This is an enjoyably varied selection of stories. Those readers only interested in the stories might be disappointed in the amount of the book that is dedicated to the introduction and other information at the back. The introduction alone is over 100 pages, but for someone interested in more than just reading some scary tales, it's a treasure trove. The stories are diverse in topic, style and length, and worth picking the book up for even if you're not interested in wading through the other sections. ( )

There are a few things you can count on when you read one of the Mammoth Books of Best New Horror. The first is some very solid writing; after all, the title of the book does promise it to you. The second is a nice summary of the year's events in horror; movie releases, new books, and anything else related to the genre. And the final is a necrology of people related to the genre who have passed that year; a fitting way to end the book. Volume 22, a summary for 2010, is no exception. Unlike previous years, I actually read it relatively recent to the summary year as opposed to four or more years afterwards. This made no difference to the stories but it made the year's summary a bit more relevant to me.

Anyway, on to the stories. I had an unusually large selection of favorites but that is also kind of normal for these collections. Most of them were poignant and had some depth to them with only an occasional light hearted romp. And as opposed to some public perception, the whole collection was not only zombies. My favorites are below.

"What Will Come After" by Scott Edelman - A zombie love story that strikes the heart and leaves one sad.

"Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls" by Brian Hodge - Across the yard and through their bedroom windows, two children make their worlds better and escape the hardness of reality.

"Featherweight" by Robert Shearman - A husband must deal with his wife and angels after a car accident.

"Christmas with the Dead" by Joe R. Lansdale - A man celebrates Christmas with some zombies.

"We All Fall Down" by Kirstyn McDermott - A couple must learn to let go. This one stuck with me for a while.

"As Red as Red" by Caitlin R. Kiernan - A woman hunts the libraries and folklore for vampires.

"City of the Dog" by John Langan - A man learns more about his girlfriend through betrayal and sacrifice. The story is also set in the Albany area where I have relatives and thus felt extra connected to the story. ( )