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Book Review: Rare Birds by L.S. Johnson

cover art for Rare Birds by L.S. Johnson

Rare Birds by L. S. Johnson

Traversing Z Press, 2019

ISBN 978-0-9988936-4-8

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

I must confess that I was not familiar with L. S. Johnson and her previous work. Thus, when starting to read this collection  (featuring eight longish stories) I had no idea of what to expect. Certainly, I was not expecting such a strong, vivid narrative style, or her bold way of addressing thorny and tricky subjects with apparent ease, and of handling hot topics with a steady hand. Blending graphic horror and unrestrained sexual drive with an insightful view of human deepest feelings, Johnson produces strong fiction unsuitable both for the squeamish and the cursory reader. You may love or hate her stories, but they will never leave you indifferent.

Among the included tales my favorites are: “Rare Birds, 1959”, a gloomy story of rape with an unexpected, surreal outcome; “Marigolds”. a dark, disquieting tale of lesbian love set in 1775, and taking place in a Parisian brothel; and  “A Harvest Fit for Monsters”, a memorable dystopian story set in a grim future where an old woman takes revenge on a war criminal.

The highlight of the book is “The Queen of Lakes”, an outstanding tale masterfully depicting the life of a clever peasant girl, who is forced to leave school to allow her dumb brother to go to college, and finds a devoted friend in a dangerous creature dwelling by a lake.

I’m strongly recommending this collection, while I’m getting ready  to secure a copy of the author’s other books if still available.

 

Contains: rape, sex, explicit violence

 

Reviewed by Mario Guslandi

Posted on December 23, 2020 by , Reply

Book Review: Who’s There? A Collection of Stories by Dimas Rio

Who’s There? A Collection of Stories by Dimas Rio ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

Self-published, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1676174103

ASIN: B082T3MW2W

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

 

Who’s There? is a collection of stories by Indonesian author Dimas Rio. It is an interesting read. I was curious how an Indonesian author’s work in horror would translate across cultures, and I was not disappointed. Who’s There? opens with the title work. A groom is waiting for his fiancé with their friends at the hotel bar for one last party before the wedding.  The hour grows late and still no bride-to-be.  Where could she be?

In the second story, At Dusk, a high school student is sent to interview a famous mystery novelist for the school paper.  The elderly writer is eager to tell his story.  But will the ending be more than the student can handle?

Third up is The Wandering.  A night watchman struggles to provide for his pregnant girlfriend.  He steals from the office he is trusted to guard and lies to cover it up.  This is not the only theft in his past.

Fourth is The Voice Canal, A homesick graduate student is struggling to finish his dissertation.  His father tells him to stay and finish, it’s only a few more months.  They’ll spend plenty of time together.

The fifth and final entry is The Forest Protector.  A mother is taking her son to visit his grandparents.  At the start of the trip, she feels impure.  She must cleanse herself.  How can she raise her son and protect him from the cruelties of the world if she can’t look after herself?

Throughout the work there was a good use of tone and pacing to build suspense and draw the reader in.  The flow of each story went well.  The descriptions were enough to envision what was going on without overwhelming me.  It felt right.  The characters were believable and helped ground the stories in the culture.   The author used Indonesian terms throughout, and the ebook edition includes links for each word to definitions at the back. Fun stuff!  Even though a couple of the stories started out a little rough (The Wandering in particular), they recovered and drew me in to a strong conclusion.  There were some minor grammar issues, but I will chalk that up to issues with translation (the book was originally published in Indonesian).  None of them were so glaring that I couldn’t sort out what was happening.  All in all, this was a worthwhile read.  Recommended.

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Posted on August 21, 2020 by , Reply

Book Review: Out of Water by Sarah Read

Out of Water by Sarah Read

Trepidatio Press, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1950305056

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

There are a handful of authors who have emerged in the past year or two that have made a splash in the world of horror. Thankfully, many of them have been recognized either by review sites such as this one or through awards. I was handed The Bone Weaver’s Orchard last year and was impressed with the writing. Sarah Read immediately established herself in the top tier of new writers that would soon make waves in publishing. That novel overflowed with style and character that lent a “classic” tone to the story that felt both natural and fresh.

When Out of Water arrived from the always quality Trepidatio Press, I waited until I had time to enjoy these stories. That old cliche rang true once again: good things do come to those who have to wait for ideal times for great stories in the middle of chaotic lives!

Instead of hitting on every story here, I’ll focus on a few that resonated with me long afterwards or jarred me with an emotion right away. There were plenty.

“Endoskeletal” is a perfect representation of the modern horror story. Archaeology in the genre is always a treat. What begins as something that seems typical goes sideways pretty quickly, with a character who sticks with the reader in a memorable, claustrophobic tale.

“Making Monsters” grips the reader by the throat. Read examines the inner workings of its disturbing lead character, while making the story enteraining just as much as it is bleak.

“In Tongues”- just read it. Weird religious tales written well have a tendency to burrow under the skin, and the author nails it here.

Finally, “Underwater Thing” feels a bit Lovecraftian, yet wholly original as well. The father-daughter dynamic is painful but full of suspense. It’s probably the highlight of the collection.

Other stories hit on different cylinders, with topics that are wide-ranging but have a common thread. There’s a sense that mood will determine which story could be a favorite for that particular day which, for me, is a strong sign of a stellar collection. The writing is  detailed, but not flowery. Read imbues each story with just enough imagery for the reader to conjure the visions to bring each to life.

It’s easy to see why this book was shortlisted for the Bram Stoker Awards. Recommended.

 

Reviewed by David Simms

 

Editor’s note: Out of Water was nominated to the final ballot of the 2019 Bram Stoker Award in the category of Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection.

 

Posted on April 18, 2020 by , Reply
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