Horrors! 365 Scary Stories – A Full Year of Horror
06/03/2017 – 06/09/2017
The horror short-short isn’t easy to master, but more than 100 of the genre’s critically acclaimed authors & hottest up-&-comers have taken a stab at it in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, an anthology that contains a short tale for every day of the year. Steve Rasnic Tem, Wm F. Nolan, Tom Piccirilli, Yvonne Navarro, Peter Atkins, Brian Hodge, Martin Mundt & 166 others give you short, sharp shocks.
If you missed the first post you can find it here.
These stories are dark and pierce the skin like a well-placed dagger. Happy reading!
In the Lonely Hours – William Marden
Synopsis:
What if you could clone your loved one? Could you ever be sure it’s them? And in the end would it be possible to tell which was the clone and which was not? what if they both are?
Review:
I did like the theme behind this one a lot. Also the way it twists into you wondering which is the actual clone an which isn’t. Although, to me, if the woman is so uncomfortable with it, why go through the process?
In the Wilds of the Suburbs – Del Stone Jr.
Synopsis:
A homeless man named Joe finds that the population has disappeared, except him. But is he really alone?
Review:
I honestly didn’t understand the end. Was the author implying the lawn ornament animals responsible and that’s who is keeping him company? Or is it rats? I’m just not sure what’s going on in this story.
Incident in the Western Lands – Don Webb
Synopsis:
A foolish Egyptologist discovers an amulet of Horus and Set that has not been logged yet. It couldn’t hurt to borrow it could it? Just for a couple of days?
Review:
Anyone who has ever read a mummy’s curse story can see the ending coming a mile away. But the story is enjoyable nevertheless as it gives a different take on the ‘curse’.
Incognito – Terry McGarry
Synopsis:
A woman who seemingly uses and hates her flowing blond hair equally. A “follicular bulls-eye” in her Dominican neighborhood decides to cast it all to the wind, well, cast it all in front of a bus. But her private demons will know her by her hair.
Review:
I had a little trouble connecting to this story. By the accounts in the story she led a pretty good life and if the worst she got called growing up was “Look at the blond!” is that so horrible? Also, not really trying to be judgmental here but suicide by stepping into the path of a vehicle is a very selfish way to do it. It puts that burden on someone for the rest of their life that they may not deserve.
Insects and Desire – Joe Murphy
Synopsis:
A man who’s very into bugs meets a woman at an insect exhibit. Taking her into a ‘special’ exhibit where he has his lunch. But which is the hunter and which is the prey?
Review:
Even though I hate bugs I did like the twist at the end. It was easily spotted but at the same time, had a slightly different twist than you might expect.
Interrupted Pilgrimage – Brian McNaughton
Synopsis:
A group of brigands/soldiers encounter many odd illusions on their pilgrimage through a certain town. Being told of the dreamer they set out to murder him. Encountering more challenges (including one soldier who believes he’s dead and sneaks off to bury himself and another who refuses to believe he is dead annoys the Devil by refusing to believe he’s in Hell) they finally find the dreaming Magi. But who is the dream and who is not?
Review:
This was by turns funny but a little icky in spots. I don’t quite know what to think of it.
It’s Hell Waking Up – Wayne Allen Sallee
Synopsis:
A man dreams, ten minute dream snatches at a time. Elvis poking out an eyeball, plane crashes, the list goes on. The only one that seems semi-real to him is a dream (or is it reality?) of choking on a piece of pizza and dying. Waking up might not be hell but sleeping sure is.
Review:
I am in total sympathy with Scolari. It always seems as though no matter how much sleep you get, your body just wants more. I’m not including that bizarre personage known as “The Morning Person” they’re another breed altogether. I have yet to meet one in real life but I’ve heard they exist.
Favorite of the Week:
For all it’s weirdness I rather liked Interrupted Pilgrimage by Brian McNaughton. It was weird, a little gross and kind of funny. so it caught my attention.
Join me again next week when hopefully I can curdle your blood a bit more, rather than just swish it around a bit.