The Dancing Plague: A Collection of Utter Speculation
In 1518, a woman started dancing on the streets of Strasbourg and could not stop. No priests, physics or leaders could help as more and more people joined her, jaunting as their feet bled and their bodies broke.
Centuries later the mystery endures, explained as mass hysteria, mob mentality but suspected to be something much more sinister. In this fourth collection of Utter Speculation, nine authors offer stories of witches and wishes, love and longing, of music and mastery and the deepest secrets of restless hearts.
"Real-life medieval madness and chaos that was utterly frightening becomes utterly fascinating in The Dancing Plague collection from Speculation Publishing. From Brother Frix’s monastery infirmary horrors (“This Way Lies Madness”/Wenzel) to Frau Troffea’s cockroach stomp (“Shake, Rattle and Roll"/Updike), this is recommended reading."
— Chris Bauer, author of crime thrillers about Philadelphia including 2 STREET, (where the city’s most sacred group of dancers, the Philly Mummers, also die in bunches)
"I'm always tickled when I hear a new Speculation is imminent because I know I'm in for a ride through unfamiliar, if not unsettling, terrain. The Dancing Plague collection is no exception. Some stories horrify, others ignite the spark of introspection, but all make me eager to keep turning the page."
— William J. Donahue, author of BURN, BEAUTIFUL SOUL and CRAWL ON YOUR BELLY ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE
"LCW Allingham and her two cohorts have come up with another thematic anthology in their Collection of Utter Speculation series. The Dancing Plague relates to a contagious 16th Century malady in what is now France leading to the victims convulsively dancing in the streets. This clever collection offers nine original takes on the affliction from a variety of authors dealing with time travel to scientific investigation to a modern re-occurrence. Much fun."
— Don Swaim, author of THE ASSASSINATION OF AMBROSE BIERCE: A LOVE STORY