For years (since at least 2007) I’ve wanted to edit an anthology of dark fungus stories. I love fungus monsters, from William Hope Hodgson’s “Voice in the Night” to Matango to various comic books and video games to the “moldy corpse” enemies from Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. Fungus monsters are (some of) the best monsters, and they’re near and dear to my monster-loving heart.

Well, after all this time, I’m pleased to announce that that anthology is really happening! Back when I first started writing columns for Innsmouth Free Press, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I had a discussion about Matango, in which I revealed that it was a favorite of mine, and she revealed that it scarred her for life. This, as they say, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I won’t trouble you with the specifics, but suffice it to say that somehow between then and now I tricked convinced them to let me co-edit (with Silvia) an anthology of fungus stories.

This’ll be my first anthology as co-editor, and I’ve already learned things I didn’t know about the process, but Silvia has been awesome and patient with me so far. It’s early days yet, so there’s not a lot I can announce, but it is really going to happen! We’ve got some really amazing writers who’ve already agreed to contribute pieces (again, sorry to tease, but they’ll have to stay under wraps for now) and big plans for the anthology, including possibly releasing a limited edition as IFP’s very first hardcover! That may not be much for now, but I promise you’ll be hearing a lot more about this one as it develops!