The contributors to this anthology were asked to write a very short story (less than 1,500 words) about something that scares them. Like all anthologies, this one is uneven, but there aren't any real clunkers, and there are quite a few standouts: stories that were especially creepy or funny or chilling. The authors are a mix of horror and literary writers, some of them well-known to me, and also seem to reflect a mix of backgrounds and perspectives. All this makes the stories nicely varied, with commentaries on everything from police shootings to illegal immigration to drug addiction to motherhood. I was particularly delighted by the index at the end to all the weird and scary subjects; I read it straight through--it was like a found poem. I also enjoyed the unsettling art that introduced each section of the book. ( )

Some truly wonderful, very short stories. Sometimes I have trouble concentrating on full length books - tiny stories like this are a great balm! ( )