Hiron Ennes

Monster hunters tangle with court politics in a dark and decadent horror adventure by the critically acclaimed author of Leech.

A showcase of some of the finest weird fiction from 2024, the inaugural volume of The Best Weird Fiction of the Year pays homage to, and builds upon, the critical success of its sibling predecessor, The Year's Best Weird Fiction, Vols. 1 - 5 (2014 - 2018). Fiction from Joanne Anderton, Jason Baltazar, Se n Padraic Birnie, Chris Campbell, F. E. Choe, Kay Chronister, Dominique Dickey, Diana Dima, Hiron Ennes, Richard Gavin, Elliott Gish, Thomas Ha, Rachael K. Jones, Joe Koch, Uchechukwu Nwaka, Kelly Robson, Nicholas Royle, Kristina Ten, Natalia Theodoridou, Charlotte Tierney, Shaoni C. White, Kaaron Warren, Zachariah Claypole White, Greg van Eekhout, Mia Xuan.

'An intriguing work of whimsi-grotesquerie'OLIVIE BLAKEHe was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster. In the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard, Guy Moulène has a simple goal: keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he'll take on any job, no matter how vile. As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny pests that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is different: a worm the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice. Guy doesn't have a choice.'A lush and seductive story, rife with opulent horror and decaying decadence'SUNYI DEAN

He was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster. Enter the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard, a metropolis carved into the stump of an ancient tree. In its canopy, the pampered elite warp minds with toxic perfume; in its roots, gangs of exterminators hunt a colossal worm with an appetite for beauty. In this complex, chaotic city, Guy Moul ne has a simple goal: keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he'll take on any job, no matter how vile. As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny creatures that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is different: a centipede the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice. Guy doesn't have a choice. "I will follow this writer anywhere." --Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

Shocking and original new fiction from Se n Padraic Birnie, Corey Farrenkopf, Jason Fernandes, Derrick Boden, Avra Margariti, Mike O'Driscoll, Gordon Brown, Jorja Osha, Hiron Ennes, Nelson Stanley, and Sasha Brown. Plus commentary, opinion, reviews, and illustrations.

In the baron’s icebound castle, a parasite is spreading . . . From Hiron Ennes, Leech is an atmospheric Gothic horror, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.'Unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere' – Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlIn an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But when the new physician investigates the cause of death, which appears to be suicide, there’s a mystery to solve. It seems the good doctor was hosting a parasite. Yet this should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute. The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the horrors their ancestors unleashed. For hundreds of years, it has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. But now there’s competition. For in the baron’s cold castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, the parasite is spreading . . . These two enemies will make war within the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, will humanity lose again?‘A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!’ – Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the NinthFeatured in The Times Best Sci-Fi Books and Winner of The Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer at the British Fantasy Awards 2023.

" Leech] is The Thing meets The Alienist . . . beautifully written and so strangely humane . . . I will follow this writer anywhere going forward." --Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl A surreal and horrifying debut, Hiron Ennes's Leech defies our understanding of identity, heredity, and bodily autonomy. The RUSA Best Horror Novel of 2023 Finalist for the British Fantasy Newcomer Award An October "Great Reads" Indie Next Pick A Wall Street Journal Best Book "A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights... with worms " --Tamsyn Muir MEET THE CURE FOR THE HUMAN DISEASE In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron's doctor has died. The doctor's replacement has a mystery to solve: discovering how the Institute lost track of one of its many bodies. For hundreds of years the Interprovincial Medical Institute has grown by taking root in young minds and shaping them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the apocalyptic horrors their ancestors unleashed. In the frozen north, the Institute's body will discover a competitor for its rung at the top of the evolutionary ladder. A parasite is spreading through the baron's castle, already a dark pit of secrets, lies, violence, and fear. The two will make war on the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, humanity will lose again.

In the baronâ??s icebound castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, a parasite is spreading . . .