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Dark Furies: Weird Tales of Beauties & Beasts
Snow White and the Evil Queen, Beauty and the Beast, Antogone and Creon, Dorothy and the Wicked Witch, Fay Wray and King Kong, Joan de Arc and the Catholic Church, Minnie Mouse and that darn Peg Leg Pete... Throughout the history of the world, women have had to cope with horrors of every shape and size. Some of these monsters have been evil incarnate, some have simply been misunderstood--all of them have been left to the fairer sex to handle. This timeless idea is now revisited by 15 of today's most creative writers as they look at the idea of women and monsters from every angle possible. First up, talented newcomers Jan Rukh, Laszlo Q.V. St-J. Xalieri, Ed Hickcox and Rose Fox set a serious tone with four terrific dramas, all set in different genres. Not to be outdone, Mssrs. John French and James Chambers both deliver stories of supernatural investigation guaranteed to set just the right tone for our expert team of horror specialists. Yes, it's an all-star line-up as Michael Amorel, Ron Fortier, Patrick Thomas, Danielle Ackley-McPhail and William Jones dazzle the entire audience, from the orchestra to those in the cheap seats, with five towering tales of titanic terror which no reader will forget anytime soon. Then, the ever-unpredictable CJ Henderson hogs as much space as he can delivering two stories for review--one a tale of Lovecraftian feminism, then a second we think is destined to become a Die Monster Die classic!
261 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
33 people want to read
About the author
Adam P. Knave
42 books25 followersAdam P. Knave is an Eisner and Harvey award winning editor and writer who writes prose fiction (This Starry Deep, Stays Crunchy in Milk, Strange Angel), comics (The Once and Future Queen, Amelia Cole, Artful Daggers, stories in Titmouse Vol 2, Outlaw Territory Vol 3, and many more), as well as humor essay collections (NYCWTF, I Slept With Your Imaginary Friend) and used to write columns for sites such as thefoonote, TwoHeadedCat, Comics101, PopCultureShock, Three If By Space, and MamaPop. He worked as one of the editors of Image’s Popgun anthology, also editing many other works along the way.
Currently in Portland, OR after spending 38 years in New York City, Adam knows he should insert a joke or something attempting to be witty here at the end but is too tired to care.
Currently in Portland, OR after spending 38 years in New York City, Adam knows he should insert a joke or something attempting to be witty here at the end but is too tired to care.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 24, 2013
Did I like it or did I not? Was it creative? Do I grade on a curve? Bear with me people; I’m having a Sybil moment. After two weeks, sixteen stories, numerous packs of cigarettes and two bottles of aspirin, I’m still not sure what grade to give this book. Do I give it an overall rating or judge story-by-story? You know what, I think I’ll do both and I think I’ll swipe Renfield’s format in order to not make this the longest review ever. What do you all think? Yes, I agree – Brilliant.
Introduction: Strange Angel – Adam P. Knave
I give this story a 5. The editing was clean, the story original, and the pace swift. Knave smacks you upside the head, drags you through the mud, and then kisses you on the forehead with this tale of a young girl awakening her darker side.
Danse – Jan Rukh
I give this story a 2.5. Besides the fact that I skipped it twice, the story has a few grammatical errors, the pace is so slow it may induce sleep, and the story is bland. Yet, with all those issues, I have to say, I loved the characters. With a little more room and a lot more time spent on the pace and plot, I could grow to love this story.
After These Messages – Adam P. Knave
I give this story a 4. Inventive and original, the story is fun, but predictable. The characters are hilarious and the style of writing is tongue-in cheek. Thank Thumper!
The Green-Blooded Demons in Clancyville – Laszlo Q.V. St-j. Xalieri
This story gets a 2 from me. Between a plot line that was a good idea but went nowhere and more grammatical errors than I’d seen in a long time, I really, really did not like this story. With an ending that was a little too neat, events that were a little too prepared, and characters that were way too irritating, the only good part about this story was that it ended.
Anastasia – Ed Hickcox
I give this story a 3.5. With an imaginative plot, interesting characters, and a swift pace, I really dug this story. My only problem was the story's foreseen outcome and the name of one of the secondary characters – it kept changing. Good times people, good times.
Redemption – Rose Fox
This story gets a 3.5 from me. This story was a hard one to give a flat-out rate. While the story is original, the characters intriguing, and the style of writing skilled, the dialog hurt my heart. I understand Sparky was intended to sound simple, but after a few pages his dialect began to grate on my last nerve. Also, the pace could have been picked up in the beginning and slowed down towards the end.
Sick Day – Patrick Thomas
This story was one of my favorites; I give it a 5. With characters pulled from mythology, fairytales, and legends, each proved more interesting than the last. The plot was resourceful, the pace exhilarating, and the style of writing was entertaining. I would love to see this story in a series!
Mercy – C.J. Henderson
This story gets a 4.5. Henderson always amazes me. Classic and nostalgic, the plot is captivating and the pace is thrilling. Henderson’s style of writing is talented and adept, and his timing is perfect. Also, the ending is guaranteed to shock you.
Gray Gulls Gyre – James Chambers
My rating for this story is 4.5. The sad thing? The only reason it didn’t get a 5 is because of the absent editing. Fun and innovative, this story is fun as hell. The characters are hilarious and dramatic and the atmosphere is palpable and crisp. This is also another story I would love to see in a series or in its own collection.
Fury in Vermont - Ron Fortier.
This one gets a 4. Even though this story was sprinkled with errors and a few plot holes, the pace was prompt, and the characters were entertaining.
21 Doors – John L. French
This one gets a 2.5. Although the plot was imaginative and the characters were well-formed, it was riddled with more issues than the NY Post. The events and outcome of the story are obnoxiously foreshadowed and the pace is obscenely slow. Also, the narrative is disjointed, the sentences are incomplete, and the story is an editor’s nightmare. Sweet mercy.
Trapped in Remission – Michael Amorel
The redheaded stepchild of the collection, this story gets a 1. The characters were unsympathetic and hard to relate to, the pace causes unimaginable pain and heartache, and the plot had more holes than a golf course. And on top of all that, the style of writing is sophomoric and infested with grammatical errors.
The Tiger – William Jones
Sister to the redheaded stepchild, this story also gets a 1. Even though the style of writing was decent, the grammatical errors were few, and the pace was quick, the characters were lifeless and the plot was dull. Which is amazing considering that it was about a female executioner in a post-apocalyptic setting. And yet, again, still not interesting.
The Kindly One – Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Here’s another one I really enjoyed; I give this story a 5. Brutally honest and unforgiving, the plot is enthralling and the characters are terrifying. The author’s style of writing is keen, to the point, and utterly captivating. Here is one author I will definitely be reading more of.
Love is in the Air – R. Allen Leider
This story gets a 3 from me with a plea to never, ever start another one of his stories off with, “It was a damp and uncomfortable night…” Amusing and craft, the plot is hilarious without being hokey, and the style of writing is easy without being childish. Unfortunately, bringing down a rating that would have been 4, the story needed another once-over before it was published.
Bring More! – C.J. Henderson
While the plot is unique, the characters entertaining, and the story well crafted, the pace lagged a bit. I give this one a 4. Also, although Henderson’s style of writing is sharp, it also proved to be a bit loose. Had he tightened up a bit on the descriptions, it would have kicked up the speed of the story and perfected this tale.
My rating? I give it an even 3. Even though there were some outstanding stories, much like this review, this book turned into a bigger project than anyone intended. Grab it next time you’re out, but don’t rush.
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
Introduction: Strange Angel – Adam P. Knave
I give this story a 5. The editing was clean, the story original, and the pace swift. Knave smacks you upside the head, drags you through the mud, and then kisses you on the forehead with this tale of a young girl awakening her darker side.
Danse – Jan Rukh
I give this story a 2.5. Besides the fact that I skipped it twice, the story has a few grammatical errors, the pace is so slow it may induce sleep, and the story is bland. Yet, with all those issues, I have to say, I loved the characters. With a little more room and a lot more time spent on the pace and plot, I could grow to love this story.
After These Messages – Adam P. Knave
I give this story a 4. Inventive and original, the story is fun, but predictable. The characters are hilarious and the style of writing is tongue-in cheek. Thank Thumper!
The Green-Blooded Demons in Clancyville – Laszlo Q.V. St-j. Xalieri
This story gets a 2 from me. Between a plot line that was a good idea but went nowhere and more grammatical errors than I’d seen in a long time, I really, really did not like this story. With an ending that was a little too neat, events that were a little too prepared, and characters that were way too irritating, the only good part about this story was that it ended.
Anastasia – Ed Hickcox
I give this story a 3.5. With an imaginative plot, interesting characters, and a swift pace, I really dug this story. My only problem was the story's foreseen outcome and the name of one of the secondary characters – it kept changing. Good times people, good times.
Redemption – Rose Fox
This story gets a 3.5 from me. This story was a hard one to give a flat-out rate. While the story is original, the characters intriguing, and the style of writing skilled, the dialog hurt my heart. I understand Sparky was intended to sound simple, but after a few pages his dialect began to grate on my last nerve. Also, the pace could have been picked up in the beginning and slowed down towards the end.
Sick Day – Patrick Thomas
This story was one of my favorites; I give it a 5. With characters pulled from mythology, fairytales, and legends, each proved more interesting than the last. The plot was resourceful, the pace exhilarating, and the style of writing was entertaining. I would love to see this story in a series!
Mercy – C.J. Henderson
This story gets a 4.5. Henderson always amazes me. Classic and nostalgic, the plot is captivating and the pace is thrilling. Henderson’s style of writing is talented and adept, and his timing is perfect. Also, the ending is guaranteed to shock you.
Gray Gulls Gyre – James Chambers
My rating for this story is 4.5. The sad thing? The only reason it didn’t get a 5 is because of the absent editing. Fun and innovative, this story is fun as hell. The characters are hilarious and dramatic and the atmosphere is palpable and crisp. This is also another story I would love to see in a series or in its own collection.
Fury in Vermont - Ron Fortier.
This one gets a 4. Even though this story was sprinkled with errors and a few plot holes, the pace was prompt, and the characters were entertaining.
21 Doors – John L. French
This one gets a 2.5. Although the plot was imaginative and the characters were well-formed, it was riddled with more issues than the NY Post. The events and outcome of the story are obnoxiously foreshadowed and the pace is obscenely slow. Also, the narrative is disjointed, the sentences are incomplete, and the story is an editor’s nightmare. Sweet mercy.
Trapped in Remission – Michael Amorel
The redheaded stepchild of the collection, this story gets a 1. The characters were unsympathetic and hard to relate to, the pace causes unimaginable pain and heartache, and the plot had more holes than a golf course. And on top of all that, the style of writing is sophomoric and infested with grammatical errors.
The Tiger – William Jones
Sister to the redheaded stepchild, this story also gets a 1. Even though the style of writing was decent, the grammatical errors were few, and the pace was quick, the characters were lifeless and the plot was dull. Which is amazing considering that it was about a female executioner in a post-apocalyptic setting. And yet, again, still not interesting.
The Kindly One – Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Here’s another one I really enjoyed; I give this story a 5. Brutally honest and unforgiving, the plot is enthralling and the characters are terrifying. The author’s style of writing is keen, to the point, and utterly captivating. Here is one author I will definitely be reading more of.
Love is in the Air – R. Allen Leider
This story gets a 3 from me with a plea to never, ever start another one of his stories off with, “It was a damp and uncomfortable night…” Amusing and craft, the plot is hilarious without being hokey, and the style of writing is easy without being childish. Unfortunately, bringing down a rating that would have been 4, the story needed another once-over before it was published.
Bring More! – C.J. Henderson
While the plot is unique, the characters entertaining, and the story well crafted, the pace lagged a bit. I give this one a 4. Also, although Henderson’s style of writing is sharp, it also proved to be a bit loose. Had he tightened up a bit on the descriptions, it would have kicked up the speed of the story and perfected this tale.
My rating? I give it an even 3. Even though there were some outstanding stories, much like this review, this book turned into a bigger project than anyone intended. Grab it next time you’re out, but don’t rush.
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
January 14, 2008
A very eclectic collection. Some really great stories from authors you should know, or endeavor to know in the near future.
May 30, 2010
I got through about one and a half stories and decided I didn't have the patience for reading something so bad. Creative, for sure, but not very good. Maybe I'll give it another chance some time.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews