"The Ballad of Black Tom" by Victor LaValle (Penguin, £9.99) explores the author's complex relationship with the works of H.P. Lovecraft. LaValle, a Black writer, initially embraced Lovecraft's tales of cosmic horror but later grappled with the racism depicted in them. His 2016 novel serves as a response to Lovecraft's "The Horror at Red Hook," reimagining the narrative through the eyes of a musician and hustler from 1920s Harlem, known as Black Tom. This short novel has garnered multiple genre awards, presenting a powerful story filled with both everyday and supernatural horror.
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"As You Wake, Break the Shell" by Becky Chambers (Hodderscape, £22) is a heartwarming science fiction romance set on a distant planet where human colonists endure daily struggles. The narrative unfolds non-linearly, introducing botanist Signy before she meets her future wife, Cora, a rorqual pilot, and jumping ahead more than a decade to showcase their blissfully married life. While the characters are charming and the environmental details engaging, the slow pace and repetitive expressions of their feelings may test some readers' patience. The book concludes with a cliffhanger, setting the stage for an anticipated sequel.
"The Eye of Goliath" by Diego Muzzio, translated by Rahul Bery (Pushkin, £12.99), marks the debut of an acclaimed Argentinian writer. The story takes place in a 1920 asylum near Edinburgh, focusing on Dr. Pierce, who uses hypnosis to treat war-traumatized patients. One patient, David Bradley, struggles with his descent into madness, attempting to swim on dry land as he recalls haunting experiences in an abandoned lighthouse. The intertwining narratives of Bradley and the lighthouse keeper, who committed murder, contribute to this compelling gothic horror.
"Our Cut of Salt" by Deena Helm (Orbit, £22) tells the story of Marina, a young American of mixed heritage, as she visits Haifa, the birthplace of her deceased Palestinian grandmother, Nuhad. In search of understanding her family's past, she discovers Nuhad's empty, seemingly haunted childhood home, linked to tragic memories and painful losses from 1948. As Marina confronts the house's eerie presence and its connection to her family's history, the narrative merges realistic elements with ghostly interpretations, offering a poignant exploration of Palestinian trauma.