Steinar Bragi

Nightmarish tales of mystery and horror, from the best voices in contemporary Nordic fiction. You know them from the stories whispered around the campfire. Sometimes, they’re dark creatures from tall forests or murky bogs, luring their victims to their death, or the apocalyptic roar of a volcanic eruption. Other times, they’re closer to home: an unsettling new neighbour, or the overly friendly people you meet on the train, or the bureaucrat who thinks he's saving the world. The haunting smile of the dead man you ran over with your car; the rustling sounds coming from the other side of the bed, the side that was your wife's when she was alive. With tales of folkloric monsters, natural disasters, and all-too-human terrors, Nordic Nightmares opens a window into the horror landscape of the Nordic countries, from Finland to Greenland. The anthology is expertly curated to showcase the work of twenty modern masters of horror – the majority appearing in English for the first time – to keep you company during long, cold nights. Featuring stories by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Marko Hautala, Steinar Bragi, Hildur Knútsdóttir, Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen, Martin Schjönning, Rakel Helmsdal, Johanna Sinisalo, Markus Sköld, Boel Bermann, Jon Ewo, Aleksander Brun, Madeleine Bäck, Nanna Árnadottir, Pivinnguaq Mørch, Mikkel Harris Carlsen, AR Frederiksen, Sólrún Michelsen, Gertrud-Marie Kreutzmann, and Tor Åge Bringsværd.

They thought they were alone . . . 'This is Iceland's Twin Peaks' CorrenThe Ice Lands by Steinar Bragi is set against the backdrop of Iceland’s volcanic hinterlands, four thirty-somethings from Reykjavík embark on an ambitious camping trip, their jeep packed with supplies. The purpose of the trip is to heal both professional and personal wounds but the desolate landscape forces the group to reflect on the shattered lives they’ve left behind in the city. As their jeep hurtles through the wilderness, an impenetrable fog descends, causing them to suddenly crash into a rural farmhouse. Seeking refuge from the storm, the friends discover that the isolated dwelling is inhabited by a mysterious elderly couple who barricade themselves inside every night. As the merciless weather blocks every attempt at escape, they are forced to confront difficult questions: who has been butchering animals near the house? What happened to the abandoned village nearby where bones lie strewn across the ground? And most importantly,will they ever return home?

To par i 30’erne og en hund er taget på udflugt i den islandske ødemark, gennem den sorte sandørken mod højlandet. Egil og Ravn er barndomsvenner, og de har deres kærester med, Anna og Vigdis. De kører i tæt tåge, kommer væk fra vejen og pludselig braser deres jeep ind i et stort hus. Husets beboere – to ældre mennesker – giver dem tøvende husly for natten. De to gamle opfører sig i det hele taget sært og låser huset omhyggeligt, som om de frygter noget ude i mørket. Det er der gode grunde til.

Anteeksiannon ja vaikenemisen aika on lopullisesti ohi Kun Katan teini-ikäinen tytär löytyy julmasti murhattuna, Kata päättää etsiä tekijät ja ottaa oikeuden omiin käsiinsä. Kostoretkellä hän jakaa verisiä tuomioita miehille, jotka ovat kohdelleet kaltoin naisia.