Dark Scream Books in Order

How to Read the Dark Screams Anthologies

Co-edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar (the creative forces behind Cemetery Dance Publications), the Dark Screams series is a collection of ten eBook mini-anthologies published by Hydra, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Because each volume consists of independent short stories ranging from supernatural terror to psychological suspense, there is no overarching narrative thread or chronological plotline. This gives readers total flexibility in how they approach the series.

However, the most satisfying way to experience the evolution of the series is in its original publication order. This allows you to see how the curators build their thematic blends of legendary horror icons—such as Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Peter Straub—alongside newer, boundary-pushing voices in the genre.

The Official Publication Order of Dark Screams

The series was released digitally between 2014 and 2018. While database listings and retail platforms occasionally omit certain entries or catalog them under variant names (such as omitting Volume Two or Volume Ten in standard indexes), the complete official run consists of ten numbered volumes:

1. Dark Screams: Volume One (2014)
2. Dark Screams: Volume Two (2015)
3. Dark Screams: Volume Three (2015)
4. Dark Screams: Volume Four (2015)
5. Dark Screams: Volume Five (2015)
6. Dark Screams: Volume Six (2017)
7. Dark Screams: Volume Seven (2017)
8. Dark Screams: Volume Eight (2017)
9. Dark Screams: Volume Nine (2018)
10. Dark Screams: Volume Ten (2018)

Volume-by-Volume Guide: Stories and Standouts

To help you decide where to dive in first or track your progress, here is a detailed breakdown of the contents and contributors for each volume in the series:

Dark Screams: Volume One (2014)

The anthology that started it all features a stellar lineup, highlighted by Stephen King’s "Weeds" (a chilling tale of cosmic botany later adapted into the Creepshow segment "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill"). It also includes Kelley Armstrong's "The Price You Pay," Bill Pronzini’s "Magic Eyes," Simon Clark’s "Murder in Chains," and Ramsey Campbell’s "The Watched."

Dark Screams: Volume Two (2015)

This volume leans heavily into atmospheric and psychological dread. Key stories include Robert McCammon's pool-based thriller "The Deep End," Graham Masterton's eerie wardrobe tale "The Night Hider," and contributions from Norman Prentiss ("Interval"), Shawntelle Madison ("If These Walls Could Talk"), and Richard Christian Matheson ("Whatever").

Dark Screams: Volume Three (2015)

A volume marked by complex character studies and surreal horrors. It contains Peter Straub’s highly regarded "The Collected Short Stories of Freddie Prothero," alongside Jack Ketchum's unsettling "Group of Thirty," Darynda Jones’s ghost-adjacent "Nancy," Jacquelyn Frank's obsessive tale "I Love You, Charlie Pearson," and Brian Hodge's marital drama "The Lone and Level Sands Stretch Far Away."

Dark Screams: Volume Four (2015)

Featuring a major story from Clive Barker titled "The Departed" (a poignant yet creepy mother-son Halloween interaction), this volume also includes Heather Graham's horror convention thriller "Creature Feature," Lisa Morton's hospital-bound "The New War," Ray Garton's pet-return tale "Sammy Comes Home," and Ed Gorman's dark drama "The Brasher Girl."

Dark Screams: Volume Five (2015)

This volume highlights dark obsession and psychological deterioration. It features Kealan Patrick Burke's emotional "The Land of Sunshine," Mick Garris's showbiz horror "Everything You’ve Always Wanted," Del James's car-centric "Mechanical Gratitude," J. Kenner’s voodoo-laced "The One and Only," and Bentley Little's bizarre, claustrophobic "The Playhouse."

Dark Screams: Volume Six (2017)

Opening with Stephen King's Edgar Allan Poe-inspired tribute "The Old Dude's Ticker," this volume also showcases Joyce Carol Oates's disturbing family story "The Situations." Rounding out the volume are Lisa Morton ("The Rich Are Different"), Nell Quinn-Gibney ("The Manicure"), Norman Prentiss ("The Comforting Voice"), and Tim Curran ("The Corpse King").

Dark Screams: Volume Seven (2017)

Robert McCammon returns to lead this collection with "Lizardman," a swamp-based monster story. The volume also includes James Renner's dark Winnie-the-Pooh subversion "A Monster Comes to Ashdown Forest," Kaaron Warren's "Furtherest," Brian Hodge's "West of Matamoros, North of Hell," Bill Schweigart's "The Expedition," and Mick Garris's atmospheric "Snow Shadows."

Dark Screams: Volume Eight (2017)

Acclaimed director and writer Frank Darabont delivers "Walpuski’s Typewriter" to headline this volume. It is accompanied by Bentley Little’s "The Boy," Benjamin Percy's body-horror story "Tumor," Billie Sue Mosiman's "Twisted and Gnarled," Kealan Patrick Burke's "The Palaver," and Glen Hirshberg's "India Blue."

Dark Screams: Volume Nine (2018)

Kelley Armstrong returns with the corporate-themed nightmare "Invitation to the Game." Other notable entries include Peter Straub's satirical "Variations on a Theme from Seinfeld," Stewart O'Nan's "Summer of '77," Taylor Grant's "The Dead Years," Jonathan Moore's "The Blackout," and Lee Thomas's "Torn."

Dark Screams: Volume Ten (2018)

The final digital volume concludes the series with Clive Barker's eerie "On Amen's Shore" and Simon Clark's survivalist tale "Bastion." It also features "The Woman in the Blue Dress" by Heather Herrman, "Seven Years" by Wrath James White, "Dark Water" by Marc Rains & Lisa Tuttle, and "The Trendy Bar Side of Life" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

The Cemetery Dance Hardcover Omnibus Editions

Although the series was designed as a digital-first experiment by Penguin Random House's Hydra imprint, Cemetery Dance Publications later produced high-quality, signed limited edition hardcover omnibuses. These collector-grade editions compile the stories from the digital volumes into a physical format, complete with premium cover art and signature sheets from the contributors. If you are a bibliophile who prefers physical media over eBooks, these hardcovers are the ultimate way to read and collect the series.

Practical Reading Advice and Standalone Guidelines

Because these are anthologies, readers do not need to worry about missing plot continuity if they read them out of order. Here is some practical advice for your journey through the series:

• Start with Volume One: Volume One contains Stephen King’s "Weeds" and Kelley Armstrong’s "The Price You Pay," making it the strongest entry point to understand the series' balance of legendary names and modern sub-genres.
• Read by Author: If you are a die-hard fan of a particular writer, you can easily jump straight to the volumes featuring their work. For instance, Stephen King fans can target Volumes 1 and 6, while Clive Barker fans should seek out Volumes 4 and 10.
• Cataloging Ambiguities: Be aware when buying or tracking the series online that local library catalogs and digital marketplaces occasionally conflate or skip volumes (especially Volume Two and Volume Ten). Always verify the table of contents to ensure you are getting the specific stories you want.