What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories
The stories in this collection were written over several decades, and changes in the author's life had a profound impact on the voices and themes utilized in the tales. In these pages lie noble truths, profound awakenings, and in some cases, very unpleasant endings for some very wicked people. The variety of characters will keep the reader guessing as to what's next - the reader will encounter vampires, fighter pilots, greed-stricken murderers, and everyday people while reading this book. In the end, it is simply a collection of narratives for your enjoyment and entertainment.
80 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2010
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 22, 2022
On a hot summer day I enjoy dipping into a short story collection and with this book I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy by the author and it's an absolute must read
The writing style flows so well
Each story has a similar theme running through each story and have a touch of the supernatural and most have an end of life story in them
Each story grabbed my attention and the writing style makes reading a joy and I have no hesitation in recommending this book
The writing style flows so well
Each story has a similar theme running through each story and have a touch of the supernatural and most have an end of life story in them
Each story grabbed my attention and the writing style makes reading a joy and I have no hesitation in recommending this book
April 9, 2022
I used to avoid short stories. I was crazy! To have missed out on the 12 gems contained in "The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories" would have been a tragedy. R. David Fulcher's writing has a natural flow that makes each story easy to read. The characters are sharply in focus, despite the short length of each tale. The stories are a joy. I especially liked "Porch Talk" and "An Unlikely Hero" - the former will stay with me for a long time.
My thanks to the author and BookTasters. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author and BookTasters. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
November 28, 2020
In short, OK kinda book consisting of 12 diverse themed short stories.
The intro was honestly disappointing considering my high expectation of getting something stirring like Jules Verne's 'The Lighthouse at the End of the World'. Guess you should really never judge a story by its title.
Anyway, it started off with a dull description of a man attempting to flee upon committing a crime. Got kind of thrown off by some unnecessary details like the protagonist being an immigrant, and rape and murder of two women which hardly impacted the story. I was quite enjoying the crime story build-up however before it escalated into Washington Irving's 'Rip Van Winkle'-like fantasy time travel, except it didn't end the same. To make the story even worse the conclusion had the typical ghost story closer "It is said that sometimes on summer nights two spirits haunt...". Really just tired of it at this point.
Next story — 'Drawing the Ace' also involved time-travel. A mathematics student flying a WW2 warplane in a dream (or at least that's what I thought). Average sort of story but this one was wrapped up better than the last one.
Third story was too boring for me to pay any attention to.
'Retribution' is a peculiar and oddly satisfying zombie apocalypse sorta story. First story in the book I was able to appreciate.
‘The Faerie Lights’ is a richly worded charming tale including a fantastic poem. Really hard not to appreciate.
‘Porch Talk’ is a two-page ‘seemingly emotional’ story with 0 purpose.
‘An Unlikely Hero’ is a mediocre fantasy story divided into 6 unnecessary chapters. Maybe there was some reason to it that I’ll never know.
Now comes the story I really loved in the whole book. ‘The Shamblers’ started off in a revoltingly sadistic way but the story build-up was superb. Loved the ending even more. 9/10 story.
‘The Bogeyman’ is another average horror story. ‘Gold Fever’ is simply forgettable.
‘The Truth about Dr. Mansfield’ was a good one. Easy read but couldn’t expect more from a vampire themed short story.
‘The Walker’ is the last story in the book. Frankly, this one felt very out of place for me plus the fact that it’s the closer story ruined my overall opinion on the book.
TL;DR:
Four stories out of twelve stood out for me. So, yeah, ‘OK’ is the best way I can describe this book altogether.
The intro was honestly disappointing considering my high expectation of getting something stirring like Jules Verne's 'The Lighthouse at the End of the World'. Guess you should really never judge a story by its title.
Anyway, it started off with a dull description of a man attempting to flee upon committing a crime. Got kind of thrown off by some unnecessary details like the protagonist being an immigrant, and rape and murder of two women which hardly impacted the story. I was quite enjoying the crime story build-up however before it escalated into Washington Irving's 'Rip Van Winkle'-like fantasy time travel, except it didn't end the same. To make the story even worse the conclusion had the typical ghost story closer "It is said that sometimes on summer nights two spirits haunt...". Really just tired of it at this point.
Next story — 'Drawing the Ace' also involved time-travel. A mathematics student flying a WW2 warplane in a dream (or at least that's what I thought). Average sort of story but this one was wrapped up better than the last one.
Third story was too boring for me to pay any attention to.
'Retribution' is a peculiar and oddly satisfying zombie apocalypse sorta story. First story in the book I was able to appreciate.
‘The Faerie Lights’ is a richly worded charming tale including a fantastic poem. Really hard not to appreciate.
‘Porch Talk’ is a two-page ‘seemingly emotional’ story with 0 purpose.
‘An Unlikely Hero’ is a mediocre fantasy story divided into 6 unnecessary chapters. Maybe there was some reason to it that I’ll never know.
Now comes the story I really loved in the whole book. ‘The Shamblers’ started off in a revoltingly sadistic way but the story build-up was superb. Loved the ending even more. 9/10 story.
‘The Bogeyman’ is another average horror story. ‘Gold Fever’ is simply forgettable.
‘The Truth about Dr. Mansfield’ was a good one. Easy read but couldn’t expect more from a vampire themed short story.
‘The Walker’ is the last story in the book. Frankly, this one felt very out of place for me plus the fact that it’s the closer story ruined my overall opinion on the book.
TL;DR:
Four stories out of twelve stood out for me. So, yeah, ‘OK’ is the best way I can describe this book altogether.
April 18, 2020
R. David Fulcher has written 12 short stories, labeled by Booktasters as Sci-Fi, but more appropriately labeled as horror/supernatural. Most are average stories involving time-travel, ghosts and other things that go bump-in-the-night. There are, however, three stories with interesting twists. The first involves the stereotypical “monster in the closet” scenario that is a staple of many children’s fears. Turns out that the monster in the closet isn’t the only thing that Charlie should be afraid of.
The second story is a delightful mix of demons, dragons and -- aliens. And the lengths that a father goes to to protect his children.
The third story presents a delightfully interesting twist on the creation of old men. There are some, apparently, who do not become old men in the normal, growing old fashion. The process is sped up significantly, skipping the entire maturation process.
For a quick, easy read I recommend this book.
The second story is a delightful mix of demons, dragons and -- aliens. And the lengths that a father goes to to protect his children.
The third story presents a delightfully interesting twist on the creation of old men. There are some, apparently, who do not become old men in the normal, growing old fashion. The process is sped up significantly, skipping the entire maturation process.
For a quick, easy read I recommend this book.
May 9, 2020
This is a great and diverse collection of stories. The imagery used by the author is so vivid and illustrative that you get hooked into the story and the rich world presented. From fantasy to the supernatural, from somewhat horror to comedy, I believe there is something for all readers. The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Retribution are stand outs for me with Shamblers and An unlikely Hero close seconds.
July 30, 2022
It was a fantastic collection of short stories which were absolutely nice tales.
The characters were pointed out very well and I enjoyed the stories much.
If you like short stories don't hesitate to read this book!
Without a doubt I give a 5 star rating for "The Lighthouse at Montauk
Point and Other Stories".
The book contains 80 pages.
The characters were pointed out very well and I enjoyed the stories much.
If you like short stories don't hesitate to read this book!
Without a doubt I give a 5 star rating for "The Lighthouse at Montauk
Point and Other Stories".
The book contains 80 pages.
December 11, 2020
Firstly, I would like to thank booktasters and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It was a great collection of short stories. The imagery was remarkable. I've never liked anything horror be it books or movies but these stories I did finish. And there were some that I did like eg. the faerie lights, the bogeyman. I felt eerie reading them. And I was okay with that. The author was very detailed in his writing. I also liked the truth about Dr. Mansfield which was vampire themed. Some stories were military based and some were just ordinary people thrown in with a bit of fantasy and horror.
All in all, they were a great collection of short stories which I felt were remarkably written.
It was a great collection of short stories. The imagery was remarkable. I've never liked anything horror be it books or movies but these stories I did finish. And there were some that I did like eg. the faerie lights, the bogeyman. I felt eerie reading them. And I was okay with that. The author was very detailed in his writing. I also liked the truth about Dr. Mansfield which was vampire themed. Some stories were military based and some were just ordinary people thrown in with a bit of fantasy and horror.
All in all, they were a great collection of short stories which I felt were remarkably written.
Read
December 11, 2020Looking for a nice break from regular novels ? Then this book is the perfect option for you !
The book "the lighthouse at montauk point and other stories" is a series of short stories that are not related to each other, where the only thing in common between them is the horror/sci-fi style. I usually only read long one story novels as I don't usually find myself attracted to short stories, but I have to admit that this book was like a breath of fresh air. I really loved the style of the author and how well the scenes and the places are described, it really helped me imagine the scenery of each story. I recommend this book if you are into short stories, specially sci-fi, or if you are bored from normal novels and looking for something new to try.
The book "the lighthouse at montauk point and other stories" is a series of short stories that are not related to each other, where the only thing in common between them is the horror/sci-fi style. I usually only read long one story novels as I don't usually find myself attracted to short stories, but I have to admit that this book was like a breath of fresh air. I really loved the style of the author and how well the scenes and the places are described, it really helped me imagine the scenery of each story. I recommend this book if you are into short stories, specially sci-fi, or if you are bored from normal novels and looking for something new to try.
Read
November 24, 2020This was a great read. The characters in each story were interesting; I wanted to read more about Eduardo and the lighthouse, there seemed to more to his story. "Faerie Lights", was an amazing tale that reminded me of my favorite royal Fae in another great story. Big Daddy in "Retribution" the karma bug bit him in the ass, again I wanted to read more. Big Daddy, was taken down then what?. There seemed to be more to tell in each story. Overall, I enjoyed The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories, and would definitely recommend it for an afternoon of reading.
November 17, 2020
R. David Fulcher has penned down a dozen of engrossing, unique stories of varied genre and premise.The writing style is neat and lucid. A miasma of spook and accompanies the stories; each little tale leaves you entertained and hungry for more.
My favourite ones were 'The Shamblers' and 'An Unlikely Hero', both with an element of magical realism.
Perfect read for a dry wintry day with a cuppa of ginger tea!
My favourite ones were 'The Shamblers' and 'An Unlikely Hero', both with an element of magical realism.
Perfect read for a dry wintry day with a cuppa of ginger tea!
March 30, 2020
Final rating: 3 stars
Content Warnings: mentions of sexual assault, mentions of drug abuse, mentions of suicide
"The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories" is a collection of twelve short stories, that were written by R. David Fulcher. They're mostly horror stories with elements of fantasy.
The stories are distinct from one another, and the pacing and length of each one are good. I didn't have any issues with the writing style. The descriptions and world building are solid. One of the stories (An Unlikely Hero) is divided into chapters, which seemed unnecessary to me while I was reading it.
My biggest issue with this collection is that it has the undeniable feeling of "This was written by a white man". The amount of female characters was close to none, two of which were sexually assaulted and dead, and the rest didn't really matter. Some descriptions of women's bodies made me uncomfortable. There's also thinly woven racism through the book, in a way that most of white authors don't realize they were being racist, but from the perspective of a reader it's much more noticeable.
One of the things that really irked me was the lack of research and calling HIV "the AIDS virus" by a medical professional. Come on, it would have took anyone no more than five minutes with Google not to make that mistake. HIV is the virus, AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, it's not that hard to understand.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, even if parts of it went into Yikes City territory. I wouldn't reread it, but it was entertaining and I especially liked the horror parts.
Content Warnings: mentions of sexual assault, mentions of drug abuse, mentions of suicide
"The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories" is a collection of twelve short stories, that were written by R. David Fulcher. They're mostly horror stories with elements of fantasy.
The stories are distinct from one another, and the pacing and length of each one are good. I didn't have any issues with the writing style. The descriptions and world building are solid. One of the stories (An Unlikely Hero) is divided into chapters, which seemed unnecessary to me while I was reading it.
My biggest issue with this collection is that it has the undeniable feeling of "This was written by a white man". The amount of female characters was close to none, two of which were sexually assaulted and dead, and the rest didn't really matter. Some descriptions of women's bodies made me uncomfortable. There's also thinly woven racism through the book, in a way that most of white authors don't realize they were being racist, but from the perspective of a reader it's much more noticeable.
One of the things that really irked me was the lack of research and calling HIV "the AIDS virus" by a medical professional. Come on, it would have took anyone no more than five minutes with Google not to make that mistake. HIV is the virus, AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, it's not that hard to understand.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, even if parts of it went into Yikes City territory. I wouldn't reread it, but it was entertaining and I especially liked the horror parts.
November 14, 2020
I am not a short story reader, however I truly enjoyed reading these stories.. with each story I wanted more... would definitely recommend. Enjoy 😉 these stories as I did .
July 14, 2020
Another book of short stories you fell in love immediately. The stories had an accurate description power, an absolutely awesome narration and right speckle of grime and blood. And the fear of darkness, of course. My favourite ones are hard to pick since I found all of them interesting. But I really enjoyed the Porch talk; with its deep moral; the literally most creepy The Shamblers; thanks Chuck I am always kind to old people; and the Lighthouse itself with its haunting daunting atmosphere and a strange sense of justice.
The book is maybe short but experience from its reading it's long-lasting. Between the lines of stories, you could feel author's professional approach and quality writing which improves the whole "picture".
I would recommend this book to all novices and longtime short-story readers who are looking for a bit in pages but a lot more in content.
The book is maybe short but experience from its reading it's long-lasting. Between the lines of stories, you could feel author's professional approach and quality writing which improves the whole "picture".
I would recommend this book to all novices and longtime short-story readers who are looking for a bit in pages but a lot more in content.
April 14, 2020
I like short stories and this book had stories which are variety full of different genres and some themes are same and very good to read. Super naturals was common, some were military army based and death got into them too. The author’s writing is very in detail and way fantasy as handled is worth a mention. Very less pages the book managed to get into some great interesting short stories, amazing way of handling prose. I was never aware of the author R David Fulcher earlier and I am interested in reading him more. As I prefer short stories to long novellas, this book was just perfect one for me.
April 17, 2020
A superbly written collection of short stories with differing themes that will appeal to all readers. The use of literary language is brilliant and most of the stories captivate you within the first few sentences. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the collection did not have the predictable or unsatisfactory endings that many short stories often sport. Now, if these were written for 11 year olds instead of adults, the lessons from them would be outstanding. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 11, 2020
BOOKTASTERS hooked me up with this and thanks to the Author David Fulcher
I thought it was an ok book. I didn't really see it as Sci-Fi more horror or paranormal in my view. It takes a lot to surprise or scare me so I tend to stay away from those Genre. But I will say that some of the stories in this collection were very interesting and I'm glad I found it and will look out for more from him.
I thought it was an ok book. I didn't really see it as Sci-Fi more horror or paranormal in my view. It takes a lot to surprise or scare me so I tend to stay away from those Genre. But I will say that some of the stories in this collection were very interesting and I'm glad I found it and will look out for more from him.
October 25, 2020
I was expecting a bit more of historical fiction meets the supernatural then I felt like I got. The first story centering around the lighthouse was the best of the short stories in my opinion. The other stories were a bit predictable yet too complicated overall. I feel like the author was trying to go for a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits kind of story in many ways; but didn’t quite reach that level.
March 17, 2022
As the author points, the book is a collection of 12 short stories. Each one has some theme of supernatural or horror or both combined together. There were elements of time travel which could be scifi but it had more of initial themes rather than scifi theme. Also overall all stories lacked detail narrative. It felt like random story ideas were put together. I think if they were worked upon more, they could have made for better short stories.
April 29, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the short stories are ok. Some of them are predictable and they tend to loose me.
There are some that are quite good: "An Unlikely Hero", the "Lighthouse at Montauk Point" and "The Truth About Dr Mansfield" are worth a read.
Overall I think it's very enjoyable; I'd liked to have a coherence, but that's just my taste on short stories.
There are some that are quite good: "An Unlikely Hero", the "Lighthouse at Montauk Point" and "The Truth About Dr Mansfield" are worth a read.
Overall I think it's very enjoyable; I'd liked to have a coherence, but that's just my taste on short stories.
August 7, 2022
The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories by R. David Fulcher is an anthology of psychological horror. Not the gruesome, gory type, but a selection of supernatural drama, dark fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, and psychological thrillers with most serving up an unexpected twist. Some stories take you to another dimension like “The Lighthouse at Montauk Point” which seems to be grounded in the life of a criminal on the run, only to learn he has escaped into the supernatural.
For this review, I’ll name my three favorites. The first is “The Shamblers,” a story of boys growing up in the 80s who enjoyed taunting the elderly men in their community. The backstory sets things up perfectly. Kids that don’t scare easily, bike riding, the woods, slingshots, and old men shambling along like easy targets. Of course, since I don’t include spoilers, I won’t say more, except that if you enjoy the original Twilight Zone, you won’t want to miss this one.
Taking the number 2 spot on my list of favorites is “Drawing the Ace.” This story centers on an unwary traveler by the name of Phil Stevens. He’s a regular everyday guy who hopes to get some shut-eye on a long flight. During the flight, a second passenger takes the seat beside him and wakes him up. This chatty guy talks about his days as a pilot in WWII. Phil wonders about the guy. He looks to be middle-aged, yet he talks about fighting the Japs and the Krauts in the air. He says, “…the books are full of statistics about how this side had so many of these planes and that side had so many of these planes, but any pilot out there would have told you it was the man and not the machine.” For Phil, this statement becomes very real and carries with it a moral to the story with an unexpected twist.
My third favorite is a dark fantasy called “The Faerie Lights.” The best way I can describe this one is Gulliver’s Travels gone wrong. Tiny ethereal beings with Elvin features and gossamer wings bring a parched traveler tiny goblets of wine made from clove and dandelion. All seems well but the sun is setting and the traveler finds himself in a dreamlike state as these tiny beings tug him along by his feet taking him to…. Like I said, no spoilers, but if you enjoy Tales from the Crypt, this one is for you.
And I must give an honorable mention to “Boogeyman.” It includes a boy, bedtime, and the monster in the closet. This is another twilight-zone-like story with a macabre end that I give a thumbs up.
R. David Fulcher’s story concepts are original and enjoyable. He does a good job of crafting enough backstory to pull the reader in. Several of the stories are set against a backdrop of growing up in the 80s. If you enjoy psychological thrillers without gore, or a fan of the original Twilight Zone, then you’ll enjoy The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories thoroughly. In my opinion, the writing could be a little tighter and less passive, but the stories are entertaining and worth a read. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with Booktasters.
For this review, I’ll name my three favorites. The first is “The Shamblers,” a story of boys growing up in the 80s who enjoyed taunting the elderly men in their community. The backstory sets things up perfectly. Kids that don’t scare easily, bike riding, the woods, slingshots, and old men shambling along like easy targets. Of course, since I don’t include spoilers, I won’t say more, except that if you enjoy the original Twilight Zone, you won’t want to miss this one.
Taking the number 2 spot on my list of favorites is “Drawing the Ace.” This story centers on an unwary traveler by the name of Phil Stevens. He’s a regular everyday guy who hopes to get some shut-eye on a long flight. During the flight, a second passenger takes the seat beside him and wakes him up. This chatty guy talks about his days as a pilot in WWII. Phil wonders about the guy. He looks to be middle-aged, yet he talks about fighting the Japs and the Krauts in the air. He says, “…the books are full of statistics about how this side had so many of these planes and that side had so many of these planes, but any pilot out there would have told you it was the man and not the machine.” For Phil, this statement becomes very real and carries with it a moral to the story with an unexpected twist.
My third favorite is a dark fantasy called “The Faerie Lights.” The best way I can describe this one is Gulliver’s Travels gone wrong. Tiny ethereal beings with Elvin features and gossamer wings bring a parched traveler tiny goblets of wine made from clove and dandelion. All seems well but the sun is setting and the traveler finds himself in a dreamlike state as these tiny beings tug him along by his feet taking him to…. Like I said, no spoilers, but if you enjoy Tales from the Crypt, this one is for you.
And I must give an honorable mention to “Boogeyman.” It includes a boy, bedtime, and the monster in the closet. This is another twilight-zone-like story with a macabre end that I give a thumbs up.
R. David Fulcher’s story concepts are original and enjoyable. He does a good job of crafting enough backstory to pull the reader in. Several of the stories are set against a backdrop of growing up in the 80s. If you enjoy psychological thrillers without gore, or a fan of the original Twilight Zone, then you’ll enjoy The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories thoroughly. In my opinion, the writing could be a little tighter and less passive, but the stories are entertaining and worth a read. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with Booktasters.
October 9, 2022
My thanks to the author R David Fulcher for a review copy of this book via Booktasters.
The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories is a collection of a dozen short stories, many just a page or two in length, others longer. The genres are varied, but most do have an element of the uncanny about them, whether downright creepy (the ‘horror’ genre) or taking one into fairy tale or fantasy spaces or extraordinary occurrences.
These stories are peopled by an assortment of characters, among them criminals attempting to escape the authorities or their wrongs; a traveller lost in a reverie which transports him to a different world altogether; a child fearing the stuff of nightmares as children typically do; a juvenile who harasses the elderly in his town; an air force pilot defecting based on an appearance by god in his dream; a father rescuing his child from the clutches of a dragon, and even a possible vampire. Some characters one feels sympathy for, but many are unlikeable and one is pleased at them getting their just desserts even if the way this comes about gives one shudders.
For someone who isn’t much of a reader of horror stories (mild horror is as far as I can go), it was surprising to find that among the stories I enjoyed most in this collection were ones that would classify as horror. ‘The Shamblers’ for instance, where a group of juveniles harass and pick on the elderly in their town had an ending I certainly didn’t see coming until just when it played out. In the titular ‘The Lighthouse at Montauk Point’, ‘Retribution’ or ‘Gold Fever’ while one might guess what end might be in store, one doesn’t really guess how it would really come about.
In most of the stories with a creepy element, I felt the imagery came through very strongly and well—one could picture, and indeed to some level, even feel the occurrences as they were unfolding, with goosebumps or shivers down one’s spine. Whether it is zombies reaching out for their victim, or another being feasted on by tiny creatures or a nightmare suddenly turning real, there is quite the range of downright chilling images, some with their share of gore.
Of course, not all the stories are quite so scary, we have the milder ‘Drawing the Ace’ where a young student flying to Europe meets a retired airforce captain; a grandson worried about his grandfather when the woods the latter spent most of his life around are to be felled for timber or even the fantasy ‘An Unlikely Hero’ where a father’s quest to rescue his daughter from a dragon turns out rather different to what he (and the reader) imagines.
Overall, this was a rather enjoyable collection of stories to read. Their short length for me worked in their favour; the fact that the creepy elements, vivid though they were, played out fast and quick made me able to handle them (and dare I say ‘enjoy’ them) a lot better than I otherwise would have. Certainly a good pick for Halloween season.
The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories is a collection of a dozen short stories, many just a page or two in length, others longer. The genres are varied, but most do have an element of the uncanny about them, whether downright creepy (the ‘horror’ genre) or taking one into fairy tale or fantasy spaces or extraordinary occurrences.
These stories are peopled by an assortment of characters, among them criminals attempting to escape the authorities or their wrongs; a traveller lost in a reverie which transports him to a different world altogether; a child fearing the stuff of nightmares as children typically do; a juvenile who harasses the elderly in his town; an air force pilot defecting based on an appearance by god in his dream; a father rescuing his child from the clutches of a dragon, and even a possible vampire. Some characters one feels sympathy for, but many are unlikeable and one is pleased at them getting their just desserts even if the way this comes about gives one shudders.
For someone who isn’t much of a reader of horror stories (mild horror is as far as I can go), it was surprising to find that among the stories I enjoyed most in this collection were ones that would classify as horror. ‘The Shamblers’ for instance, where a group of juveniles harass and pick on the elderly in their town had an ending I certainly didn’t see coming until just when it played out. In the titular ‘The Lighthouse at Montauk Point’, ‘Retribution’ or ‘Gold Fever’ while one might guess what end might be in store, one doesn’t really guess how it would really come about.
In most of the stories with a creepy element, I felt the imagery came through very strongly and well—one could picture, and indeed to some level, even feel the occurrences as they were unfolding, with goosebumps or shivers down one’s spine. Whether it is zombies reaching out for their victim, or another being feasted on by tiny creatures or a nightmare suddenly turning real, there is quite the range of downright chilling images, some with their share of gore.
Of course, not all the stories are quite so scary, we have the milder ‘Drawing the Ace’ where a young student flying to Europe meets a retired airforce captain; a grandson worried about his grandfather when the woods the latter spent most of his life around are to be felled for timber or even the fantasy ‘An Unlikely Hero’ where a father’s quest to rescue his daughter from a dragon turns out rather different to what he (and the reader) imagines.
Overall, this was a rather enjoyable collection of stories to read. Their short length for me worked in their favour; the fact that the creepy elements, vivid though they were, played out fast and quick made me able to handle them (and dare I say ‘enjoy’ them) a lot better than I otherwise would have. Certainly a good pick for Halloween season.
August 22, 2024
i've decided to review this book separately, so i can share my thoughts of every story
first: the lighthouse at montauk point
- i really like lighthouse-related media, ever since i watched robert egger's extraordinary film, so i was pretty excited to read this one. unfortunately, it didn't really match my expectations. i understand that it is a short story, however, everything happened way too fast and i couldn't connect with it.
- i enjoyed the premise, but i think the actual text was lacking some depth.
second: drawing the ace
- this one didn't really hook me. like the previous, this story also involves time travel, which isn't one of my favourite themes. besides that, i'm not a fan of plane-related things, so it personally wasn't for me.
third: the wings of enlightenment
- i couldn't really identify a plot, or at least i didn't understand it. again, planes.
fourth: retribution
- it was a curious story. although i didn't particularly enjoy it, it was probably the one that captivated me the most, so far.
fifth: the faerie lights
- i found this one to be actually interesting. i have a thing for stories written in letters or warning messages , and the theme was one that interests me. i would definitely read a longer version of this.
sixth: porch talk
- didn't really see the point in this one. i guess it tries to be emotional, but it's really hard for a short story to achieve a connection between the characters and the reader, and this was one of those. it stoods out because of how different it is, comparing to the other texts, but nothing more. it just seems out of place.
seventh: an unlikely hero
- at first, the plot was a cliche, but then the plot twist happened. i'm not really sure what to think about it. it seemed a bit out of nowhere and, after the discovery, it ended too fast. it's kind of weird that they wanted to stay there.
eight: the shamblers
- well, this one was not a cliche for sure. i liked the ending and it was, overall, an original story.
ninth: the bogeyman
- it was average, nothing too wow. just a normal story.
tenth: gold fever
- i honestly can't say i understood the story. i guess i did, but ?????
eleventh: the truth about dr. mansfield
- i liked this one! a mix of "dracula" and "the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde".
twelfth: the walker
- i truly have nothing to say about it. it was a story. that's it. meh.
(got the book in exchange for an honest review)
first: the lighthouse at montauk point
- i really like lighthouse-related media, ever since i watched robert egger's extraordinary film, so i was pretty excited to read this one. unfortunately, it didn't really match my expectations. i understand that it is a short story, however, everything happened way too fast and i couldn't connect with it.
- i enjoyed the premise, but i think the actual text was lacking some depth.
second: drawing the ace
- this one didn't really hook me. like the previous, this story also involves time travel, which isn't one of my favourite themes. besides that, i'm not a fan of plane-related things, so it personally wasn't for me.
third: the wings of enlightenment
- i couldn't really identify a plot, or at least i didn't understand it. again, planes.
fourth: retribution
- it was a curious story. although i didn't particularly enjoy it, it was probably the one that captivated me the most, so far.
fifth: the faerie lights
- i found this one to be actually interesting. i have a thing for stories written in letters or warning messages , and the theme was one that interests me. i would definitely read a longer version of this.
sixth: porch talk
- didn't really see the point in this one. i guess it tries to be emotional, but it's really hard for a short story to achieve a connection between the characters and the reader, and this was one of those. it stoods out because of how different it is, comparing to the other texts, but nothing more. it just seems out of place.
seventh: an unlikely hero
- at first, the plot was a cliche, but then the plot twist happened. i'm not really sure what to think about it. it seemed a bit out of nowhere and, after the discovery, it ended too fast. it's kind of weird that they wanted to stay there.
eight: the shamblers
- well, this one was not a cliche for sure. i liked the ending and it was, overall, an original story.
ninth: the bogeyman
- it was average, nothing too wow. just a normal story.
tenth: gold fever
- i honestly can't say i understood the story. i guess i did, but ?????
eleventh: the truth about dr. mansfield
- i liked this one! a mix of "dracula" and "the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde".
twelfth: the walker
- i truly have nothing to say about it. it was a story. that's it. meh.
(got the book in exchange for an honest review)
July 23, 2022
Short-story collections are often held together by some sort of stylistic glue. Even if the topics are disparate, the author’s style and tendencies act like a through line of sorts.
“The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories” by R. David Fulcher, on the other hand, is all over the map – metaphorically and literally. And that has less to do with the creation than the curation.
The dozen tales in the collection were penned over several decades. As Fincher writes in the intro: “Only recently have I been reunited with some of them after tedious searches through old boxes and files. … Others represent my most recent efforts.” Occasional anachronisms reveal which stories are older, like a character’s Walkman batteries dying while he’s on a transcontinental flight.
There is one thing shared by all the stories: They create a sense of uneasiness in the reader.
The titular story’s lighthouse includes some unexpected tenants. In another, a drug dealer evades the cops by plunging into sewers, where he’s met by zombie-child addicts. In another, a doctor tries to hide his dark secret until his manner of death reveals it, even as his fellow doctors refuse to believe the obvious.
In some cases, the unsettling feelings are triggered by tales in the horror genre, in others it’s sci-fi, in others it’s fantasy. They often conclude with a character meeting an untimely demise. And even in the cases when that doesn’t happen, something still ends up feeling … off.
My favorite of the bunch is a tale of a long-ago village nestled beside the Sleeping Mountain. In that landmark lives a dragon who randomly snatches children, causing their fathers to journey to the mountain to confront the beast. Neither children nor fathers are ever seen again. In this case, a rotund baker whose daughter was kidnapped makes the journey only to find things in the mountain are not at all like he expected.
Some of the stories last only a few pages, others are considerably longer, but each of them can easily be completed in less than 15 minutes. It’s an enjoyable, if creepy, read.
“The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories” by R. David Fulcher, on the other hand, is all over the map – metaphorically and literally. And that has less to do with the creation than the curation.
The dozen tales in the collection were penned over several decades. As Fincher writes in the intro: “Only recently have I been reunited with some of them after tedious searches through old boxes and files. … Others represent my most recent efforts.” Occasional anachronisms reveal which stories are older, like a character’s Walkman batteries dying while he’s on a transcontinental flight.
There is one thing shared by all the stories: They create a sense of uneasiness in the reader.
The titular story’s lighthouse includes some unexpected tenants. In another, a drug dealer evades the cops by plunging into sewers, where he’s met by zombie-child addicts. In another, a doctor tries to hide his dark secret until his manner of death reveals it, even as his fellow doctors refuse to believe the obvious.
In some cases, the unsettling feelings are triggered by tales in the horror genre, in others it’s sci-fi, in others it’s fantasy. They often conclude with a character meeting an untimely demise. And even in the cases when that doesn’t happen, something still ends up feeling … off.
My favorite of the bunch is a tale of a long-ago village nestled beside the Sleeping Mountain. In that landmark lives a dragon who randomly snatches children, causing their fathers to journey to the mountain to confront the beast. Neither children nor fathers are ever seen again. In this case, a rotund baker whose daughter was kidnapped makes the journey only to find things in the mountain are not at all like he expected.
Some of the stories last only a few pages, others are considerably longer, but each of them can easily be completed in less than 15 minutes. It’s an enjoyable, if creepy, read.
March 28, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.)
Can a location be haunted by a being who met death elsewhere? Do we bring our own hauntings with us wherever we go? These are just a couple of the questions inspired by the first story in this unnerving collection of short and super-short stories. No real gory horror here, just thought-provoking, unsettling, eerie atmosphere pieces to engage the brain as well as the emotions.
The opening tale, “The Lighthouse at Montauk Point” is the most traditional of the stories presented. It’s also the longest of the stories prevented, at 18 pages. A man, a defunct lighthouse at night, ghosts from his past. Delightfully scary with an atmosphere that will stay with you long after the pages are read and turned.
The next two stories take on the subject of military aviation, but from completely different perspectives, one harshly realistic in tone and one more ethereal. Either one may leave you with your head tilted, pondering how the situations came to pass and what happened after the last page.
One problem with the super-short story form is that describing the story in any detail for a review is nearly impossible without giving away salient plot points and spoilers. Let us leave it that all the stories in this slender volume will leave you thinking, pondering, and a bit unsettled, and it is well worth the time to read it.
Can a location be haunted by a being who met death elsewhere? Do we bring our own hauntings with us wherever we go? These are just a couple of the questions inspired by the first story in this unnerving collection of short and super-short stories. No real gory horror here, just thought-provoking, unsettling, eerie atmosphere pieces to engage the brain as well as the emotions.
The opening tale, “The Lighthouse at Montauk Point” is the most traditional of the stories presented. It’s also the longest of the stories prevented, at 18 pages. A man, a defunct lighthouse at night, ghosts from his past. Delightfully scary with an atmosphere that will stay with you long after the pages are read and turned.
The next two stories take on the subject of military aviation, but from completely different perspectives, one harshly realistic in tone and one more ethereal. Either one may leave you with your head tilted, pondering how the situations came to pass and what happened after the last page.
One problem with the super-short story form is that describing the story in any detail for a review is nearly impossible without giving away salient plot points and spoilers. Let us leave it that all the stories in this slender volume will leave you thinking, pondering, and a bit unsettled, and it is well worth the time to read it.
September 16, 2022
This book is good if you don't have time to get overly involved in a page-turning book. A story a night, or more, if you choose, and then off to sleep or whatever. Each story made for a good reading break in my day. I tried to read at least one a night before bed time. None of the topics were scary (to me).
Each of the twelve stories are different, and it was apparent that the author did not write them all in one setting, but over a span of time (which he mentions that in the book). I liked some stories more than others. There are some topics that would not make this a good young adult book, it is solely for adults. Adults who enjoy short stories will like the book. There were a few stories that I would have liked a little more than a short story. There was a good plot in a few of them that could have easily been expanded on.
Each of the twelve stories are different, and it was apparent that the author did not write them all in one setting, but over a span of time (which he mentions that in the book). I liked some stories more than others. There are some topics that would not make this a good young adult book, it is solely for adults. Adults who enjoy short stories will like the book. There were a few stories that I would have liked a little more than a short story. There was a good plot in a few of them that could have easily been expanded on.
June 20, 2022
A compilation of very diverse stories, an exercise of daydreaming ideas by the writer. Nothing too deep, with predictable endings. You will find some characters that beg for a longer stories. And the ones they have, lead you to plotwists that have zero bussisnes appearing in the story (time travel, reencarnation, twilight zone material). At the end you feel the disappointment of the missing oportunities with some of the characters and stories and you feel the lack of a common thread between the stories.
Best stories: The Truth about Dr. Mansfield , The Faerie Lights and Gold Fever.
Special mention to the unnecesary idea of making the first protagonist an inmigrant and a rapist.
Best stories: The Truth about Dr. Mansfield , The Faerie Lights and Gold Fever.
Special mention to the unnecesary idea of making the first protagonist an inmigrant and a rapist.
June 12, 2022
I am very happy to read these short story books which are explained amazingly well. A combination of sci-fi and horror stories makes it very unique in's way. The title of the stories is very interesting like 'Gold Fever' is very different which excites me to read the stories. Stories are surrounded by moved around rural America and Germany.
Going from one genre to another in a while is very exciting for me while reading this book.
Thank you for providing this book to me booktasters and writer RDF sir.
Going from one genre to another in a while is very exciting for me while reading this book.
Thank you for providing this book to me booktasters and writer RDF sir.
January 24, 2023
This book contains 12 short stories. None of the story became my fav. There's one story, that divided into each part. The story is already short, why it should be divided to each part.
The narration description is too much details, I guess. I thought this book is YA, but I'm wrong.
The narration description is too much details, I guess. I thought this book is YA, but I'm wrong.
December 1, 2021
I'd say it's a very good book. It tells a story I could relate to, albeit being abstract from the character.
March 8, 2022
An interesting collection of stories which were catchy and nicely written. A few of them drew me in, namely Drawing and the Lighthouse. Worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews