Not Yet Dead

by Joseph A. Citro

NOT YET DEAD - The Short Fiction of Joseph A. Citro
Although best known for his Vermont novels, his collections of weird tales, and his radio work, Joe Citro has also published a small yet elegant selection of short fiction. Collected here for the first time, each is a polished gem of terror and tension. This limited edition is a perfect sampling for Citro enthusiasts, or lovers of the Green Mountain Gothic. A rare, one-of-a-kind collection.
"Every state deserves a native son like Joseph A. Citro." -Booklist
"The work of Joseph A. Citro could make a vampire fear the dark." -Dan Simmons

Genres: Horror

Nook

First published October 30, 2009

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joseph A. Citro is a native Vermonter; he's done much to keep the folklore of his home state alive and vital through his regional travel guides, historical stories, essays, and commentary on public radio. Most relevant to me: he has also written five novels of suspense presumably set in that beautiful, apparently still-wild state. In 2016, I read his excellent novel Lake Monsters (under its original paperback title, Dark Twilight) and was impressed by its psychological acuity and well-wrought atmosphere. This collection of thin and rather uninspired short stories is an illustration of how some authors do better with long-form fiction rather than short. So let's make some lemonade and close this short review with something sweet: I'm still really looking forward to reading those other four novels of suspense!

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Citro is a Vermont author and folklorist. "Not Dead Yet" is a short collection of short stories, many written in the flavour of Edgar Allan Poe. This particular book comes in at fewer than 100 pages and is comprised of 5 tales, each stranger than the prior. The last, titled "The Last Fortune Cookie", was inspired by a local Burlington, Vermont, newspaper, which in turn took its inspiration from a real-life double murder in the city.

Those unfamiliar with Citro's fictional works would find this a good starting point. It reads quickly - it can easily be read within an hour or two. His style blends elements of Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Citro's staccato cadence is a bit off-putting; sentences and paragraphs tend to be a bit short - some might say choppy. Neither will your vocabulary be expanded, unless you a unfamiliar with some New England vernacular.

[Vincent C. Coraccio Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph A. Citro's short stories, compiled here, make an excellent afternoon read. Grab a cup of coffee, put your legs up, and let yourself be transported to Citro's Vermont, a place cut from the same cloth as King's Maine. Well written and to-the-point, this complete collection is short enough that if you don't take to it, you won't feel cheated; I doubt that will be the case, however. Equal parts King and Lovecraft, if you haven't read any of his other works yet, this as good of an introduction as any.

[Brian Mazur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all of the stories. The only downfall is there aren’t enough of them. But like he said in the Introduction, he doesn’t write short stories, he’s a novelist. This collection were written upon request from other authors for their publications. They are well worth the time to read. After all, there’s only 6 of them.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, creepy read.

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph A. Citro may be most famous for his collections of New England lore and legends, but he's dabbled in fiction on more than a few occasions. I didn't know he had any short stories though, and that could be because there aren't many of them. Still, fans of his work should check out this collection. I liked it enough that I'll be checking out his longer fiction soon.

[Elsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Joseph Citro's work. His novels are the scariest things I've ever read. This small collection of short stories is HORRORible in its own way.