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A review by eerieyore
Nox Pareidolia by Robert S. Wilson
4.0
I admit, I skipped around a bit in this anthology. I specifically picked it up for Zin E. Rocklyn's contribution, after reading her gorgeous story "The Night Sun" on tor.com, but since the stories are specifically not attributed to authors (only titles are given in the table of contents), I started at the beginning. I'm glad that I did, because otherwise I would've missed some real gems.
The strongest story in this collection is, by far, Michael Wehunt's "Hello." To say much more about it would be to spoil the pure pleasure of wandering into it blind. It's been awhile since I've come across such a distinct voice. I have immediately procured a copy of "Greener Pastures," his collection of stories, as a direct result of reading his story here, and have already become enthralled by it. If you enjoyed House of Leaves, you'll be immediately sucked into this uncanny vortex of a story.
Zin E. Rocklyn's story "Birds" did not disappoint. I really cannot wait for her to put out more work. Her stories that I've read so far have been a weird dichotomy - I want to say that they are ruthless and savage, bloody and febrile, but that would be to deny that there also seems to be a fragility to them, something wondrous and hushed, like the space between the beating of huge wings.
There is also Brian Evenson, with "The Room Above," which, though sparse in his prose, never fails to elicit terror, and does so here again. My first experience reading Gwendolyn Kiste, with "When The Nightingale Devours the Stars", will surely not be my last. On the strength of these few stories alone, I'll be returning to this anthology again, to see what other gems are hiding in the graveyard dirt of Nox Pareidolia.
The strongest story in this collection is, by far, Michael Wehunt's "Hello." To say much more about it would be to spoil the pure pleasure of wandering into it blind. It's been awhile since I've come across such a distinct voice. I have immediately procured a copy of "Greener Pastures," his collection of stories, as a direct result of reading his story here, and have already become enthralled by it. If you enjoyed House of Leaves, you'll be immediately sucked into this uncanny vortex of a story.
Zin E. Rocklyn's story "Birds" did not disappoint. I really cannot wait for her to put out more work. Her stories that I've read so far have been a weird dichotomy - I want to say that they are ruthless and savage, bloody and febrile, but that would be to deny that there also seems to be a fragility to them, something wondrous and hushed, like the space between the beating of huge wings.
There is also Brian Evenson, with "The Room Above," which, though sparse in his prose, never fails to elicit terror, and does so here again. My first experience reading Gwendolyn Kiste, with "When The Nightingale Devours the Stars", will surely not be my last. On the strength of these few stories alone, I'll be returning to this anthology again, to see what other gems are hiding in the graveyard dirt of Nox Pareidolia.