The Man on the Ceiling in Ask Steve Rasnic Tem

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Jul 08, 2013 Shob rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror-junkie

Steve Rasnic is a familiar name if u read horror anthologies. His surreal stories never fail to leave an impression.

But this book, co-written with wife Melanie, is an expansion of a novella that won 3 major awards - World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award and The International Horror Guild Award. Does it mean it's that good? Not quite. It just means that this books is hard to categorise into any one genre.

Written as a memoir of themselves, Steve and Melanie take turns writing the narrative from t Steve Rasnic is a familiar name if u read horror anthologies. His surreal stories never fail to leave an impression.

But this book, co-written with wife Melanie, is an expansion of a novella that won 3 major awards - World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award and The International Horror Guild Award. Does it mean it's that good? Not quite. It just means that this books is hard to categorise into any one genre.

Written as a memoir of themselves, Steve and Melanie take turns writing the narrative from their distinctive points of view. The original novella probably takes up the first third of the book where the "Man on the Ceiling" is the archetype bogeyman that every household fears. But rather than being horrific, it reads more like the fears of parenthood. And what every parent fears would befall their child, if left unprotected.

Here is where opinions will diverge. If you're looking for a plot, or storyline, or even a mystery; u will not find it here. The narrative goes on from start to end, only differing in tone depending on who's holding the pen - Steve or Melanie.

Melanie's writing is more straight-forward, relating how they've acquired their five adopted children - each a little damaged in their own way - and her deep-set fears of her own childhood. Any parent would be able to relate to this. It's heartfelt and honest, and the lines blur that u can't be sure how much is fiction and how much is reality.

But it's Steve's writing that's transcending - his surreal undertone marks his perpetual struggle as a horror writer, and how his strange thoughts affects his relationship with his family. There are some passages that flow like poetry, where it becomes so vivid, that i had to pause and take a breath before i continued on.

The combination of husband-wife narrative works like magic for this book, working off each other to continue the tale of their children and the darkness that lives with them. However, what comes through the most is their perseverance and their love for each other and their children.

You will not find any ghosts or murderers here, neither any blood nor gore. But what u will get is a very honest depiction of what a nightmare is, especially one that takes most of your life to accept, and with your whole family's sanity at stake.

There is a line from the last few pages that says it best: "It may not be the best thing, it may not be the best way, but you do the best you can. You do what it is you do. And this is what we do."

~ shob ...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Bethany rated it really liked it

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From the Bookshelf of Ask Steve Rasnic Tem - Saturday, August 24th!…

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Ask Steve Rasnic Tem - Saturday, August 24th!