30 review for Skin of the Soul: New Horror Stories by Women

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Alex – May 10, 2015

   Skin of the Soul is a collection of short horror stories penned by women and edited by horror paragon Lisa Tuttle. As the intent of this collection is to showcase the depth and range that women bring to the genre, it covers a wide variety of styles and themes. Not every story is going to appeal to every reader, but each story in the collection is someone’s favorite. Here are mine: LIGHTNING ROD is interesting commentary on how people take on the suffering of others in order to spare them the pain Skin of the Soul is a collection of short horror stories penned by women and edited by horror paragon Lisa Tuttle. As the intent of this collection is to showcase the depth and range that women bring to the genre, it covers a wide variety of styles and themes. Not every story is going to appeal to every reader, but each story in the collection is someone’s favorite. Here are mine: LIGHTNING ROD is interesting commentary on how people take on the suffering of others in order to spare them the pain. The supernatural element to show this is quite effective, and the fallout of learning this behavior is chilling. THE COMPANION is a quietly chilling take on hauntings, both supernatural and our regrets. The slow build of tension and the unresolved lingering malice is great. MR. ELPHINSTONE’S HANDS is a fascinating concept. It explores the psychic medium phenomenon in a Victorian setting, but shifts the viewpoint from what we’re used to. It explores the Victorian science of ectoplasm as a frame to look at how women and mental illnesses were treated. It effectively explores the crazy aunt in the attic while avoiding being derivative. HANTU-HANTU is a great cosmic horror story that doubles down on creepy bugs.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Tim – Oct 02, 2010

   Skin of the Soul is a book of horror stories, or 'tales of terror' as it says on the cover, by women. Lisa Tuttle's Introduction focuses on the male domination of the horror genre editorially, critically, and in the prominence of male writers and goes on to address the question of whether women, in general, write horror differently than do men.[return][return]Some stories in this book draw on uniquely female experience, such as Suzy McKee Charnas' "Boobs", and many stories make concrete the fear Skin of the Soul is a book of horror stories, or 'tales of terror' as it says on the cover, by women. Lisa Tuttle's Introduction focuses on the male domination of the horror genre editorially, critically, and in the prominence of male writers and goes on to address the question of whether women, in general, write horror differently than do men.[return][return]Some stories in this book draw on uniquely female experience, such as Suzy McKee Charnas' "Boobs", and many stories make concrete the fears of sexual abuse or rape, but there is no one theme. On the contrary, the stories have been well selected to show a variety of lengths, styles, and subject matters. The authors, too, come from all over, and it's the story by former New Zealander Cherry Wilder, that had the greatest effect on me.[return][return]Any story entitled "Anzac Day" automatically carries with it considerable emotional freight for anyone brought up in Australasia. Cherry Wilder's story begins with an impoverished Depression family arriving at a relative's home in hopes of charity, and ends in carnage. The author of the carnage is old Len Fell, who hasn't been right since he came back from Gallipoli, Len Fell in his army uniform with his cut-throat razor and his bayonet. It's a very New Zealand story of rural poverty and violence, a story where that old clich

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Sarah – Feb 10, 2013

   A good collection of short stories. Most were above average. This collection was women horror writers. There were demonic cats, pychopathic relatives, sentient cockroach people, women whose scars take pain away from others (a symbolic story of the relationships between men and women,I think) a man who appears from a woman's dream, and more. A good collection of short stories. Most were above average. This collection was women horror writers. There were demonic cats, pychopathic relatives, sentient cockroach people, women whose scars take pain away from others (a symbolic story of the relationships between men and women,I think) a man who appears from a woman's dream, and more.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   George Jones – Apr 26, 2014

   I have never before read a book that reached such heights of mediocrity.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Sina – Feb 14, 2022

   Delightful!!

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Art Metzger –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Cati –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Wendy Jackson –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Ina –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Cheryl –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    michael dempsey –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Cheryl –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Jack Tripper –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Gene –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Elfbiter –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Constant_reader_lu –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Angel Sucasas –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Crystal –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Dennis Cooper –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Tarja –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Gerd –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Esteban Lara –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    John Yu Branscum –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Nona –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Abby –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    J S –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Nicole –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    David –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Wendy –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Beca –