The Book of the Dead: An Anthology

We are all going to die. But how? Will it hurt? Where will we go? What will we find there? What will happen to the people we leave behind? Jonathan Strahan, award-winning editor of The Book of Dragons and The Book of Witches, has compiled a stunning collection of brand-new stories of murder, myth, and misadventure including contributions from international bestsellers Garth Nix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Tamsyn Muir, and two dozen other fantasy, science fiction, and horror icons, featuring stunning illustrations from Galen Dara.

From our earliest myths to our most advanced scientific theories, humanity has grappled with the nature of dying, and what, if anything, comes after. The Book of the Dead confronts our terrible mortality with unflinching honesty and breathtaking imagination, taking us on a journey from the dusty plains of the Australian Outback where wives mysteriously vanish, to the fog-shrouded interstates of a man’s regret, to the deep, dark tombs of Martian queens, and to the somber shores of a world where the dead refuse to stay buried.

Bringing together some of the most iconic and compelling voices in speculative fiction today, The Book of the Dead features stories from Indrapramit Das, Paolo Bacigalupi, Daryl Gregory, Andy Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Kelly Robson, Cadwell Turnbull, Elizabeth Bear, K J Parker, Cassandra Khaw, Samantha Mills, Premee Mohamed, Darcie Little Badger, Garth Nix, Paul Tremblay, Wole Talabi, Tobi Ogundiran, Silvia Park, Isabel J Kim, Vajra Chandrasekera, Priya Sharma, Angela Slatter, Stephen Graham Jones, Catherynne Valente, Tamsyn Muir, Nghi Vo, E. Lily Yu, and Kaaron Warren, all of whom look unflinchingly at death in stories that will terrify, fascinate, and resonate with readers long after the final page.

"There is not a single false note among these 29 stories and poems of dragons collected by Strahan […] With myriad approaches to its subject, this wide-ranging anthology is a treasure trove of wonder." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A darkly enchanting fantasy anthology comprising 29 wonderfully diverse stories and poems...These spellbinding tales will have readers up all night, utterly bewitched" - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This collection is highly recommended to both established genre fans and newcomers interested quality sf and fantasy." - Booklist (starred review)

“There are no weak links in this anthology, and every selection is noteworthy in some way […] A heaping hoard of literary gems that fans of dragon-powered stories will surely treasure.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)