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Split Scream #3
Split Scream Volume Three
Dread Stone Press presents SPLIT SCREAM, a new Horror Novelette Double Feature. This is Volume Three. Grab some popcorn, turn the lights low, and don't be afraid to scream.
FEATURING:
"So Quiet, So White" - Patrick Barb
Roger Grimsby, a small-town curmudgeon known for his ‘80s horror paperback cover art, believes an ancient, bloodthirsty entity with ties to his family may have reemerged. But how does this connect to his wayward grandson, who prying police detectives and grieving parents blame for a recent knife attack massacre at a nearby summer camp? “So Quiet, So White” is cosmic folk horror that balances the act of creation through destructive forces, with the Grimsby family at the fulcrum. Prepare for bloodshed, and the beauty found within.
"Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood)" - J.A.W. McCarthy
Shauna’s infatuation with the enigmatic painter she meets at art school escalates into unwavering devotion when she learns about the mercilessly brutal cat and mouse game that has consumed Elise’s life. She vows to protect her, to keep her safe—but how far will she go to keep her promise? A self-portrait vomits viscera and the sinister secrets that lie at the heart of the decadently deranged “Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood),” where body parts and gore become fine art.
FEATURING:
"So Quiet, So White" - Patrick Barb
Roger Grimsby, a small-town curmudgeon known for his ‘80s horror paperback cover art, believes an ancient, bloodthirsty entity with ties to his family may have reemerged. But how does this connect to his wayward grandson, who prying police detectives and grieving parents blame for a recent knife attack massacre at a nearby summer camp? “So Quiet, So White” is cosmic folk horror that balances the act of creation through destructive forces, with the Grimsby family at the fulcrum. Prepare for bloodshed, and the beauty found within.
"Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood)" - J.A.W. McCarthy
Shauna’s infatuation with the enigmatic painter she meets at art school escalates into unwavering devotion when she learns about the mercilessly brutal cat and mouse game that has consumed Elise’s life. She vows to protect her, to keep her safe—but how far will she go to keep her promise? A self-portrait vomits viscera and the sinister secrets that lie at the heart of the decadently deranged “Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood),” where body parts and gore become fine art.
144 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2023
43 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Barb
71 books91 followersPatrick Barb is an author of weird, dark, and spooky tales, currently living (and trying not to freeze to death) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His published works include the dark fiction collections The Children’s Horror and Pre-Approved for Haunting, the novellas Gargantuana's Ghost, Turn, and JK-LOL, as well as the novelette Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare. He is the editor and publisher of the anthology And One Day We Will Die: Strange Stories Inspired by the Music of Neutral Milk Hotel. His forthcoming works include the Killer VHS novella Night of the Witch-Hunter from Shortwave Publishing and his debut sci-fi/horror novel Abducted from Dark Matter Ink. His 2023 short story "The Scare Groom" was selected for Best Horror of the Year Volume 16. Visit him at patrickbarb.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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July 25, 2023SPLIT SCREAM Vol 3 is an eerie, darkly fun double feature of horror showcasing the lengths artists will go to remain true to themselves. Patrick Barb's twisted tale of family bonds and traditions will horrify and haunt; JAW McCarthy's nightmarish novella of survival is terrifying and tragic. This book is a great, grim read with some truly imaginative and unique terrors.
July 11, 2023
What a delightful pairing! I had a blast reading both of these tales. There are some great themes with art, identity, and supernatural/cosmic forces that blend nicely together in both stories. Barb has a knack for creating such a strong character-driven tale, and McCarthy's delicious prose just consumed its way right into my soul. Lovely!
August 2, 2023
The concept of pairing two thematically similar novelettes in a double feature volume is great! I hope this sort of thing catches on. These stories both center around artists and the relationship between the creative process and inner darkness. McCarthy's "Imago Expulsio," a surreal and erotic story with a split timeline, was by far the more memorable and well-written, but I found things to enjoy and admire in Barb's "So Quiet, So White" as well.
June 26, 2023
This was awesome! I'm really digging these split books, it's a great way to get a taste of each author and cool to see a similar theme playing through out. Though, definitely don't expect them to be the same or tied together, completely different things are happening here and both are great.
January 25, 2024
Wonderfully spooky.
July 13, 2024
You need to be reading these Split Scream books. This 3rd entry was very well done. Two art and artist themed novelettes, both very creepy, both well paced, and both absolutely stuck the landing with their endings.
November 23, 2023
Another great edition to the Split Scream series.
July 24, 2023
Split Scream Vol. 3 is a homage to art and the artists behind it, and is the most cohesive of the three volumes released so far, in my opinion. My short review is that I loved it, and I think you will too.
"So Quiet, So White" by Patrick Barb is a story about a grandfather, a man who paints pulp horror paperback covers, and his grandson, also an artist, and the possible return of an entity that has plagued their family following his grandson's survival of a terrible event. Barb's evocative prose, and unique perspective on art and what it means to be an artist genuinely shocked me, but also moved me in a kind of perverse way. Also present is a strong statement on generational trauma, and how that can linger on and fester, almost like a curse. There are scenes and imagery in this story that I still think about a lot. Really good stuff.
"Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood)" by J.A.W. McCarthy is about art as a means of bonding, and escapism, as well as dangerous obsessions. Saying more would be to give too much away. This was probably my favorite of the two stories. McCarthy's prose is endlessly entertaining, and the way she swoops and swerves her way through this truly unique tale was a sight to behold. Despite the fantastic nature, and insane premise of the plot, I was all in from page one. By the time the end came I was ready for one thing to happen only to be completely surprised at where she went with it. If I didn't already own her story collection before this, I certainly would have rushed to buy it after.
In closing, I obviously highly recommend this book. Both authors are working at peak capacity, and have produced two amazing examples of modern weird horror fiction. Genuinely unnerving, and entertaining, you don't want to miss out on this one.
Full disclosure, a review copy of the book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"So Quiet, So White" by Patrick Barb is a story about a grandfather, a man who paints pulp horror paperback covers, and his grandson, also an artist, and the possible return of an entity that has plagued their family following his grandson's survival of a terrible event. Barb's evocative prose, and unique perspective on art and what it means to be an artist genuinely shocked me, but also moved me in a kind of perverse way. Also present is a strong statement on generational trauma, and how that can linger on and fester, almost like a curse. There are scenes and imagery in this story that I still think about a lot. Really good stuff.
"Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood)" by J.A.W. McCarthy is about art as a means of bonding, and escapism, as well as dangerous obsessions. Saying more would be to give too much away. This was probably my favorite of the two stories. McCarthy's prose is endlessly entertaining, and the way she swoops and swerves her way through this truly unique tale was a sight to behold. Despite the fantastic nature, and insane premise of the plot, I was all in from page one. By the time the end came I was ready for one thing to happen only to be completely surprised at where she went with it. If I didn't already own her story collection before this, I certainly would have rushed to buy it after.
In closing, I obviously highly recommend this book. Both authors are working at peak capacity, and have produced two amazing examples of modern weird horror fiction. Genuinely unnerving, and entertaining, you don't want to miss out on this one.
Full disclosure, a review copy of the book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2023
Split Scream Volume 3 is here and Dread Stone are going from strength to strength with these double-feature, bite-size horror tales. This time, we have Patrick Barb's So Quiet, So White, and Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood) by J.A.W. McCarthy.
In Barb's story, following family relations in the aftermath of a terrible event, he truly puts the lie to the old saw that good prose should be unnoticeable. His writing is thick, writhing in the reader's hands. On occasion it can trip over itself, choke on itself, but at its best it is reminiscent of Laird Barron, stylised and punchy and surly. Some writing flows, but this oozes, slick and ominous. Who wants a pane of glass when you can have this glorious dark vista? Atmosphere and tone are Barb's weapons of choice, but he still manages to work in a vicious twist - more analogous to a twist of a knife in the gut than a twist in the tale.
McCarthy's piece is a darkly romantic story of passion, trauma, and the terrifying feeling of knowing another person, and letting them know you. It is rich, sickeningly vivid, and raw emotion is always at the surface - be it the love forged between our protagonist and the fellow painter she encounters, or their fear and despair in the face of the impossible figure that haunts them, and the desperate escape they plot. All these layers of emotion, of imagery, of elegantly and grotesquely crafted sentences, build up, like the layers of paint on the picture at the heart of the story, into something powerful, haunting, surging.
The act of creation, the artistic process, is key to both of these tales, in different - but equally harrowing - ways. That feels important right now, in this time of computer-generated slop. Both of these pieces, in their characters and in their own existence, show the power of human creation, of art with human feeling and human fears behind it. It's refreshing to see something - two somethings - so raw, heartfelt, and well-crafted.
In Barb's story, following family relations in the aftermath of a terrible event, he truly puts the lie to the old saw that good prose should be unnoticeable. His writing is thick, writhing in the reader's hands. On occasion it can trip over itself, choke on itself, but at its best it is reminiscent of Laird Barron, stylised and punchy and surly. Some writing flows, but this oozes, slick and ominous. Who wants a pane of glass when you can have this glorious dark vista? Atmosphere and tone are Barb's weapons of choice, but he still manages to work in a vicious twist - more analogous to a twist of a knife in the gut than a twist in the tale.
McCarthy's piece is a darkly romantic story of passion, trauma, and the terrifying feeling of knowing another person, and letting them know you. It is rich, sickeningly vivid, and raw emotion is always at the surface - be it the love forged between our protagonist and the fellow painter she encounters, or their fear and despair in the face of the impossible figure that haunts them, and the desperate escape they plot. All these layers of emotion, of imagery, of elegantly and grotesquely crafted sentences, build up, like the layers of paint on the picture at the heart of the story, into something powerful, haunting, surging.
The act of creation, the artistic process, is key to both of these tales, in different - but equally harrowing - ways. That feels important right now, in this time of computer-generated slop. Both of these pieces, in their characters and in their own existence, show the power of human creation, of art with human feeling and human fears behind it. It's refreshing to see something - two somethings - so raw, heartfelt, and well-crafted.
January 30, 2024
This is the third pairing of short tales I've read in this entertaining weird horror series and like the others, it does not disappoint. "So Quiet, So White," is (appropriately perhaps) the quieter of the two. A moody and atmospheric slice of life that exposes one family's dark secret with some beautiful prose and an expertly developed feeling of paranoia amid slow reveals. "Imago Expulsio (The Red Animal of Our Blood)" is a more in-your-face body horror tale exploring the extremes a victim might go to in order to protect themselves from an inexorable hunter. Unforgettable and quite horrifically gory imagery resides alongside a moving love story. Both tales are linked by intriguing and striking insights into the artistic process, however that art might choose to express itself. Speaking of art, I also appreciate the inclusion of wonderful illustrations in this series. They add to the overall experience for fans of weird and disturbing fiction.
July 28, 2023
The fascinating vision of the “Split Scream” series continues. Billed as a "Horror Novelette Double Feature", Patrick Barb and J.A.W. McCarthy are the latest duo to combine their talents with the stories “So Quiet, So White” and “Imago Expulsio.”
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 7, 2023
This is the third double feature of horror novelettes from Dread Stone Press, this time featuring the talents of Patrick Barb and J.A.W McCarthy. Thematically the two stories are much closer than in the previous volumes, and there is a more unifying feel to them. As with the previous editions, both stories can be easily read in half a day.
As with the other books of this series, I would highly recommend Split Scream Volume 3.
As with the other books of this series, I would highly recommend Split Scream Volume 3.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews