Book Review: Murder by Sarah Pinborough

Murder by Sarah Pinborough

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published January 2015 by Jo Fletcher Books

Sarah Pinborough is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, hailing from England I have gotten the impression that she has more of name for herself over there. Her career started off as more of traditional horror novelist dealing with ghosts and monsters. She still deals with these topics but her more recent works that I have read show a growth in developing high concept with a quick pace. Everything I have read has been top notch to the point that I sound hyperbolic when I talk about it. I consider her Dog Faced Gods trilogy to be one of the best things I have read in the last decade. Putting her up there with my favorite writers of our generation like Cody Goodfellow and Jeremy Robert Johnson. Unnaturally talented.

I first read her Dog Faced Gods trilogy, this series of books are my second time going into the Pinborough world. The first book Mayhem is a early leader in the best book of the year. Really since I read both I consider them as one work at this point. I am not sure if it was the surprise but Mayhem felt stronger to me of the two.

Mayhem/Murder is the story of Doctor Thomas Bond. He was involved in the real life investigation of the Jack the Ripper and Torso murder killing in late 19th century England. Mayhem is a great serial killer novel about (in part) but it has more to it than just a procedural. I am not a ripper expert (although I have friends who are) and was not aware of the Thames Torso Killer. Another very different killer operating in the area at the same time. The main character of these novels is Thomas Bond, a real life surgeon who worked for Scotland yard investigating both of the murders.

In Mayhem Bond is a troubled man who is addicted to opium, this takes him to the Opium dens in the seedier sides of London. There his mind is exposed to something that leads him to a dark truth connecting the murders. in Murder we are years removed but the events still haunt him. Without spoiling the first book Murder explores the evil behind the acts while dragging Bond even closer to the madness. Pinborough does a great job detailing history and getting the vibe of the era. The novel is historical horror that eventually gets supernatural.SP explores the real life events in the first novel and adds a supernatural explanation for the grizzly details.

Murder is pretty solid follow-up and ends the story in heartbreaking fashion. It is amazing how quickly the story wraps up but Pinborough has a skills. Her pages turn, the pacing in these novels are brisk. Normally stories set in this era feel stuffy but but the tone never goes that way. Told in clippings, and shifting point of view first person narratives this novel uses story telling tricks I normally do not enjoy. But damn if they don't work. If there is a weakness here it is one big one. Normally Pinborough's quick pace is strength but sometimes major events of the story just fly by so quick I feel like she could have slowed it down, and expanded on some of the suspensful moments and played with our heart strings even more.

None the less I think this is a fantastic novel. It is shelved as mystery, but to me this is a horror novel. One of the best of the year. Not nearly as strong as the first book was.

Meet Weddle of the Goddamn Killing Machines (Pre-order now!)

Meet Weddle of the Killing Machines:

Weddle (30) Origin is a source of debate. A feral kid arrested in the Utah wilds he washed out of the U.N. Speecial forces for breaking the jaw of a superior. Small but lightining quick on his feet. He has grow into his role as a team player. Jarvis says: His strength is fearlessness and sheer insanity. He was always dangerous, but unpredictable since he found god.

Favorite weapon: Anything that kills

Code Name: Dubs AKA Live Wire

Wanted:War Crimes, Assault and Battery, Extreme torture, and seventy-three counts of Murder..

Goddamn Killing Machines

A 210-page science-fiction book

What would you do if you were given the chance to wash away your sins? What if all you had to do was go on a near-impossible mission across space and time, and your only other option was being executed along with everyone you hold dear?

Nick Jarvis faces this dilemma. He is a mercenary wanted for war crimes in every corner of our solar system. His name strikes fear even in those who are paid to be fearless. His team, known across the colony worlds as the Goddamn Killing Machines, has been captured and is set to face trial throughout the solar system. The mission sounds simple enough: track down and capture the one free member of their team. The catch? He’s the only merc more feared than Jarvis himself, and he is hiding on a would-be colony world whose very eco-system is hostile to human life.

When they arrive on the alien world, the cruel truth is revealed. Jarvis and his squad have been duped into a journey that lasted hundreds of years, not the weeks they were promised. And still, a darker truth remains unrevealed. What is their real mission? Who is the real target? Who are the real killing machines? This cliché-busting military sci-fi story is action packed, but also has the character development and atmosphere necessary to create a thick sense of paranoia. In short, Goddamn Killing Machines is a 1980s action movie filtered through the lenses of Phillip K. Dick and John Shirley influence.

Why Pre-order Goddamn Killing Machines here:' https://www.inkshares.com/projects/goddamn-killing-machines 'Goddamn Killing Machines' is available for pre-order through the above link. When you sign up for InkShares, you automatically get 5 bucks credit, making the pre-order only 4.99 (or, like, $25 bucks for the multiple copies, name in the back package). When many have created an account, They got ANOTHER 5 bucks somehow. Essentially just got this book for free (maybe it's 5 free credits for signing up, and 5 free credits for subscribing to the newsletter or something)...all I know is that I still have one whole penny left after pre-ordering! So please take a moment to support this project! It'll only be an e-book when 750 people order, and won't be hard copy unless 900+ more people order. That's probably gonna be tough, but I think we can do it! " I would add we may only need two hundread or so pre-orders to win the nerdist contest. ‪#‎jointhekillingmachines‬ So please help me out with this project. Here is a 20 minute conversation about GKM. The first few minutes is a explanation of the Nerdist contest and how Inkshares work.

Book Review: Positive by David Wellington

Positive by David Wellington

Hardcover, 437 pages Published April 2015 by Harper Voyager

This book is right up my alley, think back to a time when the word epic was not abused and over used. This novel is a post apocalyptic epic is the tradition of doozies like The Stand and Swan Song. Many will see the word Zombie on the cover and give-up because there are so many zombie re-treads. Of course the cover also has road pirates, death cults and the promise of new world being rebuilt. I'm sold.

Every time someone releases a good zombie novel the thing you always hear "A new twist" " or "if you are looking for a Fresh take on zombies." I could say both those things here but that is besides the point. The zombies are more of Maguffin this could have been 20 years after a virus, nuke event... or alien invasion. This is a tale of survival and a coming of age for a young man whose arc finds him accepting responsibility he never dreamed of. Not a zombie novel more of a survivor novel.

We meet Finn the main character who was born "after the crisis" considered a second generation in New York city. 99%of the world's population has died or "Zombied out." Finn has a good life as far as he has ever known. He fishes in the flooded subways, and dodges a zombie from time to time. New York City is a pretty safe place. The biggest fear is someone positive for the virus becoming a zombie in the walls. In this novel a the virus that turns persons into zombies can lie dormant for up to 20 years, and at 18 Finn's life is throw into chaos when his mother goes Zombie. Knowing it is likely to be positive for the virus Finn is tattooed with a + and exiled out of the city.

Finn suddenly after a sheltered life in the city has to navigate the wilderness and the various dangers that come with that. Along the way Finn meets several interesting characters and a few of the sections could have made stand-alone novels on their own. Finn learns that being positive in this world makes him and his fellow carriers outcasts. The thrust of the novel is survival and rebuilding.

If there is a negative for me it comes in the inherit weakness of first person. We know Finn will live, and alot of the story is over told. I am aware that is a personal bias so I did not count that against the book. The thing is I found the story suspensful, and interesting. I was turning pages and concerned for Finn's fate. I liked the concept and set-up. Overall I thought this book was worthy of being compared to classics in the genre and that I don't do lightly.

At times Finn seems a little too smart and goody goody, but I think Wellington did a good job of preparing the reader by making his growth so defined over the pages of the book.

The marketing department got me on this book. David Wellington is an author I had meant to check out for years. I was browsing books at the library and the cover alone had me interested. I decided I had to read this one. It is always a nice feeling to discover a new writer, and I think I will read more wellington in the future.

Meet Cason of the Goddamn Killing Machines (Pre-order now!)

Meet Amanda Eden of the Killing Machines:

CASON (30) Tracker. Zero Gravity combat. Geneticly modified to have superior sense of smell, direction and hearing. Born in lower LA, drafted out of an offenders program. Agreed to upgrades for military service and to avoid jail time. Jarvis says: Nose like a bloodhound. Tough bastard, who has survived more brutal acts than he has any right too. That is how he got his code name.

Favorite weapon: Survival knife

Code Name: Bad Penny

Wanted:War Crimes, Assault and Battery, colony tax evasion and sixty-five counts of murder.

Goddamn Killing Machines

A 210-page science-fiction book

What would you do if you were given the chance to wash away your sins? What if all you had to do was go on a near-impossible mission across space and time, and your only other option was being executed along with everyone you hold dear?

Nick Jarvis faces this dilemma. He is a mercenary wanted for war crimes in every corner of our solar system. His name strikes fear even in those who are paid to be fearless. His team, known across the colony worlds as the Goddamn Killing Machines, has been captured and is set to face trial throughout the solar system. The mission sounds simple enough: track down and capture the one free member of their team. The catch? He’s the only merc more feared than Jarvis himself, and he is hiding on a would-be colony world whose very eco-system is hostile to human life.

When they arrive on the alien world, the cruel truth is revealed. Jarvis and his squad have been duped into a journey that lasted hundreds of years, not the weeks they were promised. And still, a darker truth remains unrevealed. What is their real mission? Who is the real target? Who are the real killing machines? This cliché-busting military sci-fi story is action packed, but also has the character development and atmosphere necessary to create a thick sense of paranoia. In short, Goddamn Killing Machines is a 1980s action movie filtered through the lenses of Phillip K. Dick and John Shirley influence.

Why Pre-order Goddamn Killing Machines here:' https://www.inkshares.com/projects/goddamn-killing-machines 'Goddamn Killing Machines' is available for pre-order through the above link. When you sign up for InkShares, you automatically get 5 bucks credit, making the pre-order only 4.99 (or, like, $25 bucks for the multiple copies, name in the back package). When many have created an account, They got ANOTHER 5 bucks somehow. Essentially just got this book for free (maybe it's 5 free credits for signing up, and 5 free credits for subscribing to the newsletter or something)...all I know is that I still have one whole penny left after pre-ordering! So please take a moment to support this project! It'll only be an e-book when 750 people order, and won't be hard copy unless 900+ more people order. That's probably gonna be tough, but I think we can do it! " I would add we may only need two hundread or so pre-orders to win the nerdist contest. ‪#‎jointhekillingmachines‬ So please help me out with this project. Here is a 20 minute conversation about GKM. The first few minutes is a explanation of the Nerdist contest and how Inkshares work.

Meet Amanda Eden of the Goddamn Killing Machines (Pre-order now!)

Meet Amanda Eden of the Killing Machines:

Amanda Eden(27) Former multi-gold medal Gymnast, rose to championship level under the thumb of her mother who was recently jailed for vehicular manslaughter under the influence of alcohol . In attempt to rebel against her parents Eden accepted a kickboxing match, and choked out her competition in 14 seconds. Recruited five days later by Col.Nick Jarvis to join his mercenary crew.She has admitted that she originally left for training and upgrades entirely to upset her parents, that she stayed because she found the adrenaline addicting. Jarvis says: Every crew needs an Eden. Beautiful, deadly. She may not have joined for the right reasons but she is natural born killer. Her internal rage is nothing to mess with.

Favorite weapon: Pulse rifle with energy and lead-based ammo.

Code Name: Phoenix

Wanted:War Crimes, Assault and Battery, and fifty-three counts of murder..

Goddamn Killing Machines

A 210-page science-fiction book

What would you do if you were given the chance to wash away your sins? What if all you had to do was go on a near-impossible mission across space and time, and your only other option was being executed along with everyone you hold dear?

Nick Jarvis faces this dilemma. He is a mercenary wanted for war crimes in every corner of our solar system. His name strikes fear even in those who are paid to be fearless. His team, known across the colony worlds as the Goddamn Killing Machines, has been captured and is set to face trial throughout the solar system. The mission sounds simple enough: track down and capture the one free member of their team. The catch? He’s the only merc more feared than Jarvis himself, and he is hiding on a would-be colony world whose very eco-system is hostile to human life.

When they arrive on the alien world, the cruel truth is revealed. Jarvis and his squad have been duped into a journey that lasted hundreds of years, not the weeks they were promised. And still, a darker truth remains unrevealed. What is their real mission? Who is the real target? Who are the real killing machines? This cliché-busting military sci-fi story is action packed, but also has the character development and atmosphere necessary to create a thick sense of paranoia. In short, Goddamn Killing Machines is a 1980s action movie filtered through the lenses of Phillip K. Dick and John Shirley influence.

Why Pre-order Goddamn Killing Machines here:' https://www.inkshares.com/projects/goddamn-killing-machines 'Goddamn Killing Machines' is available for pre-order through the above link. When you sign up for InkShares, you automatically get 5 bucks credit, making the pre-order only 4.99 (or, like, $25 bucks for the multiple copies, name in the back package). When many have created an account, They got ANOTHER 5 bucks somehow. Essentially just got this book for free (maybe it's 5 free credits for signing up, and 5 free credits for subscribing to the newsletter or something)...all I know is that I still have one whole penny left after pre-ordering! So please take a moment to support this project! It'll only be an e-book when 750 people order, and won't be hard copy unless 900+ more people order. That's probably gonna be tough, but I think we can do it! " I would add we may only need two hundread or so pre-orders to win the nerdist contest. ‪#‎jointhekillingmachines‬ So please help me out with this project. Here is a 20 minute conversation about GKM. The first few minutes is a explanation of the Nerdist contest and how Inkshares work.

Meet Nick Jarvis of The Goddamn Killing Machines (Pre-order now!)

Meet Nick Jarvis of the Killing Machines:

Nick Jarvis (31) U.N. off world Special Forces. Son of General Mick Jarvis who was killed during a Martian colony battle. Suspected of having illegal genetic enhancements, affecting speed, agility and mental processing. Recon and intell gathering expert. Left the U.N. forces to form his own independent tactical unit after battle on the Io ended up cuasing more than dozen deaths of unarmed civilians. He worked for enough governments to avoid prosecution before the torture of the Titan senator committed by two members of his team.

Favorite weapon: Two gold plated pistols stolen from his long time Competitor General Cody Marvin.

Code Name Ronin.

Wanted:War Crimes, Assault and Battery, and seventy-three counts of murder.

Goddamn Killing Machines

A 210-page science-fiction book

What would you do if you were given the chance to wash away your sins? What if all you had to do was go on a near-impossible mission across space and time, and your only other option was being executed along with everyone you hold dear?

Nick Jarvis faces this dilemma. He is a mercenary wanted for war crimes in every corner of our solar system. His name strikes fear even in those who are paid to be fearless. His team, known across the colony worlds as the Goddamn Killing Machines, has been captured and is set to face trial throughout the solar system. The mission sounds simple enough: track down and capture the one free member of their team. The catch? He’s the only merc more feared than Jarvis himself, and he is hiding on a would-be colony world whose very eco-system is hostile to human life.

When they arrive on the alien world, the cruel truth is revealed. Jarvis and his squad have been duped into a journey that lasted hundreds of years, not the weeks they were promised. And still, a darker truth remains unrevealed. What is their real mission? Who is the real target? Who are the real killing machines? This cliché-busting military sci-fi story is action packed, but also has the character development and atmosphere necessary to create a thick sense of paranoia. In short, Goddamn Killing Machines is a 1980s action movie filtered through the lenses of Phillip K. Dick and John Shirley influence.

Why Pre-order Goddamn Killing Machines here:' https://www.inkshares.com/projects/goddamn-killing-machines 'Goddamn Killing Machines' is available for pre-order through the above link. When you sign up for InkShares, you automatically get 5 bucks credit, making the pre-order only 4.99 (or, like, $25 bucks for the multiple copies, name in the back package). When many have created an account, They got ANOTHER 5 bucks somehow. Essentially just got this book for free (maybe it's 5 free credits for signing up, and 5 free credits for subscribing to the newsletter or something)...all I know is that I still have one whole penny left after pre-ordering! So please take a moment to support this project! It'll only be an e-book when 750 people order, and won't be hard copy unless 900+ more people order. That's probably gonna be tough, but I think we can do it! " I would add we may only need two hundread or so pre-orders to win the nerdist contest. ‪#‎jointhekillingmachines‬ So please help me out with this project. Here is a 20 minute conversation about GKM. The first few minutes is a explanation of the Nerdist contest and how Inkshares work.

My Top Tweleve TV Shows of 2014-15

So at the end of the year I do a best of list for books and movies. I wanted to do the same with TV shows because I believe TV is becoming the most exciting media being produced. However Janurary is not the time for TV. Since the emmys are this weekend and the new shows are launching I am going with the Jewish calendar.

Some of the shows I watched but didn't rank. The final season of Falling Skies, The Brink, Constantine and The Last Ship.

12. True Detective season 2

OK, I know I will mostly be alone on this opinion. Yes the first season felt ground breaking, yes it had amazing performances by two actors really unmatched last year. As someone who read the Thomas Ligotti books that were “homaged” in the first it really took me out of the story.

I personally enjoyed the California setting of the second season. I thought Colin Farrel was great. Yes Vince Vaughn was kinda weak. I actually found the story more interesting however I know many hated it.

11. Intruders Season 1

Intruders on BBC America was a very under the radar show from X-files Vet Glen Morgan. That is all I knew going in. The less you know the better before watching this the better. The first four episodes is some of the best supernatural mystery I have ever seen on TV. The villains are super scary including the single best child actor performance of all time no doubt. Once the mystery unravels a bit, so does the story/ show a bit. I enjoyed all the way but the first four episodes were great.

10.Defiance Season 3

I watched the first two seasons of this show and enjoyed them as corny fun. I feel this show improved in major ways in this third season. They seemed to have stripped down the budget but it helped take the show back to story telling basics. The story arcs of the characters are really well done, more than once creating situations for the characters that seemed helpless. The alien cultures are really well done on this show and slowly inching into quality sci-fi fiction rather than dumb fun.

9. Bates Motel season 3

The third and best season so far of Bates Motel is really powerful suspense. The tension is built on the audience's knowledge of Noman Bates outcome. The writing and direction is top notch but the thing that makes this show amazing is the performances of Vera Farmiga and Freddy Highmore. In my opinion Vera Farmiga is award worthy in this show. She creates a Norma Bates that balances being alluring and scary at the same time.

The first two seasons focused a bit too much on side stories that I found to be besides the point. Thankfully they cut those down this year.

8. The Affair Season 1

The Affair is a showtime drama that uses the story telling structure of Kurasawa's Roshomon to excellent effect. In this show we see two wildly different versions of a extra-marital affair. Very straight forward story that hints a deeper mystery than we actually never see. Much of the drama and tension is is created by knowing the other person's point of View. OK Ruth Wilson (Luther) and Dominic West (The Wire) carry the show with amazing performances. Also liked seeing Fringe vet Joshua Jackson.

7.The Leftovers Season 1

This show was sneaking good. From Lost writer Damon Lindeloff based on a novel by Election author Tom Perrotta . The story starts with a rapture like event but from that point on it is mostly a straight drama. A Slow burn with excellent characters I found this show to be very good. It got to the number 7 spot for two reasons. The third episode is amazing featuring an unbelievably good performance by former Doctor Who star Chris Eccleston, that episode stands alone and is worth seeing. One episode has a teaser that is some of the best horror I have seen on screen. I had a hard time watching.

6. Orphan Black Season 3

BCC America is a better sci-fi channel than syfy for sure. This show is developing a pattern the last two season both got stronger each week toward the end of the 10 episode run. Of course the show is worth watching for Tatiana Maslany's performance as 4 sometimes 5 different clones. It was seriously justice that she got an emmy nod. No performance on TV is as nuanced. Great story, execution and a show you can't miss.

5. Humans Season 1

This British remake of a Swedish Sci-fi show recently had a run on AMC. Another sneaky good show. Covering many of the same topics of the film Ex-machina, but in long form. Set in a near future England when everyone has their personal robots. It feels like a episode of Black Mirror. Great characters, excellently directed and written. The show is often gut wrenching, heart breaking and never dull. Must see for serious Sci-fi viewers.

4. Doctor Who Season 8

I am a huge fan of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. I prefer Stephen Moffet as a show runner for Who. I never liked Clara as a companion. This season blanced everything I love about Doctor Who. Great storytelling, weirdness, smart humor and Capaldi made the doctor feel alien again.

3. The Strain Season 2

I know a lot of you gave up after the really bad acting in the pilot. I kept watching because I am a fan of the novels, and I'm glad I did. The Strain is excellent horror, a slow burn vampire apocalypse that actually tells the story slower and more patiently than the Del Toro/ Chuck Hogan novel. My favorite aspects of the show is the deep mythology, and suspense built by the atmosphere. The make-up of the vampire master was really bad, but they seem to have fixed that as well. It is far from perfect but I love it. Fantastic Vampire horror that makes vampires that ultra predator they should be.

2. Better Call Saul Season 1:

The best written series of the year. I think everyone wanted this show to be as good as Breaking Bad but I don't think anyone expected it to be as good as it was. Dare I say that it might be better? Like Breaking Bad it blends Character driven stories through equal parts comedy and drama. It was perfectly tied into the prequel nature of the show yet managed to introduce plenty of characters worth investing in. Damn it was good.

1. Sense8 Season 1

I loved almost every minute of this show. The Wachowskis are hit or miss for sure. When they are on (Bound, the Matrix or Cloud Atlas) they make daring and original stuff. Sense8 was a fantastic on every level it was excellently plotted, character based sci-fi action, drama and times hit every button. The word epic has been abused but this is epic storytelling/TV. Has anyone ever attempted a show with this kinda scope 8 cities, 8 leads told over international canvas, not concerned about being different with diversity in race, sexuality and culture. Like the first Matrix Sense8 felt like a comic book origin story. Will they do a better job delivering on that promise? We need a second season netflix!!!!!

Book Review: The Fold by Peter Clines

The Fold by Peter Clines

Hardcover, 384 pages Published June 2015 by Crown

The Fold is a interesting novel. It is a very straight ahead character driven science fiction tale that in the final act takes on a pulpy horror feel. I read the novel knowing nothing, I didn't read the jacket description, and Clines gave us almost no details at his Mysterious Galaxy signing event I went the week the book was released. The less you know the better for this novel, but that is often the case.

The whole novel hinges on a "Oh shit" moment that is 200 or so pages into the novel. Clines manages to create enough interesting characters and seed enough mystery that it carried me through. I suppose he will lose some readers before getting to that big Oh shit moment. I personally feel the pay-off makes the ride worth it all. That moment hit me pretty hard and I felt the fear and terror of the characters in a way that could not happen without the build up.

Our point of view for the story is Mike an interesting character, an english teacher who is recruited by Darpa to give his opinion on a teleportation device they are building. Why him? He has a photographic memory something that sounds cool, but when you get into the character you realize it is a burden. He is asked observe this teleportation system called the Alaqureque door and recommend to the Washington suits if they should keep funding it.

Peter and I have mutual friends and have appeared together on a panel before so I like the guy personally. I read two of his novels (Ex-Heroes and 14) before and liked both of those alot. The Fold is a science fiction novel, and much more influenced by the science than many sci-fi novels. It has horror elements in the final act but for the most part your narrative drive is the characters dealing with a good old fashion "what if?"

The big twist of this novel comes long before the end but it is powerful one. The moments before and after might lose some readers but I think it is the power of the story, and one worth reading.

Video: Goddamn Killing Machines interview!

Book Review: A Dark Phantastique edited by Jason V. Brock

A Dark Phantastique edited by Jason V. Brock

Hardcover, First Trade HC, 730 pages

Published October 1st 2014 by Cycatrix Press

There is notion with publishers that anthologies don't sell. That if you release one into the world that it is most likely going to be ignored and lost in the mix. Part of the problem is the sheer number of them. Forget for a moment the "Years best" books, those are a different breed coming with a certain swagger. Even editors who do a good job can some times release hundreds like Martin Greenberg did in the 80's. Ellen Datlow has made a name for herself with her yearly best of becoming probably the most important judge of short horror fiction the genre has. When comes to anthology awards Datlow has become a Meryl Streep of horror almost automatically walking home with a Stoker for her collections. They are very, very good after all. They are quality so forget her books for moment. We face a yearly output of 30 or so titles with Cthulu's name attached to sex, hardboiled crime or historical for example. The sheer number of Vampire and paranormal romance is daunting too.

That said through the years there are anthologies that have stood out as important documents in the evolution of the genre. Dark Forces edited by Kirby Mccauley Meta-Horror by Dennis Etchinson or Millennium (Revelations) edited by Doug Winter are all fantastic examples. In his third attempt at editing (first without Bill Nolan) it is clear Jason Brock was influenced by those books.

His first two "The Bleeding Edge" and "The Devil's Coattails" are shorter and concise. I mean Lets be real for a second this is a 700 plus page antho featuring mostly stories but poems, art and a screenplay as well. Brock is a very picky selector of stories, and for that alone his anthologies are worthy of the time and money you'll put into them if you choose to buy/read them. They deserve to be in every library in the country that takes dark literature seriously. This book is not cheap, but it is a serious book laid out with interesting design Like pages that feel like reptile skin, it cracks along the binding as you open it. This is a serious BOOK, in bold and all caps.

The only weakness is layout and design of the book. Brock did a great job making his magazine and digest designs for Dark Discoveries and Nameless digest over the years. Here it seems a bit much. Just give me the stories!

The stories are great. Some of my favorites include Squatters by Nicole Cushing, Lizard Man Dispatches by Ray Garton and Dust made into Words by Cody Goodfellow. (Note I think my love for Cody's story was in part because of the fantastic reading he did of it at World Horror in 2014). What unites this collection is less of outright horror but deft use of the surreal and what felt like a dark shading over each story.

Jason Brock and I have had public disagreements, normally that would not be the topic in a book review but we have at times gotten nasty with each other. Yet it didn't stop Jason from buying one of my stories for Nameless digest. I only bring this up because of a long introduction at beginning is in part about this topic. How do we as a community treat each other? Jason and I buried our hatchets, and enjoyed each other's company at the last con we were at together.

He has alot of important points to make but that is not why you should invest in this book. You should invest in this book because of the high quality of the fiction. This is an anthology that stands above.