Horror World Book Reviews
July, 2007

SMILING FACES SOMETIMES by Gary Braunbeck
Review by Angela Bennett

Alan has lost everything. His wife, his job, his home. He only has one place left to go; the one place and time where life was safe.

Told in a series of flashbacks and stories, we learn how Alan has fallen, why he feels abandoned by the world and how he comes to terms with the hand that life has dealt him.

This story, told in Braunbeck's unique style, is alternately surreal and horrific and Keith Minnion's haunting artwork adds to the surrealistic atmosphere.

Another exceptional offering from White Noise Press. A definite must read.

White Noise Press

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YOU IN? by Kealan Patrick Burke
Review by Joe Kroeger

With the publication of You In?, a haunting new chapbook from Bad Moon Books, Kealan Patrick Burke expertly proves the longstanding adage that good things do come in small packages. Even though You In? does not have the page count of a grand epic novel, Kealan Patrick Burke packs in enough chilling images and full-bodied characters into his amazingly written prose to boldly stand up against any high page-count ghost story out there. By expertly using his poetic words to create an atmosphere of psychological fear, this chapbook spotlights Kealan Patrick Burke as one of the premiere authors in the horror genre who truly at the top of his game.

The tightly woven tale tells the story of Peter Haskins, a down on his luck gambler who takes a security job as a last ditch effort to turn his life around. With such an easy job ahead of him, Peter Haskins is sure this will be the chance he desperately needs to banish the ghosts of his past and create a better life for himself. As soon as he arrives at the Wickerwood Inn to watch over the machinery left there for the renovation, he discovers that something is waiting within the shadows of this abandoned building that will push him beyond the limits of his own sanity.

You In? is a one-sitting story that is another example of why Kealan Patrick Burke is and always will be an author to keep your eye on. This flawlessly written chapbook is overflowing with exceptional writing and a plot that casts a new light on the classic ghost story creating an overall enjoyable read that is sure to haunt you long after the final page.

If there is a complaint that I came away with after finishing this chapbook, it is that the reading experience was over too quickly. Do not get me wrong, I am extremely pleased to have once again been lead into the dark shadow that inhabit our everyday life by Kealan Patrick Burke’s rich imagination, but I think You In? would be better served as the opening story to a volume of tales that spotlights his amazing career. Burke is an author that has consistently left his readers impatiently waiting to devour the next short story or novel that appears with his name on the cover.

Richly infused with originality and flowing with magical prose, You In? by Kealan Patrick Burke is a brilliantly realized and competently executed ghost story that deserves a place of honor within the horror community. This chapbook is just another in a long line of outstanding publications proving that Kealan Patrick Burke is an author who is well-deserved of his success along side the kings of the horror genre.

Bad Moon Books

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WICKED THINGS by Thomas Tessier
Review by Kelli Jones

The mass-market paperback edition of Thomas Tessier's Wicked Things includes the novella, Scramburg, U.S.A. which takes place only a few miles from the former story. Given that the brevity of the first will likely make you want to see what other strange stories could grow out of this setting.

The small town of Winship is the focus of Wicked Things, a place that looks too good to be true. In narrator Jack Carlson's experience as a former police officer and freelance insurance claims investigator, coincidences are about as innocuous as those in a Repairman Jack novel. Sixteen "accidental" deaths draw him to the town of Winship to seek evidence of a life insurance scam. Carlson is a fairly reliable narrator, with good instincts about his job and little in the way of a life outside of his work. What draws the reader in is the strangeness of his unfolding investigation and the prose, particularly that which is used to sketch the town and its surroundings. As Carlson interacts with the cast of characters, none of whom seem fully trustworthy or incapable of malice, Tessier sticks with the vivid here and now of the tale, making each character distinctive without wasted words or information.

There's also a nagging possibility that Carlson's losing his mind, becoming an unreliable narrator, which creates another level of suspense for the reader. Carlson is an ordinary man reacting to extraordinary circumstances. We can learn just enough about him to feel we could be in his shoes and react as he does. In giving the reader cause to identify with him, Tessier causes us to take part in Carlson's intensifying fears about his surroundings and his own mind in this short effective novel.

Scramburg, U.S.A. has a higher dose of visceral  violence. Here, brutality is met with brutality in another "lovely" little town known as Schramburg, not altogether different from its neighbor, Winship. The title is a reference to a joke made by one of the local authorities.

Appropriately, the tale is dedicated to "Jack Ketchum and Dallas Mayr." Compared to Wicked Things, this novella races at roughly the speed of Ladies Night with some of the realism of The Lost. The plot twists and setting make it an appropriate companion to Wicked Things. In fact, due to the conclusion of Scramburg, U.S.A. I strongly recommend that you read these two stories in the order in which they appear in the book.

The characters who incur the wrath of Schramburg's authority figures are rendered with a kind of attention to detail reminiscent of Flannery O'Connor's treatment of her less agreeable characters. Meanwhile, the question of "How ugly will this situation get?" will drive the reader through this tale at a breakneck speed.

It's a treat to get two good, well-crafted Tessier works in one volume. Both are worth repeat reads, especially for aspiring writers seeking to get a lot of bang for their buck out of a few words. Get your hands on this one.

Leisure Books

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CATALYSTS by Bill Gauthier
Review by Joe Kroeger

I always find it to be an immensely pleasurable experience to discover a writer who is barely getting their feet wet in the horror genre but who already has the talent and originality of a seasoned author who has had years to perfect their craft. As I worked my way through each and every amazing story contained within the pages of Catalysts, the exemplary first collection by Bill Gauthier, I realized that I was getting in on the ground floor of a writer who is destined to have an exceptional career ahead of him. Catalysts by Bill Gauthier is an original and imaginative masterpiece that is as good as it gets for the horror genre.

Growth of Alan Ashley, one of the stronger stories that graces this book, perfectly sets the tone of this collection with an inventively original tale about a man living so deep within his imagined dream world that he may sacrifice his very life. Without a moment to pause for breath, Gauthier tugs at your heartstrings with Drawn In, the story of a man given a second chance to regain the life he had through the magic contained within a found mattress. Fun Gus The Tap Dance Man took the simple imagery of an abandoned suitcase and a tap dancing man to created a story that left me with chills running down my spine.

Whether it’s the desperation contained within the Sci-Fi story Icarus Falling or the disturbing paranoia that leads to a need for revenge after a simple house fire in the story Burned Out, Bill Gauthier injects real human emotion in each page to create a raw and unrelenting reading experience. Each of the stories contained within these page either disturbed or touched me in such a way that I will have a hard time forgetting them long after I put this book down.

The one story that stood out from the rest with its imaginative genius and subtle horror was Umbrella People. By taking the simple idea of seeing somebody with an open umbrella on a sunny day, Bill Gauthier crafted a story that left me deeply disturbed without truly understanding why I felt so uneasy. What makes this tale so perfect in its execution is the fact that he does not spoon-feed the story to his readers with blatant explanations or spelled out endings. Umbrella People kept my imagination running at full throttle long after the final sentence was read.

Everything about Catalysts by Bill Gauthier showed me an exceptional writer who is already starting out at the top of his game. I give my highest recommendation to this collection as one of those truly amazing books that every reader out there needs to experience for themselves.

Dark Discoveries Press

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PLOTS AND MISADVENTURES by Stephen Gallagher
Review by Joe Kroeger

Filled with eleven stories that cover the spectrum of terror, suspense and downright human emotion, Stephen Gallagher has put together a top-notch collection that is an immense pleasure to read right from the first page. Plots And Misadventures brings together the finest examples of Stephen Gallagher’s range of fiction that proves he is one of the exemplary short fiction writers working in the genre today. You will be hard pressed to find another collection that will hold your interest with such intensity as you enjoy Gallagher’s unique writing style and imaginative originality.

Stephen Gallagher makes the perfect choice to open Plots And Misadventures with Little Dead Girl Singing, one of the most subtly disturbing stories I have read in a long time. Telling a simple story about a man taking his daughter to a singing competition where he witnesses the talented voice of another young girl, Gallagher infuses the story with such a dark and disturbing atmosphere that you are left with a strong feeling of dread without really knowing why. Little Dead Girl Singing made me realize just what an amazing reading experience I had ahead of me as I worked my way through these phenomenal stories.

Doctor Hood is one the finest ghost stories I have come across that instills the quality of quiet horror as effectively as Charles L Grant or Ramsey Campbell. Running deep with the emotion of loss and the desperation in finding answers, Gallagher leads you through the turmoil as well respected professor searches for answers to the feeling he experiences after losing his wife.

Whether it was the shock quality contained within the ending of The Back Of His Hand or the unrelenting suspense leading up to the raw emotional ending of Restraint, Gallagher know how to expertly lead his readers exactly where he want them to go while messing with their emotions the entire time.

Gallagher makes the finest decision of this collection by closing out the stories with the wild ride of the never before published novella, The Blackwood Oak. Grabbing your shotguns and hopping in the pickup to hunt and kill mythical beasts from the land of Fairie is a perfect ending to an exceptional collection of stories. I found myself wishing that he had not included the essay Nine Horrors And A Dream as a closer to the book because it seemed to pull me away from the great stories I had just finished and into an essay that felt out of place next to those amazing tales.

Even with the added distraction of the ending essay, I found Plots And Misadventures by Stephen Gallagher to be a shining example of an author who is truly writing at the pinnacle of an amazing career. Plots And Misadventures is a collection that belongs on every fiction lover’s bookshelf.

Subterranean Press

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DEATHS DOMINION by Simon Clark
Review by Patricia Snodgrass

In the near future, death is becoming a thing of the past. Thanks to advances in science, those who died can come back. These beings, known as ‘transients’ are not the atypical Frankenstein’s Monster. Instead, these creatures that made the transition from death to life are like Lazarus; gentle, compassionate, and are sworn to obey humanity without questions.

Once hailed as walking miracles, the transients are now pariahs. The new government closes the transit stations, and all transients are targeted for extermination. However, things don’t go as planned. Several transients escape, and as they hide out in an ancient castle called the Pharos, they learn something about themselves. They’re changing. And as they follow the newborn transient who calls himself Dominion, they learn that the natural laws the transients hold to have gray areas. Further, there are unanswered questions that trouble the remaining transients. Millions of corpses are resurrected, but nobody seems to know where they went. Dominion knows, but because of his unique return to the land of the living, he doesn’t remember.

This is undoubtedly the best Simon Clark book I’ve read thus far. I literally could not put it down. The story line was original and well crafted, the pacing excellent, the characters believable and the plot has lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. This book has promptly been returned to my to be read pile.

I loved Deaths Dominion, and I think you will too. Highly recommended.

Leisure Books

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RAIN: A NOVELLA by Conrad Williams
Review by Joe Kroeger

Rain, the new novella by Conrad Williams, is a tight compact story that moves along with enough intensity and emotion to leave you exhausted by the time you reach the dark disturbing ending. With characters real enough to spark your own feeling and beautifully written prose that pulls you right into pages, Rain is a novella well worth the time you sacrifice as you are unable to put it down until the final page is turned. Even with the low page count of this one-sitting novella, the story is packed with more real world sentiment and dark despair than many epic novels ten times the size.

In an effort to leave the memory of a disturbing break-in behind them, Ben takes his wife and son to a French villa hoping for a fresh start on their life. As tensions only seem to grow worse and a heavy unending rain settles over the land, Ben struggles to hold on through the darkness descending into his life.

Rain is one of those novellas that stays with you long after you set the book aside as the wonderfully crafted writing and rich emotion-filled drama works its way deep into your imagination. Williams so perfectly captures the despair and emotion that accompanies the breakdown of any relationship that you will feel that he has plucked this story straight from the real world.

With this tightly constructed novella, barely a word is wasted as Williams leads the reader through the rich atmosphere and quiet horror until the nerve-shattering conclusion. I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy of Rain by Conrad Williams and discover for yourselves the outstanding talent of an author who truly understands the horror genre.

Gray Friar Press

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THE BEAST HOUSE by Richard Laymon
Review by Dennis Duncan

People call it The Beast House. A old rundown house that has been turned into a tourist attraction. People who have dared enter inside its walls at night have usually been found horribly mutilated the next day.

The owners of the house say that it's the Beast. A hideous creature that roams the house at night searching for its next victim. Some of the locals say that the owners made the Beast up so they could make money on tourism. They believe that the murders were committed by either a serial killer or the owners themselves. Others believe that there really is a Beast and it still lives inside the house walls. One thing they all agree on is that it isn't wise to be anywhere near that house when the sun sets.

The Beast House is Laymon's second installment in the Beast House trilogy. I loved The Cellar so I was expecting great things when I started this book. I was not disappointed one bit. It drew me in on the first page and kept me hooked the whole ride. Richard Laymon has become one of my favorite Horror writers because of books like Beast House. I devoured this book in one night and when I finally finished I was left feeling very tired but satisfied

The story starts with a bang and never lets up. There wasn't one part of this story that I found boring or stale. It is very rare to find a sequel that's as good as its predecessor but The Beast House is one of those exceptions. I enjoyed it as much as The Cellar, and I cant wait to finish this trilogy up with The Midnight Tour. Most people say that it is the best of the bunch and I cant wait to find out for myself.

I highly recommend Beast House to all Horror Fictions Fans. It is a fast, fun, blood filled ride that never disappoints. Laymon is one hell of a story teller. Go grab a copy for yourself and see what I mean.

Leisure Books

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DELVING: OBLIGATIONS b y Scott F. Falkner
Review by William Gagliani

The beginning volume of a fantasy series must grab from the first page and not let go until the hook is set at the end to ensure your interest in the next volume. The more ambitious the world-building, the grabbier the first novel has to be. Though slightly flawed, Delving: Obligations, the first installment in a new fantasy/horror hybrid series by Scott F. Falkner, fulfills most of the expectations and does a good job of propelling its narrative to the next book.

The beginning's a grabber, all right. In a run-down Chicago alley, a man who has suffered serious wounds is found, but he's not a mugging victim. Something rather stranger has occurred. A tremendous amount of shed blood is found in the alley, but it's not the wounded man's. Indeed, he cannot recall who he is or what happened – he has either lost his memory or he's an excellent actor. Plus, his wounds heal with a strange and surprising quickness.

Jessica Stahl, Pulitzer-winning author and journalist, is instantly drawn in by the stranger's charm and neediness (and his appearance doesn't hurt). While the police suspect "John Doe" of knowing more about the events in the alley than he's telling, all tests seem to point to actual memory loss. Jessica takes in John Doe – now known as "Jonathon Howell" – over the objections of her friend Aaron Wright, the aging cop who's on deck to solve this bizarre case. When results of the blood analysis are revealed, the mystery deepens – the blood in the alley was not human.

Meanwhile, the story's attention turns to Jacob Graff, also wounded in the same Chicago alley, but able to escape before the police's arrival. Quickly healed of his own wounds, it's through Jacob's eyes we see the greater part of the unfolding events. Through him, a sense of the wealthy Graff family emerges – including ruthless patriarch Uncle Hugo, and Marissa, Jacob's teenage cousin. The alley had been the battleground upon which Jacob and John Doe met in ritual combat, called an Obligation, using an ancient supernatural art called Delving to conjure up creatures to fight in their stead in a deadly, bizarre Rock-Paper-Scissors competition. One thousand such wealthy families spread throughout the world settle Obligations in this manner, using the family's conjured animal totem to lock claws or beaks – to the death. Thus are bloodlines purged of weakness and consolidating power is dealt, unseen by normal humans.

Jacob is punished for failing to win (stalemates are frowned upon) and he is charged with teaching the advanced Marissa to take over the family reins by embarking on a quest that will either elevate her status or kill her. This quest to the wilds of the northern woods and in a surreal underground world called the Kas-Keat is undertaken by all families and used to choose successors (or banish those who have failed). During the months that Jacob and Marissa struggle with their journey, Jonathon and Jessica grow closer and, eventually, are faced with the choice of following a clue that may restore Jonathon's memory. Of course, this is where the plot thickens.

The set-up for this secret world order is promising and intriguing, borrowing a bit from Anne Rice's vampire hierarchy and yet nudging closer to North American mythologies. Pace lags a bit in the middle, but picks up when Jonathon's true nature is finally revealed to him by his own wealthy family, the Sayers. Then nature must take its course. The climax is a satisfying lead-in to the next installment, and manages to surprise with unexpected death.

Some hesitation on the author's part to reveal too much means a large portion of the background is held back until near the end. This bloats the novel a bit, and causes the reader to make overly accurate predictions. Equally frustrating, the fascinating semi-occult art of Delving is given short shrift in this lengthy volume, occurring in perhaps five percent of the text. Two lesser flaws: too many J-names among the cast, and too many scenes split into numbered sections for no narrative reason. Despite these minor drawbacks, the background and characters do grab and hold attention, and it's likely that each volume will showcase the author's growing confidence with the material. With its roots in several different genres, the Delving series has the makings of a sort of magic-laced Wilbur Smith generational saga. It's ambitious and colorful, and should please readers looking for something a bit off the beaten path.

StoneGarden Publishing

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NOBODY: AN ANTHOLOGY OF DARK FICTION
The Essex Writers' & Artists' Guild
Review by César Puch

Our world is made up of all sorts of people. There are those we come across once and never forget. Then there are the “nobodies”. Those who fade into their surroundings, blur out of existence. In some cases their condition is the outcome of their own wrong choices. In other cases it’s the lack of choices to begin with. Some come to accept this status, while others long to escape it, and there are some who aren’t even aware they are already there.

Nine members of the Essex Writers’ and Artists’ Guild approach the concept of “nobody”, and the result is this highly entertaining anthology. Eclectic in style and theme, “Nobody” is a compilation of stories that are mostly subtle, yet vivid in their imagery and powerful in their execution.

Even though there were a few stories that didn’t work that well for me, the number of effective tales surpasses the flawed ones. Among the best in the collection is Gregory Norris’ “The Box of Love and Hatred”, a suspenseful story of a woman who becomes obsessed with a box her good-for-nothing boyfriend has stored in her closet, and “Rose-Colored Glasses” by Tracy Carbone, a clever look at paranoia within an exclusive experimental community where the human potential for prejudice finds a way to surface even under the most ideal conditions.

Other commendable stories include the heartwarming “Trick or Treat” by Brenna Lyons, a haunting love story set in the night of Samhain. Originality shines in A.E. Martineau’s “Body Hunger”, a glimpse into the mind of an ancient being which needs to satiate its appetite for a young woman. “Within an Itch of Life” by Melissa Sherlin shares the excruciating plight of a quadriplegic, who longs to share the remainder of his motionless hours with a true friend.

The spectrum of styles in “Nobody” adds a lot to the quality of the collection. Coralie Hughes Jensen’s exotic characters or Scott Goudsward’s wonderful description in his story “Emmett” are worthy of mention, too.

The list of contributors may not ring any bells for most readers, but there is something in “Nobody” for every taste, be it ghosts, vampires, space travel, world-changing technology, or never-ending dreams. These are stories about people who might fade away in their individual existence, but who come to life with such strength that we, as readers, cannot help but look up and feel their presence.

A pleasant encounter.

Darkhart Press

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