In the Language of Scorpions: Tales of Horror from the Inner Dark

by Charles Allen Gramlich

THIRTY TALES OF MODERN HORROR--In his newest collection, Charles Allen Gramlich, who has a Ph.D. in psychology, explores the dark territory of modern horror, from monsters, to serial killers, to the surreal landscapes of the insane mind. "He climbed toward wakefulness through scarlet-tinted dreams, rising up to a morning that burned pink outside his window, like watermelon flesh. A hundred images cracked and ran as the dream period ended and heavy lids shuttered back over eyes that were yellow-brown scars in an otherwise pale face. The empty pupils dilated suddenly with pleasure as he slid from beneath sticky wet sheets and stood looking down, his body finger-painted red." ******* "There were eyes in the canvas that I had never drawn--eyes full of dark wings and teeth. There were round mouths open to the night air, and bloody tongues whose dance burned with holy words. And in the wastelands of the unfilled canvas were ruins whose outlines I could not yet trace. I knew only that they held a bitter rapture and smelled of ashes."

244 pages, Paperback

First published December 24, 2011

About the author

I grew up on a farm in Arkansas, and I fully intend to retire right back to that same farm. But not yet. I came to Louisiana in 1986 to teach Biological Psychology at Xavier University in New Orleans. I've been there ever since, although I now live in a semi-rural area outside Abita Springs, Louisiana.

My primary writing interests are in Fantasy and Horror, which are the genres where my books and most of my short stories fit. I also write nonfiction, however, and poetry.

Reviews

[Charles]

This is a collection of my horror short stories. Many were previously published over the years in small magazines or some of the horror anthologies out of the 80s and 90s. Others are freshly written for this collection. There are gentle horrors and a fair number of graphic ones. Stories like "Razor White," "Splatter of Black," and "Wall of Love" were written in the days of Splatterpunk and are particularly graphic.

[Richard Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Language Of Scorpions is a collection of Gramlich's horror stories, many previously published over the years in magazines and horror anthologies in the 80s and 90s. The collection also contain some new ones.

Gramlich writes with great skill in a range of styles. I have previously read, reviewed and enjoyed his fantasy. He is able to slip between genres in a way that readers who like something different will find satisfying.

This collection reminded me of many of the classical horror stories from the early period of the genre, but placed in the modern day.

Gramlich evokes his scenes with deft touches, that draw you into a physical reality that is the undermined by the events that occur.

'Chimes' opens with Dena Parker hearing chimes, and the narrative draws you cleverly not the character's drama.

"I glanced at her and wondered why the birds screamed so loud this morning when for many days there had been none."

Gramlich is an author who is highly observant of nature and he uses to nature to great effect to draw the reader into the uncanny.

"How fair the bone behind pink vessels, how lovely and crimson the wide mouth with its back teeth open to the air and the skin peeled back like that of a grape."

His ability to create an atmosphere that resonates with an older period is perfectly fitted to these stories, since they achieve a feeling of something old, something that has been around a long time. And that is what great horror does, it leaves the reader feeling he is being watched by something that predates him.

There is strong descriptive prose throughout this collection, and a slow build up of tension. I read each of these, savouring them. If you like horror stories this is a great collection to read. I highly recommend it.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here be monsters!

But in Charles Gramlich's worlds, the monsters are all too human. Which makes them far worse of course. To be sure, there are some non-human monsters in these stories, but even here, they are not your regulation horrors.

Like all good writers, Charles manages to work his own views on subjects into these pieces.

Some of my favorites:

CHIMES - I had an earlier version of this story(how I lost it is a complete wipe of an infected computer and a new reboot). In this book, this is his preferred version, sort of the writer's cut. I liked this one.

FLOATER - a science fiction piece on the first manned mission to Mars.

CRYPTO - a funny horror story in which Charles works his own thoughts on a couple of hot button subjects.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH, SCRITCH - fooled me all over the place on this one.

I CAN SPEND YOU - again he fooled me.

These are some of my favorites. But this is a fine set of stories and poems.

[Bernard DeLeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection of horror tales and vignettes in ‘In the Language of Scorpions: Tales of Horror from the Inner Dark’ is a chilling adventure into the macabre. I’ve never read a better selection of dark stories, varying point of view, plots, and subjects. If you enjoy the horror genre you will not be disappointed with Mr. Gramlich’s collection. The last section incorporates the author’s thoughts and initial dealings with each story, making for a fascinating finish. A definite bargain.