Synopsis:
First Landing State Park. Antarctica. Mongolia. France. Norway. Ireland. Somerset. Egypt. A giant glacier in an unnamed land.
What do all these places have in common?They’re the perfect place to set a horror story, is what. In this brand new collection of destination based tales of terror, Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author Gemma Amor (The Folly, Full Immersion, Six Rooms, Dear Laura) takes us on a series of adventures through the weird and the wonderful, the strange and the unexplainable, across the remotest, wildest parts of this world, and through lands yet to be discovered. Expect dark and deranged encounters, beautiful vistas, old gods, ghosts, peculiar creatures, vampires, and that most terrifying of all monsters: mankind.
Review:
Wrapped up in the humdrum of my life here in North West England, it’s easy to forget just how insignificant I am. Seriously, in the grand scheme of time and space, how important is my latest deadline? …the dogs who won’t stop barking down the road? …my undying hatred toward James Cordon? Completely irrelevant. Utterly inconsequential. In her latest collection “All Who Wander Are Lost,” Gemma Amor reminds us of just how big the world is, and that unimaginable terror can be found in all four corners of it. From an ancient Egyptian burial tomb, to (rather amusingly) Somerset, monstrosities, anomalies and injustices are everywhere. Whilst not every story will suit every palate (as is the case with almost all anthologies) overall, this homage to travel and exploration is as captivating as its premise suggests. Thank you Gemma, and Cemetery Gates for sending me over an ARC copy, “All Who Wander Are Lost,” which hits shelves on April 23rd 2024.
If you’re wondering from where you recognise the title (aside from the Lana Del Rey song) it’s taken from Tolkein’s “Fellowship Of The Ring,” in which a poem states “Not all those who wander are lost.” It seems unlikely (following the passion for travel that shines through in Gemma’s foreword) that Amor is trying to insinuate that wandering is synonymous with being adrift or without direction. Perhaps rather that travelling can be a way of finding meaning, purpose and salvation- a hypothesis that is supported by the stories themselves. By carefully intertwining this theme with such depravity and blood-shed, this pilgrimage ultimately invites readers to embrace the thrill of travel, whilst also acknowledging the risks- from pandemics to wars to genocides… both the beauty and sinister aspects of existence are reflected in this collection.
Right, before I fully dissect my favourite few stories, I’d like to swiftly get the negatives out of the way, as aforementioned, short story collections are difficult to rate, because they will always be, to some extent, hit and miss (aside from Lisa Tuttle’s “Nest of Nightmares,” but that’s a one off). Just like any anthology, “All Who Wander Are Lost,” has its highlights, and its lowlights- which for me personally were “Fields of Ice,” and “A Gentlewoman Abroad.” To each their own!
The first story, entitled “There’s Something in First Landing State Park,” is fantastical, fast-paced, and frankly frightening. Whilst I did initially question picking the states as an opening setting in a “destination,” horror anthology, it was excellent nontheless. We follow a British solo-traveller, Melanie. Her U.S tour guide cancels on her mid-flight, so she calls in the help of an online friend, Leigh, who travels 8 hours to pick her up. Upon the advice of an air-hostess, the duo drive to “First Landing State Park,” part swamp, part coast, and set up their tent. Having spotted something bizarre from her hotel balcony prior to arriving at the state park, when a fellow camper (Todd) mysteriously disappears, Melanie has an inclination as to who (or what) is behind his absence. Despite the fact this is a creature feature, and a damn scary one, there’s a real humanity behind it, and the ending is particularly insightful.
Gemma’s winning streak absolutely continues with the next story, which I have decided is my favourite. In “The Reunion,” we follow Tim Lane, whose life is changed forever when he attends the class of 2000 “Creswell High,” reunion. Rather awkwardly, his ex-spouse Louise (whom he walked out on) is also in attendance, even more so, he’s there with his stunning new wife Jess. The couple then attend a wedding in France, again alongside Louise, and the chances of all three of them making it out alive are slim. I enjoyed this one particularly because the protagonist is, to put it politely, a prick, which leaves readers grappling with whose side to take… if any. There was also a point in which an armed Louise stares Jess down from across the dance floor, which had my heart RACING- something that not many writers can do.
Following the slight blip that is “Fields Of Ice,” Gemma quickly bounces back with “Let Sleeping Gods Lie.” I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, that epistolary stories tend to work well in anthologies- variety is after all the spice of life. In the 1880s, archaeologist and family man Flinders Petrie travelled to the Hawara Complex in Egypt, in order to help excavate a tomb. He befriends a cat, whom he names Bast, who (when he is abandoned by his petrified men, and manages to seal himself inside the pyramid) becomes a solace. His experiences are relayed through his journal, and letters to his wife Elizabeth… whether he’ll make it home to her, is hard to say. I think ultimately this is a story about culture, and the importance of observing and respecting it. Other strong contenders included “A Song For Sam,” and “The Ancient Ram Inn,” but the format and Indiana Jones vibes supplied by this one pushed it into my top three.
Whilst not without its faults, it’s an anthology that I think succeeds in its aim of prompting me to continue wandering. It’s in the twists and turns of the road that excitement, growth and unexpected joys are found. Within the boundless expanse of Gemma Amor’s “All Who Wander Are Lost,” readers are beckoned into a world where the familiar becomes foreign and terror goes hand in hand with wanderlust. April 23rd, you know what to do.
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