What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hum of the World
In this story collection Grant Wamack shows the reader what lies beneath everything. Office workers subject to otherworldly beings and events, a martial artist with experimental supplements that transform him into something entirely new, cardboard homeless encampments where all is not as it seems. If you listen close enough you can hear the hum of the world.
“The Hum of the World dazzles and disorients the reader with Wamack’s evocative visions of deeply unsettling worlds. This collection distills a surreal, horrific, and oddly beautiful universe into a frenetic and unforgettable set of stories. ”
— Tiffany Morris , author of Elegies of Rotting Stars
" A common theme here is the shedding of skin. Short story collections are essentially that—a bundle of shed skins, remnants of a writer's past lives, and often you can see how much they've grown from one story to the next. Grant Wamack is a fucking viper, writing lines that sink deep, fucking you up for days. The Hum Of The World i s how he came to be."
— William Pauley III, author of The Bedlam Bible series
" Wamack draws us into dark alleys, leading us by the hand, and when we've finally discovered we're alone it's far too late. The Hum of the World & Other Stories crafts shadowy portraits and emotional snapshots. It is a harrowing collage viewed through an intimate haze. "
— Ai Jiang, author of Linghun
" In an era where genre fiction generally flows into the better safe than sorry direction, Wamack intelligently takes risks. His brutal and visionary prose is bold and not to be missed. "
— David Agranoff, author of Punk Rock Ghost Story
“The Hum of the World dazzles and disorients the reader with Wamack’s evocative visions of deeply unsettling worlds. This collection distills a surreal, horrific, and oddly beautiful universe into a frenetic and unforgettable set of stories. ”
— Tiffany Morris , author of Elegies of Rotting Stars
" A common theme here is the shedding of skin. Short story collections are essentially that—a bundle of shed skins, remnants of a writer's past lives, and often you can see how much they've grown from one story to the next. Grant Wamack is a fucking viper, writing lines that sink deep, fucking you up for days. The Hum Of The World i s how he came to be."
— William Pauley III, author of The Bedlam Bible series
" Wamack draws us into dark alleys, leading us by the hand, and when we've finally discovered we're alone it's far too late. The Hum of the World & Other Stories crafts shadowy portraits and emotional snapshots. It is a harrowing collage viewed through an intimate haze. "
— Ai Jiang, author of Linghun
" In an era where genre fiction generally flows into the better safe than sorry direction, Wamack intelligently takes risks. His brutal and visionary prose is bold and not to be missed. "
— David Agranoff, author of Punk Rock Ghost Story
- GenresShort StoriesHorror
155 pages, Paperback
Published April 13, 2023
4 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Grant Wamack
23 books92 followersGrant Wamack is the author of The Frolicking, Black Gypsies, and God's Leftovers. He has had more than 40 short stories published in places such as Dark Moon Digest, the Best of Surreal Grotesque, and The New Flesh. You can find him floating around LA, reading tarot cards, and practicing jiu jitsu. Keep up with him by following his free weekly newsletter Literary Loud on substack: https://grantwamack.substack.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 22, 2023
I've read "God's Leftovers" which I loved and was always going to read something else by this author.
I got the notification from BookSirens, and I jumped at the chance to read this one, which is a collection of disturbing short stories that are fascinating, but I felt like each one had a similar theme, I'd have preferred a bit of variety.
Still fun stories to read before bed.
I got the notification from BookSirens, and I jumped at the chance to read this one, which is a collection of disturbing short stories that are fascinating, but I felt like each one had a similar theme, I'd have preferred a bit of variety.
Still fun stories to read before bed.
April 29, 2023
After reading and really liking ‘God’s Leftovers’, I was very excited to receive the ARC for this collection of stories, by the same author.
The first few stories for me, were a bit meh, so I continued ahead. The further I got into the book, the more I was feeling exactly the same.
I found that some of the stories would start really well, but then suddenly end, making me think that some of the story was missing, which didn’t leave me satisfied, after investing the time to read them, then to feel that they were unfinished.
Other’s I felt were weird, and I couldn’t wrap my head around them...and I’ve read a lot of confusing books in the past but eventually “get it”. Though unfortunately this didn’t happen for me 🙁 considering ‘God’s Leftovers’ is a good book, this one just fell flat for me.
Rating: 2 stars ⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first few stories for me, were a bit meh, so I continued ahead. The further I got into the book, the more I was feeling exactly the same.
I found that some of the stories would start really well, but then suddenly end, making me think that some of the story was missing, which didn’t leave me satisfied, after investing the time to read them, then to feel that they were unfinished.
Other’s I felt were weird, and I couldn’t wrap my head around them...and I’ve read a lot of confusing books in the past but eventually “get it”. Though unfortunately this didn’t happen for me 🙁 considering ‘God’s Leftovers’ is a good book, this one just fell flat for me.
Rating: 2 stars ⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2023
Cerebral and startling, The Hum of the World is a collection of short stories and flash fiction that delves deep into a place of strangeness and fractured reality. Grant Wamack has again proven his storytelling skills with highly imaginative pieces, each intent on writhing into your brain and leaving you questioning the truth of the earth beneath your feet.
A beautifully written blend of surrealism and horror, all mixed with bits of philosophy and erotica, Wamack transports us through the veil to a world where anything goes. Each tale begins in a mundane manner, everyday life that quickly spirals into something…other. Something more. Something transcendental. While there may be overlapping themes throughout all the stories, each has its own fresh voice to set it apart from the others, making a truly engaging read.
There’s no possible way for me to even begin to explain what you’ll be reading between these covers, it’s something you need to experience on your own. If you’re looking to read something where everything is neatly spelled out for easy consumption, The Hum of the World isn’t for you. However, if you’re one to welcome ideas to take root in your subconscious to grow over time, then this collection is one you need.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I can’t wait for the next.
A beautifully written blend of surrealism and horror, all mixed with bits of philosophy and erotica, Wamack transports us through the veil to a world where anything goes. Each tale begins in a mundane manner, everyday life that quickly spirals into something…other. Something more. Something transcendental. While there may be overlapping themes throughout all the stories, each has its own fresh voice to set it apart from the others, making a truly engaging read.
There’s no possible way for me to even begin to explain what you’ll be reading between these covers, it’s something you need to experience on your own. If you’re looking to read something where everything is neatly spelled out for easy consumption, The Hum of the World isn’t for you. However, if you’re one to welcome ideas to take root in your subconscious to grow over time, then this collection is one you need.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I can’t wait for the next.
June 15, 2023
Extraordinary!
This is a killer collection. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites are "Dark Scriptures," "And the Flies Will Follow," "Cardboard Citadels," and "Black Static, How Lovely the Sound." I'm looking forward to anything Wamack releases. Highly recommended!
This is a killer collection. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites are "Dark Scriptures," "And the Flies Will Follow," "Cardboard Citadels," and "Black Static, How Lovely the Sound." I'm looking forward to anything Wamack releases. Highly recommended!
May 8, 2023
Grant Wamack's collection has a lot of potential, but for some reason it never delivers. The first three stories opening the collection felt like pieces of something larger, and they went absolutely nowhere. Great writing, beautiful imagery, thick atmosphere, but no substance, ambiguous endings, and self-indulgent to a fault. The fourth story, "Vermillion Borders," is weird enough to be quite promising, and thanks to it, I decided to stick with the collection. However, it only whet my appetite; the following couple of stories went back to being weird without substance. "Time to Shine," about the price of fame in Hollywood, piqued my interest and did not disappoint. The rest of the stories flew by without much (again, the imagery is wonderful, especially in "The Hum of the World" and "The Fossilization Method," both based on great and original ideas, but without any real story, mostly snapshots of something greater) until I reached "The Dreadheads"; well, that story was brilliant! Spirited, straight from the heart, creepy, with a great ending: a journalist interviews the leader of a heavy metal band, whose most famous song is rumored to lead to suicide - the narrative has great build up and is totally suspenseful. Unfortunately, the collection closes with another story that gives nothing back: great dialogue, fantastic central idea, nothing to hold onto, no actual kick when you reach the ending. In sum, the collection has awesome writing and is brimming with imagination, but lacks structure and feeling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars for Goodreads.
While author Grant Wamack is a talented writer–great prose and compelling storytelling–I'm sorry to say I personally struggled to make my way through this collection.
Some stories drew me in immediately but then were cut short. These were stories that could have easily been turned into novellas because they felt like part of a larger picture I was missing out on. And the Flies Will Follow for example had characters I wanted to get to know better and an apocalyptic/dystopian world that deserved development. Honestly, it was my favorite in the collection and I’d love to see Wamack turn it into a 400pg novel!
Other stories such as Flute of Ribs and Dark Scriptures just seemed to abruptly escalate and then–once again–end too quickly, leaving me with a lot of questions unanswered–and not in the fun “open-ended conclusion” kind of way. Then there were stories such as Cardboard Citadels that simply had me asking "Why?" I felt like I was missing puzzle pieces, certain character choices failed to make sense, and at the end of every story I kept saying “Wait what?!”
Sadly this collection wasn’t for me. However, there’s a possibility Wamack's novellas are better suited to my tastes and I'm definitely going to check them out. I hear God’s Leftovers is one dark and thrilling ride!
All that being said, while this collection is a NO for me, Wamack's promising prose and knack for weaving disorienting dark worlds has me eager to explore other works in his bibliography!
(a very special thank you to Twins and Talent for a stunning review copy.)
While author Grant Wamack is a talented writer–great prose and compelling storytelling–I'm sorry to say I personally struggled to make my way through this collection.
Some stories drew me in immediately but then were cut short. These were stories that could have easily been turned into novellas because they felt like part of a larger picture I was missing out on. And the Flies Will Follow for example had characters I wanted to get to know better and an apocalyptic/dystopian world that deserved development. Honestly, it was my favorite in the collection and I’d love to see Wamack turn it into a 400pg novel!
Other stories such as Flute of Ribs and Dark Scriptures just seemed to abruptly escalate and then–once again–end too quickly, leaving me with a lot of questions unanswered–and not in the fun “open-ended conclusion” kind of way. Then there were stories such as Cardboard Citadels that simply had me asking "Why?" I felt like I was missing puzzle pieces, certain character choices failed to make sense, and at the end of every story I kept saying “Wait what?!”
Sadly this collection wasn’t for me. However, there’s a possibility Wamack's novellas are better suited to my tastes and I'm definitely going to check them out. I hear God’s Leftovers is one dark and thrilling ride!
All that being said, while this collection is a NO for me, Wamack's promising prose and knack for weaving disorienting dark worlds has me eager to explore other works in his bibliography!
(a very special thank you to Twins and Talent for a stunning review copy.)
July 4, 2023
Grant Wamack's 'The Hum of the World' is a collection of short fiction, daring to explore the hidden realities of abandoned lots, secrets beneath the earth, violent eroticism, and the night-time thoughts of these characters. If you're quiet, you might hear the Hum of the World permeating throughout and behind these stories.
I think Grant and I might have a few things in common. First and foremost, the understanding that magic - dark or light - can be found by silently exploring and hence becoming a place. A lot of these stories start off just like that - a character sinks into a mysterious locale or dilemma. But as Grant is a horror writer, these characters don't get to just touch the dark then go home. They are, or can be, in some instances, eviscerated by their discoveries.
The writing is really beautiful. The only reason I didn't give this a higher rating is because around the three quarter mark, these stories would just race for the finish line. For some of them, it was a bit jarring. These stories were more like flash fiction, or even 'vignettes', like random moments in the day of a larger story. But I enjoyed what I read, even just for the atmospheric mood of a scene. For instance, a child that can hear something beneath the earth, rising and rising. A shack in which lives an old woman/God, eternally waiting for her lost lover. A porno actress taking up residence in a dilapidated tent city, filming horrific acts for her online patrons in this abandoned lot. These are all amazing premises. I just wish it had been longer. I'll definitely try Grant's other releases one day in the near future.
I think Grant and I might have a few things in common. First and foremost, the understanding that magic - dark or light - can be found by silently exploring and hence becoming a place. A lot of these stories start off just like that - a character sinks into a mysterious locale or dilemma. But as Grant is a horror writer, these characters don't get to just touch the dark then go home. They are, or can be, in some instances, eviscerated by their discoveries.
The writing is really beautiful. The only reason I didn't give this a higher rating is because around the three quarter mark, these stories would just race for the finish line. For some of them, it was a bit jarring. These stories were more like flash fiction, or even 'vignettes', like random moments in the day of a larger story. But I enjoyed what I read, even just for the atmospheric mood of a scene. For instance, a child that can hear something beneath the earth, rising and rising. A shack in which lives an old woman/God, eternally waiting for her lost lover. A porno actress taking up residence in a dilapidated tent city, filming horrific acts for her online patrons in this abandoned lot. These are all amazing premises. I just wish it had been longer. I'll definitely try Grant's other releases one day in the near future.
April 21, 2023
I found some of these stories weird and cool and creepy, and some of them were boring or too simplistic. Overall, I wish certain concepts would have been explored more. A few stories really hooked me, but then they were just over so quickly.
July 27, 2023
People who like the kind of horror/weird literature where a lot of random strange things happen and nothing ever makes sense will love this short story collection. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of fiction I like.
I liked the later stories in the book better then the ones in the beginning, some of them were quite atmospheric and good at character emotions.
However, for me, most stories were just "meh" and there were some which were "quite ok" but nothing outstanding. Most of the ideas felt like when you are doing something ordinary and a random thought occurs like "what if this or that very weird thing happened?" but then you just forget about it and certainly don't write a story about it because usually these ideas are not ones you can build a story arc upon. This is what I felt here, that at some point there's some random horror element introduced but usually it doesn't really contribute to the story, it's just there. I know this can be called realistic (if it's possible to use this word with speculative fiction at all) like when something horrifying happens why should anything make sense. However, personally I don't like when stories don't try and build something, a plot twist, a character arc, an homage, something.
Also, the structure of the stories was quite repetitious, they usually start with something ordinary, something really mundane and then at some point something strange starts to seep in and you can't decide (ok after the nth time you can definitely decide) if the characters are just idiots or it's the horror yet then at some point you get confirmed that yes, it's definitely the horror. This is how all the stories go in this collection which got a bit boring for me very soon. Funny enough the editor at the end of the book highlighted this recurring structure as an attractive feature of the stories so don't hesitate to go for this book if you feel drawn to this storyline.
One minor thing that still irked me a lot was the 3rd person narrator calling the protagonists by their full name (with surname and all) in the very first paragraph of every single story (except the few exceptions with 1st person narration). I don't see any use of it, sometimes maybe to hint on the various ethnicity of the characters but certainly not all times, and it makes the characters extremely distant instantly.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the later stories in the book better then the ones in the beginning, some of them were quite atmospheric and good at character emotions.
However, for me, most stories were just "meh" and there were some which were "quite ok" but nothing outstanding. Most of the ideas felt like when you are doing something ordinary and a random thought occurs like "what if this or that very weird thing happened?" but then you just forget about it and certainly don't write a story about it because usually these ideas are not ones you can build a story arc upon. This is what I felt here, that at some point there's some random horror element introduced but usually it doesn't really contribute to the story, it's just there. I know this can be called realistic (if it's possible to use this word with speculative fiction at all) like when something horrifying happens why should anything make sense. However, personally I don't like when stories don't try and build something, a plot twist, a character arc, an homage, something.
Also, the structure of the stories was quite repetitious, they usually start with something ordinary, something really mundane and then at some point something strange starts to seep in and you can't decide (ok after the nth time you can definitely decide) if the characters are just idiots or it's the horror yet then at some point you get confirmed that yes, it's definitely the horror. This is how all the stories go in this collection which got a bit boring for me very soon. Funny enough the editor at the end of the book highlighted this recurring structure as an attractive feature of the stories so don't hesitate to go for this book if you feel drawn to this storyline.
One minor thing that still irked me a lot was the 3rd person narrator calling the protagonists by their full name (with surname and all) in the very first paragraph of every single story (except the few exceptions with 1st person narration). I don't see any use of it, sometimes maybe to hint on the various ethnicity of the characters but certainly not all times, and it makes the characters extremely distant instantly.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2023
This is a collection of horror, odd, and weird short stories. I wasn't particularly impressed. There were a couple of excellent stories at the end, a few duds, and most were just okay. My main problem was that the stories were too short and didn't work well. Very short stories can work but they need a specific plot and a good punch. These mostly felt like they were missing information and left me with questions. The longer stories were better.
1. What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing - A man gets a computer virus and his world turns menacing. Typical man running from danger. Ok. (3/5)
2. And the Flies Will Follow - It's the zombie apocalypse and four people are in a small compound. After a night on duty, Myra sleeps while trouble brews with the others. A simple tale but engaging. Well written. (4/5)
3. Cardboard Citadels - A man finds his favourite web porn star hiding in a homeless person's cardboard box town. There's nothing I hate more than graphic sex with violence. This has no redeeming values. (0/5)
4. Vermilion Borders - A man kills a fly and then goes about his humdrum life until he meets a woman. This was good but really strange. I think I sort of get it. (3/5)
5. Dark Scriptures - Kehlani is dating a Brazilian man who has intense tattoos all over his back. He is studying metaphysical stuff and when she looks at his pile of books he commands her not to look at them. A well-written story and as I'm finding out about this author as usual great characterization. (4/5)
6. Black Static, How Lovely the Sound - A lonely old man is in constant pain from his gums which bleed all the time. Black Static is the form of a woman wanting to end his pain. Very short but well-written with great characterization. The ending was hazy and I'm not sure I understood it. (3/5)
7. Flute of Ribs - Husband and wife have a big fight as she goes out for girl's night but she doesn't come home. Very short with an abrupt ending. Good story until the ending. (2/5)
8. Fire in the Black Night - A teenage boy has been brought to the hospital with severe burns. The nurse who attends to him watches as something overtakes him. This was actually quite boring. (1/5)
9. Time to Shine - A woman dreams of fame and fortune and her husband makes it come true. This was decent but needed to be longer. What did the husband get? Why did he participate? More info on the group. This would all have made a much longer story. (3/5)
10. The Fossilization Method - A young girl's parents turn into fossils. Now as an adult, she feels it happening to herself. A brief story but well-written. (3/5)
11. The Hum of the World - A teacher befriends a strange kid at school and the kid shows him the hum coming from a crack in the ground. This is the best story so far. It has a great interesting lead but the ending is too quick. (4/5)
12. A House Lay Deserted - A man returns home to Poland for his father's funeral. He finds an abandoned house in the village that wasn't there before. This is a fine story. An Intriguing lead-up has plenty of plot and character development. The ending was predictable but satisfying. Even better than the previous story. (5/5)
13. Where Old People Go to Die - A young man wanders into a courtyard in the forest. This was very short. It's a cute story with a hmm ending. (3/5)
14. The Dreadheads - Hunter is a journalist and he's interviewing Blake, the lead singer of the metal group Dreadheads. This is a predictable story but well-written and a little eerie. I enjoyed it. (4/5)
15. Rolling with the God$ - A grappler takes an experimental drug consisting of stingray serum. This was ok. I liked the body horror but I don't like sports in my reading so this is a me thing. (3/5)
1. What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing - A man gets a computer virus and his world turns menacing. Typical man running from danger. Ok. (3/5)
2. And the Flies Will Follow - It's the zombie apocalypse and four people are in a small compound. After a night on duty, Myra sleeps while trouble brews with the others. A simple tale but engaging. Well written. (4/5)
3. Cardboard Citadels - A man finds his favourite web porn star hiding in a homeless person's cardboard box town. There's nothing I hate more than graphic sex with violence. This has no redeeming values. (0/5)
4. Vermilion Borders - A man kills a fly and then goes about his humdrum life until he meets a woman. This was good but really strange. I think I sort of get it. (3/5)
5. Dark Scriptures - Kehlani is dating a Brazilian man who has intense tattoos all over his back. He is studying metaphysical stuff and when she looks at his pile of books he commands her not to look at them. A well-written story and as I'm finding out about this author as usual great characterization. (4/5)
6. Black Static, How Lovely the Sound - A lonely old man is in constant pain from his gums which bleed all the time. Black Static is the form of a woman wanting to end his pain. Very short but well-written with great characterization. The ending was hazy and I'm not sure I understood it. (3/5)
7. Flute of Ribs - Husband and wife have a big fight as she goes out for girl's night but she doesn't come home. Very short with an abrupt ending. Good story until the ending. (2/5)
8. Fire in the Black Night - A teenage boy has been brought to the hospital with severe burns. The nurse who attends to him watches as something overtakes him. This was actually quite boring. (1/5)
9. Time to Shine - A woman dreams of fame and fortune and her husband makes it come true. This was decent but needed to be longer. What did the husband get? Why did he participate? More info on the group. This would all have made a much longer story. (3/5)
10. The Fossilization Method - A young girl's parents turn into fossils. Now as an adult, she feels it happening to herself. A brief story but well-written. (3/5)
11. The Hum of the World - A teacher befriends a strange kid at school and the kid shows him the hum coming from a crack in the ground. This is the best story so far. It has a great interesting lead but the ending is too quick. (4/5)
12. A House Lay Deserted - A man returns home to Poland for his father's funeral. He finds an abandoned house in the village that wasn't there before. This is a fine story. An Intriguing lead-up has plenty of plot and character development. The ending was predictable but satisfying. Even better than the previous story. (5/5)
13. Where Old People Go to Die - A young man wanders into a courtyard in the forest. This was very short. It's a cute story with a hmm ending. (3/5)
14. The Dreadheads - Hunter is a journalist and he's interviewing Blake, the lead singer of the metal group Dreadheads. This is a predictable story but well-written and a little eerie. I enjoyed it. (4/5)
15. Rolling with the God$ - A grappler takes an experimental drug consisting of stingray serum. This was ok. I liked the body horror but I don't like sports in my reading so this is a me thing. (3/5)
May 23, 2023
It was well written and I ended up reading the whole book but I never really could get into the stories overall. They just weren't for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 7, 2023
Looking for an eerie story collection where things are not as they seem? Then you may want to check out The Hum of the World by Grant Wamack.
I love zombies, so "And the Flies Will Follow" ranked pretty highly for me. However, I think the story that will stick with me the most is the titular tale, "The Hum of the World." It is so hard to find asexual representation in horror fiction, so to say I was happy when I found out the lead character was ace is an understatement. And while his way of being ace is different from mine, I still could relate to him. No joke, I earned my second major in large part because I was too afraid of telling the advisor I had never met that I had changed my mind about what subject I wanted to study. So I found the way he kept putting off the inevitable conversation about his asexuality all too relatable.
Also, he has auditory processing issues, and as someone who also has auditory processing issues, I think the author handled this well. I especially appreciated the detail about the character keeping multiple pairs of headphones so he never had to worry about being without them. It was little things like that that made the character feel real and believable for me.
As for the book as a whole, the pacing is good. I've been in a bit of a rut with reading recently, and even books I tend to enjoy overall seem to drag. However, with these stories, they were short enough that I didn't find myself counting the pages. Wamack wrote from a variety of perspectives, and each one felt unique. The collection included both takes on classic horror elements, like zombies, as well as more novel concepts, like humans turning into fossils. With as much variety as there was in terms of subject matter and characters, not every story was for me, but I still think almost all of them were worth reading.
I do want to offer a cautionary note about one of the stories, "The Dreadheads." The book does have a content warning about suicide, and if that is a difficult subject for you, you may want to steer clear of this one. Suicide is an integral component of the plot, and there is on-the-page depiction of it.
However, even if that one's not for you, there are plenty of other stories that are well worth the read. If you like stories of the ordinary turned monstrous, you may want to check this collection out.
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for a review.
I love zombies, so "And the Flies Will Follow" ranked pretty highly for me. However, I think the story that will stick with me the most is the titular tale, "The Hum of the World." It is so hard to find asexual representation in horror fiction, so to say I was happy when I found out the lead character was ace is an understatement. And while his way of being ace is different from mine, I still could relate to him. No joke, I earned my second major in large part because I was too afraid of telling the advisor I had never met that I had changed my mind about what subject I wanted to study. So I found the way he kept putting off the inevitable conversation about his asexuality all too relatable.
Also, he has auditory processing issues, and as someone who also has auditory processing issues, I think the author handled this well. I especially appreciated the detail about the character keeping multiple pairs of headphones so he never had to worry about being without them. It was little things like that that made the character feel real and believable for me.
As for the book as a whole, the pacing is good. I've been in a bit of a rut with reading recently, and even books I tend to enjoy overall seem to drag. However, with these stories, they were short enough that I didn't find myself counting the pages. Wamack wrote from a variety of perspectives, and each one felt unique. The collection included both takes on classic horror elements, like zombies, as well as more novel concepts, like humans turning into fossils. With as much variety as there was in terms of subject matter and characters, not every story was for me, but I still think almost all of them were worth reading.
I do want to offer a cautionary note about one of the stories, "The Dreadheads." The book does have a content warning about suicide, and if that is a difficult subject for you, you may want to steer clear of this one. Suicide is an integral component of the plot, and there is on-the-page depiction of it.
However, even if that one's not for you, there are plenty of other stories that are well worth the read. If you like stories of the ordinary turned monstrous, you may want to check this collection out.
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for a review.
May 29, 2023
This is a collection of short horror stories by the author. For the most part the stories are dark and generally off-putting, but the horror, suspense, and tension just weren't present in any of these stories.
1 – 2.5 stars - A man's work computer gets a virus and then things gets way worse.
2 - 2 stars - Survival situations can bring out the worst in people.
3 - 1 star - A writer looks for inspiration in the wrong place.
4 - 2 stars - Between a fascination with flies and his headaches, a man realizes he may not know himself at all.
5 - 2 stars - Shedding your old self to become new is rarely easy.
6 - 1 star - An older man's past revisits him.
7 -1 star - A man's insecurities get the better of him.
8 - 2 stars - A boy's psychedelic trip leaves him questioning reality.
9 - 1.5 stars - Sometimes focusing on your desires can blind you to reality.
10 - 1.5 stars - Is it the drugs or is it reality?
11 - 2 stars - There's something wrong with the mud.
12 - 1 star - Some people are just stupid.
13 - 2 stars - A man let's a coin decide his fate.
14 - 1 star - A journalist learns more than he bargained for.
15 - 1 star - A sore loser will do anything to get back in the game.
Again, these stories were completely lacking in any tension, suspense, or horror. This was due to a few things. First, these stories were quite formulaic and, while always predictable, often were still lacking any meaningful explanation or point. Similarly, the characters were completely interchangeable. No matter the age or gender, they all read the same, had the same voice, and were lacking in any meaningful characterization. This work was also rife with errors, which ranged from accidental tense changes within a story to typos to using the incorrect word. Unfortunately, even if the errors were all fixed, I still wouldn't recommend this read. My thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
1 – 2.5 stars - A man's work computer gets a virus and then things gets way worse.
2 - 2 stars - Survival situations can bring out the worst in people.
3 - 1 star - A writer looks for inspiration in the wrong place.
4 - 2 stars - Between a fascination with flies and his headaches, a man realizes he may not know himself at all.
5 - 2 stars - Shedding your old self to become new is rarely easy.
6 - 1 star - An older man's past revisits him.
7 -1 star - A man's insecurities get the better of him.
8 - 2 stars - A boy's psychedelic trip leaves him questioning reality.
9 - 1.5 stars - Sometimes focusing on your desires can blind you to reality.
10 - 1.5 stars - Is it the drugs or is it reality?
11 - 2 stars - There's something wrong with the mud.
12 - 1 star - Some people are just stupid.
13 - 2 stars - A man let's a coin decide his fate.
14 - 1 star - A journalist learns more than he bargained for.
15 - 1 star - A sore loser will do anything to get back in the game.
Again, these stories were completely lacking in any tension, suspense, or horror. This was due to a few things. First, these stories were quite formulaic and, while always predictable, often were still lacking any meaningful explanation or point. Similarly, the characters were completely interchangeable. No matter the age or gender, they all read the same, had the same voice, and were lacking in any meaningful characterization. This work was also rife with errors, which ranged from accidental tense changes within a story to typos to using the incorrect word. Unfortunately, even if the errors were all fixed, I still wouldn't recommend this read. My thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 22, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first time reading Grant's work, and let me tell you, I am highly intrigued. Surreal horror at its finest, each short story more wacky and bizarre than the next. Like the many references - including the cover itself - this book settles into you like a droning white noise in your ears. Never leaving, constantly humming in the back of your mind after you put the book down. I squinted at the headache I got the day I had to kill a pesky fly in my house. If you read this book, you know what I'm referencing, readers. This was a poetic, horrific, and sometimes erotic experience that left me wanting more.
No, seriously, I really wished some of the short stories had more to it. I felt a few of them were cut too short, or transitional paragraphs to take you from one scene to the next were left out that left things a little jarring instead of flowing properly through the storyline. But that's my nit-picky self who selfishly just wanted to read more of each story. Get more into the surrealism of the world, more into the heads of the characters. Some of these were just a small teaser, a taste. Too small a taste.
If I had to pick a few favorite stories out of this, it would have to be: Dark Scriptures, Fire In The Black Night and A House Lay Deserted. But these are only a few. Several more had certainly a lasting impression on me as well, even with my complaint of them being a tad too short. And can we appreciate the cover of this book? I've been staring at it for awhile, mesmerized. Very artful and aesthetically pleasing to me. Don Noble is the artist of the cover.
This is my first time reading Grant's work, and let me tell you, I am highly intrigued. Surreal horror at its finest, each short story more wacky and bizarre than the next. Like the many references - including the cover itself - this book settles into you like a droning white noise in your ears. Never leaving, constantly humming in the back of your mind after you put the book down. I squinted at the headache I got the day I had to kill a pesky fly in my house. If you read this book, you know what I'm referencing, readers. This was a poetic, horrific, and sometimes erotic experience that left me wanting more.
No, seriously, I really wished some of the short stories had more to it. I felt a few of them were cut too short, or transitional paragraphs to take you from one scene to the next were left out that left things a little jarring instead of flowing properly through the storyline. But that's my nit-picky self who selfishly just wanted to read more of each story. Get more into the surrealism of the world, more into the heads of the characters. Some of these were just a small teaser, a taste. Too small a taste.
If I had to pick a few favorite stories out of this, it would have to be: Dark Scriptures, Fire In The Black Night and A House Lay Deserted. But these are only a few. Several more had certainly a lasting impression on me as well, even with my complaint of them being a tad too short. And can we appreciate the cover of this book? I've been staring at it for awhile, mesmerized. Very artful and aesthetically pleasing to me. Don Noble is the artist of the cover.
May 18, 2023
I am a voracious bibliophile and copy editor. I was unfamiliar with Wamack and this was my first time reading his works. I judge the book- not the author. Many of the reviews come from his pre-established fan-base and his extreme horror, but as a literary horror lover- this beautifully designed book was much more to my tastes. Witty, poetic erotic,and verging across lanes into bizarro and surrealist/absurdism (very Kubin-esque!) Hum was an outstanding read. Highlights were “Vermillion Borders”, “The Dreadheads”, the title story, and the stunning “The House Lay Deserted”. There’s a bit of extreme body horror here but it’s poetic, the sex is not gratuitous and the book is diverse and goes from poetic nightmares to nightmare fuel. These are mostly short flash fictions and shorter pieces and for readers who need crisp closure and comfort or full resolution at the end of their tales, these stories often are like life- there’s not always tidy closure. These stories don’t hold your hand on the ride and the ride is dark and weird. If you enjoy Laymon, Aickman and Strantzas, you’ll enjoy this collection greatly. If you are looking for fun Ketchum/Lee gore guts and depravity, you may need to realize Wamack can write well in several subgenres of horror and his weird fiction may be worth appreciating for its depth and Dream-like qualities. A solidly good read and only two stories fell short of the mark for me, including the opening story but it got so much better after that piece. This is weird fiction meets horror and Wamack goes weird well!
May 19, 2023
Received free on NetGalley, opinions are my own.
I love cosmic horror and the cover of The Hum of the World drew me in, as well. This collection of short stories had several ideas that I found interesting but ultimately the book was not for me. Some of the stories felt so brief to me that it was more like a scene or segment of a story. Throughout the collection, I did not find a relatable character and often found myself questioning their motivations or actions. For example, in one story “Vermilion Borders”, the main character is confronted by a woman in a parking garage, hunched over and breathing hard. His first question is, ‘Don’t I know you?’ Which is…confusing. Why not, ‘Are you ok?’ or something similar. There were similar choices made by the author in several stories which caused me to either read back a bit to see if I missed something or be pulled right out of the narrative.
I did enjoy ‘The Dreadheads’ which is from the perspective of a music journalist and deals with a track that causes suicides. This idea is not new, however, and the story could have used something to differentiate it.
Overall, I feel that the author’s writing style was not for me and that the stories would have benefitted from a stronger editorial hand
I love cosmic horror and the cover of The Hum of the World drew me in, as well. This collection of short stories had several ideas that I found interesting but ultimately the book was not for me. Some of the stories felt so brief to me that it was more like a scene or segment of a story. Throughout the collection, I did not find a relatable character and often found myself questioning their motivations or actions. For example, in one story “Vermilion Borders”, the main character is confronted by a woman in a parking garage, hunched over and breathing hard. His first question is, ‘Don’t I know you?’ Which is…confusing. Why not, ‘Are you ok?’ or something similar. There were similar choices made by the author in several stories which caused me to either read back a bit to see if I missed something or be pulled right out of the narrative.
I did enjoy ‘The Dreadheads’ which is from the perspective of a music journalist and deals with a track that causes suicides. This idea is not new, however, and the story could have used something to differentiate it.
Overall, I feel that the author’s writing style was not for me and that the stories would have benefitted from a stronger editorial hand
April 20, 2023
Love seeing this one fly up the charts right off the jump. After a nearly decade-long hiatus from publishing, Grant Wamack came back swinging killer combos last year with Black Gypsies and God's Leftovers. The Hum of the World is a collection that showcases what made both of those books slap so hard, which is largely Grant's ability to invert natural reactions. He has a skill to make depravity palatable, and a tendency to exploit that skill by gradually cranking the "fucked up shit" dial all the way to ten. With hints of mysticism, relationships that teeter between sweet romance and spicy toxicity, and occasional surprises of full-tilt tonal shifts, you never know where a story is going. The tension of the unknown is sustained through each story, and the payoff is always a banger.
Favorite stories in this collection: Cardboard Citadels, The Fossilization Method, and The Hum of the World.
Favorite stories in this collection: Cardboard Citadels, The Fossilization Method, and The Hum of the World.
April 19, 2023
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I was drawn to this book by the amazing cover art, and after reading the description I thought this book would definitely be for me. Unfortunately, I was wrong - I made it a little over halfway through these stories before I gave up on them. Every story followed the same formula - some character gets involved with something and ends up dead in some way. All the characters were very flat and there was little motivation for anything that happened with any of the plots. I love a good short short - but a lot of these shorter stories seemed like they were just ideas for a longer work. A lot of telling instead of showing here.
July 31, 2023
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a review copy.
Grant Wamack came blaring onto my radar with his novella God's Leftovers. I was eager to pick up this collection and by and large, I enjoyed the stories. There are a few real standouts here, too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing ⭐⭐⭐.5
And the Flies Will Follow ⭐⭐⭐
Cardboard Citadels ⭐⭐
Vermilion Borders ⭐⭐⭐
Dark Scriptures ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Black Static, How Lovely the Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flute of Ribs ⭐⭐⭐
Fire in the Black Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Time to Shine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fossilization Method ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Hum of the World ⭐⭐⭐.5
A House Lay Deserted ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Old People Go to Die ⭐⭐⭐
The Dreadheads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rolling With the Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Grant Wamack came blaring onto my radar with his novella God's Leftovers. I was eager to pick up this collection and by and large, I enjoyed the stories. There are a few real standouts here, too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
What Happens When the Crickets Stop Singing ⭐⭐⭐.5
And the Flies Will Follow ⭐⭐⭐
Cardboard Citadels ⭐⭐
Vermilion Borders ⭐⭐⭐
Dark Scriptures ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Black Static, How Lovely the Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flute of Ribs ⭐⭐⭐
Fire in the Black Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Time to Shine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fossilization Method ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Hum of the World ⭐⭐⭐.5
A House Lay Deserted ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Old People Go to Die ⭐⭐⭐
The Dreadheads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rolling With the Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 14, 2023
Y'all, I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. I really enjoyed the short story collection. It consists of 15 stories and they are beautiful and disturbing. Some of them I didn't even want to end, I wanted so much more!
A few of my favorites were....
*And the flies will follow - zombies
*Dark scriptures - a man wants to shed his skin to reveal his true self
*Flute of ribs - a man makes a flute out of some ribs, duh
*A house lay deserted -a man must return home after his father's death.
This book is dark but I also found light in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and this cover is amazing. I spy a skull in it!!
A few of my favorites were....
*And the flies will follow - zombies
*Dark scriptures - a man wants to shed his skin to reveal his true self
*Flute of ribs - a man makes a flute out of some ribs, duh
*A house lay deserted -a man must return home after his father's death.
This book is dark but I also found light in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and this cover is amazing. I spy a skull in it!!
October 12, 2023
This was a collection of short horror or weird fiction written by the same author. I felt that these had a lot of potential, but were not executed too well. Most of these stories started off with something intriguing, developed quite well, but then ended very abruptly or in a strange, unexplained sort of way. The story that worked best for me was “The Hum Of The World.”
(I received a free review copy from NetGalley.)
(I received a free review copy from NetGalley.)
June 8, 2023
I read a lot of horror and there's stuff going on in this shit that isn't making it into horror books rn.
Some of these really stick with you - hot takes on OnlyFans, semi-hilarious but darkly weird ideas of your parents getting stoned, stark looks at jealousy in relationships.
EDIT: I wanna add some thoughts cause I keep thinking about this and reading other reviews and I just wanna say...
I feel like this book is gonna get a lot of "eh, it wasn't for me" reviews, for the same reason people struggle with shit like Evenson or Enemy by Villeneuve - it's hard for people to realize that they've been led into the labyrinth and left to their own devices. They want a path out and they want it clearly marked.
This book is a labyrinth and every story is another twist in the maze. It's like when you're on a long hike and you're sure that over the next hill is the place you're headed. Then you get to the top of the hill and all you see is more path leading to another hill. The place you're headed isn't even close and you know that because you can look around and all you see is more going deeper.
Most people bail right there. Hit the button on that pre-paid RipCord travel insurance so the helicopter can get you out. 1 star - "doesn't go anywhere" "no horror or tension present"
that's how you know people were affected in a way that touched them deep. the horror and tension in this book are exactly what the characters themselves are facing, a weird madness that creeps but that they think "nah, it's cool I got this,"and then it's too late, which is a cliche but if you've ever actually experienced someone irl being buried under a mental breakdown, you'll understand when I say that most people prefer to keep reading the trite stuff because being in the labyrinth alone is just gonna be too much.
this book is gonna get some bad reviews but all those reviews are going to reflect is people's inability to cope with actual mirror images of this terrible, uncertain and insane present age.
I say all that because a few weeks after I finished this thing I'm still thinking about it. I read a LOT and most of it gets left behind. But this book...
If there is a future, Grant Wamack will be lauded in, and he'll deserve every word.
11/10
Some of these really stick with you - hot takes on OnlyFans, semi-hilarious but darkly weird ideas of your parents getting stoned, stark looks at jealousy in relationships.
EDIT: I wanna add some thoughts cause I keep thinking about this and reading other reviews and I just wanna say...
I feel like this book is gonna get a lot of "eh, it wasn't for me" reviews, for the same reason people struggle with shit like Evenson or Enemy by Villeneuve - it's hard for people to realize that they've been led into the labyrinth and left to their own devices. They want a path out and they want it clearly marked.
This book is a labyrinth and every story is another twist in the maze. It's like when you're on a long hike and you're sure that over the next hill is the place you're headed. Then you get to the top of the hill and all you see is more path leading to another hill. The place you're headed isn't even close and you know that because you can look around and all you see is more going deeper.
Most people bail right there. Hit the button on that pre-paid RipCord travel insurance so the helicopter can get you out. 1 star - "doesn't go anywhere" "no horror or tension present"
that's how you know people were affected in a way that touched them deep. the horror and tension in this book are exactly what the characters themselves are facing, a weird madness that creeps but that they think "nah, it's cool I got this,"and then it's too late, which is a cliche but if you've ever actually experienced someone irl being buried under a mental breakdown, you'll understand when I say that most people prefer to keep reading the trite stuff because being in the labyrinth alone is just gonna be too much.
this book is gonna get some bad reviews but all those reviews are going to reflect is people's inability to cope with actual mirror images of this terrible, uncertain and insane present age.
I say all that because a few weeks after I finished this thing I'm still thinking about it. I read a LOT and most of it gets left behind. But this book...
If there is a future, Grant Wamack will be lauded in, and he'll deserve every word.
11/10
April 19, 2023
This collection of short stories disturbs and fascinates with beautiful language and surreal horror. Grant Wamack has delivered a mind-bending journey through strange spaces and collapsing realities. Highly recommended.
June 10, 2023
The cover was so cool looking and did it's job drawing me in but really that's all this book as. All the stories are formulaic and not at all interesting and the writing could use a lot of editing and spicing up to at least maybe make things a little more interesting.
January 13, 2025
Well that collection was pretty awesome. I just really like th way that Grant Wamack fuckin writes. This a solid weird and fucked up story collection. I highly recommend you checking out this and all of Wamack
June 5, 2023
Was in the mood for this dark surrealism, stories like shards of glass. Very much enjoyed the read and recommend the book, not just to horror fans.
Want to read
July 12, 2023 I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.
RTC
RTC
July 19, 2023
Aside from a general lack of artistry from the author, this book lacks cohesion. The dialogue is unbelievable, the characters lack depth, and the writing lacks clarity. DNF.
May 28, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book in exchange for a review and I'm leaving my honest opinion.
2.5 stars
I think this book is good for the right audience, but I'm not sure I'm in that audience. It's very interesting horror, and it has a lot of potential, but I don't think it's for me. The author isn't a bad writer by any means, I think this just didn't fit for me personally. I can think of a couple friends who might like it though, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks to netgalley and to grant for the opportunity to read this book. I won't be cross posting this to my bookstagram, in part because I don't like to post negative reviews and in part that I'm not sure how many of my followers will like this.
Reviews on my linked Goodreads account.
2.5 stars
I think this book is good for the right audience, but I'm not sure I'm in that audience. It's very interesting horror, and it has a lot of potential, but I don't think it's for me. The author isn't a bad writer by any means, I think this just didn't fit for me personally. I can think of a couple friends who might like it though, so I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks to netgalley and to grant for the opportunity to read this book. I won't be cross posting this to my bookstagram, in part because I don't like to post negative reviews and in part that I'm not sure how many of my followers will like this.
Reviews on my linked Goodreads account.
July 22, 2023
A collection of flash fiction and short stories, The Hum of the World dives in to the surreal and broken insides hidden behind every day life. There are some weird and unique ideas within these stories but overall I found them all to be a bit too formulaic. Each story has horror elements and most of them achieve the off-putting and uncomfortable atmosphere, but unfortunately there is no suspense or tension.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews