The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
vondav's review
4.0
As I have mentioned before one of my favourite reads are anthologies. Another added incentive to buy and read this book was that all the proceeds of the sale will go to the Birmingham Dogs' home, which has a special place in my heart as I have had quite a few rescue dogs from there.
With 11 short stories with one thing in common, they all feature man's best friend the dog.
For this review, I will pick some of my favourites.
Painted Wolves by Ray Cluley: A wildlife film crew are in Africa to film the African wild dogs in their own terrority. What starts off as a routine filming expedition soon gets more serious as their dark secrets are revealed. Dark and intense.
Leader of the Pack by William Meikle: The story about when dogs took charge. This story shows just how faithful some dogs would be and it makes me think what mine would be like in the same situation.
Hikikomori by Adam Millard: Hikikomori is acute social withdrawal. Following a group of people as it hits them and the strange method they use to try and survive.
Good Girl by Steven Chapman: When dogs attack with no warning, a leading dog behaviourist gets involved in a high tech way of stopping the attacks. I enjoyed this story to see how the scientists tried to sort out the trouble. One of the longer stories that got me hooked by the first bite.
Burger Van by Michael Bray. Trent has a burger van and business is booming. It is hard to say much without giving anything away. I enjoyed reading this story and it had a fitting ending.
A Dog is for Death by Phil Sloman: The darker side of dog ownership. This was a hard story to read as I have seen what unscrupulous dog owner's do to their dogs. A dark story which had a just deserved ending.
If you are looking for a horror anthology than pick up this book, not only will you get a cracking read, you will also be giving you money to a well-deserved charity.
With 11 short stories with one thing in common, they all feature man's best friend the dog.
For this review, I will pick some of my favourites.
Painted Wolves by Ray Cluley: A wildlife film crew are in Africa to film the African wild dogs in their own terrority. What starts off as a routine filming expedition soon gets more serious as their dark secrets are revealed. Dark and intense.
Leader of the Pack by William Meikle: The story about when dogs took charge. This story shows just how faithful some dogs would be and it makes me think what mine would be like in the same situation.
Hikikomori by Adam Millard: Hikikomori is acute social withdrawal. Following a group of people as it hits them and the strange method they use to try and survive.
Good Girl by Steven Chapman: When dogs attack with no warning, a leading dog behaviourist gets involved in a high tech way of stopping the attacks. I enjoyed this story to see how the scientists tried to sort out the trouble. One of the longer stories that got me hooked by the first bite.
Burger Van by Michael Bray. Trent has a burger van and business is booming. It is hard to say much without giving anything away. I enjoyed reading this story and it had a fitting ending.
A Dog is for Death by Phil Sloman: The darker side of dog ownership. This was a hard story to read as I have seen what unscrupulous dog owner's do to their dogs. A dark story which had a just deserved ending.
If you are looking for a horror anthology than pick up this book, not only will you get a cracking read, you will also be giving you money to a well-deserved charity.
thomaswjoyce's review
4.0
Black Shuck Books have published many of the horror scenes biggest names, whether in their own books or as a part of their numerous anthology series. Paul Kane, Cate Gardner, V.H. Leslie and Simon Kurt Unsworth are just some of the names that have appeared in their pages. And they also published the widely-acclaimed Hyde Hotel anthology. Their latest anthology, which is supporting the Birmingham Dogs Home, is edited by short story writer and reviewer Anthony Cowin.
In the first story, āPainted Wolvesā, Ray Cluley takes us to Africa where we have a wildlife documentary team consisting of three seasoned veterans and the new presenter, a young woman, formerly a contestant on a reality television show and perhaps expected to be seen on the pages of a ladās mag rather than hosting a serious documentary. They are tracking African hunting dogs, pack animals that take down their prey as a team. Cluley does a brilliant job contrasting the animalistic predatory behaviour of the painted wolves with that of the humans, building the tension to a great finale.
In āManās Best Friendā by Gary Fry, a domestic abuse survivor tries to make a new start in her new home with her puppy. But, still haunted by the memory of the trauma she endured at the hands of her former partner, it doesnāt take much to put her on edge; the strange elderly neighbour, the number of dogs roaming the area, the strange figure she has begun to see on her usual walking route. Are all of these things connected? Or is it all in her head? The sense of dread and foreboding delivered by Fry is very well done.
Amelia Manganās āI Love You Mary-Graceā is a wonderful exploration of the dark side of human behaviour. Manganās is one of the more unique takes on the theme, beginning with the discovery of the severed head of a large dog-like animal by local law enforcement Ned and Frankie. It seems to be one of those small American communities where someone like Ned has an element of control over everyone, and a finger in every pie. The way he uses this control over Mary-Grace doesnāt sit well with protagonist Frankie. And soon the subservient veneer begins to crack. Mangan displays a deft quality with tone and description that makes for an unsettling and thoroughly entertaining experience.
āLeader of The Packā by William Meikle is told from the point of view of a dog after all dogs develop intelligence overnight. While most are no longer happy with their place at their mastersā feet and seem to be organising and mobilising against humankind, the protagonist still feels a sense of loyalty for his owner. Meikleās story takes the norm and turns it on its head in a compelling and exciting way. He captures the comedic and dramatic narration of the dog wonderfully well. Thereās a statement you donāt see very oftenā¦
As may be surmised from the title of Adam Millardās offering, āHikikomoriā has its origins in Japan. The title refers to a societal phenomenon where a whole generation of kids raised on screens become shut-ins, unable to cope with the outside world. In Millardās story, Hikikomori is the name given to the terrifying incident causing everyone to barricade themselves indoors. The narrator is trapped in a bakery with six strangers and this cabin fever and different clashing personalities ā that Millard does a great job of showing us, rather than telling ā soon creates tension. The action moves back and forth between the āThenā and āNowā, as the character of Kai is introduced and his role is pivotal.
Short story anthologies can often be a mixed bag. And there are certainly some stories in this anthology that stand out above the others. But each story has something to offer for horror fans, and each delivers a unique take on the premise of dogs in horror fiction, much to the benefit of the reader and the residents of the Birmingham Dogs Home.
In the first story, āPainted Wolvesā, Ray Cluley takes us to Africa where we have a wildlife documentary team consisting of three seasoned veterans and the new presenter, a young woman, formerly a contestant on a reality television show and perhaps expected to be seen on the pages of a ladās mag rather than hosting a serious documentary. They are tracking African hunting dogs, pack animals that take down their prey as a team. Cluley does a brilliant job contrasting the animalistic predatory behaviour of the painted wolves with that of the humans, building the tension to a great finale.
In āManās Best Friendā by Gary Fry, a domestic abuse survivor tries to make a new start in her new home with her puppy. But, still haunted by the memory of the trauma she endured at the hands of her former partner, it doesnāt take much to put her on edge; the strange elderly neighbour, the number of dogs roaming the area, the strange figure she has begun to see on her usual walking route. Are all of these things connected? Or is it all in her head? The sense of dread and foreboding delivered by Fry is very well done.
Amelia Manganās āI Love You Mary-Graceā is a wonderful exploration of the dark side of human behaviour. Manganās is one of the more unique takes on the theme, beginning with the discovery of the severed head of a large dog-like animal by local law enforcement Ned and Frankie. It seems to be one of those small American communities where someone like Ned has an element of control over everyone, and a finger in every pie. The way he uses this control over Mary-Grace doesnāt sit well with protagonist Frankie. And soon the subservient veneer begins to crack. Mangan displays a deft quality with tone and description that makes for an unsettling and thoroughly entertaining experience.
āLeader of The Packā by William Meikle is told from the point of view of a dog after all dogs develop intelligence overnight. While most are no longer happy with their place at their mastersā feet and seem to be organising and mobilising against humankind, the protagonist still feels a sense of loyalty for his owner. Meikleās story takes the norm and turns it on its head in a compelling and exciting way. He captures the comedic and dramatic narration of the dog wonderfully well. Thereās a statement you donāt see very oftenā¦
As may be surmised from the title of Adam Millardās offering, āHikikomoriā has its origins in Japan. The title refers to a societal phenomenon where a whole generation of kids raised on screens become shut-ins, unable to cope with the outside world. In Millardās story, Hikikomori is the name given to the terrifying incident causing everyone to barricade themselves indoors. The narrator is trapped in a bakery with six strangers and this cabin fever and different clashing personalities ā that Millard does a great job of showing us, rather than telling ā soon creates tension. The action moves back and forth between the āThenā and āNowā, as the character of Kai is introduced and his role is pivotal.
Short story anthologies can often be a mixed bag. And there are certainly some stories in this anthology that stand out above the others. But each story has something to offer for horror fans, and each delivers a unique take on the premise of dogs in horror fiction, much to the benefit of the reader and the residents of the Birmingham Dogs Home.
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