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Limbus, Inc #1
Limbus, Inc.
Are you laid off, downsized, undersized? Call us. We employ. 1-800-555-0606 How lucky do you feel? So reads the business card from LIMBUS, INC., a shadowy employment agency that operates at the edge of the normal world. LIMBUS's employees are just as suspicious and ephemeral as the motives of the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the ordinary sense of the word. In this shared-world anthology, five heavy hitters from the dark worlds of horror, fantasy, and scifi pool their warped takes on the shadow organization that offers employment of the most unusual kind to those on the fringes of society. One thing's for sure - you'll never think the same way again about the fine print on your next employment application!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2013
97 people are currently reading
2905 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Maberry
520 books7,786 followersJONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestselling author, #1 Audible bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, comic book writer, and producer. He is the author of more than 50 novels, 190 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, and has edited 26 anthologies. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder. His 2009-10 run as writer on the Black Panther comic formed a large chunk of the recent blockbuster film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His bestselling YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin is in development for film at Alcon Entertainment; and John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, is developing Jonathan’s Joe Ledger Thrillers for TV. Jonathan writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and action; and he writes for adults, teens and middle grade. His works include The Pine Deep Trilogy, The Kagen the Damned Trilogy, NecroTek, Ink, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, The Sleepers War (with Weston Ochse), Mars One, and many others. He is the editor of high-profile anthologies including Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird, The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Out of Tune, Don’t Turn out the Lights: A Tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Baker Street Irregulars, Nights of the Living Dead, Shadows & Verse, and others. His comics include Marvel Zombies Return, The Punisher: Naked Kills, Wolverine: Ghosts, Godzilla vs Cthulhu: Death May Die, Bad Blood and many others. Jonathan has written in many popular licensed worlds, including Hellboy, True Blood, The Wolfman, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., Diablo IV, Deadlands, World of Warcraft, Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Predator, Karl Kolchak, and many others. He the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. He lives in San Diego, California. Find him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 12, 2015
Not a bad story in this genre spanning collection. You have Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror and combinations of all of the mentioned genres. The setup for the collection allows this to seamlessly take place.
The book starts out with Science Fiction by a man I have never read named Ethridge, and the writing is so well done I will be looking for more of his work. The PI story by Mr. Maberry finishes the collection with you wanting more. And I understand there is a second installment.
Contents:
19 - Prologue
27 - "The Slaughter Man" by Benjamin Kane Ethridge
85 - "The Sacrifice" by Brett J. Tallay
125 - "Matthew"
129 - "One Job Too Many" by Joseph Nassise
171 - Matthew (2)
175 - "We Employ" by Ann C. Petty
219 - "Strip Search" by Jonathan Maberry
287 - "Epilogue"
291 - About The Authors
295 - Exclusive Guide to the World of Limbus
297 - Limbus People and Creatures
303 - Limbus Places and Things
313 - "Like Part Of The Family" by Jonathan Mayberry
(This Table Of Contents is for the Limited Edition)
Cover by Alan M. Clark
Signed by
Jonathan Mayberry
Joseph Nassise
Benjiamin Kane Ethridge
Brett J. Talley
Anne C Petty
Alan M.Clark
This is copy 73 of 250 numbered copies.
The book starts out with Science Fiction by a man I have never read named Ethridge, and the writing is so well done I will be looking for more of his work. The PI story by Mr. Maberry finishes the collection with you wanting more. And I understand there is a second installment.
Contents:
19 - Prologue
27 - "The Slaughter Man" by Benjamin Kane Ethridge
85 - "The Sacrifice" by Brett J. Tallay
125 - "Matthew"
129 - "One Job Too Many" by Joseph Nassise
171 - Matthew (2)
175 - "We Employ" by Ann C. Petty
219 - "Strip Search" by Jonathan Maberry
287 - "Epilogue"
291 - About The Authors
295 - Exclusive Guide to the World of Limbus
297 - Limbus People and Creatures
303 - Limbus Places and Things
313 - "Like Part Of The Family" by Jonathan Mayberry
(This Table Of Contents is for the Limited Edition)
Cover by Alan M. Clark
Signed by
Jonathan Mayberry
Joseph Nassise
Benjiamin Kane Ethridge
Brett J. Talley
Anne C Petty
Alan M.Clark
This is copy 73 of 250 numbered copies.
July 26, 2016
4.5 stars!
This is a book of novellas all set in the same world, with a linking narrative in between. I think this concept is pretty cool and these authors made it look easy.
Jonathan Maberry's story stole the show. It was a wild ride and I remember this lead character from another short story collection, the title of which I won't mention because it will spoil this story. I liked this character then and I like him even more now.
Every story in this collection was above average. I'm especially looking forward to reading more of Brett Talley's work and Joe Nasisse's as well. Only one of these tales didn't resonate that much with me, (even though it was well written), which is why I rated this collection 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended!
This is a book of novellas all set in the same world, with a linking narrative in between. I think this concept is pretty cool and these authors made it look easy.
Jonathan Maberry's story stole the show. It was a wild ride and I remember this lead character from another short story collection, the title of which I won't mention because it will spoil this story. I liked this character then and I like him even more now.
Every story in this collection was above average. I'm especially looking forward to reading more of Brett Talley's work and Joe Nasisse's as well. Only one of these tales didn't resonate that much with me, (even though it was well written), which is why I rated this collection 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended!
September 22, 2015
*Review for the audio version*
Limbus Inc. is a very good shared world anthology of short stories revolving around a mysterious and dark employment agency and its hires. There are some very good authors on display here, only one of which I had not previously read. The audio narration was very well done and the cadence and tone of each of the individual stories flowed together nicely.
Right off the bat with Etheridge’s story, I knew this was going to be a little sci-fi/fantasy heavy for me. The real surprise was that I really enjoyed every one of these tales despite the genre influences that I typically avoid. That is quite a feat and is a testament to how well this shared world anthology was put together and written. Very well done. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment of the series. Solid 4+ Stars and Highly Recommended!
Limbus Inc. is a very good shared world anthology of short stories revolving around a mysterious and dark employment agency and its hires. There are some very good authors on display here, only one of which I had not previously read. The audio narration was very well done and the cadence and tone of each of the individual stories flowed together nicely.
Right off the bat with Etheridge’s story, I knew this was going to be a little sci-fi/fantasy heavy for me. The real surprise was that I really enjoyed every one of these tales despite the genre influences that I typically avoid. That is quite a feat and is a testament to how well this shared world anthology was put together and written. Very well done. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment of the series. Solid 4+ Stars and Highly Recommended!
February 11, 2015
A shared anthology of five short stories (and one wrap-around tale) that all deal with a shady recruitment company which is definitely more than it at first appears, Limbus, Inc. is grand in concept, but somewhat uneven in delivery.
Firstly, this should not be classified as a horror anthology. Going in with that mind-set is likely to evoke disappointment as this one is more sci-fi than it is a thriller or a horror - though it certainly contains enough elements of these as well. Hell, there are even a number of comedic moments spread through a number of the tales, so if you were prepared to stretch, you could add comedy to that lengthening list of genres. As such, some of the stories are bound to appeal to each reader more than others. Those with a preference for sci-fi will likely enjoy Ethridges's lead-off tale, The Slaughter Man, as well as Nassise's One Job Too Many and Petty's We Employ. By contrast, those whose boats are floated by horrors or thrillers will likely be more satisfied with Talley's The Sacrifice and Maberry's Strip Search.
It would be a disservice to talk about the plot of any of these stories in any detail, as a large portion of the book's success relies upon not really knowing what you're in for. Instead, I'll keep it very generic to note that Maberry's was by far my favourite story, ending this anthology on a huge high with a knockout final punch that dragged my overall rating into the four-star range, with just a bit of help from Nassise's contribution. The others I enjoyed less for varying reasons (We Employ was too weird for my tastes; The Sacrifice too predictable; The Slaughter Man too convoluted for an opening story about the recruitment agency), but all were middling to decent.
In short, it's always good to read something a little different, and Limbus, Inc. certainly falls into such a category. Pick it up for this reason and be prepared to tape your socks to your legs ahead of the last tale!
4 Right People for the Job for Limbus, Inc..
Firstly, this should not be classified as a horror anthology. Going in with that mind-set is likely to evoke disappointment as this one is more sci-fi than it is a thriller or a horror - though it certainly contains enough elements of these as well. Hell, there are even a number of comedic moments spread through a number of the tales, so if you were prepared to stretch, you could add comedy to that lengthening list of genres. As such, some of the stories are bound to appeal to each reader more than others. Those with a preference for sci-fi will likely enjoy Ethridges's lead-off tale, The Slaughter Man, as well as Nassise's One Job Too Many and Petty's We Employ. By contrast, those whose boats are floated by horrors or thrillers will likely be more satisfied with Talley's The Sacrifice and Maberry's Strip Search.
It would be a disservice to talk about the plot of any of these stories in any detail, as a large portion of the book's success relies upon not really knowing what you're in for. Instead, I'll keep it very generic to note that Maberry's was by far my favourite story, ending this anthology on a huge high with a knockout final punch that dragged my overall rating into the four-star range, with just a bit of help from Nassise's contribution. The others I enjoyed less for varying reasons (We Employ was too weird for my tastes; The Sacrifice too predictable; The Slaughter Man too convoluted for an opening story about the recruitment agency), but all were middling to decent.
In short, it's always good to read something a little different, and Limbus, Inc. certainly falls into such a category. Pick it up for this reason and be prepared to tape your socks to your legs ahead of the last tale!
4 Right People for the Job for Limbus, Inc..
July 1, 2013
I won a copy of Limbus, Inc. through the Goodreads "first-reads" giveaway, but have to confess that this is the type of book that I would have chosen to read, anyway.
The concept is that of five individual tales (each penned by a different author), linked together by a narrative that starts off the book, and then has interludes returning to this central theme throughout. The "central theme" is that of the enigmatic Limbus Corporation, and their motto of "we employ". there are quite a few genres brought into play here: science-fiction (time travel), horror, some fantasy, and even supernatural--as the corporation itself must certainly attest for.
The common thread that binds these stories is when a man (Ichabod Templeton) brings a manuscript of these stories into a failing bookseller's store, with the intent of having the collection published. The owner, Matthew Sellers, is naturally skeptical at first. Nonetheless, he begins reading through the fantastic tales.
As with any story collection, certain stories will stand out as favorites to individual readers, depending on their personal tastes. In my case, "The Sacrifice" by Brett Talley, and "Strip Search" by Jonathan Mayberry immediately came to the forefront. These stories remained in my mind as distinctly unique, and the style really impressed me.
The beginning tale, "The Slaughter Man", was a well written blend of science fiction and fantasy, which helped to shed a small amount of light nto the mysterious Limbus Corporation and its reach. "One Job Too Many" had an interesting premise and conclusion; and "We Employ" was another blend of the fantasy and science-fiction genres.
Overall, I'd bive the entire collection 4.5 stars, rounded up for the ingenuity of the set-up. There are several stand alone novels by some of these authors that I will now be checking out. Recommended!
The concept is that of five individual tales (each penned by a different author), linked together by a narrative that starts off the book, and then has interludes returning to this central theme throughout. The "central theme" is that of the enigmatic Limbus Corporation, and their motto of "we employ". there are quite a few genres brought into play here: science-fiction (time travel), horror, some fantasy, and even supernatural--as the corporation itself must certainly attest for.
The common thread that binds these stories is when a man (Ichabod Templeton) brings a manuscript of these stories into a failing bookseller's store, with the intent of having the collection published. The owner, Matthew Sellers, is naturally skeptical at first. Nonetheless, he begins reading through the fantastic tales.
As with any story collection, certain stories will stand out as favorites to individual readers, depending on their personal tastes. In my case, "The Sacrifice" by Brett Talley, and "Strip Search" by Jonathan Mayberry immediately came to the forefront. These stories remained in my mind as distinctly unique, and the style really impressed me.
The beginning tale, "The Slaughter Man", was a well written blend of science fiction and fantasy, which helped to shed a small amount of light nto the mysterious Limbus Corporation and its reach. "One Job Too Many" had an interesting premise and conclusion; and "We Employ" was another blend of the fantasy and science-fiction genres.
Overall, I'd bive the entire collection 4.5 stars, rounded up for the ingenuity of the set-up. There are several stand alone novels by some of these authors that I will now be checking out. Recommended!
May 13, 2013
There is a blurb on the back cover that invites us to get street level in crazy town. Yes indeedy! Five outstanding novellas, all appropriately creepy, and all tied together by a common thread that presents itself as an employment agency by the name of Limbus, Inc.
Although it was difficult to decide on a favorite, Jonathan Maberry's 'Strip Search' was right up there at the top of the tree. It was spookily reminiscent of those old Raymond Chandler tec-noir novels featuring Philip Marlowe, but then morphed into something else entirely. I love to be surprised and this one got me, twice. 'The Slaughter Man' was excellent, as well. Nice parallel with the old job versus the new job.
My interest is most definitely piqued about Limbus, Inc. Their job recruiters are quite odd - what are they hiding behind those smiling faces? And what's with those business cards? A word of advice to those in need of a job of work - ignore the overly generous pay that is offered for these made-to-order 'dream' jobs. Don't bother to read the small print on the application . . . . sign nothing!
This was a Firstreads giveaway, thank you.
Although it was difficult to decide on a favorite, Jonathan Maberry's 'Strip Search' was right up there at the top of the tree. It was spookily reminiscent of those old Raymond Chandler tec-noir novels featuring Philip Marlowe, but then morphed into something else entirely. I love to be surprised and this one got me, twice. 'The Slaughter Man' was excellent, as well. Nice parallel with the old job versus the new job.
My interest is most definitely piqued about Limbus, Inc. Their job recruiters are quite odd - what are they hiding behind those smiling faces? And what's with those business cards? A word of advice to those in need of a job of work - ignore the overly generous pay that is offered for these made-to-order 'dream' jobs. Don't bother to read the small print on the application . . . . sign nothing!
This was a Firstreads giveaway, thank you.
March 5, 2013
Review forthcoming. Too many bourbons so cut me some slack, Jack, you'll just have to wait.
Wow, that Larceny single batch was some good stuff. Anyway, on to the book -
First I would like to thank the authors and publisher for the ARC I won through Goodreads and wish them much success with the book because if this does turn out to be a series, I'm first in line for book 2.
You can read the synopsis above so I won't bore you with a repeat of that. These are 5 great short stories in a shared world, each with its own take on a shady corporation I don't recommend filling out an application for.
Maberry - Maberry's writing style shines even more so than the story he chose to tell in this collection. Great story and the prose is excellent with a fair dose of comedy to complement the horror. This was my favorite of the collection. 5 stars.
Talley - Brett Talley went a with a Lovecraftian theme, which he is damn good at by the way, and the ending had a bit of a twist I wasn't expecting. If you enjoyed That Which Should Not Be, you won't be disappointed with his story in Limbus. 5 stars.
Nasisse - New author for me. An out of work war veteran in a not too distant future takes a job in a somewhat post-apocalyptic environment, accepting a position tailored to "what he is good at." I can't say much more without a spoiler but it was original, well-written, and I look forward to reading more of his work. 5 stars.
Petty - Another new author for me, this was a sci-fi heavy story with a whole lotta weird going on. Weird in a good way. Unexpected and comical with a few "holy shit!" moments thrown in as a bonus. I'll just say that it would be best to think twice before accepting a job as an overpaid dog-walker. 4 stars.
Ethridge - First story in the collection and again, a new author for me. This is also heavy on the sci-fi, involving space and alien life but includes plenty of horror as well. The main character loses his job at a slaughter house, takes a job from Limbus, and assumes responsibilities similar to his previous position. Very imaginative with a bit of twisted humor, it was an excellent introduction to the themes found throughout the rest of the book. 4 stars.
That's my story; I'm sticking to it.
Wow, that Larceny single batch was some good stuff. Anyway, on to the book -
First I would like to thank the authors and publisher for the ARC I won through Goodreads and wish them much success with the book because if this does turn out to be a series, I'm first in line for book 2.
You can read the synopsis above so I won't bore you with a repeat of that. These are 5 great short stories in a shared world, each with its own take on a shady corporation I don't recommend filling out an application for.
Maberry - Maberry's writing style shines even more so than the story he chose to tell in this collection. Great story and the prose is excellent with a fair dose of comedy to complement the horror. This was my favorite of the collection. 5 stars.
Talley - Brett Talley went a with a Lovecraftian theme, which he is damn good at by the way, and the ending had a bit of a twist I wasn't expecting. If you enjoyed That Which Should Not Be, you won't be disappointed with his story in Limbus. 5 stars.
Nasisse - New author for me. An out of work war veteran in a not too distant future takes a job in a somewhat post-apocalyptic environment, accepting a position tailored to "what he is good at." I can't say much more without a spoiler but it was original, well-written, and I look forward to reading more of his work. 5 stars.
Petty - Another new author for me, this was a sci-fi heavy story with a whole lotta weird going on. Weird in a good way. Unexpected and comical with a few "holy shit!" moments thrown in as a bonus. I'll just say that it would be best to think twice before accepting a job as an overpaid dog-walker. 4 stars.
Ethridge - First story in the collection and again, a new author for me. This is also heavy on the sci-fi, involving space and alien life but includes plenty of horror as well. The main character loses his job at a slaughter house, takes a job from Limbus, and assumes responsibilities similar to his previous position. Very imaginative with a bit of twisted humor, it was an excellent introduction to the themes found throughout the rest of the book. 4 stars.
That's my story; I'm sticking to it.
April 3, 2013
Limbus, Inc. isn't a new concept: shared world anthologies go back as far as Robert Asprin's Thieve's World series--and perhaps even farther--but that doesn't diminish the impact and enjoyment of the book. Limbus, Inc. is an employment agency, only more rarefied. It's clients have, shall I say, unique demands, and Limbus, Inc. helps find people who will fit those demands.
Through five tales, we get to explore the world of Limbus, Inc.. All of the stories were good, though I enjoyed the ones by Joe Nassise and Jonathen Maberry best. And Brett Talley's connective narratives helped weave the stories into a cohesive arc. Reading Limbus, Inc. was like watching old Twilight Zone episodes, only updated for current times. You get lost in the splendor of time travel or alien encounters or mythical beasts straight out horror's cherished past. Well worth the trip, in my opinion.
I highly recommend Limbus, Inc..
Through five tales, we get to explore the world of Limbus, Inc.. All of the stories were good, though I enjoyed the ones by Joe Nassise and Jonathen Maberry best. And Brett Talley's connective narratives helped weave the stories into a cohesive arc. Reading Limbus, Inc. was like watching old Twilight Zone episodes, only updated for current times. You get lost in the splendor of time travel or alien encounters or mythical beasts straight out horror's cherished past. Well worth the trip, in my opinion.
I highly recommend Limbus, Inc..
April 20, 2013
Are you down on your luck? Are you unemployed? Well The Limbus corporation is here to help. They already have a job that would be perfect for you, all you have to do is call. Of course the job may be to kill things to feed an alien princess or to help an alien creature who enslaves humans find a portal to his home world. Or maybe the job will be to stop a sacrifice that will keep evil from taking over the world.
They may not be glamorous jobs but at least you will be employed. Then again maybe it would be better to be unemployed. This is the concept behind Journalstone publishing’s anthology called Limbus Inc. Limbus is a shadowy employment agency that finds the perfect job for someone with their back against the wall. That person finds a business card from Limbus and ends up getting the job that is perfect for them in every way. Things are never that easy though and the job seeker is left to face their worst fears.
This book contains five stories and a story within a story from the likes of Brett. J. Talley, Anne C. Petty, Joseph Nassise, Jonathan Maberry and Benjamin Kane Ethridge. If I was going to compare this book to a TV show its kind of like the Outer Limits. Each story is a kind of mix of science fiction and horror.
The first story is The Slaughter Man by Benjamin Kane Ethridge. It's about a man who has just lost his job in a slaughter-house and also found out his wife was divorcing him. He's not sure what he wants and he feels a sense of hopelessness. All that changes when a mysterious woman in a business suit shows up talking about a new job that is perfect for him. I felt the author made a great point about not giving up in a horrible situation and I liked how the main character changed throughout the story.
The second story is The Sacrifice by Brett J. Talley. This one looks at a man who has seen some horrors in Afghanistan and Iraq. Coming home from war he is trying to find some direction in life and is given a job to find a kidnapped girl. The job isn't as simple as it seems and is not what he thought it was going to be. This was a great horror story with a surprise twist.
The next story is called One Job to Many by Joseph Nassise. This tale takes place in the future and is about a recruiter for Limbus who takes on more than he can handle when he hires a man to travel to different time periods to change the past in his favor. This one was a great time travel story with some interesting characters. It answers the question what would you do if you could change the past.
We Employ by Anne C. Petty looks at a man who couldn't be more down on his luck and what he is willing to do to fix it. I thought this story really made a good point about how things are not always what they seem and how your luck can turn around at a moments notice. I also liked the idea of what kind of beings are among us without us knowing.
I liked all the stories in this book but my favorite was Strip Search by Jonathan Maberry. This horror tale follows a down on his luck private detective with a secret, who is hired to find the killer of sixteen women. I liked how the main character changes, I also loved the blood soaked ending and the mythology behind this story.
Limbus Inc is a great anthology which really gets into what some people fear most. Which is the idea of what your willing to do to support yourself. It then shows you that there are even worse things to be afraid of. Limbus Inc is a great book for Science fiction and horror fans alike.
They may not be glamorous jobs but at least you will be employed. Then again maybe it would be better to be unemployed. This is the concept behind Journalstone publishing’s anthology called Limbus Inc. Limbus is a shadowy employment agency that finds the perfect job for someone with their back against the wall. That person finds a business card from Limbus and ends up getting the job that is perfect for them in every way. Things are never that easy though and the job seeker is left to face their worst fears.
This book contains five stories and a story within a story from the likes of Brett. J. Talley, Anne C. Petty, Joseph Nassise, Jonathan Maberry and Benjamin Kane Ethridge. If I was going to compare this book to a TV show its kind of like the Outer Limits. Each story is a kind of mix of science fiction and horror.
The first story is The Slaughter Man by Benjamin Kane Ethridge. It's about a man who has just lost his job in a slaughter-house and also found out his wife was divorcing him. He's not sure what he wants and he feels a sense of hopelessness. All that changes when a mysterious woman in a business suit shows up talking about a new job that is perfect for him. I felt the author made a great point about not giving up in a horrible situation and I liked how the main character changed throughout the story.
The second story is The Sacrifice by Brett J. Talley. This one looks at a man who has seen some horrors in Afghanistan and Iraq. Coming home from war he is trying to find some direction in life and is given a job to find a kidnapped girl. The job isn't as simple as it seems and is not what he thought it was going to be. This was a great horror story with a surprise twist.
The next story is called One Job to Many by Joseph Nassise. This tale takes place in the future and is about a recruiter for Limbus who takes on more than he can handle when he hires a man to travel to different time periods to change the past in his favor. This one was a great time travel story with some interesting characters. It answers the question what would you do if you could change the past.
We Employ by Anne C. Petty looks at a man who couldn't be more down on his luck and what he is willing to do to fix it. I thought this story really made a good point about how things are not always what they seem and how your luck can turn around at a moments notice. I also liked the idea of what kind of beings are among us without us knowing.
I liked all the stories in this book but my favorite was Strip Search by Jonathan Maberry. This horror tale follows a down on his luck private detective with a secret, who is hired to find the killer of sixteen women. I liked how the main character changes, I also loved the blood soaked ending and the mythology behind this story.
Limbus Inc is a great anthology which really gets into what some people fear most. Which is the idea of what your willing to do to support yourself. It then shows you that there are even worse things to be afraid of. Limbus Inc is a great book for Science fiction and horror fans alike.
October 17, 2022
3.5 Stars
I must say, that I was looking forward to anything with Jonathan Maberry attached to it. He has become one of my got-to authors, when I need a good book to read. The man just knows how to tell a story.
Now, with that being said, his story is the only one that I rate 5 stars for, and I will tell you why. Oh wait; I already did. He knows how to write a story.
The ratings are as follows:
The Slaughter Man (Benjamin Kane Ethridge)- 2.5 Stars: I just didn't get this one, or particularly like it. It started off well, and then seemed to get silly, like a 60s b-movie. It was okay.
The Sacrifice (Brett J Talley) - 3.5 Stars: Halfway through I got a gut feeling about our hero. This was good, with a nice twist. This is the same author of That Which Should Not Be; which is on the kindle right now!
One Job too many (Joseph Nassise) - 4 Stars: Sweet ending, and sweet revenge; which is a dish best served cold! I really enjoyed this bit of time travel and harsh business. I will definitely look for more by this author.
We Employ (Anne C Petty) - 3 Stars: This was out there like Slaughter Man, and almost became dumb; except for some good writing on the authors part.
Strip Search (Jonathan Maberry) - 5 Stars: What more can I say?? I would read his stories off of a paper bag. Loved the twist with the main character and the ending twist. WTF!?? How did that happen?? I wasn't sure how our hero would "save the day" or even if he could. Great story-telling, and would love to read about this character and his origins, much more. Much, much more.
I will stick with my rating, because Mr Maberry deserves the 5 stars; and because overall, this was not a waste of time and I definitely enjoyed this book.
I must say, that I was looking forward to anything with Jonathan Maberry attached to it. He has become one of my got-to authors, when I need a good book to read. The man just knows how to tell a story.
Now, with that being said, his story is the only one that I rate 5 stars for, and I will tell you why. Oh wait; I already did. He knows how to write a story.
The ratings are as follows:
The Slaughter Man (Benjamin Kane Ethridge)- 2.5 Stars: I just didn't get this one, or particularly like it. It started off well, and then seemed to get silly, like a 60s b-movie. It was okay.
The Sacrifice (Brett J Talley) - 3.5 Stars: Halfway through I got a gut feeling about our hero. This was good, with a nice twist. This is the same author of That Which Should Not Be; which is on the kindle right now!
One Job too many (Joseph Nassise) - 4 Stars: Sweet ending, and sweet revenge; which is a dish best served cold! I really enjoyed this bit of time travel and harsh business. I will definitely look for more by this author.
We Employ (Anne C Petty) - 3 Stars: This was out there like Slaughter Man, and almost became dumb; except for some good writing on the authors part.
Strip Search (Jonathan Maberry) - 5 Stars: What more can I say?? I would read his stories off of a paper bag. Loved the twist with the main character and the ending twist. WTF!?? How did that happen?? I wasn't sure how our hero would "save the day" or even if he could. Great story-telling, and would love to read about this character and his origins, much more. Much, much more.
I will stick with my rating, because Mr Maberry deserves the 5 stars; and because overall, this was not a waste of time and I definitely enjoyed this book.
March 30, 2013
I would like to thank 'LibraryThing' and JournalStone Publishing for the early reviewer free copy of Limbus Inc.
I should preface by saying I am not a horror/sci-fi aficionado by any stretch, but this book was a very welcome diversion from some of the heavy biographies I finally put to bed. When I do read fiction I want to read the most innovative, creative writing that's out there, so I can ascertain the benchmark of language use from today's best authors. Suffice to say Limbus, Inc. didn't disappoint. The writing is quirky yet uncomplicated; intimate and almost conversational, but brave and confronting. It is peppered with profanities, which didn't detract from my reading pleasure, on the contrary – I prefer honest writing and earthy characters who reflect the grittiness of our contemporary society.
If you are reading this review then you are probably aware of the book's synopsis and how it contains five horror stories with a sci-fi bent from five authors, the common thread being Limbus Inc.; so I won't regurgitate the obvious. But let me say – the next time you read a business card, any old business card, you should think twice about calling the number. While my opinion is that we have a very good book here and the premise is also interesting, by the third story I grew a little tired of the same ol’ Limbus Inc. card rearing its ugly head. Enjoying the third and fourth stories less than the others might explain my apathetic reaction.
But hooray, the last story 'Strip Search' by Jonathan Maberry regained my full attention. This classic noir piece wasn't as dependent on the Limbus, Inc. premise as the preceding stories, or perhaps it was because it was told from a totally different angle. The first person narrative is wonderfully executed with many stunning twists. Also interwoven and integral to the whole story is this character's undeniably brazen philosophical and moral viewpoints about life. This 'getting into the head' style narrative combined with its frenetic pace and those seedy contexts our protagonist PI Sam Hunter finds himself in blew me away.
‘The desire to protect the pack, to protect anyone who can’t protect themselves. When I take on a client it’s like they become part of the family, part of my pack. I will do absolutely anything, go to extreme lengths to protect what’s mine.’
The other story I wish never ended was the first story, 'The Slaughter Man' by Benjamin Kane Ethridge. The protagonist, is a slaughterhouse worker, most aptly referred to as 'Sticker'. In fact his true identity is not revealed until near the end.
‘Personally he had always been happiest as a sticker (the term bleeder was frowned upon by the Management)…’
I also felt the quality of writing and highly inventive plot well surpassed those in the subsequent three stories.
‘He could only glance around at the various group of workers: the steamers, the singers, shavers, the splitters, shacklers, stunners…it was like a conspiracy of language used to reinforce the idea that all jobs here were created equal.’
Without revealing too much, the interchanges between the young African American girl and the ‘Sticker' were engrossing and made my spine chill. It expertly paved the way for the extraordinary change in circumstances that were to beset our 'Sticker'. As the Limbus inc. card read, but meant in the most literal sense, ‘Take a shot, you’ll go far, we employ.’
Overall, I would have liked to have read a story about at least one female protagonist. Dallas, the gay dog-walking college dropout, almost, but didn't quite pull off the variance in character I would expect from a five-story book. Nevertheless, this is an extremely clever book, which will appeal to a wide readership, horror fans or not. The writing is fresh, witty and engaging. It packs a lot of punch. Beware, it is quite gory and explicit and not for the faint hearted.
I am grateful to be given an early reviewer’s copy of this book. I do hope it will be a 'bestseller', which assuredly it deserves to be, if it isn't already. I wouldn't be surprised before too long if the rights to at least one of the stories are bought by a major movie studio. Let’s hope one day we get to see the 'Sticker' or PI Sam Hunter on the big screen. And Limbus Inc., undoubtedly a clear warning sign, metaphorical or not, of what could occur perhaps sooner than we realise. That is, if such an entity doesn't already exist. Dah Daah!
I should preface by saying I am not a horror/sci-fi aficionado by any stretch, but this book was a very welcome diversion from some of the heavy biographies I finally put to bed. When I do read fiction I want to read the most innovative, creative writing that's out there, so I can ascertain the benchmark of language use from today's best authors. Suffice to say Limbus, Inc. didn't disappoint. The writing is quirky yet uncomplicated; intimate and almost conversational, but brave and confronting. It is peppered with profanities, which didn't detract from my reading pleasure, on the contrary – I prefer honest writing and earthy characters who reflect the grittiness of our contemporary society.
If you are reading this review then you are probably aware of the book's synopsis and how it contains five horror stories with a sci-fi bent from five authors, the common thread being Limbus Inc.; so I won't regurgitate the obvious. But let me say – the next time you read a business card, any old business card, you should think twice about calling the number. While my opinion is that we have a very good book here and the premise is also interesting, by the third story I grew a little tired of the same ol’ Limbus Inc. card rearing its ugly head. Enjoying the third and fourth stories less than the others might explain my apathetic reaction.
But hooray, the last story 'Strip Search' by Jonathan Maberry regained my full attention. This classic noir piece wasn't as dependent on the Limbus, Inc. premise as the preceding stories, or perhaps it was because it was told from a totally different angle. The first person narrative is wonderfully executed with many stunning twists. Also interwoven and integral to the whole story is this character's undeniably brazen philosophical and moral viewpoints about life. This 'getting into the head' style narrative combined with its frenetic pace and those seedy contexts our protagonist PI Sam Hunter finds himself in blew me away.
‘The desire to protect the pack, to protect anyone who can’t protect themselves. When I take on a client it’s like they become part of the family, part of my pack. I will do absolutely anything, go to extreme lengths to protect what’s mine.’
The other story I wish never ended was the first story, 'The Slaughter Man' by Benjamin Kane Ethridge. The protagonist, is a slaughterhouse worker, most aptly referred to as 'Sticker'. In fact his true identity is not revealed until near the end.
‘Personally he had always been happiest as a sticker (the term bleeder was frowned upon by the Management)…’
I also felt the quality of writing and highly inventive plot well surpassed those in the subsequent three stories.
‘He could only glance around at the various group of workers: the steamers, the singers, shavers, the splitters, shacklers, stunners…it was like a conspiracy of language used to reinforce the idea that all jobs here were created equal.’
Without revealing too much, the interchanges between the young African American girl and the ‘Sticker' were engrossing and made my spine chill. It expertly paved the way for the extraordinary change in circumstances that were to beset our 'Sticker'. As the Limbus inc. card read, but meant in the most literal sense, ‘Take a shot, you’ll go far, we employ.’
Overall, I would have liked to have read a story about at least one female protagonist. Dallas, the gay dog-walking college dropout, almost, but didn't quite pull off the variance in character I would expect from a five-story book. Nevertheless, this is an extremely clever book, which will appeal to a wide readership, horror fans or not. The writing is fresh, witty and engaging. It packs a lot of punch. Beware, it is quite gory and explicit and not for the faint hearted.
I am grateful to be given an early reviewer’s copy of this book. I do hope it will be a 'bestseller', which assuredly it deserves to be, if it isn't already. I wouldn't be surprised before too long if the rights to at least one of the stories are bought by a major movie studio. Let’s hope one day we get to see the 'Sticker' or PI Sam Hunter on the big screen. And Limbus Inc., undoubtedly a clear warning sign, metaphorical or not, of what could occur perhaps sooner than we realise. That is, if such an entity doesn't already exist. Dah Daah!
April 16, 2013
Oh man, this was a fun ride! I found the idea of a shared-world anthology intriguing and Limbus, Inc. did not disappoint. The Limbus corporation is in place really only to kick start each of the stories. The premise is that they are an employment agency, but rather than you seeking their help, Limbus has already found and earmarked you for a specific job. We learn about these stories through an independent bookseller and publisher named Matthew who is given a book, containing many tales of the Limbus Corporation within and he shares these with us. The result are stories that run the gamut from hard sci-fi through horror and then mystery noir but all with that old Twilight Zone twist and feel. The potential for the stories and the writing styles is only limited by the authors themselves, and each did a fantastic job.
Within this collection are five distinct stories, with the only common link being the mysterious, sometimes covert Limbus Corporation:
The Slaughter Man by Benjamin Kane Ethridge -- A man known only as "The Sticker" loses his job at a slaughter house and is employed working to help feed the extravagance and appetite of a princess. Hard sci-fi here with lots of alien monsters and space travel. The interesting twist is when the hunter becomes the hunted.
The Sacrifice by Brett J. Talley -- A war veteran with PTSD is hired to help save a young girl before she is killed. This was a rather unremarkable, but heart-breaking story nonetheless. Some Lovecraftian themes set in Salem, Mass. bring is out of the realm of a story about the effects of war more into line with the rest of the stories in the collection.
One Job Too Many by Joseph Nassise -- A veteran of the "Faith Wars" in a dystiopian future is fired and hired by Limbus to work as a time-traveling errand boy of sorts, fixing problems he is "particularly well-suited" to fix. This was one of the more realistically written stories and added a depth to the Limbus Corporation as it was now part of a future shadow government. As with most time-travel works, the concept of the paradox is worked in, providing for an interesting though very predictable twist.
We Employ by Anne C. Petty -- An out of work, homeless college dropout is hired by the Limbus Corporation as a dog walker, but not is wholly as it seems. This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. It was just fun sci-fi adventure with my only complaint being that it was a little too short. The ending, which is a wonderful all-out Twilight Zone twist was fabulous, but came just a hair too soon for me.
Strip Search by Jonathan Mayberry -- A private investigator is hired by Limbus to help stop a serial killer before he strikes again. This was my favorite story in the collection. It reads like an old crime noir novel (think Raymond Chandler) with a supernatural twist. Add in a few secret societies, underground religions, and put the whole thing in the middle of Philadelphia and I am sold! It does become a little cliche in parts with the writing style, and is very graphic in its violence, but overall was a fabulous read.
On the whole, Limbus, Inc. is a fabulous start to what I could see as a long running series of sci-fi/horror anthologies. It is not for the faint of heart as all of the stories contain depictions of graphic violence and adult/sexual situations, but none detract from their respective stories. Also interesting throughout is the framing story for the collection which shows the bookseller, Matthew, slowly realizing that he is getting farther and farther into something more mysterious or sinister. Make sure you stick around for the epilogue for one more twist!
Many thanks to LibraryThing and JournalStone for the advanced copy and opportunity to review this collection.
Within this collection are five distinct stories, with the only common link being the mysterious, sometimes covert Limbus Corporation:
The Slaughter Man by Benjamin Kane Ethridge -- A man known only as "The Sticker" loses his job at a slaughter house and is employed working to help feed the extravagance and appetite of a princess. Hard sci-fi here with lots of alien monsters and space travel. The interesting twist is when the hunter becomes the hunted.
The Sacrifice by Brett J. Talley -- A war veteran with PTSD is hired to help save a young girl before she is killed. This was a rather unremarkable, but heart-breaking story nonetheless. Some Lovecraftian themes set in Salem, Mass. bring is out of the realm of a story about the effects of war more into line with the rest of the stories in the collection.
One Job Too Many by Joseph Nassise -- A veteran of the "Faith Wars" in a dystiopian future is fired and hired by Limbus to work as a time-traveling errand boy of sorts, fixing problems he is "particularly well-suited" to fix. This was one of the more realistically written stories and added a depth to the Limbus Corporation as it was now part of a future shadow government. As with most time-travel works, the concept of the paradox is worked in, providing for an interesting though very predictable twist.
We Employ by Anne C. Petty -- An out of work, homeless college dropout is hired by the Limbus Corporation as a dog walker, but not is wholly as it seems. This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. It was just fun sci-fi adventure with my only complaint being that it was a little too short. The ending, which is a wonderful all-out Twilight Zone twist was fabulous, but came just a hair too soon for me.
Strip Search by Jonathan Mayberry -- A private investigator is hired by Limbus to help stop a serial killer before he strikes again. This was my favorite story in the collection. It reads like an old crime noir novel (think Raymond Chandler) with a supernatural twist. Add in a few secret societies, underground religions, and put the whole thing in the middle of Philadelphia and I am sold! It does become a little cliche in parts with the writing style, and is very graphic in its violence, but overall was a fabulous read.
On the whole, Limbus, Inc. is a fabulous start to what I could see as a long running series of sci-fi/horror anthologies. It is not for the faint of heart as all of the stories contain depictions of graphic violence and adult/sexual situations, but none detract from their respective stories. Also interesting throughout is the framing story for the collection which shows the bookseller, Matthew, slowly realizing that he is getting farther and farther into something more mysterious or sinister. Make sure you stick around for the epilogue for one more twist!
Many thanks to LibraryThing and JournalStone for the advanced copy and opportunity to review this collection.
August 9, 2015
Review Copy
What editor Amne C. Petty and the wonderful folks at JournalStone Publishing have done here is come up with an entertaining way to feature a number of writers in their stable where each one tells a tale using the common denominator of Limbus, Inc.
The book is a well conceived, shared-world, anthology that got better with each new short and was tied together masterfully by yet another story from Brett J. Talley which begins in the Prologue, appears at times between stories and wraps things up nicely in the Epilogue.
"Limbus is latin for 'edge' or 'boundry,' but that's not the whole story. Welcome to the worlds of Limbus, Inc, a shadow organization at the edge of reality whose methods are low-rent, sketchy, even haphazard to the ordinary eye: a tattered flyer taped to a bus-stop shed or tacked to the bulletin board of a neighborhood Laundromant, a dropped business card, a popup ad on the Internet. Limbus' employees are as suspicious and ephemeral as the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the normal sense of the word.
Recruiters offer contracts for employment tailored exactly to the job seeker in question. But a word to the wise...it's always a good idea to read the fine print."
In the first, of what appears to be a series of Limbus, Inc. books, we get to enjoy stories as diverse as "The Slaughter Man", by Benjamin kane Ethridge, a man hired by Limbus, Inc. because of his unique skills working for many years in a Slaughterhouse.
From Brett J. Talley, there's "The Sacrifice" where the lead character suffers from PTSD and only his particulr skills are suited to the job assignment he's been recruited for.
"One Job Too Many" from Joseph Nassise requires the applicant to travel back in time to perform a variety of tasks. When reading this one, I became so engrossed in the story, I was late coming back from lunch and all I could think was, please don't fire me, I really don't need to see a Limbus, Inc. business card on my desk.
Anne C. Petty has an entry titled, "We Employ." Here, the job is for a dog walker, but believe me, the job entails so much more.
This installment of Limbus, Inc. finishes with Jonathan Maberry's "Strip Search". A raw, gritty story involving a series of gruesome murders of young people and an assignment to stop the next one.
Each author comes at the assignment with a slightly different approach, but they all share the task of getting their protaganist to respond to contact from Limbus, Inc. I found the business cards to be very effective and enjoyed the way they interacted with the clients. You'll see what I mean when you read the book and I hope you do.
Official release date is April 26th amd Limbus, Inc. will be available as a limited edition hardcover, signed by the authors and in ebook formats as well.
What editor Amne C. Petty and the wonderful folks at JournalStone Publishing have done here is come up with an entertaining way to feature a number of writers in their stable where each one tells a tale using the common denominator of Limbus, Inc.
The book is a well conceived, shared-world, anthology that got better with each new short and was tied together masterfully by yet another story from Brett J. Talley which begins in the Prologue, appears at times between stories and wraps things up nicely in the Epilogue.
"Limbus is latin for 'edge' or 'boundry,' but that's not the whole story. Welcome to the worlds of Limbus, Inc, a shadow organization at the edge of reality whose methods are low-rent, sketchy, even haphazard to the ordinary eye: a tattered flyer taped to a bus-stop shed or tacked to the bulletin board of a neighborhood Laundromant, a dropped business card, a popup ad on the Internet. Limbus' employees are as suspicious and ephemeral as the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the normal sense of the word.
Recruiters offer contracts for employment tailored exactly to the job seeker in question. But a word to the wise...it's always a good idea to read the fine print."
In the first, of what appears to be a series of Limbus, Inc. books, we get to enjoy stories as diverse as "The Slaughter Man", by Benjamin kane Ethridge, a man hired by Limbus, Inc. because of his unique skills working for many years in a Slaughterhouse.
From Brett J. Talley, there's "The Sacrifice" where the lead character suffers from PTSD and only his particulr skills are suited to the job assignment he's been recruited for.
"One Job Too Many" from Joseph Nassise requires the applicant to travel back in time to perform a variety of tasks. When reading this one, I became so engrossed in the story, I was late coming back from lunch and all I could think was, please don't fire me, I really don't need to see a Limbus, Inc. business card on my desk.
Anne C. Petty has an entry titled, "We Employ." Here, the job is for a dog walker, but believe me, the job entails so much more.
This installment of Limbus, Inc. finishes with Jonathan Maberry's "Strip Search". A raw, gritty story involving a series of gruesome murders of young people and an assignment to stop the next one.
Each author comes at the assignment with a slightly different approach, but they all share the task of getting their protaganist to respond to contact from Limbus, Inc. I found the business cards to be very effective and enjoyed the way they interacted with the clients. You'll see what I mean when you read the book and I hope you do.
Official release date is April 26th amd Limbus, Inc. will be available as a limited edition hardcover, signed by the authors and in ebook formats as well.
October 8, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Anthology/Shared World/Dark Fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoy speculative fiction, dark fiction
Trigger Warnings: assassination, killing, murder, flaying
My Thoughts: Five novellas, different characters but the same world. A mysterious employment agency that can find the perfect job just for you... but what are the consequences? That is the question raised in these stories, ranging from science-fiction to Lovecraftian horror, to urban fantasy noir. There is not a lot I can tell you about this, since it would spoil things. I liked the way the whole story was connected together with the prologue, intermission, and epilogue providing the glue that holds the novellas together into a cohesive whole. Really good idea, really good book. Check it out.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
In this shared-world anthology, five heavy hitters from the dark worlds of horror, fantasy, and scifi pool their warped take on the shadow organization that offers employment of the most unusual kind to those on the fringes of society.
One thing’s for sure—you’ll never think the same way again about the fine print on your next employment application!
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoy speculative fiction, dark fiction
Trigger Warnings: assassination, killing, murder, flaying
My Thoughts: Five novellas, different characters but the same world. A mysterious employment agency that can find the perfect job just for you... but what are the consequences? That is the question raised in these stories, ranging from science-fiction to Lovecraftian horror, to urban fantasy noir. There is not a lot I can tell you about this, since it would spoil things. I liked the way the whole story was connected together with the prologue, intermission, and epilogue providing the glue that holds the novellas together into a cohesive whole. Really good idea, really good book. Check it out.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
Are you laid off, downsized, undersized?So reads the business card from LIMBUS, INC., a shadowy employment agency that operates at the edge of the normal world. LIMBUS's employees are just as suspicious and ephemeral as the motives of the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the ordinary sense of the word.
Call us. We employ. 1-800-555-0606.
How lucky do you feel?
In this shared-world anthology, five heavy hitters from the dark worlds of horror, fantasy, and scifi pool their warped take on the shadow organization that offers employment of the most unusual kind to those on the fringes of society.
One thing’s for sure—you’ll never think the same way again about the fine print on your next employment application!
March 16, 2013
Limbus, Inc., edited and cover story by Anne C. Perry, tells the story of an employment agency that exists just outside the everday world. Its recruitment methods are targeted directly to those it seeks, from an entry in the Yellow Pages that keeps changing to a business card that cannot be ignored (oftimes it has a hologram of a world that glitters as it rotates). Five different people, in stories from individual authors, are recruited by this strange company that offers strange jobs to those strangers who find themselves truly in need. The results range from “happiness” to “a good end”.
The stories are tied together by a running understory of a man who is being convinced to publish the stories, so the world can know about Limbus, Inc. It reminded me very much of the television series “Welcome to Paradox” or the any one of several shared univers series available today, the Bordertown books for example.
The stories are tied together by a running understory of a man who is being convinced to publish the stories, so the world can know about Limbus, Inc. It reminded me very much of the television series “Welcome to Paradox” or the any one of several shared univers series available today, the Bordertown books for example.
March 23, 2013
First off, I won my copy of this book via a giveaway hosted by Goodreads.
Fan of "The Twilight Zone"? How about "The Alfred Hitchcock Show"? "Tales from the Crypt?" "Friday the Thirteenth"? How about the movie "Men in Black"? If you answered yes to any of those, odds are that you will devour this book. Luckily for me, I can answer yes to all of the above. I was entranced, enthralled, and immersed from the first paragraph in the prologue. Limbus, Inc. We employ. Five authors, five stories, one corporation pulling ALL the strings... Intrigued yet?
Normally this kinda book isn't my preferred genre of reading material but if a second volume is compiled I will definitely purchase it.
Fan of "The Twilight Zone"? How about "The Alfred Hitchcock Show"? "Tales from the Crypt?" "Friday the Thirteenth"? How about the movie "Men in Black"? If you answered yes to any of those, odds are that you will devour this book. Luckily for me, I can answer yes to all of the above. I was entranced, enthralled, and immersed from the first paragraph in the prologue. Limbus, Inc. We employ. Five authors, five stories, one corporation pulling ALL the strings... Intrigued yet?
Normally this kinda book isn't my preferred genre of reading material but if a second volume is compiled I will definitely purchase it.
August 27, 2013
First and foremost, let me say I have never been happier to be employed by a company that only abuses me on occasion than I have after reading this ARC Giveaway.
That being said, Limbus, Inc. was quite different than the books I tend to lean toward. It is compiled by a series of novellas, each telling a separate tale regarding the employment agency from hell: Limbus, Inc.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book, it was unique and had a Twilight Zone meets Doctor Who with a splash of the X-Files added to the mix vibe. It was fun, dark, and thrilling. I highly recommend this book!
...And always remember to read the fine print!
That being said, Limbus, Inc. was quite different than the books I tend to lean toward. It is compiled by a series of novellas, each telling a separate tale regarding the employment agency from hell: Limbus, Inc.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book, it was unique and had a Twilight Zone meets Doctor Who with a splash of the X-Files added to the mix vibe. It was fun, dark, and thrilling. I highly recommend this book!
...And always remember to read the fine print!
July 18, 2022
По-скоро правило, от колкото изключение, поне в моя скромен читателски опит, е споделените вселени от количество автори да не работят. Тук не говорим за писане в един вече изграден от даден автор свят, на който другите идват на гости, а за взааимно изграждане на вселена, където всеки тегли чергата към собствените си идеи.
Е, при корпорация Лимбус се е получило и то много добре. Най-вече заради свободата, която самата идея дава както жанрово, така и чисто като правила на светостроене.
Добре дошли в Лимбус
Ние наемаме!
Чувстваш ли се късметлия?
Prologue - Между разказите от различни автори има леко свързващо звено. Матю е букинист и малък издател. Една вечер странен субект му оставя ръкопис, като твърди, че всичко написано вътре е истина. Разказите се намират в ръкописа, а на Матю започват да му се случват странни съвпадение свързани с написаното в страниците. Неговата история включва пролога, епилога и няколко кратки включвания между основните произведения.
"The Slaughter Man" от Benjamin Kane Ethridge - Непознат за мен автор, който задължително ще проверя. Започва компилацията ударно със смес от хорър, времева и космическа фантастика.
Един съвсем обикновен работник в кланица е на ръба. Работата му е отвратителна, шефът му гъз, а жена му го зарязва. Точно в най-ниската част на съществуването си получава оферта за добре платена работа избрана специално избрана за него. Условията са малко неясни, но хей, животът е лайняна шахта и без това. Така се озовава на работа като колач за вечно гладен звяр, по съвместимос принцеса на извънземна колония. Гастрономическите апетити на изрода са бездънни и странни, а нашето момче излага живота си на опастност всеки ден. И може да е ОК, но веднъж принцесата вкусва от кръвта му, случайно попаднала в менюто след поредното убийство. ТОва ще докара камара проблеми на нашия човек или междувидова война.
"The Sacrifice" от Brett J. Tallay - Друг нов за мен автор. ТУк имаме микстура между ноар и лъвкрафтов космически ужас с доста приятен, не и за гароя ни, финален обрат.
Бивш военен се опитва да оцелее в съвремения свят. Един ден получава оферта за специална работа, която не може да откаже. Свързана е с отвлечено дванадесет годишно момиче и кървав култ към незнайни божества. Дали пича е героя за който го смятат в Лимбус?
"One Job Too Many" от Joseph Nassise - ТУк имаме класически времеви парадокс.
ГОтов на всичко за работа бивш военен се забърква с Лимбус. Мисиите са сравнително лесни и приличат на шпионска игра, докато не осъзнава, че променя миналото в полза на наборника си от фирмата. ТОва е една истина вповече от колкото трябва да научи. Как да се измъкнеш от корпорация, която контролира пътуването във времето? Как да изпълниш задача в която трябва да убиеш по-младото си аз?
"We Employ" от Ann C. Petty - Мистерия, класически първи контакт и щипка фентъзи за разкош.
Пропаднал на дъното безделник успява да се уреди на много добре платена и лесна временна работа. Лимбус го наемат да разхожда куче. Интересното е, че има краен срок, а собственичката не е това, което изглежда.
"Strip Search" от Jonathan Maberry - Хорър, ърбън фентъзи и малко фантастика ни е забъркал Мабери.
Частен детектив бива посетен от наборник на Лимбус и му е предложен случай, който не може да откаже. шестнадесет млади жени са одрани живи и убийствата нямат изгледи за приключване. Това ще вкара нашия герой в света на богатите и известните със силно влечение към демонични култове. За късмет нашия детектив е върколак (Здрастиии, Емо, кво ш кажеш? :) ).
Мабери отдавна има интерес към историята на италианската фамилия Бенанданти или Хрътките на Господ. Очаквам да избие в пълнокръвно произведение, което ще е или гениално или голям провал.
Направо продължавам с втората книга, толкова съм доволен. Вие какво ще кажете?
Чувствате ли се късметлии?
Е, при корпорация Лимбус се е получило и то много добре. Най-вече заради свободата, която самата идея дава както жанрово, така и чисто като правила на светостроене.
Добре дошли в Лимбус
Ние наемаме!
Чувстваш ли се късметлия?
Prologue - Между разказите от различни автори има леко свързващо звено. Матю е букинист и малък издател. Една вечер странен субект му оставя ръкопис, като твърди, че всичко написано вътре е истина. Разказите се намират в ръкописа, а на Матю започват да му се случват странни съвпадение свързани с написаното в страниците. Неговата история включва пролога, епилога и няколко кратки включвания между основните произведения.
"The Slaughter Man" от Benjamin Kane Ethridge - Непознат за мен автор, който задължително ще проверя. Започва компилацията ударно със смес от хорър, времева и космическа фантастика.
Един съвсем обикновен работник в кланица е на ръба. Работата му е отвратителна, шефът му гъз, а жена му го зарязва. Точно в най-ниската част на съществуването си получава оферта за добре платена работа избрана специално избрана за него. Условията са малко неясни, но хей, животът е лайняна шахта и без това. Така се озовава на работа като колач за вечно гладен звяр, по съвместимос принцеса на извънземна колония. Гастрономическите апетити на изрода са бездънни и странни, а нашето момче излага живота си на опастност всеки ден. И може да е ОК, но веднъж принцесата вкусва от кръвта му, случайно попаднала в менюто след поредното убийство. ТОва ще докара камара проблеми на нашия човек или междувидова война.
"The Sacrifice" от Brett J. Tallay - Друг нов за мен автор. ТУк имаме микстура между ноар и лъвкрафтов космически ужас с доста приятен, не и за гароя ни, финален обрат.
Бивш военен се опитва да оцелее в съвремения свят. Един ден получава оферта за специална работа, която не може да откаже. Свързана е с отвлечено дванадесет годишно момиче и кървав култ към незнайни божества. Дали пича е героя за който го смятат в Лимбус?
"One Job Too Many" от Joseph Nassise - ТУк имаме класически времеви парадокс.
ГОтов на всичко за работа бивш военен се забърква с Лимбус. Мисиите са сравнително лесни и приличат на шпионска игра, докато не осъзнава, че променя миналото в полза на наборника си от фирмата. ТОва е една истина вповече от колкото трябва да научи. Как да се измъкнеш от корпорация, която контролира пътуването във времето? Как да изпълниш задача в която трябва да убиеш по-младото си аз?
"We Employ" от Ann C. Petty - Мистерия, класически първи контакт и щипка фентъзи за разкош.
Пропаднал на дъното безделник успява да се уреди на много добре платена и лесна временна работа. Лимбус го наемат да разхожда куче. Интересното е, че има краен срок, а собственичката не е това, което изглежда.
"Strip Search" от Jonathan Maberry - Хорър, ърбън фентъзи и малко фантастика ни е забъркал Мабери.
Частен детектив бива посетен от наборник на Лимбус и му е предложен случай, който не може да откаже. шестнадесет млади жени са одрани живи и убийствата нямат изгледи за приключване. Това ще вкара нашия герой в света на богатите и известните със силно влечение към демонични култове. За късмет нашия детектив е върколак (Здрастиии, Емо, кво ш кажеш? :) ).
Мабери отдавна има интерес към историята на италианската фамилия Бенанданти или Хрътките на Господ. Очаквам да избие в пълнокръвно произведение, което ще е или гениално или голям провал.
Направо продължавам с втората книга, толкова съм доволен. Вие какво ще кажете?
Чувствате ли се късметлии?
November 26, 2013
Ichabod Templeton hides in the shadows until he believes it's safe enough for him to enter Matthew Sellers small store. Ichabod gives Matthew a manuscript he wants Matthew to publish. Ichabod wants no payment nor any credit for the book. All he wants is for the book to be published, and he believes that once Matthew has read the manuscript he will have no choice but to publish it. Ichabod believes the information contained in the book he's brought to Matthew is so compelling that Matthew will have no qualms whatsoever about seeing the book through to publication. Matthew is not quite so sure. He's got a very small business, and times have been tough for him lately. He's even had thoughts about closing the business rather than lose any more money than he already has. However, after Ichabod gives Matthew the pages he's brought with him, he simply walks out the door, and Matthew is left with the book. So, of course, he begins to read...
**Limbus, Inc** is written in 5 different sections by 5 different authors who seamlessly combine their individual stories to make one whole well crafted novel. In each story **Limbus, Inc**, a company that finds employment for people who are having no luck with employment searches on their own, leaves one of their calling cards with a new person who then has an appointment with a Limbus recruiter. The terms of employment are unclear to the person applying for the available job, but the recruiter assures each one that Limbus is best at matching the right person with the best job suited to him. No one refuses the employment. And that's where things get REALLY interesting both for the employee and the reader. There are no typical 9 to 5 jobs at Limbus. Each place of employment offers something unique in the job description, and it's not possible for the employee to know exactly what he's involved in at the start.
I've never read a book constructed the way this one is with different authors combining to make up one cohesive story. For that alone, **Limbus** is worth the read. I also have not read a book that was a mash-up between *The Twilight Zone* , *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, and *The X Files*. Limbus is all three of those and more. I've seen references to Limbus, Inc 2. On the basis of this first book, I would say that as a series, this title has to be a hit whether or not a person regularly reads this genre or not. It's creative, and it's impossible to guess the outcome of any of the stories. The book would make a great gift for readers who appreciate something a little different in their TBR piles. Definitely a 5 Star rating.
**Limbus, Inc** is written in 5 different sections by 5 different authors who seamlessly combine their individual stories to make one whole well crafted novel. In each story **Limbus, Inc**, a company that finds employment for people who are having no luck with employment searches on their own, leaves one of their calling cards with a new person who then has an appointment with a Limbus recruiter. The terms of employment are unclear to the person applying for the available job, but the recruiter assures each one that Limbus is best at matching the right person with the best job suited to him. No one refuses the employment. And that's where things get REALLY interesting both for the employee and the reader. There are no typical 9 to 5 jobs at Limbus. Each place of employment offers something unique in the job description, and it's not possible for the employee to know exactly what he's involved in at the start.
I've never read a book constructed the way this one is with different authors combining to make up one cohesive story. For that alone, **Limbus** is worth the read. I also have not read a book that was a mash-up between *The Twilight Zone* , *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, and *The X Files*. Limbus is all three of those and more. I've seen references to Limbus, Inc 2. On the basis of this first book, I would say that as a series, this title has to be a hit whether or not a person regularly reads this genre or not. It's creative, and it's impossible to guess the outcome of any of the stories. The book would make a great gift for readers who appreciate something a little different in their TBR piles. Definitely a 5 Star rating.
April 12, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in return for a review, via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Welcome to the world of Limbus, Inc., a shadow organisation at the edge of reality whose recruitment methods are low-rent, sketchy, even haphazard to the ordinary eye: a tattered flyer taped to a bus-stop shed or tacked to the bulletin board of a neighborhood Laundromat, a dropped business card, a popup ad on the Internet. Limbus's employees are as suspicious and ephemeral as the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the normal sense of the word.
Recruiters offer contracts for employment tailored exactly to the job seeker in question. but a word to the wise . . . it's always a good idea to read the fine print.
I wasn't keen on the first story "The Slaughter Man", whose protagonist is an unemployed slaughter house worker who finds a job with a princess. There was too much blood and guts for my taste, although I did like the ending. The second story "The Sacrifice" started to remind me of a particular film (I won't say which, as it would be a big spoiler) and I guessed the ending easily. By this point in the book, I wasn't enjoying it much, but then things started to improve with "One Job Too Many", a time travel story about an ex-soldier. The frame story also started to get more interesting at this point, as the publisher who has been given a manuscript containing the five stories starts to realise that he may be getting into deep waters.
The last two stories were great. In "We Employ", a young homeless man is employed as a dog-walker, and in the final story, "Strip Search", Limbus hires a Philadelphia private eye with an unnaturally good sense of smell to track down a serial killer before he kills his next victim. I really liked the hard-boiled detective story atmosphere and the unusual detective.
In the Limbic zone between horror, sf and fantasy, those who take up employment could find themselves in unexpected locations in space or time and their employment could end in success, death, or even a new role as a Limbus recruiter.
He popped the top and tore along the perforations, pulling out two long crispy-sweet Pockysticks, the most sought-after snack treat in Japan. The aroma of sweet biscotti and fresh, otherworldly strawberries broke over his tongue. He couldn't remember why he'd been so angry a moment ago. Maybe this Limbus gig wasn't so bad. He might even grow to like it.
Welcome to the world of Limbus, Inc., a shadow organisation at the edge of reality whose recruitment methods are low-rent, sketchy, even haphazard to the ordinary eye: a tattered flyer taped to a bus-stop shed or tacked to the bulletin board of a neighborhood Laundromat, a dropped business card, a popup ad on the Internet. Limbus's employees are as suspicious and ephemeral as the company, if indeed it could be called a company in the normal sense of the word.
Recruiters offer contracts for employment tailored exactly to the job seeker in question. but a word to the wise . . . it's always a good idea to read the fine print.
I wasn't keen on the first story "The Slaughter Man", whose protagonist is an unemployed slaughter house worker who finds a job with a princess. There was too much blood and guts for my taste, although I did like the ending. The second story "The Sacrifice" started to remind me of a particular film (I won't say which, as it would be a big spoiler) and I guessed the ending easily. By this point in the book, I wasn't enjoying it much, but then things started to improve with "One Job Too Many", a time travel story about an ex-soldier. The frame story also started to get more interesting at this point, as the publisher who has been given a manuscript containing the five stories starts to realise that he may be getting into deep waters.
The last two stories were great. In "We Employ", a young homeless man is employed as a dog-walker, and in the final story, "Strip Search", Limbus hires a Philadelphia private eye with an unnaturally good sense of smell to track down a serial killer before he kills his next victim. I really liked the hard-boiled detective story atmosphere and the unusual detective.
In the Limbic zone between horror, sf and fantasy, those who take up employment could find themselves in unexpected locations in space or time and their employment could end in success, death, or even a new role as a Limbus recruiter.
He popped the top and tore along the perforations, pulling out two long crispy-sweet Pockysticks, the most sought-after snack treat in Japan. The aroma of sweet biscotti and fresh, otherworldly strawberries broke over his tongue. He couldn't remember why he'd been so angry a moment ago. Maybe this Limbus gig wasn't so bad. He might even grow to like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2013
Have you been laid off, downsized, or undersized? If you have, you might want to think twice, and then again, before accepting a job offer from Limbus, Inc. If, on the other hand, you’re into reading shared-world stories with a dark twist, you need to run, that’s right, run to the nearest computer and order a copy of Limbus, Inc.: Book 1, an anthology edited by Anne C. Petty of JournalStone, and containing cutting-edge tales by four award-winning authors.
Limbus, Inc. is a mysterious employment agency that offers specific jobs to specific people, but there is often a deadly catch in the fine print. The book opens with an prologue written by Brett J. Talley, with passages inserted throughout, and then ends with Talley’s epilogue. In between these two macabre bookend offerings is a series of tales, though written by different authors, including editor Petty, come across as if they’d been either written by the same person, or a team working in close collaboration.
Each story, though, is self-contained, and masterfully done; from the prologue, when Matthew Sellers, a bookstore owner down on his luck, is given a strange and tattered manuscript by an unkempt stranger, to Benjamin Kane’s ‘Slaughter Man,’ Dean Fulsome, or the PI in Jonathan Maberry’s ‘Strip Search.’
Limbus, Inc. has something for just about every flavor of reader. Time travel and a space ship inhabited by a voracious, flesh-eating alien princess, arcane sacrificial cults, and ageless gamins who work as company recruiters. Every candidate for employment by Limbus is a loser, but every story is a winner. Tight dialogue, fully-formed characters, and settings described in a way that makes it easy to suspend disbelief.
Brew a pot of coffee, or mix your favorite brew; slip your feet into your most comfortable slippers; sit back and prepare to be transported to a realm where reality has taken an extended holiday. But, before you start reading, you might want to check the locks on all the doors and windows, and turn on a few extra lights.
Limbus, Inc. is a mysterious employment agency that offers specific jobs to specific people, but there is often a deadly catch in the fine print. The book opens with an prologue written by Brett J. Talley, with passages inserted throughout, and then ends with Talley’s epilogue. In between these two macabre bookend offerings is a series of tales, though written by different authors, including editor Petty, come across as if they’d been either written by the same person, or a team working in close collaboration.
Each story, though, is self-contained, and masterfully done; from the prologue, when Matthew Sellers, a bookstore owner down on his luck, is given a strange and tattered manuscript by an unkempt stranger, to Benjamin Kane’s ‘Slaughter Man,’ Dean Fulsome, or the PI in Jonathan Maberry’s ‘Strip Search.’
Limbus, Inc. has something for just about every flavor of reader. Time travel and a space ship inhabited by a voracious, flesh-eating alien princess, arcane sacrificial cults, and ageless gamins who work as company recruiters. Every candidate for employment by Limbus is a loser, but every story is a winner. Tight dialogue, fully-formed characters, and settings described in a way that makes it easy to suspend disbelief.
Brew a pot of coffee, or mix your favorite brew; slip your feet into your most comfortable slippers; sit back and prepare to be transported to a realm where reality has taken an extended holiday. But, before you start reading, you might want to check the locks on all the doors and windows, and turn on a few extra lights.
April 25, 2013
When a bookshop owner is handed a loosely bound manuscript by a stranger, he initially dismisses the man as a crackpot. At least, until he begins to leaf through the contents of the manuscript, which contains a series of accounts dealing with a strange, secretive employment agency called Limbus Incorporated, who always provide the perfect employee for their client's needs, even though the job may not always be in the best interests of the person taking it.
Limbus, Inc. is a shared world anthology, its five stories linked together by an overarching narrative. And what an anthology it is. Stories cover a wide range of sub-genres, from straight up science fiction thriller to Lovecraftian horror and supernatural noir. In many respects, the stories often read like episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits and this is no bad thing. All of the tales are well written, with interesting, realistic characters and a real sense of intrigue that drives the narrative forward.
Usually in anthologies of this nature, there are stories that stand out, and others that prove to be little more than filler to get the page count up. That was not the case with Limbus, Inc. The stories are all excellent, although Brett Talley's tale of Lovecraft-inspired terror, The Sacrifice, and Joe Nassise's cleverly written time travel story, One Job Too Many, were particular stand-outs. If there could be any criticism of the book, it's that Anne Petty's We Employ was tonally a bit lighter than the other stories, at least for the majority of the tale. That did not make it any less interesting, however, and provided a nice counterpoint to some of the darker stories.
Limbus, Inc. is a rare find. It's a shared world anthology that manages to end up greater than the sum of its parts. It is an intelligent, occasionally touching, often disturbing and always compelling piece of literature. Highly recommended.
Limbus, Inc. is a shared world anthology, its five stories linked together by an overarching narrative. And what an anthology it is. Stories cover a wide range of sub-genres, from straight up science fiction thriller to Lovecraftian horror and supernatural noir. In many respects, the stories often read like episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits and this is no bad thing. All of the tales are well written, with interesting, realistic characters and a real sense of intrigue that drives the narrative forward.
Usually in anthologies of this nature, there are stories that stand out, and others that prove to be little more than filler to get the page count up. That was not the case with Limbus, Inc. The stories are all excellent, although Brett Talley's tale of Lovecraft-inspired terror, The Sacrifice, and Joe Nassise's cleverly written time travel story, One Job Too Many, were particular stand-outs. If there could be any criticism of the book, it's that Anne Petty's We Employ was tonally a bit lighter than the other stories, at least for the majority of the tale. That did not make it any less interesting, however, and provided a nice counterpoint to some of the darker stories.
Limbus, Inc. is a rare find. It's a shared world anthology that manages to end up greater than the sum of its parts. It is an intelligent, occasionally touching, often disturbing and always compelling piece of literature. Highly recommended.
June 1, 2015
I won this book in a Goodread giveway.
Limbus, Inc. is a book of five short stories all centered around a mysterious employment agency. Each story is written by a different author and they are all really fabulous.
I've never been a big fan of short story compilations but the stories in this book meshed so well that I didn't feel like I was reading five whole different stories. The fact that each story had little in common with the others, aside from involving Limbus, Inc., but still felt inherently intertwined makes this a really great novel as a whole. Each story was very well written and I enjoyed them each individually. They were written by separate authors but they felt similar enough that it wasn't jarring going from one story to another.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the stories are not simply published one after another as in other books of short stories but are woven together through another underlying story. The book starts with a man who owns a small independent bookshop and publishing company. He receives a strange book from a strange man who wishes him to publish it. That book contains the stories that we read in our book and, throughout the book, the man is reading and reacting to the same stories we are reading.
If you enjoy futuristic and mysterious stories with a touch of humor and horror, you're going to like this book. Each story can stand on its own as a great work of fiction but they come together to form something really magnificent.
Limbus, Inc. is a book of five short stories all centered around a mysterious employment agency. Each story is written by a different author and they are all really fabulous.
I've never been a big fan of short story compilations but the stories in this book meshed so well that I didn't feel like I was reading five whole different stories. The fact that each story had little in common with the others, aside from involving Limbus, Inc., but still felt inherently intertwined makes this a really great novel as a whole. Each story was very well written and I enjoyed them each individually. They were written by separate authors but they felt similar enough that it wasn't jarring going from one story to another.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the stories are not simply published one after another as in other books of short stories but are woven together through another underlying story. The book starts with a man who owns a small independent bookshop and publishing company. He receives a strange book from a strange man who wishes him to publish it. That book contains the stories that we read in our book and, throughout the book, the man is reading and reacting to the same stories we are reading.
If you enjoy futuristic and mysterious stories with a touch of humor and horror, you're going to like this book. Each story can stand on its own as a great work of fiction but they come together to form something really magnificent.
December 23, 2013
The concept behind this book was very innovative, and not quite like anything else I have encountered before. It is collection of short stories from various different authors which all can work as stand alone stories, while at the same time operate within the same reality.
Each of the stories revolves around the mysterious and ominous cooperation known as Limbus. As they say if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Limbus is generous, it offers employment to those most desperate, those most in need, it pays well, and it has jobs tailor made to fit your particularly set of skills. But always read the fine print. They say you should not make a deal with the devil, well making a deal with Limbus might just be much worse.
Limbus operates throughout time and space, which allows each of these authors that make up the collection of stories to have full creative freedom within their chosen genres, the stories range from fantasy, sci-fi and horror, and while in each story you can feel the unique voices of each author, there is still a feeling of cohesion and you can feel how each of these unique, individual voices collaborated wonderfully together.
I also have to say that this was one of the most solid collection of horror stories I have read in perhaps ever. I have my favorites among them, but I can find no true fault with any of the stories. They are all strong, well crafted and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Each of the stories revolves around the mysterious and ominous cooperation known as Limbus. As they say if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Limbus is generous, it offers employment to those most desperate, those most in need, it pays well, and it has jobs tailor made to fit your particularly set of skills. But always read the fine print. They say you should not make a deal with the devil, well making a deal with Limbus might just be much worse.
Limbus operates throughout time and space, which allows each of these authors that make up the collection of stories to have full creative freedom within their chosen genres, the stories range from fantasy, sci-fi and horror, and while in each story you can feel the unique voices of each author, there is still a feeling of cohesion and you can feel how each of these unique, individual voices collaborated wonderfully together.
I also have to say that this was one of the most solid collection of horror stories I have read in perhaps ever. I have my favorites among them, but I can find no true fault with any of the stories. They are all strong, well crafted and full of unexpected twists and turns.
March 7, 2013
Managed to pick this up as an ARC. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever really read anything like it. It reminds me of those movies back in the 80s like Tales from the Darkside. You've got a book that is really five novellas bound together by one overarching story. And they are all really great. Three had a sci-fi bent, while two were straight horror of the Lovecraftian variety, with Jonathan Maberry throwing in some noir for good measure. Talley's was probably my favorite by a nose, though I really enjoyed the frame story as well. I assume it was written in some sort of collaboration between all the authors. All and all, a unique and terrific experience.
Read
March 28, 2013I just finished Limbus Inc, and as usual I like to set down a few words to convey my immediate feelings. This was a really novel and inventive collection. The stories that stood out for me were Brett Talley's The Sacrifice and Johnathan Maberry's Strip Search. The other stories were solid and creative but I'm a supernatural horror guy, and a Lovecraftian in particular.
To sum it up: a definite buy with great writing and some completely off the wall creativity. When I read something and get that twinge of writers jealousy, that scared dread that I could never come up with something that original...then I know that I'm reading quality.
To sum it up: a definite buy with great writing and some completely off the wall creativity. When I read something and get that twinge of writers jealousy, that scared dread that I could never come up with something that original...then I know that I'm reading quality.
October 17, 2013
Absolutely riveting. Limbus, Inc pulled me in from the beginning, and though I've completed the novel, it has yet to let me go. Each story has a different voice depending on the author, and each story has something unique to offer, but as a whole, the book is consistent in tone. Main characters are strong, stories are vivid, and each plot unfolds at just the right pace. A must read for anyone who enjoys dark fiction with a lot of subtance. I would only leave a warning to the faint of heart, just in case.
October 18, 2013
Absolutely riveting. Limbus, Inc pulled me in from the beginning, and though I've completed the novel, it has yet to let me go. Each story has a different voice depending on the author, and each story has something unique to offer, but as a whole, the book is consistent in tone. Main characters are strong, stories are vivid, and each plot unfolds at just the right pace. A must read for anyone who enjoys dark fiction with a lot of subtance. I would only leave a warning to the faint of heart, just in case.
October 19, 2015
A weird and terrifying set of short stories framed enticingly by a man reading the same stories you are reading -- only he knows that they are completely real. A nicely thematic Halloween read that takes you from a ravenous alien's ship to ancient sacrifices to time travel. A fun and gruesome read.
October 14, 2018
Very good story collection. I only thought one story wasn't as good as the rest. The story written by Jonathan Maberry made me want to read more about his character, Sam Hunter. I found a Mayberry short story collection featuring him, now on my TBR list.
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