Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Fiction
Edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner
Dark Moon Rising Publications, 2024
Ebook, 327 ppg.
ISBN: 978-1-945987-90-8
“Nature finds a way.” This phrase, uttered by a character thinking that more plants possibly bloomed in an area that was not tended to, is one we often say when nature surprises us with its strength and perseverance.
But nature has something else up its sleeve, too: Revenge against those who have harmed it, infected it, abused it and polluted it for so long.
In fact, these forms of nature acting on their quest for revenge take on anyone and everyone who gets too close to it, all casualties in the war between man and nature. Or, rather, nature and humans.
In the anthology Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Fiction edited by Alison Armstrong and Pixie Bruner, writers share their stories of eco-horror where polluted, mutated and poisoned forms of nature get the revenge it is so hungry for. From fish in p[olluted ponds to bees that were sprayed with poisons, both nature and creature (such as vines and plants) attack people for the abuse and pollution it has endured for so long. And in fighting this mutated form of nature, the characters think they can win, but little do they realize just how immune to the harmful ways of man nature has become that it is able to rise above any further doses of it.
I really enjoyed reading these stories. I read all of them. Some of them are from writers whose work I am familiar with and others are from writers I was happy to meet through their works. All forms of horror are in this book and all kinds of nature horror stories await readers of this anthology.
I could not name a single story as a favorite, though here are some I really enjoyed reading:
"Swarm of the Immune" by J.C. Macek III
"Deadly Toke" by Kasey Hill
"Kroak" by Megan Guilliams
"Last Call at the Garden of Eden" by Lamont A. Turner
"The Bees" by Mawr Gorshin
"Whale Song" by Elana Gomel
"Throw It Back" by Rebecca Cuthbert
"Boots" by Julie Dron
"A New Mom for the Bee Boy" by Rob Tannahill
"Spines" by J. Rocky Colavito
"Compost" by Kris Nelson
"Yard Work" by Michael Erroll Swaim
I also enjoyed reading the poems. These in particular were my favorites:
"The Candy-Coloured Apocalypse' by Pixie Bruner
"An Ocean's Lament" by John C. Mannone
"Nothing We Can Do" by Alison Armstrong
"How to Make Witchcraft Honey" and "Ode to the Bees" by Kasey Hill
They are all good stories and poems which I know I will enjoy rereading in the future.
If you enjoy reading eco horror, want to read stories about nature fighting back against the humans harming it, or want to support a charity (sales of the book are donated to The Nature Conservancy), then grab a copy of Nature Triumphs and you won’t be disappointed.
Five stars
Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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