Dark Visions: A Collection of Modern Horror, Volume Two

by Anthony Rivera (Editor), Sharon Lawson (Editor), Trent Zelazny

The journey into darkness continues in this, the second in the DARK VISIONS series and follow-up to the Bram Stoker Award® Nominated DARK VISIONS ONE.

DARK VISIONS: A COLLECTION OF MODERN HORROR - Volume Two takes you far deeper into the twisted psyche of man with 14 psychological tales of creeping dread that explore the evil the lives inside all of mankind. The stories in DARK VISIONS TWO offer an even darker, more insidious look into the concepts of life, death and how choices we make affect our eternal souls.

FEATURING:

MISTER WHITE by John C. Foster. Abel is a master spy until a meeting one fateful night in a cemetery goes awry. Now, paranoid and hunted by a sadistic, supernatural evil, he finds himself in a horrifying battle for his life.

DREAMING IN AND OUT by Carol Holland March. Imprisoned in a world of devotion, there's no escape for an abused wife. Not until dreams of an enigmatic woman draw her into an ever-darkening world where the truth of her existence is revealed.

MOONLIGHTING by Chad McKee. The streets of New York mask a dark underworld as two unwitting stockbrokers are drawn into a horrifying world they never knew existed. One that exposes how truly evil the heart of man can be.

WORMHOLE by J. Daniel Stone. Jason is obsessed with death and aches to understand the reasons for his mother's suicide. With the help of a friend, the two seek to capture on camera the last horrifying moments of life.

REMEMBER ME by David Blixt. Walking a dark and lonely road, a young man is offered a ride from the driver of a strange horse-drawn carriage. What seems like good fortune becomes a hellish journey of torment when he's presented with a horrifying offer that he can't refuse.

THE FIRST YEARS by David Siddall. Every society has its monsters. Some live down the street. Others wrap themselves in the cloak of government. But which is the most heinous is commonly a matter of only a few degrees.

THE ELEMENTALS AND I by C.M. Saunders. Big pharma is big business. To what horrifying lengths will a greedy corporation go to market their terrifying, mind-altering product?

RELEASE by Jane Brooks & Peter Whitley. Inside a house on the last cul-de-sac at the end of world a young couple comes to grips with the horror that's devastated their suburban community. It soon becomes clear that there are many terrible things in life that yearn to be released.

WATER, SOME OF IT DEEP by David Murphy. Often the darkest places on Earth are those with the shiniest veneer. What terrible force is it that attracts the like-minded to a quaint seaside resort in the Irish countryside, turning it into a home for horrendous evil?

ACCEPTANCE by Kenneth Whitfield. What should have been a relaxing cruise for a married couple quickly becomes a nightmarish journey of personal revelation as a series of horrifying events break out. Sometimes, there's just nowhere to run from your demons.

VARIATIONS OF SOULLESSNESS by A.A. Garrison. Created without a soul, Easter has been put on this Earth for a special purpose. A nocturnal visit to the home of an author famous for his gut-wrenching prose puts God's gruesome plan into action.

CHAPELSTON by Rhesa Sealy. For twenty years a series of unsolved murders have haunted ex-cop Connor Mason. He now finds himself drawn back into the web of evil by forces that refuse to release their grip on his soul.

LAST CALL by JC Hemphill. Newscaster Maurice Townsend was at the top of his game until he lost it all. Drowning his sorrows with a patron of an Atlanta dive bar, the two men set off a chain of events that have a terrifying impact on their lives everlasting.

CITY SONG by Edward Morris & Trent Zelazny. Everywhere there are populations of forgotten people. They are cast-offs thriving on the periphery of society. Without their own dangerous code of conduct, who protects the homeless from their horrible end?

Genres: Horror, Anthologies

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2013

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I choose a couple of stories from anthologies and review those, but for the second time this year, I’ve read a collection where I loved EVERY story. 2014 has been good to the reader in me. So, because there aren’t a shit ton of stories in this book, I’m going to give you all a couple of thoughts about each one. No need to thank me.

Anyway, here goes:

MISTER WHITE by John C. Foster

I love spy stories, but this one has teeth (of the horrific variety). The writing style of this author only enhances the creep factor of “Mister White.” I’m not sure what to call said style, but it crawls beneath your skin and kind of lurks there. How’s that? Anyway, definitely leaves you with a few shivers.

DREAMING IN AND OUT by Carol Holland March

Captivating writing coupled with surreal and subtle horror. I read this one a couple of times just to experience the storytelling again. I’m weird like that.

MOONLIGHTING by Chad McKee

One of my top three favorites in this collection, I’ll probably read this story several times in the future. Imagine you could do all the things the darker corners of your brain like to dream about (don’t pretend I’m the only one, you jerks), and get away with it? This story truly grabbed me, mostly because I imagine such a world exists out there somewhere, and it’s just waiting for the right person to find it.

WORMHOLE by J. Daniel Stone

A tragic tale about love and loss, deepened by the knowledge that the darkness described hides inside all of us (if we’re honest); solid writing with a poetic flavor I enjoyed.

REMEMBER ME by David Blixt

I saw where this was going as I read the first page, but then the author made me doubt my suspicions. Crafty, that one. Another of my top three favorites, the surprise ending shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is. You all think I’m crazy now, don’t you.

THE FIRST YEARS by David Siddall

“Every society has its monsters. Some live down the street. Others wrap themselves in the cloak of government.” I think the cover blurb says it all. Fantastic writing with subtle, psychological horror (My favorite kind.). Loved this one.

THE ELEMENTALS AND I by C.M. Saunders

Another of my top three favorites, although I’ll admit to being a little biased. I’ve read this author before and he’s taking up considerable space on my “To Read” list. This tale begins simply, but drags you into a horrific supernatural world you’re glad “doesn’t” exist. Saunders has a very clean writing style that drags you into the story and pulls no punches once you’re there. I’ve always thought the pharmaceuticals industry was sketchy, and this story tapped into my suspicious nature. Honestly, I had to dump the contents of my medicine cabinet when I finished. And I’m glad I did.

RELEASE by Jane Brooks & Peter Whitley

I like The Walking Dead, but I’ve never been a fan of zombie fiction in general. This story changed that. I’d read any zombie anything written by these two. This story stays with you, because it makes you question the unquestionable and the answers aren’t comfortable at all.

WATER, SOME OF IT DEEP by David Murphy

Disturbing. The build is slow initially, but this story is worth reading through to the end, and I have to comment on the solid writing and characterization. Very well written.

ACCEPTANCE by Kenneth Whitfield

This started as an amusing story, but I kept wondering, where’s the darkness? I did NOT see it coming and then it just slapped me in the face. Awesome.

VARIATIONS OF SOULLESSNESS by A.A. Garrison

I can’t say a lot about this one without giving away spoilers. Some might be able to, but I’ve written and deleted about three paragraphs now, because I give away things you shouldn’t know. Anyway, exquisite writing and I chuckled more than a few times. Perhaps the chuckling is a sign I have no soul, I don’t know. Read this one. Seriously.

CHAPELSTON by Rhesa Sealy

Crime, Sherlock, and serial killers: These are a few of my favorite things. All of them, along with stellar storytelling, are in Chapelston. I imagine this as a bigger story, and I really wish there was more, which is a good thing, in my opinion.

LAST CALL by JC Hemphill

So, what’s your life worth? This is the question “Last Call” leaves you with, along with a few others. An action-packed story that stays with you long after you reach the end.

CITY SONG by Edward Morris & Trent Zelazny

This haunting tale is the perfect closer for this anthology. I admire the writing style of these authors. Definitely looking for more of their work.


So, in summary: Go buy this book. Don't look at me like that. Do it now. It has something for everyone, even if you’re not into horror. I promise.

[John Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was prepared to like this anthology, but was unprepared for how much I'd like it. Not only are the offerings well-written, and to the point "dark", I found myself impressed with the originality of both the individual stories and the collection as a whole. I'll try to point out some things I liked about the stories (without spoiling):

Mister White, by John C. Foster
--------------------------------
Delicious Brutality, crushing inevitable fate and horrified dreams. Yep, that's about it.

Dreaming in and Out, by Carol Holland March
-----------------------------------------------------------
Viewed through the visceral mesh that is a woman's particular horror.

Moonlighting, by Chad McKee
--------------------------------------
Not all games use inanimate tokens to move across the shadowed board. Sometimes, it's us.

Wormhole, by J. Daniel Stone
-------------------------------------
Making art of Death and the Afterlife is dangerous: sometimes life imitates art.

Remember Me, by David Blixt
--------------------------------------
This story loves puns. Hard, pointed, cruel puns.

The First Years, by David Siddall
-----------------------------------------
A moldy telling of a tale of power, supernatural addictions, and how bullying is never really that great an idea.

The Elementals and I, by C.M. Saunders
---------------------------------------------------
A wonderfully written nightmare painted with pharmaceuticals, human trials and unexpected interference.

Release, by Jane Brooks & Peter Whitney
-----------------------------------------------------
This story probably disturbed me the most. Love at its most opportunistic, I suppose. Literally "visceral" as in viscera. Enough said.

Water, Some of it Deep, by David Murphy
-----------------------------------------------------
A nearly archeological dissection of a disagreement between acquaintances, with alarming and disastrous consequences.

Acceptance, by Kenneth Whitfield
------------------------------------------
What could be more innocent than an ocean cruise? and Nursing the grandaddy of all hangovers? and hallucinations of predators? Honestly, none of this is innocent, though it is, at times, humorous. Or is that a humerus?

Variations of Soullessness, by A.A. Garrison
--------------------------------------------------------
Everybody's a literary critic, apparently… even in a spine tingling soulless fashion.

Chapelston, by Rhesa Sealy
------------------------------------
I have a hard time describing this one. Mystical and mysterious and like viewing something tantalizingly important through a barely-translucent chunk of quartz. Until the end. Then you didn't want to see.

Last Call, by JC Hemphill
--------------------------------
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay… wait, what the hell was that?

City Song, by Edward Morris & Trent Zelazny
---------------------------------------------------------
Not sure exactly what I was reading, but it IS like a song, a nattering of refrain and lyric, with instruments both electronic and human playing a requiem for what once was, to distract us from what will become.

I had a hard time putting this down, which is what people usually say, but I mean it like a wave a'coming, you move on the next story and you find you're still mentally digesting the previous one.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great collection of stories from Grey Matter Press. Wormhole by J. Daniel Stone and Last Call by JC Hemphill were two that really stand out.

[Rich D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Visions - Volume Two is the companion piece to the 2013 Stoker Award nominated Dark Visions - Volume One and features 14 more stories that explore the dark corners of the imagination. Now, if you have already read my reviews for the stellar first volume and Ominous Realities, you already know that I am a huge fan of Grey Matter Press and the anthologies they have released. I decided to dive into Dark Visions - Volume Two the same way I approached the other anthologies in Grey Matter Press' impressive library of dark fiction - completely in the dark and avoiding the individual story summaries that give clues as to what to expect. The main thing I love about these anthologies is each story begins in a very realistic manner, drawing the reader in with the comfort of the familiar. As you read each story, however, you just know something terrifying is lurking in the shadows and the blind journey into each story's dark twist is an exhilarating thrill-ride.

If you would like to follow the same journey, all you need to know is that Dark Visions - Volume Two is a diverse collection of highly entertaining and well-written dark fiction that comes with my highest recommendation and will be a welcome addition to your horror library. That being said, if you are the type of reader who can't resist flipping ahead in a book and skimming a few passages before you start reading, allow me to introduce you to my favorite stories from this excellent collection!

"Moonlighting" by Chad McKee is the story of two New York City stockbrokers who seemingly have everything they could ever want, yet they feel bored by the mundane routines of their everyday lives. That all changes with the introduction of "The Game"; a dark series of objectives that begin with little more than a location and a time. "The Game" adds the jolt of excitement the two characters have been chasing, but at what cost?

"Moonlighting" is a thrilling story that while utilizing a mysterious group, focuses more on the evil that lurks within the characters. I loved the intricacies that went into building the background of "The Game" and the group known as "The Men With No Faces". I expected the organization as being the main source of evil, but McKee's portrayal of the participants and their motives make the story even more frightening. Sure, they are given instructions and monitored by guards at first, but the participants ultimately make their own choices and those choices are the sources of horror that drive "Moonlighting".

"The Elementals and I" by C.M. Saunders is a unique story told from the perspective of an executive for a pharmaceutical company who manufactures drugs that are supposed to combat psychological illnesses. His company develops a drug called Pirifinil, a drug which was supposed to improve cognitive function and reduce fatigue. The drug had all the makings of a huge financial breakthrough because who can resist the allure of becoming a better version of themselves? However, the human trials uncover a side effect of Pirifinil that has horrifying consequences for those who take the drug.

I was absolutely riveted by Saunders' story of psychological horror and immediately thought of all the drug commercials that list side effects that seem as bad, if not worse, than the ailments they are supposed to prevent. Saunders takes this unsettling side of the pharmaceutical industry and uses it to create a truly creepy story that blurs the line between what is real and what is being caused by the drug. There is one question that has been nagging me since I finished "The Elementals and I": I wonder what it would take to convince Saunders to reveal The Elementals' explanation of what killed the dinosaurs!

David Murphy's "Water, Some Of It Deep" is an atmospheric tale that derives its strength from Murphy's excellent characterization and depiction of the rocky friendship between the narrator and Henry. "Water, Some Of It Deep" is a chilling read because it serves as a reminder that evil is not always easy to detect, sometimes it lurks within the person you would least expect.

Grey Matter Press editors Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson once again use their uncanny ability to discover engaging stories that have a universal appeal to dark fiction readers. Keep an eye out for their upcoming releases The End In All Beginnings (a collection of five new novellas from John F.D. Taff) and the recently announced Equilibrium Overturned anthology, you won't want to miss these titles!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Visions 2 delivers! Tightly written stories still linger in my mind- much to my enjoyment. There is not a slow read in the collection. I especially enjoyed Chapelston- a gripping thriller/ mystery with unexpected, deliciously horrid, plot twists. It was an unexpected find, but great tale! Grey Matter Press does not let their readers down!

[Spinwallah · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Evelyn Barones]

Great collection of horror of the underground. The heavy hitters were Wormhole and Dreaming in and Out. Those are two very talented authors