A review by robotswithpersonality
Queer Little Nightmares by David Ly, Daniel Zomparelli
With 'Nightmares' in the title, I can't say they didn't warn me.
Clear winner is Glamour-Us by Andrew Wilmott. This story didn't feel like a fragment, wasn't just grotesque/gory or sad or angry or horny/lonely (honest, valid, but ultimately unsatisfying combos to be found in other entries).
In 17 pages Glamour-Us touched on body image, body dysphoria, self-image/identity, different viewpoints on being trans and transitioning, gender and gender fluidity, being non-binary in the queer/trans community, social conformity/beauty standards vs fight for acceptance, understanding, acknowledgement of humanity, clones, and tech based glamours/holograms(?). Almost more sci-fi than horror, loved it.
Poem Made From Pennywise by David Ly was the other stand out for me: escapism, the sanctuary from real life's edges that a good old campy slasher/horror movie can provide, I FELT that.
Similar to a collection of poetry, any anthology I walk away from with clear favourites keeps me coming back to the format, even if there's more misses than hits.
⚠️body horror, ageism, racism, internalized homophobia, transphobia, SA, ED
Clear winner is Glamour-Us by Andrew Wilmott. This story didn't feel like a fragment, wasn't just grotesque/gory or sad or angry or horny/lonely (honest, valid, but ultimately unsatisfying combos to be found in other entries).
In 17 pages Glamour-Us touched on body image, body dysphoria, self-image/identity, different viewpoints on being trans and transitioning, gender and gender fluidity, being non-binary in the queer/trans community, social conformity/beauty standards vs fight for acceptance, understanding, acknowledgement of humanity, clones, and tech based glamours/holograms(?). Almost more sci-fi than horror, loved it.
Poem Made From Pennywise by David Ly was the other stand out for me: escapism, the sanctuary from real life's edges that a good old campy slasher/horror movie can provide, I FELT that.
Similar to a collection of poetry, any anthology I walk away from with clear favourites keeps me coming back to the format, even if there's more misses than hits.
⚠️body horror, ageism, racism, internalized homophobia, transphobia, SA, ED