I suspect I wasn't the ideal reader for this collection. Although I'm somewhat familiar with Kiernan's work -- I've read one novel, one novella, and a handful of their short stories -- I'm not a devoted fan. This particular collection has a deeply personal feel. Each of its twenty-five stories offers an afterword, explanatory or autobiographical or both. The vast majority first appeared in Sirenia Digest, a subscription-only ezine Kiernan produces.

Kiernan's brand of weird fiction is nearly impossible to describe. It's decidedly literary, atmosphere-forward, and influenced by their work in paleontology. There's a subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) vein of Lovecraft running through it, though it never approaches pastiche. This collection included a handful of what I would consider Lovecraftian stories, including one set in his Dreamlands. Quite a few others read more like SF, embracing themes of first contact or the discovery of alien artifacts. One or two were solidly climate fiction.

Although disturbing and well-crafted, however, many of the stories in this collection didn't seem to end in any conventional sense. I counted ten of the twenty-five as having distinct (often horrific) conclusions. The others read more like vignettes, either from the start or fluctuating between structured fiction and vignette throughout the reading experience. As someone accustomed to more conventional genre fiction, I found this frustrating -- even though I kept right on reading, pulled along by the disquieting effect of Kiernan's prose.

A few of Kiernan's themes also became somewhat repetitive. Dreams and dream retellings, visits to psychiatrists, and the miseries of freelance journalism all came in for possibly more than their share of attention. The deep ocean was also a frequent theme, but this is a bit more common in Lovecraft-influenced writing.

In the end, I wound up elevating my three-star rating to four stars solely on the strength of the writing itself, and on its eerily immersive quality. I suspect that Kiernan's more dedicated fans will find this collection a solid five star experience. My thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for providing me with an ARC.
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This was my first time reading anything from Kiernan and I am smitten! Wonderful dreamlike prose, often deeply unsettling. What an imaginative author. I also appreciated the extra insights on their process and reflections that accompanied each story.

This was a great collection of stories, it had that element that I was hoping for from Caitlín R. Kiernan and the genre. Each one worked well with the concept and was able to make a unique and engaging story and characters. I enjoyed that it wasn't the same and was glad it was so well written.

With 25 short stories, I knew going into it that not all of them would be for me. There were some I thoroughly enjoyed reading, while others fell a bit short. I think the main disconnect for me was that many of the stories included the reader as a character, being narrated to a mysterious “you” who was often part of the story.

The description made me think I was going to be reading horror stories, and while there were elements, what I found myself in the middle of were dream-like (or literal dreams in some cases) scenarios that had me more confused than anything else.

an evocative and haunting collection that highlights Caitlín R. Kiernan’s mastery of the weird and unsettling. With twenty-five stories that span bizarre violence, psychological disarray, and otherworldly terrors, this book firmly plants itself in the realm of the uncanny. Stories like "Strandling," with its melancholic meditation on death and the sea, and "Crotalus," which vividly recalls the eerie sensation of childhood, are standouts that linger long after reading.

Kiernan excels at creating atmospheres that are both rich and oppressive, pulling readers into worlds that feel strange and unnerving. While some tales may challenge the reader's patience with their cryptic nature and complex imagery, they are rewarding for those willing to engage with them. There’s a depth to Kiernan’s writing that demands your attention and rewards it with a haunting sense of unease.
I believe readers will appreciate this collection, which showcases the authors skill at blending horror, fantasy, and psychological tension. It's a powerful and immersive set of stories, one that will resonate deeply with those who enjoy dark, cerebral fiction. Bright Dead Star is a must-read for lovers of the weird, though it may not be for the faint of heart.

The description for this book had me totally excited to dive in. Unfortunately, I just don’t think this was for me. The pace was a little on the slower side. I’ll probably give this another try later on but for right now reading a three star as I did enjoy parts of it, but it didn’t really stand out too much for me.

Each story has this almost dream-like quality, groping in the dark to find morsels of the end-game story. Sometimes deeply unsettling, sometimes lyrically astounding, altogether refreshing in its slow, intentional execution. Not every story was for me, but that is the nature of indulging in stories!

This one sadly wasn’t for me! I was so excited for it too, maybe I’ll give it another try later. Unfortunately it wasn’t super exciting when I started I felt like I was forcing my way through it, so I think I’m either resuming or it’s just not the story for me

"Bright Dead Star" is collection of stories each one more haunting than the last. This compilation brings together fantasy and eerie atmospheres, weaving together stories that explore the darkest corners of human imagination and beyond. Each story is meticulously crafted to evoke unease and a sense of wonder. What sets "Bright Dead Star" apart is its ability to cater to a wide range of tastes; there are tales of horror that delve into the human psyche and haunted stories that send shivers down your spine.

"Bright Dead Star" is perfect for those who relish late-night reading sessions under the glow of a single lamp, where every creak and whisper in the dark feels like an extension of the stories' eerie worlds. It's a collection that makes you wonder, shiver, contemplate, and when you close this book, you will be thinking of the next time you pick it up and how the stories will shift with the knowledge you now have.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for allowing me an ARC!

I have been curious about Kiernan's works since I heard of them, so I've dived into a number of their books and have never been disappointed. The thing that makes their works so fascinating is a blend of imagination and their lack of fear in taking on and absolutely delivering with weird lit.

My introduction to them was their Tinfoil Dossier series, a series that blends eldritch horror with the apocalypse, and I was instantly enamored. The way Kiernan seems to have studied Lovecraftian horrors and put their own spin on them is admirable. So when I saw they had an upcoming collection with Subterranean Press, I had to request it.

And they once again lived up to expectations. This collection is an amalgamation of everything the reader has come to know Kiernan for: the weird, the eldritch, and Kiernan's author note at the beginning explains why what was picked was picked and the running themes for these stories. Their author notes after each also provide the reader with a glimpse into their thought process, the place they were where they were writing (in the physical and mental sense).

If you're at all familiar with Kiernan, you know that they are an author to be experienced. I'm sure I can describe these stories until I'm blue in the face, but until you go and read them and glean from them and, I keep coming back to it but, just EXPERIENCE Kiernan doing what they do best. So many of these stories, little scenes, little twists of phrases, will stay with me for so long.

Thank goodness Kiernan still has such a back catalog for me to read through!