Main Page	Book Reviews	Author Interviews	Horror Book Resources	Librarian Resources	Contact Us	the site

The Monster Librarian Presents:

Reviews of Horror Anthologies and Collected Works 

 

Sometimes some of the best horror writing can be found in anthologies and collections of short stories.  Anthologies or collected works that have a common theme such as zombies, vampires, or werewolves will be found under those specific horror fiction sections.  The works reviewed here tend to be collections of stories that touch upon a variety of themes and don't neatly fit under any other categories.

 

Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti*New Review

Virgin Books Ltd. 2008

ISBN 10: 0-7535-1374-9

Available: New

 

             Teatro Grottesco is a short story collection from horror author Thomas Ligotti.  It is arranged in three different sections, encompassing stories portraying dark and bleak locales, with strange and disturbed characters.  These are Thomas Ligotti’s visions of torment, helplessness, and doom.  Reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe, there are no happy endings here.

            My favorite story in the collection is "The Bungalow House", about a library employee that visits a hole-in-the-wall art gallery on his daily lunch break, and one day finds a performance-art audiotape that greatly appeals to him.  He wants to own the tape and know everything he can about the artist who shares his vision of “the icy bleakness of things”.  Subsequent tapes arrive that seem to mirror our character’s views of life, and he becomes obsessed with finding out who the artist is and owning the tapes. 

            Another favorite of mine is called "Severini", about an artist who has heard about a man that seems to be influencing other artists; he wishes to know more about the man, but doesn’t want to actually meet him until he is invited to an art show at this man Severini’s shack in the woods.  The story takes a weird turn to the schizophrenic, with hints of murder and therapy.  Both stories are in the last section of the book, titled "The Damaged and the Diseased".   One other standout for me was the story "The Clown Puppet", in the first section, "Derangements".  It tells the story of a man who experiences regular visits from a puppet, for no apparent reason.  It was an extremely creepy story.  Lastly, I liked "The Red Tower", in the same section, about a factory that churned out increasingly grotesque toys, of a sort.   Two stories that showed promise were "My Case for Retributive Action" and "Our Temporary Supervisor". These revolve around the same place, same company, and similar circumstances, where everyone seems to be stuck.  I think the stories make an excellent point about the rampant use of pharmaceuticals, but they were far too repetitive in their telling. Other stories, including "The Shadow", "The Darkness", "Sideshow, and Other Stories", "Teatro Grottesco", and "Gas Station Carnival", had really good elements to them, but were repetitive and sometimes confusing. Overall, Teatro Grottesco is a good, if uneven, collection.

Review by Colleen Wanglund

 

 

 

Vile Things: Extreme Deviations of Horror edited by Cheryl Mullenax

Comet Press, 2009

ISBN:9780982097915

Available: New

 

    Vile Things is one of the stronger horror anthologies I have come across in some time, its theme literally appears to be centered around creatures, topics, or situations that are so vile it would send a shiver down your spine. It includes stories from both established and newer horror authors, and some of the stories are more extreme than the usual fare.  The standout story of the collection is Tim Curran’s "The Maggots", the tragic tale of a soldier during Napoleon's disastrous attempt to invade Russia.   While there are a variety of stories, a few seem to have a the common theme along the theme of something taking over or taking control from within, in particular "The Fungoid", "The Maggots", and "The Worm".  Most frustrating of the collection was C. Dennis Moore’s "The Caterpillar", in which a distant, out-of-work cousin finds himself living with a young gir deformed by thalidomide. Moore sucked me into his story but left me wanting more at the end.   There is a story for almost everyone’s tastes, from a Lovecraftian tale by C.J. Henderson to Z.F. Kilgore’s take on The Jersey Devil.  Finally, the "The Worm" that just didn’t do anything for me and actually found not to be horrifying in anyway just plain repulsive.             
    Librarians may want to note that the cover art and title may turn off potential readers that might otherwise enjoy some stories within.   Regular horror genre readers won't have a problem picking up Vile Things but casual browsers would probably take a pass which is a shame because there is some wonderful writing within.   I would say that while there are definitely some stronger and gorier stories in this collection than in other horror anthologies, Vile Things offers some excellent horror tales and is highly recommended for public libraries.
Table of Contents:

The Fisherman by Brian Rosenberger

Fungoid by Randy Chandler

Tenant's Rights by Sean Logan

Again by Ramsey Campbell

Maggots by Tim Curran

Going Green by Stefan Pearson

Coquettrice by Angel Leigh McCoy

The Fear in the Waiting by C.J. Henderson

 The Worm by John Bruni

 Sepsis by Graham Masterton

 What You Wish For by Garry Bushell

 The Devil Lives in Jersey by Z.F. Kilgore

 Rat King by Jeffrey Thomas

 The Caterpillar by C. Dennis Moore

 Poor Brother Ed or The Man Who Visited by Ralph Greco, Jr.

 

Contains: Incest, gore, cannibalism, violence.

 

 

 

The Death Panel: Murder, Mayhem, And Madness edited by Cheryl Mullenax*New Review

Comet Press, 2009

ISBN:978-0-9820979-9-1

Available: New

 

    Not all of the stories in The Death Panel are horror, but they are all good. This is more of a hard boiled crime anthology, with some hard boiled horror thrown in the mix. I happen to be a fan of both genres, so I enjoyed the mix of private eyes, dirty cops, gangsters and the occasional monster. With a mix of favorite authors and those who are new to me, the stories range from straight up noir to supernatural crime. Favorites include: "Blood Sacrifices & The Catatonic Kid" by Tom Piccirilli, in which two residents break out of a mental hospital, with violent results. "The Neighbor" by Brandon Ford, asks "What happens when a lonely "trailer" wife thinks her neighbor is a serial killer? Do you really want to know?" In Fred Venturini's story "Detail", an ex-cop runs a discreet auto detailing business, and keeps secret files on his customers. When he meets a beautiful woman in trouble, his life gets out of control. John Everson's "The Mouth" is the story of a sadistic sex freak, always looking for a new thrill, who is pointed towards a girl known only as "The Mouth". This one is not for the easily offended. "Nine Cops Killed For A Goldfish Cracker" by David James Keaton is difficult to describe. It's a bizarre story of a man who needs to pay the rent, a goldfish with a thousand dollars in it's stomach, and all the cops who get in the way. I could go on and on, talking about Tim Curran, Kelly M. Hudson, Simon Wood, and the rest, but you should read these gems for yourself. If you are a horror fan who wants to expand your horizons, I highly recommend picking up The Death Panel.

 

Contains: Sex, Violence, Strong Language and Gore

 

Table Of Contents:

Lipstick Swastika by Randy Chandler

Blood Sacrifices & The Catatonic Kid by Tom Piccirilli

What Makes An Angel Cry by Kelly M. Hudson

The Neighbor by Brandon Ford

The Name Game by Scott Nicholson

Fly By Night by Tim Curran

Detail by Fred Venturini

Parental Guidance by Simon Wood

Rindelstein's Monsters by David Tallerman

The Hooker In The Back Seat by Erik Williams

The Mouth by John Everson

Nine Cops Killed For A Goldfish Cracker by David James Keaton

Board The House Up by Zach Sherwood

Review by Erik Smith

 

Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars by Cody Goodfellow*New Review
Swallowdown Press, 2009

ISBN: 9781933929026 

Available: New

 

    Goodfellow's fiction has the otherworld -ness of Lovecraft, the sarcasm of Joe R. Lansdale, and the mojo of a Motley Crue tell-all. Best of all, it's wrapped together with prose that would satisfy fans of high literature in horror. The cult of Cody is mostly in the horror underground but if you're a hip librarian, put this in your collection. It's one of the best horror releases of the year.

 Contains:Violence, Drug-use, sexuality

Review by David Agranoff

 

Harlan County Horrors edited by Mari Adkins

Apex Publications LLC, 2009

ISBN:978-0-9821596-51

Available: New

 

     The history of Harlan County, Kentucky is a history full of blood and violence. From union disputes to mining disasters, there is a dark aspect to this beautiful area of the country. Twelve of today’s brightest voices in horror look directly into that darkness and bring back stories both lovely and haunting. After reading these tales, you will feel as if you have seen the mountains and forests of the county for yourself. You will feel sympathy for some residents, and disgust for others.

 

Highlights include:

 

"The Power Of Moonlight" by Debbie Kuhn, a tale of love, loss and what one young woman does to see her lover one last time.

"Yellow Warblers" by Jason Sizemore. What happens when an isolated community is invaded by the outside world?  Sizemore tells us. And it ain't pretty.

"The Thing At The Side Of The Road" by Ronald Kelly. Straight up monster fun.

"The Witch Of Black Mountain" by Alethea Kontis, a perfect bookend to Debbie Kuhn's story: a tale of love, loss and what one young woman does for revenge.

 

    I could go on and on, raving about the stories by Geoffrey Girard, Jeremy C. Shipp, Robby Sparks, Maurice Broaddus, and the rest, but you should pick up the book and discover the wonders and terrors for yourself. The only story that doesn't quite fit is "Hiding Mountain:Our Future In Apples" by Earl P. Dean, a fine tale that just seems a little too "bizarro" for this collection.

 

Overall, Harlan County Horrors is a delightful collection of miners and monsters, lovers and losers, majestic scenery and dark, dangerous holes boring into the ground and into the unknown. Highly recommended for all collections.

 

Table of contents:

"Introduction" by Mari Adkins

"The Power Of Moonlight" by Debbie Kuhn

"Hiding Mountain:Our Future In Apples" by Earl P. Dean

"Psychomachia" byGeoffery Girard

"Yellow Warblers" by Jason Sizemore

"Kingdom Come" y Jeremy C. Shipp

"Trouble Among The yearlings" by Maurice Broaddus

"Spirit Fire by Robby Sparks

"The Thing At The ide Of The Road" by Ronald Kelly

"Inheritance" by Stephanie Lenz

"Greater Of Two Evils" by Steven L. Shrewsbury

"Harlan Moon" by TL Trevaskis

"The Witch Of Black Mountain" by Alethea Kontis

"A History Of Harlan,KY" by Preston Halcomb

 

Contains: Violence, gore, sex and strong language.

Review by Erik Smith

 

Smells Like Fish by Trever Palmer

Snuff Books, 2009

ISBN:978-0-9818967-3-1

New

 

    Have you ever finished a meal and, though you are full, you aren't quite satisfied? That is the feeling I had after finishing Smells Like Fish. The six stories of hardcore horror certainly deliver the blood, guts and perversion, but left me thinking that something is missing. While there are plenty of misogynists, racists, and sexual deviants, there aren't too many characters that are relatable, or even likable. I like to see a scumbag get what's coming to him as much as the next reader, but I need a character or two that I can connect with.

 

    One of the standout stories is "TCB" which, without giving too much away, features an aging rock star and a president who is jealous of said star’s success. This is the lightest and least graphic of the tales.

 

    The last two stories, "The Spaceman's Cockpit" and "Smells Like Fish" are loosely connected, taking place in the same town. The disappearance of a character in the former story is mentioned in the latter. Yet, some characters that would initially appear to be the same in both stories have different backgrounds, leaving me to assume that they are not the same. It's a bit confusing.

 

    The title story, "Smells Like Fish" is (I assume) an homage to Edward Lee. Most of the characters are Lee-esque, and the last chapter, which is VERY similar to the last chapter in Lee's Family Tradition, even has a character named Lee Edwards. This story also has two of the few likable (if perverted) characters.

 

    Trever Palmer's writing is clear, if not outstanding. There were a couple things I found disconcerting. All of the characters who smoke, with the exception of one, smoke unfiltered Pall Malls. Maybe It's a regional thing. And, three stories in a row described a woman’s clothing as being the color of pool table felt. Read over a period of time, this may not be noticeable, but reading them one after the other, I found it distracting.

 

    Overall, Smells Like Fish isn't a bad collection. Palmer is certainly imaginative when it comes to sex, blood and guts. This is very hardcore fiction, but it isn't a standout work. It entertains, but may have you looking for something with a little more substance.

 

Cautiously recommended.

 

Contains EXTREME violence, sex, language, rape and gore.

 

Review by Erik Smith

 

 

Bare Bone #6 edited by Kevin, L Donihe

Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2004

ISBN: 0974503185

Available: New and used

 

 

                Bare Bone #6 is a solid collection of horror tales and poetry, all well written and entertaining to the point where it's hard to pick standout stories. Inside, readers will find subtle and dark tales of unexpected killers, unspoken of traditions that befall children, as well as two holiday tales, “Daddy Didn't Forget” by Mollie Burleson that mirrors The Nutcracker and “Don Huavaca's Dia De Los Muertos” by Kendall Evans which offers a tongue-in-cheek, but dark look at the tradition of honoring the dead. Between the former story and “Momma's Lesson” by Tanya Twombly there's a delightful variety in cultural point of views as well.

                Bare Bone #6 would make an excellent addition to private and public collections, and between the variety, solid writing and slim, but not skinny size it makes for an easy, enjoyable read.

 

Review by Michele Lee

 

Dark Jesters edited by Nick Cato and L.L. Soares
Novello Publishers, 2009
ISBN:  N/A
Available:  New

 

    Dark Jesters is a compilation of ten hilariously funny horror tales by ten different authors.  The stories range from cavemen zombies to possessions by James Brown to a horror author getting kidnapped and tossed in a shed with a bunch of other hacks.  Each turn of the page of Dark Jesters will bring a thrill to readers. What one person may not laugh at, I believe another will.  There wasn't a single story in this collection that I did not enjoy, but there were a few that specifically stuck out in my mind as highlights in this book. 

    “Deadneck Woman” by Mark Justice is one of those. It's a follow-up story to Deadneck Hootenanny, also by Justice, published by Novello.  Readers are taken back to Possum Hollow to visit some of their old redneck zombie "friends" again and also get to meet a new gal that comes to town.  Readers that missed out on Justice's previous “Deadneck” stories will still enjoy this, however, as it can be read as a standalone. 

    Jerrod Balzer's “Wolf Plugs” is yet another story that stands out as a classic bit of humor within this book.  A small town has gathered in a courthouse and is trying to figure out what to do about the werewolves that are attacking their town.  A werewolf hunter shows up at the door bearing the solution to all their problems.  I don't want to tell you what that solution is though as that will ruin the surprise! 

    The last story I'm going to mention literally had me in tears while reading.  The story is “Curse of the Blind Eel” by James Roy Daley.  It is the story of two brothers who are on a mission to stake a vampire before he rises from his casket.  Unfortunately, one brother's got a bit of a problem and is in major need of a bathroom.  Let me just say... I never realized there were as many ways of saying "poop" and "taking a dump" as Daley put into this one short story!  I don't know what it is about bathroom humor that is so funny, but this story had me in stitches!    

    Every story within Dark Jesters is a masterpiece in some way.  Nick Cato and L.L. Soares did a fantastic job pulling together a variety of humorous stories from across the board.  This book is a must for anyone who enjoys comic horror.  Highly recommended!

Collection Includes:

- FOSSILIZED BRAAAINS by William A. Veselik
- THE PLAGUE OF GENTLEMEN by Matthew Fryer
- TONGS AND THE ROACH by David T. Wilbanks
- BLESS THE BEASTLY CHILDREN by Laura Cooney
- WOLF PLUGS by Jerrod Balzer
- HACKS by Sam Battrick
- PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG by Robert Guffey
- CURSE OF THE BLIND EEL by James Roy Daley
- RETIREMENT by Rob Brooks
- DEADNECK WOMAN by Mark Justice

Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Bathroom Humor
Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

 

Creeping Shadows by Alan Draven, Brandon Ford and Jessica Lynne Gardner

Pixie Dust Press, 2009

ISBN:978-0-9810213-1-7

Available: New

 

    Creeping Shadows contains three dark tales, by three authors who each have their own unique style.

 

    “Vengeance Is Mine” by Alan Draven is the story of Jack The Ripper, the detective who is trying to catch him, and a dead hooker who decides to take revenge. It's Jack the Ripper. What else do you need to know? Draven has a smooth style that doesn't get bogged down by being overly descriptive. He manages to set the scene with just a few sentences. The characters are fully fleshed; we even know who The Ripper is. Short scenes of the main players’ private lives help to bring everyone to life. This is one of the most entertaining tales I have read about Jack, and the addition of a supernatural menace certainly brings something new to the table.

 

    “Merciless” by Brandon Ford, inspired by a true story, tells of two high school girls who are kidnapped by a psychopath, their night of terror and what they do to survive. Kyra Mitchell and Claire Martin don't know each other, but they both end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. An unnamed madman kidnaps the girls and begins the most horrifying night of their young lives.

Ford takes his time with this story. At least the first quarter of the tale is taken up with character development. It works well, giving us the opportunity to get to know the girls as well as their tormentor. Because of this, we are more invested in what happens to the victims and, if you are like me, you can't wait to see the bad guy get what's coming to him. It’s a great tale of survival, all the more amazing because, for the most part, it really happened.

 

    “Sugar Skull”, by Jessica Lynne Gardner, is about an ancient Aztec curse and Annabel Perez, the woman attempting to stop the curse and save the lives of herself and others. After the death of her father, Annabel finds a strange looking sugar skull amongst his possessions. Soon, she is having nightmarish visions and thinking that her father's death may not have been all that natural. Enlisting the aid of toxicology expert Saul Giordano, Annabel investigates and finds herself confronted by a horror from the past that is killing in the present.

 

    Gardner's piece was my least favorite, of the three. The story itself was engrossing; the mix of ancient Aztec and the modern day worked well. The characters were fine, with Saul Giordano being my favorite. There is tension and terror. BUT, I found the writing to be clunky. Several times I had to go back and make sure I had read a sentence correctly. This tends to break up the flow of the story. It’s basically a good story, but lacking in delivery.

 

    Overall, Creeping Shadows is a strong collection. Even the weakest story is pretty good, and the stronger stories are, alone, each worth the price of admission. Recommended for any library’s horror collection.

 

Contains: Explicit violence, gore, sex, rape and strong language.

Review by Erik Smith

 

 

 

Magick & Misery by Lincoln Crisler
A Black Bed Sheet/Diverse Media Book, 2009
ISBN:  978-0-9822530-4-5
Available:  New

 

    Lincoln Crisler has assembled a vast array of short stories in his latest collection, Magick & Misery.  There are ten stories included. Three of are fairly lengthy, and the other seven are much shorter; however all are equally enjoyable.  Four stories in particular stuck out in my mind after finishing the collection above all others:  "Pete Does What Needs To Be Done" is about a 16-year-old boy dealing with his parents’ struggling marriage; "The Seven O'Clock Man" in which a mother makes up a story about a monster known as the Seven O'Clock Man in order to scare her son into behaving; "Seizing Deliverance" where a man finds out that his mother is dying; and "Discarded Refuse" a story about a garbage man who takes out a little extra garbage when he discovers his wife is cheating on him.  Crisler's eclectic collection is something horror fans won't want to miss.  Lincoln Crisler is a brilliant short story writer and is an author to keep an eye on.  Highly Recommended!

Contains:  Adult Language, Adult Situations
Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

 

Hellbound Hearts edited by Paul Kane and Marie O’Regan

Pocket Books, 2009

ISBN: 9781439140901

Available: New

 

    Hellbound Hearts is an anthology of short stories that are based on Clive Barker’s Hellraiser mythos.   The Hellraiser mythos is based on a novella titled The Hellbound Heart that became the basis for the movie Hellraiser, which developed enough of a following for seven sequels.  In this mythos a puzzle box opens the doorway for creatures known as Cenobites to cross into our realm.  The Cenobites seek to claim whoever opens the puzzle box for an eternity of pleasure and pain.    There are 21 stories within Hellbound Hearts, many by prominent horror authors, including Simon Clark and Steve Niles..  Amazingly enough, despite the number of different voices that the authors provide to the book, most of the stories stay true to the spirit of the Hellraiser mythos, without being a repeat of the movies.  Only “Mechanisms”, by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola, while an excellent story doesn’t seem to fit with the mythos well. One of the more enjoyable titles is “However…”by Gary Braunbeck and Lucy Snyder, which is about some tormented teens imprisoned in a cabin who are so desperate for help they summon the Cenobites.  In Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s short illustrated story “Wordsworth”, the story works well, but many illustrations are too dark and the images too distorted, distracting the reader instead of complementing the narrative. Hellbound Hearts is an excellent anthology for the Hellraiser mythos. It’s quite easily the equivalent of some of the best anthologies based on Lovecraft’s Cthulu mythos. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Hellraiser.  

Contains: Violence, depictions of self-mutilation, murder, torture, explicit sexual content.

 

 

 

 

Taste of Tenderloin by Gene O'Neill

Apex Publishing,2009

ISBN: 9780981639000

Available: New

 

 

    I have walked through the Tenderloin in San Francisco a couple times. Now I wish I had paid more attention to this small and interesting neighborhood. I also wish I had paid attention to Gene O'Neill, the author of this thin and intense collection of themed horror stories.

The stories themselves are varied and diverse. The thread that holds tightly together is the setting of the Tenderloin neighborhood. The Tenderloin Business Association probably won’t endorse this book, but I certainly will. O'Neill is a a talented writer who drilled almost every single one of these stories straight out of the park.

 

    Apex Publishing has a hit with its second excellent collection in one year (the other is Mama’s Boy by Fran Friel). The strongest story of this collection “The Magic Words”, which captures the tone of a Twilight Zone episode better than any short story I've read in some time. The opening story is quite strong as well, and touches on a recurring theme- the Tenderloin's military veterans, be they from Vietnam, Desert Storm or Afghanistan. The Bram Stoker award-nominated story “Balance” is the strongest of these stories and is an important piece of socio-political horror. Taste of Tenderloin is a strong work that should be in every library collection.

 

Contains: adult themes, drug issue, sexuality and violence/

Review by David Agranoff.

 

For Taste of Tenderloin we have a second look review by Rhonda Wilson for her take on the book.

 

Taste of Tenderloin by Gene O'Neill

Apex Publishing, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-981-63900-0

Available: New

Taste of Tenderloin is comprised of eight unique stories based on life in the underbelly of San Francisco. All of the stories are connected, as they take place in the same neighborhood, and a recurring character pops up throughout to help show this connection. The language that O'Neill writes in is rich and vivid, showing he is a strong storyteller, but there was something about the stories in this particular collection that didn't grab me. All of the stories seem to end in doom and gloom and left me saddened after reading them. I guess maybe I just needed a happy ending while reading this book and was disappointed over and over again. This is definitely not a good book to be reading on an already gloomy day.

Contains: Violence, Adult Language, Adult Situations

Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

 

Bare Bone #11 by Kevin L. Donihe

Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2009

ISBN: 9781933929323

Available: New

    Included within the pages of Bare Bone #11 are 18 short tales of horror and 10 dark poems. The majority of the stories are around 5 pages long, and the text is tightly packed so there is a lot of story within each of those pages. The stories range from little boys daring each other to taunt a serial killer, to insurance reps killing (and having their way with) their customers to prevent a claim. Some of these tales are fantastic, others are fairly weak. With the wide variety of authors from all across both the US and UK, there is probably something here to suit most horror fans. I found there to be more misses than hits, however the hits were well worth the read. Some of my personal favorites were “NM” and “Chupacabra.” If you like gore, many of these tales have it, if you like violent sex, that’s here too. Profanity abounds in some of these tales so be warned if you are a sensitive reader. Most of what’s in the book is ‘in your face’ horror. What it lacked was a quiet, brooding, creepy tale.

Contains: gore, violence, sex, rape, profanity.

Review by KDP
 

 

Midnight Walk edited by Lisa Morton

Dark House Publishing, 2009

ISBN: 9780578021621

Available: New

 

    I have said more than a few times that Lisa Morton is the best short story author currently working in the field. Her command of the short form reminds me of two other greats from her home town:  Dennis Etchison and Richard Christian Matheson. I was excited to get this book in the mail. I was expecting a great collection edited by one of the best. Dennis Etchison, for his part, was also a great editor.

Morton shows she has a keen eye, putting together a great collection featuring almost entirely authors from the City of Angels, where she is a native This book features fourteen authors who might not considered A-list writers, but should be in library collections, because it showcases talent that will rise to the top someday..

 

Highlight stories include “Late Night Check-in” by Vince Churchill, “Alley Oops” by Del Howison, and “Eddie G. At the Gates of Hell” by RB P. The quality of the writing is quite strong and it is likely that your list of favorite may be different from mine. If you are looking for a short story collection of traditional horror that spins its yarns in literate and exciting directions take a Midnight Walk. It's a top notch collection.

 

Contains: violence, language and adult themes

Review by David Agranoff

 

Feminine Wiles by John Grover

Blu Phi'er, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9823845-1-0
Available: New

 

    Feminine Wiles is a collection of sixteen short stories by John Grover.  Instead of stereotypical male protagonists, Grover casts a woman as the villain of each story.  The various villains range from witches and crones to dolls and even Medusa herself, so the reader gets a bit of variety.  Highlights of the book were "Eden Revisited", a story about the Garden of Eden with a bit of a spin, "Blood IS Thicker Than Water", where a woman believes that blood is the latest in skin care products, and "The Bride Wore Red", where the wedding doesn't end up going quite as the groom expects. I was a bit disappointed at the end of several stories, which ended up going a different direction than expected. A few of the stories also felt clichéd. Also troublesome is the editing of the book. I struggled throughout with numerous grammatical errors that could have easily been corrected. It's a great concept for a collection, however, and a little editing would make it a much more enjoyable read.  Grover shows promise, and I'd be willing to try reading something else by him down the road.

Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

 

The Monster Within Idea by R. Thomas Riley

Apex,2009

ISBN: 9780982159613
Available: New

 

    Short story collections tend to be hit or miss. That’s not the case, here, though! R. Thomas Riley has compiled a book of short, wicked tales that are thrilling, exciting, gruesome, terrifying, and above all, well-written.  The stories include vampires, zombies, wishes gone bad, and more. Each is engaging and hooks the reader into feeling the need to devour the next story too, and the next one after that.  You'll find yourself tearing through this book as if your life depended on it.  Among my favorites are "The Run" and "Twin Thieves" both of which are a bit longer then some of the others, but are just flat out FUN reads.  These horrifying tales delve into the dark nature of man. Even the supernatural tales are rooted in our own human shortcomings - the "what ifs" of life.  Greed, remorse, vanity- all of our deadly sins are represented, twisted with the natural ease of a truly gifted storyteller.  Riley is the man you want to have telling the tales around your campfire at night - provided you don't mind lying awake in horror that evening.

 

Rated R - violence, monsters, gore

Review by K.D. P

 

 

Experiments in Human Nature by Monica O’Rourke

Two Backed Books,2008

ISBN: 978-1933293455

Available: New

 

 

Monica O’Rourke writes with confidence and swagger, and this short story collection offers up a wide variety of tales that take the reader on a veritable roller coaster ride of emotions. These stories run the gamut, from the grotesque and perverse to the heart-wrenching and spine tingling, and there are even a few laughs to be had. The darker additions to this compilation are certainly not for the faint of heart, invoking the malefic fiction of writers such as Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee. Experiments in Human Nature is an impressive collection that showcases the talents of a master storyteller familiar with the ins and outs of the human condition. Monica O’Rourke has her finger on the pulse of what makes us tick, and deftly uses that knowledge to put the reader through the wringer.

Appropriate for private and public collections.

 

Contains Adult Language and Situations, Extreme (and shocking) Violence.

Review by Bob Freeman

 

 

 

 

Unspeakable Horror ed. by Vince A. Liaguno & Chad Helder

Dark Scribe Press, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-9818632-0-7

Available: New

       

    Unspeakable Horror is a standout anthology with a unique focus on queer-themed horror tales. There's a lot to recommend, from tales where horror takes a back seat to the characters and musing tales of their challenges, to stories starring vampires,

zombies, ghosts, evil faeries, doppelgangers, and more who complicate already conflicted lives. These tales do not isolate or exclude, but rather put readers in the heads of those who feel lost, struggling with ideas of society, sexuality and themselves.

     

  Standout stories include (but are certainly not limited to); “Black Annis” by Joy Marchand, the tale of a true faerie who desperately wants to protects a pair of gay lovers; “Memento Mori” by Elissa Malcohn, about a lover who comes back from the grave for her mate; “I Am the Shadow that Walks There” by Michelle Scalise, a World War II era tale of love and devastating loss; and “Memory Box” by Reesa Brown, a tale whose true darkness hits suddenly and unrelentingly. Unspeakable Horrors is highly recommended for all libraries.

Contains: Sex, Violence, Language

Review by Michele Lee

 

Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales by Fran Friel

Apex Publications, 2008

ISBN: 9780981639079

Available: New

 

    Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales is a collection of works by Fran Friel. The diversity of the stories within is amazing. Each tale takes the reader down a twisted, dark road that sticks in the mind long after the book has been put down. The stories are varied not only in their telling, but also in length- they range from flash fiction to novella. Each story grasps the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go. One story that really stands out is “The Sea Orphan”, a sad story of a boy who looses both of his parents and finds himself in servitude to an innkeeper, then the plaything of pirates. A story that is certain to send shivers down the reader’s spine is “Close Shave”, a flash fiction piece that is painful to read and hard to forget. The final story, “Mama’s Boy”, is one that will drag the reader, kicking and screaming through the filth of a serial killer’s mind and the sad life that drove him to his horrendous deeds. “Mama’s Boy” doesn’t stop there though. Not only is it a twisted story of psychological terror, but it also blends in horror of the supernatural variety. Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales is a well-written, imaginative and well thought out collection of stories that I would highly recommend for both public and private libraries.

Contains: rape, incest, pedophilia and violence

Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

Traumatized by Alexander S. Brown

Xlibris,2008
ISBN: 143637409X

Available: New

    Traumatized is a collection of fifteen tales of horror, and nothing else. The reader is saved from reading an introduction, any sales pitch for additional books, or even author information.  The tales contained within the book range from thrillingly creepy and horrific to mediocre.  There are stories of serial killers, demons, vengeful spirits, psychotic cults, voodoo curses, and even a bigfoot creature.  Brown is in his element when writing about haunted houses, and his writing really shines in his haunted house stories.  The opening tale – “Bloodlines” is one of the two strongest in the book.  It’s a tale of four people called for a “treasure hunt” in a mysterious house learn that there is far more to the treasure than what they bargained for.  Tied with the previous story is “It’s All True”, another haunted house tale that ends is a terrifying and gruesome way. Outside his haunted house stories, “The God Complex” was an interesting tale. I found his murderer tales to be the weakest in the book, specifically “April” which seems to have been written long before the author really hit his writing stride.  It comes across as forced and stilted with problematic dialogue and unbelievable characters.  The final tale in the book, “Zoe’s Swan Song” is both gruesome and familiar. It’s pretty clear how the setup of someone offering to show a vindictive person their “inner beauty” will turn out.   

 

On the whole this collection is well worth the purchase.  Any collection will have stories that are stronger than others, and the percentage of excellent versus weak stories is in the reader’s favor here, with far more good than not.  Recommended for horror fans.

Contains: profanity, gore, sex, rape and murder.

Review by Kristen D P

 

Hot Blood edited by Jeff Gelb and Lonn Friend

Pinnacle, 2004

ISBN: 9780786016433

Available: New and Used

     Hot Blood is the first in a series of erotic horror anthologies and consists of twenty-four stories each written by different authors.  Within this collection Robert R. McCammon's "The Thang" introduces us to a man who makes a wish he soon regrets, Gary Brandner's "Aunt Edith" has a special "test" she puts all of her niece's boyfriends through, Ray Garton's story "Punishments" gives us a run-down on the relationship that a church organist and a teenage boy have together, and Rex Miller lets us find out just who's behind "The Voice" that the radio DJ has been talking to.  In addition to these there are many, many other great stories included within this book.  Hot Blood is a great introduction for readers wanting to branch into the erotic horror sub-genre, giving them a chance to try out various authors. Highly recommended for large public libraries and private collections.

Review by Rhonda Wilson

 

Sheep and Wolves By Jeremy C. Shipp

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

ISBN: 9781933293592

Available: New

    There is no moment reading this collection where you feel grounded in reality. I don’t want to give readers the impression that Shipp hasn’t created very real unsettling moments- he has just done it differently than most horror writers.

    Conventional horror wisdom is that you create characters and situations that the reader can relate to and build suspense from there. The horror in this collection doesn’t come from conventional wisdom. Shipp creates a horrific ecosystem of surreal prose that the characters have to inhabit.

    Shipp has written short but sweet tales with no wasted words. He weaves each story together tightly, like a basket. I took the opening story to be an exploration of patriarchy but here is the thing – I am not sure. That is not a slight on Shipp, it’s simply that he has created stories that can be, and probably are, interpreted in various ways.

    My favorite stories in the collection were “Those Below”, “Long Metal Sigh” and “American Sheep.” Recommended for fans of dark surrealist fiction, and recommended for libraries looking to expand their collection to represent young fresh surrealist authors.

Contains: Gore, violence, not for young readers.
 

Review by David Agranoff

Note: This is a second look review, the original review was done by KD P and can be found here

 

Tattered Souls edited by Frank J. Hutton

Cutting Block Press, 2007

ISBN: 9780977826230

Available: New

 

    Tattered Souls is a collection of six stories that are almost novellas in length. Each of the tales brings a new and refreshing aspect of horror to the block. In “The Monkey Skin Cloak”, a couple returning from a safari hunt in Africa accidentally runs over a woman wearing a cloak made of monkey pelts. They load the body up, but it disappears on the road to camp so the wife claims the cloak as her own. In the cloak she finds something primeval and alluring that changes her in ways that her husband and the rest of the camp didn’t think possible. “Other People” is the story of people living in the same apartment complex, interacting without knowing the sickness that exists in their neighbors and in them as they seek unique forms of death so they can ascend into purer beings. “The End of Flesh” was a real treat for the science fiction lover in me as it told the story of a future world where animal life had all but vanished and some men had turned to cannibalism to quench their thirst for flesh. In “Cupped Dirty Wings”, a man gambles away the cash of a mob boss and knows that his time on this earth is short. He meets a woman who claims to be a goddess and wishes to journey with him to his fate. One of the more twisted tales in Tattered Souls was “Drool”, the story of a man who has taken a morbid step out of reality in his pursuit of the love of a young girl.  Finally, “Terminal Condition” is the story of police officer that seems to be a magnet for death.

 

This is an excellent collection of stories with truly unique storylines in most cases. None of the stories, with the possible exception of “The Monkey Skin Cloak”, uses common villains, such as werewolves, vampires, or zombies. Each story attacks the reader with fear from a different direction and each tale paints its own picture of our world in vibrant color. Readers advisory note: this is a good title to recommend to horror readers who are looking for something a little different in the horror genre and to those who enjoy long short stories.   Recommended for horror fiction and short story collections in public and private libraries.   

 Contains: sex, gore, mild pedophilia, violence, self mutilation, torture

Review by Bret Jordan

Note this is a second look review, the original review was done by David Agranoff and can be found here.

 

 

Horror Library III Edited by R.J. Cavender

Cutting Block Press, 2008

ISBN: 9780977826254

Available: New

 

 Horror Library III is an anthology containing 30 horror stories by both well-known and not-so-well- known writers. Within the pages of this volume the reader will find a barn that has the strange and terrifying ability to digest things that get trapped inside. They will stop at a way station where the dead briefly linger before continuing on to the afterlife. The reader will become involved in a poker game where the chips represent time that the gambler has left to live and to win is to gain life, but to lose could mean instant death. They will meet an anorexic woman who knows a disturbing truth that prevents her from eating and a hospital photographer will take a picture that will haunt him for the rest of his life. These are just a few of the stories in this book and it is one of the best anthologies that I have had the pleasure to read all year.

 

Within the pages of Horror Library III the reader will find very few of the canned monsters we all have come to know, such as vampires and werewolves. No, this volume holds several new nightmares that will draw the reader in and keep them wondering until it is too late. I would certainly recommend this 3^rd volume of the Horror Library to anyone who likes well written tales of horror.

 

Contains: Violence, mild pedophilia, gore

Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

Sheep and Wolves By Jeremy C. Shipp

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

IBSN: 9781933293592

Available: New

    Sheep and Wolves is an interesting little short story compilation, with thirteen short stories of a very high caliber.  The stories in this particular compilation are all horror stories, with some leaning into the realm of science fiction gone bad.  The writing is concise, yet descriptive.  Each story feels like it is just the right length for the reader's comfort level.  As with all short story collections, some stories are more effective than others. All are horrifying in one aspect or another.  Some thrilled me, others confused me, and some left me perplexed and disturbed.  I consider this to be a fine collection which was both very entertaining and disturbing from beginning to end.

 

My only real criticism for this book is the order of the stories. There are certain horrifying visuals that Mr. Shipp is very fond of and uses over and over again.  They can be very effective. However, the stories that use these common images would have been more effective if they had been broken up instead of having one right after another.  I would also have liked a little more clarification on exactly what I was reading in some of the stories... for example there is a story where a man has something locked up in a VW in his back yard, he feeds this thing and it seems fairly hostile.  At one point in the story I thought I had a grasp of what it was, but by the end I was even more perplexed.  I still enjoyed the story, but would have liked it more if I had been able to close the book knowing what the thing in the VW was. 

 

"Those Below," a tale of life after death in a strange way, was probably my favorite of the stories, with very interesting social implications that could leave the reader pondering about humanity afterward.  “American Sheep” was also a very interesting tale. I would love to see that one expanded to the length of a novella.  On the whole this is a fun little short story book. Recommended..

Review by KD P

 

Lowlife Underdogs by Dustin LaValley

Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008

ISBN: 1933293640

Available:New

 

    Lowlife Underdogs is a short story book in the strictest sense of the word.  Many of these stories are one page, with some only a paragraph long.  There are a total of 32 stories. The title story is the longest, coming in at 23 pages long.    The writing style and tone are reminiscent of something a depressed emo would write while spending a month in the local inpatient “happy house”. There are several stories about suicide, murder, and difficulty having children. There’s no author information, making it difficult to gauge his age, but based on what I read, I would guess the author is relatively young. If he is, we have a lot to look forward to, because his actual writing is very good. 

 

     My main complaint is that the execution in each story actually undoes the terror that it should induce.  Most of these stories are tales we've heard before, urban legends or scenes we've all viewed in various "B" horror movies.  I'm not sure if they were meant to be tributes, but if we all know what is going to happen, then they cease to have the ability to shock and horrify.

 

    This book would be most highly entertaining for the 15-18 year old group.

Contains: Murder, Suicide, Violence, Profanity, Sex, Low level Gore (predominantly aftermath).

Reviewed by KD P

 

 

 

 

Sudden Victims by Dennis Latham
Y.S. Gazelle Books, 2008
ISBN:100979674441
Available: New
   

Sudden Victims contains 18 tales from an alternate reality. The narrator is walking through a train and every time he enters a new car the next story begins. Readers are introduced to the victims before delving into their storylines. Dennis Latham is a Marine and Vietnam veteran whose writing was obviously influenced by the war Every story is different and a creative extension from this man’s past and his imagination. His detailed accounts of living in the field watching the enemy shoot and destroy his fellow marines seem very real. "Party Favors" was a strong story and a fun find within those pages.  Recommended for public libraries.
Contains: War, violence, drug use, gore, suicide.

Review by the Angry Princess 

 

The White Hands and Other Weird Tales by Mark Samuels

Tartarus Press

ISBN: 9781872621890

Available: New

 

Atmospheric and almost lyrical, Mark Samuels’ short story collection, anchored by the surrealistic White Hands, is a testament to a bygone era when eloquent and intelligent prose were at the fore. Samuels’ style harkens back to the haunted writings of the giants of the weird and supernatural as if he were Arthur Machen, reincarnate. For the aspiring writer, Mark Samuels’ literary excellence is nothing short of inspiring, even as you are raked over the coals of his surrealistic visions of the strange and unusual. Though not for everyone, this is wordsmithing at its finest. Sheer unadulterated brilliance, this title is  recommended for all lovers of the weirdly fantastic.

Review by Bob Freeman 

 

Strange Tales edited by Rosalie Parker

Tartarus Press,2003

ISBN: 9781872621807

Available: New

   

    Strange Tales is an anthology that is just that, strange. This eclectic mix of weird horror reminds us that horror does not come neatly packaged with an entrailed bow and wrapping of human flesh. Although Strange Tales collects pieces divergent in style and content, there is a  cohesiveness in the authors’ mutual exploration of and descent into an unsettling and disturbing arena of the bizarre. Guttural terror oozes from Adam Daly’s “The Self Eater” and Nina Allan’s “Terminus” is chaotic and dysfunctional. True horror grips us on a visceral level, and settles in our psyche. Strange Tales accomplishes that effectively. .

Review by Bob Freeman

 

Bound for Evil ed. by Tom English and ill. by Allen Koslowski

Dead Letter Press, 2008

ISBN:  9780979633522

Available: New

            Bound for Evil is an homage to the terrible power of books. The stories and their authors span across time and location, including classic authors H.P. Lovecraft and Nathaniel Hawthorne as well as contemporary writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Angeline Hawkes, and Christopher Fulbright. It’s a nice touch that information about each author is provided before each contribution. Although the stories vary in tone and genre, with humor, mystery, science fiction, and fantasy all making an appearance, the passion of the editor for bibliomania at its most horrifying comes across clearly. Bound for Evil has strong stories and remarkable writing. The book itself is beautiful with effective illustrations by artist Allen Koslowski. Bound for Evil is a limited edition. It would make an excellent gift for the book lover or collector of horror, or an addition to the collection of a horror reader suffering from a serious case of bibliomania. An excellent anthology that will appeal to a wide audience, Bound for Evil is very highly recommended for public library collections.

Reviewed as part of the Halloween Horror Review Project, click here to see other Halloween themed horror book reviews.

 

 

 

 

 

Slivers of Bone by Ray Garton

Cemetery Dance, 2008

ISBN: 9781587670947

Available: New

Slivers of Bone collects thirteen fantastic tales by Ray Garton. Each story in this varied collection grabs the reader by the throat, or, sometimes, by something besides the throat. The story “The Guy down the Street” is about a neighbor that no sane man would care to have around his teenage daughter, but the true horror of the story lies elsewhere. In “The Homeless Couple”, Mr. Garton goes into the ether with a chilling, yet touching, ghost story. “The Picture of Horror” will terrify and repulse the reader with its telling of a loss of innocence, the dire consequences of immorality, and the mistake of dealing with the devil.

The stories from this collection will not only have the reader double checking their doors at night, but also taking a hard look at the window locks while looking around the nearby houses for that odd neighbor or religious fanatic. Slivers of Bone is one of the best story collections I have read and I would certainly recommend it for any collection.

 

Contains: Sex, bondage, pedophilia

Review by Bret Jordan

 

 ...The Dead Will Inherit The Earth... by Thom Olausson

Thom Olausson, 2008

ISBN: 9781847993472

Available: New 

    Author Thom Olausson hails from Sweden and proclaims that "these stories are the ones deemed TOO scary for American readers". If only that were the case. In point of fact, there are very few thrills and chills within this collection's pages. While several stories do show promise, “The Crooked Cross,” in particular, they suffer from abysmal editing (which may be due to English not being the author's native tongue) and more than a few are substandard examinations of clichéd horror tropes. When Mr. Olausson is inspired and writing outside the box, there is a raw energy to his prose that shows a glimmer of potential. One would hope that he continues to grow as an artist, honing his craft for future publications.

Review by Bob Freeman

 

 

Fright House by Lydia Roberson

Publisher: Lydia Roberson,2007

ISBN: 9780615148120

Available: New

    In this ambitious collection of short stories, poems, and biographical notes, Ms. Roberson has attempted to delve into the very heart of psychological fear, to show the monsters that lurk within as much as without. Unfortunately, Fright House fails to fulfill the author’s ambition. Although the themes are very mature, the stories are written in a simple and straightforward manner, a jarring combination of content and style. Additionally, the storytelling is less than compelling. The author chooses time and time again to tell us about the horrors within rather than show us, and there’s no real follow through, focus or linear thought to keep the reader turning pages.  Ms. Roberson’s one true accomplishment is her fervent honesty. She attacks her prose like a true believer in what she’s trying to share with her audience. Fright House has many of the same problems as other self-published books. Atrocious editing hinders this project, with grammatical errors scattered throughout. There is a germ of a great idea here… in fact, there are several.  The book was simply not ready for publication.

Review by Bob Freeman