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Greetings from Moon Hill
BREATHE DEEP OF THE NIGHT. Greetings from Moon Hill is a collection of darkly bizarre horror stories culled from the deranged mind of Anthony J. Rapino, author of Soundtrack to the End of the World. Somewhere in Northeastern Pennsylvania, nestled between the forests and foothills of the Poconos, you’ll find the forgotten town of Moon Hill. It’s a surreal place of arcane magic and natural wonder, where a hint of autumn lingers in the air, the leaves are always turning, and the shadows grow long no matter the time of day. You might say Moon Hill is special, an eerie pocket of Americana frozen in time, filled with eccentric characters and deathly secrets that transcend reality. And like most small towns, it also has a dark side. This book is a roadmap to the lost town’s terrifying mysteries. Wander through the brush of Moon Hill State Forest and explore its otherworldly flora in “From Your Body They Rise.” Bear witness to the interdimensional war raging above Old Road in the novella, “Reality Engineers.” Conjure autumnal spirits with Handy Weber in “Halloween on the Hill,” sample the peculiar glowing ale brewed by Slow Ewan in “Struck by Golden Lightning,” and pay your respects with blood at the old Whistler place in “Just Once More, Little Sister.” As you explore Moon Hill’s darkened corners, you will discover a town built upon a foundation of nightmares, proving once again that Anthony J. Rapino is not only a master storyteller, but also a dark architect of the imagination. Welcome to Moon Hill. Your definition of weird is about to change.
284 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2018
20 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Anthony J. Rapino
20 books72 followersANTHONY J. RAPINO is a horror writer and sculptor. He's also a teacher, and somehow that makes more sense than it should. He spends his days among people and things that demand shaping: Words, clay, or minds, it amounts to the same job. Though the minds are a hard sell, you can find his fiction and sculptures online. Discover more on www.AnthonyJRapino.com and https://linktr.ee/arapino
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 18, 2016
Review copy
I wanted to love Greetings from Moon Hill and I can't quite put a finger on what went wrong. Conceptually, it's a great idea. A small town "tucked into the folds of the Pennsylvania countryside." A place of "Unseen things that are all around us. Impossible flowers, witches, interdimensional beings, murder coverups" and more. These are all things I love, so what went wrong?
Once I finished the book and checked the copyright, I discovered the stories where written over the last decade. This could very well account for the disconnect I felt and the seeming unevenness between some of the stories. Ten years is a long time and I'm sure the writer has honed his skills significantly over that time. Some of the stories felt incomplete yet others were as good as anything I've read this year.
I was nearly 20% into the collection before finding a story I found satisfying on all levels. Camera Obscura about a Junior High Science Fair leading to an obsession with one student's project. That and a bit of a drinking problem lead to some interesting results.
Others winners in the collection included From Your Body They Rise, Morning Espresso at the Church of Me, and Loosely Enforced Rules, the later about an unorthodox gang of miscreants, with plenty of gore, and took a stand on how french fries should be prepared (I couldn't agree more).
No Touching at All was very clever and Struck by Golden Lightning introduced us to Ewan, a wonderfully complex character who would show up occasionally throughout the collection.
Just Once More, Little Sister was a truly demented story and one of my favorites, as was A Very Large Bird.
As you can see, there are some gems in Greetings From Moon Hill, just not enough for me to fully recommend.
Most of these stories have appeared elsewhere, but are collected here for the first time.
Greetings from Moon Hill is currently available for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Anthony J. Rapino is a horror writer and sculptor. He's also a teacher, and somehow that makes more sense than it should. He spends his days among people and things that demand shaping: Words, clay , or minds, it all amounts to the same job.
I wanted to love Greetings from Moon Hill and I can't quite put a finger on what went wrong. Conceptually, it's a great idea. A small town "tucked into the folds of the Pennsylvania countryside." A place of "Unseen things that are all around us. Impossible flowers, witches, interdimensional beings, murder coverups" and more. These are all things I love, so what went wrong?
Once I finished the book and checked the copyright, I discovered the stories where written over the last decade. This could very well account for the disconnect I felt and the seeming unevenness between some of the stories. Ten years is a long time and I'm sure the writer has honed his skills significantly over that time. Some of the stories felt incomplete yet others were as good as anything I've read this year.
I was nearly 20% into the collection before finding a story I found satisfying on all levels. Camera Obscura about a Junior High Science Fair leading to an obsession with one student's project. That and a bit of a drinking problem lead to some interesting results.
Others winners in the collection included From Your Body They Rise, Morning Espresso at the Church of Me, and Loosely Enforced Rules, the later about an unorthodox gang of miscreants, with plenty of gore, and took a stand on how french fries should be prepared (I couldn't agree more).
No Touching at All was very clever and Struck by Golden Lightning introduced us to Ewan, a wonderfully complex character who would show up occasionally throughout the collection.
Just Once More, Little Sister was a truly demented story and one of my favorites, as was A Very Large Bird.
As you can see, there are some gems in Greetings From Moon Hill, just not enough for me to fully recommend.
Most of these stories have appeared elsewhere, but are collected here for the first time.
Greetings from Moon Hill is currently available for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Anthony J. Rapino is a horror writer and sculptor. He's also a teacher, and somehow that makes more sense than it should. He spends his days among people and things that demand shaping: Words, clay , or minds, it all amounts to the same job.
December 3, 2018
My video review will be up shortly, but here is a look at my written thoughts...
Oh boy, is this review late or what? Anthony J. Rapino, the author of Greetings from Moon Hill, was very kind and sent me a copy for review. I received it in September and wanted to get a review up before Halloween, but October was so packed full of review books that I didn't get to read much of this one. Then November happened, and what a busy month that was. Better late then never, I suppose.
Greetings from Moon Hill by Anthony J. Rapino is an anthology of bizarre horror stories set in the little town of Moon Hill, a place that is stuck in an everlasting Fall. As a lover of Halloween, this kind of setting has always filled me with a longing deep in my soul to live in a place like this. A town where its Fall all the time? Yes please! The fictional town that I set most of my stories in is similar, so when I heard about Rapino's book, I got very excited.
Rapino is a Halloween enthusiast and a collector of vintage Halloween memorabilia, and that passion shows here. While not every story in this anthology is specifically about Halloween, they all have a nostalgic Autumn essence that captures the energy of the holiday perfectly. The writing is enthusiastic and quirky in a way that mirrors its eccentric characters and darkly humorous plots. The setting is fully realized, each tale serving as a building block in shaping this town into the picturesque place that it is, while disguising something much darker below the surface.
Moon Hill is chocked full of stories of all kinds. Body horror? Check. Magical realism? Check. Dark horror fantasy? Horror comedy? Gore? Check, check, check. There is something here for everyone. The tales are also of varying lengths. Some are a page long, others are much longer. For instance, the book is concluded with Reality Engineers, a novella that pulls a few characters from previous stories and joins them together in an epic, final showdown. The fact that the stories are linked only helps plunge the reader deeper into this strange and mysterious town.
Not only that, but the book's interior design is truly stunning. In the front of the book, we get a fully drawn-out map of Moon Hill (very helpful) and each story is accompanied by photographs that highlight the stories in some way. All of this, and the stories themselves, made for a unique reading experience. I had a blast!
This is essential reading for horror fans everywhere, especially if you love Halloween and the Autumn season. But even though Halloween is over, don't wait until next year to read this: do it now! As I mentioned before, the book isn't solely Halloween themed so it can really be read any time of the year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Oh boy, is this review late or what? Anthony J. Rapino, the author of Greetings from Moon Hill, was very kind and sent me a copy for review. I received it in September and wanted to get a review up before Halloween, but October was so packed full of review books that I didn't get to read much of this one. Then November happened, and what a busy month that was. Better late then never, I suppose.
Greetings from Moon Hill by Anthony J. Rapino is an anthology of bizarre horror stories set in the little town of Moon Hill, a place that is stuck in an everlasting Fall. As a lover of Halloween, this kind of setting has always filled me with a longing deep in my soul to live in a place like this. A town where its Fall all the time? Yes please! The fictional town that I set most of my stories in is similar, so when I heard about Rapino's book, I got very excited.
Rapino is a Halloween enthusiast and a collector of vintage Halloween memorabilia, and that passion shows here. While not every story in this anthology is specifically about Halloween, they all have a nostalgic Autumn essence that captures the energy of the holiday perfectly. The writing is enthusiastic and quirky in a way that mirrors its eccentric characters and darkly humorous plots. The setting is fully realized, each tale serving as a building block in shaping this town into the picturesque place that it is, while disguising something much darker below the surface.
Moon Hill is chocked full of stories of all kinds. Body horror? Check. Magical realism? Check. Dark horror fantasy? Horror comedy? Gore? Check, check, check. There is something here for everyone. The tales are also of varying lengths. Some are a page long, others are much longer. For instance, the book is concluded with Reality Engineers, a novella that pulls a few characters from previous stories and joins them together in an epic, final showdown. The fact that the stories are linked only helps plunge the reader deeper into this strange and mysterious town.
Not only that, but the book's interior design is truly stunning. In the front of the book, we get a fully drawn-out map of Moon Hill (very helpful) and each story is accompanied by photographs that highlight the stories in some way. All of this, and the stories themselves, made for a unique reading experience. I had a blast!
This is essential reading for horror fans everywhere, especially if you love Halloween and the Autumn season. But even though Halloween is over, don't wait until next year to read this: do it now! As I mentioned before, the book isn't solely Halloween themed so it can really be read any time of the year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
November 7, 2016
I received a copy of this book as part of the publicity tour hosted by the awesome Erin Al-Mehairi. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this anthology. I did not receive any form of compensation for my review.
Greetings From Moon Hill is a slow stroll down a haunted country road. I was hooked from the excellent forward by Todd Keisling, seriously, this guy knows how to write an introduction! It set the tone for the book to follow, promising shivery delights that the book delivered in spades. This book is a collection of interconnected stories all set in the small town of Moon Hill. The stories are each good on their own but when you put them all together they paint a picture of a town that's straight out of the Twilight Zone. Normally this is where I would tell you about my favorite stories in this anthology but this time I honestly couldn't pick. They are all fantastic, filled with wonder, fear, and a very Octobery feel that kept me enchanted until I had turned the last page. This was my first book by Anthony J. Rapino and I can't wait to get my hands on more of this talented writer's work. A highly recommended 5 star read.
Greetings From Moon Hill is a slow stroll down a haunted country road. I was hooked from the excellent forward by Todd Keisling, seriously, this guy knows how to write an introduction! It set the tone for the book to follow, promising shivery delights that the book delivered in spades. This book is a collection of interconnected stories all set in the small town of Moon Hill. The stories are each good on their own but when you put them all together they paint a picture of a town that's straight out of the Twilight Zone. Normally this is where I would tell you about my favorite stories in this anthology but this time I honestly couldn't pick. They are all fantastic, filled with wonder, fear, and a very Octobery feel that kept me enchanted until I had turned the last page. This was my first book by Anthony J. Rapino and I can't wait to get my hands on more of this talented writer's work. A highly recommended 5 star read.
October 28, 2016
Review: GREETINGS FROM MOON HILL by Anthony J. Rapino
As a reader and writer I am fond of the fictional creation of a community, an enclave, a region--especially when such a delight leads into horror or science fiction. Anthony J. Rapino played the Pied Piper with his collection WELCOME TO MOON HILL--and of course, once you first visit Moon Hill, you won't--or can't--leave. GREETING FROM MOON HILL tantalizes us anew with tales of the seldom mundane, very often horrific, lives in this seemingly peaceful Northeastern Pennyslvania town, the land that time--and tourism--forgot. Dip into this collection, and sip a while; or dive in and read straight through. Once you're in, you won't want to leave [unless the conjured Pumpkin God scares you off] and I predict you will return to visit the town where Eternal Autumn reigns--again and again.
As a reader and writer I am fond of the fictional creation of a community, an enclave, a region--especially when such a delight leads into horror or science fiction. Anthony J. Rapino played the Pied Piper with his collection WELCOME TO MOON HILL--and of course, once you first visit Moon Hill, you won't--or can't--leave. GREETING FROM MOON HILL tantalizes us anew with tales of the seldom mundane, very often horrific, lives in this seemingly peaceful Northeastern Pennyslvania town, the land that time--and tourism--forgot. Dip into this collection, and sip a while; or dive in and read straight through. Once you're in, you won't want to leave [unless the conjured Pumpkin God scares you off] and I predict you will return to visit the town where Eternal Autumn reigns--again and again.
November 4, 2022
4.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
I very much enjoyed this collection of short stories. I love how each story is set in the same town, Moon Hill. That makes this book feel cohesive and not as random as most other short story collections. Some stories were strange and others were gross, but all the stories were enjoyable! Highly recommend reading this around Halloween time, as it definitely has those autumn vibes most people look for in their spooky season reading.
I very much enjoyed this collection of short stories. I love how each story is set in the same town, Moon Hill. That makes this book feel cohesive and not as random as most other short story collections. Some stories were strange and others were gross, but all the stories were enjoyable! Highly recommend reading this around Halloween time, as it definitely has those autumn vibes most people look for in their spooky season reading.
October 20, 2016
Whoa! What a trip! Check out my full review here... https://horrornovelreviews.com/2016/1...
January 15, 2017
Somehow both nostalgic & new
From what I could gather before reading this, Greetings from Moon Hill was supposed to be a selection of short stories in the genre of Horror & Halloween (I know that's not a genre, but in this case it is and should be). What I found while reading: instead of completely disjointed stories, there was an overarching storyline told from different perspectives about this magical little place called Moon Hill. I loved how everything came together in the end by the thread that somewhat loosely connected them all. I enjoyed this loose connection because it made the journey so that almost any one of these stories could be completely stand alone (in fact many are, despite being in the same place/timeline).
The stories had some clever...what one might call "Easter eggs" that might remind a Halloween lover of certain Tim Burton movies, and of course Halloween in general. At the same time, not once did I feel I had seen these plots before. I loved the newness of the stories. Original ideas are such a hard to find thing lately. I treasured my time in Moon Hill, and though the characters may forget their time there, I will certainly not. Looking forward to the next installment!
From what I could gather before reading this, Greetings from Moon Hill was supposed to be a selection of short stories in the genre of Horror & Halloween (I know that's not a genre, but in this case it is and should be). What I found while reading: instead of completely disjointed stories, there was an overarching storyline told from different perspectives about this magical little place called Moon Hill. I loved how everything came together in the end by the thread that somewhat loosely connected them all. I enjoyed this loose connection because it made the journey so that almost any one of these stories could be completely stand alone (in fact many are, despite being in the same place/timeline).
The stories had some clever...what one might call "Easter eggs" that might remind a Halloween lover of certain Tim Burton movies, and of course Halloween in general. At the same time, not once did I feel I had seen these plots before. I loved the newness of the stories. Original ideas are such a hard to find thing lately. I treasured my time in Moon Hill, and though the characters may forget their time there, I will certainly not. Looking forward to the next installment!
September 17, 2019
Book theme song: Devil's Train by The Lab Rats
Northeastern Pennsylvania is an underrated horror location so I was glad to see a book that took full advantage of the setting. There's definitely a Lovecraftian influence. It's reminiscent of Night Vale or Stranger Things. If you like those kinds of things and have a high tolerance for gore, you might enjoy this book.
I think the gore was excessive in a few of the stories and left me more disgusted than anything, but there are a lot of stories that are more subtly terrifying and I did enjoy those. The stories start off disconnected and then become more connected towards the end. Stories that I thought were one-shots ended up having relevance near the end, which was really neat.
This isn't something I'd usually read but I figured I'd try to go outside of my comfort zone. Though it's not my favorite book, I really enjoyed its use of setting and the continuity between seemingly disconnected events.
Now if you'll excuse me I gotta get out of my small Northeastern Pennsylvania town before I mysteriously disappear.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is an underrated horror location so I was glad to see a book that took full advantage of the setting. There's definitely a Lovecraftian influence. It's reminiscent of Night Vale or Stranger Things. If you like those kinds of things and have a high tolerance for gore, you might enjoy this book.
I think the gore was excessive in a few of the stories and left me more disgusted than anything, but there are a lot of stories that are more subtly terrifying and I did enjoy those. The stories start off disconnected and then become more connected towards the end. Stories that I thought were one-shots ended up having relevance near the end, which was really neat.
This isn't something I'd usually read but I figured I'd try to go outside of my comfort zone. Though it's not my favorite book, I really enjoyed its use of setting and the continuity between seemingly disconnected events.
Now if you'll excuse me I gotta get out of my small Northeastern Pennsylvania town before I mysteriously disappear.
May 13, 2017
Greetings from Moon Hill Anthony J. Rapino
5/3/ 2017
Imagine a picturesque Pennsylvania town in Autumn, there is more to this town that what you see on the surface. This is a collection of short stories told by the first hand experience from visitors and towns folk that thought it would be a good place to visit or live. The stories are skillfully woven together with the main thread being this little town. Some thrive here and others leave changed forever.
Mr Rapino is a fellow consumer of all things hauntingly creepy. always in a state of perpetual Halloween. He has out done himself this time around with more compelling ,make your hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Fast paced and highly entertaining stories, pick up your copy today and check out his other books and Candy Corn Apocalypse site.
5/3/ 2017
Imagine a picturesque Pennsylvania town in Autumn, there is more to this town that what you see on the surface. This is a collection of short stories told by the first hand experience from visitors and towns folk that thought it would be a good place to visit or live. The stories are skillfully woven together with the main thread being this little town. Some thrive here and others leave changed forever.
Mr Rapino is a fellow consumer of all things hauntingly creepy. always in a state of perpetual Halloween. He has out done himself this time around with more compelling ,make your hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Fast paced and highly entertaining stories, pick up your copy today and check out his other books and Candy Corn Apocalypse site.
October 11, 2016
Greetings from Moon Hill is definitely a page turner, it will pull you into the world created by Anthony Rapino and hold you tight. A collection of related short stories about the happenings in the town of Moon Hill, Pennsylvania, its a typical small town, it seems to be a quiet perfect setting on the surface, however underneath it is all sorts of dark and sinister. This author reminds me of stephen king, he paints a world of darkness that you just want more and more of. Keep an eye on Rapino because I'm sure we will be seeing more masterpieces coming from him in the future!
May 26, 2019
Anthony J. Rapino's Greetings from Moon Hill is collection of stories that all take place in the Northeastern Pennsylvania town of, you got it, Moon Hill. It has a very nice opening, setting the mood quickly; with a resignation letter from a grizzled reporter, Graham Darby, to his boss, angry that he was set to cover the ghost town of Moon Hill; mad because he felt the assignment was beneath him. Piper, another reporter from the same paper, is sent to Moon Hill an indeterminate time later (but it's made clear it's sometime after Graham had quit) to write some copy to spruce up tourism. Her editor provides her with all the notes, stories and interviews Graham had collected during his stay there, and there are some doozies. Using those, she hopes to uncover some of the mysteries of Greetings Moon Hill.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
November 24, 2018
Rapino is a talented and versatile writer, and each of his stories has its own voice. The content and tone of each story is very varied and you just never know where the next story will take you. Some stories are more lighthearted while some very dark, some supernatural and some dealing with the very real horrors of real life. Admittedly, it did take me a little while to get into this collection but once I did I really enjoyed it. A few of my favourites were the unsettling Camera Obscura, the splatterpunk Loosely Enforced Rules, and the disturbing The Plumber. This collection also includes the novella Reality Engineers which was a wild and thoroughly entertaining ride.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review!
November 14, 2018
First of all I must speak on the quality of this book. It is unique in so many ways, and that alone made me love it from the get go. The illustrations are fantastic, there is a map, and each page is shaded with the surrounding forest of moon hill, as well as each new story having its own pertinent illustrations. Page breaks are little viney pumpkins and it is all sooo wonderfully put together, that I am still a little in awe over it.
As for the stories, I have never been a huge reader of short story collections, but Rapino’s Halloween and horror themed compilation all based around one small town seemed a good place to dive in. I was not disappointed. There is some great stuff here. Halloween on the Hill, to start us off, is just what I needed to get sucked right in. I was transported directly into fall in Moon Hill; It was crisp and clean and equally spooky.
Two others that stand out for me are Stanley, and Morning Espresso at the Church of Me. Not to say there weren’t others that I didn’t enjoy, but these two I remember now as I write this review. Yes, you should give it a read. Breathe Deep of the Night and get yourself a copy.
As for the stories, I have never been a huge reader of short story collections, but Rapino’s Halloween and horror themed compilation all based around one small town seemed a good place to dive in. I was not disappointed. There is some great stuff here. Halloween on the Hill, to start us off, is just what I needed to get sucked right in. I was transported directly into fall in Moon Hill; It was crisp and clean and equally spooky.
Two others that stand out for me are Stanley, and Morning Espresso at the Church of Me. Not to say there weren’t others that I didn’t enjoy, but these two I remember now as I write this review. Yes, you should give it a read. Breathe Deep of the Night and get yourself a copy.
October 16, 2022
Fun read about a very strange town. Good choice for a spooky season read.
December 13, 2017
The book has a nice variety of the horror subgenre, ranging from the violent and uncomfortable "Loosely Enforced Rules", which follows three young adults as they prepare for a night out making an elderly couples' lives hell; to the action-packed demon battle of "The Topsy-Turvy Man" (one of my favorites); to the surreal "No Touching at All", there is, as clichéd as it sounds, something in here for everyone.
You can read my full review here at HorrorTalk.com.
You can read my full review here at HorrorTalk.com.
May 22, 2023
I’m conflicted on this one, maybe more like 3.5 stars? I really enjoyed it, I flew through it and it felt like it took no time at all. There were some excellent short stories weaved throughout but I wish the deeper undertones were explored more. Maybe I missed something, but some of the stories introduced characters and themes that were really interesting and then seemingly forgotten about. It almost seemed to be setting itself up for a sequel, which I’d welcome with open arms. I did find some of it a bit hard to follow just due to the sheer amount of characters and stuff introduced and as I got farther along I started to forget who was who and what roles, etc., they played. I’ll definitely have to revisit it again down the line, I’m sure there was stuff I missed and will discover after another read through…and the story about the plumber had the most spectacular (I’m sure most people wouldn’t agree, but I’m not most people), disgusting, lewd, amazing line I think I’ve ever read…and if you’ve read it, you probably know what I’m talking about…
September 27, 2024
2.5 stars.
I wanted to love this book and have been hanging onto it to dive into for Spooky Season. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is a disconnect between the quality of the writing and the quality of the stories. There were a handful of really excellent stories in this collection, but overall they fell short for me.
I wanted to love this book and have been hanging onto it to dive into for Spooky Season. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is a disconnect between the quality of the writing and the quality of the stories. There were a handful of really excellent stories in this collection, but overall they fell short for me.
November 8, 2019
Rapino has a way with words. The writing is strong. This collection is a mix of horror, fantasy, and comedy. I recommend readers check it out if they like that mix. For me I found many of the stories vague/confusing, but I'm not a fantasy fan at all.
May 1, 2021
Tales with no point. It's like these YouTube "horror" stories, where they tell you about a guy who chased them in the street. Luckily they got away and now they are scared for life.
That's it - Same level of stories (with better writing skill and a lot of PR).
That's it - Same level of stories (with better writing skill and a lot of PR).
October 3, 2024
There were some short stories in here that I really did enjoy, however this felt a little bloated in terms of length, and I really didn't connect with the writing style.
Some cool cosmic bits however.
Some cool cosmic bits however.
March 1, 2020
Loved it!
Read
August 5, 2020DNF. Could not get into this one at all
November 27, 2019
An odd assortment of tales, some dark, some funny, some grotesque. I wanted more cohesion in the stories by the end, however, as this collection seemed determined to be just that--an anthology--despite feeing much more like a larger work. I think I was interested enough in the interconnectedness of all the stories and the secret behind the town of Moon Hill itself that I would have preferred this in the form of a novel. The first couple of stories seemed to be setting it up as one and then things became more fragmented. I suppose I either wanted this to be a totally cohesive novel or a more disconnected short story collection--as opposed to the odd in-betweener that it is. Still a fun and very spooky, Halloween-y read, though, and I had a good time with it.
November 4, 2016
Greetings From Moon Hill is a superb collection of small town, quiet horror. Expanded from its original form, rebuilt, remastered, and given a fresh heartbeat, it’s the small Pennsylvania town of Moon Hill that you know and love with a more intimate view. The shadows are deeper, the characters are more solid, the musty seasonal scents are more intoxicating.
Homey and inviting, this town of Moon Hill achieves a warm orange glow most prevalent in the fall like Connecticut’s Oxrun Station. And like Charles L. Grant’s established town, Moon Hill has it’s fair share of darkness, but what is a picturesque small town with out some quirk and shadows? There are not just terrors to be found here, there are also some curios and youthful lamentations. Treat yourself to a tour of the streets, kick around some multi-color leaves, have a bottle of home brewed craft beer, just don’t bank on staying long because the shadows lengthen as the sun goes down.
Quite an enjoyable read in its original form, the tales from that lineup that stuck with me the most over the years, making me ache for the late October season are: Struck by Golden Lightning, Just Once More, Little Sister, The Plumber, and From Your Body They Rise. These tales stand just as strong now as the first time. Maybe even more so as they are revised into a more cohesive piece.
Of the newly added stories The Topsy-Turvey Man (1 & 2) and Camera Obscura are highlights, tickling my fancy. This definitive Moon Hill also incorporates a couple of “classic” Rapino novellas, Loosely Enforced Rules & Reality Engineers. The awesome Loosely Enforced Rules is a longtime favorite of mine, featuring a delightful character by the name of Sunshine. Reality Engineers, formerly an audio exclusive (and a first time read for me) knocked my socks off with its nearly psychedelic flavor. Without this rerelease, I don’t know that I would have ever had the opportunity to experience Reality Engineers, something I am grateful for.
The new additions really add another level of depth and immersion. The book has a better flow, a stronger sense of urgency, and a higher level of connectivity. It had become less of a collection and more of an experience.
Anthony J. Rapino is the kind of writer I seek out in the quiet moments, when I am reading for myself and not for a deadline. He crafts charismatic & off kilter characters with a wonderful small town mentality. And as small towns go, Moon Hill is draped in shadows and as quirky as they come. A definite Charles L. Grant glow illuminates between the pages of a Rapino yarn. It’s a curio I’ve been missing since Grant’s passing.
I greatly look forward to more musings from the mysterious town of Moon Hill. And if the excerpt of The Shadows of Flies tells us anything it’s that we are definitely in for another treat… possibly another trick. Till then, breathe deep of the night.
Homey and inviting, this town of Moon Hill achieves a warm orange glow most prevalent in the fall like Connecticut’s Oxrun Station. And like Charles L. Grant’s established town, Moon Hill has it’s fair share of darkness, but what is a picturesque small town with out some quirk and shadows? There are not just terrors to be found here, there are also some curios and youthful lamentations. Treat yourself to a tour of the streets, kick around some multi-color leaves, have a bottle of home brewed craft beer, just don’t bank on staying long because the shadows lengthen as the sun goes down.
Quite an enjoyable read in its original form, the tales from that lineup that stuck with me the most over the years, making me ache for the late October season are: Struck by Golden Lightning, Just Once More, Little Sister, The Plumber, and From Your Body They Rise. These tales stand just as strong now as the first time. Maybe even more so as they are revised into a more cohesive piece.
Of the newly added stories The Topsy-Turvey Man (1 & 2) and Camera Obscura are highlights, tickling my fancy. This definitive Moon Hill also incorporates a couple of “classic” Rapino novellas, Loosely Enforced Rules & Reality Engineers. The awesome Loosely Enforced Rules is a longtime favorite of mine, featuring a delightful character by the name of Sunshine. Reality Engineers, formerly an audio exclusive (and a first time read for me) knocked my socks off with its nearly psychedelic flavor. Without this rerelease, I don’t know that I would have ever had the opportunity to experience Reality Engineers, something I am grateful for.
The new additions really add another level of depth and immersion. The book has a better flow, a stronger sense of urgency, and a higher level of connectivity. It had become less of a collection and more of an experience.
Anthony J. Rapino is the kind of writer I seek out in the quiet moments, when I am reading for myself and not for a deadline. He crafts charismatic & off kilter characters with a wonderful small town mentality. And as small towns go, Moon Hill is draped in shadows and as quirky as they come. A definite Charles L. Grant glow illuminates between the pages of a Rapino yarn. It’s a curio I’ve been missing since Grant’s passing.
I greatly look forward to more musings from the mysterious town of Moon Hill. And if the excerpt of The Shadows of Flies tells us anything it’s that we are definitely in for another treat… possibly another trick. Till then, breathe deep of the night.
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April 30, 2022Could not get into this book for weeks but gave it another try. Took me months to finish it, still did not like it. The structure of the book is a collection of short stories where the first 10% is of an outsider entering Moon Hill to write a report about the town and experienced weird encounters upon arrival. Then it goes into numerous short horror stories where the plots where lost in too much description. And at 80% of the book it picked up where it left of on the encounters of the outsider and build up into fighting off a monster spawned from Satan. Only impressionable chapter for me was From Your Body They Rise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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