worked for this story. The ending didn't work out at all. It was so abrupt and there was no build up to it. I think it was supposed to create an oomph, but it left me feeling very confused and gave me the vibes that the author probably hit the word count and had to stop writing.



The Other One by Violet Allen
3.5/5 stars

Someone is sending malicious texts and pics to the female protagonist through her boyfriend's phone. As the situation gets even more malicious, our female protagonist decides to follow the instructions and investigate.

Loved the creepy, gruesome form of horror in this short story. It ended a little too quickly for my liking, similar to the previous short story. I think less setup and more emphasis on the midpoint and third act would've made this great.



Lasirèn by Erin E. Adams
5/5 stars

Three sisters are tempted by a siren's offer.

This short story has to be my favorite so far! The characterizations were on point and the vibes were all there. This wasn't scary scary, more like a children's bedtime story level of scary, but it really worked. I'm excited to read more from Erin E. Adams now!



The Rider by Tananarive Due
5/5 stars

Two sisters involved in the Freedom Riders movement during the Civil Rights era take a bus to Montgomery, AL (or try to, anyway).

Another home run! I was rooted to the page from the beginning until the end. Loved the historical aspect combined with a creepy monster/devil. The two sisters, Pat and Priscilla, were well-crafted, and the monster subversion was done so well.

The ending, man. Thank god their plans didn't work out.



The Aesthete by Justin C. Key
3.5/5 stars

A Piece of Art (a genetically manufactured human?) learns that he is ~The Chosen One~ living in a futuristic USA that might or might not pass legislature on personhood regarding his kind.

This was written in a sci-fi thriller tone, which I usually like. The world building and characterization were great. You can definitely tell you're in a futuristic sci-fi US.

But I'm not sure if the sci-fi thriller vibes really worked out all that well. I think this story might've been better suited to a more philosophical/literary genre.



Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels
3/5 stars

Written in 2nd person, the MC is the only half-black cousin in the (mostly) white family. The cousins are back in town for a family get-together.

The setup was definitely on point. If you're a POC in a mostly white family, you'll get it. That's already a horror story in itself. This is mostly a character study with a hint of plot. While the character study part worked out well, the horror part was pretty meh.

Sure, the eerie vibes took a while to build up, but there didn't seem to be a reason for it. The ending left me feeling more confused than anything. 3 stars for the setup and character study, but 1 star for the plot itself.



Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor
5/5 stars

A Nigerian-American woman loses her father. During the funeral, she breaks cultural taboos in order to keep a token to remember her father by.

Wow! Nnedi Okorafor is a master when it comes to storytelling (especially with her Afrofuturism works), and this seriously delivered! I learned about Ajofia and a bit of Igbo culture, while getting the creeps as the story unfolded and became more sinister. This is definitely one of the favorite short stories in this anthology!



Flicker by LD Lewis
4.5/5 stars

Kamara and her friends, Wolf and Ami, try to survive in a world that's turned upside down by unexplained "blinks" of darkness that last seconds, then minutes, and so on.

Cosmic horror! I really, really liked this! (Would've loved it if it was even longer!) It's a contemporary horror that's also psychological in nature. Then the cosmic horror vibes came through (which, I wasn't expecting, but definitely loved). Honestly, I'd love to read a novel or novella based on this premise.

I'm definitely going to tackle some of LD Lewis's other short stories.



The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson
5/5 stars

Yenderil swims to the bottom of the blue hole to kill the beast that haunts her village. But instead, the beast latches itself to her.

Wow! I think this is one of the best short stories in the anthology! It took a few pages to get into, but I ended up loving how it was written in dialect. It really immersed me into the story.

And talk about a great combination of body horror and cosmic horror! It was gross and cool at the same time.

I'd love to read more from Nalo Hopkinson!



The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus
5/5 stars

A young girl experiences a lynch mob in the years before civil rights was initiated in the US.

Another great short story! This anthology is seriously delivering. I was expecting a short story where racism itself is the monster and this was it! Add in some magical realism and this was a 5 star read!

I loved the historical setting and eerie vibes. The religious syncretism with Christianity and traditional African beliefs (it wasn't really specified and I'm not well-versed in that area) added another layer of realism to the story. Loved this!

There were a couple of quotes that I loved and highlighted:

'“Know your place. Stay in your place. But if you build your place into something nice, they want to take it from you. All they needed was an excuse.”'

'The reverend sidled up to him. “No matter your education, job, or title, they see you as a Negro today.”

He didn’t say Negro.'



A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott
3/5 stars

A man goes through a complicated grieving process when his identical twin is killed in a mass shooting.

The writing itself is really good, but the story was all over the place. We're led to believe that it's magical realism and then there's a huge mass shooting subplot.

A character you start to learn about and care for just... Dies. And the ending is so abrupt.

Def not one of my favorites in this anthology.



A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers
2/5 stars

Two young women are killed on a dangerous stretch of road. They kill misbehaving men in a game of sorts.

This is probably one of my least favorite short stories in this anthology. The plot meanders (not sure if there was an actual plot in the first place) and the ending feels like the writer didn't know how to end the story. Would not recommend.



An American Fable by Chesya Burke
3/5 stars

In 1918, Noble Washington, a black military veteran, meets a mysterious young girl on a train right before a group of white men attack him.

This was all right. I really liked the inclusion of Yoruba religious spirits, Ìyá and Èṣù. It brought a connection to the MC's historical past as a product of slavery. I wish it was longer so we could really connect to the MC.



Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor
2/5 stars

Martin, who works to transport prisoners, finds out about The Process, which is a way to transfer knowledge to prisoners so they can leave as productive members of society.

Yikes. This had so much potential but it bombed so hard. This is a great example of telling, instead of showing. The twist was obvious and the entire thing was so cliched it felt like lazy writing.



Hide & Seek by P. Djèlí Clark
4/5 stars

Two siblings and their mother inherit an old house from Grandpa Deacon, who practiced Hoodoo.

Another great story by one of my fave authors! It took some time to reach the horror part, but when everything clicked together, it was definitely worth the wait.



Origin Story by Tochi Onyebuchi
3/5 stars

Written in play format, a group of 4 white boys contemplate the meaning of being white men.

I had no clue what was going on and I'm like a little less than a decade out from my undergrad degree where I took critical theory classes so I'm not sure how to interpret the entire thing, but hot damn, there were some great quotes I highlighted.

"Bro, we are an undifferentiated mass of heterosexual, cisgender, Anglo-Saxon, upper-class, male privilege. Who the fuck is gonna wanna explore our inner life by the end of this?"

'No, I get it. It’s cool. Oppression’s cool. Being oppressed, I mean. Like, you get to claim a marginalization, then out of that foxhole comes all sorts of cool shit like music and TikTok dances and storytelling traditions and tropes and slang and all that stuff. Filters into the mainstream culture or whatever and now it’s all “wallahi I just hand out the bibs” this and “yaaasss bitch” that.'

“Out There Screaming” is a horror short story anthology edited by Jordan Peele. This book was a collection of short stories that were a mix of supernatural, horror, folktales, and science fiction. As with all anthologies, some stories I liked more than others, some were “eh” and some I didn’t like. I’ve read stories by some of these authors before so I was pleased to see them included in this collection. In some of the short stories I kept thinking “this reminds me of an episode of the canceled TV show Supernatural” while others I thought “okay, this one’s odd.” Some of the short stories ended rather abruptly (“Wandering Devil” by Cadwell Turnbull) while others came to satisfying if sometimes sad endings (“Lasiren” by Erin E. Adams). I think if one likes anthologies - especially Black author/voices horror ones - this would be up your alley. Overall, I give this collection a 3.5 star rating - just because not all of the stories were fantastically great to me, but working in the short story format isn’t always easy.

This book was recommended to me by the publisher because I had read and enjoyed Fever House. I also saw some other reviewers rating it fairly highly so I thought I'd download it to see what all the fuss was about.

Anthologies can be tough. In addition to identifying stories that compliment one another thematically, you have to ensure the voices within the stories are also aligned and support the overall feel or vibe of the collection. With that in mind, this collection was weirdly uneven for me.

Having some familiarity with Jordan Peele's approach to horror through his films, I was expecting the stories within this anthology to be more twisted than they actually were. Don't get me wrong, there's a nice mix of sci-fi, supernatural, magical realism, and psychological horror here and the good ones were really good - especially Eye and Tooth, The Other One, Lasiren, Pressure, Dark Home, Flicker, The Grief of the Dead, and A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree - but the rest were all tossable.

Looking forward to getting to know some of these authors better in the future!

An anthology of horror stories focused on Black voices from one of the most exciting horror directors working today? Sign me up. Peele compiled an enticing variety of names, ranging from known can't-miss entities, but also including some up-and-coming names to pay attention to. One of the biggest strengths is the variety of the content in the stories. Aliens, supernatural monster hunters, African diaspora, doppelgangers, you name it, and there's a fair chance it's represented here.
Of course in an anthology this size, not every story will prove to be a hit, but the misses are both subjective and sparing. N.K. Jemisin sets the tone with a stunner of a lead-off, followed by Rebecca Roanhorse's twisty and turny supernatural tale. Other stand-outs include stories from Tananarive Due, Justin C. Key, Maurice Broadus, and Nnedi Okorafor.
Strap in for a collection of stories that promises to thrill, chill, and make you watch the shadows just a little bit more closely.

Review Copy

4.5 ⭐

OUT THERE SCREAMING is an outstanding blend of dark fiction by some of today's best Black authors. Edited by Jordan Peele, I only found two stories in this massive collection that weren't for me. From horror to SF to the horrifying reality of college in America.

RECKLESS EYEBALLING by NK Jemiesen is a five star story about a bad cop
FLICKER by LD Lewis is another awesome, very strange story, about a problem that starts with a flicker in an eye.
AN AMERICAN FABLE by Chesya Burke is a haunting tale about a WWI soldier

That's just a couple of short stories in this collaboration to give you a taste...a tidbit...just the tiniest bite of a book that should be on your tbr list. Published by Random House, it is scheduled for release in October.

I feel like I just went on a huge, terrifying adventure. Out there screaming is packed with unique and visceral horror dealing with a wide variety of subjects. My favorite tale was written by the incredible Tananarive Due. That story alone is worth the purchase.
Anthology books are a bit harder to review because it feels like your train of thought gets derailed with each entry, however, this book is excellent the whole way through. I did take small breaks and read other books in between some of the stories (which is what I usually do with short story collections) and I found myself right back in the same headspace every time I cracked open this book. Do not miss this one!

Thank you NetGalley, Jordan Peele, Randomhouse, etc for the ARC. My thoughts are my own and I am happily giving this review.

This was very interesting, there was a little bit of everything in this. It reminded me alot of a Black Mirror season. I had a good time and can't wait to own a physical copy. The only down side was that the story length was a bit all over the place and some I wish would've been alot shorter and some was just not long enough but other than that no real complaints. Overall the average rating was 3.5⭐

1. Reckless Eyeballing by N.K. Jemisin -3⭐
2. Eye & Tooth by Rebecca Roanhorse- 5⭐
3. Wandering Devil by Cadwell Turnbull- 4 ⭐
4. Invasion of the Baby Snatchers by Lesley Nneka Arimah-2 ⭐
5. The Other One by by Violet Allen - 5⭐
6. Lasirèn by Erin E. Adams - 5⭐
7. The Rider by Tananarive Due-4 ⭐
8. The Aesthete by Justin C. Key- 3⭐
9. Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels -3⭐
10. Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor -5⭐
11. Flicker by L.D. Lewis- 2 ⭐
12. The Most Strongest Obeah Woman of the World by Nalo Hopkinson - DNF
13. The Norwood Trouble by Maurice Broaddus - 3⭐
14. A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott - 3⭐
15. A Bird Sings by the Etching Tree by Nicole D. Sconiers - 4⭐
16. An American Fable by Chesya Burke - 3⭐
17. Your Happy Place by Terence Taylor -5⭐
18. Hide & Seek by P. Djèlí Clark - 5⭐
20. Origin Story by Tochi Onyebuchi - 5⭐

This reminded me of a mix of "Twilight zone" and "black mirror". I usually am not a big fan of anthologies. I don't like how they seem to be short and leave you hanging at the end. However I did love this one. Jordan Peele knows Horror. After having written, produced and directed such films as Us, Nope, the Academy Award winning Get Out, as well as writing and producing the 2021 Candyman remake knows what he is doing when it comes to shocking and introspective horror. His horror is steeped in social commentary in a white male dominated society. He has done a great job in editing and putting this anthology together. It is a mix of horror, science fiction, folklore, and social commentary from the perspective of Black experiences that grapple with death, grief, racism, technology, and spirituality. It features some of my most favorite authors and they deliver!
I enjoyed all the stories from the perspectives and minds of the authors. I think a couple favorites that stood out for me was: “Dark home” and “happy place”. I actually started to feel claustrophobic while reading “happy place”.
I liked how the stories were somewhat longer and many different types of horror stories. I defintely awant to get a physical copy of this book after reading it.

Genuinely relieved to have finished this because it was so frightening. Your Happy Place messed me up. Perhaps this collection is best enjoyed slowly … !

The treat is the breadth. These stories span the horror genre and I was exposed to many new authors. The writing styles and length vary and there really is something here for everyone.

Jordan Peele is a favorite artist of mine, horror is a favorite genre, and I love short story collections, so of course I wanted to read this. It really didn't even need to begin with an N.K. Jemisin story to draw me in – but it does, it really does.

Don't go in to this expecting true horror stories. It is horror in the way that it may make you think, not have big scary monsters etc. Overall there were only a few of the stories that really stood out to me. But as with any anthology, what may be a miss for me may be a huge hit for someone else. It really gives you a taste of a lot of different works.

I loved this collection! Usually for me I find collections have one or two good stories but this whole thing was fantastic! I highly recommend this one, just know that there are some heavy subjects within that may cause some distress. Definitely to make sure to check for trigger warnings. I think my favorite story was the one by NK Jemisin, definitely creeped me out

This was a difficult book to rate; some of the stories were great and others were just bland. Often, I would get invested and then the story would just abruptly end. I think this is a great collection of stories for the right reader, but overall, I did enjoy it. 3 Stars

Thank you to NetGallery and Random House for this ARC.

when I noticed that Jordan Peele edited this short story collection I immediately wanted to read it. this collection is so diverse in the topics it covers and the sub genres within horror that’s used to tell the stories. but just like with any anthology, there’s going to be some that are better than others so in my opinion it’s hard to give a book like this a higher rating. I will also say that I prefer when anthologies are on the shorter side cause I have a hard time staying focused on reading since there’s nothing holding the individual stories together. id still recommend this to anyone interested in it cause there’s a lot of talented authors included and I’m sure everyone will find a story that they’ll love.