Ellen Datlow, one of horror fiction’s most respected editors, returns with a dual-sided anthology that challenges readers to confront their fears under both moonlight and midday sun. Night & Day: Tales of Nighttime and Daylight Horror—a new installment in the Saga Doubles series—brings together some of the genre’s most gifted voices to explore horror that thrives in darkness and fear that creeps in when the sun is shining.
Split into two distinct halves, Dreadful Dark: Tales of Nighttime Horror and Merciless Sun: Tales of Daylight Horror, this anthology plays with perception, tension, and setting in a striking format. The dual-cover design reflects the split in tone and content, giving readers two full experiences in one beautifully packaged book.
On the Night side, readers are plunged into traditional horror territory with tales like “Trash Night” by Clay McLeod Chapman, “We Take Off Our Skin in the Dark” by Eric LaRocca, and “The Door of Sleep” by Stephen Graham Jones. This half also includes stories by Dan Chaon, Pat Cadigan, Benjamin Percy, Gemma Files, Josh Malerman, and Nathan Ballingrud—each contributing unsettling stories that explore what lurks in the shadows.
The Day side of the book—Merciless Sun—shines a terrifying light on the type of fear that doesn’t hide. Featuring “The Bright Day” by Priya Sharma, “Faire” by Rachel Harrison, and “Trick of the Light” by Brian Evenson, this half explores the more unusual concept of horror unfolding in plain sight. Additional entries from A.T. Greenblatt, A.C. Wise, Jeffrey Ford, Robert Shearman, Kaaron Warren, and Sophie White round out the collection, delivering disquieting tales that prove sunshine offers no safety.
Reviewer Justin Soderberg notes that while every anthology has its peaks and valleys, Night & Day offers something for every horror fan. He particularly highlights “Trash Night” and “Faire” as standout entries that lingered long after closing the book. Interestingly, he found the daylight stories to be more impactful—a testament to how rare and unsettling good daylight horror can be.
Another standout feature of this release is its presentation. The dual-cover format, an homage to vintage double-sided paperbacks, sets this anthology apart visually and structurally. It invites readers to literally flip the book and their expectations as they move from one side to the other.
For those already fans of Saga Press' other creative releases, like Double Killer on the Road / The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones, this new release will feel like a natural and thrilling next read.
Whether you're drawn to stories that thrive in darkness or ones that prove daylight doesn’t guarantee safety, Night & Day offers a curated horror experience like no other. Ellen Datlow once again proves why she remains a leading force in speculative fiction.
Night & Day: Dreadful Dark / Merciless Sun releases on September 2, 2025, from Saga Press. The audiobook edition is already available for pre-order through Libro.fm.
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