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The Valley of American Shadow
The Valley of American Shadow is a collection of 16 paranormal, supernatural short stories spanning across America, reaching past ordinary and into the unexpected with characters so real you feel for them, even the social media troll who has the tables turned by a ghost.
Whether it's a dystopian K-8 school in rurl Kansas with a terrible secret, or a 10-year-old in Greeley, Colorado, that suspends a damaged airplane in midair, these stories blur the line between reality and het metaphysical. The characters are thrust into situations that challenge both explanation and understanding, at least in this plane of existence. What happens when a dissoloving UFO attacks a religious commune in a dusty Texas county near the US-Mexican border? Or when an Ohio police officer on his first night of patrol has the devil in the back seat of his cruiser?
Whether it's a dystopian K-8 school in rurl Kansas with a terrible secret, or a 10-year-old in Greeley, Colorado, that suspends a damaged airplane in midair, these stories blur the line between reality and het metaphysical. The characters are thrust into situations that challenge both explanation and understanding, at least in this plane of existence. What happens when a dissoloving UFO attacks a religious commune in a dusty Texas county near the US-Mexican border? Or when an Ohio police officer on his first night of patrol has the devil in the back seat of his cruiser?
- GenresShort Stories
248 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 4, 2019
I was blown away by Gregg Voss's writing and how real the characters and places are in his stories. And, the stories are absolutely fantastic - the kind that stay with you forever.
The veil of reality is worn, faded, and torn, allowing the paranormal and metaphysical to creep through our perfectly ordinary world. Gregg Voss’s profound characters come to life, escaping the pages into our thoughts, taking us with them on their unexpected, frightening and bizarre journeys, leaving us forever impacted and scarred with their hurts and secrets.
Every character in The Valley of American Shadow is just like anyone you’d see anywhere in America. What are their secrets? What fears and experiences torment their past, or even their future?
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written stories with phenomena and intrigue.
*For anyone who cares - a couple stories have adult content, but it's not irrelevant.
The veil of reality is worn, faded, and torn, allowing the paranormal and metaphysical to creep through our perfectly ordinary world. Gregg Voss’s profound characters come to life, escaping the pages into our thoughts, taking us with them on their unexpected, frightening and bizarre journeys, leaving us forever impacted and scarred with their hurts and secrets.
Every character in The Valley of American Shadow is just like anyone you’d see anywhere in America. What are their secrets? What fears and experiences torment their past, or even their future?
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written stories with phenomena and intrigue.
*For anyone who cares - a couple stories have adult content, but it's not irrelevant.
August 13, 2019
Fantastic book of short stories combining the tradition of Americana as we know it, with imaginative supernatural actions. Mr. Voss has put together a fascinating vignette of stories that are thrilling and make you think. I highly recommend this book!
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April 22, 2020I couldn't put this book down! Each story pulled me into the unique lives and worries of the characters, and I was on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen to each of them.
April 27, 2024
Gregg Voss's debut houses a collection of 16 short stories. In "The Valley of American Shadow", Voss shows us in nearly every chapter how reality can subconsciously become blurred in between both the macabre AND the metaphysical lines. Plus with the occasional plot twist, what's not to like about his book? I liked how each of Gregg Voss's stories took place throughout the United States. One could pinpoint all but one on a map.
There were quite a few of his tales that I enjoyed reading as well. "Patience" tells of Molly Driscoll, a first-year instructor teaching out in the sticks in Kansas. Unlike the old saying, Molly soon learns that patience is NOT a virtue. "Maiden Voyage" tells of Officer Todd Fowler's first time on night patrol where he develops a sinking feeling with the passenger in the back seat of his police car. "Trending" is my favorite story which takes place during a dystopian time in the Los Angeles suburbs. Creativity is outlawed yet a young unnamed boy--dubbed "Garbanzo" by his mother--goes on a quest with just his pencil and a scrap of paper to bring change to the world.
As I read through these tales, I felt that some of Gregg Voss's stories could even be shown as episodes on television. Back in the day, Rod Serling might have used a couple of his stories on his award-winning program "The Twilight Zone". Also, Alfred Hitchcock would've enjoyed transcribing a few of Voss's works for either his half-hour or hour-long shows. As the Master of Suspense, "Hitch" could weave some intense tales at times complete with great casting. Some tales from the 30-minute "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" include: "The Glass Eye" and--by the British author Roald Dahl--"Lamb to the Slaughter" and "Man From the South". From "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", episodes include "The Jar" by Ray Bradbury and "Where the Woodbine Twineth".
If you enjoy tales of macabre with the occasional plot twist, then go pick up "The Valley of American Shadow" at your local library or bookstore. Gregg Voss knows how to spin a tale or two that can go off the tangent. Looking forward to reading more of his works down the road!
Rating: ****
There were quite a few of his tales that I enjoyed reading as well. "Patience" tells of Molly Driscoll, a first-year instructor teaching out in the sticks in Kansas. Unlike the old saying, Molly soon learns that patience is NOT a virtue. "Maiden Voyage" tells of Officer Todd Fowler's first time on night patrol where he develops a sinking feeling with the passenger in the back seat of his police car. "Trending" is my favorite story which takes place during a dystopian time in the Los Angeles suburbs. Creativity is outlawed yet a young unnamed boy--dubbed "Garbanzo" by his mother--goes on a quest with just his pencil and a scrap of paper to bring change to the world.
As I read through these tales, I felt that some of Gregg Voss's stories could even be shown as episodes on television. Back in the day, Rod Serling might have used a couple of his stories on his award-winning program "The Twilight Zone". Also, Alfred Hitchcock would've enjoyed transcribing a few of Voss's works for either his half-hour or hour-long shows. As the Master of Suspense, "Hitch" could weave some intense tales at times complete with great casting. Some tales from the 30-minute "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" include: "The Glass Eye" and--by the British author Roald Dahl--"Lamb to the Slaughter" and "Man From the South". From "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", episodes include "The Jar" by Ray Bradbury and "Where the Woodbine Twineth".
If you enjoy tales of macabre with the occasional plot twist, then go pick up "The Valley of American Shadow" at your local library or bookstore. Gregg Voss knows how to spin a tale or two that can go off the tangent. Looking forward to reading more of his works down the road!
Rating: ****
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews