🩸 Horror Fiction

Qualia Nous: Vol. 2

✍️ Michael Bailey
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$19.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An edited anthology of horror and science fiction stories with illustrations by Pat R. Steiner.

This volume presents a curated selection of short fiction and poetry that merges the uncanny with the technological. Bailey assembles writers who examine human vulnerability through lenses of psychic shock, digital limbo, and supernatural intrusion. The structure alternates between narrative prose and poetic fragments, creating a rhythmic dissonance. Stories like Kilroy wasn't there and No fixed address offer distinct perspectives on isolation and reality. The inclusion of visual art by Steiner complements the textual content, enhancing the eerie atmosphere. This compilation appeals to readers who enjoy genre-bending tales that challenge conventional boundaries between the real and the imagined.

Key Themes
psychic phenomena digital existence supernatural entities
Literary Context

Published in late 2023 by Written Backwards, this volume continues the Qualia Nous series. It sits within the contemporary tradition of speculative horror, drawing on established authors like Stephen King alongside emerging voices. The work reflects current interests in technology and identity within the horror genre.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Usman T. Malik · Gene O'Neill · Marge Simon
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Written Backwards 📅 2023 📖 448 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798987932629

📝 Description: Qualia Nous: Vol. 2

Michael Bailey edits this second volume of Qualia Nous, a collection blending science fiction with horror elements. Pat R. Steiner provides illustrations for the stories contained within. The anthology features contributions from authors such as Stephen King, Usman T. Malik, and Gene O'Neill. Readers encounter diverse narratives ranging from the psychological tension in The Jaunt to the speculative biology of The vaporization enthalpy of a peculiar Pakistani Family. Other entries include The shaking man by Gene O'Neill and Dyscrasia by Ashlee Scheuerman. The volume continues its exploration of surreal and unsettling scenarios through pieces like The Rondelium girl of Rue Marseilles and The angel chaser. Poetic interludes appear alongside prose, including Shutdown and Tomorrow's femme by Marge Simon. The collection also presents works such as Peppermint tea in electronic limbo by D. J. Cockburn and Second chance by John R. Little. Contributors like Erik T. Johnson, Ian Shoebridge, and Jon Michael Kelley add to the varied tone. Further stories include Shades of naught, The prince of faces, and Simulacrum. The anthology concludes with entries such as Lead me to multiplicity, Cataldo's copy, and The neighborhood has a barbecue. Additional texts cover themes of identity and existence in pieces like In the nothing-space, I am what you made me and Dura mater. Readers seeking a mix of speculative fiction and dark fantasy will find this compilation suitable for their shelves.

💎 Our verdict on Qualia Nous: Vol. 2

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Michael Bailey curates a compelling anthology that successfully merges science fiction with horror, creating a unique reading experience defined by psychological tension and speculative biology. The alternating structure of narrative prose and poetic fragments generates a distinct rhythmic dissonance that keeps the reader engaged while exploring themes of digital limbo and supernatural intrusion. Contributions from established names like Stephen King alongside emerging voices provide a diverse tonal range, ensuring no single perspective dominates. Pat R. Steiner’s illustrations complement the textual content effectively, enhancing the overall eerie atmosphere. This collection is best suited for readers who enjoy challenging conventional boundaries between reality and imagination, offering a dense, atmospheric exploration of identity and existence in an increasingly surreal world.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate genre-bending narratives that dissolve the boundary between the physical and digital realms will find this collection compelling. It is ideal for those interested in psychological horror and cosmic dread, offering a curated mix of prose and poetry that examines human vulnerability through technological lenses. The inclusion of visual art by Pat R. Steiner enhances the eerie atmosphere, making it suitable for audiences who enjoy speculative fiction with surreal elements. Those drawn to stories about isolation, identity loss, and reality distortion will gain from its rhythmic dissonance and varied tonal perspectives.

⭐ 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

Michael Bailey curates a compelling anthology that successfully merges science fiction with horror, creating a unique reading experience defined by psychological tension and speculative biology. The alternating structure of narrative prose and poetic fragments generates a distinct rhythmic dissonance that keeps the reader engaged while exploring themes of digital limbo and supernatural intrusion. Contributions from established names like Stephen King alongside emerging voices provide a diverse tonal range, ensuring no single perspective dominates. Pat R. Steiner’s illustrations complement the textual content effectively, enhancing the overall eerie atmosphere. This collection is best suited for readers who enjoy challenging conventional boundaries between reality and imagination, offering a dense, atmospheric exploration of identity and existence in an increasingly surreal world.

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