I had the opportunity to read Advance Reading Copies of several titles from Flame Tree Press' new paperback line. These books have now all been released.
Here are the first three (of five).
-"Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach" by Ramsey Campbell.
This author is a legend, but I don't care for his writing style at all. I gave up on page 109.
A family on holiday on a mysterious island near Greece runs into trouble when three of their number are bitten and begin exhibiting an aversion to sunlight. The barrage of hints regarding the vampire-like activity on the island and the reactions of the natives to the members who've been bitten are ham-fisted, yet the rest of the family somehow remains completely oblivious. I found myself hoping that it was all misdirection, because it was all SO obvious, but at this point I don't care enough to ever find out one way or another.
The members of this family are the most passive aggressive bunch you're ever going to encounter. ("I take it you'll have tracked him down?", "Won't that be too spicy for you, William?") In fact, they're insufferable. I think that's my biggest peeve with the book. I dislike nearly every character. The author's dialogue is formal and stilted, and dialogue tags are unwieldy.
Here are a few samples:
Pg. 23
"Are you hungry?" Ray was able to hope.
"Do you know, I think I could be."
Pg. 39
"Well that's my choice for now," Julian said with just a hint of petulance. "I thought it might be good for all concerned."
"I think you've left somebody out of the choosing," Natalie said.
Pg. 67
"Can you hear me? Are you in difficulties?"
"I'm quite all right," Ray felt bound to declare.
Pg. 81
"Maybe you shouldn't try and take her over quite so much, do you think?" Having blurted this, Ray saw no reason not to add "We all need to be ourselves."
Pg. 94
"I suppose that could have been the case," Julian said. "Thank you for bringing reason to bear."
I found myself hoping "Jules" and "Pris" and all the others would get hit by a bus just so something exciting would happen. I gave up, which is something I have only done on a precious few occasions.
On to two books I enjoyed:
-"The Siren and the Specter" by Jonathan Janz
A skeptic of the supernatural is hired by an old college friend to write a book about a supposedly haunted house with a dark history. It becomes apparent pretty quickly that the house is the real deal as far as being haunted. There's an interesting back story about who haunts the house, but no real answers or details about HOW or WHY this evil creep was able to return. Maybe it's just something about the area, because in the end, there are almost as many ghosts as living characters.
Some of the characters are pretty over the top. If it's possible for a literary character to "chew the scenery" then several of the less-savory characters certainly do that. Perhaps that's intentional; the entire peninsula is under the dark influence of its own history and several of the characters in question seem to be acolytes of the ghost.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I found myself wondering who was truly and ally and who was double-dealing the main character. The suspense was pretty good, and I had fun imaging the house.
The main baddie was dispatched rather easily, but most of the unsavory characters received satisfying comeuppance. I would read this author again.
-"The Mouth of the Dark" by Tim Waggoner
My favorite of the three. An overprotective man (who was raised by an overprotective mother) freaks out when his daughter drops out of sight. Convinced she's fallen in with the wrong crowd, or is in extreme danger --and honestly, who wouldn't be?-- he tries to find clues to her whereabouts. It doesn't take long for him to start running into some very strange characters and situations. Waggoner pulls out all the stops, creating a dark fantasy world with plenty of horror elements. Some great twists, and shades of gray characters who are neither all good or all bad, making for some interesting interactions along the way.
This one had good suspense, some neat surprises via flashbacks, and some vivid imagery. Toward the end I just kept reading, and the book became almost like a fever dream (but in a good way.)
There's a huge twist at the end that I only HALF saw coming. My only quibble is that, after the twist is revealed, the guy basically accepts his fate/his new role, and seemingly forgets all about his missing daughter. That goes counter to his driving motivation for 98% of the book. Maybe I misinterpreted, or missed something. Because when I finished, I just felt sick, wondering if Emory (the daughter) was still trapped where we saw her in the prologue. That would be horrible. Oh wait, this is a horror novel, so actually that would be quite satisfying.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Honest Reviews of Corporate Cthulhu and Digital Horror Fiction Anthology
Since Amazon doesn't allow authors to review anthologies that include their work, I've made a habit of posting my reviews here on my blog.
Title: Corporate Cthulhu
Theme: Cosmic and Lovecraftian horror in bureaucratic and business settings.
Publisher: Pickman's Press (now Stasheff Literary Enterprises
Editor: Edward Stasheff
Number of stories: 25
Pages: 418
Price: $19.99 paperback, $4.99 Kindle, $34.99 hardcover
Favorite stories: "Shadow Charts" by Marcus Johnston, "Career Zombie" by John Taloni, "MaryAnne's Equations" by Harry Pauff, "Forced Labor" by Peter Rawlik, "The Shadows Lengthen in the Close" by Ethan Gibney, and "Retraction" by Marie Michaels.
My story: "Corporate Cthulhu Inc." I collaborated with a very talented author named Evan Dicken on this story. Honestly, Evan wrote at least two thirds of this story, probably more. I contributed certain scenes and helped with line edits and fine-tuning the final manuscript. Overall, I am very happy with how the story turned out.
Final thoughts: I will be honest and admit I dreaded reading this anthology. It's 418 pages of what seems like a very limited theme. Credit to the authors for turning in excellent stories and to the editor for putting this anthology together with variety in mind. Each story is different; some are funny, some grim. Some seem very cutting edge and modern, while others hearken back to older times. Some are short, others are rather lengthy, in some you see the protagonists, in others they are only hinted at. Some of the authors employed clever formatting tactics (like a series of emails, for instance) to tell their stories. I was astonished to find myself breezing through this anthology at a very fast clip. Thinking back there's not really a dud story in the bunch. I give it an A.
You can order a copy of Corporate Cthulhu here.
Title: Digital Horror Fiction Anthology
Theme: non-themed horror story showcase
Publisher: Digital Fiction Publishing Corp.
Editor: Michael Wills
Number of stories: 25
Pages: 390
Price: $12.99 paperback, $4.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: 2:51, Behind the Caterpillar by Gregory L. Norris (what an abrupt, heartbreaking ending!), A Pocket of Madness by Samuel Marzioli (very interesting), Aces and Kings by David M. Koenig (excellent weird western-meets-King in Yellow mythos), Democracy by Larry Hinkle (had a feeling about the ending and I was right, but well worth reading), and Intermediary by Jason A. Wyckoff (classic jungle exploration gone horribly wrong vibe.)
My story: "Building Condemned (Seeking Asylum)"
A man finds himself in a mental asylum and immediately begins making much-needed improvements, even after learning the structure will soon be demolished.
The concept of chirality is explored. I wrote the story for another anthology. That editor short listed the story but ultimately passed on it. Soon after, it found a home in Alessandro Manzetti's Bram Stoker award-nominated "The Beauty of Death" anthology. Since then, I polished up the story and made a few revisions, and Mr. Wills kindly reprinted it in this new anthology.
Final thoughts: I would have chosen a more creative title, but story-wise there are some real gems here. (A previous anthology, Memento Mori, is also a very worthwhile read.) I am also glad that, despite their name, Digital Fiction Publishing publishes not just for Kindle but in paperback, which I prefer.
The only bad news is that two of the stories are absolutely dreadful for all the wrong reasons. I counted nineteen (19) typos and mistakes in the second story and several typos in one of the last stories.
I give it a B. You can order a copy of Digital Horror Fiction Volume 1 by clicking this link.
Theme: Cosmic and Lovecraftian horror in bureaucratic and business settings.
Publisher: Pickman's Press (now Stasheff Literary Enterprises
Editor: Edward Stasheff
Number of stories: 25
Pages: 418
Price: $19.99 paperback, $4.99 Kindle, $34.99 hardcover
Favorite stories: "Shadow Charts" by Marcus Johnston, "Career Zombie" by John Taloni, "MaryAnne's Equations" by Harry Pauff, "Forced Labor" by Peter Rawlik, "The Shadows Lengthen in the Close" by Ethan Gibney, and "Retraction" by Marie Michaels.
My story: "Corporate Cthulhu Inc." I collaborated with a very talented author named Evan Dicken on this story. Honestly, Evan wrote at least two thirds of this story, probably more. I contributed certain scenes and helped with line edits and fine-tuning the final manuscript. Overall, I am very happy with how the story turned out.
Final thoughts: I will be honest and admit I dreaded reading this anthology. It's 418 pages of what seems like a very limited theme. Credit to the authors for turning in excellent stories and to the editor for putting this anthology together with variety in mind. Each story is different; some are funny, some grim. Some seem very cutting edge and modern, while others hearken back to older times. Some are short, others are rather lengthy, in some you see the protagonists, in others they are only hinted at. Some of the authors employed clever formatting tactics (like a series of emails, for instance) to tell their stories. I was astonished to find myself breezing through this anthology at a very fast clip. Thinking back there's not really a dud story in the bunch. I give it an A.
You can order a copy of Corporate Cthulhu here.
Theme: non-themed horror story showcase
Publisher: Digital Fiction Publishing Corp.
Editor: Michael Wills
Number of stories: 25
Pages: 390
Price: $12.99 paperback, $4.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: 2:51, Behind the Caterpillar by Gregory L. Norris (what an abrupt, heartbreaking ending!), A Pocket of Madness by Samuel Marzioli (very interesting), Aces and Kings by David M. Koenig (excellent weird western-meets-King in Yellow mythos), Democracy by Larry Hinkle (had a feeling about the ending and I was right, but well worth reading), and Intermediary by Jason A. Wyckoff (classic jungle exploration gone horribly wrong vibe.)
My story: "Building Condemned (Seeking Asylum)"
A man finds himself in a mental asylum and immediately begins making much-needed improvements, even after learning the structure will soon be demolished.
The concept of chirality is explored. I wrote the story for another anthology. That editor short listed the story but ultimately passed on it. Soon after, it found a home in Alessandro Manzetti's Bram Stoker award-nominated "The Beauty of Death" anthology. Since then, I polished up the story and made a few revisions, and Mr. Wills kindly reprinted it in this new anthology.
Final thoughts: I would have chosen a more creative title, but story-wise there are some real gems here. (A previous anthology, Memento Mori, is also a very worthwhile read.) I am also glad that, despite their name, Digital Fiction Publishing publishes not just for Kindle but in paperback, which I prefer.
The only bad news is that two of the stories are absolutely dreadful for all the wrong reasons. I counted nineteen (19) typos and mistakes in the second story and several typos in one of the last stories.
I give it a B. You can order a copy of Digital Horror Fiction Volume 1 by clicking this link.
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Buckle Up Folks, This One's A Doozy
I was only trying to HELP. But I should have known better.
Red flag #1: There was no publisher named in the submissions call.
Red flag #2: Acceptance email but no contract offered.
Red flag #3: I don't know anyone in the table of contents (not always a bad thing, but definitely a rare occurrence.)
Red flag #4: Editor does not use blind carbon copy (BCC) but instead CCs everyone, failing to keep their emails private.
Red flag #5: Editor sends out the "final" manuscript, and asks contributors to edit not only their story, but also the stories preceding and following their story in the table of contents.
The stories before and after mine were fun and engaging, but definitely needed some clean up and correction.
I turned on Track Changes and got to work.
Examples of issues I flagged (I looked up every single issue online for verification first; feel free to do the same to check my work!):
Character paces the "parameter" of a bedroom. I replaced with "perimeter."
Character spins around and "flaired" her robe. I replaced with "flared."
Character waits with "baited" breath. I replaced with "bated."
Painting looks "Van Gogh-esc. I replaced with "Van Gogh-esque."
A pane of glass "lie" flat on a desk. I replaced with "lay."
"Awe, I'm sorry." Changed to "Aw, I'm sorry."
The children leave their "parent's" house. I changed to parents' house (plural, since both are indicated to be living.)
"Moment's ticked by." Corrected to "Moments ticked by." (It's just plural, not possessive.)
Something went "passed" someone's field of vision. I changed to "past" their field of vision.
Someone might have a heart attack caused by "shear" pain. I changed it to "sheer" pain.
Improper placement of a comma AFTER the quotation mark.
Quotation mark facing the WRONG WAY.
"Ge" remembered... Corrected to "He" remembered.
Twice in the second story the author says something in one sentence, then directly contradicts what was just said in next sentence. I merely pointed this out.
In one scene, author uses the word "phone" to describe everything, including the actual phone, but also in reference to the receiver, the (phone) line, the cradle, and the hand set. I suggested cleaning this up.
Three characters in a room argue with each other. Author omitted dialogue tags. I suggested with three characters, dialogue tags would help the reader keep track.
The phrase "a little" preceded an adjective three paragraphs in a row. I suggested omitting the phrase in all three instances.
Here was the trickiest issue: "seven pm" According to grammar guides, 7:00 a.m. is acceptable, as is 7:00 AM, but NOT "am" (lower case, no periods). Additionally, author mentions "seven pm" and later switches to military time/24 hour clock and says "19:07." I suggested for consistency's sake, the author stick with one or the other. THIS IS ONE I DID MESS UP ON, ERRONEOUSLY STATING 19:07 was 11:07, which is incorrect. It's 7:07 p.m.)
A character could smell "it's breath." I corrected to smell "its breath" as in this instance it is a possessive determiner, not a contraction of "it is."
Author uses "they/their," "it" (no caps) and "It" (capitalized in mid-sentence) interchangeably throughout the document whenever referencing the ghost. I suggested choosing one and sticking to it for consistency.
Use of the phrase "absently minded" I flagged it and asked if this was a British colloquialism. Suggested, but did not change it to, "absentmindedly."
I stand by these decisions and suggestions.
The editor, upon receipt of my pages, sent me this response (AND I QUOTE:)
"Many of these are incorrect, or not welcome, as you were asked for errors, not editorial feedback, suggestions, or opinions."
Okay. Fair enough. Perhaps I DID overstep my bounds. But how in the heck did all these issues slip through the editorial process?
If the changes and corrections listed above are going to be ignored, I think that is indicative of a sloppy, amateurish finished product.
As such, I politely asked to withdraw my work from inclusion. As of this writing, the editor has yet to respond.
I have felt terrible all day. I was only trying to help.
I love editorial comments and constructive criticism. I love critique groups. I love fine-tuning manuscripts.
Now I am questioning if I should reach out to the authors of the two stories, or just wash my hands of the entire situation. The editor seemingly won't be making (or requesting of the authors) changes or corrections. But perhaps the authors would want to know. It's a good opportunity to learn. Or maybe not. I don't know what to do in that regard. At this point, I am embarrassed for the whole project and the authors involved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is some positive news, however. I just signed two short story contracts with another publisher who I know from firsthand experience works carefully and judiciously to produce error-free, professional products. I look forward to working with them again on two forthcoming anthologies.
Red flag #1: There was no publisher named in the submissions call.
Red flag #2: Acceptance email but no contract offered.
Red flag #3: I don't know anyone in the table of contents (not always a bad thing, but definitely a rare occurrence.)
Red flag #4: Editor does not use blind carbon copy (BCC) but instead CCs everyone, failing to keep their emails private.
Red flag #5: Editor sends out the "final" manuscript, and asks contributors to edit not only their story, but also the stories preceding and following their story in the table of contents.
The stories before and after mine were fun and engaging, but definitely needed some clean up and correction.
I turned on Track Changes and got to work.
Examples of issues I flagged (I looked up every single issue online for verification first; feel free to do the same to check my work!):
Character paces the "parameter" of a bedroom. I replaced with "perimeter."
Character spins around and "flaired" her robe. I replaced with "flared."
Character waits with "baited" breath. I replaced with "bated."
Painting looks "Van Gogh-esc. I replaced with "Van Gogh-esque."
A pane of glass "lie" flat on a desk. I replaced with "lay."
"Awe, I'm sorry." Changed to "Aw, I'm sorry."
The children leave their "parent's" house. I changed to parents' house (plural, since both are indicated to be living.)
"Moment's ticked by." Corrected to "Moments ticked by." (It's just plural, not possessive.)
Something went "passed" someone's field of vision. I changed to "past" their field of vision.
Someone might have a heart attack caused by "shear" pain. I changed it to "sheer" pain.
Improper placement of a comma AFTER the quotation mark.
Quotation mark facing the WRONG WAY.
"Ge" remembered... Corrected to "He" remembered.
Twice in the second story the author says something in one sentence, then directly contradicts what was just said in next sentence. I merely pointed this out.
In one scene, author uses the word "phone" to describe everything, including the actual phone, but also in reference to the receiver, the (phone) line, the cradle, and the hand set. I suggested cleaning this up.
Three characters in a room argue with each other. Author omitted dialogue tags. I suggested with three characters, dialogue tags would help the reader keep track.
The phrase "a little" preceded an adjective three paragraphs in a row. I suggested omitting the phrase in all three instances.
Here was the trickiest issue: "seven pm" According to grammar guides, 7:00 a.m. is acceptable, as is 7:00 AM, but NOT "am" (lower case, no periods). Additionally, author mentions "seven pm" and later switches to military time/24 hour clock and says "19:07." I suggested for consistency's sake, the author stick with one or the other. THIS IS ONE I DID MESS UP ON, ERRONEOUSLY STATING 19:07 was 11:07, which is incorrect. It's 7:07 p.m.)
A character could smell "it's breath." I corrected to smell "its breath" as in this instance it is a possessive determiner, not a contraction of "it is."
Author uses "they/their," "it" (no caps) and "It" (capitalized in mid-sentence) interchangeably throughout the document whenever referencing the ghost. I suggested choosing one and sticking to it for consistency.
Use of the phrase "absently minded" I flagged it and asked if this was a British colloquialism. Suggested, but did not change it to, "absentmindedly."
I stand by these decisions and suggestions.
The editor, upon receipt of my pages, sent me this response (AND I QUOTE:)
"Many of these are incorrect, or not welcome, as you were asked for errors, not editorial feedback, suggestions, or opinions."
Okay. Fair enough. Perhaps I DID overstep my bounds. But how in the heck did all these issues slip through the editorial process?
If the changes and corrections listed above are going to be ignored, I think that is indicative of a sloppy, amateurish finished product.
As such, I politely asked to withdraw my work from inclusion. As of this writing, the editor has yet to respond.
I have felt terrible all day. I was only trying to help.
I love editorial comments and constructive criticism. I love critique groups. I love fine-tuning manuscripts.
Now I am questioning if I should reach out to the authors of the two stories, or just wash my hands of the entire situation. The editor seemingly won't be making (or requesting of the authors) changes or corrections. But perhaps the authors would want to know. It's a good opportunity to learn. Or maybe not. I don't know what to do in that regard. At this point, I am embarrassed for the whole project and the authors involved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is some positive news, however. I just signed two short story contracts with another publisher who I know from firsthand experience works carefully and judiciously to produce error-free, professional products. I look forward to working with them again on two forthcoming anthologies.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Honest Reviews of Hinnom Magazine 3 and Crimson Streets 2
Since Amazon doesn't allow authors to review anthologies that include their work, I've made a habit of posting my reviews here on my blog.
Title: Hinnom Magazine #003
Theme: "dark fiction and cosmic horror"
Publisher: Gehenna & Hinnom Books
Editor: C.P. Dunphey
Number of stories: 7 (plus articles, reviews and an interview)
Pages: 133
Price: $6.99 paperback, $2.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "Jennifer Brings it to Work" by Jack Lothian, which involves a mysterious entity that serves a massive distraction for an office staff, but might also be the harbinger of the end of life as we know it; and "The Enameled Crown" by Steve Toase, which is set in a dentist's office. It reminded me of a Bentley Little story (a compliment).
My story: "Home Again." This story is inspired by my own tiny home town and the idea of all points in history overlapping in the afterlife. At first I had a typical "horror" ending but the editor encouraged me to try for something with more of an emotional impact. Full disclosure: the paperback version has a continuity error I missed, while the Kindle version should have it fixed.
Final thoughts: I give this magazine a B. It has a gorgeous cover paying homage to a number of supernatural characters (villains) from classic horror literature. I skipped all the non-fiction and only read the stories. Leaving mine out of the equation, I enjoyed five of the six stories, especially the two noted above. It's a good deal for the price, especially if you opt for the updated Kindle version.
You can order a copy of Hinnom Magazine #003 right here.
Title: Crimson Streets 2
Theme: "stories inspired by the classic pulp magazines"
Publisher: portableNOUNS
Editor: Janet Carden and G. Shane Meeks
Number of stories: 12
Pages: 155
Price: $7.99 paperback, $2.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "Five Crisp Tens" by Chris Bauer, an interesting mystery with a shocking twist, which would have been a perfect fit in the old Alfred Hitchcock Presents crime anthologies; "Three on a Match" by Robb White, which started as a heist story but ended in Tarrantino territory; and "Under the Earth" by Micah Castle, a creepy story that reminded me of the vintage Weird Tales.
My story: "Nic Fits," is a humorous story in which a mob hit man with serious anger issues wakes up dead and buried. Things get worse for Nic when a rat decides to nest in the casket.
Final thoughts: I give this magazine a B. Every story features an illustration, which is awesome. Some of the stories entertained me more than others. Most were either fun or suspenseful, with only one I didn't care for. Plenty of variety too!
You can order a copy of Crimson Streets 2 at this link.
Theme: "dark fiction and cosmic horror"
Publisher: Gehenna & Hinnom Books
Editor: C.P. Dunphey
Number of stories: 7 (plus articles, reviews and an interview)
Pages: 133
Price: $6.99 paperback, $2.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "Jennifer Brings it to Work" by Jack Lothian, which involves a mysterious entity that serves a massive distraction for an office staff, but might also be the harbinger of the end of life as we know it; and "The Enameled Crown" by Steve Toase, which is set in a dentist's office. It reminded me of a Bentley Little story (a compliment).
My story: "Home Again." This story is inspired by my own tiny home town and the idea of all points in history overlapping in the afterlife. At first I had a typical "horror" ending but the editor encouraged me to try for something with more of an emotional impact. Full disclosure: the paperback version has a continuity error I missed, while the Kindle version should have it fixed.
Final thoughts: I give this magazine a B. It has a gorgeous cover paying homage to a number of supernatural characters (villains) from classic horror literature. I skipped all the non-fiction and only read the stories. Leaving mine out of the equation, I enjoyed five of the six stories, especially the two noted above. It's a good deal for the price, especially if you opt for the updated Kindle version.
You can order a copy of Hinnom Magazine #003 right here.
Theme: "stories inspired by the classic pulp magazines"
Publisher: portableNOUNS
Editor: Janet Carden and G. Shane Meeks
Number of stories: 12
Pages: 155
Price: $7.99 paperback, $2.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "Five Crisp Tens" by Chris Bauer, an interesting mystery with a shocking twist, which would have been a perfect fit in the old Alfred Hitchcock Presents crime anthologies; "Three on a Match" by Robb White, which started as a heist story but ended in Tarrantino territory; and "Under the Earth" by Micah Castle, a creepy story that reminded me of the vintage Weird Tales.
My story: "Nic Fits," is a humorous story in which a mob hit man with serious anger issues wakes up dead and buried. Things get worse for Nic when a rat decides to nest in the casket.
Final thoughts: I give this magazine a B. Every story features an illustration, which is awesome. Some of the stories entertained me more than others. Most were either fun or suspenseful, with only one I didn't care for. Plenty of variety too!
You can order a copy of Crimson Streets 2 at this link.
Honest Reviews of Whispers of the Apoc and Perceived Realities
Since Amazon doesn't allow authors to review anthologies that include their work, I've made a habit of posting my reviews here on my blog.
Title: Whispers of the Apoc
Theme: "Tales from the Zombie Apocalypse"
Publisher: Tannhauser Press
Editors: Martin Wilsey
Number of stories: 16
Pages: 406
Price: $14.95 paperback, $3.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "All Dolled Up" by Stephen Kozeniewski, which chronicles a thuggish character who, while fleeing the zombie outbreak, finds himself in an even more harrowing situation; "Needs Must" by John L. French, which follows a strike-force on a (heartbreaking) post-outbreak extraction mission; and "Blood in the Water" by Emmet O'Cuana, in which the zombie apocalypse is almost secondary to a safe haven's ghastly secret.
My favorite of all, however, is "A Slow Leak" by Cameron Smith, in which a lonely outcast faces the mistrust of others in an isolated compound, yet still finds the strength of character to make the ultimate sacrifice when the safe haven is invaded by the walking dead.
My story: "Crave New World." This is an extended version of "Encephaloshrooms" which appeared in The Misbehaving Dead last year. This version is not only polished up and revised, but also features two additional scenes, one heartfelt, one ultra-violent.
Final thoughts: I give the anthology a B+. If you love zombie stories, maybe even an A. Lots of different styles, and only one story (very heavy on military jargon) was a chore to finish. Most of the authors included were new to me and there were many pleasant surprises, and no two stories alike.
You can order Whispers of the Apoc here!
Title: Realities Perceived
Theme: "Speculative Fiction on Reality, Perception, and the Unreal."
Publisher: Left Hand Publishers
Editors: Karen T. Newman
Number of stories: 15
Pages: 259
Price: $10.99 paperback
Favorite stories: Several! "The Mortal Coil" by A.P. Sessler, a jarring mix of sci-fi and horror; "I Carry You Everywhere" by Katta Hules, a fascinating story about a reporter who scores an interview with a reclusive celebrity; "The Dodos" by Gregory L. Norris, which chronicles friendship amidst tragedy; "Demon" by A.D. Ross, a violent action story involving a cult and a tragic hero; and "The Ogress" by Keith Gouveia, in which a cabbie in Japan unwittingly transports a demonic assassin from job to job.
My story: "Cobwebs and Cold Truths," which features two stories within a third story. The editor of the anthology calls it "a psychological thriller where Halloween shreds the veil between madness and monsters."
Final thoughts: I give the anthology an A for story content and a C for cover and interior layout, averaging out to a B. Lots of unique and entertaining stories here, all of them well-written.
You can order Realities Perceived at this link.
Theme: "Tales from the Zombie Apocalypse"
Publisher: Tannhauser Press
Editors: Martin Wilsey
Number of stories: 16
Pages: 406
Price: $14.95 paperback, $3.99 Kindle
Favorite stories: "All Dolled Up" by Stephen Kozeniewski, which chronicles a thuggish character who, while fleeing the zombie outbreak, finds himself in an even more harrowing situation; "Needs Must" by John L. French, which follows a strike-force on a (heartbreaking) post-outbreak extraction mission; and "Blood in the Water" by Emmet O'Cuana, in which the zombie apocalypse is almost secondary to a safe haven's ghastly secret.
My favorite of all, however, is "A Slow Leak" by Cameron Smith, in which a lonely outcast faces the mistrust of others in an isolated compound, yet still finds the strength of character to make the ultimate sacrifice when the safe haven is invaded by the walking dead.
My story: "Crave New World." This is an extended version of "Encephaloshrooms" which appeared in The Misbehaving Dead last year. This version is not only polished up and revised, but also features two additional scenes, one heartfelt, one ultra-violent.
Final thoughts: I give the anthology a B+. If you love zombie stories, maybe even an A. Lots of different styles, and only one story (very heavy on military jargon) was a chore to finish. Most of the authors included were new to me and there were many pleasant surprises, and no two stories alike.
You can order Whispers of the Apoc here!
Title: Realities Perceived
Theme: "Speculative Fiction on Reality, Perception, and the Unreal."
Publisher: Left Hand Publishers
Editors: Karen T. Newman
Number of stories: 15
Pages: 259
Price: $10.99 paperback
Favorite stories: Several! "The Mortal Coil" by A.P. Sessler, a jarring mix of sci-fi and horror; "I Carry You Everywhere" by Katta Hules, a fascinating story about a reporter who scores an interview with a reclusive celebrity; "The Dodos" by Gregory L. Norris, which chronicles friendship amidst tragedy; "Demon" by A.D. Ross, a violent action story involving a cult and a tragic hero; and "The Ogress" by Keith Gouveia, in which a cabbie in Japan unwittingly transports a demonic assassin from job to job.
My story: "Cobwebs and Cold Truths," which features two stories within a third story. The editor of the anthology calls it "a psychological thriller where Halloween shreds the veil between madness and monsters."
Final thoughts: I give the anthology an A for story content and a C for cover and interior layout, averaging out to a B. Lots of unique and entertaining stories here, all of them well-written.
You can order Realities Perceived at this link.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
New Releases for Winter Reading!
Here's an update on several new publications that feature my short fiction.
Note: These are NOT reviews. I have not read these yet.
Hinnom Magazine #3. Where things go bump in the night and dimensions fold within one another. Beasts lurk in shadows and nightmares take physical form. In this tome, you will find the most exciting dark fiction and cosmic horror from the best up-and-coming authors in the genre. Embrace the Unknown. (Excerpt from Amazon's product description.)
My story, "Home Again," follows Adam's return to the town of his childhood after many years away. He's surprised to find everything the same as when he left. But something isn't quite right, and as the facade starts to fall apart, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want him there.
Hinnom Magazine #3 featuring Home Again
Realities Perceived. Perception is Reality... or is it? Do we create our own reality? Or does our view of it shape our world? Neither heroes nor heavens, victims nor villains, may grasp the true nature of our being.
From science fiction, to horror and the supernatural, to dramas about the fabric of our existence, this anthology features an international fusion of artists who will thrill you with an eclectic selection of tales. (Excerpt from Amazon's product description.)
My story, "Cobwebs and Cold Truths," is a psychological thriller/horror story where an ominous old man's Halloween tales shred the veil between madness and monsters.
Realities Perceived anthology featuring Cobwebs and Cold Truths
Whispers of the Apoc: Tales from the Zombie Apocalypse.
"No one knew how it began. The world fell in just a few weeks.
These are the stories of those people strong enough, lucky enough or crazy enough to survive." (From Amazon's product description.)
My story, "Crave New World," follows Mara as she hunts and harvests zombies. In the near-future, humans crave the dried brains of zombies. In fact, it's the hottest drug on the market. And Mara must make the hardest decision of her life when she comes face to face with a zombie she recognizes...
Whispers of the Apoc featuring Crave New World
Note: These are NOT reviews. I have not read these yet.
My story, "Home Again," follows Adam's return to the town of his childhood after many years away. He's surprised to find everything the same as when he left. But something isn't quite right, and as the facade starts to fall apart, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want him there.
Hinnom Magazine #3 featuring Home Again
Realities Perceived. Perception is Reality... or is it? Do we create our own reality? Or does our view of it shape our world? Neither heroes nor heavens, victims nor villains, may grasp the true nature of our being.
From science fiction, to horror and the supernatural, to dramas about the fabric of our existence, this anthology features an international fusion of artists who will thrill you with an eclectic selection of tales. (Excerpt from Amazon's product description.)
My story, "Cobwebs and Cold Truths," is a psychological thriller/horror story where an ominous old man's Halloween tales shred the veil between madness and monsters.
Realities Perceived anthology featuring Cobwebs and Cold Truths
"No one knew how it began. The world fell in just a few weeks.
These are the stories of those people strong enough, lucky enough or crazy enough to survive." (From Amazon's product description.)
My story, "Crave New World," follows Mara as she hunts and harvests zombies. In the near-future, humans crave the dried brains of zombies. In fact, it's the hottest drug on the market. And Mara must make the hardest decision of her life when she comes face to face with a zombie she recognizes...
Whispers of the Apoc featuring Crave New World
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