Home » Posts tagged "short story collections" (Page 13)

Book Review: A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe by J.R. Hamantaschen

A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe by J.R. Hamantaschen

Amazon Digital Services, 2018

ISBN: 978-1722219901

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe is Hamantaschen’s third short story collection, and it is just as enjoyable as his first collection, You Shall Never Know Security. More than just dark and macabre horror stories, Hamantaschen crafts stories that explore the human condition in all its many emotions. They are not, however, for the faint of heart.

 

The last of the book’s stories, “I Will Soon Be Home and Never Need Anyone Ever Again”, is more of a novella than a short story. Thomas is a smart 14-year-old, with a bit of an arrogant streak, who is bullied in school. Most of it is verbal, but it eventually becomes physical. Thomas meets Brandon, who wants to help Thomas with his problem. Though intrigued, and happy to have a friend, Thomas refuses Brandon’s help. Thomas’ life continues into adulthood, though not necessarily as he would have liked. This is an excellent story, and you really feel for Thomas and almost hope he takes Brandon up on his offer. Who can’t relate to a kid being bullied at some point in their lives? While Thomas can be annoying, Hamantaschen writes him with much empathy, even while Thomas denies his own desperate need for friendship.

Other fantastic stories include “That’s Just the Way Things Are These Days”, about a rare and strange disorder that affects a small portion of boys during puberty in a very unexpected manner; “Rococo Veins and Lurid Stains”, about a teenager contemplating suicide and what drives her thoughts; “Faithfully and Lovingly”, about a young couple destroyed by tragic events, though the tragedy ultimately continues; and “Story Title Revealed About Halfway Through”, about a young man who feels no emotions and cares for nothing, though a new treatment may have brought him too far in the other direction.

All the stories in A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe are highly engaging. Hamantaschen has a way of writing that completely draws you in and makes you feel something—anything—for all his characters.

Recommended

Contains some adult language and (minor) sexual situations; also contains some gore

Revieweed by Colleen Wanglund

Posted on October 28, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. by Alexander Zelenyj, illustrated by David Rix

Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. by Alexander Zelenyj

Eibonvale Press, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-9555268-5-5

Available: Hardcover (used), paperback (new and used)

    At first glance, the cover of Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. comes across as a science fiction story collection. For the most part it isn’t.  Instead it is a bizarre, surreal collection of forty short stories. Each story has its own illustration by David Rix. Mr. Zelenyj has an eloquent style of writing that gives each story a unique dark flavor and his vivid imagination bring the characters to life for the reader and takes them places they would never expect to go. Some of the stories pull on the heartstrings as they bring the reader close to the characters, but each story has its own dark place – some with brutal toothy malevolence while others are shadows full of emotional pain. The only complaint that the reader may have is that the eloquent wording at times slows some of the stories down. Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. is recommended for libraries looking for a story collection that is unique, dark and at times surreal.

Contains: Violence, Sex, Rape, Bestiality

Review by Bret Jordan

Posted on September 19, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale

Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale

Cutting Block Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1732009004

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Now there are two Lansdales writing– watch out world! Joe’s readers know that the man branches out into whatever direction he wishes to, and most often, succeeds.

His daughter Kasey, a very talented singer/songwriter, brings a breath of fresh air with her as she joins her father in this collection, which defies simple categorization.

Dana and Jana are investigators of the “supernormal,” but very different in their approaches. Dana’s is reminiscent of Lovecraft and Holmes, while Jana is more of a Scully/Buffy character.

Dana (written by Joe) enters an old men’s club that will remind many of the Chowder Society (the group of fogies from Peter Straub’s Ghost Story), who sit back and entertain themselves with scintillating tales of the weird. She has been summoned to share her adventures, which she terms “supernormal,” since she believes everything under the sun can be explained– somehow. While she begins slowly and properly, her stories eventually become less restrained and more colorful.

Jana (penned by Kasey) kicks off the second half of the book. These accounts lighten the mood and leave the reader wanting more. By comparison, Joe’s stories feel almost stiff and forced, a possible homage to classic styles of Doyle, Lovecraft, and Machen. Jana is the Mulder to Dana’s Scully, more Kolchak than Holmes, and a great foil to Dana’s character.

Since Lansdale is notorious for falling for characters and having them reappear in subsequent books, we can hope to see Dana and Jana again. Recommended for any fan of good storytelling.

 

Posted on September 19, 2018 by , Reply
First « 1112131415 » Last