New Horror Books You Should Read This Fall, BIPOC Edition

Bora Chung’s first book published in English, Cursed Bunny, was a genre-defying collection that pulled from horror, science fiction, and fantasy with a powerful feminist and anti-capitalist lens. Her new novel-in-ghost-stories, Midnight Timetable, builds on its beloved and award-winning predecessor in fascinating and eerily delightful ways. Set in a research institute for cursed objects, the novel follows a new employee as they learn about the items stored in the mysterious facility and the encounters other employees have had while working there. The stories are stalked by cursed sheep, a haunted handkerchief, and a cat you won’t soon forget, but are linked by Chung’s sharp critiques of societal abuses of power toward vulnerable communities, including stories about conversion therapy, animal testing, domestic abuse, and more. And yet again, acclaimed translator Anton Hur thoughtfully captures all of the book’s intense beauty and power with the artistry he’s known for. You’ll find yourself thinking of these hallways long after you’ve finished the book. In fact, you might not be able to find your way out. Just remember to never look back. — Pierce Alquist