Out There Screaming

An Anthology of New Black Horror

By: Jordan Peele - editor, John Joseph Adams - editor, Jordan Peele - introduction, N. K. Jemisin, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tananarive Due, Nnedi Okorafor

Narrated by: Jordan Peele, Full Cast

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The visionary writer and director of Get Out, Us, and Nope, and founder of Monkeypaw Productions, curates this groundbreaking anthology of all-new stories of Black horror, exploring not only the terrors of the supernatural but the chilling reality of injustice that haunts our nation.

“Every piece is strong and memorable, making this not only likely to be the best anthology of the year, but one for the ages.”—The Guardian

WINNER OF THE BRAM STOKER AWARD AND THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARD • FINALIST FOR THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD AND THE LOCUS AWARD • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Esquire, Chicago Public Library, CrimeReads

A cop begins seeing huge, blinking eyes where the headlights of cars should be that tell him who to pull over. Two freedom riders take a bus ride that leaves them stranded on a lonely road in Alabama where several unsettling somethings await them. A young girl dives into the depths of the Earth in search of the demon that killed her parents. These are just a few of the worlds of Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele’s anthology of all-new horror stories by Black writers. Featuring an introduction by Peele and an all-star roster of beloved writers and new voices, Out There Screaming is a master class in horror, and—like his spine-chilling films—its stories prey on everything we think we know about our world . . . and redefine what it means to be afraid.

Featuring stories by: Erin E. Adams, Violet Allen, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Maurice Broaddus, Chesya Burke, P. Djèlí Clark, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Tananarive Due, Nalo Hopkinson, N. K. Jemisin, Justin C. Key, L. D. Lewis, Nnedi Okorafor, Tochi Onyebuchi, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nicole D. Sconiers, Rion Amilcar Scott, Terence Taylor, and Cadwell Turnbull.

Critic reviews

“Every piece is strong and memorable, making this not only likely to be the best anthology of the year, but one for the ages.”—The Guardian

“[An] electrifying anthology . . . These tales are all both gruesomely imaginative and firmly rooted in the realities of anti-Black racism and brutality—and there isn’t a weak one in the bunch. This is essential reading for any horror fan.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Huge Disappointment 😢

A Focus on Identity over Talent

As a longtime fan of Jordan Peele, I’ve followed his career closely and appreciate his ability to address race and culture in a thought-provoking way. However, in this anthology, it seems that the focus on the racial identities of the writers may have overshadowed the literary merit of the works themselves. Too often, the stories feel like they were chosen more for the identity of the author than for the strength of the storytelling.

Peele’s own words in interviews reflect a preference for narratives centered around race. In one instance, he stated, “I don’t see myself casting a white dude as the lead in my movie… Not that I don’t like white dudes. But I’ve seen that movie.” This comment highlights what some might call “socially acceptable racism,” where race becomes a key factor in decisions rather than the merit of the work or performance itself. While Peele’s intent may be to uplift marginalized voices, this approach risks reducing complex issues of talent, creativity, and storytelling to simplistic notions of racial representation.

Hit and miss anthology

Some of these stories work; some don’t. The best of them is the one by P. Djeli Clark. It made me want to read more by him

Sooo Good!!

Loved the narrator’s performance/ voice. Stories were so varied and unique. I also hope they turn it into a movie. That would be awesome!

I thoroughly enjoyed.

The saddest part in some of these comments is you can tell those who believe they are above or have ignored the consistent social climate for marginalized individuals to the point where they feel the race of the writers distracted from the plot points of these glimpses into terrifying situations. Those who have an issue with how each of these pieces of prose were presented only need to walk a mile in one these story lines to see the horrific truths. Smh. Some of us have and have never known fear as potent as living thru an episode. Terrific work people. Thanks for sharing. Sometimes one needs to be reminded and count their blessings.

Wondrous dark collection

I found these stories to be highly enjoyable. Each story possesses its own distinctive narrative style and captivatingly dark plot. The collection exhibits a certain resemblance to the classic television series "The Twilight Zone," offering a delightful array of diverse worlds to explore. However, I did encounter one peculiarity: several of the stories conclude abruptly. While I acknowledge that unresolved or open-ended endings can be an effective storytelling technique, these instances left me with a sense of curiosity and a desire for further resolution. Despite this minor critique, I must emphasize that the overall experience was highly satisfying, and I believe it will be well-received by a wide audience.