Folklore and horror go together like blood and flesh. One cannot exist without the other. Stories were originally passed down by word of mouth, long before any written language existed. Fables and fairy tales are subgenres of folklore, and we all know how horrific such fairy tales can be whenever someone–adult or child–gets their comeuppance.
Some of my favorite storytelling memories are of sharing ghost stories and urban legends with friends and family. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark might as well be a religious text in terms of my storytelling upbringing. Does anyone else have a core memory of Tailypo or another famous horror folklore tale? My brother and I would tell the story of Tailypo in our own way, each of us adding and adjusting the tale to our personalities and interests.
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The Fright Stuff
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Some of the best horror we’re seeing published today is rooted in folklore and mythology, and/or revolves around the horror of a tale or myth that has evolved. Oh, I devour these types of stories, and there is such a plethora of delicious folklore horror to choose from. For this particular list, most titles are collections or anthologies of stories. Some of the best literature out there is told in the short fiction form, and it pays beautiful homage to brief stories told over the fire throughout history.
Let’s dive into these horror tales and see what raises the hairs on our necks.
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part 2 edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
The first Never Whistle at Night anthology was a chilling and brilliant success, and now, the editors are back to gift us more gruesome and delightful dark fiction. Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. have compiled a rockstar lineup of Indigenous authors for this anthology of horror stories. These stories range from the supernatural to the everyday horrors Indigenous people and marginalized communities experience under colonialist rule. This is a perfect book for discovering new talent and experiencing veteran writers crafting the hell out of horror in their element—a perfect read for your Halloween season TBR.
Skin Folk: Stories by Nalo Hopkinson
Nalo Hopkinson is a titan in speculative fiction. In 2021, Hopkinson was named the 37th SFWA Damon Knight Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Among her many brilliant works, Skin Folk is a great title to jump into if you’re looking for a place to start with her oeuvre. Hopkinson’s collection shows her mastery not only of the short form but also of a range of genres. From stories inspired by Caribbean folklore to chilling superstitions and mind-blowing science fiction, this is a perfect read for the Fall season.
The Winter Folk by Jen Julian
I loved Jen Julian’s eerie novel Red Rabbit Ghost, so I was eager to dive into her latest. The Winter Folk taps into gothic horror and Appalachian folklore, following Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk at a mysterious lodge in the woods. As a young girl, Moth was enraptured by the lodge, named Deerhaven, but she was banished. Years later, Moth returns to the same area in which the lodge exists, seeking to find it again. Despite her haunting past and the horrors and curiosities she experienced there, she cannot shake her need to return. For those looking for horror that vibes with Alix E. Harrow’s work or T. Kingfisher, this is the book for you.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
One cannot mention folklore horror without giving a very big tip of the hat to Machado’s famous story “The Husband Stitch,” inspired by the very famous story of the woman with the green ribbon around her neck. Machado’s collection reinvented how readers–and, honestly, publishing as a whole–look at short story collections, especially speculative short story collections by women in an age of such violence and hate. It certainly reinvigorated my passion for short fiction, and I remain an avid collection admirer.
Skin Thief: Stories by Suzan Palumbo
Like Nalo Hopkinson, Suzan Palumbo’s collection is a brilliant testament to the short form and genre. It is a collection that spans dark fantasy and spine-tingling horror. This isn’t my first time proselytizing about Palumbo’s work, nor will it be the last. If you haven’t yet read Palumbo’s Trinidadian-inspired horror story “Douen,” originally published in The Dark magazine, now is the time. Pause your reading, drop everything, and dive headlong into this atmospheric tale. You will be a different person by the time you reach the end. Each story in Palumbo’s collection is a gift.
The Unnamed Bones by Lora Senf
I recently finished reading this heart-pounding YA horror, and I cannot stop thinking about it. The Unnamed Bones touches on so many genres in such clever ways. While mostly cosmic horror, there is definitely folklore- and mythology-inspired horror in the way the story is built and in who turns the wheel of terror. The book follows Harrow Lane and three friends, who take it upon themselves to investigate a lake and an island that appeared almost overnight near their hometown. What dwells in such a place that looks as if it had always been there for millennia but simply…appeared? There are tales and questions told about this island, its inhabitants, and the deaths and disappearances that occur there. Senf is a magician in crafting such a bold and cosmically mind-blowing horror story. Give me more of this!
May the fires remain lit in the night, and may the stories make your blood pump fiercely.
If you’re seeking more horror as we wade into fall, or if you’re interested in more folklore- and mythology-inspired reads, check these out:
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