A review by mad_about_books
Dark Screams: Volume One by Brian James Freeman
5.0
Anyone who is a long-time fan of Stephen King (as I am), will surely know the name Jordy Verill, and will immediately hearken back to the George A. Romero film "Creepshow," and the graphic story collection based on it. "Weeds" takes you into the mind of Jordy Verill so you will better understand his "lonesome death."
Kelley Armstrong is an author on my 'to read' list. I am always happy to read somebody new, and when that read is as dark and twisted as "The Price You Pay," that writer moves much closer to the top of my list. She examines issues of friendship, dependency and abuse. I won't go into detail because that would diminish the suspense. I will say that paying forward can be dangerous.
Also on my authors-to-read list is Bill Pronzini. In "Magic Eyes," he examines the horror of paranoia as it is exhibited by a man in an institution for the criminally insane. The supernatural aspect of the story exists only in the mind of the protagonist, which shows that horror truly exist in the real world. After reading "Magic Eyes," I look forward to reading Bill Pronzini's longer works.
Simon Clark has a way with horror. His ability to portray the supernatural and the psychological side-by-side is well demonstrated in "Murder in Chains." He recalls the stories of David and Goliath and Jack the Giant Killer as one man must face physical and moral dilemmas below the streets of Leeds. I find that Clark brings a unique voice to the horror genre, and I have enjoyed reading anything he has written. I also feel that I need to qualify my enjoyment by adding something I heard Clive Barker say... "There is no delight the equal of dread."
Last, but by no means least, Ramsey Campbell's "The Watched" rounds out the offerings in DARK SCREAMS. THE OXFORD COMPANION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE describes Campbell as "Britain's most respected living horror writer." If you have read anything he has written, you know he crafts his horror to evoke fleeting shivers as he takes you into the mind of protagonist. Inducing a child to spy on his possibly nefarious neighbors is definitely a theme that screams bad idea. It calls into question the affect the action will have on the child, and the character of the adult who takes this action.
Overall DARK SCREAMS definitely lives up to its promise, and I highly recommend it to anyone, like me, who loves the things that go bump in the night.
Kelley Armstrong is an author on my 'to read' list. I am always happy to read somebody new, and when that read is as dark and twisted as "The Price You Pay," that writer moves much closer to the top of my list. She examines issues of friendship, dependency and abuse. I won't go into detail because that would diminish the suspense. I will say that paying forward can be dangerous.
Also on my authors-to-read list is Bill Pronzini. In "Magic Eyes," he examines the horror of paranoia as it is exhibited by a man in an institution for the criminally insane. The supernatural aspect of the story exists only in the mind of the protagonist, which shows that horror truly exist in the real world. After reading "Magic Eyes," I look forward to reading Bill Pronzini's longer works.
Simon Clark has a way with horror. His ability to portray the supernatural and the psychological side-by-side is well demonstrated in "Murder in Chains." He recalls the stories of David and Goliath and Jack the Giant Killer as one man must face physical and moral dilemmas below the streets of Leeds. I find that Clark brings a unique voice to the horror genre, and I have enjoyed reading anything he has written. I also feel that I need to qualify my enjoyment by adding something I heard Clive Barker say... "There is no delight the equal of dread."
Last, but by no means least, Ramsey Campbell's "The Watched" rounds out the offerings in DARK SCREAMS. THE OXFORD COMPANION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE describes Campbell as "Britain's most respected living horror writer." If you have read anything he has written, you know he crafts his horror to evoke fleeting shivers as he takes you into the mind of protagonist. Inducing a child to spy on his possibly nefarious neighbors is definitely a theme that screams bad idea. It calls into question the affect the action will have on the child, and the character of the adult who takes this action.
Overall DARK SCREAMS definitely lives up to its promise, and I highly recommend it to anyone, like me, who loves the things that go bump in the night.