Thread by @iGregGreene

Fierce, fearless, and criminally under-read.
That's horror great LIVIA LLEWELLYN.
I thought I'd read most of her work with her acclaimed collections ENGINES OF DESIRE (2011) and FURNACE (2016). In fact, they only contain *half* of her published stories. 1/10

I found ENGINES OF DESIRE (from @lethepress) in the uncharted depths (read: horror section) of Chamblin Bookmine in Jacksonville and picked it up because @LairdBarron penned the introduction. Once I cracked open this gem, I'd never be the same. 2/10

"At the Edge of Ellensburg," "The Engine of Desire" & "Omphalos" are shocking standouts in this collection. Did I mention trigger warnings? Her stories come with *all* of them. (But seriously, the horrors of sexual abuse & assault are front & center in much of her work.) 3/10

In NPR's review of FURNACE (@WordHorde), Jason Heller says, "Llewellyn isn't as interested in fleshing out her characters as she is in their flesh itself." Out of context that may seem a bit of a back-handed compliment but his point stands: Livia writes fiction of the flesh. 4/10

"Allochthon" is steeped in Lovecraftian macabre: a woman drowning in monotony spirals downward into madness and murder. And "The Last, Clean, Bright Summer" brings new dimensions to the coming-of-age story of a young girl. A horrific, unforgettable dark fantasy. (Again, CW.) 5/10

Her short novel THE ONE THAT COMES BEFORE (2017, @ilpbooks) places anti-heroine Alex in Livia's dystopian world, Obsidia. Alex must survive the oppressive streets of Becher District and face the transhumanist agenda of the Ministry of Obstetrics. Sign me up, buttercup! 6/10

The rest of Livia's oeuvre is spread over a dozen+ anthologies, magazines & websites. "One of These Nights," featured in @JoyceCarolOates's CUTTING EDGE, gets a special nod for winning the 2020 Edgar Award for Short Story, and for showing that sociopaths come in all sizes😳 7/10

I printed every piece that's not on physical media so if the bots drop an EMP on the internet, I got it all in paper. (Suck it, bots!)
"The Low, Dark Edge of Life," 1 of 2 stories free to read on @NightmareMag's site, gives new meaning to the word "wondyrechaun."😱 8/10

When I find an author whose work connects with me deeply, I hunt down all their stories. Here's Livia Llewellyn's complete bibliography, including 10 pieces available to read/listen to online for free. Make a copy for yourself, it's a handy checklist! 9/10 docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

Thanks to Livia Llewellyn for the bibliography, and to the editors & publishers who've supported her work, including @thesteveberman, @lossrockhart, @JohnJosephAdams & especially the great @EllenDatlow. If you've read her, QT this 🧵 & tell us about a Livia story you love! 10/10