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Old School
Old School, a traditional horror collection born of seven twisted minds, invites you back to a time when vampires and werewolves were monsters who made humans quiver in terror.
Fourteen short tales offered by David Dunwoody, Jackie Gamber, R. Scott McCoy,Natalie L. Sin, Horace James, Gregory L. Hall, and Louise Bohmer, all tied together by selected poems from Zombie Zak – Old School reminds one of terrors best not forgotten.
Within these pages, evil children terrorize, witches gather the teeth of the young, cosmic blobs eat the world, while creepy crawlies ruin a man’s life and a headless ghost seeks revenge. Wander down this spooky path with poems and stories that revive our nightmares about golems, harpies, and other forgotten creatures.
Fourteen short tales offered by David Dunwoody, Jackie Gamber, R. Scott McCoy,Natalie L. Sin, Horace James, Gregory L. Hall, and Louise Bohmer, all tied together by selected poems from Zombie Zak – Old School reminds one of terrors best not forgotten.
Within these pages, evil children terrorize, witches gather the teeth of the young, cosmic blobs eat the world, while creepy crawlies ruin a man’s life and a headless ghost seeks revenge. Wander down this spooky path with poems and stories that revive our nightmares about golems, harpies, and other forgotten creatures.
- GenresHorror
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2010
16 people want to read
About the author
Louise Bohmer
40 books54 followersLouise Bohmer has over eight years experience in editing and publishing. She edits for Permuted Press, and has edited for many publishers and authors in a variety of genres including general interest, romance, erotica, mystery, horror, and speculative. Her writing experience extends across fiction, ghost writing, ad copy, web content, SEO copy, and press releases. Her latest release is the Anti-Heroes serial written with K.H. Koehler (Anti-Heroes Press) and you can read her short fiction in Detritus (Omnium Gatherum), The Red Penny Papers, and Old School. Plus her debut novel, The Black Act, is now available once again in serial form. She offers freelance services in editing, book cover design, ghost writing, and ebook as well as print formatting. She loves to hear from her readers via email and reviews. Her home base is New Brunswick, Canada, where she lives with a tattooed giant. You can pay her a visit at http://www.louisebohmer.com or email her at blackfaery76@yahoo.ca
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 6, 2012
The dark poetic verse of Zombie Zak sets the stage for this spooky anthology of old-fashioned horror by offering gloomy soulful warnings between each story that nonetheless compel one to read on like a beckoning (bony) finger.
The first poem, the wickedly grim Red Red Rain, does a cracking good job of coaxing one into the dubious territory of The Gorgeous Undead by Gregory L. Hall, a cautionary tale about a young woman whose romantic notions regarding vampires put her in harm's way and lead to a devastating surprise. Full of several good twists and turns, this story ought to be mandatory reading for anyone who keeps a copy of Twilight on their nightstand. Luckily for us, all of the Old School authors have contributed two stories each and Hall’s second one is a pleasantly disturbing little piece called Creepy Crawlies that is sure to render arachnophobes all the more phobic. The name really says it all.
The essence of this anthology may be old school but don't expect a stream of historical tales. One of my favorites is set in the future, Natalie L. Sin’s gloriously frankensteinesque New Human. Suspenseful, creepy, and truly mortifying, New Human provides a fresh take on an old school theme that never gets, well, old. Another story also appears by Sin, Runaway, a fast-paced, scary sort of Thelma and Louise with hairy dudes instead of Brad Pitt. Definitely a wild and bumpy ride!
Two gems from the always enthralling, David Dunwoody give Old School a fiendishly fun kick in the pants. The highly atmospheric and heart-pounding, House of Dagon, delivers all the classic tension and mounting danger that is the hallmark of a good monster yarn, while at the same time introducing a completely original and entirely mysterious beast that lurks in the heart of the Everglades. But don’t expect to catch your breath yet. Dunwoody’s other tale, The Missionary, offers readers an even more complex creature feature that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. Not surprisingly, these are two reads that should not be missed.
Horace James’ work was new to me and I found myself very much caught up in the ominous spell of his writing. The Witch of Chili Gulch not only provides the book with one of the most intriguing story titles, but also one of its most intriguing stories, period. Playing upon a variety of childhood fears in an unexpected way, this story is good old-fashioned spooky. To say too much would be to ruin the surprise. Suffice to say, it made my teeth hurt. I was also quite fond of Mummies of the Caribbean, a horrifying little story that had my skin crawling in the very best of ways, as all good horrifying little stories should.
The Find by R. Scott McCoy takes readers on a breathless chase through the wilderness while having a bit of new fun with an old legend. The ending of this one, I should warn, is not for the faint of heart. McCoy’s second offering, the aptly titled, Play Time, is positively chilling. Who doesn’t love an experiment gone bad? Both stories are real nail-biters.
Next, Jackie Gamber steps up the pace with two beautiful and rather heartbreaking tales that turn lyrical objects like locks of hair and black feathers into something altogether sinister. A personal favorite, Heart of Stone, takes an uneasy look at the dark soul of a sculptor and the spiritual awakening of his tragic muse. It’s both lovely and frightening. Also from Gamber, The Closest Thing, is a good-love-gone-bad tale that leads to unexpected places. Quite nice!
Last, but not least, Louise Bohmer lends a haunting touch (along with pitch-perfect editing) to Old School, providing two ghostly tales that ought to be whispered again and again around a crackling campfire on a dark dark night. Oh boy, and they’re a pair of historical pieces too! I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for them. So okay, The Legend of Pierson Point, 1979 doesn’t go back that far in time, just long enough to drape the whole thing in the sort of disquieting fog that tends to whirl around all nasty bits of urban legend, but not long enough to make you feel as though you’re safely beyond it’s spectral grasp. This story reminds me of standing in front of a mirror while murmuring BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY… It’s hard to get any more Old School than that. Then, there’s the fetchingly named, When the Tylwyth Teg Walk Among Us, in which grave-robbers must face the music in 1840 Glastonbury Tor. It’s fearful stuff and a great story to finish things up.
If I were to do it again, I think Old School would be best read by quivering flashlight beam in a dark tent with no other sounds but those of crickets and panicked breathing. Take it to a pajama party at the very least, for pity sake! It’ll make Marcia Brady wet her pants.
The first poem, the wickedly grim Red Red Rain, does a cracking good job of coaxing one into the dubious territory of The Gorgeous Undead by Gregory L. Hall, a cautionary tale about a young woman whose romantic notions regarding vampires put her in harm's way and lead to a devastating surprise. Full of several good twists and turns, this story ought to be mandatory reading for anyone who keeps a copy of Twilight on their nightstand. Luckily for us, all of the Old School authors have contributed two stories each and Hall’s second one is a pleasantly disturbing little piece called Creepy Crawlies that is sure to render arachnophobes all the more phobic. The name really says it all.
The essence of this anthology may be old school but don't expect a stream of historical tales. One of my favorites is set in the future, Natalie L. Sin’s gloriously frankensteinesque New Human. Suspenseful, creepy, and truly mortifying, New Human provides a fresh take on an old school theme that never gets, well, old. Another story also appears by Sin, Runaway, a fast-paced, scary sort of Thelma and Louise with hairy dudes instead of Brad Pitt. Definitely a wild and bumpy ride!
Two gems from the always enthralling, David Dunwoody give Old School a fiendishly fun kick in the pants. The highly atmospheric and heart-pounding, House of Dagon, delivers all the classic tension and mounting danger that is the hallmark of a good monster yarn, while at the same time introducing a completely original and entirely mysterious beast that lurks in the heart of the Everglades. But don’t expect to catch your breath yet. Dunwoody’s other tale, The Missionary, offers readers an even more complex creature feature that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. Not surprisingly, these are two reads that should not be missed.
Horace James’ work was new to me and I found myself very much caught up in the ominous spell of his writing. The Witch of Chili Gulch not only provides the book with one of the most intriguing story titles, but also one of its most intriguing stories, period. Playing upon a variety of childhood fears in an unexpected way, this story is good old-fashioned spooky. To say too much would be to ruin the surprise. Suffice to say, it made my teeth hurt. I was also quite fond of Mummies of the Caribbean, a horrifying little story that had my skin crawling in the very best of ways, as all good horrifying little stories should.
The Find by R. Scott McCoy takes readers on a breathless chase through the wilderness while having a bit of new fun with an old legend. The ending of this one, I should warn, is not for the faint of heart. McCoy’s second offering, the aptly titled, Play Time, is positively chilling. Who doesn’t love an experiment gone bad? Both stories are real nail-biters.
Next, Jackie Gamber steps up the pace with two beautiful and rather heartbreaking tales that turn lyrical objects like locks of hair and black feathers into something altogether sinister. A personal favorite, Heart of Stone, takes an uneasy look at the dark soul of a sculptor and the spiritual awakening of his tragic muse. It’s both lovely and frightening. Also from Gamber, The Closest Thing, is a good-love-gone-bad tale that leads to unexpected places. Quite nice!
Last, but not least, Louise Bohmer lends a haunting touch (along with pitch-perfect editing) to Old School, providing two ghostly tales that ought to be whispered again and again around a crackling campfire on a dark dark night. Oh boy, and they’re a pair of historical pieces too! I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for them. So okay, The Legend of Pierson Point, 1979 doesn’t go back that far in time, just long enough to drape the whole thing in the sort of disquieting fog that tends to whirl around all nasty bits of urban legend, but not long enough to make you feel as though you’re safely beyond it’s spectral grasp. This story reminds me of standing in front of a mirror while murmuring BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY… It’s hard to get any more Old School than that. Then, there’s the fetchingly named, When the Tylwyth Teg Walk Among Us, in which grave-robbers must face the music in 1840 Glastonbury Tor. It’s fearful stuff and a great story to finish things up.
If I were to do it again, I think Old School would be best read by quivering flashlight beam in a dark tent with no other sounds but those of crickets and panicked breathing. Take it to a pajama party at the very least, for pity sake! It’ll make Marcia Brady wet her pants.
October 5, 2011
Deliciously scary collection of stories with poems interspersed to set the proper mood of old school horror. Each story creates a bit of shiver.
June 8, 2012
I like my monsters with sharp teeth, and it would the folks at Belfire Press do too. In answer to the call of sparkly vampires and lovelorn lycanthropes, Louise Bohmer tasked six other authors--and an undead poet known as Zombie Zak--to give horror's iconic monsters a reprieve from the romantic.
Now, I'm not a fan of poetry, so excuse my boorish ways. I will say, however, ol' Zombie Zak did cook up a couple poems that I did enjoy, particularly the introductory one entitled "Red Red Rain." It worked quite well in leading up to Greg Hall's story about vampires, "The Gorgeous Undead." I've only read two other works from Greg before--his debut novel, At the End of Church Street, and the less lengthy Dracula's Winky (just Google it). With this short story, Greg strips away the immaculate gothic nature of the vampire myth and offers an eye-opening experience for a young woman absolutely obsessed with the bloodsuckers.
Monsters of nearly every stripe are re-imagined in this anthology. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies are the big three, yes, but then there are the ones you might have forgotten about. The monsters from those classic Universal days of horror and sci-fi.
Horace James' "Mummies of the Caribbean" might be my favorite among them all, with a wickedly effective depiction of the mummy of old, but seen through a more grotesque lens. It had a great blend of the B-movie nature of the plot with some really well drawn characters. Couldn't ask for better from a book like this. I hadn't heard of Horace before reading this book, so I'll have to watch out for his work now. Jackie Gamber's "Heart of Stone" is another one that highlighted a less popular monster and gave a truly humanizing and horrifying point of view, this time on the golem. The ending didn't feel at all surprising to me, but it was a kicker nonetheless and felt right on point.
For a great blending of humor and horror--an emphasis on the horror--were R. Scott McCoy's "Play Time" and David Dunwoody's "The Missionary." Respectively, creepy kids and things from outer space are two great cliches from horror and sci-fi that I will likely never tire of, and these two stories offered very fun and frightening moments.
Not all of the stories are as entertaining as the ones I've lined out, but that's the way it goes with any anthology. With each author, including Louise, penning two stories each, there are more than enough elbow room for each to explore the monsters of old, and either offer a new spin or untangle them from the twists the modern age has given them.
If you're like me and you've got an appetite for those classic creature features, this is an anthology for you. Old School explores the familiar and tries to cast it in a new light--and for the most part it succeeds.
Now, I'm not a fan of poetry, so excuse my boorish ways. I will say, however, ol' Zombie Zak did cook up a couple poems that I did enjoy, particularly the introductory one entitled "Red Red Rain." It worked quite well in leading up to Greg Hall's story about vampires, "The Gorgeous Undead." I've only read two other works from Greg before--his debut novel, At the End of Church Street, and the less lengthy Dracula's Winky (just Google it). With this short story, Greg strips away the immaculate gothic nature of the vampire myth and offers an eye-opening experience for a young woman absolutely obsessed with the bloodsuckers.
Monsters of nearly every stripe are re-imagined in this anthology. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies are the big three, yes, but then there are the ones you might have forgotten about. The monsters from those classic Universal days of horror and sci-fi.
Horace James' "Mummies of the Caribbean" might be my favorite among them all, with a wickedly effective depiction of the mummy of old, but seen through a more grotesque lens. It had a great blend of the B-movie nature of the plot with some really well drawn characters. Couldn't ask for better from a book like this. I hadn't heard of Horace before reading this book, so I'll have to watch out for his work now. Jackie Gamber's "Heart of Stone" is another one that highlighted a less popular monster and gave a truly humanizing and horrifying point of view, this time on the golem. The ending didn't feel at all surprising to me, but it was a kicker nonetheless and felt right on point.
For a great blending of humor and horror--an emphasis on the horror--were R. Scott McCoy's "Play Time" and David Dunwoody's "The Missionary." Respectively, creepy kids and things from outer space are two great cliches from horror and sci-fi that I will likely never tire of, and these two stories offered very fun and frightening moments.
Not all of the stories are as entertaining as the ones I've lined out, but that's the way it goes with any anthology. With each author, including Louise, penning two stories each, there are more than enough elbow room for each to explore the monsters of old, and either offer a new spin or untangle them from the twists the modern age has given them.
If you're like me and you've got an appetite for those classic creature features, this is an anthology for you. Old School explores the familiar and tries to cast it in a new light--and for the most part it succeeds.
December 3, 2012
This short story collection was pretty good, they got better and more interesting depending on the creature being depicted. I wasn't a fan of the poetry, mostly because I generally just find poetry really boring.
My favorite was the Sasquatch story, second was the Frankenstein story. I think these stories stood out as being unique and traditional at the same time. I would have liked if there were even more traditional monsters, like Wendigo, chimera, or a sphinx. Also, for being called "Old School" the stories had a much more modern take than I had anticipated. The ones I mentioned above are the ones I felt kept the old feel of the original stories. But the Sasquatch one played out like a horror movie, and the Frankenstein one was in space.
So if you go in expecting truly old school stories you will be disappointed. However if you go in just expecting horror stories that are entertaining and contain no sparkly lovey vamps and weres then you'll be completely satisfied.
My favorite was the Sasquatch story, second was the Frankenstein story. I think these stories stood out as being unique and traditional at the same time. I would have liked if there were even more traditional monsters, like Wendigo, chimera, or a sphinx. Also, for being called "Old School" the stories had a much more modern take than I had anticipated. The ones I mentioned above are the ones I felt kept the old feel of the original stories. But the Sasquatch one played out like a horror movie, and the Frankenstein one was in space.
So if you go in expecting truly old school stories you will be disappointed. However if you go in just expecting horror stories that are entertaining and contain no sparkly lovey vamps and weres then you'll be completely satisfied.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews