P.L. McMillan's Blog, page 24
August 25, 2020
The Historian: Book Review
I can’t be the only one who feels like the summer is just flying by, right? How is it almost September? Although, I am pretty excited for some cooler weather!
I know I missed my last two Monday posts – things have been rather crazy and I decided I’d rather miss those deadlines (I know you, my gentle and understanding readers, would forgive me) than really stress myself out. But I am here, a day late, but here!
And don’t forget, my first newsletter is going to be coming out September 3rd! S...
August 3, 2020
“The Rathwick Ritual on Sentinel Hill” is now LIVE!
Hey everyone!
I hope you all had a wondrous weekend! I ended up being pretty busy for the whole of it. I read a part of my story, “Left Behind”, during a Facebook Live event. You can still watch it here.
I’ve been writing a lot and working on various projects, including a new initiative in starting a newsletter. If you’re interested in having updates, exclusive content, and more perks delivered to your inbox then you should definitely sign up for my newsletter! The first one goes out in Septembe...
July 30, 2020
Sign Up For My Newsletter!
My dearest dark denizens!
First off — if you are available this Friday in the evening, you should considering attending the live Facebook event being hosted by the Denver Horror Collective and Colorado Festival of Horror. I’ll be reading part of my ghost story: “Left Behind”. You can check it out here.
Now onto my news!
I’ve decided to give releasing a monthly newsletter a go. What does this mean?
Click this link and follow the instructions.
I also added that new, cute little icon on the right-s...
July 27, 2020
HEX: Book Review
It’s been awhile since my last book review, eh? Things have been a bit crazy – I moved, I painted, I learned how to install laminate flooring, I interviewed another amazing author, I got a story acceptance – it’s been a busy, hectic month.
Also, don’t worry — this novel came out in 2016, but I am still going to keep this review spoiler-free.
The Author
Thomas Olde Heuvelt is a Dutch author who published his debut novel De Onvoorziene when he was nineteen (in 2002). He has been a multiple winn...
July 20, 2020
Online Event: “Left Behind” Live Reading
Hello and happy Monday, fellow denizens of the night!
I’m coming at you with some updates and some news – let’s start off with a recap:
My story “That Which The Ocean Gives and Takes Away” was produced into audio format by Nocturnal Transmissions .
I interviewed John Hornor Jacobs and we talked about his most recent work and experience as a writer.
Now for the new news!
My sci-fi horror story, “Gemini Syndrome” is being featured in Flame Tree Publishing’s Strange Lands Short Stories anthology....
July 13, 2020
Interview with John Hornor Jacobs
Last Thursday, I had the exciting opportunity to interview John Hornor Jacobs, author of Southern Gods, Murder Ballads, and A Lush and Seething Hell. You can watch the video or read the abridged transcript below. I’d definitely recommend the video!
It was a new experience for me, to interview someone for my blog, so please forgive the awkwardness! JHJ didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he did. Oh dear.
Also, please forgive the quality. I don’t make videos or anything like that, so I just have the Z...
July 7, 2020
2 Days Until JHJ
That’s right, folks, in only two days, I will be interviewing John Hornor Jacobs, author of Southern Gods and A Lush and Seething Hell.
He recently did an AMA on Reddit, which you can find here.
What kind of questions will I be asking my victim guest? Well, I will be staying around from similar questions that he was asked in his recent AMA to avoid repetition, but beyond that, it’s a secret!
Don’t forget to check back here in a couple days, to see the interview! If you have any questions you’re ...
June 28, 2020
Cosmic Horror and Other News
Amazing news — you can now order a copy of Negative Space, a survival horror anthology featuring my cosmic horror story: “The Whale Hunts”. It’s available through Kindle Unlimited or in hard copy for $14.99.
Henry shivered a bit in the cold wind that picked up off the dark water. It smelled sour and rotten. He zipped up his windbreaker and looked out over the water. He’d been on over two dozen hunts, a dozen trips for every murder, but each felt as terrifying as the last. Most criminals managed ...
June 14, 2020
Murder Ballads: Book Review
Been awhile, denizens of the dark! Amazing news: I moved into my very first house! Unfortunately, that meant that my blogging and writing was neglected while I, instead, got splattered in paint and spackle.
Well, I hope you didn’t miss me too much.
But, I do hope you missed me at least a little.
Today, I bring you my review of John Hornor Jacobs’ short fiction collection: Murder Ballads. I have also previously reviewed his novella collection, A Lush and Seething Hell.
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this collection by JHJ himself to review. However, I – stalwart in my conviction to only recommend the best horror fiction to you, my readers – will always write a fair and honest review, regardless the circumstance.
The Author
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John Hornor Jacobs is an award-winning author of adult and YA fiction, he also works as a partner and senior art director at Cranford Co., an Arkansas advertising agency. His first novel, Southern Gods, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Excellence in a First Novel and won the Darrel Award. Other works of his include: The Dark Earth, The Twelve-Fingered Boy, The Conformity, Infernal Machines, and Foreign Devils.
The Collection
This collection came out in May of this year. I’ll be avoiding spoilers so don’t worry. Here is a list of each story and its basic premise:
“The Children of Yig” – originally published in Swords V. Cthulhu: This story combines Vikings and the myth of Yig. You can’t really go wrong with that.
“Single, Singularity” – originally published in Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling: what could go wrong when humans actively try and create an AI that can understand and replicate human emotions?
“Ithaca” – first time appearance: a hard-boiled tale of man looking to claim what was taken from him. Note the subtle references to hunger (not just physical hunger but the hunger for something lost and wanting) within this tale.
“Verrata” – originally published in Polluto Magazine, Vol. II: this actually really reminded me of my micro-fiction, “ Lens Obscura ”
“Old Dogs, New Tricks” – originally published in Surreal South ’11: what is a man capable of when he’s humiliated and a treasured possession is taken from him?
“El Dorado” – originally published in Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled: all the guy had to do was keep the drugs safe and out of sight. Sigh.
“Luminaria” – originally published in Apex Magazine: an old woman about to celebrate an important milestone, secrets in the deep south, and a servant too loyal for her own good.
“The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife” – originally published in The Book of Cthulhu: a woman picks up a man, hoping to drown… her sorrows…
“Patchwork Things” – originally published in Cemetery Dance Magazine #76: a story about the things that haunt the shadows of the wilds and what happens when their path cross ours.
“Murder Ballads´- previously unpublished: the namesake of the collection and sequel to Jacobs’ novel, Southern Gods . A man is haunted by his past and is drawn back to his childhood home and a reckoning beyond all imagination.
The Review
I truly enjoyed this collection, which is not likely a surprise to my regular readers considering I loved Jacobs’ A Lush and Seething Hell novella duo and am just a fan of cosmic horror in general.
The collection was solid in its quality but also varied in its genres, making it a pleasure to read. Jacobs had sci-fi horror, thriller, cosmic horror, all wrapped into this carefully compiled collection. Let’s break it down:
“The Children of Yig” – I don’t think I have ever read a story combining Vikings and lore from the Lovecraftian universe so I was curious as to how this tale would go. I loved the pacing, the dialogue, and especially the badass, give-no-shits, character of Grislae.
“Single, Singularity” – sci-fi horror comes on the heels of cosmic horror as my all time favourite sub-genre. This story was so cleverly written and seemed so eerily realistic that it tied “The Children of Yig” as top favourite. And again, another bad-ass, no-nonsense protagonist!
“Ithaca” – as this was more a hard-boiled thriller, I can’t say it pleased me as much as the other stories in here that were true horror. However, it was well-written and still a fun read.
“Verrata” – another sci-fi horror and so chilling! I feel like I can’t say too much without giving anything away, but easily in my top three favourites in this collection.
“Old Dogs, New Tricks” – a zombie tale, of which I very much enjoyed the refreshing take on the trope.
“El Dorado” – another hard-boiled thriller. I can’t say I loved it, but it was still a fun read.
“Luminaria” – such a fun take with a Southern perspective on another well-known trope. I won’t spoil anything, but will call out that the climate and landscape of the South seemed almost like its own character in this story. Definitely one of the best stories in this collection!
“The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife” – loved the ending of this one. It reads as such a simple story but has so much depth to it.
“Patchwork Things” – an eerie story with an ending that left me wanting more.
“Murder Ballads“- I was worried at first, that I might feel like I was missing something since this was listed as a sequel to Southern Gods, which I hadn’t read. However, Jacobs wrote it in such a way that you don’t need to have read the novel, though there is some obvious back story, this tale holds on its own strength. Creepy, heartbreaking, and all around an powerful and haunting story to end the collection with.
My overall thoughts? I think this is a collection that horror fans need to read, especially cosmic horror lovers like myself. Jacobs takes the standard cosmic horror tropes and twists them anew, rending new and terrifying (and fun!) tales from the old ideas and material.
On top of a talent at weaving powerful plots, Jacobs also has a knack for creating well-rounded, unique, and very real characters that really hook you into becoming invested into the story.
This collection was an absolute pleasure to read and with such a wide range of ideas, themes, and genres, any reader is bound to find their new favourite tale.
8/10
x P.L. McMillan
p.s. looking for something to listen to in your spare time? Check out Nocturnal Transmissions production of my cosmic horror tale; “That Which The Ocean Gives and Takes Away”!
June 9, 2020
Add Some Chills to Your Tuesday with Nocturnal Transmissions’ production of my tale: “That Which The Ocean Gives and Takes Away”
I am so excited to announce my short fiction, “That Which The Ocean Gives and Takes Away” was featured on an Australian horror podcast called Nocturnal Transmissions.
The episode featuring my story can be found here.
This is the first time one of my pieces of fiction has been adapted into audio format and I am happy that it was with this company.
You really have to give them a listen. The style of show gives classic Tales of the Crypt vibes and the narrator, voice actor Kristin Holland does an amazing job.
Nocturnal Transmissions is a fortnightly podcast featuring inspired performances of dark tales, both old and new, by voice artist Kristin Holland. Please subscribe, please share with your friends, please listen in darkness and, most importantly, please; watch the skies, fear the dark and don’t trust anyone …especially yourself. – Nocturnal Transmissions website
Besides my cosmos horror tale, the podcast features other stories, both from classic horror writers like Poe but also newer writers so you’ll always find something that tickles your macabre bone.
So make sure to check out the podcast and give my tale a listen!
x P.L. McMillan
