Some Cosmic Horror Short Stories

I was in the mood to read some cosmic horror recently, so here are three stories by three of my favorite authors. 

The Voice on the Beach by Ramsey Campbell 

From Alone with the Horrors (Arkham House, 1993)

A man who lives by a beach has strange visions while a friend is visiting. Atmospheric and a good example of cosmic horror but this was too much of a slow burn for me. It has a well done, creepy ending that packs some punch, it just took too long to get there. 

Rating: 3/5

The Onion by Caitlin Kiernan

From Bradbury Weather (Subterranean Press, 2024)

A young man who saw something mysterious in his childhood is now married to a woman who is attending meetings to try to come to terms with something unusual in her life. Interesting characters and gradual revelations kept my attention, leading to an open-ended ending that worked for me.

Rating: 4/5

Hallucigenia by Laird Barron

From The Imago Sequence and Other Stories (Night Shade Books, 2007)

Oh wow, this was good. A mysterious location, a tragedy, an investigation, and strange visions. Cosmic horror with a dash of noir. Outstanding. This novella is the second thing I’ve read by this author, and I loved it. I really need to read more Laird Barron. 

Rating 5/5