Stories of the Eye Reviewed by Tania Chen

Stories of the Eye (Weirdpunk Books), edited by Joe Koch and Sam Richard, builds on the incredible momentum horror has demonstrated over the last few years. This anthology of 13 stories revolves around art, muses, artists, and the relationships that tie them together; nearly every one is a beautiful, unique dive into the theme. In the introduction, Koch and Richard remind us that, "in the process of making art, we change." The stories that follow force the reader to sit down and ask how and why art changes them. And conversely, also ask what it means to be an artist—is it an act of creation, of destruction, or something else altogether? 

In Matt Niel Hill’s story, "In Thrall to Your Cathode Star," a filmmaker observes their muses through screens with increasing fascination. The mystery of how and why the filmmaker finds themselves in this particular situation, as well as the promise of an almost apocalyptic world outside of their secure location, add a terrifying backdrop to the tale. As time progresses, our protagonist looks for different ways to portray the individual on film. Hill’s prose is poetry made song, throughout a series of introspective passages, including the absolutely haunting line: "I will slow my heart and breath and wait for you to whisper, knowing whatever I hear will be my own invention; not caring."  

In "The Dancer, The Dance" by Donyae Coles, we follow Yeva, a painter seeking perfection in her art. Insomnia and the fear of a blank canvas is a sentiment all artists can relate to. Yeva questions her readiness to paint, she gathers materials but the inspiration and impetus to take that final leap evade her as time loses meaning. The Dancer is as much a character as Yeva is, a looming shadow, a promising inspiration waiting for the right moment to spring out onto the canvas. The mixture of psychological and supernatural horror leaves the reader wondering how much of what happened was Yeva’s mind and how much of it was something else.

"The Thing That Moves the Meat" by M. Lopes Da Silva depicts a model working for a painter seeking to paint "the arcane liquidity that we only bear witness to in actions." It almost sounds like the soul but not, the concept explored in this story is much deeper than that. To be seen and to be truly looked at is the struggle of our protagonist, a model fascinated by the painter that hired them, for only under their gaze do they feel seen in their entirety. This piece resonates deeply with its exploration of the physical, the soul, and how both are expressed through art.

Finally, "All the Rapes in the Museum" by co-editor Joe Koch explores art and museums through the perspective of horror and imprisonment, and is a must read. Art is given a voice with which to challenge those who brought them into the museum: conquerors who pillage, steal and erase their meaning. Meanwhile, body horror takes center stage during the transformation of the narrator, inviting the reader to join them in a bid for freedom. The sleek prose makes for an excellent read and reread.

In addition to asking powerful questions of its subjects and their relationships to art, Stories of the Eye flexes the power of horror as a transformative lens for exploring potent themes and bringing talented writers into the limelight.

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Tania Chen is a Chinese-Mexican queer writer. Their work has been published in Unfettered Hexes by Neon Hemlock. They are also a first reader for Strange Horizons and Nightmare Magazine and a graduate of the Clarion West Novella Bootcamp workshop of January/Feb 2021. Their work is upcoming in Pleiades Magazine, Strange Horizon and Baffling.