The Dark Dark

by Samantha Hunt

First published 2017

Strange transformations ripple through ordinary lives in these thirteen interconnected tales. A federal agent discovers unexpected love with a robot designed for destruction. Each night, a married woman shifts into deer form, leading to an unintended betrayal of her vows. Two strangers meet and somehow bring a dead dog back to life through their connection. A mother attempts to rebuild after losing her child but finds herself weaving deceptions into her fresh start. Thirteen expectant teenagers form an unusual bond with America's founding leaders. A woman seeking fertility help encounters science fiction made real. Bodies shift, multiply, fail, and astonish as technology breaks promises and affairs transcend typical boundaries. Hunt explores how the supernatural infiltrates daily existence, forcing characters to choose between acknowledging the bizarre or pretending normalcy persists. These stories examine the space between youth and death, growth and disappearance, questioning whether true understanding between people is possible or if we can only witness life's strangeness together.

Genres: short-stories, fantasy, magical-realism, dark

Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, supernatural-elements

241 pages · Paperback · FSG Originals

Content warnings: body-horror, death

More by Samantha Hunt

Readers who liked The Dark Dark also liked

View on Siftivo