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Contemplad el vacío
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Contemplad el vacío...
La telequinesis utilizada como medio para la venganza; una piscina que se convierte en un escenario de pesadilla y sacrificios; un ladrón de caballos perseguido por poderes que no comprende; una niña entregada a la oscuridad que habita en el bosque; un sacerdote haciendo frente a una asesina en serie de la era victoriana; un joven disfuncional que se ...more
La telequinesis utilizada como medio para la venganza; una piscina que se convierte en un escenario de pesadilla y sacrificios; un ladrón de caballos perseguido por poderes que no comprende; una niña entregada a la oscuridad que habita en el bosque; un sacerdote haciendo frente a una asesina en serie de la era victoriana; un joven disfuncional que se ...more
Paperback, 370 pages
Published
October 2018
by Dilatando Mentes
(first published March 10th 2017)
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Mar 14, 2017
Karl
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
journalstone-own,
2017-03-books-bought
This book contains a signed book plate signed by Philip Frasassi and an inlaid hand corrected manuscript page (page 245).
In his first story collection titled “Behold the Void” screen writer, producer, director Philip Fracassi offers up an collection of stories aimed at the wyrd and cosmic horror reader and will truly engage every reader interested in a well told story.
Mr. Frasassi first came to my attention in 2001 when I noticed his name on a DVD as the producer of a video titled “The ...more
In his first story collection titled “Behold the Void” screen writer, producer, director Philip Fracassi offers up an collection of stories aimed at the wyrd and cosmic horror reader and will truly engage every reader interested in a well told story.
Mr. Frasassi first came to my attention in 2001 when I noticed his name on a DVD as the producer of a video titled “The ...more
Sep 11, 2017
Richard
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
short-stuff,
horror
One of the things that's very apparent in every story in this collection, and with all of Fracassi's work, is the intense focus on developing character. Some might say that it's even too much and not necessary for the short scary stories he writes, but I would respectfully disagree and it's an aspect in his work that I really appreciate. Good horror, to me, is inherently linked to character, and even more so here. Yes, these 9 stories feature occult horror, ghost stories, and cosmic horror, but
...more
Most of today’s horror writers fall into one of two camps. They revel in beautiful language and atmosphere, or their stories are constructed to achieve a high level of suspense from the first sentence, and to provide a twist or a payoff at the end.
Fracassi combines the best of both worlds. His prose is as fresh and surprising as his storylines are satisfying.
The supernatural mirrors psychological distress and cultural dissonance in these tales of barely missed dreams and opportunities. The ...more
Fracassi combines the best of both worlds. His prose is as fresh and surprising as his storylines are satisfying.
The supernatural mirrors psychological distress and cultural dissonance in these tales of barely missed dreams and opportunities. The ...more
4.2 Stars
Fracassi's debut collection, BEHOLD THE VOID, showcases one of the strongest new voices in Horror. Fracassi doesn't shy away from deeply powerful emotion, and he's not afraid to scare a reader silly. Dreamlike and unique, BEHOLD THE VOID contains nine stories that crawl under a reader's skin and become part of them. Stories that will reach into your heart and make it race. Stories that will infect your subconscious and make you feel like there's something beneath the surface of the world, and
...more
I'll be writing a full length review of Behold the Void as soon as I get caught up with a few other things but wanted to drop a quick note here now. Fracassi had already proven himself to be a top shelf horror author in Altar and Mother. This book merely cements that impression as something more than a fluke. Much more. Behold the Void is one of those rare collections that stands out for the fact that, not only is there not a bad story in it, it can truthfully be said that every single tale is
...more
If you missed out on getting the chapbooks for Altar and Mother, they are collected here. Every story is strong. My favorite was Surfer Girl. All of these stories pack a punch. You will be smooved. Buy this book and show some real support for contemporary horror. This is guy is a real thing.
I was on the fence until the last story/novella shot out and screamed across the sky. Fracassi has King-sized talents, superb creativity, and an eye for a killer sentence. I just wish he would abandon the nasty and cynical characterizations at times.
Literary horror of the highest caliber. Professional, polished prose. Well-rendered and delineated characters and realistic settings and situations which deepen and broaden through the course of the story into something else, something far stranger and more disquieting. Fracassi excels at exploring fears grounded in the everyday, but as the stories progress we start to find find breaches in the fabric of our reality, glimpses of horrors untold from the depths of the void.
Sep 15, 2017
David Agranoff
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror-collection
A short story collection is one of the best ways to get to know an author. I heard Philip Fracassi on A podcast, a epic 3 part interview on This is Horror, and was convinced the guy seemed legit. I looked him up at my library, saw nothing so I requested a purchase and within two months I got a notice it was there. I knew he had worked as a screenwriter but honestly had never heard of him before the interview. Well it was clear I have to fix that.
Introduced by cosmic horror master Laird Barron ...more
Introduced by cosmic horror master Laird Barron ...more
In the hands of author Philip Fracassi, we are molded into flawed, tiny figures lost in ourselves too deep to fathom. We are slaves to ritual and quiver in the face of unknown entities. We are subject to turning on our loved ones, our friends and each other to service sometimes selfish needs and a deeper understanding of our regret or rage. In other words... we are human.
Each of the stories collected here in Behold the Void peers behind shimmering veils, allowing us entrance to a mirror of our ...more
Each of the stories collected here in Behold the Void peers behind shimmering veils, allowing us entrance to a mirror of our ...more
A stunning collection of stories, some of which I’ve read before but most are new to this collection and are utterly fantastic. There are no filler stories here; all are well written, imaginative tales that use both personal and other worldly horror to enrapture the reader and send an icy finger creeping down your spine. Each story feels unique and each of the characters compelling, deep and complicated. Philip has fast become one of my favourite writers and this collection has instantly become
...more
I had the privilege to read most of these stories before they were unleashed on the world, and there’s still a bit of jealousy that others are now able to experience what I went through on first reading Fracassi’s collection. There’ve been a handful of writers whose work I felt was so good I wanted to squirrel it away into my personal FAVES file, to peek at whenever the mood struck. But a Fracassi story cannot be contained for long; it’s only a matter of time before it breaks the chain, escapes
...more
Incredible collection, just buy it.
This year has been a tough year for me in horror. I’ve read a lot of disappointing books, to the point where I was thinking i was done with horror for the most part (Malfi is still a release day purchase for me). But this collection....
I’ve tried reading Lovecraft for years and have enjoyed a lot of his stories, more for the ideas and the prose than the execution. And I’ve read some Lovecraftian collections in the past few years, which have largely been mixed ...more
This year has been a tough year for me in horror. I’ve read a lot of disappointing books, to the point where I was thinking i was done with horror for the most part (Malfi is still a release day purchase for me). But this collection....
I’ve tried reading Lovecraft for years and have enjoyed a lot of his stories, more for the ideas and the prose than the execution. And I’ve read some Lovecraftian collections in the past few years, which have largely been mixed ...more
Jan 26, 2017
Christopher Payne
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
journalstone
BEHOLD THE VOID
Introduction by Laird Barron
BEHOLD THE VOID is nine stories of terror that huddle in the dark space between cosmic horror and the modern weird, between old-school hard-edged horror of the 1980’s and the stylistic prose of today’s literary giants.
Revenge takes a monstrous form when a scorned lover acquires bizarre, telekinetic powers; a community swimming pool on a bright summer day becomes the setting for a ghastly nightmare of sacrifice and loss; a thief does bloody battle with a ...more
Introduction by Laird Barron
BEHOLD THE VOID is nine stories of terror that huddle in the dark space between cosmic horror and the modern weird, between old-school hard-edged horror of the 1980’s and the stylistic prose of today’s literary giants.
Revenge takes a monstrous form when a scorned lover acquires bizarre, telekinetic powers; a community swimming pool on a bright summer day becomes the setting for a ghastly nightmare of sacrifice and loss; a thief does bloody battle with a ...more
I own "Mother" which was my first time reading Fracassi's work. That small little chapbook blew me away. Following "Altar".
This collection has those two mentioned
Soft Construction of a Sunset: Love is within the power of the mind. Like a setting sun things will melt away or self destruct. Power is what one man wanted more of.
The Horse Thief: A great shootout scene at the end and a hard kick from a horse.
Coffin: The secrets of the wood will be buried with the ones who knew.
The Baby Farmer: All ...more
This collection has those two mentioned
Soft Construction of a Sunset: Love is within the power of the mind. Like a setting sun things will melt away or self destruct. Power is what one man wanted more of.
The Horse Thief: A great shootout scene at the end and a hard kick from a horse.
Coffin: The secrets of the wood will be buried with the ones who knew.
The Baby Farmer: All ...more
It’s hard to believe Behold The Void is Philip Fracassi’s debut collection; it’s just so fucking good!
Behold The Void is a collection of nine horror stories. Though all stories are horror, the horrifying elements in each of them is distinct. The horror spectrum is wide. There are many sub-genres. And Philip has used all of them for his stories, making the collection very diverse. There’s horror no one can explain, the supernatural kind, where unknown powers of the universe come uninvited to ...more
Behold The Void is a collection of nine horror stories. Though all stories are horror, the horrifying elements in each of them is distinct. The horror spectrum is wide. There are many sub-genres. And Philip has used all of them for his stories, making the collection very diverse. There’s horror no one can explain, the supernatural kind, where unknown powers of the universe come uninvited to ...more
First book finished in 2019, and first 5-star review.
Fracassi is just goddamn brilliant. There's nine stories here, and each one is a treat and worth the price of the book. Barron, in his introduction, states that no one is safe in a Fracassi story, and he's right.
What that meant for me was, there's no comfort to be found here. There's no really predictable outcomes. Characters that you care for can be wiped out with the turn of a page. And, while Fracassi isn't scared to get gruesome, he never ...more
Fracassi is just goddamn brilliant. There's nine stories here, and each one is a treat and worth the price of the book. Barron, in his introduction, states that no one is safe in a Fracassi story, and he's right.
What that meant for me was, there's no comfort to be found here. There's no really predictable outcomes. Characters that you care for can be wiped out with the turn of a page. And, while Fracassi isn't scared to get gruesome, he never ...more
A stunning collection of strange tales from Philip Fracassi. Vivid, strange, vicious, unrelenting... Philip's background as a screenwriter really comes across in the pictures he paints with his tight, muscular prose. I'm left with a head full of weird and beautiful imagery, families often fragmented, haunted by loss or cruelty or suffering, and the pitiless sound of the Void, waiting, fangs bared at the fringe of each of these stories. The final story, Mandala is pure early Stephen King-quality
...more
I picked this one up because one of my favorite authors recommended it and because all the story ideas sounded good. I seldom read collections of short stories because they so often feel like the dregs of the writer’s filing cabinet … failed attempts at novels, writing exercises, vehicles for exorcising whatever chip on their shoulder felt particularly heavy that day or the demons of past relationships and marriages … self-therapy. Even in short story collections that are supposed to fit a
...more
Behold The Void is easily one of the best collections I have read so far this year. Every story is this collection is super strong.
I was immediately hooked into the book with Construction Of A Sunset, a weird telekinesis tale which honestly reads like an episode of Twilight Zone that would make Rod Serling or Richard Matheson proud. I had previously read two of the stories in this book, Altar, and Mother, in chapbook form enjoying them both. I reread them this time around and yep they're still ...more
I was immediately hooked into the book with Construction Of A Sunset, a weird telekinesis tale which honestly reads like an episode of Twilight Zone that would make Rod Serling or Richard Matheson proud. I had previously read two of the stories in this book, Altar, and Mother, in chapbook form enjoying them both. I reread them this time around and yep they're still ...more
Man I should have known that between the publisher, the Laird Barron intro, the praise from so many other great authors, and more, that I would love this one. Still it sat on my shelf for a good several months before I picked it up. This collection is fantastic! The stories really feel alive, and varied in their particular breeds of weirdness and horror. All of the stories were great, but the few that I'd highlight amongst giants were Soft Construction of a Sunset, The Horse Thief, The Baby
...more
Quite simply, the best modern single-author horror collection I've ever read. These stories are like Stephen King at his absolute best, but more streamlined and less sentimental; cosmic horror in the Lovecraftian tradition but transmuted with absolute confidence into a recognizable milieu and permeated with human sadness, regret and loss. I can't think of enough superlatives for "Altar," which turns the ancient unfathomable unknown into a metaphor for everyday trauma and pain without turning it
...more
Short story books are tough because they are multiple chances to like them or not. This one got off to a slow start for me, but ended much differently. For me, it really got going about midway with Baby Farmer. I learned about something I had never knew before in regards to a very bad woman from the past. After that, Surfer Girl, Mother, Fail Safe and Mandala were all top notch. I told my wife the premise of Mandala the day after I read it and she was even a bit freaked out. There are stories
...more
Loved this book, especially the final story, "Mandala," which I've been thinking about for weeks now; it doesn't let go. The danger in horror collections is that the stories all tend to go in the same direction, and after a while everything feels so ridiculously predetermined, but this book doesn't do that-- you never know which way things are going to break for the characters, so there's still room for hope, which in turn makes room for heartbreak. Anyway-- really enjoying all things Fracassi,
...more
This is an outstanding collection. There’s variety and depth here in subject and length (short stories and novellas are included), but everything has the stamp of a powerful authorial voice. I’ve read a couple of Fracassi’s novellas before and really enjoyed them. It was a treat to read more of his work collected like this. Highly recommended.
This is an astonishing collection of stories, haunting in the best ways. Fracassi finds the messy humanity in his characters even as he hurls them into the abyss. He's also sadistically adept at pacing, especially in Mandala, a sustained and measured exercise in gut-churning dread. Weird fiction fans should stare deep into this void.
This was a great short story collection. Philip Fracassi does a great job writing stories that you can connect with and immediately become invested in. Very reminiscent of the way Stephen King tells stories, great character depth and getting into the mind of children and pre-teens. All of these stories were excellent. I will definitely be reading more of his work.
I have never written a book review before but this book is fucking amazing! There is not a single story that is not good, each story is better and better and better and better! Epecially the "baby farmer" made me shaking...
This is an easy 5 star review. Every story in here is a winner. For horror/weird fiction fans, this is a must read.
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Philip Fracassi is an award-winning author and screenwriter living in Los Angeles, where he works in the film industry and on his writing.
His debut collection of short horror, BEHOLD THE VOID, won the "Short Story Collection of the Year" award from both This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine.
His stories have been printed in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Best Horror of the Year ...more
His debut collection of short horror, BEHOLD THE VOID, won the "Short Story Collection of the Year" award from both This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine.
His stories have been printed in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Best Horror of the Year ...more
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