🩸 Horror Fiction −14%

In Darkness, Delight: Masters of Midnight

✍️ Josh Malerman
Reader Score
4.2
(8 reviews)
$40.86 $48.00 Save $7.14 (14%)
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Josh Malerman curates a diverse anthology of modern horror stories exploring fear's many forms.

This collection showcases the versatility of contemporary horror writing. It avoids narrow definitions by mixing pulp excitement with literary depth. The volume includes tales that are both shocking and quiet. It balances cold-hearted plots with emotional resonance. Readers find spiraling madness alongside intense thrillers. This variety reflects the wide spectrum of modern supernatural fiction. The book does not focus on a single subgenre. It aims to reveal the many faces of current horror trends. Malerman selects works that consume from without and within. This approach highlights the genre's capacity for both external terror and internal dread.

Key Themes
spiraling madness full-throttle thrillers modern horror
Literary Context

Published in 2019 by Lulu.com, this anthology sits within the landscape of contemporary supernatural fiction. It reflects current trends in horror by blending pulp and literary styles. The work addresses modern fears through diverse narrative voices.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Caitlín R. Kiernan · Paul Tremblay · Thomas Ligotti
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2019 📖 298 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780359398867

📝 Description: In Darkness, Delight: Masters of Midnight

Josh Malerman presents In Darkness, Delight: Masters of Midnight through Lulu.com in 2019. This volume functions as an original anthology series that reveals the many faces of modern horror. The collection spans shocking and quiet tones, blending pulp styles with literary approaches. It offers cold-hearted narratives alongside heart-felt stories. Readers encounter weird tales of spiraling madness next to full-throttle thrillers. The text invites audiences to unleash all-new terrors that consume from without and within. The book suits readers who enjoy diverse horror expressions. It appeals to those interested in both psychological unease and visceral action. The anthology does not cater to fans of single-genre works or those seeking only historical gothic fiction. Malerman qualifies as the author by curating these varied perspectives on contemporary fear. The structure relies on juxtaposition rather than chronological order. This approach highlights the breadth of current supernatural fiction. The content focuses on modern horror traditions. It draws on pulp and literary sources to define its scope. The organization groups stories by tonal contrast rather than author or setting. This method emphasizes the emotional range available in the genre. Readers looking for a unified narrative arc may find the disjointed nature challenging. Those wanting a broad survey of current fears will appreciate the variety.

💎 Our verdict on In Darkness, Delight: Masters of Midnight

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Josh Malerman curates a diverse anthology that successfully showcases the versatility of modern horror writing. The volume balances literary depth with pulp styles, offering both shocking and quiet narratives. This approach highlights the wide spectrum of contemporary supernatural fiction, appealing to readers who enjoy psychological unease alongside intense thrillers. However, the disjointed structure may challenge those looking for a unified narrative arc. It does not cater to fans of single-genre works or those seeking only historical gothic fiction. The book is best for those wanting a broad survey of current fears rather than a cohesive story.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection appeals to readers seeking a broad survey of contemporary horror who appreciate tonal variety over narrative unity. It suits those interested in both psychological unease and visceral action, offering a mix of pulp excitement and literary depth. The anthology is ideal for audiences who want to explore fear's many forms, from spiraling madness to cold-hearted plots. By juxtaposing shocking tales with quiet ones, it reveals the genre's capacity for external terror and internal dread. It does not suit those seeking historical gothic fiction or a single-subgenre focus.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —
⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Seekers of contemporary terror will revel in this eclectic mix of psychological dread and visceral action. However, purists craving traditional Gothic romance or fans of a single horror subgenre may find the tonal whiplash jarring rather than enjoyable.

Reader rating

4.2
Based on 8 reviews
5
1
4
6
3
1
2
0
1
0
L
Liam W.
July 15, 2026
Very good

This has been on my wishlist for months. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Solid, if not essential.

T
Tom R.
December 10, 2025
Worth the read

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. My only quibble is that the middle third sags a little. Still worth having on the shelf.

D
Diana N.
December 21, 2025

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. The font runs small in this edition. Solid, if not essential.

M
Matthew S.
August 18, 2025
Almost perfect

Been meaning to get this one for a while. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. It assumes some familiarity with the genre's tropes. Solid, if not essential.

K
Kevin S.
June 13, 2025
Almost perfect

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. Some chapters are hard to read in the best possible way. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. The font runs small in this edition. Solid, if not essential.

A
Andrew S.
May 9, 2025
A modern classic

Finally got around to ordering this. The setting is practically a character, and a hostile one. Slow burn, but the burn is the point.

H
Hannah B.
May 31, 2025
Good addition to the shelf

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. The setting is practically a character, and a hostile one. The cover feels thinner than expected. Happy enough with the purchase.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it deliberately blends cold-hearted pulp with heartfelt literary tales, offering everything from quiet psychological unease to full-throttle visceral action.
The anthology eschews chronological or author-based grouping, instead structuring the content through tonal contrast to emphasize the breadth of modern supernatural fiction.

📖 Who should read this

Seekers of contemporary terror will revel in this eclectic mix of psychological dread and visceral action. However, purists craving traditional Gothic romance or fans of a single horror subgenre may find the tonal whiplash jarring rather than enjoyable.

📜 Historical context

Josh Malerman curates this anthology to showcase the expansive spectrum of modern supernatural fiction, deliberately bridging the gap between gritty pulp traditions and refined literary techniques. By organizing narratives through stark tonal juxtaposition rather than chronology, the volume highlights how current fear manifests both externally in shocking thrills and internally through spiraling madness, reflecting a vital evolution in the genre's ability to unsettle.

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