A review by thomaswjoyce
Bones are Made to be Broken by Paul Michael Anderson
5.0
The opening story, ‘Crawling Back to You’, concerns a vampire and his familiar. But this is not the tale of a member of the 18th century European aristocracy who sequesters himself in a dark castle and enslaves a manservant to bring him comely maidens. The contemporary setting and the relationship between the two main characters, Thomas and Patty, set this fang-tastic offering apart from your typical vampire story. Anderson concentrates on the relationship between these two, hinting at their past and how they came to be in their current situation, offering a fresh and entertaining take on an old theme.
‘Survivor’s Debt’, one of the original stories to this collection, again begins with a classic trope of the horror story; the ghost. But the ghosts that haunt teacher and Vietnam vet, Billy Kinson, aren’t trying to scare him; they just have some unfinished business and need a helping hand from a kid they saved during the Vietnam War. Anderson’s ability to craft three-dimensional characters and make them relatable, so much more than mere stereotypes, is masterful and on full display in this story.
Anderson’s debut is full of character-driven, emotionally-charged stories of horror in many guises. Whether the setting is a far future mining colony or contemporary America, whether the story is about the dysfunctional relationship between a vampire and his familiar or a man coming to terms with the terrible truths of his past, every tale has one thing in common - Anderson’s ability to craft a compelling, thought-provoking, dark and beautifully heart-breaking story displaying the darkest depths of the human soul. It is fitting that the introduction was written by Damien Angelica Walters as there are many comparisons that can be made between the two, not least the quality of their prose and their ability to describe the horror of humanity. If this collection is indicative of what is to come, Paul Michael Anderson truly has the potential to make a substantial and lasting impression on the writing community.
To see the full review, please visit thisishorror.co.uk
‘Survivor’s Debt’, one of the original stories to this collection, again begins with a classic trope of the horror story; the ghost. But the ghosts that haunt teacher and Vietnam vet, Billy Kinson, aren’t trying to scare him; they just have some unfinished business and need a helping hand from a kid they saved during the Vietnam War. Anderson’s ability to craft three-dimensional characters and make them relatable, so much more than mere stereotypes, is masterful and on full display in this story.
Anderson’s debut is full of character-driven, emotionally-charged stories of horror in many guises. Whether the setting is a far future mining colony or contemporary America, whether the story is about the dysfunctional relationship between a vampire and his familiar or a man coming to terms with the terrible truths of his past, every tale has one thing in common - Anderson’s ability to craft a compelling, thought-provoking, dark and beautifully heart-breaking story displaying the darkest depths of the human soul. It is fitting that the introduction was written by Damien Angelica Walters as there are many comparisons that can be made between the two, not least the quality of their prose and their ability to describe the horror of humanity. If this collection is indicative of what is to come, Paul Michael Anderson truly has the potential to make a substantial and lasting impression on the writing community.
To see the full review, please visit thisishorror.co.uk