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City of Hell Chronicles: Volume 1
There is no god, no angels, no redemption; only suffering. The Ant-headed Old One ‘The Great Maurr’ has risen and brought hell to earth. The land is scorched and the human race decimated, eaten or tortured. Only three cities remain, crumbled dying versions of their former selves: London, Moscow and Hong Kong.The Great Maurr’s own City of Hell dominates most of North America. Its diabolical influence has turned ordinary citizens into torturers, debased slaves, lunatics and zealots.
With an eruption at Yellowstone, the likes of which humanity has never seen before, The Old-One tore apart the land, and ascended to rule, aided by its faithful army of acolytes. From the core of the earth it crawled up on to the land, spreading disease and insanity to all corners of the globe.
The City of Hell Chronicles tells tales of survival, death and debauchery.
The first anthology features eight stories from seven international authors.
With an eruption at Yellowstone, the likes of which humanity has never seen before, The Old-One tore apart the land, and ascended to rule, aided by its faithful army of acolytes. From the core of the earth it crawled up on to the land, spreading disease and insanity to all corners of the globe.
The City of Hell Chronicles tells tales of survival, death and debauchery.
The first anthology features eight stories from seven international authors.
- GenresHorror
129 pages, ebook
First published November 20, 2011
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Colin F. Barnes
25 books194 followersColin F. Barnes is a British author of thrillers featuring working-class heroes doing extraordinary things. He is published by 47North, Audible, and Podium. He is represented by Paul Lucas of Janklow & Nesbit.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 28, 2011
City of Hell Chronicles available through Anachron Press November 2011
City of Hell is a series of short stories that had me taken completely by surprise. Let me just say that I was warned and am doing the same for you: this is an 18 and older book. Due to some language, sexual content, and just plain scariness, this is best left for mature audiences. That said, onto my review:
I’ve read some short story collections before and expected this to be similar. It wasn’t. The stories were each by a different author and yet they flowed into one another to go toward a bigger picture of what was happening. The stories chronicle a fracture in the Earth that allows creatures out of your worst nightmare to erupt from within and wreak havoc on six continents. The exclusion of the one isn’t what you think by the way. Each story was well crafted and designed in such a way that it could easily stand alone. Each one was terrifying not in the violence, although that at times did make me put down my tea and swallow a bit reluctantly. It was the concept, what the invaders did to colonize and destroy. While our human minds attempt to pooh pooh the possibility that anything like this might happen or that the authors took too much license in their thoughts on what another race might do should they want to enslave, I was able to find similar examples of atrocities not so far back in our own history.
In short, if you want a sci fi, horror read that will give you a serious case of heebie jeebies check this one out.
City of Hell is a series of short stories that had me taken completely by surprise. Let me just say that I was warned and am doing the same for you: this is an 18 and older book. Due to some language, sexual content, and just plain scariness, this is best left for mature audiences. That said, onto my review:
I’ve read some short story collections before and expected this to be similar. It wasn’t. The stories were each by a different author and yet they flowed into one another to go toward a bigger picture of what was happening. The stories chronicle a fracture in the Earth that allows creatures out of your worst nightmare to erupt from within and wreak havoc on six continents. The exclusion of the one isn’t what you think by the way. Each story was well crafted and designed in such a way that it could easily stand alone. Each one was terrifying not in the violence, although that at times did make me put down my tea and swallow a bit reluctantly. It was the concept, what the invaders did to colonize and destroy. While our human minds attempt to pooh pooh the possibility that anything like this might happen or that the authors took too much license in their thoughts on what another race might do should they want to enslave, I was able to find similar examples of atrocities not so far back in our own history.
In short, if you want a sci fi, horror read that will give you a serious case of heebie jeebies check this one out.
December 3, 2011
City of Hell is aptly named. Going into this, I only knew one detail: There would be bugs.
I'm not a huge bug fan, and worried that this would be a let down for something I really wanted to love. I've been looking for a horror book that sticks with me. That's how I measure the quality of the read. Let me tell you, this book is still floating around in my brain, much the way Maurr's influence did over his minions.
The anthology reads as a continuous story, but you can pick any chapter to start with and more or less just start reading--that's what I did. I didn't feel out of sorts or lost by starting in the middle, but of course when I started from the beginning it answered a few questions that came up.
The world building in this story sucked me in and I swear I read it in HD TV. Every careful description mingled with the action vividly drew me along the journey. The twists and turns had me holding my breath in parts and panting heavy in others. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone searching for a new and horrible world to explore. Took me back to the movie Ants, only real and terribly disturbing. Perfect horror read!
I'm not a huge bug fan, and worried that this would be a let down for something I really wanted to love. I've been looking for a horror book that sticks with me. That's how I measure the quality of the read. Let me tell you, this book is still floating around in my brain, much the way Maurr's influence did over his minions.
The anthology reads as a continuous story, but you can pick any chapter to start with and more or less just start reading--that's what I did. I didn't feel out of sorts or lost by starting in the middle, but of course when I started from the beginning it answered a few questions that came up.
The world building in this story sucked me in and I swear I read it in HD TV. Every careful description mingled with the action vividly drew me along the journey. The twists and turns had me holding my breath in parts and panting heavy in others. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone searching for a new and horrible world to explore. Took me back to the movie Ants, only real and terribly disturbing. Perfect horror read!
November 29, 2011
The Ant-headed God ‘The Great Maurr’ has ascended to rule the Earth and enslave the population. These are the chronicles of the last few survivors. Only three cities remain: Moscow, London and Hong Kong. All crumbling, dying versions of their former glory. The Great Maurr’s own City of Hell dominates most of North America. Its diabolical influence has turned ordinary citizens into torturers, debased slaves, lunatics and zealots.
Recently I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read The City of Hell Chronicles Volume One. This collection contains eight stories all detailing the same apocalyptic event, and with the exception of the first, all are written by female authors.
Genesis by Colin F Barnes - Franklin Garrett, a retired clockmaker, is obsessed with creating a machine he sees in his dreams. Haunted by the loss of his wife and driven by voices that only he can hear he is determined to succeed. Franklin’s increasing madness is the catalyst that allows Maurr to begin his campaign of slavery against humanity.
I’m a great believer that the first story in a collection has to capture your imagination. Genesis manages this unenviable task and sets the overall tone for the remainder of the anthology perfectly.
Medical Report by Victoria Griesdoorn - A doctor’s report details the examination of a giant centipede that has been captured by the authorities.
This is a unique story, in that it literally is a medical report. The extensive detail put into this ‘report’, particularly surrounding the side effects of human contact with the insects, gives it a genuine feel.
The Door From Below by Ren Warom - In Hong Kong, mysterious doors appear and a group of silent creatures, nicknamed the Stock Takers, walk the streets. What do they want and will Sho, Sadao and Jin live long enough to find out?
This story features a great example of a tough as nails heroine. Jin witnesses horror after horror but she has a grim determination that keeps her fighting. She steadfastly refuses to give into despair that surrounds her. This story is left wide open at its end and I have to admit I have a burning curiosity about what happens next. The final couple of paragraphs are brilliant and the last sentence is an absolute belter.
London Calling by Kendall Grey - Rane, lost and alone, on the streets of London meets a group of strange monks. Has she finally found an opportunity for salvation as the world around her falls apart?
For me, this was perhaps the darkest of all the stories in the collection. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the ending, suffice to say that in this case it is way beyond grim. This one is going to stay with me for a while.
The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud - Jory and Belak have made a pact. They have decided when they will die and they won’t let anyone or anything keep them apart.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be any more shocked, this story comes along and delivers a cavalcade of harrowing images. This is a story about seeking escape when there is only one avenue left to follow.
Final Passage by Belinda Frisch - Following a group of slaves deep within the City of Hell itself we go underground for the first time in the anthology. An increasingly desperate family tries to escape the confines of the insect’s lair.
The Nursery by Amy L. Overley - Otter spends her days scavenging in what is left of Yellowstone National Park, a chance encounter with a human/insect hybrid has disastrous results.
Final Passage and The Nursery both offer some nice insight into how the insect society functions. The reader gets details of the insects breeding program and how they plan to use humanity in a variety of gruesome ways. Like an occupying army they plan to make our home their own and to reshape our lives to their benefit. The full scope of Maurr’s plan is finally revealed.
Sanguine by Victoria Griesdoorn - Ines has learned to scrape by in the ruins of Moscow. Orphaned by the Apocalypse she survives by running errands that help keep the fragile barter economy afloat. While out on one such errand she gets the opportunity for revenge against a man who ruined her life.
This final story has one of the best lines of the entire anthology – “F**k, insects shouldn’t have opposable thumbs”. Nice to see some dark humour mixed in with all the horror. Sanguine rounds off the collection on a slightly more upbeat note. It may even contain the smallest glimmer of hope?
Each entry in The City of Hell gives the reader a glimpse into the struggles of those trying to survive against over-whelming odds. In all honesty, I found it very difficult to pick a personal favourite amongst all these gems. Each writer has been given the opportunity to shine and they all bring their ‘A’ game. Not only do the stories work in isolation they also form a rather wonderful whole.
On a superficial level, The City of Hell may appear to just be a collection of stories about giant insects invading the Earth, but if you choose to look deeper you will find there is much more to discover. These eight horrific vignettes explore the trauma of loss, the nature of trust and the meaning of hope. It was an unexpected pleasure to discover the additional depth in each story. It is a compendium of the darkest horror. Each story builds on the last to create a vision that is a truly a unique and compelling read.
In the past I’ve been somewhat critical of apocalyptic fiction that doesn’t give the reader any idea into what is going on elsewhere in the world. I’m glad to say that City of Hell manages successfully to avoid that trap; these stories span the entire globe. When reading about apocalyptic events, this is exactly what I am looking for. I want to have that sense of things happening on a huge epic scale, but still retain that personal, human element.
I would offer one word of advice however; if you are not a fan of (a) giant insects or (b) body horror you may want to give this a miss. There are bucket loads of visceral imagery described. There are some nasty transformations, decapitations, births (yes I said births) and deaths that all rank pretty highly on the Ick-ometer. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This collection is published by Anachron Press and is available from 1st December 2011. The good news is that according to the publisher’s website there will be further short story collections next year, including a second visit to the City of Hell.
Recently I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read The City of Hell Chronicles Volume One. This collection contains eight stories all detailing the same apocalyptic event, and with the exception of the first, all are written by female authors.
Genesis by Colin F Barnes - Franklin Garrett, a retired clockmaker, is obsessed with creating a machine he sees in his dreams. Haunted by the loss of his wife and driven by voices that only he can hear he is determined to succeed. Franklin’s increasing madness is the catalyst that allows Maurr to begin his campaign of slavery against humanity.
I’m a great believer that the first story in a collection has to capture your imagination. Genesis manages this unenviable task and sets the overall tone for the remainder of the anthology perfectly.
Medical Report by Victoria Griesdoorn - A doctor’s report details the examination of a giant centipede that has been captured by the authorities.
This is a unique story, in that it literally is a medical report. The extensive detail put into this ‘report’, particularly surrounding the side effects of human contact with the insects, gives it a genuine feel.
The Door From Below by Ren Warom - In Hong Kong, mysterious doors appear and a group of silent creatures, nicknamed the Stock Takers, walk the streets. What do they want and will Sho, Sadao and Jin live long enough to find out?
This story features a great example of a tough as nails heroine. Jin witnesses horror after horror but she has a grim determination that keeps her fighting. She steadfastly refuses to give into despair that surrounds her. This story is left wide open at its end and I have to admit I have a burning curiosity about what happens next. The final couple of paragraphs are brilliant and the last sentence is an absolute belter.
London Calling by Kendall Grey - Rane, lost and alone, on the streets of London meets a group of strange monks. Has she finally found an opportunity for salvation as the world around her falls apart?
For me, this was perhaps the darkest of all the stories in the collection. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the ending, suffice to say that in this case it is way beyond grim. This one is going to stay with me for a while.
The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud - Jory and Belak have made a pact. They have decided when they will die and they won’t let anyone or anything keep them apart.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be any more shocked, this story comes along and delivers a cavalcade of harrowing images. This is a story about seeking escape when there is only one avenue left to follow.
Final Passage by Belinda Frisch - Following a group of slaves deep within the City of Hell itself we go underground for the first time in the anthology. An increasingly desperate family tries to escape the confines of the insect’s lair.
The Nursery by Amy L. Overley - Otter spends her days scavenging in what is left of Yellowstone National Park, a chance encounter with a human/insect hybrid has disastrous results.
Final Passage and The Nursery both offer some nice insight into how the insect society functions. The reader gets details of the insects breeding program and how they plan to use humanity in a variety of gruesome ways. Like an occupying army they plan to make our home their own and to reshape our lives to their benefit. The full scope of Maurr’s plan is finally revealed.
Sanguine by Victoria Griesdoorn - Ines has learned to scrape by in the ruins of Moscow. Orphaned by the Apocalypse she survives by running errands that help keep the fragile barter economy afloat. While out on one such errand she gets the opportunity for revenge against a man who ruined her life.
This final story has one of the best lines of the entire anthology – “F**k, insects shouldn’t have opposable thumbs”. Nice to see some dark humour mixed in with all the horror. Sanguine rounds off the collection on a slightly more upbeat note. It may even contain the smallest glimmer of hope?
Each entry in The City of Hell gives the reader a glimpse into the struggles of those trying to survive against over-whelming odds. In all honesty, I found it very difficult to pick a personal favourite amongst all these gems. Each writer has been given the opportunity to shine and they all bring their ‘A’ game. Not only do the stories work in isolation they also form a rather wonderful whole.
On a superficial level, The City of Hell may appear to just be a collection of stories about giant insects invading the Earth, but if you choose to look deeper you will find there is much more to discover. These eight horrific vignettes explore the trauma of loss, the nature of trust and the meaning of hope. It was an unexpected pleasure to discover the additional depth in each story. It is a compendium of the darkest horror. Each story builds on the last to create a vision that is a truly a unique and compelling read.
In the past I’ve been somewhat critical of apocalyptic fiction that doesn’t give the reader any idea into what is going on elsewhere in the world. I’m glad to say that City of Hell manages successfully to avoid that trap; these stories span the entire globe. When reading about apocalyptic events, this is exactly what I am looking for. I want to have that sense of things happening on a huge epic scale, but still retain that personal, human element.
I would offer one word of advice however; if you are not a fan of (a) giant insects or (b) body horror you may want to give this a miss. There are bucket loads of visceral imagery described. There are some nasty transformations, decapitations, births (yes I said births) and deaths that all rank pretty highly on the Ick-ometer. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This collection is published by Anachron Press and is available from 1st December 2011. The good news is that according to the publisher’s website there will be further short story collections next year, including a second visit to the City of Hell.
November 29, 2011
City of Hell Chronicles Vol 1
When the largest caldera on the planet erupts one more time, the world doesn’t sink down into hell, as geologists predict, but rather hell comes to the surface bringing with it an ancient evil, the god Maurr and his insect minions
“Bugs. Why does it have to be bugs?” Centipedes, ants, flies, and wasps. Those things that you feel crawling all over you long after you have put the book down and turned off the lights. But wait, the ‘bugs’ of Maurr, those that herald hell on earth, they crawl all over you in a manner more sinister that you can imagine. They are seven to nine feet tall/long depending on how you measure. They want to suck the eyes out of your head and the guts and blood from your body. If that doesn’t send you screaming into the night, they want something more. They want to breed with you. Maurr demands total domination of the planet. He’s breeding a race of super bugs crossed with humans. You’re not only on the menu, your name is on some creatures ‘dance card’. You’re going to become a part of the colony in a manner most repugnant.
City of Hell Chronicles Vol.1 is an interesting anthology. It is a collection of short stories that reads like a book, each story almost seeming like a chapter in the whole. There isn’t a chronology, but the story definitely rolls right along. I had a moment or two when I felt a slight tremor in the story line as authors switched. For this reason, I only gave it four stars. Maybe that’s not quite fair. It clearly states it is an anthology. Maybe that’s just me. I didn’t want to be pulled out of the story. As a standard in the realm of horror, it deserves a particular five stars on a par with the most sinister apocalyptic thriller.
If you like to think about a book long after you close it for the final time. If you’re not squeamish about what the future might hold, with respect to a meticulous view of hell on earth in all its graphic gore. If you just like a good old collection of horrific stories. Pick up “City of Hell Chronicles Vol. 1”, you won’t be disappointed.
When the largest caldera on the planet erupts one more time, the world doesn’t sink down into hell, as geologists predict, but rather hell comes to the surface bringing with it an ancient evil, the god Maurr and his insect minions
“Bugs. Why does it have to be bugs?” Centipedes, ants, flies, and wasps. Those things that you feel crawling all over you long after you have put the book down and turned off the lights. But wait, the ‘bugs’ of Maurr, those that herald hell on earth, they crawl all over you in a manner more sinister that you can imagine. They are seven to nine feet tall/long depending on how you measure. They want to suck the eyes out of your head and the guts and blood from your body. If that doesn’t send you screaming into the night, they want something more. They want to breed with you. Maurr demands total domination of the planet. He’s breeding a race of super bugs crossed with humans. You’re not only on the menu, your name is on some creatures ‘dance card’. You’re going to become a part of the colony in a manner most repugnant.
City of Hell Chronicles Vol.1 is an interesting anthology. It is a collection of short stories that reads like a book, each story almost seeming like a chapter in the whole. There isn’t a chronology, but the story definitely rolls right along. I had a moment or two when I felt a slight tremor in the story line as authors switched. For this reason, I only gave it four stars. Maybe that’s not quite fair. It clearly states it is an anthology. Maybe that’s just me. I didn’t want to be pulled out of the story. As a standard in the realm of horror, it deserves a particular five stars on a par with the most sinister apocalyptic thriller.
If you like to think about a book long after you close it for the final time. If you’re not squeamish about what the future might hold, with respect to a meticulous view of hell on earth in all its graphic gore. If you just like a good old collection of horrific stories. Pick up “City of Hell Chronicles Vol. 1”, you won’t be disappointed.
November 30, 2011
This is an anthology of stories by seven writers, all of which are set in the City Of Hell setting envisioned by head honcho Colin Barnes. This is post-apocalyptic horror - in a nutshell the world has been overrun by giant insects.
If this gives you an impression that this is a B-movie-esque, tongue in cheek horror, you'd be very much mistaken. Some of the scenes in this book are as grim & dark as they come. There's precious little hope on this book, and despite the multiple authors and styles this shared pessimism comes across and is very effective. I don't know if any of the authors intended their stories to make us think of the worst of humanity's history, but that was certainly the effect on me. As always in the best horror, the bugs are us.
It would be wrong to single out any individual story as a favourite, as they all work remarkably well together (some robust editing, I suspect...) Their are illustrations too, which look good on my Kindle, certainly better than many efforts by big publishing houses.
This one is recommended.
If this gives you an impression that this is a B-movie-esque, tongue in cheek horror, you'd be very much mistaken. Some of the scenes in this book are as grim & dark as they come. There's precious little hope on this book, and despite the multiple authors and styles this shared pessimism comes across and is very effective. I don't know if any of the authors intended their stories to make us think of the worst of humanity's history, but that was certainly the effect on me. As always in the best horror, the bugs are us.
It would be wrong to single out any individual story as a favourite, as they all work remarkably well together (some robust editing, I suspect...) Their are illustrations too, which look good on my Kindle, certainly better than many efforts by big publishing houses.
This one is recommended.
January 2, 2012
First of all, have you visited cityofhellchronicels.com ?! I’ve been in a panic to read this book ever since I first gave the website a look. It captures the unique feel of the anthology in such a way so as to make it almost a mandatory companion to your reading. The author pics are golden and splattery. The artwork is mysterious and alluring and more than a little bit frightening. I like the sketchy look on Colin F. Barnes’ face. And how can you read the book without first seeing the maniacal grin Kendal Gray is sporting in the middle of it all? The whole crazy mix served to wet my appetite in every possible way.
City of Hell Chronicles: Volume 1 is written by eight different authors but I don’t think I’ve ever read an anthology with quite the same crackle and flow. The stories stream together like a burning line of gasoline. Thomas Boatwright’s haunting illustrations are a perfect fit in between, enhancing everything they touch. Like the stories, they stick with you whether you want them to or not. They also work well on an e-reader, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say before. I love my e-reader, yet I often feel that art is difficult to fully enjoy on that little Kindle screen. Boatwright’s work leaps off the Kindle page. His cool, strange images made me curious to read the next story every time, and good news! The website tells me that his captivating illustrations are featured in a standalone art book as well.
Now onto the stories…
Colin F. Barnes expertly sets up the nasty, harsh, and ever-so-exciting world that exists in City of Hell Chronicles: Vol 1 by tossing us right into the frying pan with the appropriately titled, Genesis. Much as Adam and Eve took the helm in God’s lush new world, poor Franklin Garret is positioned center stage at the birth of the grim realm of Maurr, but there is no Garden of Eden in this awful place. A lump of dread parked its self in my throat the whole time I was reading this story. Barnes made me deathly afraid for Franklin and all of humanity, and rightly so. Genesis kicks things off with a great big bang. The book is off and running from there.
Next up is Medical Report by Victoria Griesdoorn, a truly chilling offering that immediately lets you know that things are not going well with the bug invasion. Medical Report is exactly that, a medical report chronicling a really horrific incident with one of Maurr’s minions. It hit me with all the force of a hypodermic plunged hard in the wrong place. Very disturbing!
The Door From Below by Ren Warom tells the story of a frantic race for survival by three young musicians who are interrupted mid-gig in Hong Kong by the burgeoning apocalypse. It has weird doors, antique sabres, bad bugs, and it totally rocks the house. The characters, especially Jin, are tough little guerillas who know how to take care of themselves, but they’ve got their hands full. I loved this story! It was creepy, thrilling, and, like all of the stories in the book, terribly, horribly tragic.
My heart bled for Rane, the heroine in Kendall Grey’s anxiety-inducing short story, London Calling. Set against the familiar but sadly ruined landscape of London, Rane’s fate (if she fails to keep herself safe) will be something far worse than death. Full of surprising twists and turns, this is a particularly gut-wrenching installment in a book rife with gut-wrenching installments. And did I mention that it’s terribly, horribly tragic?
The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud has perhaps the most ironic title in the bunch. No one is lucky in The City of Hell. As if trying to keep one’s self alive isn’t problematic enough, Jory has a little baby to care for. In the best of times, Motherhood comes with a boat-load of guilt, but when bugs attack, forget about it. The monsters in this story live without and within.
There’s another baby (named Hope) in Belinda Frisch’s horrifying Final Passage. This story is the stuff of nightmares – the kind where you’re trapped in an impossible place. The kind where you run but can’t escape. I didn’t stop squirming until I reached the end. The whole book is rather relentless in the intense horror it shovels up so I knew I wasn’t apt to find much comfort in the stories to follow, and I didn’t. Frisch’s story is one of the scariest though and the ending is both heart pounding and heartbreaking.
Just to ensure that things remain ghastly and bleak, The Nursery by Amy L. Overley comes next. This story is an exploration into what it means to be human and it’s gripping, stomach-churning, and a very difficult read, with a few surprisingly poignant moments sprinkled in. Very nicely done.
The book closes with Sanguine, also written by Victoria Griesdoorn, and it’s another gem. Horror abounds for a young woman who seeks to help others after surviving monsters of the human variety. It’s a good, strong, closing piece. The beautifully titled Sanguine left me eager to see what Volume 2 might have in-store for readers, which is exactly what a good story should do.
This is a wildly horrific book. Full of imaginative writing and stories that are just as hellish as they can be, it is manna from Heaven for lovers of gritty, apocalyptic SciFi/Horror. If you can’t take the heat though, you might want to stay out of the kitchen. Not for children or queasy people.
City of Hell Chronicles: Volume 1 is written by eight different authors but I don’t think I’ve ever read an anthology with quite the same crackle and flow. The stories stream together like a burning line of gasoline. Thomas Boatwright’s haunting illustrations are a perfect fit in between, enhancing everything they touch. Like the stories, they stick with you whether you want them to or not. They also work well on an e-reader, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say before. I love my e-reader, yet I often feel that art is difficult to fully enjoy on that little Kindle screen. Boatwright’s work leaps off the Kindle page. His cool, strange images made me curious to read the next story every time, and good news! The website tells me that his captivating illustrations are featured in a standalone art book as well.
Now onto the stories…
Colin F. Barnes expertly sets up the nasty, harsh, and ever-so-exciting world that exists in City of Hell Chronicles: Vol 1 by tossing us right into the frying pan with the appropriately titled, Genesis. Much as Adam and Eve took the helm in God’s lush new world, poor Franklin Garret is positioned center stage at the birth of the grim realm of Maurr, but there is no Garden of Eden in this awful place. A lump of dread parked its self in my throat the whole time I was reading this story. Barnes made me deathly afraid for Franklin and all of humanity, and rightly so. Genesis kicks things off with a great big bang. The book is off and running from there.
Next up is Medical Report by Victoria Griesdoorn, a truly chilling offering that immediately lets you know that things are not going well with the bug invasion. Medical Report is exactly that, a medical report chronicling a really horrific incident with one of Maurr’s minions. It hit me with all the force of a hypodermic plunged hard in the wrong place. Very disturbing!
The Door From Below by Ren Warom tells the story of a frantic race for survival by three young musicians who are interrupted mid-gig in Hong Kong by the burgeoning apocalypse. It has weird doors, antique sabres, bad bugs, and it totally rocks the house. The characters, especially Jin, are tough little guerillas who know how to take care of themselves, but they’ve got their hands full. I loved this story! It was creepy, thrilling, and, like all of the stories in the book, terribly, horribly tragic.
My heart bled for Rane, the heroine in Kendall Grey’s anxiety-inducing short story, London Calling. Set against the familiar but sadly ruined landscape of London, Rane’s fate (if she fails to keep herself safe) will be something far worse than death. Full of surprising twists and turns, this is a particularly gut-wrenching installment in a book rife with gut-wrenching installments. And did I mention that it’s terribly, horribly tragic?
The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud has perhaps the most ironic title in the bunch. No one is lucky in The City of Hell. As if trying to keep one’s self alive isn’t problematic enough, Jory has a little baby to care for. In the best of times, Motherhood comes with a boat-load of guilt, but when bugs attack, forget about it. The monsters in this story live without and within.
There’s another baby (named Hope) in Belinda Frisch’s horrifying Final Passage. This story is the stuff of nightmares – the kind where you’re trapped in an impossible place. The kind where you run but can’t escape. I didn’t stop squirming until I reached the end. The whole book is rather relentless in the intense horror it shovels up so I knew I wasn’t apt to find much comfort in the stories to follow, and I didn’t. Frisch’s story is one of the scariest though and the ending is both heart pounding and heartbreaking.
Just to ensure that things remain ghastly and bleak, The Nursery by Amy L. Overley comes next. This story is an exploration into what it means to be human and it’s gripping, stomach-churning, and a very difficult read, with a few surprisingly poignant moments sprinkled in. Very nicely done.
The book closes with Sanguine, also written by Victoria Griesdoorn, and it’s another gem. Horror abounds for a young woman who seeks to help others after surviving monsters of the human variety. It’s a good, strong, closing piece. The beautifully titled Sanguine left me eager to see what Volume 2 might have in-store for readers, which is exactly what a good story should do.
This is a wildly horrific book. Full of imaginative writing and stories that are just as hellish as they can be, it is manna from Heaven for lovers of gritty, apocalyptic SciFi/Horror. If you can’t take the heat though, you might want to stay out of the kitchen. Not for children or queasy people.
February 8, 2012
Civilization is over as we know it, most of the planet is a scorched wasteland. Only three human cities remain standing: London, Moscow and Hong Kong, they are now shells of their former selves and have become places where humans hide in fear from creatures that wan't to enslave or eat them. This isn't the Mayan prophecycome to life or the zombie apocolypse. The year is 2020 and bugs have taken over the planet.
It all started with an eruption at Yellowstone park followed by an army of bugs emerging from beneath the earth's crust . Their leader is The Great Maurr, a giant ant headed creature who has brought hell to earth and made all of North America into the City of Hell. The Great Maurr has taken over the planet and his bug army has laid waste to everything. Humanity has never known anything like this. there is no more religion, no more rules, just pain and suffering.
This is the setting for master of the macabre participant Collin Barnes' City of Hell Chronicles volume 1. City of Hell Chronicles is the first release from Anachron press which was founded by Collin Barnes. Anachron Press's goal is to produce timeless books that stand on their own. Anachron has already scheduled 3 anthologies for 2012 and is accepting submissions from authors who have great stories to tell.
City of Hell Chronicles is an anthology of 8 stories that shows how the Great Maurr enslaved the planet and how the last few survivers of the human race try to stay alive. The first story in this book is Genesis by Collin Barnes and tells how the end of the human race began. The second story by Victoria Griesdoorn called Medical Report tells what happens when a giant centipede is brought into a hospital and infects the hospital staff.
The third story is The Door From Below by Ren Warom which is about a group of three people who encounter faceless creatures called the stock takers that collect bodies to be turned into bug hybrids. Up next is London Calling by Kendall Grey which is about a woman who meets a group of strange monks that are not what they seem. Fifth on the list is The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud. This one is a tragic love story about a woman trying to find her boyfriend after suffering a great loss.
The Final Passage by Belinda Frisch goes into how the bug society works and follows the story of a group of slaves trying to escape the city of hell. Expanding on the bug society is The Nursery by Amy L. Overley which follows a woman named Otter who is forced to become a part of a bug breeding program and becomes what she hates most. The last story is by Victoria Griesdoorn again and tells the tale of a woman living in a hospital that has to search for fuel to keep the building running and her patients alive.
Three words to describe this book is dark, disturbing and disgusting. I really enjoyed it, this book is exactly what a hard core horror novel should be, it creeps you out because each story presents characters that you can't help to fall in love with and you can't put it down because you wonder if these people are going to survive the harsh conditions they are in. My only problem with the book was that after reading four stories and seeing how dark it was, I felt I knew how the rest of the stories we're going to go but I guess with a book called City of Hell you shouldn't expect happy endings. What you do get to see in this book is stories of humans suffering great losses and doing whatever it takes to survive.
Despite the fact that it is an anthology, I thought the City of Hell Chronicles read like a novel. In each story you see how the conditions get progressivly worse, the bugs get stronger and the humans start to turn on each other. I found myself wondering if the writers talked to each other on how each story would go and how they would relate to each other. The writing in this book was much better then I expected and in the future and I would love to read more from each of these authors. There is a Chronicles Of Hell Volume 2 that will be coming out in 2012 and I can't wait to see where they go next. If your not to scared of bugs and you like your horror dark and scary give Chronicles Of Hell a try, you won't be disappointed.
It all started with an eruption at Yellowstone park followed by an army of bugs emerging from beneath the earth's crust . Their leader is The Great Maurr, a giant ant headed creature who has brought hell to earth and made all of North America into the City of Hell. The Great Maurr has taken over the planet and his bug army has laid waste to everything. Humanity has never known anything like this. there is no more religion, no more rules, just pain and suffering.
This is the setting for master of the macabre participant Collin Barnes' City of Hell Chronicles volume 1. City of Hell Chronicles is the first release from Anachron press which was founded by Collin Barnes. Anachron Press's goal is to produce timeless books that stand on their own. Anachron has already scheduled 3 anthologies for 2012 and is accepting submissions from authors who have great stories to tell.
City of Hell Chronicles is an anthology of 8 stories that shows how the Great Maurr enslaved the planet and how the last few survivers of the human race try to stay alive. The first story in this book is Genesis by Collin Barnes and tells how the end of the human race began. The second story by Victoria Griesdoorn called Medical Report tells what happens when a giant centipede is brought into a hospital and infects the hospital staff.
The third story is The Door From Below by Ren Warom which is about a group of three people who encounter faceless creatures called the stock takers that collect bodies to be turned into bug hybrids. Up next is London Calling by Kendall Grey which is about a woman who meets a group of strange monks that are not what they seem. Fifth on the list is The Lucky Ones by Anne Michaud. This one is a tragic love story about a woman trying to find her boyfriend after suffering a great loss.
The Final Passage by Belinda Frisch goes into how the bug society works and follows the story of a group of slaves trying to escape the city of hell. Expanding on the bug society is The Nursery by Amy L. Overley which follows a woman named Otter who is forced to become a part of a bug breeding program and becomes what she hates most. The last story is by Victoria Griesdoorn again and tells the tale of a woman living in a hospital that has to search for fuel to keep the building running and her patients alive.
Three words to describe this book is dark, disturbing and disgusting. I really enjoyed it, this book is exactly what a hard core horror novel should be, it creeps you out because each story presents characters that you can't help to fall in love with and you can't put it down because you wonder if these people are going to survive the harsh conditions they are in. My only problem with the book was that after reading four stories and seeing how dark it was, I felt I knew how the rest of the stories we're going to go but I guess with a book called City of Hell you shouldn't expect happy endings. What you do get to see in this book is stories of humans suffering great losses and doing whatever it takes to survive.
Despite the fact that it is an anthology, I thought the City of Hell Chronicles read like a novel. In each story you see how the conditions get progressivly worse, the bugs get stronger and the humans start to turn on each other. I found myself wondering if the writers talked to each other on how each story would go and how they would relate to each other. The writing in this book was much better then I expected and in the future and I would love to read more from each of these authors. There is a Chronicles Of Hell Volume 2 that will be coming out in 2012 and I can't wait to see where they go next. If your not to scared of bugs and you like your horror dark and scary give Chronicles Of Hell a try, you won't be disappointed.
December 19, 2011
This is a compelling book, especially if you like your horror to be dark, unrelenting and visceral. In some places reading this is like 'rubbernecking', where you stare at the car wreck on the motorway, knowing you shouldn't look at others' suffering, but you can't help yourself. Morbid fascination causes you to stare. Be warned, it is disturbing and gory, but in a fascinatingly voyeuristic way. It is certainly not for the faint hearted...
One of the most admirable elements of this read is the way the collective authors have pieced together a whole work. The eight stories contained here, combine and weave together to form a whole narrative; told from varying perspectives. It constructs a vicious post apocalyptic world full of suffering, with little hope in sight. The very stuff of nightmares, where the only imperative is to survive. And the chances of that are very slim indeed.
This world begins with a steampunk-like tale, set in our world, in the not too distant future. This involves clocks and mechanisms and a summoning of dark insect forces from below. Slowly our world is consumed, or should I say humanity is consumed by giant predatory insects of all kinds, from ants and centipedes, through wasps and flies. These kill and maim and mate with humanity, producing unimaginable hybrids. Humanity, needless to say, is particularly fragile and ill-equipped for such an invasion.
This might make it seem a far fetched premise, but essentially this a book about the very personal. These are human stories; stories of how ordinary people would act and react, feel and not feel, when faced with ultimate suffering.
The collective authors take us on a journey across the world to tell these personal stories. From a pulsating volcano in Yellowstone park, to the dingy catacombs of London; from Japanese kids playing a wild gig in Hong Kong, to the last desperate medics in Moscow. And much more besides.
I make no apology here for not detailing the plot or plots that are contained. I feel the reader should make their own journey. Personally it made me wonder how I myself would confront such horror, and that is the mark of good writing, when the reader feels empathy. I congratulate the authors.
So I would recommend this book, its imagery still has me thinking, and I wonder where they will take this story next. Why not have a read yourself?
One of the most admirable elements of this read is the way the collective authors have pieced together a whole work. The eight stories contained here, combine and weave together to form a whole narrative; told from varying perspectives. It constructs a vicious post apocalyptic world full of suffering, with little hope in sight. The very stuff of nightmares, where the only imperative is to survive. And the chances of that are very slim indeed.
This world begins with a steampunk-like tale, set in our world, in the not too distant future. This involves clocks and mechanisms and a summoning of dark insect forces from below. Slowly our world is consumed, or should I say humanity is consumed by giant predatory insects of all kinds, from ants and centipedes, through wasps and flies. These kill and maim and mate with humanity, producing unimaginable hybrids. Humanity, needless to say, is particularly fragile and ill-equipped for such an invasion.
This might make it seem a far fetched premise, but essentially this a book about the very personal. These are human stories; stories of how ordinary people would act and react, feel and not feel, when faced with ultimate suffering.
The collective authors take us on a journey across the world to tell these personal stories. From a pulsating volcano in Yellowstone park, to the dingy catacombs of London; from Japanese kids playing a wild gig in Hong Kong, to the last desperate medics in Moscow. And much more besides.
I make no apology here for not detailing the plot or plots that are contained. I feel the reader should make their own journey. Personally it made me wonder how I myself would confront such horror, and that is the mark of good writing, when the reader feels empathy. I congratulate the authors.
So I would recommend this book, its imagery still has me thinking, and I wonder where they will take this story next. Why not have a read yourself?
January 3, 2012
When you think a book wouldn't go there...this one just did.
City of Hell is an anthology comprised of 8 stories written by 7 international authors. Each chronicles the experiences of the few survivors following the rise of the Great Maurr and the enslavement of the human species. Genesis is the first story, introducing retired clockmaker, Franklin Garrett, a bitter man and widower, who serves as the catalyst toward the destruction of humanity. All hell breaks loose afterward.
I made the mistake of reading this book just before bedtime. I'll warn you, it's not for the faint of heart. Nightmares are a side effect and you will be inclined to make multiple sweeps under the bed with a flashlight.
The story is incredibly fast-paced, in spite of the separate stories. Every time I thought I'd 'just finish this part and take a break', I found myself unable to put it down. There is that one scene, so horrific, in each story that just sticks with the reader.
If you've got a strong stomach and are scouting for a grim and grisly tale, I highly recommend this book. City of Hell is a collection that horror fans will want to sink their mandibles into. Looking forward to what Volume 2 brings.
City of Hell is an anthology comprised of 8 stories written by 7 international authors. Each chronicles the experiences of the few survivors following the rise of the Great Maurr and the enslavement of the human species. Genesis is the first story, introducing retired clockmaker, Franklin Garrett, a bitter man and widower, who serves as the catalyst toward the destruction of humanity. All hell breaks loose afterward.
I made the mistake of reading this book just before bedtime. I'll warn you, it's not for the faint of heart. Nightmares are a side effect and you will be inclined to make multiple sweeps under the bed with a flashlight.
The story is incredibly fast-paced, in spite of the separate stories. Every time I thought I'd 'just finish this part and take a break', I found myself unable to put it down. There is that one scene, so horrific, in each story that just sticks with the reader.
If you've got a strong stomach and are scouting for a grim and grisly tale, I highly recommend this book. City of Hell is a collection that horror fans will want to sink their mandibles into. Looking forward to what Volume 2 brings.
December 15, 2011
Recently I was given the 'City of Hell' Volume 1 to read. Now, I am not a huge horror fan. I like it well enough, but the main theme to most works of horror is 'the bad guys win...a lot'.
I hate it when the bad guys win. It really pisses me off.
Fortunately for this book, even though the bad guys win more often than not, the writing is good enough, and the stories are engaging enough that it kept my attention throughout, That is difficult to do for me when reading horror, so muchos kudos to the authors. I must make note of the two authors that stood out from the rest, providing the best written and (for me) most horrifying stories. They are Ren Warom and Kendall Grey. Their stories stayed in my imagination far longer than the others and had a quality of writing i found both refreshing and bold. Especially Warom, who writes with acid wit and rapier precision.
I hate it when the bad guys win. It really pisses me off.
Fortunately for this book, even though the bad guys win more often than not, the writing is good enough, and the stories are engaging enough that it kept my attention throughout, That is difficult to do for me when reading horror, so muchos kudos to the authors. I must make note of the two authors that stood out from the rest, providing the best written and (for me) most horrifying stories. They are Ren Warom and Kendall Grey. Their stories stayed in my imagination far longer than the others and had a quality of writing i found both refreshing and bold. Especially Warom, who writes with acid wit and rapier precision.
November 30, 2011
I just finished this last night, and I loved it. I echo what some of the other reviewers mentioned about how the anthology read like a novel. There was clearly a high level vision that coalesced well in the transition between the individual authors. These transitions were sometimes a little obvious, and required some adjustment, but I also found them refreshing.
Congratulations to the contributors and the editor. I look forward to volume 2!
Congratulations to the contributors and the editor. I look forward to volume 2!
November 29, 2011
OMG, I really had fun reading this book! Talk about gore to the max--this is horror through and through. I was expecting a collection of stories by different authors, but was stoked to find out the stories are all RELATED! Awesome!!!
Exclamation points notwithstanding, I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody. Well, except those with a light stomach. * grin *
Exclamation points notwithstanding, I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody. Well, except those with a light stomach. * grin *
December 17, 2011
City of Hell Chronicles is a fabulous - ok, fabulously creepy - anthology giving insight into a world gone mad following an alien bug invasion. I particularly liked the story 'London Calling' by Kendall Grey..it certainly has me checking my room for bugs before I turn off the light!
So, if it's gory horror with a futuristic bent you're after, grab a can of Baygon, curl up in bed and enjoy the 'City of Hell Chronicles"... I dare you.
So, if it's gory horror with a futuristic bent you're after, grab a can of Baygon, curl up in bed and enjoy the 'City of Hell Chronicles"... I dare you.
December 26, 2019
Terrible
Not good at all , badly written. Too many attempts to write a horror story , but none of r succeeding
Not good at all , badly written. Too many attempts to write a horror story , but none of r succeeding
November 21, 2011
(review from the author)
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