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Book Review: Dark Screams: Volume 6 edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar

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Dark Screams: Volume 6 edited by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar

Hydra, 2017

ISBN: 9780399181931

Available: Kindle edition

Freeman and Chizmar have curated stories from Stephen King, Lisa Morton, Nell Quinn-Gibney, Norman Prentiss, Joyce Carol Oates, and Tim Curran for this short-story anthology. Every one of them is a fast read, each with its own unique edge.

King’s “The Old Dude’s Ticker” is a different spin on Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Richard Drogan is a Vietnam vet working for this old dude whose eye, that vulture eye, is driving him insane, man.  Drogan knows the old dude needs to die.

“The Rich are Different”, by Lisa Morton, tells the story of Sara Peck, who wrote a successful novel about the elite of society. When the family she based the story on wants to meet her, Sara discovers secrets far more twisted than her imagination could conjure. This was probably my least favorite short story out of this collection, but it was still quite good.

In Nell Quinn-Gibney’s “The Manicure”, a young woman getting her nails done professionally for the first time finds that her mind keeps wandering to the past. Her memories merge with the present, and her manicure turns out to be less relaxing than she hoped for. The tension-building in this story was incredibly effective.

In “The Comforting Voice”, by Norman Prentiss, Josh and Cheryl are expecting. Cheryl is in the process of reconciling with her abusive father, Lewis, which Josh does not support. When  Lewis arrives, he is diminished; cancer has ravaged his body and effected a change in his demeanor. When the baby comes, she adores her grandfather, and he is the only one who can calm her screaming fits. What no one thinks about is who will take on that mantle when Lewis is gone. Who will have the comforting voice, and what will they say?

I love Joyce Carol Oates’ work, and “The Situations” did not disappoint. It should be mentioned there is animal and child abuse referenced in this story. In Oates’ story, there are certain lessons children must learn, and if they do not follow the rules, they must bear the scars of their punishment. When the children question Daddy, they learn the most important rule of all.

The last story in this anthology is “The Corpse King”, by Tim Curran. Clow and Kierney are resurrection men just trying to make an honest living. When Sherily warns them not to set foot in the North Burial Grounds, what’s a body to do? I’ve always loved the setting of Victorian slums and the subject of resurrection men. This novella will be added to one of my favorites of this type of story. Curran doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to the atmosphere and substance of the Victorian gothic.

Freeman and Chizmar selected some great stories for this anthology. It has a little bit of something to please most reading preferences. I’m looking forward to the next installment of Dark Screams. Recommended.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Contains: animal abuse, child abuse, blood, brief mention of sex

 

 

Posted on June 18, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: Grave Predictions: Tales of Mankind’s Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, and Disastrous Destiny edited by Drew Ford

Grave Predictions: Tales of Man’s Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, and Disastrous Destiny edited by Drew Ford

Dover Publications, 2016

ISBN: 9780486802312

Available: paperback

 

In Grave Predictions, Drew Ford has selected some of the best representations of post-apocalyptic and dystopian short fiction available: stories both beautiful and terrifying. These include tales from some of the most outstanding authors of the genre, such as Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, and Ursula K. Le Guin.  Each story is far ahead of its time, with its own distinct presentation of the future, and evokes a range of emotions from the reader. It’s amazing how science fiction writers have more of a pulse on the future than most people care to recognize.

Eugene Mouton’s “The End of the World,” first published in 1872, presents a tragic story about global warming before it even had a name, and culminates in the proclamation that “THE EARTH IS DEAD.” In W. E. B. Du Bois’ “The Comet” (1920), Jim Davis, an African-American man, is sent down to the vaults on a task by the bank president, only to emerge to cold, dead world. It’s reminiscent of the Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” in that respect. As he makes his way down the city streets he finds Julia, a wealthy white woman, who is seemingly the other survivor. The theme of racial tensions and the breaking down and reconstruction of barriers is central to this story. Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian” (1951) focuses on a writer who walks aimlessly through the city at night when he is stopped by robotic police for aberrant behavior. No one walks around the streets anymore when they have the warm glow of their televisions screens, after all. “Upon the Dull Earth” (1954), by Philip K. Dick is the tragic story of Silvia, Rick, and the fate of the world. Silvia summons angels, believing they are her ancestors who will someday usher her home. She intends to use lamb’s blood, but when she accidentally draws her own blood, they appear to take her home. Rick cannot accept her death, and tries to bring her back, even though it may mean the destruction of his world. In Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s “2 B R 0 2 B” (1962), the United States population has been  limited to forty million people: someone must die in order for someone else to be born. Edward Wehling, Jr.’s wife is about to have triplets, but there is only one volunteer for euthanasia. Desperate, he finds a last minute solution to ensure his children will live. There is a witness to Edward’s predicament, who makes a fateful decision as well.

Other titles in this anthology include Arthur C. Clarke’s “No Morning After” (1954); Harlan Ellison’s “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” (1967); Urusla K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (1973); Brian M. Stableford’s “The Engineer and the Executioner” (1976); Stephen King’s “The End of the Whole Mess” (1986); Joe R. Lansdale’s “Tight Little Stitches in a Dead Man’s Back” (1992); Greg Bear’s “Judgment Engine”; Mark Samuels’ “The Black Mould” (2011); Ramsey Campbell’s “The Pretence” (2013); and Carmen Maria Machado’s “Inventory” (2013). Highly recommended.

Contains: racial epithets, abuse, body horror, disturbing imagery

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

 

Posted on February 24, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: Christmas Horror, Vol. 1, edited by Chris Morey and illustrated by Zach McCain


Christmas Horror, Vol. 1  edited by Chris Morey and illustrated by Zach McCain

Dark Regions Press, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1-62641-118-0

Available: ebook, paperback, hardcover deluxe signed and numbered edition available through Dark Regions Press (with an additional story by William Meikle)

 

Dark Regions Press has put out yet another great anthology. This collection of eight stories focus on, as the title indicates, the Christmas holiday, and the horror that can lurk around every corner. It’s not all carols, mistletoe, and peace on earth in these tales of horror.

“Red Rage” by Stephen Mark Rainey flips back and forth between the present day story of the Worshams, a family preparing to celebrate their first Christmas in their new home, and the events of a previous holiday season held in the house, shared by a husband and wife with a strained relationship. At the center of both storylines is an ornament on the tree that exudes rage– and anyone who looks into it feels that rage, until it consumes them. Can the Worshams survive their holiday, or will the shadow come for them, too?

I’ve been a fan of Jeff Strand’s work for some time, and his short story, “Pointy Canes,” doesn’t disappoint. Uncle Jack’s thirty year ritual of sucking on candy canes to fine points and collecting them in a box has come to completion, and he wants those closest to him join in a special event. His family is incredulous to what he suggests, but after one of them dares to argue, the rest of the family decides to go through with the candy cane ritual.

Shane McKenzie’s “Naughty” was really hard to get through because of the content. A group of teenagers sexually assault and murder a disabled girl. Two of the boys are unwilling to go through with the rape, but the eldest uses violence to influence them to continue. Five years later, the youngest is in a relationship that has culminated in his girlfriend’s pregnancy. It’s Christmas Eve, and he’s sitting in front of the fireplace waiting for…something. He’s convinced he will be the last to go. After all, the others who attacked that young girl have been found dead in the most gruesome of ways, his brother possibly being the most disturbing. What will happen to the last survivor?

“Krampusnacht in Cell Block J”, by Cody Goodfellow, is set in a corrupt juvenile detention system where the inmates are celebrating Christmas by indulging in activities and substances that ensure distraction from how the guards will celebrate in their own way. One of them dresses as Krampus and inflicts abuse on those lost in their pleasures. It’s carried on this way for years, but this time is different. The new inmate doesn’t know the drill, and accidentally summons the real Krampus. Those involved in the corrupt justice system have been very bad, and the new inmate wants them to pay.

The other stories in the anthology are also fantastic. In John Skipp’s “The Shittiest Guy in the World (A Christmas Fable)” we meet the most unexpected sin eaters. In “Belsnickel” by J.F. Gonzalez, Amy’s Uncle Floyd comes to visit to continue an old family tradition. What will she find under the tree when he is done? Joe R. Lansdale’s “Santa Explains” is the story of a down-and-out Santa explaining to his family that this year will be different, that they won’t have to be disappointed in him, ever again. He has the perfect solution to all of their problems. Black Friday can be tough, and “The Endless Black of Friday” by Nate Southard shows what happens when the blackness of the night or early morning spread swallows the world as it comes.

If you need a little bit of the grotesque and macabre for your holiday season, pick up Christmas Horror, Vol. 1. You won’t be disappointed. Each story delivers its own message of Christmas fear in their pages, and is accompanied by a full color illustration to set the mood. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, sexual abuse

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker


Posted on December 21, 2016 by , Reply
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