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Book Review: A New York State of Fright: Horror Stories From the Empire State edited by James Chambers, April Grey, and Robert Masterson

A New York State Of Fright: Horror Stories From the Empire State edited by James Chambers, April Grey, and Robert Masterson

Hippocampus Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1-61498-237-1

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Horror writers, both established and new, live all over New York State, from the Big Apple to Upstate.  Each has their own take on the macabre.   In this anthology of frightening tales set in their home state, they put their talents and imaginations to good use: the writers, editors, and publisher pledged to donate the proceeds to Girls Write Now, a New York City nonprofit that matches at-risk teen girls with mentor writers, to help create and benefit a new generation of New York writers.

From the beginning, A New York State of Fright promised to give a great variety of tales, and it did.  There is something for everyone here. A woman addicted to fashion gets her shoe fix with an unknown designer.  The incredible heels demand to be worn, no matter the cost. A collection agent for a Latino mob runs the neighborhood handing out beatings to death at will… until the victims decide they’ve had enough.  People trapped in the subway while a hurricane bears down on the city discover that when rain floods the tunnels, the water washes more than rats up out of its darkness.  A visit to the old abandoned lighthouse in New York Sound is said to let you reach out to lost loved ones…  but maybe they will reach back.  A psychopath is recreating the past in murders: a crime reporter has a tip for the lead detective that will break the case wide open.  A man buys an estate and recounts to his realtor how he met his wife, an incredible story filled with werewolves… or is it?  During the dog days of summer three drinking buddies sit in their favorite bar and ogle the hottie outside.  The game is simple: is she alive or dead?

Some stories worked better than others for me.  My favorites were: “Eyes Left“ by Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee; “Everybody Wins” by Lisa Mannetti; “Blood Will Tell” by JG Faherty; “The Grim” by Allan Burd; and “Heels” by Alps Beck.  Each of these used enough realistic elements to give an authentic feel to their stories, and also had a unique twist.  The pacing and flow was good in them, the descriptions were descriptive without being overdone, and the characters were believable.  The stories drew me in, and wouldn’t let go.  The other tales were okay: some worked better than others for me.  However, this entire collection suffered to one degree or another with a variety of grammar issues.  Spelling, run-ons, telling vs. showing, garbled phrases, and punctuation issues all reared their ugly heads.  Due to this, I had trouble following some works.  The only work that I have read previously by an author with a story in this volume is Lucifer’s Lottery by Edward Lee.

Contains: Sexual situations, Sexism

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Editor’s note: A New York State of Fright: Horror Stories From the Empire State is a nominee on the final ballot of the Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in an Anthology. 

 

Posted on May 5, 2019 by , Reply

Book Review: Lost Highways: Dark Fictions From the Road edited by D. Alexander Ward

Lost Highways: Dark Fictions From The Road edited By D. Alexander Ward

Crystal Lake Publishing, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1643704722

Available: Paperback, eBook(Kindle)

 

On the open road, opportunities abound.  Anything can happen: you can hitchhike your way across the country depending on the kindness of strangers; go on a pilgrimage to find a lost relative last known to be in a cult; dispose of a cheating ex; run for your life from a mysterious pursuer; clean up your act by traveling through time to hunt yourself; explore the history of a deadly stretch of road.  You can get revenge.  Try the local cuisine, or become it.  Rob a gas station or stop a heist.  Meet a ghost.  Tour the country.  Take a ride with Death.  All this, and more, awaits you on the road.

Lost Highways: Dark Fictions From The Road had a lot of fun stories– 20 to be exact– and a bonus of 5 works of art.  The title got my attention from the start, and I was curious what tales of the road I would find.  I was not disappointed.  The majority of the stories had plotlines that kept me interested and challenged me.  Many gave me twists that I did not expect.  The tone throughout these works was creepy, with the occasional feeling of vindication or awe.  The characters were believable for their situations.  There was enough background to set each story up.  Usually, I was thrown straight into the action and the details of the past popped up as needed.  Fun stuff.  The descriptions and pacing flowed well.  The only complaint I can make is that there were a few grammar issues, mostly typos.  My favorite stories were: Mr. Hugsy by Robert Ford; Jim’s Meats by Kelli Owen; Not From Detroit by Joe R. Lansdale; Room 4 At The Haymaker by Josh Malerman; and The Widow by Rio Youers.  I have not read any of these authors’ work previously, with the exception of I Can Taste the Blood by Josh Malerman. Recommended for adult readers.

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

 

Editor’s note: Lost Highways: Dark Fictions from the Road is a nominee on the final ballot for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in an Anthology.

 

Posted on May 5, 2019 by , Reply

Book Review: Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias

Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias

Broken River Books, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1940885490

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Some books are difficult to review. Others are very difficult, even impossible to truly convey.  Coyote Songs is a brutal beauty of a novel, a blistering read that is fascinating, and incredibly raw. Gabino Iglesias takes on one of the most controversial topics in America today– the border and immigration– viewed through the eyes of individual Latinos.

Pedrito, The Mother, The Coyote, Jamie, Alma and La Bruja– these are the voices of Coyote Songs. Each has a story to tell about the terrors of life today as a Latinx who seeks peace, safety, and acceptance here in the United States. Each speaks of his or her horrors in a manner that chills the reader. Many of the stories within are short, so I won’t summarize them in this review. However, here are a few tidbits, to intrigue the reader to pick up this book.

Pedrito is a young boy fishing with his father before tragedy strikes in the form of brutal violence and racism. The event will shape his being in a manner that readers view on the news daily. The Coyote ferries young souls across the border in the hope for a better life–  but the manner in which this is accomplished will leave a scar on the reader’s soul. The other characters express emotions varying from despair to hope to terror as they maneuver through the current environment of ICE, Border Patrol, and the current American administration, forcing a lens to focus on the ordeals of the innocent souls who are attempting to simply live in America.

Gabino Iglesias tackles important issues here, that are crucial to the fabric of our nation, and reveals the gritty underbelly that many people prefer to ignore. His writing is pure. His prose is sharper than a rusted strand of barbed wire, unadorned by the language that would obscure the raw poetry underneath. These tales need to be read. This is fiction that reveals an ugly reality that we all should be aware of.  Highly recommended reading, but have a drink ready for afterwards.

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

 

Editor’s note: Coyote Songs is a nominee on the final ballot of the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of  Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection. 

 

 

Posted on May 1, 2019 by , Reply
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