🩸 Horror Fiction

City Fishing

✍️ Steve Rasnic Tem
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$17.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of thirty-eight short stories by Steve Rasnic Tem exploring twisted realities.

This volume compiles thirty-eight short stories that have garnered significant acclaim within the horror community. The Denver Post and Douglas Clegg highlight its importance, while William P. Simmons emphasizes the unique terrors Tem creates. Ed Bryant notes the shift between nuance and raw power in his writing style. Steve Duffy praises the stories as essential myths for modern times. The book targets fans of literary horror who value atmospheric depth over action. It does not cater to readers preferring simple narratives or conventional genre tropes.

Key Themes
twisted realities unexpected terrors new myths
Literary Context

Published by Macabre Ink in March 2008, this collection addresses the weird and dislocated times we live in. It draws on the traditions of horror and supernatural fiction to create new myths for contemporary readers seeking depth and nuance in their reading material.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Clive Barker · Thomas Ligotti · Peter Straub
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Macabre Ink 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781637894200
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: City Fishing

Steve Rasnic Tem presents City Fishing, a collection of thirty-eight short stories drawn from his creative mind. This volume gathers works that have earned recognition from major genre awards, including nominations for the Bram Stoker Award and the International Horror Guild Award in 2000. The Denver Post identifies this as the major collection his work has long deserved, while Douglas Clegg promises readers a treat. William P. Simmons of Horrorfind notes that critical analysis fails to capture the twisted realities and unexpected terrors Tem summons. Ed Bryant describes the text as a major work in content and mass, highlighting Tem’s ability to shift from nuance to raw power. He suggests Tem might be the world's most softspoken splatterpunk. Steve Duffy of All Hallows calls these stories new myths for dislocated times, stating they stand comparison with the best writers in the field. The book appeals to readers who appreciate nuanced horror and supernatural fiction that challenges conventional narratives. It may not suit those seeking straightforward plot-driven thrillers or light entertainment. The collection offers a dense, atmospheric experience rooted in the weird and the dislocated. Tem’s prose balances subtle psychological tension with sudden, visceral impact. The stories operate within the traditions of gothic and supernatural fiction, drawing on deep recesses of imagination rather than explicit gore for their power. This compilation serves as a comprehensive look at Tem’s unique voice in horror literature.

💎 Our verdict on City Fishing

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Tem delivers a sophisticated anthology that prioritizes mood and psychological dislocation over action. The prose balances subtle tension with sudden visceral jolts, creating a unique voice often described as soft-spoken splatterpunk. This approach ensures the stories feel like essential myths for dislocated times, standing comparison with established masters of the field. The collection is best suited for readers who enjoy complex, atmospheric works that demand attention and reward careful reading. It avoids conventional tropes to offer something genuinely strange and unsettling. While not for those seeking light entertainment, it provides a profound encounter with the unknown, making it a significant contribution to contemporary weird fiction.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection is designed for the discerning reader who values atmospheric depth and nuanced psychological tension over straightforward plot-driven thrills. It appeals to those seeking an immersive experience rooted in the weird, offering a dense exploration of twisted realities that challenge conventional narratives. Readers who appreciate literary horror will find value in the subtle interplay between soft-spoken prose and visceral impact. The book serves as essential reading for enthusiasts of gothic and cosmic horror who desire stories that function as modern myths, providing intellectual stimulation alongside emotional unease rather than simple entertainment.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Tem delivers a sophisticated anthology that prioritizes mood and psychological dislocation over action. The prose balances subtle tension with sudden visceral jolts, creating a unique voice often described as soft-spoken splatterpunk. This approach ensures the stories feel like essential myths for dislocated times, standing comparison with established masters of the field. The collection is best suited for readers who enjoy complex, atmospheric works that demand attention and reward careful reading. It avoids conventional tropes to offer something genuinely strange and unsettling. While not for those seeking light entertainment, it provides a profound encounter with the unknown, making it a significant contribution to contemporary weird fiction.

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