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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

Posted on May 11, 2016 by , 3 comments

Book Review: American Nocturne by Hank Schwaeble

American Nocturne by Hank Schwaeble
Cohesion Press, 2016
ISBN-13:978-0994428660
Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

In 2009, the anthology Five Strokes to Midnight and the novel Damnable introduced the horror world to Hank Schwaeble. That year, Schwaeble co-edited Five Strokes to Midnight, which won the Stoker Award for Best Anthology. The anthology included three of his own stories in addition to stories by Gary Braunbeck, Tom Piccirilli, Deborah LeBlanc, and Christopher Golden. In the same year, his debut novel, Damnable, won a Stoker for Best First Novel. While Schwaeble has gone on to write a sequel to Damnable, titled Diabolical (and a third volume is expected shortly), American Nocturne is his first solo collection of short stories. The stories of his that were included in Five Strokes to Midnight showed a taste of his versatility in storytelling, and a few are included in this collection, but the majority of the tales are brand new.

Within the pages, Schwaeble gives the readers a deep, dark taste of noir in the title story, transporting the reader to an earlier time in a piece that that reminds of early Bloch or Matheson.  The other stories range from westerns, to science fiction, to suspenseful thriller, to all-out horror. The highlights are many, so the focus here will be on the tales that this reviewer considers award-worthy.  The pair of weird westerns, “Phanton Hill” and “To Judge The Quick” would likely make Joe Lansdale proud, the best compliment I can give to a story in this genre, which is difficult to pull off today without resorting to cliche.  “Natural Selection”, a Lovecraftian tale, is included, followed by such left turns as “Gomorrah” and “Nurture.” both which may find themselves on the short list for awards next winter.  The surprise here was the inclusion of a Kolchak story (yes, that Kolchak).  Wow.  It works so well here, and if the others don’t persuade readers that this author deserves to be mentioned in the conversation of one of the new elite, “A Murmur of Evil” just might.

Schwaeble offers the reader a variety of different entrees, each one high quality and with its own flavors, leaving a distinct taste that lingers long after the story has become a memory. While genres and characters change, the author’s voice is consistent, the secret ingredient that flavors every story. Sit back in a room full of shadows, grab hold of a solid drink, take a taste of American Nocturne, and fall away into the darkness with these stories of the night. Recommended.

Reviewed by Dave Simms

Posted on May 11, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: Flowers in a Dumpster by Mark Allan Gunnells

Flowers In A Dumpster by Mark Allan Gunnells

Crystal Lake Publishing, 2015

ISBN 9780994679321

Available: print, Kindle ebook

Flowers in a Dumpster contains seventeen short stories, each presenting a provocative investigation of human nature, specifically regarding what happens when hope is gone. Several stories stand out to me.

In “Past Lives,” the world is a very different place after a supervirus ravaged the United States, wiping out a large percentage of the population. A struggling family reluctantly takes in a wayward stranger, one who proves to be all too familiar and a reminder of the lies told by the leader of the free world. This was a very striking story.

“Welcome” and “Welcome Back” both focus on Steve and Al, a couple that gets stranded and end up trapped in a strange house. In the first story, the couple head to the first house they see to call for help. They are greeted by a frantic woman, practically dragged inside, and told a fantastic story about her family being trapped in the house for two years. Now that Steve and Al have arrived, the small family can finally escape. But what of Steve and Al? “Welcome Back” is a continuation that takes place five years after the couple became trapped in the mysterious house. I think the most interesting aspect of the stories is watching how each of the men deal with the stress of their situation. It’s truly heartbreaking.

The shortest story of the collection, “The Support Group,” is probably my favorite in this book, and is one of the most powerful. “The Support Group” personifies various cities around the world that are festooned with parasites. They are desperate to rid themselves of their problem, but no one is willing or able to go as far as one did, one who succeeded.

Two other stories that I found to be gripping are “Similar Interests” and Land of Plenty.” The former is a unique take on the serial killer story. It is told through the perspectives of two serial killers. The latter tells of a small but prosperous community that keeps its population in check using an unorthodox method of control.

A few of the stories, while intriguing, didn’t quite deliver. One such story, “The Locked Tower,” dealt with a man obsessed with gaining access to a forbidden tower in a building at his old college. He’s thwarted at every turn by university administration and security, among others. What he discovers falls flat to me, but others may find it to intriguing.

These are just a handful of flowers you can find in this collection. If you want a stories of a visceral nature, pick up this collection. You won’t be disappointed. Recommended.

Contains: body horror, gore, sex, abuse

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on April 28, 2016 by , Reply
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