Anthony Burdge | Musings of the Monster Librarian

Book Review: Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmerman and Jason McKittrick

Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmmerman and Jason McKittrick

Myth Ink Books, 2020

ISBN-13: 978-1087860534

Available: Paperback

It’s 2005, and a massive snowstorm hitting Toms River, New Jersey has Jeremiah Allen and his friend MJ experiencing cabin fever, arguing over who is the better dungeon master, eating junk food, and discussing Jeremiah’s obsession with his lineage. Donna and Marvin, Jeremiah’s foster parents, are not all that they seem…

Fast forward to October 29^th, 2012. Superstorm Sandy is threatening Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Jeremiah, now a fledgling cultist, finds an artifact that was unearthed the storm. He follows the path this mysterious Elder Tablet outlines for him, following the tentacled fish icons that will take him down the same path his ancestors followed. Dark magick awaits him, if he can only get it right. Jeremiah attempts to use the tablet to awaken… something. But it all goes wrong.

It is now the summer of 2019. Temperatures are unbearably hot and thunderstorms are in the forecast. Dr. Gilbert Halsey at the Toms River Psychiatric Unit has completed his evaluation of Jeremiah, who initially came in with no identification. The good doctor is met with the unexplainable; Jeremiah claims he is changing. After Jeremiah has what appears to be a series of seizures, Dr. Halsey is able to ascertain just to what degree Jeremiah’s body is… developing. Dr. Halsey contacts an old friend from Miskatonic University, and expert in strange happenings. Dr. Nora Danforth, with her assistant, Jeremiah’s old friend MJ, agrees to travel to Toms River to investigate the Elder Tablet, assess damage caused by a Shoggoth sowing death behind it, and interview Jeremiah for more information. However, when she and MJ get to the asylum, she is met with disappointing news—her childhood friend has escaped the institution. Dr. Danforth and MJ are on their own. Will they be able to reverse the course that Jeremiah started?

I enjoyed the structure of the book. The story is told through news reports, first or third person perspective vignettes, weather advisory bulletins, and journal entries. They merged well, and moved the story forward in an interesting way. The sections involving the Scout Troop, especially those regarding one of the members named Charlie, culminate in a startling revelation. I also liked that none of the characters were perfect—each had a distinct personality and flaws. Also, as a librarian who works closely with my library’s Special Collections unit, I’m curious about the curator’s dedication to the job at Miskatonic University. The Elder Tablet came from Miskatonic University’s Special Collections, and had been stolen several times prior. I would think that there would be stronger stipulations on accessing it. That is, provided that the item itself isn’t manipulating time and space?

I think the only criticism I have is that the text could have gone through one more edit. There were a few typos and some inconsistent punctuation. Regardless, the story was solid. It is suitable for adult as well as YA readers. Those interested in Lovecraftian works should definitely pick up Eldritch Tides. Recommended.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Book Review: Dark Tales from Elder Regions: New York edited by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge

Dark Tales from Elder Regions: New York edited by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge
Myth Ink Books, 2016

ISBN: 9781500774844

Available: Kindle ebook, print

Burke and Burdge have curated a great selection of stories in this anthology. It contains nineteen urban horror stories set in New York City that take place in a variety of time periods. They explore the dark side of humanity and the supernatural, all framed in the five boroughs of this fascinating city.

As with all anthologies, there are some stories that stand out more than others. “Beautiful Dreams” by D. J. Tyrer and “The Professor’s NY Adventure” by Gordon Linzner take place in the distant past. In the first story, an attorney by the name of Chambers meets with a jailed criminal named Breton, on behalf of a client, to retrieve a stolen item. After getting the information he needs, Chambers finds himself in the Bowery. Posing as a doctor, Chambers gains entrance to the rooms of the man about whom Breton gave information to Chambers. He finds the man reading in bed, so distracted by what he is studying he doesn’t notice Chambers entering his apartment. It is in this man’s hand that Chambers finds the item for which he has been searching: L’Histoire d’Ys et Carcosa. “The Professor’s NY Adventure” is the tragic story of a Professor V, a famous vampire hunter, stalking his lifelong nemesis. In doing so, he accidentally causes on of the greatest tragedies in the history of the city. The vampire finds Professor V and poses the question as to who is the real monster.

Some stories have a very unique feel. “The Sixth Borough” by Gregory Norris is a frustrating story of a man who despises the city and is being pushed to the edge by his deceptive roommates who he discovers have been bleeding his bank account dry. He hears of the mythical sixth Borough, Bella Vista, where creatives and artists are welcomed. The story is very claustrophobic, told as the main character’s world is closing in around him as he tries to find this creative solace. Andrea Jane’s “Retro Viral” follows a group of partiers who hold a rave in an abandoned medical facility. The past and present merge as they relive experiences of some of the former patients. In between the scenes at the facility are conversations about a disease that should have been long dead, inflicting the party-goers. We all know someone who has horror stories of awful in-laws, but “The Vintner of Little Neck” by Chris Tithill takes it to a new level. The narrator’s brother-in-law, Dakota, and his family, comes to visit a few times a year, and he is a taxing person to deal with. How the narrator deals with his problem, and others, is quick and painless…for him.

“The Mad Monk of St. Augustine’s” opens in 1968 with the arrest of a monk who has been found to have murdered brother monks, and used their hearts in Satanic worship rituals. After being locked in a subterranean cell, he was found with his wrists chewed to ribbons, dead. Jump to 1986. A group of high school friends decide to kill their boredom with a nighttime trip to St. Augustine’s Monastery, which was abandoned in 1969 for “financial reasons.” After they laugh off the story of the haunted monastery, they are all met by something, just not what they expected. I have to admit this one held my interest more than others. I’m a sucker for a good mad monk tale. Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian and Matthew Lewis’ The Monk hold special places on my bookshelves.

There are also some humorous stories found in this anthology. “Now Departing” follows Melissa, a bookish introvert whose time has come as Death comes to take her. Melissa is not having any of it, and attempts to argue her way out of her final journey. “The None Percent” is a disturbing but funny story about a corporate businessman who discovers he’s dead. He ends up with other dead suits, a member of the elite None Percent bent on causing havoc in the business world for the living.

I haven’t even included all of the stories in this review. It was hard to select the ones I discussed because there are so many good stories in this anthology. Admittedly some of them start as a slow burn, but the reader is definitely rewarded in the end with little things staying with them for a long time after putting the book down. They all have a certain Lovecraftian feel, and each have something that lingers. Unfortunately the copy I had was released without the artwork by Luke Spooner, but having seen the cover art and some of his portfolio, you can be sure of quality work for this book. Highly recommended.

Contains: very little gore, but more psychological terror than anything else

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker