kurt's review against another edition
4.0
It is always refreshing to read something from new authors, or authors I've never read before. This book of short stories was a true delight and exciting to read from beginning to end.
Of course, as with any short stories collections, there are high points and there are low points. This collection has very few low points, although if they were written in a bit greater detail, I think they would've worked themselves into a very good story. The story "Flying Fish" is one among these stories. Written beautifully, but unfortunately, there was just not enough. There to really interest me.
Some of my favorites in this collection were "Room 422", "Glass Prison", "They", and "Thanksgiving". Out of all of the stories, I really would have loved to see more detail and structure to "Room 422". Although not terribly original, this had an interesting concept and plot, and with some more meat to the story, I really think this could have been the best in this collection.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to getting my hands on volume 2!
Of course, as with any short stories collections, there are high points and there are low points. This collection has very few low points, although if they were written in a bit greater detail, I think they would've worked themselves into a very good story. The story "Flying Fish" is one among these stories. Written beautifully, but unfortunately, there was just not enough. There to really interest me.
Some of my favorites in this collection were "Room 422", "Glass Prison", "They", and "Thanksgiving". Out of all of the stories, I really would have loved to see more detail and structure to "Room 422". Although not terribly original, this had an interesting concept and plot, and with some more meat to the story, I really think this could have been the best in this collection.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to getting my hands on volume 2!
zoes_human's review
3.0
A solid collection of short stories. While there are several strong stories in it, the real standout for me is "Limbo, Population 458." It was very reminiscent of the Twilight Zone series. I do believe Rod Serling would have been thrilled to include it, along with several others in this volume, in his series.
kurt's review
4.0
It is always refreshing to read something from new authors, or authors I've never read before. This book of short stories was a true delight and exciting to read from beginning to end.
Of course, as with any short stories collections, there are high points and there are low points. This collection has very few low points, although if they were written in a bit greater detail, I think they would've worked themselves into a very good story. The story "Flying Fish" is one among these stories. Written beautifully, but unfortunately, there was just not enough. There to really interest me.
Some of my favorites in this collection were "Room 422", "Glass Prison", "They", and "Thanksgiving". Out of all of the stories, I really would have loved to see more detail and structure to "Room 422". Although not terribly original, this had an interesting concept and plot, and with some more meat to the story, I really think this could have been the best in this collection.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to getting my hands on volume 2!
Of course, as with any short stories collections, there are high points and there are low points. This collection has very few low points, although if they were written in a bit greater detail, I think they would've worked themselves into a very good story. The story "Flying Fish" is one among these stories. Written beautifully, but unfortunately, there was just not enough. There to really interest me.
Some of my favorites in this collection were "Room 422", "Glass Prison", "They", and "Thanksgiving". Out of all of the stories, I really would have loved to see more detail and structure to "Room 422". Although not terribly original, this had an interesting concept and plot, and with some more meat to the story, I really think this could have been the best in this collection.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to getting my hands on volume 2!
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
This is an anthology containing 17 horror stories. 17 stories to creep you out, raise the hair on the back of your neck and/or make your skin crawl.
Remind me again why I read this stuff? Horror isn’t my usual pick of genre because it leads me to think of Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Saw and Friday the 13th, all movies that, to me, are just gorefests with no real plot or spine chilling creep out factor. The same old tripe over and over again, ad nauseum. Give me Silence of the Lambs though and I’ll watch and never eat fava beans without thinking of Hannibal Lecter. *shudder*
The stories in this anthology are not like the same-ol’-same-ol’ movies I mentioned. These are the kinds of stories that give you the creeps. And better yet, there are 17 of them all reminding me of something I could have easily watched on the old Twilight Zone series. They just don’t make shows like that anymore. *sigh* All-in-all a great anthology.
Room 442 ~ Patrick Greene
4 bites out of 5 ~ Build up was good then…creeped out.
A Night in Polidoria ~ Cristan Martin
3 bites out of 5 ~ Paranormal, not bad.
Flying Fish ~ David Stubblefield
2 bites out of 5 ~ This one didn’t do it for me.
Limbo, Population 458 ~ Vincent Hobbes
5 bites out of 5 ~ Twilight Zone worthy
Finders Keepers ~ Janelle Garcia
4 bites out of 5 ~ Creepy and reminded of Edgar Allen Poe
Loose Ends ~ Craig Wessel
5 bites out of 5 ~ Twilight Zone worthy
To Read or Not to Read ~ Vincent Hobbes
5 bites out of 5 ~ Love, love, love this!
Phases of Normal ~ Tamara Wilhite
5 bites out of 5 ~ High creep factor.
Propaganda ~ Nathan Palmer
2 bites out of 5 ~ This one didn’t do it for me.
King of the Jungle ~ Jordan Benoit
3.5 bites out of 5 ~ Not bad, but I’m not big on hunting.
The Hour of the Time ~ Vincent Hobbes
4 bites out of 5 ~ This reminded me of Logan’s Run.
Thanksgiving ~ Jairus Reddy
4 bites out of 5 ~ Don’t show this to a government conspirathist.
Into the Small Hours ~ Patrick Greene
5 bites out of 5 ~ Oh shit! No more hotel rooms for me!
The Dragon of Delinar ~ Vincent Hobbes
4 bites out of 5 ~ Reminds me of Lost.
The Best BBQ on the Interstate ~ Jennifer Chapman
4 bites out of 5 ~ Omg, ewwwww! And I was going to make BBQ this week.
Glass Prison ~ Christina Estabrook
5 bites out of 5 ~ High creep out factor and now I can’t look at mirrors.
THEY ~ Vincent Hobbes
3 bites out of 5 ~ Creepy, but not enough to give me the willies.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to the author for providing a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
Remind me again why I read this stuff? Horror isn’t my usual pick of genre because it leads me to think of Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Saw and Friday the 13th, all movies that, to me, are just gorefests with no real plot or spine chilling creep out factor. The same old tripe over and over again, ad nauseum. Give me Silence of the Lambs though and I’ll watch and never eat fava beans without thinking of Hannibal Lecter. *shudder*
The stories in this anthology are not like the same-ol’-same-ol’ movies I mentioned. These are the kinds of stories that give you the creeps. And better yet, there are 17 of them all reminding me of something I could have easily watched on the old Twilight Zone series. They just don’t make shows like that anymore. *sigh* All-in-all a great anthology.
Room 442 ~ Patrick Greene
4 bites out of 5 ~ Build up was good then…creeped out.
A Night in Polidoria ~ Cristan Martin
3 bites out of 5 ~ Paranormal, not bad.
Flying Fish ~ David Stubblefield
2 bites out of 5 ~ This one didn’t do it for me.
Limbo, Population 458 ~ Vincent Hobbes
5 bites out of 5 ~ Twilight Zone worthy
Finders Keepers ~ Janelle Garcia
4 bites out of 5 ~ Creepy and reminded of Edgar Allen Poe
Loose Ends ~ Craig Wessel
5 bites out of 5 ~ Twilight Zone worthy
To Read or Not to Read ~ Vincent Hobbes
5 bites out of 5 ~ Love, love, love this!
Phases of Normal ~ Tamara Wilhite
5 bites out of 5 ~ High creep factor.
Propaganda ~ Nathan Palmer
2 bites out of 5 ~ This one didn’t do it for me.
King of the Jungle ~ Jordan Benoit
3.5 bites out of 5 ~ Not bad, but I’m not big on hunting.
The Hour of the Time ~ Vincent Hobbes
4 bites out of 5 ~ This reminded me of Logan’s Run.
Thanksgiving ~ Jairus Reddy
4 bites out of 5 ~ Don’t show this to a government conspirathist.
Into the Small Hours ~ Patrick Greene
5 bites out of 5 ~ Oh shit! No more hotel rooms for me!
The Dragon of Delinar ~ Vincent Hobbes
4 bites out of 5 ~ Reminds me of Lost.
The Best BBQ on the Interstate ~ Jennifer Chapman
4 bites out of 5 ~ Omg, ewwwww! And I was going to make BBQ this week.
Glass Prison ~ Christina Estabrook
5 bites out of 5 ~ High creep out factor and now I can’t look at mirrors.
THEY ~ Vincent Hobbes
3 bites out of 5 ~ Creepy, but not enough to give me the willies.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to the author for providing a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
More...