A Collection of Desires: 7 Tales of Modern Horror

Name: A Collection of Desires: 7 Tales of Modern Horror
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781733410700

✍️ Shawn C Baker

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$9.99

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Seven modern horror tales exploring tech, addiction, and urban dread.

Baker uses the short story format to dissect the fears of the present day. The narratives avoid historical tropes in favor of current societal pressures. Technology acts as a conduit for evil in "Scare Me" and "Pentagram Girls." Addiction becomes a literal vulnerability in "1422 Euclid." Relationships turn deadly in "In His Arms, She Felt Loved" and the title story. The collection demonstrates how ordinary desires can spiral into catastrophic horror when intertwined with supernatural elements.

Key Themes

modern technology urban isolation toxic relationships

Literary Context

Published by Horror Vision Press in 2019, this work sits within the tradition of modern horror fiction. It reflects contemporary anxieties about digital connectivity and urban living. The stories draw on current social trends rather than historical periods or classic literary traditions.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Stephen King · Poppy Z. Brite · Junji Ito

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Horror Vision Press 📅 2019 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781733410700

📝 Description: A Collection of Desires: 7 Tales of Modern Horror

Shawn C Baker delivers a collection of seven modern horror tales that examine the dark undercurrents of contemporary life. The author constructs narratives where supernatural threats emerge from mundane settings, blending psychological dread with visceral fear. Each story targets specific anxieties inherent in the digital age and urban isolation. The anthology includes "Scare Me," which follows Hollywood hipsters whose interactive movie app summons real death. In "The Apartment," former friends confront a demon conjured by their band's music. Baker explores toxic relationships in "In His Arms, She Felt Loved" and elusive exclusivity in "The Midnight Tree." The collection also features "Pentagram Girls," a warning about dating apps, and "1422 Euclid," where creatures prey on addiction. The title story, "A Collection of Desires," shows a couple realizing their plot to kill their landlord exceeds their capabilities. This book suits readers who appreciate short fiction that critiques modern social behaviors through a horror lens. It appeals to those interested in how technology and urban life amplify fear. Readers seeking traditional gothic castles or historical settings may find the contemporary focus less engaging. The stories rely on immediate, relatable terrors rather than distant legends.

💎 Our verdict on A Collection of Desires: 7 Tales of Modern Horror

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Shawn C Baker delivers a sharp collection of seven modern horror tales that dissect the fears of the present day with precision. The author successfully avoids historical tropes, focusing instead on current societal pressures like tech addiction and urban dread. Stories such as 'Scare Me' and 'Pentagram Girls' effectively utilize technology as a conduit for evil, while others explore the deadly nature of modern relationships. This anthology demonstrates how ordinary desires can spiral into catastrophic horror when intertwined with supernatural elements. It suits readers who want to see contemporary social behaviors critiqued through a horror lens. Those seeking traditional gothic castles may find the contemporary focus less engaging, but fans of psychological and tech-driven horror will find much to appreciate in these immediate and relatable terrors.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate short fiction that critiques modern social behaviors through a horror lens will gain significantly from this book. It appeals to those interested in how technology and urban life amplify fear, offering narratives where supernatural threats emerge from mundane settings. The collection targets specific anxieties inherent in the digital age, such as toxic relationships, dating app dangers, and addiction. By blending psychological dread with visceral fear, it provides a stark examination of how ordinary desires spiral into catastrophic outcomes when intertwined with supernatural elements. Those seeking immediate, relatable terrors rather than distant legends will find this exploration of present-day fears compelling and unsettling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Shawn C Baker delivers a sharp collection of seven modern horror tales that dissect the fears of the present day with precision. The author successfully avoids historical tropes, focusing instead on current societal pressures like tech addiction and urban dread. Stories such as 'Scare Me' and 'Pentagram Girls' effectively utilize technology as a conduit for evil, while others explore the deadly nature of modern relationships. This anthology demonstrates how ordinary desires can spiral into catastrophic horror when intertwined with supernatural elements. It suits readers who want to see contemporary social behaviors critiqued through a horror lens. Those seeking traditional gothic castles may find the contemporary focus less engaging, but fans of psychological and tech-driven horror will find much to appreciate in these immediate and relatable terrors.