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How to Make Monsters
Since the dawn of mankind, we have always made our own the terrors of capitalism and corruption, the things between the cracks, the ghosts of self...terrible beasts of desire, debt, regret, racism...of family ties, and the things that get in the way of our aspirations...the familiar monsters of our own faces, of tradition, rejection, and the darkness that lives deep inside our own hearts... Can you identify the component parts of your own monster? Can you afford to pay the dreadful price of its construction?
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
180 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2010
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71 people want to read
About the author
Gary McMahon
179 books108 followersGary McMahon lives, works and writes in West Yorkshire but posseses a New York state of mind. He shares his life with a wife, a son, and the nagging stories that won’t give him any peace until he writes them.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2021
It is about dimmer-switch monsters that are you and me and the narrators and the author, fighting their corner in a depleting reality, a frozen crack – a swirling meltdown that, in turn, comprises the dimmer-switch monsters themselves, ie. the united states of us.
Some of the stories I shall never forget. A big claim, as my memory has never been good.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
Some of the stories I shall never forget. A big claim, as my memory has never been good.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
December 5, 2009
Gary McMahon knows exactly the manner in which monsters are made.
The creatures in this anthology are fashioned from the muck of human frailty: From racism, from abuse, from violence, from hatred and mass stupidity. And this gives them weight. Even now they shamble through the streets of your town, watching you from the darkness and biding their time.
I think Gary McMahon is suggesting we're all monsters. Perhaps he's right...
A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The creatures in this anthology are fashioned from the muck of human frailty: From racism, from abuse, from violence, from hatred and mass stupidity. And this gives them weight. Even now they shamble through the streets of your town, watching you from the darkness and biding their time.
I think Gary McMahon is suggesting we're all monsters. Perhaps he's right...
A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
May 19, 2014
A great collection of short stories. Not a duff one in there.
March 28, 2025
I have devoured most of Gary McMahon's back catalogue of short stories in the brief time since I discovered him. While this isn't my favorite collection of his, it's still a stunner. I'm going to really need McMahon to write more though, because I think this might be the last collection by him that I haven't read.
Of course there are some truly impressive highlights here. Personal favorites:
Pumpkin Night - I do so love a good Halloween story. In this one, a man brings his beloved dead wife back to life on Halloween night, but this isn't as sweet a story as you might think from that premise.
Accidental Damage - Still recovering from a devestating car accident when he begins to see dark forms following him, Chester starts to realize that he might have some memory problems and be a little broken from reality. Serious Ramsey Campbell vibes here.
Through the Cracks - A woman is back in her hometown to visit her sister and goes to visit her ex, whose increasing paranoia ended their relationship. He gives her a scrapbook with news clippings in it, fearing that something dangerous is coming. Classic "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you" story.
Nowhere People - Our narrator stumbles upon a house of horrors while lost in a dangerous estate one night. A really dark but interesting take on xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments in the UK.
McMahon has once again blown me away with his stories, and I hope he has many more to come.
Of course there are some truly impressive highlights here. Personal favorites:
Pumpkin Night - I do so love a good Halloween story. In this one, a man brings his beloved dead wife back to life on Halloween night, but this isn't as sweet a story as you might think from that premise.
Accidental Damage - Still recovering from a devestating car accident when he begins to see dark forms following him, Chester starts to realize that he might have some memory problems and be a little broken from reality. Serious Ramsey Campbell vibes here.
Through the Cracks - A woman is back in her hometown to visit her sister and goes to visit her ex, whose increasing paranoia ended their relationship. He gives her a scrapbook with news clippings in it, fearing that something dangerous is coming. Classic "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you" story.
Nowhere People - Our narrator stumbles upon a house of horrors while lost in a dangerous estate one night. A really dark but interesting take on xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments in the UK.
McMahon has once again blown me away with his stories, and I hope he has many more to come.
May 18, 2016
I've read Gary McMahon's stuff before. The Concrete Grove Trilogy, and it was really good. The first book of the series was pretty slow, but the last two more than made up for it. Thus, I was excited to get my hands on this short story collection.
The book's take on monsters is pretty unique. Every story in the collection focuses not on monsters of the imagination, but of monsters spawned from humanity worst qualities. All of the bases are covered; terrorism, domestic violence, racism, rape. McMahon sets the tone throughout the story, as nearly every environment is bleak, dark, and depressing.
I was happy with every story in the collection save for a few. Nowhere People and Something In The Way did nothing for me, and I couldn't wait for them to be over. One of the stories, Owed, seemed familiar to me the entire time I read it. Finally, it hit me. The short story was written first and was later copy/pasted into The Concrete Grove as one of the scenes. I'm new to this practice, but it irked me just a tad. Pumpkin Night, Why Ghosts Wail: A Brief Memoir, Family Fishing, and A Bit Of The Dark were all exceptional reads.
Overall, I was pleased with this collection. Mostly highs, just a handful of lows. But if you can show me a short story collection from ANY author that I'll be 100% pleased with, I'd like to see it.
The book's take on monsters is pretty unique. Every story in the collection focuses not on monsters of the imagination, but of monsters spawned from humanity worst qualities. All of the bases are covered; terrorism, domestic violence, racism, rape. McMahon sets the tone throughout the story, as nearly every environment is bleak, dark, and depressing.
I was happy with every story in the collection save for a few. Nowhere People and Something In The Way did nothing for me, and I couldn't wait for them to be over. One of the stories, Owed, seemed familiar to me the entire time I read it. Finally, it hit me. The short story was written first and was later copy/pasted into The Concrete Grove as one of the scenes. I'm new to this practice, but it irked me just a tad. Pumpkin Night, Why Ghosts Wail: A Brief Memoir, Family Fishing, and A Bit Of The Dark were all exceptional reads.
Overall, I was pleased with this collection. Mostly highs, just a handful of lows. But if you can show me a short story collection from ANY author that I'll be 100% pleased with, I'd like to see it.
December 7, 2011
Great psychological horror. Very well-written and a pleasure to read. I highly recommend this one!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews