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Horror Library, Volume 4
The +Horror Library+ anthologies are internationally praised as a groundbreaking source of contemporary horror short fiction stories--relevant to the moment and stunning in impact--from leading authors of the macabre and darkly imaginative. Filled with Fears and Fantasy. Death and Dark Dreams. Monsters and Mayhem. Literary Vision and Wonder. Each volume of the +Horror Library+ series is packed with heart-pounding thrills and creepy contemplations as to what truly lurks among the shadows of the world(s) we live in. Containing 28 all-original stories, read Volume 4 in this ongoing anthology series, and then continue with the other volumes. Shamble no longer through the banal humdrum of normalcy, but ENTER THE HORROR LIBRARY! Included within Volume 4: - In "Jammers," a helicopter reporter is determined to uncover the real reason for what causes freeway traffic jams. - In "Testaville, Ohio," a young man is forced to return to the town he escaped from in youth, to confront a strange curse and rescue the ailing girlfriend he left behind. - In "Ash Wednesday," a firefighter must battle his way into a burning mental asylum in order to rescue a trapped and insane serial murderer. - . . . and more!
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
254 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2010
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May 11, 2015TABLE OF CONTENTS:
8 - "A very important message for those planning to travel to Costa Rica" - R.J. Cavender & Brad E. Harris
15 - "Into The After" – Kurt Dinan
23 - "Ghosts Under Glass" – Tracie McBride
31 - "Ash Wednesday" – Lorne Dixon
37 - "Santa Maria" – Jeff Cercone
43 - "Dreamcatcher" – Nate Kenyon
51 - "Sporting the Waters of the Bermuda Triangle" – Greggard Penance
57 - "To Judge the Quick" – Hank Schwaeble
67 - "Driving Deep into the Night" – Harrison Howe
72 - "In The Red" – Charles Colyott
79 - "Skin" – Kim Despins
87 - "Drain Bamage" – Jeff Strand
95 - "Guardians" – Tom Brennan
102 - "God’s Work" – Matt Bain
110 - "Sleepless Eyes" – Tim Waggoner
113 - "Flicker" – Lee Thomas
127 - "Jammers" – Bentley Little
136 - "The Fishing of Dahlia" – Ennis Drake
145 - "What Once Was a Man" – Michele Lee
155 - "Mourning with the Bones of the Dead" – Gerard Houarner
165 - "Final Draft" – Mark Worthen
174 - "I Am Vision, I Am Death" – Erik Williams
185 - "The Healing Hands of Reverend Wainwright" – Geoffrey L. Mudge
195 - "Testaville, Ohio" – M. Alan Ford
206 - "Stone" – Catherine MacLeod
225 - "Campbell’s Pond" – Brian Knight
237 - "All Dead" – JG Faherty
246 - "Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha" – Colleen Anderson
Cover Art - Aria Bilulowicz
8 - "A very important message for those planning to travel to Costa Rica" - R.J. Cavender & Brad E. Harris
15 - "Into The After" – Kurt Dinan
23 - "Ghosts Under Glass" – Tracie McBride
31 - "Ash Wednesday" – Lorne Dixon
37 - "Santa Maria" – Jeff Cercone
43 - "Dreamcatcher" – Nate Kenyon
51 - "Sporting the Waters of the Bermuda Triangle" – Greggard Penance
57 - "To Judge the Quick" – Hank Schwaeble
67 - "Driving Deep into the Night" – Harrison Howe
72 - "In The Red" – Charles Colyott
79 - "Skin" – Kim Despins
87 - "Drain Bamage" – Jeff Strand
95 - "Guardians" – Tom Brennan
102 - "God’s Work" – Matt Bain
110 - "Sleepless Eyes" – Tim Waggoner
113 - "Flicker" – Lee Thomas
127 - "Jammers" – Bentley Little
136 - "The Fishing of Dahlia" – Ennis Drake
145 - "What Once Was a Man" – Michele Lee
155 - "Mourning with the Bones of the Dead" – Gerard Houarner
165 - "Final Draft" – Mark Worthen
174 - "I Am Vision, I Am Death" – Erik Williams
185 - "The Healing Hands of Reverend Wainwright" – Geoffrey L. Mudge
195 - "Testaville, Ohio" – M. Alan Ford
206 - "Stone" – Catherine MacLeod
225 - "Campbell’s Pond" – Brian Knight
237 - "All Dead" – JG Faherty
246 - "Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha" – Colleen Anderson
Cover Art - Aria Bilulowicz
July 2, 2021
And onto the next one, as I’m continuing my review of HORROR LIBRARY anthologies! Really loving these anthologies, and I’m a big fan of anthos in general, but especially indie horror. Stories in these books take chances. Some fail, some succeed, but it’s exciting to read new ideas and voices. Publisher Dark Moon Books has taken over the HORROR LIBRARY series and re-released the older volumes that were put together by former publishers and editors (Cutting Block Books and Cavender). All of these were original stories of their time, written exclusively for this book. I received an ARC of the new re-released 2021 edition from Dark Moon Books.
Quick star rating on each story included in Volume #4 (29 total), just as my personal preference:
"Into the After" by Kurt Dinan = 5 stars. Setup felt slow, but man, that turned around! This story was stark, and had a punch. Resonant. Honest. Great beginning to the anthology!
"Ash Wednesday" by Lorne Dixon = 5 stars. Incredible setup: Even violent serial killers in prison must be rescued by emergency services during a massive inferno, but that’s just the start…
"Ghosts Under Glass" by Tracie Mcbride = 3-1/2 stars. Part of me just didn’t like this story, but it was a good idea. The characters didn’t win me over, but the ending was great.
"The Dreamcatcher" by Nate Kenyon = 3 stars. Another one that was fine, just not my cup of tea.
"Jammers" by Bentley Little = 5 stars. Absolutely a winner. Great idea from a horror master, what “really” causes traffic jams every day on the freeways.
"Sporting the Waters of the Bermuda Triangle" by Greggard Penance = 2 stories. Nice idea, but kind of “off”. Weird, and not in a good way.
"To Judge the Quick" by Hank Schwaeble = 5 stars. Excellent Western short story. Racial strife, and injustice, and a certain curse brought by a strange woman…
"Driving Deep Into the Night" by Harrison Howe = 5 stars. I didn’t think I was going to like this one at first, but it really got under my skin. Dark, very dark.
"In the Red" by Charles Colyott = 4-1/2 stars. Another one I didn’t think I was going to like at first, but it won me over by the end.
"Skin" by Kim Despins = 2 stars. Hated this… triggering and uncomfortable, for rape and incest. It’s a noteworthy subject the author wrote on, but just cringeworthy.
"Drain Bamage" by Jeff Strand = 4 stars. Love this author, but the story was just okay. It was funny, as is all of Jeff Strand’s work.
"Guardians" by Tom Brennan = 5 stars. A stand-out story. Modern military meets a valley of succubi witches. Horrifying and outstanding, both.
"God’s Work" by Matthew Lee Bain = 2-1/2 stars. The writing was fine, but admittedly, I just didn’t get it.
"Sleepless Eyes" by Tim Waggoner = 2-1/2 stars. Gross, but that was the point of the story. A lot of setup for a punchline. But a good punchline, to be fair.
"Flicker" by Lee Thomas = 5 stories. This story ended up on a surprisingly positive note, after I feared it was leading down a path of rape and torture… that was the guise though, all along, to a deeper level.
"The Fishing of Dahlia" by Ennis Drake = 2 stars. Kind of long-winded. Good character study, but just abruptly ended after 95% build-up.
"What Was Once Man" by Michele Lee = 2 stars. I don’t know that I entirely understood this one… it seemed meaningful. Rebel Without a Cause-type of character relationships, but trapped in a basement… was there an apocalypse outside?
"Mourning With the Bones of the Dead" by Gerard Houarner = Another one, just not my cup of tea. Muddled story, dull, maybe I misunderstood it?
"Final Draft" by Mark W. Worthen = 5 stars. A lot went on in this story, lovely, rich writing covering a lifetime, and a wartime guardian angel.
"I Am Vision, I Am Death" by Erik Williams = 5 stars. Very haunting Christopher Nolan- “noir” vibe. Good all around.
"Santa Maria" by Jeff Cercone = 5 stars. A lot happened in this story, and it’s “playful” while also very, very dark and traumatic. The ending’s “Epilogue” is fantastic.
"The Healing Hands of Reverend Wainwright" by Geoffrey L. Mudge = 5 stars. Great writing, great story. Horror, just horror of multiple ways. Murder, monsters, and martyred children.
"Continuity" by Lorne Dixon = 4 stars. Author has TWO stories in this book! This one “less” good than the first, but definitely strong on its own merits. Haunting.
"Testaville, Ohio" by M. Alan Ford = 5 stars. This could be made into a movie. Terrifying, and an analogy to many social ills. Great arc, heartwarming ending (in the ways of horror stories).
"Stone" by Catherine Macleod = 3 stars. Okay story. Felt kind of flat and forced, and didn’t go anywhere. But good writing.
"Campbell’s Pond" by Brian Knight = 5 stars. Sort of a zombie story, more of a troubled kid story, who vaguely has “less bad” things happen to him than the alternative. Personally, I related.
"All Dead" by JG Faherty = 4 stars. I didn’t get where this story was going until the ending’s twist. OMG, truly horrifying, traumatic, a lot else.
"Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha" by Colleen Anderson = 2 stars. Cool concept, but the execution was dry. Just didn’t gel on this story.
It’s hard to say, which volume is the best in the series so far, but from volumes 1- 4, this one #4, and the previous, Vol. #3 are tied as my favorites. Great ideas and great writing all around!
Quick star rating on each story included in Volume #4 (29 total), just as my personal preference:
"Into the After" by Kurt Dinan = 5 stars. Setup felt slow, but man, that turned around! This story was stark, and had a punch. Resonant. Honest. Great beginning to the anthology!
"Ash Wednesday" by Lorne Dixon = 5 stars. Incredible setup: Even violent serial killers in prison must be rescued by emergency services during a massive inferno, but that’s just the start…
"Ghosts Under Glass" by Tracie Mcbride = 3-1/2 stars. Part of me just didn’t like this story, but it was a good idea. The characters didn’t win me over, but the ending was great.
"The Dreamcatcher" by Nate Kenyon = 3 stars. Another one that was fine, just not my cup of tea.
"Jammers" by Bentley Little = 5 stars. Absolutely a winner. Great idea from a horror master, what “really” causes traffic jams every day on the freeways.
"Sporting the Waters of the Bermuda Triangle" by Greggard Penance = 2 stories. Nice idea, but kind of “off”. Weird, and not in a good way.
"To Judge the Quick" by Hank Schwaeble = 5 stars. Excellent Western short story. Racial strife, and injustice, and a certain curse brought by a strange woman…
"Driving Deep Into the Night" by Harrison Howe = 5 stars. I didn’t think I was going to like this one at first, but it really got under my skin. Dark, very dark.
"In the Red" by Charles Colyott = 4-1/2 stars. Another one I didn’t think I was going to like at first, but it won me over by the end.
"Skin" by Kim Despins = 2 stars. Hated this… triggering and uncomfortable, for rape and incest. It’s a noteworthy subject the author wrote on, but just cringeworthy.
"Drain Bamage" by Jeff Strand = 4 stars. Love this author, but the story was just okay. It was funny, as is all of Jeff Strand’s work.
"Guardians" by Tom Brennan = 5 stars. A stand-out story. Modern military meets a valley of succubi witches. Horrifying and outstanding, both.
"God’s Work" by Matthew Lee Bain = 2-1/2 stars. The writing was fine, but admittedly, I just didn’t get it.
"Sleepless Eyes" by Tim Waggoner = 2-1/2 stars. Gross, but that was the point of the story. A lot of setup for a punchline. But a good punchline, to be fair.
"Flicker" by Lee Thomas = 5 stories. This story ended up on a surprisingly positive note, after I feared it was leading down a path of rape and torture… that was the guise though, all along, to a deeper level.
"The Fishing of Dahlia" by Ennis Drake = 2 stars. Kind of long-winded. Good character study, but just abruptly ended after 95% build-up.
"What Was Once Man" by Michele Lee = 2 stars. I don’t know that I entirely understood this one… it seemed meaningful. Rebel Without a Cause-type of character relationships, but trapped in a basement… was there an apocalypse outside?
"Mourning With the Bones of the Dead" by Gerard Houarner = Another one, just not my cup of tea. Muddled story, dull, maybe I misunderstood it?
"Final Draft" by Mark W. Worthen = 5 stars. A lot went on in this story, lovely, rich writing covering a lifetime, and a wartime guardian angel.
"I Am Vision, I Am Death" by Erik Williams = 5 stars. Very haunting Christopher Nolan- “noir” vibe. Good all around.
"Santa Maria" by Jeff Cercone = 5 stars. A lot happened in this story, and it’s “playful” while also very, very dark and traumatic. The ending’s “Epilogue” is fantastic.
"The Healing Hands of Reverend Wainwright" by Geoffrey L. Mudge = 5 stars. Great writing, great story. Horror, just horror of multiple ways. Murder, monsters, and martyred children.
"Continuity" by Lorne Dixon = 4 stars. Author has TWO stories in this book! This one “less” good than the first, but definitely strong on its own merits. Haunting.
"Testaville, Ohio" by M. Alan Ford = 5 stars. This could be made into a movie. Terrifying, and an analogy to many social ills. Great arc, heartwarming ending (in the ways of horror stories).
"Stone" by Catherine Macleod = 3 stars. Okay story. Felt kind of flat and forced, and didn’t go anywhere. But good writing.
"Campbell’s Pond" by Brian Knight = 5 stars. Sort of a zombie story, more of a troubled kid story, who vaguely has “less bad” things happen to him than the alternative. Personally, I related.
"All Dead" by JG Faherty = 4 stars. I didn’t get where this story was going until the ending’s twist. OMG, truly horrifying, traumatic, a lot else.
"Exegesis of the Insecta Apocrypha" by Colleen Anderson = 2 stars. Cool concept, but the execution was dry. Just didn’t gel on this story.
It’s hard to say, which volume is the best in the series so far, but from volumes 1- 4, this one #4, and the previous, Vol. #3 are tied as my favorites. Great ideas and great writing all around!
May 28, 2014
In this one you'll find something like thirty stories of various length in a well balanced and finely edited collection. Each of the authors should be proud to be included in such great company.
June 9, 2015
Some really good stories.
July 19, 2021
Great stories in a horror anthology series. Each volume gives you a huge variety of writing, all a mixed bag in a good way. Violent, gory, traumatic, but so too are there stories that tear at the heart stings, are meaningful, some even uplifting (in a horror way) and some just funny. Great series for what it is. If you don’t like horror short stories, you won’t like this book, as simple as that. But for fans of horror shorts, this book, and the series, is a must read, especially to get stories like Bentley Little’s “Jammers,” Kurt Dinan’s “Into the After,” Brennan’s “Guardians,” and many others.
July 19, 2021
4th volume in the +Horror Library+ series. Each of these volumes is filled with great indie horror stories. Some are shocking, some tasteless, some beautiful, but all are original, take chances, and write from the heart. More about these books here: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/horror_l...
October 24, 2010
Good, wide-ranged sample.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews