A review by loogenhausen
Worst Laid Plans: An Anthology of Vacation Horror by Scott Cole, V. Castro, S.E. Howard, Waylon Jordan, Asher Ellis, Patrick Lacey, Jeremy Herbert, Chad Stroup, Samantha Kolesnik, Mark Wheaton, Hailey Piper, Greg Sisco, Kenzie Jennings, Malcolm Mills, Laura Keating
4.0
A wildly eclectic assortment of vacations gone awry. Some really great shorts in here. All of the fourteen stories were well-written and very readable.
Top highlights for me:
SUMMERS WITH ANNIE by Greg Sisco
Amazing Stories meets The Twilight Zone. This is hands down the best story in the bunch. Both writing-wise and story-wise. It feels fully formed and very cinematic. Sad and hopeful all at once. The horror in this one is multi-layered and sneaks up on you kind of like the passage of time in your own life does.
TAYLOR FAMILY VACATION '93 by Jeremy Herbert
Mysterious, meticulous, and melancholy. Three words that best describe Jeremy and his writing. This one will have you guessing until you're on the floor in tears.
DEEP IN THE HEART by Waylon Jordan
Fast, no-nonsense creature tale that takes place in one of the scariest places imaginable - natural caverns. You ever been in a cave system when it's completely pitch black? If so, this one will terrify you as it did me.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS by Malcolm Mills
Hilarious, paranoia-filled tale of a croc & gator convention that's just an excuse for weirdos to bang in reptile costumes. Yet, there's a hint of sadness to it as well. And it's darkly funny to boot. If you love Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, this one will make you cackle out loud at least as much as I did.
Other stories I enjoyed:
PEELINGS by Kenzie Jennings
Insidious and unsettling. The ending is still rolling around in my brain.
GOOD TIMES IN THE BAD LANDS by Laura Keating
Madcap horror at it's best. Just a trip to sheer lunacy in less than ten pages.
CAUGHT A GLIMPSE by Patrick Lacey
One of the few purely supernatural stories in the collection. Creepy and nasty.
Grindhouse Press puts out great genre fiction and this is no exception. Samantha Kolesnik has exceptional taste when it comes to the dark and macabre. It's a perfect pairing to head up an anthology so here's hoping they do it again some day!
****3/4
Top highlights for me:
SUMMERS WITH ANNIE by Greg Sisco
Amazing Stories meets The Twilight Zone. This is hands down the best story in the bunch. Both writing-wise and story-wise. It feels fully formed and very cinematic. Sad and hopeful all at once. The horror in this one is multi-layered and sneaks up on you kind of like the passage of time in your own life does.
TAYLOR FAMILY VACATION '93 by Jeremy Herbert
Mysterious, meticulous, and melancholy. Three words that best describe Jeremy and his writing. This one will have you guessing until you're on the floor in tears.
DEEP IN THE HEART by Waylon Jordan
Fast, no-nonsense creature tale that takes place in one of the scariest places imaginable - natural caverns. You ever been in a cave system when it's completely pitch black? If so, this one will terrify you as it did me.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS by Malcolm Mills
Hilarious, paranoia-filled tale of a croc & gator convention that's just an excuse for weirdos to bang in reptile costumes. Yet, there's a hint of sadness to it as well. And it's darkly funny to boot. If you love Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, this one will make you cackle out loud at least as much as I did.
Other stories I enjoyed:
PEELINGS by Kenzie Jennings
Insidious and unsettling. The ending is still rolling around in my brain.
GOOD TIMES IN THE BAD LANDS by Laura Keating
Madcap horror at it's best. Just a trip to sheer lunacy in less than ten pages.
CAUGHT A GLIMPSE by Patrick Lacey
One of the few purely supernatural stories in the collection. Creepy and nasty.
Grindhouse Press puts out great genre fiction and this is no exception. Samantha Kolesnik has exceptional taste when it comes to the dark and macabre. It's a perfect pairing to head up an anthology so here's hoping they do it again some day!
****3/4