Dundurn anthology Monsters brings 14 writers together for unsettling short fiction
Cover of Monsters: Unsettling Short Stories, edited by Russell Smith and published by Dundurn Press.
Photo credit: Dundurn Press / University of Toronto Press
Dundurn anthology Monsters brings 14 writers together for unsettling short fiction
Dundurn Press released Monsters: Unsettling Short Stories on Oct. 6, a new anthology edited by Toronto novelist and Dundurn acquiring editor Russell Smith. The collection brings together 14 contributors around the idea of monsters in both literal and figurative forms.
Dundurn describes the book as dark short fiction drawing from mystery, literary and horror writing, with stories ranging from traditional creatures to human behaviour described as monstrous. The roster includes Pasha Malla, Naben Ruthnum, Zsuzsi Gartner and Barbara Fradkin, while the late Andrew Pyper contributes “The Sanctuary,” a story Dundurn says he submitted before his death in January 2025.
Who contributes to Monsters?
The full contributor list is Sifton Tracey Anipare, Steve Burrows, Brenda Chapman, Chinenye Emezie, Barbara Fradkin, Zsuzsi Gartner, Liz Harmer, Babak Lakghomi, Pasha Malla, Andrew Pyper, Naben Ruthnum, Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson, Andrew F. Sullivan and Emily A. Weedon. Smith also contributes the introduction, “On Monsters.”
The Canadian connection runs through the publisher, editor and much of the roster. Dundurn’s contributor information places Malla in Hamilton, Ruthnum in Toronto, Gartner in Vancouver and Fradkin in Ottawa, with other contributors based in Oshawa, Richmond Hill and Toronto. Liz Harmer is listed in California.
A Toronto launch is planned for Oct. 21
Dundurn is marking the release with a Rare Machines fall launch on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Society Clubhouse, 967 College Street in Toronto. The event listing says contributors from the anthology will read, with copies available through Little Ghosts Books.
Monsters: Unsettling Short Stories is published by Dundurn Press and is listed at CA$25.99 in paperback. The Canadian sales date is Oct. 6, 2026, and the ISBN is 978-1-4597-5742-4.
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