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Book Review: The Halloween Children by Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss

The Halloween children

The Halloween Children  by Brian James Freeman & Norman Prentiss

Earthling Publications, 2014

Available: Limited edition hardcover, lettered traycased hardcover.

          Note: You must order directly from Earthling Publications here.

 

Earthling Publications’ Halloween books are something that no reader of horror fiction, or any genre of fiction, should ever miss, and The Halloween Children is no exception; Freeman and Prentiss  have produced another book that has been knocked out of the park.   This is a disturbing, claustrophobic, enjoyable read that encompasses everything Halloween should be.

This is an everyman’s horror story: the best, most relatable kind, that holds family close to its dark heart. Harris, the handyman for the Stillbrook apartment complex, narrates the events through diary entries.  Harris lives with his wife, Lynn, his son, Matt, and his daughter, Amber.  From the opening diary entries, we learn that Harris’s and Lynn’s marriage is about as frayed as possible, without blood being spilled (for the moment).  Lynn is paranoid about her husband’s work around the complex, assuming the worst. She also believes  something is seriously wrong with their son. Parents can have favorites, and this usually leads to hurt, deceit, and psychological wounds that have far-reaching effects. In this case, mother sides with daughter, and father with son.  Neither parent, however, is aware of what their children are doing, or planning. Then the owner/manager of the complex decides that Halloween should be canceled this year. No party will take place, no decorations will adorn the buildings and grounds. When the children hear about the holiday cancellation,  the slow-motion disintegration of the family, community, and soul is already underway.

Parallels may be drawn to The Shining, but The Halloween Children is utterly original and deserves to be given applause on its own merits. Freeman and Prentiss are talented, far more than has been recognized by the masses.  The storytelling here is near flawless, as is the writing– always a challenge in a collaboration.  If this is what they are capable of as a team, I hope that more writing from both will be on the way soon.  The characters make the story, and it’s actually more frightening than seeing the Torrance family torn apart, because it draws in neighbors, friends, or maybe something much closer.  While The Halloween Children can be read in one sitting, take some time and enjoy it, allowing its effects to take hold.  A perfect tale for any holiday. Well, any holiday that includes a fragmented, fragile family. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by David Simms

Posted on January 25, 2015 by , Reply

10 Horror Books You’ve Never Read?

Photo credit: Publisher’s Weekly/Kevin Kelly

 

Nick Cutter, author of The Troop (reviewed here) and, most recently, The Deep, compiled a list for Booklist titled  “10 Horror Books You’ve Never Read”. It’s kind of a fun list because he left off some of the books that typically appear on “Best Of” lists, but it’s kinda hard for me to believe that the average horror reader isn’t familiar with the majority of them.  Cutter notes that his taste in horror is on the “visceral” side, and certainly a number of the authors on his list don’t stint on the gore and violence. Still, it’s an interesting list, and it’s easy to see that Cutter definitely is an enthusiastic fan of horror fiction.  Here’s a  link to the list.

So, what do you think? Is there anything you’d add?

Posted on January 23, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Professor Challenger: The Kew Growths and Other Stories by William Meikle

Professor Challenger: The Kew Growths And Other Stories by William Meikle

Dark Renaissance Books, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1-937128-84-5

Availability: Trade Paperback
 
Professor Challenger: The Kew Growths And Other Stories introduces journalist Edward Malone, who is on suspension at his newspaper and is rehabilitating after an ill-fated trip to the Amazon. He craves adventure, but is given nothing but obituaries, flower shows, and weddings to report on. He is considering leaving his employer for the French Riviera when he is given the task of reporting on the opening of a new greenhouse at Kew Gardens.

The greenhouse is a fantastic structure, home to many exotic plants that only serve to remind Malone of what he is missing from a real adventure. That is, until he sees the Kew Growths: three foot tall parasol mushrooms from Mongolia that sing, like a choir of monks in the wind … absolutely charming! The next day, however, ten of the attendees are in the hospital, comatose from an unidentifiable infection, and an investigation commences. Malone meets up with Thomas Carnacki, a student of the arcane, who has deduced that the cause is the Mongolian mushrooms, which are highly dangerous and should not be cultivated under any circumstances. The worst is yet to come! It is time to call in Professor Challenger.

This adventure story was a fantastic read. It is a series of short stories that flow together so well as to be one complete work. The characters are lesser known creations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and William Meikle does them proud. Sherlock Holmes and Watson have nothing on Professor Challenger and Malone. The tone was beautifully set right from the start and carried on throughout. The phrases and descriptions felt very 1800’s, and the characters were distinctive and easy to identify; the dialog really made this work for me. The descriptions were very well done– just enough without going too far. The action sections were also superb. The eleven illustrations spread throughout the text were a nice bonus. When I finished the last page, I definitely wanted more. Other works by the author I have read are: Professor Challenger: The Island Of Terror, Island Life, and Watchers: The Coming of the King.

Highly recommended for adult readers.

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Posted on January 11, 2015 by , Reply
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