Lotería

Each of the speculative shorts in this wide-ranging linked collection from Pelayo (Children of Chicago) draws inspiration from one of the 54 themed cards of the Mexican bingo game that gives this volume its title. The longer stories are the strongest, giving the narrative a few pages to breathe and allowing the suspense can build. “The Flag,” wherein a young boy seeks to understand his night terrors about an otherworldly ship, and “The Arrows,” which tackles Japan’s suicide forest, are both masterworks, slow burning horror shorts leading to perfect, chilling endings. Conversely, some of the flash fiction pieces are so brief that there’s little room for Pelayo to interrogate the card’s theme, let alone deliver an emotional payoff. Among the most underbaked are “The Parrot,” which crams in too much backstory, and “The Fish,” which flies by too quickly to get readers invested. Still, there are an impressive number of subgenres and styles on offer, and Pelayo steeps her tales in Latin American culture and legends. Not all are perfect, but with such an expansive selection to choose from, fans of speculative fiction are certain to find something to enjoy. Agent: Lane Heymont, Tobias Agency. (Feb.)