Library Journal Top Horror Books of 2021
2022 Splatterpunk Award Winner
2021 Locus Recommended Reading List

“Ellen Datlow is the tastemaker, the greatest, most respected, and most prolific horror anthologist who’s ever lived. Every Datlow anthology is a gift to the genre.”
—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Ararat and Red Hands

[STARRED REVIEW] “The stories in the latest collection edited by horror veteran Datlow run the gamut from ethereal creepiness (‘La beauté sans vertu,’ by Genevieve Valentine), to haunt-your-dreams gross-outs (‘Welcome to Mengele’s,’ by Simon Bestwick). One has even been made into an episode of Hulu’s series Monsterland (‘You Go Where It Takes You,’ by Nathan Ballingrud). There are some absolutely stellar stories that will follow readers for days, and not a single dud to weigh down the collection. John Coulthart’s interior illustrations of anatomical mysteries add to the overall ambiance. Contributors include all the big names in body horror as well as some lesser-known authors, making the collection a must-have for body horror neophytes and experienced readers alike. VERDICT: This authoritative collection is a must for any library, as an introduction to body and extreme horror for readers and librarians alike. Recommend to readers who love horror stories that make their skin crawl while they read about skin literally crawling.”
—Library Journal

[STARRED REVIEW] “Hugo Award–winning editor Datlow (Edited By) brings together 29 spine-tingling tales of body horror to terrify even the most seasoned horror reader. These visceral works take myriad approaches to the genre, but all revel in the grotesque possibilities of the human body. ‘The Old Women Who Were Skinned’ by Carmen Maria Machado is an eerie, cautionary fable about the pitfalls of vanity. Terry Dowling’s stomach-churning ‘Toother’ follows the grim exploits of a serial killer who collects the teeth of his victims. The woman in Kirstyn McDermott’s ‘Painlessness’ feels no pain when injured and makes her living giving men an outlet for their violent fantasies. In ‘The Lake’ by Tananarive Due, a woman metamorphoses into a predatory sea creature. A confectioner transforms his fiancée’s ghost into delectable treats enjoyed by the Parisian elite in Lisa L. Hannett’s grossly gluttonous and deliciously weird ‘Sweet Subtleties.’ Cassandra Khaw’s intense ‘The Truth that Lies Under Skin and Meat’ follows a werewolf who takes distinct pleasure in devouring her victims, much to the dismay of her handler. And Simon Bestwick’s bizarre alternate history ‘Welcome to Mengele’s’ takes readers into a Nazi doctor’s movie theater where patrons watch their sickest fantasies play out on screen. These wholly original and truly chilling tales are not for the faint of heart.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Ellen Datlow is the undisputed queen of horror anthologies, and with Body Shocks her crown remains untarnished.”
—David J. Schow, author of Suite 13

[STARRED REVIEW] “The emergence of body horror from a gross-out trope into a thought-provoking subgenre is one of horror’s biggest trends. Multiple award-winner Datlow has worked her way through previously published stories from across the dark fiction landscape, uncovering the breadth of these horrific tales. The 29 stories here represent moments across the spectrum, from violent and visceral to uncomfortable and quiet—alien rape, a person who can change their skin, parents who use their kid for blood, an uncontrollable fungus. These tales will burrow under the skin, leaving a lasting impression like the back-to-back blows of ‘Natural Skin’ by Alyssa Wong, a psychological gut punch about the commodification of young women’s bodies and ‘The Lake’ by Tananarive Due, a tale of physical transformation that is both terrifying and freeing. Marked by a diverse table of contents and illustrations that enhance the conflicting emotions of unease and wonder that lie at the heart of the appeal of body horror, this is an anthology that readers will inhabit, and when they ask for more offer The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste (2018), Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (2020), or The Cipher by Kathe Koja (1991).”
—Booklist

“As you might expect from an award-winning editor in the field of speculative fiction – Ellen Datlow has gathered together a superb array of talent, showcasing the vast extremities of the theme.”
—Stephen Bacon, author of Peel Back the Sky

“So vivid and intense as to result as a slap in the reader’s face.”
—Hellnotes

“In working my way through Ellen Datlow’s shockingly good Body Shocks anthology, I found it had to be consumed in fits and starts. At times it was so disturbing I had to walk away . . . but it was also so good I had to keep coming back.”
—John DeNardo, SF Signal

“Let’s get to the vital part, the heart of the matter. I read this collection twice, cover to cover, and every one of these beauties is incredible. Each in their own way brings something different to this cohesive collection.”
—Cemetery Dance

“While it’s undeniable body horror is an acquired taste, Body Shocks is sure to delight horror fans from every walk of life. From the decidedly adult ‘Welcome to Mengele’s’ by Simon Bestwick to the superbly twisted ‘Fabulous Beasts’ by Priya Sharma, this is a collection that will challenge the senses with delightful pains and punishing pleasures.”
—Phantastiqa

“There are certain brand names that imply undeniable quality, and when I see Ellen Datlow as editor on an anthology, my first thought is always, That’s a must-buy. She’s such a knowledgeable editor, with a sharp eye and a long-standing love of the genre that leaps from every page.”
—Tim Lebbon, author of The Silence

“The degradation and transformation of the human form are explored in a grotesque and beautiful buffet within these pages.”
—Horror Obsessive

5/5 Ravens. “Datlow truly was able to put together a great collection here . . . some of the best body horror to have ever been put in print.”
—Horrortree

“Body Shocks is a celebration of body horror that brings outstanding narratives about pain and transformation together to offer a great introduc­tion to a subgenre that’s here to stay.”
—Locus

“Ellen Datlow doesn’t just have her thumb on the pulse of horror, she is the pulse of horror.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, The Only Good Indians

“Ellen Datlow is the empress of the horror anthology—enviably well-read, eagle-eyed for talent, eager for originality, she’s one of the glories of the field. Nobody who loves horror should lack any of her books. They’re a crucial shelf all by themselves, and something of a history of modern horror.”
—Ramsey Campbell, author of The Searching Dead

“The most respected anthologist of our time, Ellen Datlow has earned a permanent place in the history of prominent editorship of the dark and fantastic. She has left a mark that is unlikely to be surpassed.”
—Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap and Leonard series

“To produce an excellent horror anthology that will endure, it takes an editor with the knowledge of the history of horror and a genuine feel for the delightfully grisly genre. It is a high bar to obtain. Only the best reach it and produce a book that is gilt-edged. Ellen Datlow’s books are the gold standard.”
—Del Howison, author of The Survival of Margaret Thomas

“There is a lot of writing out there produced for shock value only, violence for violence’s sake, but a few of them can do more and move you on a different, deeper level. I am convinced that Datlow can find exactly those writings for her collection and that is the reason why I went into this book with the confidence of trust. And wasn’t disappointed at all.”
—Protean Depravity

“Published by Tachyon, the anthology is another jewel in the crown of the queen of genre editors, Ellen Datlow.”
—Diabolique Magazine

“A recommendation to any horror aficionado and to those looking for horror authors to follow.”
—Open Book Society

“Reading Body Shocks feels like experiencing the Splatterpunk Awards by way of the Hugo Awards. Compared to most of the books on the ballot, the writing is polished with more care, the narrative styling more pronounced, and the satirical elements given a stronger feminist slant.”
—Doris V. Sutherland, author of Midnight Windows

“Balanced to cover all tastes and types of body horror, from skin crawling to downright dirty. Some stories definitely shock more than others, swinging wildly from subtle to schlocky without warning, so be wary as you turn each page—or at the very least, have some dry toast and water on hand to keep your belly settled. You’re not making it to the end of this book unchanged.”
—Ginger Nuts of Horror