WE’LL ALWAYS BE HERE: An Anthology of LGBTQ+ Horror
Edited by James G. Carlson
Gloom House Publishing (June 11, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis
Hello again, horror fans! I’ve been reading Gloom House’s third LGBTQ+ horror anthology for charity and all I can say is WOW! So many great writers contributed to this noble cause, including Rebecca Rowland, Leo X Robertson, Michael R. Collins, and James G. Carlson. Hey, but instead of hearing me blab, why don’t we take a little walk on the inside so you can see what I’m so excited about?
Rebecca Rowland hits a home run right out of the gate with her story The Ghost Girls of Waterbury. The author transports us back in time to Waterbury, Connecticut circa1925, where its watch factory was a major employer. Women were hired to paint numbers on pocket watch dials with a nifty new glow in the dark paint that would allow watch owners to see what time it was regardless of light conditions. The magical substance responsible for this miracle was radium, which was presented as “harmless” by the watch company. Women, already considered second class citizens, were paid for piecework, not by the hour, and any shortcuts to improve speed and accuracy were encouraged by the management. Profit was king and any “problems” were quickly dismissed. All the characters in Rowland’s excellent tale of love, friendship, and corporate greed are well done. Be sure to read her afterword to learn more. “Ghost girls, forever!”
Lackers by Leo X. Robertson is a haunting tale about clapping back at body shamers, those evil creeps who enjoy putting people down for not meeting the status quo version of perfection. When Neil, a journalist seeking unique stories, manages to get himself into a Lackers party, the encounter touches him deeper than he expected. People are celebrating what they don’t have with zero inhibitions, and it tugs at Neil, who has never felt free or happy with his body. Luka, leader of the Lackers, plants the seeds of desire in him, but is Neil making a mistake?
If you enjoy books like the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, or the works of Kurt Vonnegut, I think you’ll really dig Night of the Living Fascists by James G. Carlson. This short story has the richness of a novella and touches on so many important topics of today (y’know, the real horrors that we try to get away from by reading) that it’s like an octopus or something. The story is a fantastic romp while at the same time making social statements and micro-reveals of the origins of our country’s current situation. Like an old television, the current regime hasn’t brought anything new to the table, they just regurgitate old crap and hope no one notices that it was previously said or done by someone else. To elaborate more would be to spoiler and I wouldn’t be a very good book reviewer if I went around doing that.
On a more somber, but no less important note, comes Michael R. Collins’ short horror tale Ethan Is Following Me. The narrator quickly identifies himself as someone who certainly wouldn’t read this book, even though he should. Instead, he’s upset, angry even, that Ethan won’t stop following him. After what happened, it should be physically impossible! There was an…accident. Yeah, a total accident, at a party and now he’s stuck with this guy he just happens to hate. Is Ethan a ghost? Why the hell won’t he go away? It’s like he wants something…To find out what, get yourself a copy of We’ll Always Be Here.
I don’t think I’ll surprise you with this rating of FIVE STARS for We’ll Always Be Here and the hearty encouragement to get yourself a copy, stat. There are so many more great stories in this fine anthology, including the absolutely terrifying trans horror story Making America Straight Again by Christo Healey. And don’t forget to check out It’s Still Here by Angelique Jordanna, a twisted nightmare that I’m pretty sure is also the inspiration for that amazing cover art! For more information about Gloom House Publishing, go to: [email protected]. You can also follow the individual authors by checking out the listing on Amazon, where you can pick up the Kindle edition for just $2.99.
Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer and poet with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and in multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer He has been reviewing books since 2016.
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