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Screamscapes: Tales of Terror
HORROR NOVEL REVIEWS raves: "...A great choice for pretty much any horror reader...fans of Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, or old-school anthology horror films will feel right at home here. If I were to write a one word review, it would be this: FUN. Pick it up, boils and ghouls. You won't regret it."
Ten twisted tales designed to delight fans of modern horror.
Razor-sharp scares and Tales from the Crypt-style mayhem lurk within these dark stories of possession,obsession, deception and revenge...this is one collection you don't want to miss.
Ten twisted tales designed to delight fans of modern horror.
Razor-sharp scares and Tales from the Crypt-style mayhem lurk within these dark stories of possession,obsession, deception and revenge...this is one collection you don't want to miss.
337 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
2491 people want to read
About the author
Evans Light
35 books416 followersEvans Light is author of Screamscapes: Tales of Terror, the upcoming I Am Halloween, and more. He is editor of
Doorbells at Dusk
and the ongoing
In Darkness, Delight
horror anthology series, and is co-creator of
Bad Apples: Halloween Horrors
and Dead Roses: Five Dark Tales of Twisted Love.
Evans lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, surrounded by thousands of vintage horror paperbacks.
Author links:
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/EvansLight-AmazonUS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheEvansLight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvansLightAu...
Corpus Press: https://www.corpuspress.com/authors/e...
Evans lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, surrounded by thousands of vintage horror paperbacks.
Author links:
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/EvansLight-AmazonUS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheEvansLight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvansLightAu...
Corpus Press: https://www.corpuspress.com/authors/e...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 8, 2014
I'm always looking for that perfect CD, the one where every song on it is a non-skipper. Maybe I'm the only one who does (I mean, with the iRevolution, do peeps buy CDs anymore). Well, in all my years of listening to music, I have only found four CDs where every song is good to great (Live - Mental Jewelry; Sevendust - Seasons, Disturbed - 10,000 Fists, and Within Temptation - Silent Force), in case anyone gave a damn).
Screamscapes is the the literary version of that perfect CD. Starting with my least favorite first, the story that almost kept it from being so was The Black Door. This story was well written and enjoyable, but a bit tame for me (a guy who likes Sevendust and Disturbed, go figure). The author notes that this is his family friendly horror, so it was just a matter of my vile tastes being satiated.
Now for the rest. Crawlspace: a chilling, excellent tale. I have reviewed this story more thoroughly previously:
Crawlspace is a chilling story. The concept - being buried alive or trapped in a confined space - is familiar, the worst fears of many. But what made this story stand out was the author's ability to transport me into the body of his main character. I felt what Tom felt, experienced what Tom experienced - the full range of his emotions so perfectly captured and seemingly true-to-life. Fear, denial, anger, defeat... I lived them as I read them, all leading up to an ending I wouldn't change a word of.
What happens to Tom is disturbing. What Tom himself does is disturbing. But real - ever so frighteningly real. When I was a kid, I used to hide in the crawlspace under my house during neighborhood kick the can fests (does anyone play that anymore?) Even then, I thought it would be a great place to hide a body. Thanks to this story, I no longer think it was a great place to hide me.
Maazo Maazo... umm, I mean Whatever Possessed You... came next. This story wasn't quite at the same level as Crawlspace or the ones that follow it, the author's first short story. If my first effort had been anywhere near this good, I would have mounted it on the wall... or against the wall, depending who's watching. I enjoyed it very much and even though it wasn't my favorite in the anthology, it's the one that's been, well, stuck in my head. Maazo Maazo.
ArborEATum defines five-star story. It's the apple of my eye - is this thing on? You'll get my bad jokes if you read this anthology, which you should... now! I have reviewed ArborEATum previously, as well:
What's that old joke? What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm. Well, after reading Arboreateum, I can safely imagine something for worse than finding any segmentation or denomination of worms in an apple. In fact, I'm not picking any produce off the ground ever again.
I had previously read The Corpus Corruptum, which gave me a taste for Mr. Light's work (that collection of short stories being co-authored with Adam Light). The stories were unique, imaginative and intriguing. After reading Arboreatum, however, I can safely say Evans Light has a new fan.
If I could compare this short novel (novella? I don't know - wasn't exactly counting words) to anything, it would be The Oregon Trail (Commodore 64 version) meets certain large characters from Lord of the Rings (vagueness to prevent spoiler) meets good old-fashioned, evil mo-fo creature story. But forget all that, because this story is 100% original and a whole lot of fun. It's horror for horror fans, so if your favorite book is A Tale of Two Cities, this might not be for you. But if you like, say, Stephen King's "The Mist," this may be right for you. Its got a lot more balls than Dickens. Get it? Balls? Dickens? Is this thing on?
Ehem... anyway... it is well known (by me) that I like stories that haven't been done before. Though there is a reference to Roanoke (which, in horror, has been wiped out for all sorts of reasons, including those ever-so-prevalent vampires), but it is minor AND serves to elevate the story. Mr. Light is not afraid to tackle taboo subjects, maybe even create a little controversy and make those ancient evils, well, ancient and evil. There is no filler in this story - just a fast pace tale bound to keep you reading to its last word.
Two words: Five Stars. How 'bout them apples?
Gertrude follows, a perfect short-short down to the word. 'Nuff said?
Nose Hears is kind of silly, but it's a well-placed, lighter short sandwiched in between some darker stuff.
The Mole People comes next. I almost skipped it, enjoying the ride and not wanting to be hobbled by a speed bump (or Kathy Bates). I have no interest in "mole people" or so I thought, and I had held off on picking up this story earlier because I truly thought I would hate this story on title alone. My mind envisioned the Mole Man from old Fantastic Four comics every time I heard this title - I know, I'm a geek.
But now, I have read the story, and damn was it great! I thoroughly enjoyed how the author set up the plot, the techniques he used to tell it, and particularly the perspective from which he wrote it. Turns out, the only thing I don't like about the story is its title. Another 5-star read.
Pay Back... now there's a story with a brave voice, and a protagonist worthy of our hate. This story is not for everybody, particularly those who need a lead they can cheer for. But that's not me. The lead here is delightfully rotten. Yet, he comes with some self-examination and perhaps more than a twinge of guilt.
Curtains for Love -hmmm... I've seen reviewers who enjoyed this story the most in the anthology. That wasn't me. I liked it, and thought the original ending was perfect. I did not care for the alternate ending - just didn't seem to fit after reading the first version. But to return to my music analogy, we'll count that alternate ending as the B-side or unnecessary remix.
Last, we have The Package - funnier than tits on a bull in a China shop (or mixing metaphors). I'm not sure it fits in with the rest of the anthology, but who cares? That.Is.Some.Funny.Ass.Shit.
I'd recommend Screamscapes to more than just fans of modern horror. It's a great book, and I think readers looking for a collection perhaps outside their comfort zone could pick this one up and enjoy the ride until The Black Door closes.
Screamscapes is the the literary version of that perfect CD. Starting with my least favorite first, the story that almost kept it from being so was The Black Door. This story was well written and enjoyable, but a bit tame for me (a guy who likes Sevendust and Disturbed, go figure). The author notes that this is his family friendly horror, so it was just a matter of my vile tastes being satiated.
Now for the rest. Crawlspace: a chilling, excellent tale. I have reviewed this story more thoroughly previously:
Crawlspace is a chilling story. The concept - being buried alive or trapped in a confined space - is familiar, the worst fears of many. But what made this story stand out was the author's ability to transport me into the body of his main character. I felt what Tom felt, experienced what Tom experienced - the full range of his emotions so perfectly captured and seemingly true-to-life. Fear, denial, anger, defeat... I lived them as I read them, all leading up to an ending I wouldn't change a word of.
What happens to Tom is disturbing. What Tom himself does is disturbing. But real - ever so frighteningly real. When I was a kid, I used to hide in the crawlspace under my house during neighborhood kick the can fests (does anyone play that anymore?) Even then, I thought it would be a great place to hide a body. Thanks to this story, I no longer think it was a great place to hide me.
Maazo Maazo... umm, I mean Whatever Possessed You... came next. This story wasn't quite at the same level as Crawlspace or the ones that follow it, the author's first short story. If my first effort had been anywhere near this good, I would have mounted it on the wall... or against the wall, depending who's watching. I enjoyed it very much and even though it wasn't my favorite in the anthology, it's the one that's been, well, stuck in my head. Maazo Maazo.
ArborEATum defines five-star story. It's the apple of my eye - is this thing on? You'll get my bad jokes if you read this anthology, which you should... now! I have reviewed ArborEATum previously, as well:
What's that old joke? What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm. Well, after reading Arboreateum, I can safely imagine something for worse than finding any segmentation or denomination of worms in an apple. In fact, I'm not picking any produce off the ground ever again.
I had previously read The Corpus Corruptum, which gave me a taste for Mr. Light's work (that collection of short stories being co-authored with Adam Light). The stories were unique, imaginative and intriguing. After reading Arboreatum, however, I can safely say Evans Light has a new fan.
If I could compare this short novel (novella? I don't know - wasn't exactly counting words) to anything, it would be The Oregon Trail (Commodore 64 version) meets certain large characters from Lord of the Rings (vagueness to prevent spoiler) meets good old-fashioned, evil mo-fo creature story. But forget all that, because this story is 100% original and a whole lot of fun. It's horror for horror fans, so if your favorite book is A Tale of Two Cities, this might not be for you. But if you like, say, Stephen King's "The Mist," this may be right for you. Its got a lot more balls than Dickens. Get it? Balls? Dickens? Is this thing on?
Ehem... anyway... it is well known (by me) that I like stories that haven't been done before. Though there is a reference to Roanoke (which, in horror, has been wiped out for all sorts of reasons, including those ever-so-prevalent vampires), but it is minor AND serves to elevate the story. Mr. Light is not afraid to tackle taboo subjects, maybe even create a little controversy and make those ancient evils, well, ancient and evil. There is no filler in this story - just a fast pace tale bound to keep you reading to its last word.
Two words: Five Stars. How 'bout them apples?
Gertrude follows, a perfect short-short down to the word. 'Nuff said?
Nose Hears is kind of silly, but it's a well-placed, lighter short sandwiched in between some darker stuff.
The Mole People comes next. I almost skipped it, enjoying the ride and not wanting to be hobbled by a speed bump (or Kathy Bates). I have no interest in "mole people" or so I thought, and I had held off on picking up this story earlier because I truly thought I would hate this story on title alone. My mind envisioned the Mole Man from old Fantastic Four comics every time I heard this title - I know, I'm a geek.
But now, I have read the story, and damn was it great! I thoroughly enjoyed how the author set up the plot, the techniques he used to tell it, and particularly the perspective from which he wrote it. Turns out, the only thing I don't like about the story is its title. Another 5-star read.
Pay Back... now there's a story with a brave voice, and a protagonist worthy of our hate. This story is not for everybody, particularly those who need a lead they can cheer for. But that's not me. The lead here is delightfully rotten. Yet, he comes with some self-examination and perhaps more than a twinge of guilt.
Curtains for Love -hmmm... I've seen reviewers who enjoyed this story the most in the anthology. That wasn't me. I liked it, and thought the original ending was perfect. I did not care for the alternate ending - just didn't seem to fit after reading the first version. But to return to my music analogy, we'll count that alternate ending as the B-side or unnecessary remix.
Last, we have The Package - funnier than tits on a bull in a China shop (or mixing metaphors). I'm not sure it fits in with the rest of the anthology, but who cares? That.Is.Some.Funny.Ass.Shit.
I'd recommend Screamscapes to more than just fans of modern horror. It's a great book, and I think readers looking for a collection perhaps outside their comfort zone could pick this one up and enjoy the ride until The Black Door closes.
November 15, 2017
Well... that was a screaming good time!
Absolutely fantastic short story collection.
The story at the top of my list was “The Mole People Beneath The City”. This one MUST have a sequel as specified by Mr. Light. Incredible story just demanding an encore. I also favoured “Nose Hears” (lol...just too awesome and funny), “Payback”, and “Crawlspace” (do I see a revenge theme emerging in my preferences?)
If you are looking for short stories that keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next, excellent character development, tales that feel fleshed out enough, and have some pretty great payoffs at the end, I highly recommend you pick this up!
Absolutely fantastic short story collection.
The story at the top of my list was “The Mole People Beneath The City”. This one MUST have a sequel as specified by Mr. Light. Incredible story just demanding an encore. I also favoured “Nose Hears” (lol...just too awesome and funny), “Payback”, and “Crawlspace” (do I see a revenge theme emerging in my preferences?)
If you are looking for short stories that keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next, excellent character development, tales that feel fleshed out enough, and have some pretty great payoffs at the end, I highly recommend you pick this up!
December 1, 2014
Disclaimer: Review and rating based on only the first story in this collection, "Crawlspace." I did not read the entire book.
The first story in this collection, Crawlspace, is your basic revenge thriller about an unfaithful turd of a husband and his bitter harpy wife. She goes off for the weekend, admonishing him to lay down plastic and lime in the dank crawlspace beneath their large house. He agrees, expecting a visit from his young mistress, a hot young thing he met while taking classes at the local college after a bout of unemployment, with whom he expects to spend the weekend frolicking.
So, the guy crawls under the house and we're now in Stephen King territory. Not the monsters-and-aliens Stephen King, but the Stephen King who wrote Night Shift and Skeleton Crew and Different Seasons and other short story collections in which the horror was often not supernatural at all, but existential stories of survival under horrific, often improbable, but strictly mundane circumstances.
I wish I could say the comparison to Stephen King was favorable, but Evans Light is not nearly good enough to play on that level, at least not based on this story. The set-up is improbable, the "twists" are telegraphed, the characterization is one-dimensional, and the writing is repetitive, overly "tell-y," and the few attempts at metaphor or imagery are clumsy. Pyschological depth is completely lacking, and the ending went from unbelievable to surreal, in a final "twist" the author seems to think, based on his author's notes, is mysteriously ambiguous, but in fact is merely dumb.
It's not a 1-star read — the writing is competent if stylistically amateurish, and the story will satisfy anyone looking for low-grade Halloween-level horror. And as the author says that this was one of his early stories, perhaps the later ones are better. However, my new rule with self-published books is that I give them one chapter to hook me and then they get shelved as "dnf," and the lead story did not impress me enough to want to read on.
I may be willing to revisit other stories in this collection later and possibly revise my opinion, but for now, this gets 2 stars - not a complete waste of time, but not worth paying for.
The first story in this collection, Crawlspace, is your basic revenge thriller about an unfaithful turd of a husband and his bitter harpy wife. She goes off for the weekend, admonishing him to lay down plastic and lime in the dank crawlspace beneath their large house. He agrees, expecting a visit from his young mistress, a hot young thing he met while taking classes at the local college after a bout of unemployment, with whom he expects to spend the weekend frolicking.
So, the guy crawls under the house and we're now in Stephen King territory. Not the monsters-and-aliens Stephen King, but the Stephen King who wrote Night Shift and Skeleton Crew and Different Seasons and other short story collections in which the horror was often not supernatural at all, but existential stories of survival under horrific, often improbable, but strictly mundane circumstances.
I wish I could say the comparison to Stephen King was favorable, but Evans Light is not nearly good enough to play on that level, at least not based on this story. The set-up is improbable, the "twists" are telegraphed, the characterization is one-dimensional, and the writing is repetitive, overly "tell-y," and the few attempts at metaphor or imagery are clumsy. Pyschological depth is completely lacking, and the ending went from unbelievable to surreal, in a final "twist" the author seems to think, based on his author's notes, is mysteriously ambiguous, but in fact is merely dumb.
It's not a 1-star read — the writing is competent if stylistically amateurish, and the story will satisfy anyone looking for low-grade Halloween-level horror. And as the author says that this was one of his early stories, perhaps the later ones are better. However, my new rule with self-published books is that I give them one chapter to hook me and then they get shelved as "dnf," and the lead story did not impress me enough to want to read on.
I may be willing to revisit other stories in this collection later and possibly revise my opinion, but for now, this gets 2 stars - not a complete waste of time, but not worth paying for.
October 12, 2013
An incredible, engaging and diverse collection of tales that deserves to be read by anyone with an inkling of good taste in horror fiction. I am not going to rate each story or break them down one at a time, as I have already reviewed them all at one time or another, but I am going to say that this is by far the best collection of short fiction I have read in quite some time. I have tried the rest, believe it. I read a lot, and I write short fiction myself. Full disclosure time: Evans is my brother, but I can honestly say this is not a biased review. He really is that good. I get excited every time Evans tells me he has written a new story. No two are ever the same. He knows how to grab a reader and take them along for his twisted rides, and by force if he must.. just kidding. He's also a great guy. Anyway, you should definitely read this collection of dynamic, well written and even cinematic creations from the mind of Evans Light. My favorites are ArborEATum, The Mole People and Pay Back. All of them are gems, though. Keep up the good work, Evans. Thanks for sharing your madness with us all.
March 20, 2020
First off, Thank you to Evans Light and Corpus Press for sending me a copy of Screamscapes 😊.
Tales of Terror indeed! I absolutely loved this collection! The puns, the metaphors, the humor, the descriptions... all make these stories truly unique and entertaining. Not a rotten apple in the bunch! 😉🍎🍎🍎.
I especially loved the added notes after each story; like a peak thru the window into the authors mind. Here is my short summary of each one:
𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙡𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚- Wow! What a way to start this collection! 😍. This story will literally take your breath away. Nothing short of pure suffocating claustrophobic madness.
The story follows a man who gets stuck in the crawlspace under his house. What follows are days of pure maddening terror as the realization sinks in that he may never get out. The ending of this one is pure genius! There was an alternate ending but I think Evans was correct in saying this one would be more satisfying for the reader.
“𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨- 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺.”
—-
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙔𝙤𝙪- Gerard Faust is a Professor of Literature who wants to write horror and get published. When a kid in a bookstore makes him read a slip of paper, things suddenly start to click and he quickly starts writing a story, unable to stop until it’s complete. Gerard ends up becoming the infamous author he’s always wanted to be, maybe just not in the way he expected.
This demonic delight was super fun and I loved the Stephen King reference in it 😂. I think that it is so neat that this was the first story Evans wrote!
—-
𝙂𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙚- A mans life with his symbiotic twin gets ‘cut’ short and ends with a ‘tiny’ surprise at the end 😬. I quite enjoyed the imagery in this one.
—-
𝘼𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙢- What a deliciously evil but delightful little tale! Ancient guardians, forbidden fruit, and human sacrifice make up this story following a boy named Micah.
Some of the descriptions in this one like
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵” and
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘭����𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢” were absolutely repulsive in the best possible way 😄.
—-
𝙉𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨- This one is only a few pages, but I nose you’ll love it as much as I did 😂. It starts with a man named George who while about to fall asleep, hears the murmur of soft voices, and when he discovers where the voices are coming from, decides to share his secret with his most trusted friend.
This one made me laugh a lot and I loved the pun at the end 😂. Apparently part of this story is true and I am so very curious about which part that may be 😄.
—-
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮- This tale follows a father and daughter down in the subway, and introduces us to the Mole People looking to recruit more citizens for their underground city.
I definitely think you could make a mountain out of this mole hill 😂, and write a whole story solely based on these curious creatures.
—-
𝙋𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠- A deadbeat dude named Stephen and a nerdy genius nicknamed the Nard, meet up once a year to go to the amusement park together. The Nard comes up with a high tech plan to get back at Stephen for being such a jerk to him all these years.
The description of Stephens room in this story actually had me sitting there with my mouth open! So gross Evans! 🤣.
—-
𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚- I adored this one 🖤.
A guy named James and his girlfriend buy the house that was across the street from his childhood home. The house belongs to his childhood friend Sophie’s parents and buying it comes with one stipulation; that they have to keep the curtains in the house up. The house has a history in that Sophie had actually died in it long ago. James soon learns that Sophie has always loved him and has been waiting for him to come back and be with her forever.
Ok. Now, Evans had initially written a different ending for this one and after getting some feedback, decided to change it to the ending now found in this book. I have to say, I actually do like the alternate ending that he went with better than the original. Actually. I loved it, so I personally think it was the right choice ☺️.
—-
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚- This Story was written as a tribute to Joe R. Lansdale, and is a very dark and disturbing, but also humorous tale of Santa Claus. A letter arrives giving Santa the opportunity he has been looking for and he jumps at the chance to make a deal with the Devil. You’ll just have to read it to know what had Santa so exited about 😂.
—-
𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧- I love stories told from a child’s point or view, this one being no exception. A dad drives his kids to what is suppose to be a summer camp, and they end up finding it deserted. Since they have run out of gas, they have no choice but to stay the night, and when they start exploring, find a big black door inside one of the abandoned buildings. They decide to cross the doors threshold and end up finding what’s waiting for them on the other side. I really enjoyed the lighter ending of this one.
—
Overall I really enjoyed this collection and definitely recommend picking it up! It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!
Thank you for visiting! 😉
Tales of Terror indeed! I absolutely loved this collection! The puns, the metaphors, the humor, the descriptions... all make these stories truly unique and entertaining. Not a rotten apple in the bunch! 😉🍎🍎🍎.
I especially loved the added notes after each story; like a peak thru the window into the authors mind. Here is my short summary of each one:
𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙡𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚- Wow! What a way to start this collection! 😍. This story will literally take your breath away. Nothing short of pure suffocating claustrophobic madness.
The story follows a man who gets stuck in the crawlspace under his house. What follows are days of pure maddening terror as the realization sinks in that he may never get out. The ending of this one is pure genius! There was an alternate ending but I think Evans was correct in saying this one would be more satisfying for the reader.
“𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨- 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺.”
—-
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙔𝙤𝙪- Gerard Faust is a Professor of Literature who wants to write horror and get published. When a kid in a bookstore makes him read a slip of paper, things suddenly start to click and he quickly starts writing a story, unable to stop until it’s complete. Gerard ends up becoming the infamous author he’s always wanted to be, maybe just not in the way he expected.
This demonic delight was super fun and I loved the Stephen King reference in it 😂. I think that it is so neat that this was the first story Evans wrote!
—-
𝙂𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙚- A mans life with his symbiotic twin gets ‘cut’ short and ends with a ‘tiny’ surprise at the end 😬. I quite enjoyed the imagery in this one.
—-
𝘼𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙢- What a deliciously evil but delightful little tale! Ancient guardians, forbidden fruit, and human sacrifice make up this story following a boy named Micah.
Some of the descriptions in this one like
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵” and
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘭����𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢” were absolutely repulsive in the best possible way 😄.
—-
𝙉𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨- This one is only a few pages, but I nose you’ll love it as much as I did 😂. It starts with a man named George who while about to fall asleep, hears the murmur of soft voices, and when he discovers where the voices are coming from, decides to share his secret with his most trusted friend.
This one made me laugh a lot and I loved the pun at the end 😂. Apparently part of this story is true and I am so very curious about which part that may be 😄.
—-
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮- This tale follows a father and daughter down in the subway, and introduces us to the Mole People looking to recruit more citizens for their underground city.
I definitely think you could make a mountain out of this mole hill 😂, and write a whole story solely based on these curious creatures.
—-
𝙋𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠- A deadbeat dude named Stephen and a nerdy genius nicknamed the Nard, meet up once a year to go to the amusement park together. The Nard comes up with a high tech plan to get back at Stephen for being such a jerk to him all these years.
The description of Stephens room in this story actually had me sitting there with my mouth open! So gross Evans! 🤣.
—-
𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚- I adored this one 🖤.
A guy named James and his girlfriend buy the house that was across the street from his childhood home. The house belongs to his childhood friend Sophie’s parents and buying it comes with one stipulation; that they have to keep the curtains in the house up. The house has a history in that Sophie had actually died in it long ago. James soon learns that Sophie has always loved him and has been waiting for him to come back and be with her forever.
Ok. Now, Evans had initially written a different ending for this one and after getting some feedback, decided to change it to the ending now found in this book. I have to say, I actually do like the alternate ending that he went with better than the original. Actually. I loved it, so I personally think it was the right choice ☺️.
—-
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚- This Story was written as a tribute to Joe R. Lansdale, and is a very dark and disturbing, but also humorous tale of Santa Claus. A letter arrives giving Santa the opportunity he has been looking for and he jumps at the chance to make a deal with the Devil. You’ll just have to read it to know what had Santa so exited about 😂.
—-
𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧- I love stories told from a child’s point or view, this one being no exception. A dad drives his kids to what is suppose to be a summer camp, and they end up finding it deserted. Since they have run out of gas, they have no choice but to stay the night, and when they start exploring, find a big black door inside one of the abandoned buildings. They decide to cross the doors threshold and end up finding what’s waiting for them on the other side. I really enjoyed the lighter ending of this one.
—
Overall I really enjoyed this collection and definitely recommend picking it up! It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!
Thank you for visiting! 😉
May 11, 2017
Excellent! I truly enjoyed this book! The stories were creepy and unique. I loved that some had humor also, like Nose Hears (that was great lol!). And to Evans Light... just wanted you to know I MUCH prefer the ending you decided to go with in Curtains For Love instead of the alternate/original. Didn't care for that ending. I am glad you changed it! Great book of creepy stories!
July 27, 2013
I won this copy of SCREAMSCAPES through Goodreads first-reads giveaway.
The stories in this collection varied in length and subject, but overall I found them to have a very unique style of their own. As other reviewers have mentioned, some have a distinctive "Twilight Zone" feel to them, that I absolutely loved.
My favorites among these were: "Crawlspace": the physchological aspect infused within is what makes this story truly horrid and sets it above so many other tales! This one has been haunting me for the past week--possibly the most perfect ending I could have envisioned. "ArborEATum": this one was an interesting take on the Garden of Eden, I felt, mixed in with modern mysteries. I absolutely loved the direction that the author took with this one at the end! "The Mole People Beneath the City" reminded me of a story that Richard Matheson would have penned. "Payback" was a 'fun read' for me--I actually laughed out loud in several of the scenes. This was one that I could actually see happening, which made it all the more realistic and humorous. The end, however, was something I didn't expect, which was a great bonus.
Tied for my personal favorites are "Curtains For Love", and "Black Door". The writing for "Curtains" was hauntingly beautiful, and so emotionally potent. "Black Door" is a story where the tension and dread steadily build throughout the tale. This one, I could easily see being expanded upon into a full-length novel of terror.
Overall, a great, varied collection, and I will be seeking out other titles by Evans Light.
The stories in this collection varied in length and subject, but overall I found them to have a very unique style of their own. As other reviewers have mentioned, some have a distinctive "Twilight Zone" feel to them, that I absolutely loved.
My favorites among these were: "Crawlspace": the physchological aspect infused within is what makes this story truly horrid and sets it above so many other tales! This one has been haunting me for the past week--possibly the most perfect ending I could have envisioned. "ArborEATum": this one was an interesting take on the Garden of Eden, I felt, mixed in with modern mysteries. I absolutely loved the direction that the author took with this one at the end! "The Mole People Beneath the City" reminded me of a story that Richard Matheson would have penned. "Payback" was a 'fun read' for me--I actually laughed out loud in several of the scenes. This was one that I could actually see happening, which made it all the more realistic and humorous. The end, however, was something I didn't expect, which was a great bonus.
Tied for my personal favorites are "Curtains For Love", and "Black Door". The writing for "Curtains" was hauntingly beautiful, and so emotionally potent. "Black Door" is a story where the tension and dread steadily build throughout the tale. This one, I could easily see being expanded upon into a full-length novel of terror.
Overall, a great, varied collection, and I will be seeking out other titles by Evans Light.
April 7, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book.. I did like most of the stories and so I'm going to give it 4 stars... but a couple I just didn't like at all.. Nose hears??? huh? I thought that one was just dumb! After starting The Package I totally skipped it after only reading the first page.. something about Santa Claus being a mean old man and talking about his "man hood" just really turned me off.. I just couldn't continue with that story. Not liking only 2 out of the 10 is pretty good.. I look forward to reading another book by this author.
March 9, 2014
Crawlspace - the author has a full book out on this story which I had recently read. Again, very good! Full Review of Crawlspace
Whatever Possessed You? - 5 Stars - This has a few gory scenes that were hard for me to read so I just sort of skimmed over them. The story, though, is completely fascinating. It is the story of a young writer under threat of deadline for his first book, and winds up in something out of a Stephen King movie. I mention Stephen King not to say that the author has simply copied the venerable King's style, but I think Light would be a worthy successor. There is a clarity, even a cruel sharpness to his prose that paints a dark painting of just what there is in the shadows waiting for you once all the lights are out. Yes, I've said it's gory, but I could not let me stop me from finding out what happens.
Gertrude - 5 stars - Augh! This is one of those train wrecks that you pass by, and you tell yourself 'don't stop, don't look' but you're such a curious idiot you stop and look anyway.
Arboreatum, A Novella - 5 stars - Wow. I ignored the new episode of The Walking Dead because I simply could not put this down, and had to read all of it. Breathless. Scary. And, surprised. I am tempted to tell you the twist that brings to mind a mystery of our own American history, but I won't do it.
Author's Notes: I have to mention that I am not always fond of reading author's notes in a collection of tales. That's usually because they are stuffy, uninteresting, and tend towards boring. Here, the author's notes are worth reading. In enlightening the reader as to his inspiration for the story, the author reveals a little of his personality. After reading the author's note to Whatever Possessed You? I was happily reminded of another favourite author, Harlan Ellison, whose author's notes were practically a legendary slap in the face to those "in the business" he had issue with. It was despite this vitriol that Ellison's notes were nearly as intriguing as the story he had written. Light's own author's notes add an additional dimension to the story just told that serves to relax the reader, to make you think, and to smile.
Nose Hears - 5 stars, but if there were more I would give them - This story is very short, a bit silly, but it's the author's note that ends it with a bittersweet hammer blow. I wrote my own story that dealt with an "old friend" like this one does.
Very clever, Mr. Light.
The Mole People - 5 stars - A subway train ride, late at night. What lives in the darkness beyond the inner light of the car?
Payback - a grudging 5 stars - This is well written, and it twists you like a second hand hit of Mary Jane. I began just disliking Stephen, but the way he described The Nard as he saw his "friend" I didn't like him, either. The twist came at the fair ride The Screamer. The Nard had been acting odd, and Stephen was a jerk, but at the Screamer I finally figured out why.
I wanted to quit reading because some of the description was just blechhy - squished leftover pizza - lol. Kill an animal in a book, and describe it almost lovingly, I'll hunt you down and skin you. Do the same with an inanimate object like pizza, and I'll be suitably grossed out.
Just to mention: The Screamer is a real ride, and the author has described it perfectly! It is still one of my all time favourite rides, and even though my physical balance is shot, and I have to watch out for lightheaded bouts, I would still ride The Screamer today. To me, it was the most perfect ride in the world!
Curtains For Love - 5 stars for the original story - This is the story of an absolutely beautiful house that a little boy once wanted as his own. A place where he would marry his true love, the little girl that lived there, and they would have lots of wonderful children. A tragedy rewrites life, and the little boy grows up far away until one day the house is practically given to him, and his girlfriend, as long as they never remove the curtains in the tower room.
The author claims in his notes that he had wakened with this entire story written as is. It is a beautiful story, not really ugly with lots of squishy blood, and gore. So, the author did what most writers do, and he wrote an alternate ending. He provided that. It was okay. Written well, but for me it just did not fit the quiet, simplicity of the original story. I enjoyed the original story, lock, stock, and barrel.
I have read such other stories by other authors before - a seeming gift from the universe - and I quite like that sentiment. It's a blessing of sorts. Even if it does not seem like something he would write (this is the author declaring that sentiment) the story is there for the author to present to his readers.
Curtains for Love is the author's story regardless of whether he feels it isn't quite his. He presents it with his work, and like the breezes that dance through the curtains in this story, it is a gentility that it is bit of a breather until you go on to the next story.
Universal gift or not, the author has given the readers a gem of a story.
Oh! And don't think that just because there is such civility in this story that it doesn't have its own, original, and horrible little twist. You just have to think about it, and then... well, read the whole book, then this, and you'll see.
The Package - 4 stars because, ewww! - This is for every Scrooge in every Christmas saturated heart. The descriptions were perfectly awful, and I wanted a shower, and a good, soapy scrub as soon as I finished. It is a good story, though. Why I didn't give it 5 stars is due to my own eww-factor as far as some of the more graphic descriptions.
This is a story that holds the element of visceral delight of the righteously macabre, though, so don't let my restrictions stop you from reading it. Who knows, you might see more to it than I did.
The Black Door - 5 stars - this evoked memories of summers just waiting for the heat to go away. We had AC but it seemed more right to sit on the porch with everyone, complain about the heat, and in the dusk we'd go watch little league and have ice cream.
This story of three brothers excited for a week of camp reminded me of the movie, Stand By Me. The Black Door, like the dead boy in Stand by Me, was a well developed McGuffin. There was an edge of creepiness... I was waiting for the cat to come round the corner and scare everyone.
Screamscapes This anthology of scary stories was really a lot of fun to read! I could step away, for a little bit, but I was always glad to get back to the book and read.
Thank you, Evans Light, for publishing your wonderful imagination!
Whatever Possessed You? - 5 Stars - This has a few gory scenes that were hard for me to read so I just sort of skimmed over them. The story, though, is completely fascinating. It is the story of a young writer under threat of deadline for his first book, and winds up in something out of a Stephen King movie. I mention Stephen King not to say that the author has simply copied the venerable King's style, but I think Light would be a worthy successor. There is a clarity, even a cruel sharpness to his prose that paints a dark painting of just what there is in the shadows waiting for you once all the lights are out. Yes, I've said it's gory, but I could not let me stop me from finding out what happens.
Gertrude - 5 stars - Augh! This is one of those train wrecks that you pass by, and you tell yourself 'don't stop, don't look' but you're such a curious idiot you stop and look anyway.
Arboreatum, A Novella - 5 stars - Wow. I ignored the new episode of The Walking Dead because I simply could not put this down, and had to read all of it. Breathless. Scary. And, surprised. I am tempted to tell you the twist that brings to mind a mystery of our own American history, but I won't do it.
Author's Notes: I have to mention that I am not always fond of reading author's notes in a collection of tales. That's usually because they are stuffy, uninteresting, and tend towards boring. Here, the author's notes are worth reading. In enlightening the reader as to his inspiration for the story, the author reveals a little of his personality. After reading the author's note to Whatever Possessed You? I was happily reminded of another favourite author, Harlan Ellison, whose author's notes were practically a legendary slap in the face to those "in the business" he had issue with. It was despite this vitriol that Ellison's notes were nearly as intriguing as the story he had written. Light's own author's notes add an additional dimension to the story just told that serves to relax the reader, to make you think, and to smile.
Nose Hears - 5 stars, but if there were more I would give them - This story is very short, a bit silly, but it's the author's note that ends it with a bittersweet hammer blow. I wrote my own story that dealt with an "old friend" like this one does.
Very clever, Mr. Light.
The Mole People - 5 stars - A subway train ride, late at night. What lives in the darkness beyond the inner light of the car?
Payback - a grudging 5 stars - This is well written, and it twists you like a second hand hit of Mary Jane. I began just disliking Stephen, but the way he described The Nard as he saw his "friend" I didn't like him, either. The twist came at the fair ride The Screamer. The Nard had been acting odd, and Stephen was a jerk, but at the Screamer I finally figured out why.
I wanted to quit reading because some of the description was just blechhy - squished leftover pizza - lol. Kill an animal in a book, and describe it almost lovingly, I'll hunt you down and skin you. Do the same with an inanimate object like pizza, and I'll be suitably grossed out.
Just to mention: The Screamer is a real ride, and the author has described it perfectly! It is still one of my all time favourite rides, and even though my physical balance is shot, and I have to watch out for lightheaded bouts, I would still ride The Screamer today. To me, it was the most perfect ride in the world!
Curtains For Love - 5 stars for the original story - This is the story of an absolutely beautiful house that a little boy once wanted as his own. A place where he would marry his true love, the little girl that lived there, and they would have lots of wonderful children. A tragedy rewrites life, and the little boy grows up far away until one day the house is practically given to him, and his girlfriend, as long as they never remove the curtains in the tower room.
The author claims in his notes that he had wakened with this entire story written as is. It is a beautiful story, not really ugly with lots of squishy blood, and gore. So, the author did what most writers do, and he wrote an alternate ending. He provided that. It was okay. Written well, but for me it just did not fit the quiet, simplicity of the original story. I enjoyed the original story, lock, stock, and barrel.
I have read such other stories by other authors before - a seeming gift from the universe - and I quite like that sentiment. It's a blessing of sorts. Even if it does not seem like something he would write (this is the author declaring that sentiment) the story is there for the author to present to his readers.
Curtains for Love is the author's story regardless of whether he feels it isn't quite his. He presents it with his work, and like the breezes that dance through the curtains in this story, it is a gentility that it is bit of a breather until you go on to the next story.
Universal gift or not, the author has given the readers a gem of a story.
Oh! And don't think that just because there is such civility in this story that it doesn't have its own, original, and horrible little twist. You just have to think about it, and then... well, read the whole book, then this, and you'll see.
The Package - 4 stars because, ewww! - This is for every Scrooge in every Christmas saturated heart. The descriptions were perfectly awful, and I wanted a shower, and a good, soapy scrub as soon as I finished. It is a good story, though. Why I didn't give it 5 stars is due to my own eww-factor as far as some of the more graphic descriptions.
This is a story that holds the element of visceral delight of the righteously macabre, though, so don't let my restrictions stop you from reading it. Who knows, you might see more to it than I did.
The Black Door - 5 stars - this evoked memories of summers just waiting for the heat to go away. We had AC but it seemed more right to sit on the porch with everyone, complain about the heat, and in the dusk we'd go watch little league and have ice cream.
This story of three brothers excited for a week of camp reminded me of the movie, Stand By Me. The Black Door, like the dead boy in Stand by Me, was a well developed McGuffin. There was an edge of creepiness... I was waiting for the cat to come round the corner and scare everyone.
Screamscapes This anthology of scary stories was really a lot of fun to read! I could step away, for a little bit, but I was always glad to get back to the book and read.
Thank you, Evans Light, for publishing your wonderful imagination!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2016
Everyone says not to judge a book by its cover, but with Screamscapes I just couldn’t help myself. I needed to peel back the cover like those hands are peeling open the eye and see what kind of craziness lurked within. In this case it was well worth the price of curiosity. Before this I’d only read Pumpkinhead Ted, one of Light’s short stories from Bad Apples, a Halloween anthology. That one left an impression, so at the very least I was counting on more like that. Screamscapes ended up being a lot more – It’s a varied mix of horror subgenres with something for everyone, and aside from an early pacing issue (which I’ll address), the quality of the stories is high across the board.
“Crawlspace” kicks things off. This one is a revenge story about an adulterous man who gets his just desserts (pun intended) when he finds himself trapped in the crawlspace beneath his house. He’s pitted against cold weather, claustrophobia, and, after he realizes why he’s really down there, a pinch of good old-fashioned craziness. The bizarre ending comes out of left field, but makes the rest that much more disturbing if you think about it. The only problem here is that much of the story is repetitive, and some simple actions are drawn out far longer than necessary. It’s doubtless to build tension and bring that frisson of fear and all that good stuff, but it just didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t normally mention something like this, but some people might be put off by it, considering it’s the first story. That said, trust me – It’s well worth sticking with, and none of the other stories have this issue.
“Whatever Possessed You?” is your classic crazy writer tale, in which a man struggling with his writing and seeking a breakthrough gets more than he bargained for. Actually, the poor sap gets exactly what he bargained for. You know reciting unknown and arcane words at the behest of some random dude in a bookstore is a bad idea, right? Cue accidental Faustian bargain. Murder and madness ensue, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
“Gertrude” comes next. It’s very short, so I’ll just throw this line from the story out there: “I have a symbiotic twin named Gertrude, he said, matter-of-factly. “She lives in a cavity under my ribcage, next to my spleen.”
Arboreatum is a period piece, taking place in the America of 1839. It details the travels of a group of people who seek out a New Eden, and find something far different than anyone could have expected. It’s easily the most character-driven tale so far, but plot isn’t sacrificed in the least. It’s very atmospheric and some of the descriptive passages are quite beautiful, as well – in a dark way, of course. Also: Carnivorous trees!
“Nose Hears” is about a guy with talking nose hairs. That’s all that needs to be said, really. It’s another short piece, and it’s pretty awesome.
“The Mole People Beneath the City” is an urban legend kind of story that takes place in the New York subway system. A man relates to a group of fellow passengers a story he heard about people living and thriving in the tunnels beneath the city. But just how close are they, and what are their intentions?
“Pay Back” is another revenge story, this one about an asshole who pretends he’s doing a favor to his mentally handicapped ‘friend’ by accompanying him on an annual excursion to a theme park. He’s a horrible person to have as a narrator, but fret not – you just know things won’t end up well for him. Parts of this story are very funny, and the references to Super Nintendo and Nintendo Power will bring a smile to readers and gamers of a certain age.
“Curtains for Love” is a straight-up ghost story, and a great one. In this story a man and his fiance move into the house across the street from his boyhood home. Before long there’s an encounter with the spirit of the little girl who used to live there, and the past and present collide as the man becomes increasingly obsessed with a tower room and the curtains that adorn it. There are two endings included here, and both of them are fitting in their own way. One is a quiet affair and the other is over the top.
“The Package” is a hilarious Christmas story about a surly and depressed Santa Claus who’s out to increase the size of his diminishing penis at any cost, and he strikes a deal with a hapless lout of the worst variety.
“The Black Door” starts out as a typical horror summer camp story. Upon getting to the camp, a family finds it long-abandoned, but they’re drawn, almost magnetically, to a black door in one of the buildings. Behind the black door is a room out of space and time, a place in which they become enraptured and seemingly stuck. There is a way out, but what will they bring with them?
Overall, Screamscapes is a great choice for pretty much any horror reader. There are quiet moments, splattery scenes, and a big helping of sometimes-wry-sometimes-cheesy-humor to wash it all down. It’s that elusive type of collection where almost every story is as strong as the others. Fans of Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, or old-school anthology horror films will feel right at home here. If I were to write a one word review, it would be this: FUN. Pick it up, boils and ghouls. You won’t regret it.
“Crawlspace” kicks things off. This one is a revenge story about an adulterous man who gets his just desserts (pun intended) when he finds himself trapped in the crawlspace beneath his house. He’s pitted against cold weather, claustrophobia, and, after he realizes why he’s really down there, a pinch of good old-fashioned craziness. The bizarre ending comes out of left field, but makes the rest that much more disturbing if you think about it. The only problem here is that much of the story is repetitive, and some simple actions are drawn out far longer than necessary. It’s doubtless to build tension and bring that frisson of fear and all that good stuff, but it just didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t normally mention something like this, but some people might be put off by it, considering it’s the first story. That said, trust me – It’s well worth sticking with, and none of the other stories have this issue.
“Whatever Possessed You?” is your classic crazy writer tale, in which a man struggling with his writing and seeking a breakthrough gets more than he bargained for. Actually, the poor sap gets exactly what he bargained for. You know reciting unknown and arcane words at the behest of some random dude in a bookstore is a bad idea, right? Cue accidental Faustian bargain. Murder and madness ensue, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
“Gertrude” comes next. It’s very short, so I’ll just throw this line from the story out there: “I have a symbiotic twin named Gertrude, he said, matter-of-factly. “She lives in a cavity under my ribcage, next to my spleen.”
Arboreatum is a period piece, taking place in the America of 1839. It details the travels of a group of people who seek out a New Eden, and find something far different than anyone could have expected. It’s easily the most character-driven tale so far, but plot isn’t sacrificed in the least. It’s very atmospheric and some of the descriptive passages are quite beautiful, as well – in a dark way, of course. Also: Carnivorous trees!
“Nose Hears” is about a guy with talking nose hairs. That’s all that needs to be said, really. It’s another short piece, and it’s pretty awesome.
“The Mole People Beneath the City” is an urban legend kind of story that takes place in the New York subway system. A man relates to a group of fellow passengers a story he heard about people living and thriving in the tunnels beneath the city. But just how close are they, and what are their intentions?
“Pay Back” is another revenge story, this one about an asshole who pretends he’s doing a favor to his mentally handicapped ‘friend’ by accompanying him on an annual excursion to a theme park. He’s a horrible person to have as a narrator, but fret not – you just know things won’t end up well for him. Parts of this story are very funny, and the references to Super Nintendo and Nintendo Power will bring a smile to readers and gamers of a certain age.
“Curtains for Love” is a straight-up ghost story, and a great one. In this story a man and his fiance move into the house across the street from his boyhood home. Before long there’s an encounter with the spirit of the little girl who used to live there, and the past and present collide as the man becomes increasingly obsessed with a tower room and the curtains that adorn it. There are two endings included here, and both of them are fitting in their own way. One is a quiet affair and the other is over the top.
“The Package” is a hilarious Christmas story about a surly and depressed Santa Claus who’s out to increase the size of his diminishing penis at any cost, and he strikes a deal with a hapless lout of the worst variety.
“The Black Door” starts out as a typical horror summer camp story. Upon getting to the camp, a family finds it long-abandoned, but they’re drawn, almost magnetically, to a black door in one of the buildings. Behind the black door is a room out of space and time, a place in which they become enraptured and seemingly stuck. There is a way out, but what will they bring with them?
Overall, Screamscapes is a great choice for pretty much any horror reader. There are quiet moments, splattery scenes, and a big helping of sometimes-wry-sometimes-cheesy-humor to wash it all down. It’s that elusive type of collection where almost every story is as strong as the others. Fans of Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, or old-school anthology horror films will feel right at home here. If I were to write a one word review, it would be this: FUN. Pick it up, boils and ghouls. You won’t regret it.
September 15, 2013
Screamscapes as a whole was a fantastic read which is why I gave it 5 stars. However, not every story was a 5 star for me.So here is my break down of rating each story and how I came to the decision of 5 stars.
Crawlspace got 3 stars - great concept but the ending didn't feel right to me. Although, the ending could be read and perceived many different ways which is kind of interesting as an after thought.
Whatever Possessed You got 4 stars - had the perfect horror story punch and felt like it could have been put into one of those awesome Tales From the Crypt comics. I could imagine some gruesomely humorous Crypt Keeper comment being made at the end, along with that famous laughter.
Gertrude got 5 stars - it had such an interesting opening, so creative, seemed like just the right length, had perfect direction, and the ending totally defined the title of this anthology.
Arboreatum got 5 stars - a master piece, this story was long but so worth the time reading. This story really pulled me in with all the emotions/feeling of everything going on. This story had horror but actually had so much more as well. Evans's skill at showing a story (not just telling one) was proved with Arboreatum.
Nose Hears got 5 stars - it was so cleverly pulled off and even though it wasn't the dark twisted horror that I would expect with a title like Screamscapes, I thought screams could also be screams of twisted laughter.
The Mole People Beneath the City got 5 stars - this was just one of those stories that had that Twilight Zone/Outer Limits feelings which I love. It was creepy and had such a cinematic perfect ending that left my mind roaming and really wanting a sequel.
Pay Back got 5 stars but I'd give it more - this story just felt like the kind of thing Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez would make into a Grindhouse picture. It was twisted, full of foul language which fit perfectly, and also had one of those endings that you think you know what's going to happen but you have no idea and you're so pleasantly shocked at how awesome it is, you just have to tell friends about it, while fighting back spoiling the ending for them.
Curtains for Love got 4 stars - while enjoying this story and really liking it, there was an idea of what was going to happen at the end and guessing what happened and being right was ok cause I really didn't want it to end any other way. The author also added his alternate ending which I didn't think of and was just as happy with because of how interesting it was.
The Package got 4 stars - this was a very twisted Christmas tale and showed such a dark side to Santa, a sick and creepy side that is not to be shared with the kids or even a wife or girl friend...which is why I gave this 4 stars...to show this to others and let them know you enjoyed it, shows the twisted side of yourself...which I like to keep a secret :O)
Black Door got 4 stars - being a really good story and enjoying the creepy mood it drew me into, I wanted even more in the end. Something that felt even darker and sent a chill deeper into my soul.
So, you see, every story got a rating, then the majority is what gave the final out come. I'd also like to add that Evans, after each story, gives some background on how he came up with these tales and other interesting tidbits. I highly recommend this title.
Crawlspace got 3 stars - great concept but the ending didn't feel right to me. Although, the ending could be read and perceived many different ways which is kind of interesting as an after thought.
Whatever Possessed You got 4 stars - had the perfect horror story punch and felt like it could have been put into one of those awesome Tales From the Crypt comics. I could imagine some gruesomely humorous Crypt Keeper comment being made at the end, along with that famous laughter.
Gertrude got 5 stars - it had such an interesting opening, so creative, seemed like just the right length, had perfect direction, and the ending totally defined the title of this anthology.
Arboreatum got 5 stars - a master piece, this story was long but so worth the time reading. This story really pulled me in with all the emotions/feeling of everything going on. This story had horror but actually had so much more as well. Evans's skill at showing a story (not just telling one) was proved with Arboreatum.
Nose Hears got 5 stars - it was so cleverly pulled off and even though it wasn't the dark twisted horror that I would expect with a title like Screamscapes, I thought screams could also be screams of twisted laughter.
The Mole People Beneath the City got 5 stars - this was just one of those stories that had that Twilight Zone/Outer Limits feelings which I love. It was creepy and had such a cinematic perfect ending that left my mind roaming and really wanting a sequel.
Pay Back got 5 stars but I'd give it more - this story just felt like the kind of thing Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez would make into a Grindhouse picture. It was twisted, full of foul language which fit perfectly, and also had one of those endings that you think you know what's going to happen but you have no idea and you're so pleasantly shocked at how awesome it is, you just have to tell friends about it, while fighting back spoiling the ending for them.
Curtains for Love got 4 stars - while enjoying this story and really liking it, there was an idea of what was going to happen at the end and guessing what happened and being right was ok cause I really didn't want it to end any other way. The author also added his alternate ending which I didn't think of and was just as happy with because of how interesting it was.
The Package got 4 stars - this was a very twisted Christmas tale and showed such a dark side to Santa, a sick and creepy side that is not to be shared with the kids or even a wife or girl friend...which is why I gave this 4 stars...to show this to others and let them know you enjoyed it, shows the twisted side of yourself...which I like to keep a secret :O)
Black Door got 4 stars - being a really good story and enjoying the creepy mood it drew me into, I wanted even more in the end. Something that felt even darker and sent a chill deeper into my soul.
So, you see, every story got a rating, then the majority is what gave the final out come. I'd also like to add that Evans, after each story, gives some background on how he came up with these tales and other interesting tidbits. I highly recommend this title.
December 2, 2013
Disclaimer: This title was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
Here we have an offering of macabre tales with an eyeful of smut. Author Evans Light shares his unique vision of horror via 9 short tales and a novella. His stories range from the exquisitely grotesque "Gertrude" to the bizarre and off-putting "Payback." He also includes an alternate ending to his eerie and haunting "Curtains for Love" that, while I found it more to my liking, did not fit stylistically with his story.
Three of his tales were written in a lighter vein than the rest. Two of them backfired for me. I'm not naive enough to attribute the attitudes of a story's character to its author, but "Payback" just seemed mean-spirited and had two repulsive characters that I had to choose between for my sympathies. "The Package," just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The third, "Nose Hears" was a delightful little piece that was ruined by a bad pun in the final line.
His novella "Arboreatum" is an inventive, fast-moving tale of horror on the high-plains of Missouri in the late 1800's. It is well told by Light, but lacks in the period detail that I was hoping for. It could have taken place in any time period. Still, his openning line, "Dirt is edible" strikes the right note and sets the tone for the events that follow. As a stand alone, I would rate "Arboreatum" 4 stars.
At his best, Light demonstates a wit and charm in his writing that heightens the horror of his tales. He can strike chords that really resonate with his readers. At his worst, Light displays a lack of faith in his readers with a tendenancy to state exactly what he wants them to get out of certain story. He also uses humor inappropriately in is stories and tends toward titles that give away the punch of his stories (Sorry to say, but "Curtains for Love" is one of the worst tiles I've come across in a while--the pun is totally inconsistent with the tone of the story.)
But, Screamscapes is still trip worth taking for those readers with a taste for the bizarre and horrific.
Here we have an offering of macabre tales with an eyeful of smut. Author Evans Light shares his unique vision of horror via 9 short tales and a novella. His stories range from the exquisitely grotesque "Gertrude" to the bizarre and off-putting "Payback." He also includes an alternate ending to his eerie and haunting "Curtains for Love" that, while I found it more to my liking, did not fit stylistically with his story.
Three of his tales were written in a lighter vein than the rest. Two of them backfired for me. I'm not naive enough to attribute the attitudes of a story's character to its author, but "Payback" just seemed mean-spirited and had two repulsive characters that I had to choose between for my sympathies. "The Package," just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The third, "Nose Hears" was a delightful little piece that was ruined by a bad pun in the final line.
His novella "Arboreatum" is an inventive, fast-moving tale of horror on the high-plains of Missouri in the late 1800's. It is well told by Light, but lacks in the period detail that I was hoping for. It could have taken place in any time period. Still, his openning line, "Dirt is edible" strikes the right note and sets the tone for the events that follow. As a stand alone, I would rate "Arboreatum" 4 stars.
At his best, Light demonstates a wit and charm in his writing that heightens the horror of his tales. He can strike chords that really resonate with his readers. At his worst, Light displays a lack of faith in his readers with a tendenancy to state exactly what he wants them to get out of certain story. He also uses humor inappropriately in is stories and tends toward titles that give away the punch of his stories (Sorry to say, but "Curtains for Love" is one of the worst tiles I've come across in a while--the pun is totally inconsistent with the tone of the story.)
But, Screamscapes is still trip worth taking for those readers with a taste for the bizarre and horrific.
October 12, 2014
I actually read this entire book in just a few hours. I will say right off the writing itself is really good, no issues there. Overall I liked it a lot, but I will go through each story:
Crawlspace: I loved the claustrophobic feel the story presented, and he did a good job of making the set up feel realistic. I didn't really care for the ending, however.
Whatever Possessed You: As a writer, I appreciated this one. As most writers can attest, sometimes when you are writing it can almost feel as though you're possessed as your fingers seem to move over the keyboard on their own and you look back and wonder exactly who wrote all those words on the page. I thought the ending was a cliche, but given the nature of the story it almost had to be to make sense.
Gertrude: Probably the creepiest of the stories, a little confusing (at least to me) but still creepy as hell.
Arboreatum: My favorite story in the book. I loved the setting, and I loved the way it tied into history. Monsters and Indian Curses and just scary.
Nose Hears: This one was a bit silly.
The Mole People Beneath the City: I liked this one as well. Reminded me a bit of Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train.
Pay Back: This one I didn't care for, but I have to admit in parts it was hilarious. The main character's thoughts just cracked me up, it wasn't terror to me but it was amusing.
Curtains for Love: Another of my favorites. I lean slightly more towards the original ending rather than the alternate, but both were good in their own ways.
The Package: This one was just a little too far out for me. It starred Santa Clause to give you an idea. However, he also did this as a bit of tribute to Joe R. Lansdale, so he had an excuse for the silliness.
Black Door: I liked the feel of this one, good atmosphere and the ending surprised me, but in a pleasant way.
This one really held my interest and I read it very quickly because of that. I would recommend this one for anyone who likes short horror stories.
Crawlspace: I loved the claustrophobic feel the story presented, and he did a good job of making the set up feel realistic. I didn't really care for the ending, however.
Whatever Possessed You: As a writer, I appreciated this one. As most writers can attest, sometimes when you are writing it can almost feel as though you're possessed as your fingers seem to move over the keyboard on their own and you look back and wonder exactly who wrote all those words on the page. I thought the ending was a cliche, but given the nature of the story it almost had to be to make sense.
Gertrude: Probably the creepiest of the stories, a little confusing (at least to me) but still creepy as hell.
Arboreatum: My favorite story in the book. I loved the setting, and I loved the way it tied into history. Monsters and Indian Curses and just scary.
Nose Hears: This one was a bit silly.
The Mole People Beneath the City: I liked this one as well. Reminded me a bit of Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train.
Pay Back: This one I didn't care for, but I have to admit in parts it was hilarious. The main character's thoughts just cracked me up, it wasn't terror to me but it was amusing.
Curtains for Love: Another of my favorites. I lean slightly more towards the original ending rather than the alternate, but both were good in their own ways.
The Package: This one was just a little too far out for me. It starred Santa Clause to give you an idea. However, he also did this as a bit of tribute to Joe R. Lansdale, so he had an excuse for the silliness.
Black Door: I liked the feel of this one, good atmosphere and the ending surprised me, but in a pleasant way.
This one really held my interest and I read it very quickly because of that. I would recommend this one for anyone who likes short horror stories.
November 23, 2013
'Screamscapes' by Evans Light, was one of the books I bought to read for my Halloween vacation. It's become an annual ritual,for me, to buy a couple books that look particularly good, to help get into the proper mindset for the holiday, and 'Screamscapes' was one of the best. This is a great collection of 10 short stories and novellas, that will terrify you, but also make you think. Most other reviews I've read, have talked about the stories themselves, so I won't bother. But I will say, I don't know if I could seriously pick out one story as a favorite. Every one of the ten stories is incredibly unique, and unpredictable. They're not only chilling tales, they're just plain well written, and fun to read. What I really enjoyed about this book, is the variety of subjects that are written about. Whether it's a dark story from the old west (Arboreatum), or the terrifying results of true love (Curtains For Love). From an extreme case of vengeance (Crawlspace), to a gritty homage to Santa Claus (The Package), these stories never failed to surprise me with their twists and turns and horrifying outcomes. I also enjoyed the fact that Light added a short note, at the end of each story, to give a little background, and let you know what was running through his mind when they were written.
The one problem I did have with this book, was that as much as I enjoyed the stories, there wasn't another volume waiting for me when I was finished. But, I think that's a pretty common issue with authors you really enjoy, and Evans Light has definitely become one of those!!
March 15, 2014
I liked most of these stories but as with most collections I have my favourites. I also liked the way the author told you how each story evolved for him.
The first in the book was Crawlspace. This was very creepy especially since my mum's house from when I was a kid had one. You reached it by going through the cellar and down a passage. It used to give me nightmares, so this story made me think back to that. Poor Thomas, he didn't deserve all that. I wonder just how long he was down there.
In whatever possessed you, the thought that it's really demons in author's heads that write the books was brilliant. Gerard who had the perfect book in his mind couldn't get it to work right on paper. He got the demon passed on to him, then for a little while thought everything was going right book wise, feeling positively energized. It doesn't last though, then it all went wrong. I liked the bit were his demon told him that Stephen king must have an awesome one.
Pay back was really good, Stephen was a truly awful child/man, who you can really imagine. His poor mother, and the sort of friend Joe. How he but up with him, but he was planning his revenge for everything that had been done to him. I enjoyed this one maybe the best. Stephen was so bad, so awful and all the way through the yearly trip to the amusement park I thought he's going to die, and kept expecting it. What happened was so much better. It made me laugh so much.
All the others were good, the Santa one was more than good. I shuddered at the thought of a 'jowl job'. So yes definatly a book to read.
The first in the book was Crawlspace. This was very creepy especially since my mum's house from when I was a kid had one. You reached it by going through the cellar and down a passage. It used to give me nightmares, so this story made me think back to that. Poor Thomas, he didn't deserve all that. I wonder just how long he was down there.
In whatever possessed you, the thought that it's really demons in author's heads that write the books was brilliant. Gerard who had the perfect book in his mind couldn't get it to work right on paper. He got the demon passed on to him, then for a little while thought everything was going right book wise, feeling positively energized. It doesn't last though, then it all went wrong. I liked the bit were his demon told him that Stephen king must have an awesome one.
Pay back was really good, Stephen was a truly awful child/man, who you can really imagine. His poor mother, and the sort of friend Joe. How he but up with him, but he was planning his revenge for everything that had been done to him. I enjoyed this one maybe the best. Stephen was so bad, so awful and all the way through the yearly trip to the amusement park I thought he's going to die, and kept expecting it. What happened was so much better. It made me laugh so much.
All the others were good, the Santa one was more than good. I shuddered at the thought of a 'jowl job'. So yes definatly a book to read.
September 26, 2013
It is so hard for me to write a review on short stories, especially when they are ones that I really like. I am so afraid of giving away too much ... This was a great selection of stories and I really enjoyed everyone. My favorites, by far, were Crawlspace, Arboreatum, Curtains for Love (which had an alternate ending and both were good) and The Package.
Funny story: The Package is a story about Santa. And this particular Santa reminds me of a guy who works here at my apartment complex. I highlighted all the "good parts" in my Kindle, then handed it to him and told him to skim through. He was laughing so hard that another guy that works there came over to look at what he was reading, and he laughed too. Next thing I know, they are both on Amazon purchasing the book. If that doesn't say you should buy this book, I don't know what will :D
Must ... read ... more of him ...
Funny story: The Package is a story about Santa. And this particular Santa reminds me of a guy who works here at my apartment complex. I highlighted all the "good parts" in my Kindle, then handed it to him and told him to skim through. He was laughing so hard that another guy that works there came over to look at what he was reading, and he laughed too. Next thing I know, they are both on Amazon purchasing the book. If that doesn't say you should buy this book, I don't know what will :D
Must ... read ... more of him ...
September 22, 2013
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads, and haven't enjoyed horror this much in a long time. :)
Mr. Light really has a way with words and descriptions, a fine imagination (in featuring things that I haven't seen used as objects of horror before), and the pacing is just right to build almost unbearable tension. Too often, many authors I've read create a build-up so good that it seems that no ending could possibly live up it, leaving a feeling of anticlimax or disappointment - but the stories in this book have satisfying and thought-provoking endings just as good as the build-up. I feel no intangible hesitation about giving this book its fifth star. It's right up there with some of Stephen King's short story collections. (Evans, please write more!)
Mr. Light really has a way with words and descriptions, a fine imagination (in featuring things that I haven't seen used as objects of horror before), and the pacing is just right to build almost unbearable tension. Too often, many authors I've read create a build-up so good that it seems that no ending could possibly live up it, leaving a feeling of anticlimax or disappointment - but the stories in this book have satisfying and thought-provoking endings just as good as the build-up. I feel no intangible hesitation about giving this book its fifth star. It's right up there with some of Stephen King's short story collections. (Evans, please write more!)
October 8, 2013
Evans is definitely a talented author. This book contains 10 storys and no 2 of them are alike. The first story left me cheering for a character. I wish I would as clever as to come up with something like this. Another story is now my favorite horror story even if it is just a novella. I would truely like to see that made into a full lenth book. Another story I felt he got just what he deserved since it was fairly oblivious what a prick he was. I really enjoyed the love one and "The Package" had me cracking up the whole time. I think anyone that enjoys creepy and/or weird tales should check this out.
I received this book from Goodreads first reads.
I received this book from Goodreads first reads.
September 14, 2013
Wow, this was fun! I really enjoyed these short stories. "Whatever Possessed You" was a nice, new concept for me. I was rooting for poor Gerard throughout the story. "Gertrude" was rather a squeamish story, but it was fun to read. "The Mole People Beneath the City" - I don't know why, but I didn't catch on to this one until the end. "Curtains for Love" - great ending. There is another ending available to read, but I think the one Evans went with was the right one. I don't want to talk about every story here, but I would very much recommend this book.
December 23, 2013
Absolutely loved this book. From start to finish. Every story was great. I liked that the author put a little note at the end of each story. I hope he does write sequels or longer versions of mole ppl and the black door. I sincerely wish the Light Brothers the greatest success. they are the best new authors I've read in a long time.
PS I love short stories. It's a shame everyone seems to write such long novels these days. It's nice to have a quick read without such a commitment.
PS I love short stories. It's a shame everyone seems to write such long novels these days. It's nice to have a quick read without such a commitment.
April 30, 2016
This was a lot of fun to read. Each story was different in tone and style. Some were humorous and others spooky. There were stories in this book that creeped me out a bit. Evans can tell a good ghost story. I can't really say which was a favorite because they all were so good. I am definitely a fan of this guy's work and plan on reading more of his and his brothers stuff soon. Just a solid collection.
April 30, 2018
I came across the first story, Crawlspace, as a free download on iBooks, after reading a review of it on Goodreads. I loved it and decided to purchase Screamscapes.
For me, Crawlspace was the highlight. I liked most of the other stories but didn’t love them. I was a little disappointed that the other stories - in my opinion - didn’t match the first. I found a couple of them a little silly and more appropriate to a young adult audience, but they weren’t bad by any means.
Well worth a read.
For me, Crawlspace was the highlight. I liked most of the other stories but didn’t love them. I was a little disappointed that the other stories - in my opinion - didn’t match the first. I found a couple of them a little silly and more appropriate to a young adult audience, but they weren’t bad by any means.
Well worth a read.
September 19, 2013
SCREAMSCAPES is one of those books you just can't put down! Every story was a different kind of horror--from sick and twisted to chuckling funny.
I am really enjoying Evans twisted and warped sense of whatever it takes to write as he does!!
I am really enjoying Evans twisted and warped sense of whatever it takes to write as he does!!
September 28, 2018
This was a great collection of horror shorts. There was everything from ghosts, to a twisted Santa, to man eating creatures. My favorite of the collection was Crawlspace, as it was written so well that it sparked my own claustrophobia and made every nerve ending twitch.
July 10, 2013
this book was really good all the story are creepy and weird its really a great read hope ur great mind keeps working like this evans light
August 13, 2013
4 & 1/2 stars! 'Crawlspace' was definitely my favorite. And someone please remind me to stop reading this author at bedtime. ;)
January 21, 2015
A collection of short stories from Evans Light.
It’s no secret. I love Evans Light’s writing. This collection of short stories cements that feeling in an immense way. Normally when I do a review of a collection I would skim over the stories highlighting one or two that I felt deserved individual praise. With Screamscapes they all deserve their own credit. So to that end, below are short individual reviews of each story in the book. It’s a long review so I don’t blame you if you don’t read it all but you will only be forgiven if you’ve bought it and are currently reading it yourself!
CRAWLSPACE:
This is a story about a husband looking forward to his wife going away to her mother’s for a week so he can have some time alone with his mistress……as long as he completes the job tidying the crawlspace under their house first. When he climbs under to start the work, he gets some unexpected surprises.
This story is not for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia. It is beautifully written to scare the living shit out of you if you do. Can’t reveal too much without giving away the story but it portrays, perfectly, what the atmosphere would be like under a house for someone who does not like small spaces. My skin crawled quite a few times. It’s horrific but psychologically horrific instead of physically horrific.
5 stars.
WHATEVER POSSESSED YOU?:
If you are one of those people (like me) who read and read and read and have always had an idea that you could someday write a story or book yourself, then this story will scare the bejeesus outta you.
Gerard takes a sabbatical from his current job to write the novel he has always wanted to write. Straight away he gets writers block. He goes to his local bookstore for some inspiration and a stranger gives him a piece of paper and asks him to read what is printed on it out loud. From this moment on he becomes possessed by pure evil. Will his book ever get written? And at what cost?
This story is creepily brilliant. You get very scared for the main character Gerard. You feel his pain as sometimes things are taken completely out of his hands. There are two or three twists in this story that you just never see coming and an ending that leaves your imagination running wild for an hour after you finish it.
Another 5 stars.
GERTRUDE:
A very short tale about a man who has a symbiotic twin called Gertrude. Can’t tell anymore because I would ruin it. Two or three pages long, this is an exercise in how to mesmerize and gross someone out in such a short space. Creepily gory, this is not one you want to read over dinner.
Guess what? 5 stars.
ARBOREATUM:
A band of pioneers head west in 1839 moving to a new “promised land” that their zealot leader is convinced awaits them. At the edge of death from starvation, the small wagon train eventually reaches what seems to be a new Garden of Eden. Two unusually large apple trees in a lush garden complete with 2 empty houses and enough provisions to last a year.
Their leader is convinced it is a sign from God but young Micha is not so sure. Before he can learn to explain some weird happenings he is distracted by the charms of Anna. Their distractions mean they are ill prepared for the awakening of a long dormant evil that will punish anyone that cannot resist the temptation.
I have reached the conclusion that Evans Light is somewhat of a master at short stories. This is (in my opinion) a modern day twist on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It’s beautiful. The writing is almost poetic in its description of the surroundings, the characters and the plot. The tension and horror builds and builds to a climax that is both horrifying and unexpected. Another story that looks under the skin of the human being and our faults. This is quite possibly my favourite ever short story.
Huge 5 stars.
NOSE HEARS:
George lays down for a nap but can’t get to sleep because of people talking. He soon discovers the voices are coming from his nose. With the help of a microphone he can fit in his nostril he confides in a friend for help. He, and his friend, get more than they bargain for.
This will give you a laugh and when it’s finished will leave you thinking what the hell did I just read.
Superb 5 stars.
THE MOLE PEOPLE BENEATH THE CITY:
A man and his young daughter are waiting in a subway station in New York in the dead of night. As the train approaches, the little girl screams that she saw the “mole people”. Once on the train, some intrigued out of towners ask the man what the “mole people” are. He starts to tell them all about the urban myth. Then the lights go out.
This is a creepy tale. It’s quite easy from the outset to see where it’s going but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment in any way. Evans says that this may be developed into a longer story at some stage. That, I would be really interested in reading.
Another 5 stars.
PAY BACK:
Stephen and Joe have been going to an amusement park with each other on the same date for 15 years since they were little kids. Now grown up they do it for what could be the last time. They both hold secrets. They both hate each other. It’s coming to a head but who will get payback? Stephen the wise guy or Joe the Nard.
A tongue in cheek story that saves the horror until the last few pages. This is a lot of fun and has quite possibly one of the thickest, dimmest characters I have ever met.
And another 5 stars.
CURTAINS FOR LOVE:
James and Claire have just bought a new house. Well, it’s new to them but a very old property. James used to play there as a child with the little girl Sophie who lived there. She is unfortunately no longer alive. When her parents sell the house to James they have one stipulation. Never remove the curtains from the tower room. When they move in, strange things seem to start happening. The curtains seem to be to blame.
This is one very creepy ghost story with a rather surprising ending. In fact it includes an alternative ending just in case you fancy a different slant on things. This one really made my skin crawl.
Once again 5 stars.
THE PACKAGE:
Santa is depressed. His “package” is shrinking and he’s just read a newspaper article about a man with the world’s largest penis. He is at a very low point in his life due to having to lay off most of his elves, and not getting any “action” due to his shrinkage problem. When a man with dyslexia sends Santa a legally binding contract to sell him his soul, Santa sees a way of using this to his advantage.
This is hilarious in its own dark way. It’s a side of Santa we don’t often see and many would believe impossible. It’s short and punchy. It’s funny but scary at the same time. When you think of it afterwards it actually leaves you with a very dark impression of the man kids love the world over.
Just the 5 stars.
BLACK DOOR:
Three kids and their dad are in a hurry to get packed and set off on a journey that will take them to Camp Eustace for a week’s summer camp. When they eventually get there, after a few detours, the camp is deserted. There are no cars. No excited kids. No staff. The only thing they find is a black door. What’s on the other side will change their lives forever.
This is a very creepy short that although is billed as an all ages story, certainly gave me goose bumps. Again Mr Light mentions this may be developed into a novel. I can’t wait.
A lowly 5 stars.
So there it is. A short description of all the wonderful stories you can find in Screamscapes. I have to quite honestly say that this is probably one of my favourite short story collections by a single author that I have ever read. I especially like the way Evans adds little commentaries at the end of each story to give you an idea of how they came about. You have variety. You have horror. You have laughs. All you could ask for in a collection instead of the same old things over and over.
I can’t wait for the next collection by Evans Light or indeed anything he writes.
A big fat overall 5 stars.
It’s no secret. I love Evans Light’s writing. This collection of short stories cements that feeling in an immense way. Normally when I do a review of a collection I would skim over the stories highlighting one or two that I felt deserved individual praise. With Screamscapes they all deserve their own credit. So to that end, below are short individual reviews of each story in the book. It’s a long review so I don’t blame you if you don’t read it all but you will only be forgiven if you’ve bought it and are currently reading it yourself!
CRAWLSPACE:
This is a story about a husband looking forward to his wife going away to her mother’s for a week so he can have some time alone with his mistress……as long as he completes the job tidying the crawlspace under their house first. When he climbs under to start the work, he gets some unexpected surprises.
This story is not for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia. It is beautifully written to scare the living shit out of you if you do. Can’t reveal too much without giving away the story but it portrays, perfectly, what the atmosphere would be like under a house for someone who does not like small spaces. My skin crawled quite a few times. It’s horrific but psychologically horrific instead of physically horrific.
5 stars.
WHATEVER POSSESSED YOU?:
If you are one of those people (like me) who read and read and read and have always had an idea that you could someday write a story or book yourself, then this story will scare the bejeesus outta you.
Gerard takes a sabbatical from his current job to write the novel he has always wanted to write. Straight away he gets writers block. He goes to his local bookstore for some inspiration and a stranger gives him a piece of paper and asks him to read what is printed on it out loud. From this moment on he becomes possessed by pure evil. Will his book ever get written? And at what cost?
This story is creepily brilliant. You get very scared for the main character Gerard. You feel his pain as sometimes things are taken completely out of his hands. There are two or three twists in this story that you just never see coming and an ending that leaves your imagination running wild for an hour after you finish it.
Another 5 stars.
GERTRUDE:
A very short tale about a man who has a symbiotic twin called Gertrude. Can’t tell anymore because I would ruin it. Two or three pages long, this is an exercise in how to mesmerize and gross someone out in such a short space. Creepily gory, this is not one you want to read over dinner.
Guess what? 5 stars.
ARBOREATUM:
A band of pioneers head west in 1839 moving to a new “promised land” that their zealot leader is convinced awaits them. At the edge of death from starvation, the small wagon train eventually reaches what seems to be a new Garden of Eden. Two unusually large apple trees in a lush garden complete with 2 empty houses and enough provisions to last a year.
Their leader is convinced it is a sign from God but young Micha is not so sure. Before he can learn to explain some weird happenings he is distracted by the charms of Anna. Their distractions mean they are ill prepared for the awakening of a long dormant evil that will punish anyone that cannot resist the temptation.
I have reached the conclusion that Evans Light is somewhat of a master at short stories. This is (in my opinion) a modern day twist on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It’s beautiful. The writing is almost poetic in its description of the surroundings, the characters and the plot. The tension and horror builds and builds to a climax that is both horrifying and unexpected. Another story that looks under the skin of the human being and our faults. This is quite possibly my favourite ever short story.
Huge 5 stars.
NOSE HEARS:
George lays down for a nap but can’t get to sleep because of people talking. He soon discovers the voices are coming from his nose. With the help of a microphone he can fit in his nostril he confides in a friend for help. He, and his friend, get more than they bargain for.
This will give you a laugh and when it’s finished will leave you thinking what the hell did I just read.
Superb 5 stars.
THE MOLE PEOPLE BENEATH THE CITY:
A man and his young daughter are waiting in a subway station in New York in the dead of night. As the train approaches, the little girl screams that she saw the “mole people”. Once on the train, some intrigued out of towners ask the man what the “mole people” are. He starts to tell them all about the urban myth. Then the lights go out.
This is a creepy tale. It’s quite easy from the outset to see where it’s going but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment in any way. Evans says that this may be developed into a longer story at some stage. That, I would be really interested in reading.
Another 5 stars.
PAY BACK:
Stephen and Joe have been going to an amusement park with each other on the same date for 15 years since they were little kids. Now grown up they do it for what could be the last time. They both hold secrets. They both hate each other. It’s coming to a head but who will get payback? Stephen the wise guy or Joe the Nard.
A tongue in cheek story that saves the horror until the last few pages. This is a lot of fun and has quite possibly one of the thickest, dimmest characters I have ever met.
And another 5 stars.
CURTAINS FOR LOVE:
James and Claire have just bought a new house. Well, it’s new to them but a very old property. James used to play there as a child with the little girl Sophie who lived there. She is unfortunately no longer alive. When her parents sell the house to James they have one stipulation. Never remove the curtains from the tower room. When they move in, strange things seem to start happening. The curtains seem to be to blame.
This is one very creepy ghost story with a rather surprising ending. In fact it includes an alternative ending just in case you fancy a different slant on things. This one really made my skin crawl.
Once again 5 stars.
THE PACKAGE:
Santa is depressed. His “package” is shrinking and he’s just read a newspaper article about a man with the world’s largest penis. He is at a very low point in his life due to having to lay off most of his elves, and not getting any “action” due to his shrinkage problem. When a man with dyslexia sends Santa a legally binding contract to sell him his soul, Santa sees a way of using this to his advantage.
This is hilarious in its own dark way. It’s a side of Santa we don’t often see and many would believe impossible. It’s short and punchy. It’s funny but scary at the same time. When you think of it afterwards it actually leaves you with a very dark impression of the man kids love the world over.
Just the 5 stars.
BLACK DOOR:
Three kids and their dad are in a hurry to get packed and set off on a journey that will take them to Camp Eustace for a week’s summer camp. When they eventually get there, after a few detours, the camp is deserted. There are no cars. No excited kids. No staff. The only thing they find is a black door. What’s on the other side will change their lives forever.
This is a very creepy short that although is billed as an all ages story, certainly gave me goose bumps. Again Mr Light mentions this may be developed into a novel. I can’t wait.
A lowly 5 stars.
So there it is. A short description of all the wonderful stories you can find in Screamscapes. I have to quite honestly say that this is probably one of my favourite short story collections by a single author that I have ever read. I especially like the way Evans adds little commentaries at the end of each story to give you an idea of how they came about. You have variety. You have horror. You have laughs. All you could ask for in a collection instead of the same old things over and over.
I can’t wait for the next collection by Evans Light or indeed anything he writes.
A big fat overall 5 stars.
May 2, 2018
With this collection, Evans Light has given us ten short stories, ranging from a soul-seeking Santa Claus to a wife's revenge on a cheating husband to a talking nose that "nose" more than it should. Taken individually, some of these stories are much better than others, but as a collection, Light has shown the ability to rock the horror without using many words. This was a really fun little read.
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My Rating: 4.25/5 stars
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My Rating: 4.25/5 stars
January 14, 2021
The first short story in this collection, "Crawlspace," I got on Kindle for free. That story is in my top-10 (maybe top-5) short stories of all time. Maybe part of the reason it had such an effect on me was because I've put insulation up underneath a house before, and found the experience quite unsettling. After reading it, it seemed foolish not to buy this book, and Crawlspace had already made this collection 5 stars, even before I read the other stories. Light set the bar high for himself, but the other stories were great too, so much that you can spend hours reading and not realize the time has slipped away.
January 20, 2014
Screamscapes as a whole was a fantastic read which is why I gave it 5 stars. However, not every story was a 5 star for me.So here is my break down of rating each story and how I came to the decision of 5 stars.
Crawlspace got 3 stars - great concept but the ending didn't feel right to me. Although, the ending could be read and perceived many different ways which is kind of interesting as an after thought.
Whatever Possessed You got 4 stars - had the perfect horror story punch and felt like it could have been put into one of those awesome Tales From the Crypt comics. I could imagine some gruesomely humorous Crypt Keeper comment being made at the end, along with that famous laughter.
Gertrude got 5 stars - it had such an interesting opening, so creative, seemed like just the right length, had perfect direction, and the ending totally defined the title of this anthology.
Arboreatum got 5 stars - a master piece, this story was long but so worth the time reading. This story really pulled me in with all the emotions/feeling of everything going on. This story had horror but actually had so much more as well. Evans's skill at showing a story (not just telling one) was proved with Arboreatum.
Nose Hears got 5 stars - it was so cleverly pulled off and even though it wasn't the dark twisted horror that I would expect with a title like Screamscapes, I thought screams could also be screams of twisted laughter.
The Mole People Beneath the City got 5 stars - this was just one of those stories that had that Twilight Zone/Outer Limits feelings which I love. It was creepy and had such a cinematic perfect ending that left my mind roaming and really wanting a sequel.
Pay Back got 5 stars but I'd give it more - this story just felt like the kind of thing Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez would make into a Grindhouse picture. It was twisted, full of foul language which fit perfectly, and also had one of those endings that you think you know what's going to happen but you have no idea and you're so pleasantly shocked at how awesome it is, you just have to tell friends about it, while fighting back spoiling the ending for them.
Curtains for Love got 4 stars - while enjoying this story and really liking it, there was an idea of what was going to happen at the end and guessing what happened and being right was ok cause I really didn't want it to end any other way. The author also added his alternate ending which I didn't think of and was just as happy with because of how interesting it was.
The Package got 4 stars - this was a very twisted Christmas tale and showed such a dark side to Santa, a sick and creepy side that is not to be shared with the kids or even a wife or girl friend...which is why I gave this 4 stars...to show this to others and let them know you enjoyed it, shows the twisted side of yourself...which I like to keep a secret :O)
Black Door got 4 stars - being a really good story and enjoying the creepy mood it drew me into, I wanted even more in the end. Something that felt even darker and sent a chill deeper into my soul.
So, you see, every story got a rating, then the majority is what gave the final out come. I'd also like to add that Evans, after each story, gives some background on how he came up with these tales and other interesting tidbits. I highly recommend this title.
Crawlspace got 3 stars - great concept but the ending didn't feel right to me. Although, the ending could be read and perceived many different ways which is kind of interesting as an after thought.
Whatever Possessed You got 4 stars - had the perfect horror story punch and felt like it could have been put into one of those awesome Tales From the Crypt comics. I could imagine some gruesomely humorous Crypt Keeper comment being made at the end, along with that famous laughter.
Gertrude got 5 stars - it had such an interesting opening, so creative, seemed like just the right length, had perfect direction, and the ending totally defined the title of this anthology.
Arboreatum got 5 stars - a master piece, this story was long but so worth the time reading. This story really pulled me in with all the emotions/feeling of everything going on. This story had horror but actually had so much more as well. Evans's skill at showing a story (not just telling one) was proved with Arboreatum.
Nose Hears got 5 stars - it was so cleverly pulled off and even though it wasn't the dark twisted horror that I would expect with a title like Screamscapes, I thought screams could also be screams of twisted laughter.
The Mole People Beneath the City got 5 stars - this was just one of those stories that had that Twilight Zone/Outer Limits feelings which I love. It was creepy and had such a cinematic perfect ending that left my mind roaming and really wanting a sequel.
Pay Back got 5 stars but I'd give it more - this story just felt like the kind of thing Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez would make into a Grindhouse picture. It was twisted, full of foul language which fit perfectly, and also had one of those endings that you think you know what's going to happen but you have no idea and you're so pleasantly shocked at how awesome it is, you just have to tell friends about it, while fighting back spoiling the ending for them.
Curtains for Love got 4 stars - while enjoying this story and really liking it, there was an idea of what was going to happen at the end and guessing what happened and being right was ok cause I really didn't want it to end any other way. The author also added his alternate ending which I didn't think of and was just as happy with because of how interesting it was.
The Package got 4 stars - this was a very twisted Christmas tale and showed such a dark side to Santa, a sick and creepy side that is not to be shared with the kids or even a wife or girl friend...which is why I gave this 4 stars...to show this to others and let them know you enjoyed it, shows the twisted side of yourself...which I like to keep a secret :O)
Black Door got 4 stars - being a really good story and enjoying the creepy mood it drew me into, I wanted even more in the end. Something that felt even darker and sent a chill deeper into my soul.
So, you see, every story got a rating, then the majority is what gave the final out come. I'd also like to add that Evans, after each story, gives some background on how he came up with these tales and other interesting tidbits. I highly recommend this title.
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