Issues with Authority
Nadia Bulkin's second collection examines power and transformation through three distinct horror stories.
This anthology investigates the intersection of personal identity and systemic control. Each story presents a unique scenario where authority fails or becomes monstrous. The fixer in Cop Car embraces her violent instincts. The contestant in Your Next Best American Girl suffers physical decay linked to public scrutiny. The viewers in Red Skies in the Morning face a contagious threat from media. These narratives share a common thread of losing control over one’s body and mind. Bulkin uses these scenarios to question who holds power and how it corrupts. The collection does not offer easy resolutions or heroic victories. Instead, it leaves the reader with a sense of lingering unease about the structures that govern daily life.
Published by Ghoulish Books in 2025, this collection sits within the tradition of Shirley Jackson Award-nominated horror. It reflects contemporary American anxieties about institutional authority and the pervasive influence of media on public perception and individual sanity.
📝 Description: Issues with Authority
💎 Our verdict on Issues with Authority
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Why this book is worth reading
Readers who enjoy horror that critiques institutional power and societal structures will find this collection deeply resonant. Nadia Bulkin explores how authority figures warp reality and identity, offering a sharp examination of personal agency against systemic control. The book is ideal for those interested in psychological dread and bodily horror rather than traditional monster tales. It appeals to fans of stories where the terror stems from losing control over one’s body and mind within recognizable bureaucratic nightmares. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment should look elsewhere, but readers drawn to narratives that question who holds power and how it corrupts will appreciate the lingering unease these stories provoke. This volume is perfect for anyone wanting to engage with contemporary anxieties about surveillance and media influence through a lens of sensory overload and horrifying transformation.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Nadia Bulkin’s second collection delivers a potent mix of psychological dread and bodily horror, effectively interrogating the intersection of personal identity and systemic control. Through three distinct narratives, she demonstrates how authority figures and societal structures can warp reality, leaving readers with a profound sense of unease about the governing forces in daily life. The stories avoid easy resolutions or heroic victories, instead focusing on the corruption of power and the loss of bodily autonomy. This approach suits fans of gothic horror and supernatural fiction who appreciate nuanced critiques of institutional influence. While not suited for those seeking action-driven plots, the work excels in grounding supernatural elements in bureaucratic nightmares. It is a compelling read for those interested in how media and surveillance impact the human psyche.
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