A creepy and excellent start of a longer work that’s been serialized. Because it’s only the first part, the ending leaves you hanging... but alsoA creepy and excellent start of a longer work that’s been serialized. Because it’s only the first part, the ending leaves you hanging... but also wanting for more. I will be reading on with this series. ...more
I adored the first book in this series and was so excited for a chance to read this sequel. Health issues made me sit on it for a bit and it wasI adored the first book in this series and was so excited for a chance to read this sequel. Health issues made me sit on it for a bit and it was torture to not get to it, wondering what happened to Os at the end of the first book. This one picks up from that cliffhanger ending and grabs you from the start by setting up a clever mystery which drives the subsequent action.
One the whole, I think this second installment in the Spectral Investigator series is better than the first. (That says something, because I gave 5-stars to that one as well.) With the establishing of relationships, introducing main characters and concepts, and the basic world building out of the way in the first book, Beckett is free to lead us through a couple hundred pages of fun, fast-paced action. We have here a novel filled with demons, monsters, witches, interpersonal drama, and trans-dimensional conflict laced with the witty repartee and moved by lovable and now-familiar characters.
This book develops the ensemble cast of characters more than the first does, and to good effect. The heart and soul of this novel, however, is still the protagonist Pru Osgood. She is clever, vulnerable, defiant, and messed up in all the right, relatable, and endearing ways. This is made all the better by the fact that I still can’t think of another queer paranormal investigator series in any media.
I’m a big fan of Cooper S Beckett. I think he’s one of the most enjoyable writers out there that you probably don’t know about. Do yourself a favor- read Osgood Riddance and this both. Then sign up for email list and get the short, Osgood Con as well. You’ll be hooked. ...more
There is a lot to commend The Legend of Judy Rose by D W Nathan. It is a simple, straight forward classically told horror story. It is written as theThere is a lot to commend The Legend of Judy Rose by D W Nathan. It is a simple, straight forward classically told horror story. It is written as the reminiscences of an old man living in New Jersey recounting an inexplicable episode from his childhood. It has a conversational style which left me feeling as though I was on a porch with the old timer listening to him tell his weird tale.
The first part recounts a local legend from Roosevelt, NJ about a girl called Judy Rose. She was born “not right” and she only got wronger after that. The second half recounts the events which ensue when the protagonist as a young boy sets out with some friends to find the location of the Judy Rose legend.
While not especially innovative, it is well written, enjoyable, and satisfying. I found myself thinking about the story while walking outside my house later that night and getting thoroughly freakled out. What more can you ask for from a horror short? ...more
The House of Nodens by Sam Gafford is an excellent addition to the Lovecraftian cannon. It is borne of a successful mixture of coming-of-age novel,The House of Nodens by Sam Gafford is an excellent addition to the Lovecraftian cannon. It is borne of a successful mixture of coming-of-age novel, mystery, and Lovecraftian cosmic horror. It is one of the most enjoyable novels I’ve read in the last few months.
The novel centers around Bill, flipping back and forth between his childhood experiences with his friends in the 1970s and the present. Due to the tragic events of his childhood, Bill grows to become completely broken, an impoverished alcoholic disowned by his family. He remembers the events only dimly and drinks in part to forget what’s left. Something happens which forces him to come to terms with his childhood. Slowly but surely, we unravel the mystery of “what really happened that night”.
This was the first work I’ve read by Sam Gafford, but it will not be my last. I loved the mystery element of the story. The ending was excellent too. It left me with a wonderful sense of dread and foreboding. I’d love to read a sequel or a novel which takes place in some sort of adjacent story line....more
I usually enjoy a good book with a cult. Who knows why? I’m wired wrong, I guess. But there it is. Shaun Hutson’s book Chase is one of the rareI usually enjoy a good book with a cult. Who knows why? I’m wired wrong, I guess. But there it is. Shaun Hutson’s book Chase is one of the rare exceptions. While not bad, it left me quite frustrated.
The two biggest issues had to do with plot.
1. Nearly the whole sequence of events which make up the thrilling middle and ending part of the book were entirely avoidable by going to either the police or the press. The reason for not going to the police is flimsy. There was never a reason given to not go to the press. And the protagonists has plenty of opportunity to do either. The fact that they are instructed a few times in the book to go to the police and that they see the press is aware of the events they get swept up in only made more frustrated with them.
2. The book has a twist ending that is meant to surprise and shock. Only problem is I that saw it coming from about half way in. I spent the last half of the book silently groaning “get on with it already” in my head.
Beyond these two points, the book was relatively well written. The protagonists seemed real. I would have personally liked more detail on the cult and why they had their usuals beliefs. It’s seems like a book of this length should have done some more story weaving on that point.
Finally, this wasn’t a problem with the book, but readers should be aware that much of the first half of the book is very hard to get through, especially if you’re a parent. In fact, it’s down right brutal. Bad things happen to kids in detail that will upset a lot of people. Just be warned. ...more
I should start this review by saying I’m a huge fan of Ambrose Ibsen. His stories are not exactly groundbreaking, radical, or genre shattering.I should start this review by saying I’m a huge fan of Ambrose Ibsen. His stories are not exactly groundbreaking, radical, or genre shattering. However, they are always an excellent exercise in first-rate, classical scary stories. His haunted house tales in particular always creep me out and satisfy, even though they don’t break new ground. They are well written and send a classic shiver down your spine.
When I first came across “The Splendor of Fear” I bought it sight unseen. When I read the description, I was even more excited. I felt a haunted state park would give Ibsen more options to play with in his storytelling. Sadly, this became the first Ibsen story to disappoint me and leave me dissatisfied.
The story follows a young woman (Penny) who goes for a romantic camping trip with her boyfriend (Jared). The park they pick was once the site of a Newsom’s Landing, a town abandoned for over 100 years. The town was the location of one of the last witch hunts in American history. The witch was killed by a mob of townies. Within a couple of years everybody in the town moved away due to “disturbances”. Every year, on the anniversary of the witch’s death, terrible things would happen.
So far, so good. Where the author loses meme is in a series of strange choices made by the protagonist of her boyfriend in the first half of the book. They arrive at the park on the anniversary of the witch’s death, to find it abandoned. Even the park rangers are gone. It seems everybody knows to stay away on this particular date. When the couple call the ranger station, they are told that the Rangers will not come. That no one will come. They are even told that they can get their money back, and it is suggested they should come back another weekend. So why the hell do they go in? I don’t know. I wouldn’t. That would have been enough for me to pick the next park with a camp ground over.
As the protagonist begins to “see things“ and tell her boyfriend, he routinely dismisses her feelings. Why? She is competent and sober. So, he’s either a fool or an asshole. Either way, time to leave. The boyfriend, in fact, it routinely dismissive of the protagonists’ concerns. He even plays tricks on her which accentuate her worries, laughing them off. I wasn’t a quarter through this book before I lost all empathy for him and his fate. And apparently, I wasn’t supposed to feel that way, because a lot of it was dedicated to fear about his well being.
There are a variety of other decisions made by the couple in the first half of this novel which were maddening. At one point, an abandoned house in the woods - which they’ve already had bad experiences with and seems haunted by the ghost of the witch - is found lit with candles in the middle of the night. And the protagonist decides to go in, because it seems “inviting”. That’s confounding to me. The other nonsensical decisions would give away spoilers, so I won’t go into them.
Another major problem with the story is the antagonist, the witch Ellie Pomeroy. It seems that Ibsen cannot decide if she is pure unadulterated evil or an malevolent entity to be pitied. The storytelling seems to swingly from one extreme to the other without coming down on either side. Is she the Joker or is she Mr Freeze? We never really know.
Equally problematic is the resolution. We get the typical happy but slightly ambiguous ending of horror stories. That’s fine. We are led to believe that the happy ending is brought about by the actions of Penny and Jared. But, when the story is considered, they don’t actually do anything. The happy ending is no precipitated by any set of actions.
I am sorry to say, for the first time ever, I didn’t like an Ambrose Ibsen book. It just seemed sloppy and confused. All the right elements were here for another homerun, but they just don’t come together. ...more
One of Lovecraft’s simpler tales. It’s the story of a man - native to Appalachia - who seemingly went mad and killed someone. He is acquitted byOne of Lovecraft’s simpler tales. It’s the story of a man - native to Appalachia - who seemingly went mad and killed someone. He is acquitted by reason of insanity and sent to an asylum. The man has incredibly intense and vivid waking dreams. A young doctor there does experiments on the man, trying to link their minds, so that he too may experience these dreams. He suspects - rightly it turns out - that they may be much more than just dreams.
This is Lovecraft at his simplest and most effective. No frill, but creepy as hell. It bringing you a vastly expanded sense of the universe and an equally diminished sense of your self in it.
One thing to add about this tale is that is argues somewhat against HPL’s notorious well known racism. The dreamer in the tale is a white, poor, unlettered Appalachian. It is clear that Lovecraft has an equally disdainful view of these white folk. A fair amount of his racism may really have been an almost equally unpleasant classism or grotesque snobbery. Just a thought. ...more
This is a decent, creepy short book relating to the West Virginia Mothman sightings.
It is not the most creative book you could hope for. It seems toThis is a decent, creepy short book relating to the West Virginia Mothman sightings.
It is not the most creative book you could hope for. It seems to have three basic objectives: (1) write a story based upon West Virginia local lore and mythology. It is part of a series of books striving to write one story for each state. (2) Write a story which educates people regarding the Mothman legend and it’s many theories. At times the book seemed to be contriving situations in order to educate the reader. This can be annoying if it isn’t done well and it wasn’t always done well. Luckily, the Mothman is such a great topic it didn’t matter much. (3) Write a story which celebrates geocaching in all it’s many splendors. I get it. Geocaching is awesome. It’s really awesome. Kids who do it are awesome. Really awesome. I could have maybe done with a little less celebrating, to be honest.
That said, the book does alright. It hits all the marks and is enjoyable. I read through it in a single day, so it’s not a huge commitment. It’s like popcorn. Enjoyable, filling, and you’ll come back for more in the future- even if it won’t be remembered as one of the greatest meals of your life. ...more
This book was something of a special surprise to me.
From the description and marketing, I thought I had this book pegged: a ghost hunter reality showThis book was something of a special surprise to me.
From the description and marketing, I thought I had this book pegged: a ghost hunter reality show that did not take itself seriously, which lands a gig in a real haunted house, doesn't think it is really haunted, slowly finds out it actually is haunted, the body count mounts, and a few survivors get out just when you think all hope is lost.
Yes, in a way, that's exactly what you get. However, you get an awful lot more. It's that "lot more" that makes all the difference. In stead of supplying the perfunctory ghost story, David Longhorn spins a vision of reality and intersecting worlds which is squarely within the cosmic horror tradition. My short, run-of-the-mill haunted house story slowly turned into a dark world building exercise right before my eyes... and it was great.
This has all the hallmarks of the Lovecraftian spirit. Lovecraft didn't really write ghost stories and - it seems - did not really care for them all that much. But this is exactly the sort of meta narrative he would have loved. You're left going to bed with he distinct feeling that the world is not safe, not right, and not going to go on well either. ...more
“Casting the Runes” is one of M. R. James better known stories. It is often grouped together with his ghost stories, though there is no ghost in this“Casting the Runes” is one of M. R. James better known stories. It is often grouped together with his ghost stories, though there is no ghost in this one. The villain is an all-too-human knock off of Alastair Crowley bent on revenge for a petty academic slight. The villain uses a type of runic magic which results in a sort of cat-and-mouse game to the death. The story is clever, fun, simple, and an excellent example of there sorts of dark tales James was most famous for. This is a quintessential example of the lesser known tradition of British Weird Fiction. Great fun! ...more
This was my first Holly Black book. On the surface, this is a story about three childhood friends in their early adolescence, just on the cusp ofThis was my first Holly Black book. On the surface, this is a story about three childhood friends in their early adolescence, just on the cusp of going their separate ways. They are dimly aware of this dynamic. When Zach insensitive father throws away the toys essential to their friendship, their breaking up is accelerated. The three friends have one last, final great adventure precipitated by a doll which may or may not be haunted.
I think, in the end, the story doesn’t quite work. Not in the way it is being told. If it is for early adolescent readers, then it would have been better to focus primarily on the mystery of the doll. Is it really haunted? It is not? Is Poppy just manipulating them all? If all of this is real, then how is it real? Ms. Black leaves most of these questions unanswered. In stead she focuses on the second dimension of the novel.
The second dimension of the novel is one that really cannot be fully grasped by the adolescents readers this book is marketed to. The kids in the story, their friendship rekindled by their adventure, are wholly unaware of what adult readers (and the author) know. Their childhood friendship is over. Their adventure - which never really was about the haunted (or not) doll - is actually all for nothing. One begins the long path to lonely and solitary teen years. The other two are off to begin their first forays into pre-adult sexuality together. As a “coming of age” story, this book is incredible depressing. The worst part of it is that few 12 year old readers will catch this.
So, Ms. Black leaves the tale that would have spoken most clearly to her audience for one they can only partially grasp, one that is only really understood by an audience she isn’t trying to reach. ...more
Neverland is a tight, well ordered, nicely executed dark fantasy. While it may not be groundbreaking, it should happily satisfy the appetites of anyNeverland is a tight, well ordered, nicely executed dark fantasy. While it may not be groundbreaking, it should happily satisfy the appetites of any lover of horror or dark fiction. It definitely does not disappoint.
Neverland is the story of former police detective Mark Boyd and his son Abe. After a traumatic event, Mark decides to move to the small town of Button Creek, Oklahoma in search of a better, simpler life. As befits a scary story that takes place in a small town, Button Creek has dark secret. (Queue spooky background music here.) I leave it to you find out more about what that secret is. Saying much more would give it away.
One of Dosser’s best accomplishments in this story can’t be fully elucidated without spoilers. I will say this much: the “baddies” of this story are extremely well tread territory for dark fiction. I should have groaned when I realized where Dosser was taking me. I should have, but I didn’t. Instead, I became more excited for the journey ahead. Impressively, Dosser manages to bring something new, interesting, and even clever to an area of dark fiction where it is nearly impossible to do so.
There’s a lot that Dosser does right in his story telling. Any story set in a small town requires a fine and stead supporting cast of local characters. Dosser manages to avoid getting lost in countless pages of “world creation”, like Stephen King. (I adore King, but there are times when he might not need to add 300 pages of background on all his characters and their history in his books.) Instead, Dosser sticks carefully to the tale he’s trying to tell. You have all the hints you need to suggest a full-formed and real town. Yet the only characters you really meet are the ones you need.
This last one is a thing that matters mostly to me: Dosser’s tale is the perfect length for the tale he is telling. At 264 pages, there’s neither wasted space nor are you left wondering about plot points that don’t get wrapped up (or are sloppily wrapped up). He doesn’t complicate an already complete story with numerous sub-plots.
Prospective readers should be warned that there are a few pretty intense scenes in the book. In particular, the intensity of the opening scene can be upsetting to some readers.
For me, characters, plot, setting, narrative, story, themes, etc are what matters most to me. On this level, I thoroughly enjoyed Neverland. My only criticism of the book would be that it could have used a better editor. There were errors that on occasion distracted me....more
“The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant is an early example of psychological horror and prefigured the weird fiction movement of the 1920s and 1930s in the“The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant is an early example of psychological horror and prefigured the weird fiction movement of the 1920s and 1930s in the United States.
A man of science and reason, using those tools, slowly becomes convinced that he is being haunted by some sort of ghost. As the story moves on, the man becomes more and more unstable and unreliable as a narrator. Meanwhile, it also becomes evident that the things which is oppressing him (if it even is real), is not supernatural at all. It is rather preternatural and probably destined to rule our kind without care or feeling for us.
I am not sure if Lovecraft and the other Weird Tales writers knew about this story, but it encapsulates many of the themes and styles they would later make use of. I’m giving it a slightly lower rating just because it wasn’t very compelling to me personally. Not sure why. I found the protagonist a little hard to relate to. ...more
“Sredni Vashtar” is tale about a sickly boy, bound to his large home, with no real outlets for his creativity and boredom. He has a hen and a caged“Sredni Vashtar” is tale about a sickly boy, bound to his large home, with no real outlets for his creativity and boredom. He has a hen and a caged polecat-ferret for pets. He is watched over by a kind of governess, for whom he does not care.
Your first hint that something has taken a turn for the weird and sinister is when the author describes the boy’s affection for the ferret turning into a religion. He names the animal “Sredni Vashtar”, a name that just comes to him, and prays that it will do him one favor that doesn’t need to be named.
I won’t give away the ending, but it is sinister as hell and you will never look at toast the same way again. This is an excellent example of early psychological horror and what would turn into the weird fiction tradition in the United States. ...more
Stephen King doesn’t practice the tradition of cosmic horror as frequently as I would like, but when he does, watch out! This short story, writtenStephen King doesn’t practice the tradition of cosmic horror as frequently as I would like, but when he does, watch out! This short story, written with his son Joe Hill, is one of the most sinister and evil things he’s ever put to paper. If I were his therapist, I would have made a house visit after reading this one.
The idea is simple. A twin brother and sister stop on the side of the road and wade out into some tall grass because they hear a lost boy crying out for help, and his mother as well. Needless to say, dreadful things ensue and there is a mystery at the heart of the tall grass which feeds on our tears and blood.
King and Hill take an idea that’s already awful and manage - at one point near the end - to bring it to a place which ensures it will never be made into a movie or episode of anything.
This story is horrifyingly awful, in all the best ways. ...more
Andrew “The Weirdling”
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