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Horror literature doesn’t discriminate. In "The White Guy Dies First," editor Terry J. Benton Walker (pictured above) has compiled 13 spine-tingling stories that stay alive in one’s mind long after the page has closed. The 13 stories, authored by Black, Latine, Asian, and Indigenous writers, highlight the themes of race, power, and fear and the intersections therein. Each author, from Chloe Gong to Naseem Jamnia, offers a unique perspective, enriching the collection with diverse styles and adding depth to each narrative. The settings are as diverse as the authors themselves: an abandoned urban topiary, a Japanese shrine, a Powwow. The stories range from supernatural horror to urban myths.
A collection of horror stories is expected to reference fear. However, the intention of “power“ in the stories has many layers. Between the predator and the prey, there is an imbalance of power. One needs to look closely at the title, a play on the age-old trope in horror films. In these stories, the white guy may die first, but he is simply not the only victim. Everyone, regardless of race, is a potential casualty or, at best, a witness to tragedy. Each author adds an element of racial consciousness, integrating their lens of the lived experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Seattle Book Review.
