clarke's review
2.5
There was a big variation in my enjoyment from story to story, which I guess is the risk with a book like this. It just became draining.
vondav's review
5.0
One thing that Crystal Lake Publishing can do well is put together some amazing anthologies and this is another example of their work. This anthology has a mixture of stories and poems that will play with your imagination. Old photos, ash monsters, gnomes and even the Holy Grail all play their part in the stories. For this review; I will pick a few that I enjoyed.
The Baker of Millepoix by Hal Bodner: To get over the death of his husband, Henri decides to move to Millepoix. To help occupy his mind Henri became the local baker, but after a freak accident, his pastries did more than stop the hunger. At the start, you could sense Henri’s grief and even with his new venture you knew that he still had not moved on. Whilst he tried to fit in, it was not until the freak accident that he felt wanted and this story showed just how compassionate he was. Whilst there is a supernatural feel to this story, this was a story about grief and acceptance.
Madame Painte: For Sale by John Langan: A gnome is for sale and with it comes a warning Must keep outside. The story told by the shopkeeper was very similar to the instructions given to keep a gremlin, although the consequences were deadlier. A creepy story that ended all too soon.
Chivalry by Neil Gaiman: When Mrs Whitaker finds the Holy Grail in a charity shop, she does expect the visitor that arrives soon afterwards. If you like rummaging in junk shops this is everyone’s dream and to have the mysterious visitor is most women’s dream. Mrs Whitaker was a lovely OAP who was happy with what she got. I loved the way she looked forward to the visitor and even the simple things like making him a sandwich gave her pleasure, although I did laugh when she used him to move all the heavy furniture on one of his visits and the ending how could she be so lucky.
The Wakeful by Kristi DeMeester: The story is about the relationship between Charlotte and her pupil Edith. This story had an eerie feel to it mainly due to the descriptive way author described what was happening to Charlotte. Whilst you do not know what Edith is or the power she has over Charlotte, you can let your imagination run loose.
This anthology is a good example of the weird and the wonderful. This will also suit readers that are not horror lovers as there is such a mixture. It’s a book that you can curl up with and forget the world. Whilst I am not a poetry lover the 2 poems in this book fitted in perfectly. Thank you Crystal Lake you have not let me down.
The Baker of Millepoix by Hal Bodner: To get over the death of his husband, Henri decides to move to Millepoix. To help occupy his mind Henri became the local baker, but after a freak accident, his pastries did more than stop the hunger. At the start, you could sense Henri’s grief and even with his new venture you knew that he still had not moved on. Whilst he tried to fit in, it was not until the freak accident that he felt wanted and this story showed just how compassionate he was. Whilst there is a supernatural feel to this story, this was a story about grief and acceptance.
Madame Painte: For Sale by John Langan: A gnome is for sale and with it comes a warning Must keep outside. The story told by the shopkeeper was very similar to the instructions given to keep a gremlin, although the consequences were deadlier. A creepy story that ended all too soon.
Chivalry by Neil Gaiman: When Mrs Whitaker finds the Holy Grail in a charity shop, she does expect the visitor that arrives soon afterwards. If you like rummaging in junk shops this is everyone’s dream and to have the mysterious visitor is most women’s dream. Mrs Whitaker was a lovely OAP who was happy with what she got. I loved the way she looked forward to the visitor and even the simple things like making him a sandwich gave her pleasure, although I did laugh when she used him to move all the heavy furniture on one of his visits and the ending how could she be so lucky.
The Wakeful by Kristi DeMeester: The story is about the relationship between Charlotte and her pupil Edith. This story had an eerie feel to it mainly due to the descriptive way author described what was happening to Charlotte. Whilst you do not know what Edith is or the power she has over Charlotte, you can let your imagination run loose.
This anthology is a good example of the weird and the wonderful. This will also suit readers that are not horror lovers as there is such a mixture. It’s a book that you can curl up with and forget the world. Whilst I am not a poetry lover the 2 poems in this book fitted in perfectly. Thank you Crystal Lake you have not let me down.
jamessabata's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely judge this book by its cover. It’s human nature to do so, no matter what we say to the contrary. Just as it’s human nature to want to see the freak show. This cover is a big top, drawing us in. Gorgeous. Intriguing. Inviting. The Fancy Pants announcer, standing outside the tent, demands our attention, “BEHOLD!” he says, “Oddities, Curiosities, and Undefinable Wonders!” So we enter, punching a ticket to pull back the curtain. Escaping one world of freaks to enter another.
But what this book does better than any I’ve read in years is to bring such conflicting stories together and let them flow as stops on a great journey, never feeling as distant from one another as they are. They are the attractions as we make our way through the big top, forever on the quest for something new to astonish our senses and let us feel as though we are normal – if only for a moment. Finding the similarities between such different stories and creating a path between them is almost a superpower for Editor Doug Murano. We’ve seen it in his past works (Shadows Over Main Street and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories), but Murano takes it to another level with this offering and creates a literary tour through the minds of some of the hottest names in horror today.
We begin with the Oddities. Our first stop, Lisa Morton’s “LaRue’s Dime Museum,” is the exact sort of story you would expect in this collection. It features an Inside Out Man, a tentacled accomplice and a woman who can contort into any shape. But the aberrations are perspective; and we are quickly reminded the view can change depending on the lens.
In fact, the belief that the view can change runs directly into the next entry, Brian Kirk’s “Wildflower, Cactus, Rose,” where we find that the world is a mirror. What you put into it is often what you’ll take out of it and some people will go to great lengths to protect the beauty they brought into the world.
Speaking of getting out what you put in, the main character in Hal Bodner’s “The Baker of Millepoix,” loses the love of his life, but finds a passion for helping people. Henri pours himself into helping others, no matter how much of himself he loses in the process. When you have a gift like Henri does, it would be a sin not to share it with the world.
Jaqueline Ess also has a gift to share with the world, but it is not one her recipients get to enjoy for long. Clive Barker (he made a few small things like Hellraiser, Candyman, and Gods and Monsters) brings us “Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament.” This story is right up there with his other works; perhaps it’s even more sinister in some respects. It’s the story of a woman who degrades herself to gain power over the powerful.
We are greeted with Stephanie M. Wytovich’s poem, “An Exhibition of Mother and Monster.” Later, we encounter a second poem by Wytovich entitled, “As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party.” The two poems serve almost as bridge between the sections of the book, bringing us from Oddities to Curiosities and from there to the Undefinable Wonders. Each is a handcrafted masterpiece of poetry, calling to mind that Fancy Pants announcer who wants us to move on and see the next attraction.
The Curiosities abound, beginning with a garden gnome who prefers to remain outside. John Langan’s “Madame Painte: For Sale” wins the distinction of containing my favorite death in this anthology. It was the type of story I anticipated going into the book, but I was rewarded with so much more than I’d expected from it. This typical haunted doll story is anything but typical, as even people who know her story can’t wait to take her home. I suggest letting her stay outside, though.
Next, we stumble directly into an antiques store to find another treasure to bring home. Neil Gaiman (Yes, THAT Neil Gaiman; creator of Sandman, American Gods, and Neverwhere) brings us “Chivalry,” the story of an elderly woman who happens to find the Holy Grail. When Sir Galaad requests it back, he finds that some treasure is worthless and some trash is priceless. Only in understanding what the elderly woman finds worthwhile will he gain the treasure he seeks.
One of the most decorated horror writers of all time, Ramsey Campbell, pops in to frighten us with “Fully Boarded.” His protagonist finds something he definitely doesn’t want to bring home; but oh how he longs to get back there. Campbell weaves a story of several layers of isolation that grab you by the wrist and never let go.
At first glance, “In Amelia’s Wake” seems to have one of the most choreographed climaxes in this book, but Erinn L. Kemper flips it on its side and beats us with it. Only when the tragedy telegraphed from the very first paragraph occurs does the real horror begin. Kemper subjects every character in this story to tragedy and makes each not only memorable, but relatable. This story was a slow burn, but the scars it left on my psyche have brought me back to it several times in the last week.
John F.D. Taff brings us a tale of man seeking vengeance and survival in “A Ware That Will Not Keep.” He finds both, but not without consequences. As is often the case, revenge can get out of hand quickly. The price Lev pays may leave him a prisoner long after he’s found his freedom.
Step this way for a moment and meet Jamie, a woman who will also learn the price of revenge. In Patrick Freivald’s “Earl Pruitt’s Smoker,” Jamie gives in to hive mentality to commit her crime, but she finds the guilt that accompanies it can be too much for one individual to live with.
The final exhibit in the Curiosities section, Lucy A. Snyder slips us some “Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies” laced with the dreams, guilt, and sorrows of her main character’s life. This tale of a woman retracing her life’s steps with a little help from her friends dug into my soul and wouldn’t let go, long after the effects of the trip wore off.
We move into the Undefinable Wonders and it becomes more than apparent that many of these stories straddle a fine line between sections. How Murano decided for sure where they should sit is a mystery I’ll never understand, but I’ll argue to the death that he chose correctly. This is certainly the case with Brian Hodge’s “The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows” which tells the tale of two drifters riding the rails in search of something but finding what they’re looking for doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for everyone involved.
Charlotte Pratchett continuously plants the seeds for her future, but none of them find purchase until the events of Kristi DeMeester’s “The Wakeful” unfold. This story dug deep into my psyche and produced a monster I didn’t expect, but fully appreciated. DeMeester’s style and tone bring this story to another level, grounding it in a familiar reality when nothing about this should be normal.
In every collection of stories – as in every circus, in every freak show – there is one attraction that resonates with you more than any other. While it probably won’t be the same for you, the one that did it to me was Christopher Coake’s “Knitter.” This story weaves the most tragic story while showing the undying love between two people who were practically made for one another. I have been thinking about their loss for weeks now. I hope I never stop. That’s all I can tell you about this, because I don’t want to create any expectations or allow your own sense of wonder to disappear with this one.
Sarah Read’s “Through Gravel” brings us a new society not so far removed from our own, but different as night and day. A subterranean society picks a new member, but will she signal a new beginning as they hope or bring about the very destruction they long to escape? And will she ever make it home?
Speaking of home, it’s almost time to leave the Freak Show and head home ourselves.
But just where is home? That’s the question at the very heart of Richard Thomas’s “Hiraeth.” The word itself is defined as a yearning or nostalgia for a home to which we can never return. A home that, perhaps, never existed. Jimmy has a home, but it’s not the home that calls to him. It’s not the home he wants. It’s not where the love of his life is. It’s not where he hangs his heart. On a search for that home – the one he desires – Jimmy can’t resist the forbidden fruit and gives in to his weaknesses. He will have to deal with the consequences and one of those consequences just might be losing something he never got to have.
This book is an absolute tribute to how great the horror industry is right now. With a mix of the all-time greats, relative newcomers, and the hottest attractions hitting the scare scene at the moment, Behold! does what so few books could do thematically – it makes each attraction the absolute star of the show while allowing them as a team to make one another shine.
5/5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
But what this book does better than any I’ve read in years is to bring such conflicting stories together and let them flow as stops on a great journey, never feeling as distant from one another as they are. They are the attractions as we make our way through the big top, forever on the quest for something new to astonish our senses and let us feel as though we are normal – if only for a moment. Finding the similarities between such different stories and creating a path between them is almost a superpower for Editor Doug Murano. We’ve seen it in his past works (Shadows Over Main Street and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories), but Murano takes it to another level with this offering and creates a literary tour through the minds of some of the hottest names in horror today.
We begin with the Oddities. Our first stop, Lisa Morton’s “LaRue’s Dime Museum,” is the exact sort of story you would expect in this collection. It features an Inside Out Man, a tentacled accomplice and a woman who can contort into any shape. But the aberrations are perspective; and we are quickly reminded the view can change depending on the lens.
In fact, the belief that the view can change runs directly into the next entry, Brian Kirk’s “Wildflower, Cactus, Rose,” where we find that the world is a mirror. What you put into it is often what you’ll take out of it and some people will go to great lengths to protect the beauty they brought into the world.
Speaking of getting out what you put in, the main character in Hal Bodner’s “The Baker of Millepoix,” loses the love of his life, but finds a passion for helping people. Henri pours himself into helping others, no matter how much of himself he loses in the process. When you have a gift like Henri does, it would be a sin not to share it with the world.
Jaqueline Ess also has a gift to share with the world, but it is not one her recipients get to enjoy for long. Clive Barker (he made a few small things like Hellraiser, Candyman, and Gods and Monsters) brings us “Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament.” This story is right up there with his other works; perhaps it’s even more sinister in some respects. It’s the story of a woman who degrades herself to gain power over the powerful.
We are greeted with Stephanie M. Wytovich’s poem, “An Exhibition of Mother and Monster.” Later, we encounter a second poem by Wytovich entitled, “As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party.” The two poems serve almost as bridge between the sections of the book, bringing us from Oddities to Curiosities and from there to the Undefinable Wonders. Each is a handcrafted masterpiece of poetry, calling to mind that Fancy Pants announcer who wants us to move on and see the next attraction.
The Curiosities abound, beginning with a garden gnome who prefers to remain outside. John Langan’s “Madame Painte: For Sale” wins the distinction of containing my favorite death in this anthology. It was the type of story I anticipated going into the book, but I was rewarded with so much more than I’d expected from it. This typical haunted doll story is anything but typical, as even people who know her story can’t wait to take her home. I suggest letting her stay outside, though.
Next, we stumble directly into an antiques store to find another treasure to bring home. Neil Gaiman (Yes, THAT Neil Gaiman; creator of Sandman, American Gods, and Neverwhere) brings us “Chivalry,” the story of an elderly woman who happens to find the Holy Grail. When Sir Galaad requests it back, he finds that some treasure is worthless and some trash is priceless. Only in understanding what the elderly woman finds worthwhile will he gain the treasure he seeks.
One of the most decorated horror writers of all time, Ramsey Campbell, pops in to frighten us with “Fully Boarded.” His protagonist finds something he definitely doesn’t want to bring home; but oh how he longs to get back there. Campbell weaves a story of several layers of isolation that grab you by the wrist and never let go.
At first glance, “In Amelia’s Wake” seems to have one of the most choreographed climaxes in this book, but Erinn L. Kemper flips it on its side and beats us with it. Only when the tragedy telegraphed from the very first paragraph occurs does the real horror begin. Kemper subjects every character in this story to tragedy and makes each not only memorable, but relatable. This story was a slow burn, but the scars it left on my psyche have brought me back to it several times in the last week.
John F.D. Taff brings us a tale of man seeking vengeance and survival in “A Ware That Will Not Keep.” He finds both, but not without consequences. As is often the case, revenge can get out of hand quickly. The price Lev pays may leave him a prisoner long after he’s found his freedom.
Step this way for a moment and meet Jamie, a woman who will also learn the price of revenge. In Patrick Freivald’s “Earl Pruitt’s Smoker,” Jamie gives in to hive mentality to commit her crime, but she finds the guilt that accompanies it can be too much for one individual to live with.
The final exhibit in the Curiosities section, Lucy A. Snyder slips us some “Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies” laced with the dreams, guilt, and sorrows of her main character’s life. This tale of a woman retracing her life’s steps with a little help from her friends dug into my soul and wouldn’t let go, long after the effects of the trip wore off.
We move into the Undefinable Wonders and it becomes more than apparent that many of these stories straddle a fine line between sections. How Murano decided for sure where they should sit is a mystery I’ll never understand, but I’ll argue to the death that he chose correctly. This is certainly the case with Brian Hodge’s “The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows” which tells the tale of two drifters riding the rails in search of something but finding what they’re looking for doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for everyone involved.
Charlotte Pratchett continuously plants the seeds for her future, but none of them find purchase until the events of Kristi DeMeester’s “The Wakeful” unfold. This story dug deep into my psyche and produced a monster I didn’t expect, but fully appreciated. DeMeester’s style and tone bring this story to another level, grounding it in a familiar reality when nothing about this should be normal.
In every collection of stories – as in every circus, in every freak show – there is one attraction that resonates with you more than any other. While it probably won’t be the same for you, the one that did it to me was Christopher Coake’s “Knitter.” This story weaves the most tragic story while showing the undying love between two people who were practically made for one another. I have been thinking about their loss for weeks now. I hope I never stop. That’s all I can tell you about this, because I don’t want to create any expectations or allow your own sense of wonder to disappear with this one.
Sarah Read’s “Through Gravel” brings us a new society not so far removed from our own, but different as night and day. A subterranean society picks a new member, but will she signal a new beginning as they hope or bring about the very destruction they long to escape? And will she ever make it home?
Speaking of home, it’s almost time to leave the Freak Show and head home ourselves.
But just where is home? That’s the question at the very heart of Richard Thomas’s “Hiraeth.” The word itself is defined as a yearning or nostalgia for a home to which we can never return. A home that, perhaps, never existed. Jimmy has a home, but it’s not the home that calls to him. It’s not the home he wants. It’s not where the love of his life is. It’s not where he hangs his heart. On a search for that home – the one he desires – Jimmy can’t resist the forbidden fruit and gives in to his weaknesses. He will have to deal with the consequences and one of those consequences just might be losing something he never got to have.
This book is an absolute tribute to how great the horror industry is right now. With a mix of the all-time greats, relative newcomers, and the hottest attractions hitting the scare scene at the moment, Behold! does what so few books could do thematically – it makes each attraction the absolute star of the show while allowing them as a team to make one another shine.
5/5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
Behold marks yet another stellar anthology of horror fiction from Crystal Lake Publishing. Editor Doug Murano has assembled an intricately quilted patchwork that collects a unique combination of well-written stories that continue the theme of beautiful horror established by his previous anthology, Gutted, itself a stunning masterpiece. As with any anthology, some stories will resonate more with certain readers, and everyone will have a different list of favourites, but the pages of Behold contain many wonders that will make a lasting impression on readers.
quilly14's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up because it won this year's Stoker Award for Best Anthology.
The Stoker Award is for horror, and some of these stories are pretty creepy, but there are also some fantasy stories. The general theme could be "Weird shit happens." Think people turning into cacti. Or hobos looking in mirrors that tell the future.
The big name authors here are Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker. I liked both their stories.
Also especially liked "Fully Boarded" by Ramsey Campbell and "The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows" by Brian Hodge.
Gave this three stars because I never love every story in an anthology. That said, there were none here I actively disliked.
el_stevie's review
5.0
This collection was received free in return for an honest review from Crystal Lake Publishing.
The new weird has arrived. A collection of the strange and the freakish, the dark and the fantastical. Divided into Oddities, Curiosities and Wonders, this is a literary cabinet of alternative delights.
Oddities starts off with the freaks of LaRue’s Dime Museum, a frozen image of a past thought dead and buried. But is it? Wildflower, Cactus, Rose ponders the eternal question of the nature of beauty and the power of image over others, “The world is a mirror … What we see is a reflection of who we are.” The Baker of Millepoix gives himself in more ways than one to help those in his village. And then there is Clive Barker’s Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament. Dark and disturbing, it’s story of who truly wields power “We cannot believe, we men, that power will ever reside happily in the body of a woman … Not true power … The power must be in male hands.” Jacqueline has power, but does she have real control? This tale is my favourite amongst the Oddities.
Curiosities begins with Madame Painte: For Sale, a cursed ornament which wreaks destruction on those who dare to take it into their homes. It is followed by the wonderfully humorous Chivalry by Neil Gaiman. I loved this story for the sheer pragmatism of Mrs Whitaker when the Holy Grail enters her life and an Arthurian knight appears and tries to cut a deal with her for its return. She packs him off with cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, what’s not to love? Then we plunge from the gentle humour and uplifting nature of Chivalry into the grim holiday-from-hell world of Fully Boarded. The hotel inspector doesn’t stand a chance. In Amelia’s Wake takes us back in time to Canada and the clash of old-world superstition with non-belief, a theme also developed in John F.D. Taff’s A Ware That Will Not Keep. The latter is a tragic tale of what one will do in order to survive, in this case the concentration camp, and the price that had to be paid both then and now. A heart-breaking story. Earl Pruitt’s Smoker pulls us into the world of the hive and the section closes with Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies, a hallucinogenic trip into the past to make peace with oneself.
Too soon you find yourself coming to the end of the book and its Undefinable Wonders. The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows with its train-hopping and dream-chasing, The Wakeful and a very strange garden. My favourite here, Knitter, a story of creation and destruction, of making and unmaking, scary in its far-reaching consequences for those who see the Knitter. Then it’s underground in Through Gravel, and finally Hiraeth with its elements of folklore and superstition in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm.
Special mention must go to Stephanie M. Wytovich and her poems An Exhibition of Mother and Monster and As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party. The poems are placed at strategic points in the anthology perfectly linking the tales before with those to come, dovetails of darkness which should not be overlooked.
I honestly loved this anthology, the quality of writing and sheer imagination is second-to-none. Diverse and endlessly entertaining, this is story-telling at its best.
The new weird has arrived. A collection of the strange and the freakish, the dark and the fantastical. Divided into Oddities, Curiosities and Wonders, this is a literary cabinet of alternative delights.
Oddities starts off with the freaks of LaRue’s Dime Museum, a frozen image of a past thought dead and buried. But is it? Wildflower, Cactus, Rose ponders the eternal question of the nature of beauty and the power of image over others, “The world is a mirror … What we see is a reflection of who we are.” The Baker of Millepoix gives himself in more ways than one to help those in his village. And then there is Clive Barker’s Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament. Dark and disturbing, it’s story of who truly wields power “We cannot believe, we men, that power will ever reside happily in the body of a woman … Not true power … The power must be in male hands.” Jacqueline has power, but does she have real control? This tale is my favourite amongst the Oddities.
Curiosities begins with Madame Painte: For Sale, a cursed ornament which wreaks destruction on those who dare to take it into their homes. It is followed by the wonderfully humorous Chivalry by Neil Gaiman. I loved this story for the sheer pragmatism of Mrs Whitaker when the Holy Grail enters her life and an Arthurian knight appears and tries to cut a deal with her for its return. She packs him off with cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, what’s not to love? Then we plunge from the gentle humour and uplifting nature of Chivalry into the grim holiday-from-hell world of Fully Boarded. The hotel inspector doesn’t stand a chance. In Amelia’s Wake takes us back in time to Canada and the clash of old-world superstition with non-belief, a theme also developed in John F.D. Taff’s A Ware That Will Not Keep. The latter is a tragic tale of what one will do in order to survive, in this case the concentration camp, and the price that had to be paid both then and now. A heart-breaking story. Earl Pruitt’s Smoker pulls us into the world of the hive and the section closes with Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies, a hallucinogenic trip into the past to make peace with oneself.
Too soon you find yourself coming to the end of the book and its Undefinable Wonders. The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows with its train-hopping and dream-chasing, The Wakeful and a very strange garden. My favourite here, Knitter, a story of creation and destruction, of making and unmaking, scary in its far-reaching consequences for those who see the Knitter. Then it’s underground in Through Gravel, and finally Hiraeth with its elements of folklore and superstition in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm.
Special mention must go to Stephanie M. Wytovich and her poems An Exhibition of Mother and Monster and As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party. The poems are placed at strategic points in the anthology perfectly linking the tales before with those to come, dovetails of darkness which should not be overlooked.
I honestly loved this anthology, the quality of writing and sheer imagination is second-to-none. Diverse and endlessly entertaining, this is story-telling at its best.
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
4.0
I took one look at the cover and decided I had to read this. I wrongly assumed it was about the carny life and ever since reading [b:Geek Love|13872|Geek Love|Katherine Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366699063s/13872.jpg|1474375] I’ve been drawn to those types of books. These stories aren’t about sideshow freaks and pop-up carnivals but they’re mostly pretty good despite that.
The book is broken up into three sections. Oddities, Curiosities & Undefinable Wonders. I enjoyed more of the stories in the first two categories and started to feel a little fatigued by the end. This is typical of me and short story collections (see my review for [b:Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror|28957353|Nightmares A New Decade of Modern Horror|Ellen Datlow|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457528264s/28957353.jpg|49183055]) and likely says nothing about the collection but there it is.
Let’s start with the ODDITIES.
Larue’s Dime Museum by Lisa Morton Julia is intrigued by two old photos she discovers at an antique shop and brings them home. Soon her life has turned into a creepy Twilight Zone episode. This tale sets just the right tone for this collection.
Wildflower, Cactus by Rose Brian Kirk The price of beauty and the ugliness of human nature leads two women down the path of body modification and helps them find their power.
"The world is a mirror. What do you want to see?"
I wish this story had been a bit longer but I truly enjoyed what was there.
The Baker of Millepoix by Hal Bodner A heartbroken man buys a bakery and gives it his all (and that’s all I’m saying!). Before long, miracles start to happen. I do believe this was my favorite story in the collection. It has it all. There is a great setup, character building, fabulous storytelling and even a little humor. You must read it.
Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament by Clive Barker I've read this one twice before in Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Vol. 2 . I nearly skipped it this time around but am glad I didn’t.
Jacqueline discovers she has a grisly talent that terrifies her a little. It would terrify me too. It’s a pretty dastardly power. But once she realizes what a rush of power it brings, she develops a new lust for life. She perfects her talent and wields it to exact revenge and rid herself of pesky men. It’s dark, bloody, visceral, horribly humorous (if you’re warped) and classic Clive Barker. Even on this, my third reading, I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time.
An Exhibition of Mother and Monster by Stephanie M. Wytovich This is a damning poem on those who glee in the sideshow freaks. Now I almost feel bad for my little fetish.
Next up: CURIOSITIES
I love shops filled with old treasures. The creepier the better.
Madame Painte: For Sale by John Langan Intrigued by a "must be kept outside" sign accompanying a strangely painted garden gnome, “you” decide to bring it inside and learn more about its story. And it's a horrible story, indeed! It's devilishly evil and I adored it. How come the old crap I bring home never has such a sinister secret life?!
Chivalry by Neil Gaiman Gaiman’s dry wit is on full display as he tells this tale about a stubborn old bitty who stumbles upon the Holy Grail and refuses to part with it! Sir Galaad brings her all sorts of gifts in order to get it back but she is not at all impressed. If I had the ability to laugh out loud while reading, this would’ve been the story to make me to do it. Simply charming.
VERY IMPT. BONUS NOTES: I just discovered that Levar Burton reads this in episode 7 of his new podcast! Drop everything and go listen!!
Fully Boarded by Ramsey Campbell I know Ramsey Campbell is a legend in horrorland but his writing has never quite worked for me. The same goes here. This story is about a travel reviewer, a wristband and some truly terrible hospitality. I’d give this a three. It was ok, slightly on the “meh” side of the scale and not my favorite here.
In Amelia’s Wake by Erinn L. Kemper This story is slathered all over with grief. It’s about a group of brother’s who are watching over Amelia Earhart's plane and about a slithery thing that hides in the shadows. I thought it was slightly eerie but slow and it ended too suddenly.
A Ware That Will Not Keep by John F.D. Taff A dying man shares a terrible story from his past. Now this one was took my breath away. It’s a creative and haunting little tale and that ending? Damn, that will be hard to forget.
Earl Pruitt’s Smoker by Patrick Freivald A bee keeper’s old smoker brings one woman the freedom and excitement she so desperately craves but it also brings out the worst in her. This is such an imaginative and chilling little story that smacks you in the face with the consequences of your darker side.
As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party Stephanie M. Wytovich A whimsical poem that takes a dark turn. This one, at least, didn’t leave me with the guilts!
Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies Lucy A. Snyder This tale lures you in with the funny but then takes a sad turn as a woman faces the one moment she wishes she could redo.
And, finally, we have UNDEFINABLE WONDERS. This is the part of the collection where my attention began to wane. I only found one of the stories exceptional and completely engaging. The rest were a little bit of a struggle for me to finish.
The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows by Brian Hodge This story follows a bunch of down on their luck train hoppers as they attempt to find a tree that is rumored to have magical powers that may lead them down a better path. It’s strikingly real but maintains a sense of wonder but was missing a little certain something for me.
The Wakeful Kristi DeMeester This is a weird story about a teacher, a bad relationship, a strange little girl and a terrible garden. Is it a tale of madness or something else? I am left unsure but it I do know that it left me feeling unsettled.
Knitter by Christopher Coake My favorite of the undefinable wonders. The author creates a dark vision of another world where people are trying to live their lives while attempting to avoid ever seeing a creature they call "knitters" who have a devastating power that they use at will. It has a fairytale like feel with a pitch black undertone, hypnotizing prose and an ending that hurts.
Through Gravel by Sarah Read There is a society living underground who call themselves “The Kindred”. As time goes by, their numbers shrink but a newbie arrives with new ideas that will invigorate their group but The Kindred’s greed may be their downfall. This story didn’t do it for me. I cannot explain the reasons.
Hiraeth by Richard Thomas I may have been out of steam by the time I arrived at this story because I didn’t understand it. It could be my lack of brain cells that caused me to miss nuanced symbolism or whatnot but honestly I’m too tired to think and don’t want to work this hard to comprehend a short story. It’s about a poor farmer’s son who has a hole running through is body, a prickly tree with forbidden fruit and the pain the hapless boy brings upon himself – I think. It was weird, that’s for sure.
Anyway, I’m beat and that’s all I have. There is some wondrous storytelling within these pages and, even though some of the stories weren’t meant for me, it’s most definitely a collection worth checking out!
The book is broken up into three sections. Oddities, Curiosities & Undefinable Wonders. I enjoyed more of the stories in the first two categories and started to feel a little fatigued by the end. This is typical of me and short story collections (see my review for [b:Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror|28957353|Nightmares A New Decade of Modern Horror|Ellen Datlow|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457528264s/28957353.jpg|49183055]) and likely says nothing about the collection but there it is.
Let’s start with the ODDITIES.
Larue’s Dime Museum by Lisa Morton Julia is intrigued by two old photos she discovers at an antique shop and brings them home. Soon her life has turned into a creepy Twilight Zone episode. This tale sets just the right tone for this collection.
Wildflower, Cactus by Rose Brian Kirk The price of beauty and the ugliness of human nature leads two women down the path of body modification and helps them find their power.
"The world is a mirror. What do you want to see?"
I wish this story had been a bit longer but I truly enjoyed what was there.
The Baker of Millepoix by Hal Bodner A heartbroken man buys a bakery and gives it his all (and that’s all I’m saying!). Before long, miracles start to happen. I do believe this was my favorite story in the collection. It has it all. There is a great setup, character building, fabulous storytelling and even a little humor. You must read it.
Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament by Clive Barker I've read this one twice before in Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Vol. 2 . I nearly skipped it this time around but am glad I didn’t.
Jacqueline discovers she has a grisly talent that terrifies her a little. It would terrify me too. It’s a pretty dastardly power. But once she realizes what a rush of power it brings, she develops a new lust for life. She perfects her talent and wields it to exact revenge and rid herself of pesky men. It’s dark, bloody, visceral, horribly humorous (if you’re warped) and classic Clive Barker. Even on this, my third reading, I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time.
An Exhibition of Mother and Monster by Stephanie M. Wytovich This is a damning poem on those who glee in the sideshow freaks. Now I almost feel bad for my little fetish.
Next up: CURIOSITIES
I love shops filled with old treasures. The creepier the better.
Madame Painte: For Sale by John Langan Intrigued by a "must be kept outside" sign accompanying a strangely painted garden gnome, “you” decide to bring it inside and learn more about its story. And it's a horrible story, indeed! It's devilishly evil and I adored it. How come the old crap I bring home never has such a sinister secret life?!
Chivalry by Neil Gaiman Gaiman’s dry wit is on full display as he tells this tale about a stubborn old bitty who stumbles upon the Holy Grail and refuses to part with it! Sir Galaad brings her all sorts of gifts in order to get it back but she is not at all impressed. If I had the ability to laugh out loud while reading, this would’ve been the story to make me to do it. Simply charming.
VERY IMPT. BONUS NOTES: I just discovered that Levar Burton reads this in episode 7 of his new podcast! Drop everything and go listen!!
Fully Boarded by Ramsey Campbell I know Ramsey Campbell is a legend in horrorland but his writing has never quite worked for me. The same goes here. This story is about a travel reviewer, a wristband and some truly terrible hospitality. I’d give this a three. It was ok, slightly on the “meh” side of the scale and not my favorite here.
In Amelia’s Wake by Erinn L. Kemper This story is slathered all over with grief. It’s about a group of brother’s who are watching over Amelia Earhart's plane and about a slithery thing that hides in the shadows. I thought it was slightly eerie but slow and it ended too suddenly.
A Ware That Will Not Keep by John F.D. Taff A dying man shares a terrible story from his past. Now this one was took my breath away. It’s a creative and haunting little tale and that ending? Damn, that will be hard to forget.
Earl Pruitt’s Smoker by Patrick Freivald A bee keeper’s old smoker brings one woman the freedom and excitement she so desperately craves but it also brings out the worst in her. This is such an imaginative and chilling little story that smacks you in the face with the consequences of your darker side.
As a Guest at the Telekinetic Tea Party Stephanie M. Wytovich A whimsical poem that takes a dark turn. This one, at least, didn’t leave me with the guilts!
Hazelnuts and Yummy Mummies Lucy A. Snyder This tale lures you in with the funny but then takes a sad turn as a woman faces the one moment she wishes she could redo.
And, finally, we have UNDEFINABLE WONDERS. This is the part of the collection where my attention began to wane. I only found one of the stories exceptional and completely engaging. The rest were a little bit of a struggle for me to finish.
The Shiny Fruit of Our Tomorrows by Brian Hodge This story follows a bunch of down on their luck train hoppers as they attempt to find a tree that is rumored to have magical powers that may lead them down a better path. It’s strikingly real but maintains a sense of wonder but was missing a little certain something for me.
The Wakeful Kristi DeMeester This is a weird story about a teacher, a bad relationship, a strange little girl and a terrible garden. Is it a tale of madness or something else? I am left unsure but it I do know that it left me feeling unsettled.
Knitter by Christopher Coake My favorite of the undefinable wonders. The author creates a dark vision of another world where people are trying to live their lives while attempting to avoid ever seeing a creature they call "knitters" who have a devastating power that they use at will. It has a fairytale like feel with a pitch black undertone, hypnotizing prose and an ending that hurts.
Through Gravel by Sarah Read There is a society living underground who call themselves “The Kindred”. As time goes by, their numbers shrink but a newbie arrives with new ideas that will invigorate their group but The Kindred’s greed may be their downfall. This story didn’t do it for me. I cannot explain the reasons.
Hiraeth by Richard Thomas I may have been out of steam by the time I arrived at this story because I didn’t understand it. It could be my lack of brain cells that caused me to miss nuanced symbolism or whatnot but honestly I’m too tired to think and don’t want to work this hard to comprehend a short story. It’s about a poor farmer’s son who has a hole running through is body, a prickly tree with forbidden fruit and the pain the hapless boy brings upon himself – I think. It was weird, that’s for sure.
Anyway, I’m beat and that’s all I have. There is some wondrous storytelling within these pages and, even though some of the stories weren’t meant for me, it’s most definitely a collection worth checking out!
More...