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Cerberus Rising
A poet, a master of horror, and a master of suspense join forces as Cerberus. With three prompts--Cabin Fever, Letters, and Chaos--the three-headed beast dishes out nine novelettes. Cerberus Rises with their unique styles to take you on a journey through nine different levels of Hell.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2020
13 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Patrick C. Harrison III
45 books816 followersPatrick C. Harrison III (PC3, if you prefer) is an author of horror, splatterpunk, and all forms of speculative fiction. His current publications include GRANDPAPPY, A SAVAGE BREED, VAMPIRE NUNS BEHIND BARS, 5 TALES THAT WILL LAND YOU IN HELL, among others, and his works can be found in numerous anthologies, including AND HELL FOLLOWED and ROAD KILL: TEXAS HORROR BY TEXAS AUTHORS VOL. 4.
PC3 is the Splatterpunk Award-winning editor (with Jarod Barbee) of AND HELL FOLLOWED, and has edited several other anthologies. He is a freelance editor, having done work for notable authors like Aron Beauregard, Daniel J. Volpe, Mark Towse, Rebecca Rowland, and many others.
PC3 also has a FREE substack, in which he frequently does movie reviews and updates readers on his fiction. Check out pc3horror.substack.com.
PC3 is the Splatterpunk Award-winning editor (with Jarod Barbee) of AND HELL FOLLOWED, and has edited several other anthologies. He is a freelance editor, having done work for notable authors like Aron Beauregard, Daniel J. Volpe, Mark Towse, Rebecca Rowland, and many others.
PC3 also has a FREE substack, in which he frequently does movie reviews and updates readers on his fiction. Check out pc3horror.substack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 11, 2021
I've wanted to read Cerberus Rising for awhile now, especially following its many Splatterpunk Award nominations.
It did not disappoint.
This was my first foray into the writings of Harrison, Miller, and Ennenbach, and I can't lie. I was impressed. These three guys can write. Each author chose a prompt: Cabin Fever, Letters, and Chaos, and then wrote a story utilizing that prompt...resulting in a total of nine novelettes. Each section was introduced by an M. Ennenbach poem, which was very effective at setting the mood. I'm not even a poetry fan, but his words were addictive.
For me, by far, the strongest prompt was Cabin Fever. I was blown away by the three stories included in that section: Insides Out by PC3, Into the Light by Miller, and Fifty Words for Writer's Block - A Decline by Ennenbach. I'm honestly not even sure I could pick a favorite, as they were all masterfully written, creepy, quirky, and devilishly good.
The Letters section was still fantastic, but those stories didn't totally grab me like the first three. I have no issues with an epistolary-style writings, and these were still very well-written.
I loved the premise of the Chaos prompt, and felt this potentially could have been the strongest one, but in all three stories, actual authors' names were used as characters, and, for whatever reason, I felt myself disengaging. I love the idea of using friends as characters, but this maybe took it a little too far? I know this is something most readers probably loved, but it was hard for me to separate the story character from many of the people I interact with daily, and it took me outside the story.
Overall, this is an amazingly strong collection and if you love horror and the bizarre, I highly recommend grabbing a copy. The first three stories alone make this worth the cost.
4.5 stars
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to Chris Miller for my review copy.
It did not disappoint.
This was my first foray into the writings of Harrison, Miller, and Ennenbach, and I can't lie. I was impressed. These three guys can write. Each author chose a prompt: Cabin Fever, Letters, and Chaos, and then wrote a story utilizing that prompt...resulting in a total of nine novelettes. Each section was introduced by an M. Ennenbach poem, which was very effective at setting the mood. I'm not even a poetry fan, but his words were addictive.
For me, by far, the strongest prompt was Cabin Fever. I was blown away by the three stories included in that section: Insides Out by PC3, Into the Light by Miller, and Fifty Words for Writer's Block - A Decline by Ennenbach. I'm honestly not even sure I could pick a favorite, as they were all masterfully written, creepy, quirky, and devilishly good.
The Letters section was still fantastic, but those stories didn't totally grab me like the first three. I have no issues with an epistolary-style writings, and these were still very well-written.
I loved the premise of the Chaos prompt, and felt this potentially could have been the strongest one, but in all three stories, actual authors' names were used as characters, and, for whatever reason, I felt myself disengaging. I love the idea of using friends as characters, but this maybe took it a little too far? I know this is something most readers probably loved, but it was hard for me to separate the story character from many of the people I interact with daily, and it took me outside the story.
Overall, this is an amazingly strong collection and if you love horror and the bizarre, I highly recommend grabbing a copy. The first three stories alone make this worth the cost.
4.5 stars
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to Chris Miller for my review copy.
July 21, 2021
A solid collection of 9 stories from 3 talented authors. This book was broken into 3 parts, with 3 stories each: cabin fever, letters, chaos. The stories were all well written and each was unique. These ranged from horror, poetic, to cosmic. A great collection for any fan of a good writing.
February 10, 2021
You ever read a book and get worried half way through that that book has wrecked you for the future of all other books?
Like, where do I go from here?
How can I expect to find this level of full-on fucking entertainment again?
Will life going forward be a constant let down everytime I open a new book!?
I want answers.
Like, where do I go from here?
How can I expect to find this level of full-on fucking entertainment again?
Will life going forward be a constant let down everytime I open a new book!?
I want answers.
February 21, 2021
Three great stories each, from three magical storytellers. They were all so amazing, it was hard to pick a favorite. Each story in each category was dramatically different, even with the same underlying theme. Such pleasures to unfold. Definitely give it a read!
September 17, 2020
Typically, when you have a collection like this, featuring multiple authors, there is going to be at least one who stands out above the rest or one who really lacks in comparison to the others. But in this collection, all three authors are outstanding. Each brings a unique voice which stands its own against the other. I have read previous works from all three authors and I feel these stories are a step above anything any of them have put out before. While certainly entertaining, reading this collection was more of an experience for me. It's difficult to explain that, but perhaps once you read it, you will understand where I am coming from. Personal favorites include: Into the Light, Baptized by Lethe, and Blame Jonathan Swift. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys horror, thriller, psychological, and a bit of bizarro.
February 17, 2021
I read this with a free trial of kindle unlimited. Im not normally a huge fan of short stories, I like something I can get my teeth stuck into, but this book changed that for me. Every single story had me gripped, terrified, chilled and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one and am looking forward to buying the physical copy to add to my collection.
January 4, 2021
So much to say about this amazing collection of stories by three talented writers. Each author wrote three stories for this volume, in which they excel at horrifying, terrifying, and astonishing the reader. The collection centers around three specific prompts, Cabin Fever, Letters, and Chaos.
Let’s start with Ennenbach, the poet, his verses are unparalleled and his every word oozes with raw emotion and intention. Nothing is left to chance with this author, not a bit of filler to be found within any of his pages as he draws you in to his tales of woe and horror.
In his first story, “Fifty Words For Writer’s Block-A Decline”, he brings you inside the mind of a poet. A poet who considers his success a fluke, once a poetic genius, he is now brought to his poetic knees by a strange request from a reporter. A poet who once could write about anything, at any time, suddenly cannot write a single word. He seeks out solitude and isolation to write his next collection of poems, which must include the poem for the reporter that only needs to start out with a specific line. The tale pulls no punches as it details the decline of the poet and his once prolific talent.
The second tale, “Baptized by Lethe” details the life of a young co-ed as she settles into college life, feeling far too isolated and alone than she should. Ennenbach quickly brings her emotions into play as the lonely girl struggles with her feelings and with making new friends. Weird letters begin to appear, and her mental state begins to drift as dreams and strange occurrences take over much of her life. This story is beautifully written and becomes a story within a story as it takes you on a lonely journey.
Ennenbach’s third tale is an all-out horrifying tale titled “The Incident at Barrow Farm”. This story hits shockingly close to home and achieves much of the horror by the reader simply realizing how realistic it truly is, how possible it is. The horror contained within the tale itself is just a bonus. I loved every word of this story as it plays out at the Barrow Farm, as the small-town police try to deal with the reality of multiple murders within the confines of their small town along with other atrocities that the reader will never see coming. The details and the emotional toll this story packs will leave you breathless and wishing for more. If you happen to know these writers, you will love this story for other reasons. I will leave you to discover those reasons for yourself.
Moving on to author Patrick C. Harrison, III or PC3, as he is listed in the book, I have nothing but admiration for his story telling skills. His stories are well-written, original, entertaining and downright twisted. His first tale in the book, “Insides Out” draws you in with a gruesome scene laid out all around the house of the main character in the book. The tragic tale sucks you in as he describes what occurred on that horrible Thanksgiving Day and the days after. The gruesome account of the tragic day hits you like a gut punch as you slowly begin to visualize and understand the horrible scene being painted for you. I loved everything about this sick, and twisted, Thanksgiving tale. I thought it was brilliantly written.
Harrison’s next story “Blame Jonathan Swift” was a swift descent into hell paved by a road with good intentions. By the time I realized what was happening, I was hooked and beyond amused. The horror was real, the writing beautifully done, and the rambling confession of the poor mis-guided soul in the story was as believable as Poe’s earnest madman in the “The Tell-Tale Heart”. I loved everything about this story, from beginning to end. You will not see the end coming, which is how brilliant horror is to be written. Harrison delivers an epic punch to the gut with this one.
The final story penned by Harrison is called “Taking The Loop”. I hate giving away too much of any story and this one is so well done that all I want to say is kudo’s to Harrison. You will need to read this for yourself, dear reader, from beginning to end and then probably one more time. This was a terrifying story, full of blood, gore, fear, anxiety and anguish. I don’t know what rabbit hole Harrison was down when he wrote this, but it’s one hell of a ride.
The final author, Chris Miller, is every bit as talented as the other two authors in this book. His stories shine with his own unique style and are well-written and deliberate. He sets the tone beautifully in just a few sentences before leading you into a story that will leave you breathless with fear and wanting more. His first story in the collection spoke directly to the doomsday prepper hidden deep within my heart.
“Into the Light” details the sad state of affairs of a family that has been living in an underground bunker for the last ten years. The father insists on keeping his family safe inside the bunker for as long as he can, telling them repeatedly that the surface is not safe. The son begins to rebel against the father, hoping to prove to his family that everything is okay. I felt this one in my soul, their despair and anguish. The constant tension that they exist in, their need to survive and endure. Read this with the lights on.
Miller offers up a second tale with “The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe”. In this tale, I was transported back in time to Victorian times. This story reminded me of the dark gothic style stories I used to read, and Miller may very well have been channeling Lovecraft with the cosmic horror contained in this story. It drips with horror and madness and will leave you quite chilled and awestruck by the time you finish. The descriptions alone of the tragedy that befell Thomas Baker Wolfe will paint such images inside your brain that they will be seared there for quite some time. Nothing more to say on this except bravo! This was a favorite of mine in the collection.
In the final tale, “Day 69”, Miller delivers a kick straight to the head with his terrifying tale of a mundane trip to the grocery store right in the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine and panic. This will leave you uncomfortable and writhing in your chair from the realism. I was in awe of how realistic the images were, how the entire scenario went down and how utterly spot-on the highly emotional situation played out. Everyone will relate to this story on a very personal level and the horror is undeniably real.
This is a great collection to own, to read and to gift. I loved every word of it, and I look forward to reading much more from each one of these authors.
Let’s start with Ennenbach, the poet, his verses are unparalleled and his every word oozes with raw emotion and intention. Nothing is left to chance with this author, not a bit of filler to be found within any of his pages as he draws you in to his tales of woe and horror.
In his first story, “Fifty Words For Writer’s Block-A Decline”, he brings you inside the mind of a poet. A poet who considers his success a fluke, once a poetic genius, he is now brought to his poetic knees by a strange request from a reporter. A poet who once could write about anything, at any time, suddenly cannot write a single word. He seeks out solitude and isolation to write his next collection of poems, which must include the poem for the reporter that only needs to start out with a specific line. The tale pulls no punches as it details the decline of the poet and his once prolific talent.
The second tale, “Baptized by Lethe” details the life of a young co-ed as she settles into college life, feeling far too isolated and alone than she should. Ennenbach quickly brings her emotions into play as the lonely girl struggles with her feelings and with making new friends. Weird letters begin to appear, and her mental state begins to drift as dreams and strange occurrences take over much of her life. This story is beautifully written and becomes a story within a story as it takes you on a lonely journey.
Ennenbach’s third tale is an all-out horrifying tale titled “The Incident at Barrow Farm”. This story hits shockingly close to home and achieves much of the horror by the reader simply realizing how realistic it truly is, how possible it is. The horror contained within the tale itself is just a bonus. I loved every word of this story as it plays out at the Barrow Farm, as the small-town police try to deal with the reality of multiple murders within the confines of their small town along with other atrocities that the reader will never see coming. The details and the emotional toll this story packs will leave you breathless and wishing for more. If you happen to know these writers, you will love this story for other reasons. I will leave you to discover those reasons for yourself.
Moving on to author Patrick C. Harrison, III or PC3, as he is listed in the book, I have nothing but admiration for his story telling skills. His stories are well-written, original, entertaining and downright twisted. His first tale in the book, “Insides Out” draws you in with a gruesome scene laid out all around the house of the main character in the book. The tragic tale sucks you in as he describes what occurred on that horrible Thanksgiving Day and the days after. The gruesome account of the tragic day hits you like a gut punch as you slowly begin to visualize and understand the horrible scene being painted for you. I loved everything about this sick, and twisted, Thanksgiving tale. I thought it was brilliantly written.
Harrison’s next story “Blame Jonathan Swift” was a swift descent into hell paved by a road with good intentions. By the time I realized what was happening, I was hooked and beyond amused. The horror was real, the writing beautifully done, and the rambling confession of the poor mis-guided soul in the story was as believable as Poe’s earnest madman in the “The Tell-Tale Heart”. I loved everything about this story, from beginning to end. You will not see the end coming, which is how brilliant horror is to be written. Harrison delivers an epic punch to the gut with this one.
The final story penned by Harrison is called “Taking The Loop”. I hate giving away too much of any story and this one is so well done that all I want to say is kudo’s to Harrison. You will need to read this for yourself, dear reader, from beginning to end and then probably one more time. This was a terrifying story, full of blood, gore, fear, anxiety and anguish. I don’t know what rabbit hole Harrison was down when he wrote this, but it’s one hell of a ride.
The final author, Chris Miller, is every bit as talented as the other two authors in this book. His stories shine with his own unique style and are well-written and deliberate. He sets the tone beautifully in just a few sentences before leading you into a story that will leave you breathless with fear and wanting more. His first story in the collection spoke directly to the doomsday prepper hidden deep within my heart.
“Into the Light” details the sad state of affairs of a family that has been living in an underground bunker for the last ten years. The father insists on keeping his family safe inside the bunker for as long as he can, telling them repeatedly that the surface is not safe. The son begins to rebel against the father, hoping to prove to his family that everything is okay. I felt this one in my soul, their despair and anguish. The constant tension that they exist in, their need to survive and endure. Read this with the lights on.
Miller offers up a second tale with “The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe”. In this tale, I was transported back in time to Victorian times. This story reminded me of the dark gothic style stories I used to read, and Miller may very well have been channeling Lovecraft with the cosmic horror contained in this story. It drips with horror and madness and will leave you quite chilled and awestruck by the time you finish. The descriptions alone of the tragedy that befell Thomas Baker Wolfe will paint such images inside your brain that they will be seared there for quite some time. Nothing more to say on this except bravo! This was a favorite of mine in the collection.
In the final tale, “Day 69”, Miller delivers a kick straight to the head with his terrifying tale of a mundane trip to the grocery store right in the middle of the Covid-19 quarantine and panic. This will leave you uncomfortable and writhing in your chair from the realism. I was in awe of how realistic the images were, how the entire scenario went down and how utterly spot-on the highly emotional situation played out. Everyone will relate to this story on a very personal level and the horror is undeniably real.
This is a great collection to own, to read and to gift. I loved every word of it, and I look forward to reading much more from each one of these authors.
July 10, 2022
I've seen this book floating around some FB groups in the past, and I looked at the cover and thought you myself that I'm not big on creature features. This is in no way a creature feature, silly me.(One of these authors that I've never read were on my FB BOH Author list that I'm reading this year, so I didn't actually read the description until now). It's a collection of stories, from 3 different authors, and the book is cut into 3 sections. The third section, my favorite was themed 'chaos'. That section began with a police vs, slasher story, then a bizarro story, and then a COVID story. Can things get any more chaotic than that? Since the book was 3 parts, I d read a part, go to another book. Read the second part, go to another book. Like a palate cleanser I guess you could say. Just because the third section was my fave doesn't mean the first two sections weren't good, because they were. This book would be perfect for people who like variety. Not only do the stories cover various topics, but you also get the writing styles of three different authors. An all around good time to be had by all
January 11, 2021
Amazing collection of stories. I really enjoyed the different themes and the three different takes on them. The first three stories were my favorites, but they were all good. I also noticed some familiar names and nods in there. Check it out.
September 25, 2023
9 awesome stories by some fantastic authors. There's some great horror in here.
February 7, 2021
An outstanding compilation of horror perfection, penned by 3 of my best friends, so I’m totally biased. But even if I hated Miller, Ennenbach, and III, this book still would have kicked my fat ass. A bit of like every genre, splatter here, bizzaro there, poetic awesomeness in between, wicked tense cosmic shit, madness galore. It rules.
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
August 7, 2020
Jaw Dropping
What a crazy ride. Wide variety of jaw dropping tales of horror and the macabre. A must have horror collection. Not for the faint of heart.
What a crazy ride. Wide variety of jaw dropping tales of horror and the macabre. A must have horror collection. Not for the faint of heart.
August 31, 2020
Big thanks to Chris Miller for reaching out to see if I’d be keen to tackle this new release. I’d previously read ‘The Damned Place’ by Miller and enjoyed it, but I’ve not read anything from Harrison III or Ennenback before.
What I liked: ‘Cerberus Rising’ has a fantastic premise. Three authors, three prompts and each deliver a novelette/novella from each prompt. Each section is introduced by a poem, which in each case, deftly set up the mood for each part.
For me, personally, the opening three stories were the strongest.
Set under the prompt ‘Cabin Fever,’ Harrison III gets us rolling with ‘Insides Out.’ This was a completely bonkers story about a family gathering gone wrong when the sky takes a turn.
Miller comes up next with ‘Into the Light,’ a claustrophobic story of life in a fallout shelter. It had shades of ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ and the ending was superb.
The strongest story for me was Ennenbach’s ‘Fifty Words For Writer’s Block – A Decline.’ This story was fantastic. We follow a poet who retreats to a cabin to finish his next collection when things go off the rails when a moose visits his place. Just superb.
What I didn’t like: While the rest of the stories were great, I’m personally not a fan of epistolary storytelling, which part two, ‘Letters,’ was based on, and I found part three ‘Chaos’ to be completely filled with potential, but I was unable to fully engage with the stories due to characters named not only after the authors, but a lot of authors who also frequent both Books of Horror and Books of Horror – Author Central Facebook pages. A first name could’ve been manageable but the first and last names completely detached me. A minor issue for me, which may be perfect for others
Why you should buy this: All nine stories are well done and cover a ton of ground. That opening section of three novellas would be worth the price of admission alone, but the other two sections keep the bar high.
These were a blast to read and if you’re looking to support three great writers, here’s a great way to do that.
What I liked: ‘Cerberus Rising’ has a fantastic premise. Three authors, three prompts and each deliver a novelette/novella from each prompt. Each section is introduced by a poem, which in each case, deftly set up the mood for each part.
For me, personally, the opening three stories were the strongest.
Set under the prompt ‘Cabin Fever,’ Harrison III gets us rolling with ‘Insides Out.’ This was a completely bonkers story about a family gathering gone wrong when the sky takes a turn.
Miller comes up next with ‘Into the Light,’ a claustrophobic story of life in a fallout shelter. It had shades of ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ and the ending was superb.
The strongest story for me was Ennenbach’s ‘Fifty Words For Writer’s Block – A Decline.’ This story was fantastic. We follow a poet who retreats to a cabin to finish his next collection when things go off the rails when a moose visits his place. Just superb.
What I didn’t like: While the rest of the stories were great, I’m personally not a fan of epistolary storytelling, which part two, ‘Letters,’ was based on, and I found part three ‘Chaos’ to be completely filled with potential, but I was unable to fully engage with the stories due to characters named not only after the authors, but a lot of authors who also frequent both Books of Horror and Books of Horror – Author Central Facebook pages. A first name could’ve been manageable but the first and last names completely detached me. A minor issue for me, which may be perfect for others
Why you should buy this: All nine stories are well done and cover a ton of ground. That opening section of three novellas would be worth the price of admission alone, but the other two sections keep the bar high.
These were a blast to read and if you’re looking to support three great writers, here’s a great way to do that.
September 6, 2022
Great collection! Found myself laughing out loud when reminded the beginning of the covid pandemic and how silly people were about toilet paper! And other “start of the pandemic” habits! 🙄😂
August 25, 2020
Cerberus Rising is a powerful, impactful, mind-violating collection of nine novelettes from Patrick C Harrison III (PC3), Chris Miller, and M Ennenbach—the author trio known as Cerberus.
First, I must say you want to read the Forward by Christine Morgan. I’m serious. Read it. You’re welcome.
For Cerberus Rising, the authors chose 3 prompts. Each prompt is a section. Each section has a corresponding poem and a novelette from each author from that prompt. The outcome of this process is remarkable.
The first section is Cabin Fever, and the first story of Cabin Fever is “Insides Out” by PC3. This is an absolutely enthralling story told in first person. It is both terrifying and evocative, crafted like fine art to rip out a bit of your soul along with your stomach. This story is followed by the sci-fi-esque horror thriller “Into the Light” by Miller and the bizarre and disturbing “Fifty Words for Writer’s Block—A Decline” by Ennenbach.
The second section is Letters. The first story in that section is a riveting Lovecraftian tale by Miller titled “The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe.” This story rivals anything by Lovecraft himself in flow, depth, vividness, and captivating theme. Miller has managed to outdo himself with this one. Following that is the deep, haunting, socially mirroring story “Baptized by Lethe” by Ennenbach. And after that is the completely irreverent satire about satire “Blame Jonathan Swift” by PC3—check your boundaries at the title page because this story has none and it doesn’t recognize yours.
The third and final section is Chaos, and the first story of that section is “The Incident at Barrow Farm” by Ennenbach. This is a big story in a little novelette, relentlessly horrifying, it will take your mind right down into the thick of the chaos and make you exclaim out loud. That story is followed by the bizarro horror “Taking the Loop” by PC3. And the final story of the section and collection is the soul crushing, all-too-realistic “Day 69” by Miller.
I could write a book on this book. I am finding it exceedingly difficult not to wax philosophical on the horrors and terrors and social reflections in these stories. I could go on and on about the incredible wordsmithing, the vivid sequences, the moving characters, the nightmares it has given me …
But I will say I look forward to more collaboration from these authors. And I will say that despite the a few of these stories causing my Kindle to take flight … from my hands … across the bed … you should read this. It is not just a book, it’s a psychological experience. I will be getting a paperback of this shelf-worthy collection.
First, I must say you want to read the Forward by Christine Morgan. I’m serious. Read it. You’re welcome.
For Cerberus Rising, the authors chose 3 prompts. Each prompt is a section. Each section has a corresponding poem and a novelette from each author from that prompt. The outcome of this process is remarkable.
The first section is Cabin Fever, and the first story of Cabin Fever is “Insides Out” by PC3. This is an absolutely enthralling story told in first person. It is both terrifying and evocative, crafted like fine art to rip out a bit of your soul along with your stomach. This story is followed by the sci-fi-esque horror thriller “Into the Light” by Miller and the bizarre and disturbing “Fifty Words for Writer’s Block—A Decline” by Ennenbach.
The second section is Letters. The first story in that section is a riveting Lovecraftian tale by Miller titled “The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe.” This story rivals anything by Lovecraft himself in flow, depth, vividness, and captivating theme. Miller has managed to outdo himself with this one. Following that is the deep, haunting, socially mirroring story “Baptized by Lethe” by Ennenbach. And after that is the completely irreverent satire about satire “Blame Jonathan Swift” by PC3—check your boundaries at the title page because this story has none and it doesn’t recognize yours.
The third and final section is Chaos, and the first story of that section is “The Incident at Barrow Farm” by Ennenbach. This is a big story in a little novelette, relentlessly horrifying, it will take your mind right down into the thick of the chaos and make you exclaim out loud. That story is followed by the bizarro horror “Taking the Loop” by PC3. And the final story of the section and collection is the soul crushing, all-too-realistic “Day 69” by Miller.
I could write a book on this book. I am finding it exceedingly difficult not to wax philosophical on the horrors and terrors and social reflections in these stories. I could go on and on about the incredible wordsmithing, the vivid sequences, the moving characters, the nightmares it has given me …
But I will say I look forward to more collaboration from these authors. And I will say that despite the a few of these stories causing my Kindle to take flight … from my hands … across the bed … you should read this. It is not just a book, it’s a psychological experience. I will be getting a paperback of this shelf-worthy collection.
September 6, 2020
I love the idea of being able to read some new authors and find some possible new books to read. It's like that sampler box of chocolates. Some you love – some you try to pawn off on your husband. With this collection - they took it to extreme lengths. First off everything is wrapped around 3 and the first 1/3 of the book is 3 stories dealing with Cabin Fever – really guys? Have you not been in the world recently? After being lulled into the first story and then being blasted, I am totally rethinking having anyone here for Thanksgiving.
The 2nd third all deal with letters and Chris Miller showed a side I hadn't seen before in his, well done. And then the last 1/3 – Chaos – OMG – In our world gone mad, the scariest thing was how possible the stories all are!
This might just be a little too much for some, but then again if you don't consider extremes, how will you ever be able to deal with them – because they are here.
The 2nd third all deal with letters and Chris Miller showed a side I hadn't seen before in his, well done. And then the last 1/3 – Chaos – OMG – In our world gone mad, the scariest thing was how possible the stories all are!
This might just be a little too much for some, but then again if you don't consider extremes, how will you ever be able to deal with them – because they are here.
January 3, 2021
Three to watch...
This is a great anthology that combines the strengths and weaknesses of all three authors and it pays off. Highly recommend.
This is a great anthology that combines the strengths and weaknesses of all three authors and it pays off. Highly recommend.
July 13, 2023
Big thanks to Jason Nickey for recommending that I check this out.
Holy shit. This was an absolutely amazing book. 9 novelettes, 3 writers and 3 prompts. Cabin fever, Letters and Chaos. Phenomenal story telling, I cannot say enough about this collection. Horrific, beautiful and tragic. Just top notch stuff. Drop what you are doing and read this book. Fantastic.
5 severed fingers out of 5
Holy shit. This was an absolutely amazing book. 9 novelettes, 3 writers and 3 prompts. Cabin fever, Letters and Chaos. Phenomenal story telling, I cannot say enough about this collection. Horrific, beautiful and tragic. Just top notch stuff. Drop what you are doing and read this book. Fantastic.
5 severed fingers out of 5
May 7, 2021
All three of these writers are terrific. I've been reading Chris Miller's work for a while, and I would never have believed it possible to pair him with two indie writers who are of the same caliber as he is. I do find Miller's work just a tad more enjoyable myself, but I think that's probably due more to personal tastes than anything else. Make no mistake, all three of these guys can flat-out write.
All three stories in the first section, "Cabin Fever", are amazing. I loved this entire section. I won't get into what stories I liked the most or disliked in this collection, although I will say that Patrick Harrison III's "Blame Jonathan Swift" was just plain nasty. Perfectly written, but it made me feel a little bit ill. It is rare that I tap out on reading a story, but I had to bail on this one. (I suspect such a comment will actually make Harrison smile as the gross out was obviously something he was going for here. Congrats!) But again, the story was written well -- TOO well. Had it been poorly written, it would not have had the impact on me it did. I actually had to set the book down for a few weeks and come back to it. But again, this is not a complaint; Harrison is mega-talented and does a fine job here, but that story is just not for me.
Chris Miller's "The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe" was an extraordinary homage to the work and life of H.P. Lovecraft and I cannot imagine it being handled better. I honestly don't even like Lovecraft's work, but the technique Miller employs here is so damn spot-on you can't help but fall in love with the story.
My only actual complaint is that the book bills M. Ennenbach as a "poet", but I think that label does him a disservice. I have no doubt Ennenbach is a skilled poet, but he's one hell of a fiction writer too. His "Fifty Words for Writer's Block" is brilliant.
Again, all three of these guys are terrific writers and I would gladly read anything written by any of them (so long as it does not contain graphic descriptions of baby eating like "Blame Jonathan Swift" does. This is a wonderful collection and I hope these three produce many more books together. They're like an indie horror dream team.
All three stories in the first section, "Cabin Fever", are amazing. I loved this entire section. I won't get into what stories I liked the most or disliked in this collection, although I will say that Patrick Harrison III's "Blame Jonathan Swift" was just plain nasty. Perfectly written, but it made me feel a little bit ill. It is rare that I tap out on reading a story, but I had to bail on this one. (I suspect such a comment will actually make Harrison smile as the gross out was obviously something he was going for here. Congrats!) But again, the story was written well -- TOO well. Had it been poorly written, it would not have had the impact on me it did. I actually had to set the book down for a few weeks and come back to it. But again, this is not a complaint; Harrison is mega-talented and does a fine job here, but that story is just not for me.
Chris Miller's "The Final Correspondence of Thomas Baker Wolfe" was an extraordinary homage to the work and life of H.P. Lovecraft and I cannot imagine it being handled better. I honestly don't even like Lovecraft's work, but the technique Miller employs here is so damn spot-on you can't help but fall in love with the story.
My only actual complaint is that the book bills M. Ennenbach as a "poet", but I think that label does him a disservice. I have no doubt Ennenbach is a skilled poet, but he's one hell of a fiction writer too. His "Fifty Words for Writer's Block" is brilliant.
Again, all three of these guys are terrific writers and I would gladly read anything written by any of them (so long as it does not contain graphic descriptions of baby eating like "Blame Jonathan Swift" does. This is a wonderful collection and I hope these three produce many more books together. They're like an indie horror dream team.
March 1, 2023
3 writers. 3 stories each. Strong collection from 3 great authors. The first round of stories, Insides Out, 50 Words For Writers Block, and Into The Light were the strongest of the bunch for me.
July 5, 2024
Loved it!!
PC3’s stories were what you would expect. So good!! The last story was my absolute favorite but all of them were great.
PC3’s stories were what you would expect. So good!! The last story was my absolute favorite but all of them were great.
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