The Porosity of Souls ByTerry Campbell

The human soul is an ethereal sponge, collecting and absorbing emotions—good and bad—and holding them for eternity. But the darker emotions—fear, anguish, loneliness—are far denser, more destructive…and sometimes, they can crack the soul.

A man in a bleak, futuristic society where physical sex is banned will stop at nothing to acquire the one thing he cannot have—love. A mayor in a small Canadian town must watch helplessly as his entire population falls victim to a ferocious plague. A stained-glass window inspires an artist, but not in the spiritual manner in which he imagines.

Let your soul absorb their emotions and more in eighteen disturbing tales of horror.

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Eighteen chilling tales that sink into the corners of the human psyche and linger there.

Pre-Reading Thoughts
A collection of horror stories that promises to lean more into darkness and despair than jumpscares or gore. I was curious how Campbell would sustain atmosphere across multiple tales, and which scenarios would stick with me afterward.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
The writing is consistently strong across all eighteen stories. Each one is carefully constructed, exploring the weight of fear, anguish, and loneliness. The speculative, unsettling premises - from futuristic societies to small-town catastrophes - immediately draw you in.

It surprised me by…
How some stories lingered in my mind long after finishing the collection. Campbell doesn’t rely on overt shocks; the horror is psychological, the dread subtle but persistent. Certain scenarios - like the stained-glass-inspired artist or the town consumed by plague - evoke a real emotional resonance, haunting in a quiet, insistent way.

🎵 Featured Song
“Red Right Hand” — Red Right Hand

🎶 Vibe Album
Let England Shake — Let England Shake

🎧 Artist Recommendation
Chelsea Wolfe

Vibe Check

🎨 Colour Palette: charcoal, deep crimson, bruised violet
🎬 Soundtrack: low industrial hum, distant wailing, rain against glass
🍂 Season: late autumn, fog rolling in from nowhere
🌫 Mood: oppressive, reflective, lingering dread
🕯 Scent: cold stone, wet wood, iron