cj_jones's review
3.0
Anthology about a creepy town in east Texas. Contains Jess Hartley's latest short story.
b1llz1lla's review
3.0
Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas is a collection of 12 horror tales loosely connected by their setting: the fictional East Texas town of Pinebox. From Skinwalkers to Ghosts and from Aliens to Werewolves, Pinebox seems to have it all, as well as one of the worst cases of denial in recorded history. Produced by 12 to Midnight, Tales of Pinebox is inspired by the modern, pen and paper RPG horror setting of the same name, also produced by 12 to Midnight.
First we have The Jennifer Ridge Transcripts, the notes of a reporter visiting Pinebox to find out more about the town and to advance her own agenda as well. This piece is unaccredited, having been collected from several sources and posted to the 12 to Midnight website as a prelude/inspiration for the short story collection itself. Closing out the volume is a likewise unaccredited section of newspaper-style clippings, highlighting events from the stories in the form of news items from an unidentified source. These clippings are intentionally vague, giving the reader the impression -- having read a more detailed account of the events described – that there may be cover-ups involved, or at best a serious lack of publicly revealed information.
The majority of the authors represented in Buried Tales are best known from the gaming industry – both tabletop and computer/console games: Jess Hartley, Shane Lacy Hensley, Monica Valentinelli, J.D. Wiker, Jason L. Blair, Filamena Young, Preston DuBose, Charles Rice, Trey Gorden and Ed Wetterman. Rounding out the list are novelists David Wellington and Derek Gunn. All are experienced writers and it shows; the stories are polished and smooth, with no rough spots to interrupt the flow.
Of all the tales, I enjoyed Pie, The Evil Within, and The Witch of Linda Lane the most. Pie is a tale that, among other things, warns us to be careful what we eat. The Evil Within points out that monsters can lurk in the heart of anyone, and The Witch of Linda Lane is a curious tale that left me wondering if there really was anything supernatural or evil at work in the story at all.
Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas is a very solid collection of horror tales; Editor Matt McElroy has put together a strong slate of writers to chill our hearts. One doesn’t have to be a gamer to appreciate them or enjoy the shivers they send up the reader’s spine. If you’re like me, what the stories will do is inspire you to learn more about the setting, hoping to discover additional such interesting tidbits to read.
First we have The Jennifer Ridge Transcripts, the notes of a reporter visiting Pinebox to find out more about the town and to advance her own agenda as well. This piece is unaccredited, having been collected from several sources and posted to the 12 to Midnight website as a prelude/inspiration for the short story collection itself. Closing out the volume is a likewise unaccredited section of newspaper-style clippings, highlighting events from the stories in the form of news items from an unidentified source. These clippings are intentionally vague, giving the reader the impression -- having read a more detailed account of the events described – that there may be cover-ups involved, or at best a serious lack of publicly revealed information.
The majority of the authors represented in Buried Tales are best known from the gaming industry – both tabletop and computer/console games: Jess Hartley, Shane Lacy Hensley, Monica Valentinelli, J.D. Wiker, Jason L. Blair, Filamena Young, Preston DuBose, Charles Rice, Trey Gorden and Ed Wetterman. Rounding out the list are novelists David Wellington and Derek Gunn. All are experienced writers and it shows; the stories are polished and smooth, with no rough spots to interrupt the flow.
Of all the tales, I enjoyed Pie, The Evil Within, and The Witch of Linda Lane the most. Pie is a tale that, among other things, warns us to be careful what we eat. The Evil Within points out that monsters can lurk in the heart of anyone, and The Witch of Linda Lane is a curious tale that left me wondering if there really was anything supernatural or evil at work in the story at all.
Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas is a very solid collection of horror tales; Editor Matt McElroy has put together a strong slate of writers to chill our hearts. One doesn’t have to be a gamer to appreciate them or enjoy the shivers they send up the reader’s spine. If you’re like me, what the stories will do is inspire you to learn more about the setting, hoping to discover additional such interesting tidbits to read.
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