COLD TO THE TOUCH by Simon Strantzas

Title: Cold to the Touch
Author: Simon Strantzas
Publisher: Tartarus Press
File Under: Horror

Published by Tartarus Press, Cold to the Touch is a collection of horror stories by Canadian author Simon Strantzas. Here, you will find no sideshow freaks nor comic book monsters who vanish from your thoughts the minute you set aside the book; Strantzas’ stories are about real people who happen to turn the wrong corner, make the wrong decision or stick their noses in where they shouldn’t have, and the results affect them--and you--in ways that sharp fangs and slithering tentacles just can’t. There are a few exceptions, but most of Strantzas’ characters are stumbling through life without a map. They are quiet, desperate people who only wish to be left alone and often find difficulty in dealing with others of their species. When they finally decide to put on a brave face or are forced through circumstances to fit in, the results range from the disturbingly weird to the awesomely catastrophic; what they thought of as an awkward situation slips into sheer horror, and now they must live out their lives with the weight of some dark revelation nibbling at their thoughts—if they continue living at all.

In the Afterword, Strantzas’ gloats somewhat over the fact that he’s taken you to bleak and horrifying places that you didn’t necessarily want to go. And this isn’t just idle boasting; by the time you’ve finished the book, his mission has been accomplished. As your tour guide to nightmarish zones of mind and firmer terrain, he has done his job and done it very well. His brand of fear challenges your perceptions and might even prompt you to reconsider what you think you know about the universe, that perhaps the veil between delusions of safety and the terrible unknown is only as sheer as the page of a book. These stories stare cold, hard life and imminent death straight in the face without flinching, yet you’ll still find yourself reading on, because Strantzas has seduced you with a clean prose style which is both impressive and inviting; the words flow sweetly by until you discover he has pulled the carpet out from under your happy day. You wonder at how he accomplished it, and this process of thought inevitably leads you to read further until you have finished the book, breathlessly.

Like any collection, these thirteen tales vary in impact, but that is merely on the face of things, for even at their most subtle, these creeping, insidious works will resurface when you least expect, like horrible, little weeds of dread. Then you must continue on with your life, with the residue of these engrossing tales inside your head, and eventually, because they haven’t finished having their way with you yet, you will revisit them, and willingly.

This exceptional collection is highly recommended and has been added to the GRR Hall of Fame.

--DT Wilbanks


Tartarus Press

THE SAINT PERPETUUS CLUB OF BUENOS AIRES by Eric Stener Carlson

Title: The Saint Perpetuus Club of Buenos Aires
Author: Eric Stener Carlson
Publisher: Tartarus Press
File Under: Occult Fiction

Tartarus is a small press producing books that would look handsome on any serious collector’s shelf; the edition under review comes with a tasteful cream-colored dust jacket and a silk bookmark sewn into the binding. Normally specializing in classic supernatural or strange fiction, they present this novel as one of the first in a series of new, modern releases. The Saint Perpetuus Club of Buenos Aires, a debut by Eric Stener Carlson, is a fascinating story of paranoia and the occult which reminded me at times of Kafka when it wasn’t reminding me of Eco; odd names to evoke in a dark fiction review perhaps, but this book qualifies nonetheless.

Written in the first person, we are made privy to the mundane life and secret thoughts of a civil servant, Miguel, in a lackluster job who regrets never having completed his dissertation, and also the self-proclaimed “saint” he discovers while browsing in a bookstore. Hand-written between the lines of Lives of the Saints are the ravings of a megalomaniacal mystery man who also happens to have worked in the bureaucracy. As the story moves forward, the protagonist’s and the diarist’s lives seem so similar at times, one might have to remind oneself which character they’re reading about; chapters are divided between the protagonist’s point of view and the entries in the diary. At first, Miguel thinks the diarist is mad, but he soon accepts the claims that he, through occult means, has learned to control time. Miguel’s all-consuming hunger for this secret knowledge leads him from bookstore to bookstore, scouring for more copies of Lives of the Saints in his quest to acquire additional chapters of the diary; which in turn lead him into stranger, darker situations. The writings of this mystery man are filled with esoteric knowledge of Buenos Aires: its subways, its parks, its streets, things perhaps only a bored commuter—or a dedicated mystic--would know in such detail; these everyday sites have been thoroughly studied by this “god” of time, their humble surfaces peeled away to reveal the buried legends and forgotten history, things members of the “herd” (as the diarist calls those not in the know) do not see or do not understand in their supposed ignorance. Further conflict arises when Miguel’s obsession begins to affect his relationship with his boss and his beloved family. It all makes for rich, enticing reading.

This work should appeal to fans of good writing and the occult. The prose is top-notch and great care has been taken in providing the reader with an intellectual, multi-layered story. But order it while you can; there are only 300 copies of this hardcover edition.

I look forward to reading more by Mr. Carlson. Heartily recommended.

--DT Wilbanks

Tartarus Press

THE BLACK BOOK OF HORROR ed. by Charles Black

Title: The Black Book of Horror (vol. 1)
Editor: Charles Black
Publisher: Mortbury Press
File Under: Horror

We are spoiled with wonderful books lately. Horror is not dead, at least not here at GRR headquarters. For example, I’ve just finished reading a superb anthology edited by Charles Black titled The Black Book of Horror, the first book in a series which totals five thus far. And after reading the first one, knowing there are four more waiting makes me feel all tingly inside.

To tell the truth, it was the covers that first attracted me. The artwork is by Paul Mudie and his eerie image of a one-eyed, long-nailed reader sitting in a comfy chair within a dark library sets the tone nicely for what’s inside.

A short introduction by Mr. Black states these books are “something of a tribute” to the Pan Books of Horror [Stories], British horror anthologies which ran to 30 volumes. Alas, I have not read this celebrated series (I’m in the US after all), but if they’re anything like the title under review, I may have some used book hunting ahead of me.

Except for stories set in Poland and Australia, all of these take place in the UK. I assume most, if not all, of the authors are British, and, boy, do they know their horror. The tales run the gamut, from the personal to the apocalyptic and not one is a disappointment. Originality pervades, yet well-told tales using standard horror tropes have been included successfully as well; perfect for the dark fiction fan who wants it all. Personal favorites include “Power” by Steve Goodwin: a visceral, existential tale; “The Sound of Muzak” by Sean Parker: unique and apocalyptic; “Size Matters” by John Llewellyn Probert: yes, it’s about that and it’s hilarious; “Family Fishing” by Gary McMahon: a new and darker twist on an old favorite; “Subtle Invasion” by David Conyers: another apocalyptic entry that you won’t soon forget; and “Lock-In” by David A. Riley: think Stephen King’s “The Mist” with a pub full of old men. Other tales involve ghosts, insane asylums, the bogeyman, more ghosts, witchcraft, demonology… and pie.

The quality of this collection cannot be overstated. If you’re thinking of picking up a new horror anthology, this should be near the top of your list, especially if you enjoy good, old-fashioned horror stories told with finesse. Charles Black is to be congratulated and the best way to thank him would be to help spread the word: Horror is not dead; I know it, you know it and Mr. Black knew it all along.

This is another excellent addition to the GRR Hall of Fame. Buy one today!

--DT Wilbanks

HIS FATHER'S SON by Bentley Little

Title: His Father’s Son
Author: Bentley Little
Publisher: Signet
File Under: Horror

What can I say about a man who consistently produces quality fiction? Each year, Bentley Little’s fans eagerly await his latest offering, knowing they’ll be treated to a tale by one of the weirdest imaginations on the shelves, and 2009’s His Father’s Son is no exception. In fact, it’s one of his best novels yet.

It’s difficult to do this review without giving away the whole thing, so please bear with me: Steve Nye—an average guy with a day job and a girlfriend--finds out that his father attacked his mother and, subsequently, has been taken to the hospital. What Steve discovers in the psych ward is a babbling madman, suffering from dementia, strapped to his bed and not making much sense. All this is bad enough for Steve--he and his parents never got along well--but when, in one of his more lucid moments, his father states, “I killed her,” it sends our protagonist off on a quest for the truth that quickly becomes a dark descent into…

That’s it. That’s all I can tell you about the plot. It’s so tightly woven that to say more would ruin the fun. Regarding content, there is something quite interesting going on here: throughout the book, Little includes short stories written and submitted to publishers by the protagonist. These stories are actually fun to read and I think they’re included to go beyond the narrative so that we might gain further insight into the workings of Nye’s mind. A couple last things: this book is sick and twisted; be ready for that, and horror of horrors, ladies and gentlemen, there are…clowns.

Killers and clowns. You’re there, right? This is another incredibly entertaining novel from the mind of Little, and you might consider it even if you’ve heard that the author’s work is a little off-center; maybe he’s not quite what you’re used to if you’ve only read King or Koontz, but I believe, after a few pages of His Father’s Son, you’ll soon find yourself under the author’s power, and enjoying the whole nightmarish ride.

I don’t know how he’s going to top this one but it will be fun watching him try, and I’m happy to report that, with this novel, we have another entry in the GRR Hall of Fame.

--DT Wilbanks

THE GRAY ZONE by John R. Little

Title: The Gray Zone
Author: John R. Little
Publisher: Bad Moon Books
File Under: Dark Fantasy

John R. Little’s The Gray Zone is a time-travel novella, about 80 pages in length (Not including a foreword by James A. Moore, illustrations by Alan M. Clark, and an afterword by the author.).

The experience is rather like reading someone’s diary by flipping randomly back and forth, selecting entries at random. This is how the protagonist, Henry Davidson, lives his life after being given a magic powder as a thank-you gift--though it turns out this ability to visit and revisit past and future events may be more of a curse, as there is a “gray zone” at the end of his linear life, holding dark events which remain a mystery to him even after he visits, because he loses him memory each time he flips back from that part of his life.

This tale is written cleanly, with transparent prose. That aside, it left me with a couple unanswered questions about how the time-traveling worked, but I can’t state those here because it would likely spoil the book. The author claims in the afterword that this is a story about characters, yet not much room is given to the details that make characters memorable. It reads like a series of vignettes in a man’s life; when one chapter is over, you’re some-when completely different: different setting, different situation, at times losing some of the tension from the previous scene. To top it off, Henry can travel through time but he can’t really change anything.

Despite these caveats, I still found the book haunting; there is a bit of magic gracing its pages--stemming from the Egypt locale especially. I just wish The Gray Zone had been hardier, more of a meal than a light, albeit dark, snack.

A moderate recommendation then, for this tidy book.

--DT Wilbanks

WRITERS WORKSHOP OF HORROR, ed. Michael Knost

Title: Writers Workshop of Horror
Editor: Michael Knost
Publisher: Woodland Press
File Under: Non-Fiction

Books on writing: I’ve read lots. The trouble with most of them is that they just repeat the same old tips and information that’s already available in older books: read, write, stay at your desk, schedule time to write, read your prose out loud, study your favorite authors. Ad infinitum. Lots of advice is out there—some of it sketchy--and not all of it applicable to you personally. But when you do find the right book, you will know it, or I should say you will know it after you decide the advice within works best for you. Remember that even the pros—even the best pros—realize they don’t know it all and therefore appreciate learning new things from others, because, unless you’re a genius (and you probably aren’t), there’s always room for improvement. Always.

Okay, so you’re a beginning writer interested in dark fiction and you need some words of wisdom (or maybe you’re an experienced writer on the lookout for new tips or welcome reminders). Is Knost’s Writers Workshop of Horror something you need taking up space on your shelf? Well, I can tell you that within its pages is advice ranging from the fairly ambiguous to articles that should be shellacked to the wall over your desk as constant reminders.

Let’s concentrate on the best stuff.

The writers who are also teachers really stand out here because they know how to structure their articles to get the most bang per word. People like Gary Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Thomas F. Monteleone, Michael A. Arnzen and Mort Castle are, alone, almost worth the cover price. And Jack Haringa’s “The Agnotology of Horror” is one of those items to reference should you finding yourself sliding toward that tempting pit of ease and cheese.

But it’s not just the teachers who shine here. Knost has wrangled some of horror fiction’s finest authors--picking their brains for your benefit. Heed the wisdom of Elizabeth Massie, Tom Piccirilli, Joe R. Lansdale, Clive Barker and, especially, Ramsey Campbell, another master yielding a priceless gem, called “The Height of Fear,” to keep near at hand for when you need a reminder of how it should be done.

But let’s face it: these books are tool kits and sometimes the tools that you need to craft your own work aren’t the same as what’s in the next guy’s box. That’s why, towards the end of this book, Robert N. Lee reminds us that not all writing advice is necessarily carved in stone, and he uses Stephen King as an example. Impressive.

No writers’ reference book featuring a variety of authors is going to be perfect because all writers aren’t perfect and some are more comfortable writing fiction than writing articles about writing fiction. However, I am happy to report that, overall, this book is a sound investment. Go ahead and place it alongside your dictionary, thesaurus, grammar guide and, of course, The Elements of Style.

Fiction writing is a long, rewarding journey and I’m confident that Writers Workshop of Horror will help guide you along the path.

Happy trails,

--DT Wilbanks

THE KULT by Shaun Jeffrey

Title: The Kult
Author: Shaun Jeffrey
Publisher: Leucrota Press
File Under: Thriller; Mystery

The serial killer novel allows us a glimpse into mankind’s darkest nature, revealing the horrible deeds a small percentage of us humans are capable of because of an accident of birth or environment, or a combination thereof. To speculate that the nice fellow next door might in fact be a sadistic killer, cunning enough to conceal his monstrous activities from the rest of the world and perhaps even his own friends and relatives, is both frightening and titillating.

Though some think its time has come and gone, this type of novel is still a favorite here at GRR. And I’m happy to report that there’s nothing unfashionable about The Kult by UK author Shaun Jeffrey, because not only is it a serial killer novel, it is also a mystery, meaning we do not find out who the killer is until the end of the book--unless we guess first, of course, but that’s part of the fun.

Our protagonist, Prosper Snow, is a police officer assigned to the Oracle serial slayings. This brutal killer leaves behind clues in the form of gruesome photos in which he records how he has mutilated his victims and sculpted them into sick works of art. Snow must study these photos to figure out the killer’s identity because few other clues exist--this murderer is very careful about tidying up his crime scenes. But that’s not Snow’s only problem; his past has caught up with him: childhood friends, part of a gang that had named themselves The Kult, require a favor of him; a favor Snow is uncomfortable with, to say the least.

Even though I deciphered a certain series of clues before the police in the book did (maybe I’m in the wrong job), there were still enough twists in the plot to keep me guessing as to the outcome. One thing I appreciate is that Jeffrey has molded his characters into human beings we care about, something writers try to do but don’t always succeed at. The Kult held my attention throughout, and toward the denouement, had me turning pages at a furious rate to find out the ending; I know we hear that a lot, but in this case, it’s quite true. I wanted no interruption until I had finished.

This is my first sampling of Shaun Jeffrey’s work, but it won’t be my last. Any writer who lovingly crafts such a fine entertainment is someone I’ll definitely keep tabs on. The Kult can be warmly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good serial killer mystery and doesn’t mind grisly murder scenes.

--DT Wilbanks