What do you think?
Rate this book
Atomic Horrors
Nobody gets out alive!
The warheads have come down.
The reign of mankind ends when the mushroom clouds appear in the skies and the cities become irradiated tombs, nuclear graveyards that are grim testament of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.
Now there is only survival.
Terrible, brutal day-by-day existence in the atomic wastelands, a dark plutonium netherworld of monsters and mutants, madmen, and roving gangs. And those awful, malevolent things that are even worse.
The dead are the lucky ones.
Welcome to the day after tomorrow.
Welcome to doomsday.
The warheads have come down.
The reign of mankind ends when the mushroom clouds appear in the skies and the cities become irradiated tombs, nuclear graveyards that are grim testament of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.
Now there is only survival.
Terrible, brutal day-by-day existence in the atomic wastelands, a dark plutonium netherworld of monsters and mutants, madmen, and roving gangs. And those awful, malevolent things that are even worse.
The dead are the lucky ones.
Welcome to the day after tomorrow.
Welcome to doomsday.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2023
79 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Tim Curran
149 books601 followersTim Curran lives in Michigan and is the author of the novels Skin Medicine, Hive, Dead Sea, Resurrection, The Devil Next Door, and Biohazard, as well as the novella The Corpse King. His short stories have appeared in such magazines as City Slab, Flesh&Blood, Book of Dark Wisdom, and Inhuman, and anthologies such as Shivers IV, High Seas Cthulhu, and Vile Things.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 18, 2024
So I did not know I had read a Tim Curran book before I got halfway through this book, but I have. I read Dead Sea earlier this year and had a love/dislike relationship with that novel.
I loved the book, except that he kept describing in great detail the fog. Paragraph after paragraph in just about every other chapter. I still actually *think* about Dead Sea, that's how good it was, and any time in the future I think I might want to revisit that world will probably be a no because of that damned stinking fog.
Well along comes Atomic Horrors, and I absolutely love this book. It's vile, and nasty, corrupt, and evil. It has some genuinely terrific stories in it, and some absolutely horrible stories in it, as in horror. Which... Is what it's supposed to be. Terrible horrible things, and boy is it ever!
The fact that Tim Curran can just create not only really amazing characters and monsters and a believable setting for them to torment and pull each other apart is great, but having them all be relatable and fleshed out, and then pulling the rug out from under them (and you, the reader) is an amazing talent.
It wasn't until I was halfway through this that one of the stories horrors reminded me of one of the baddies from Dead Sea... And then I found out, yes... It's the same author that I was like "God damn it!" because it reminded me of how I very much love Laird Barron's work (who has a lot of short story compilations, and a few full novels which kind of meander too much for most people, but that I dig).
There's not a story in this collection that I ever wanted to skip, a story that I didn't want to see how it ended. None of them really weaved together other than the setting of post-apocalyptic hellscape, which... I feel the need to actually say because since I mentioned Laird Barron, his work tends to link together in a mythos, almost like all of his short stories and novels are building a much larger world and somehow connected. But these stories seem to be much more self contained Tales From the Crypt style.
Except (to come back around) for the fact that I really did stop mid book, and looked up to see if this was the same author of Dead Sea because...
Now I really want these damned dots to connect, and I guess I have a new favorite author to add to my collection of weird cosmic horror!
I loved the book, except that he kept describing in great detail the fog. Paragraph after paragraph in just about every other chapter. I still actually *think* about Dead Sea, that's how good it was, and any time in the future I think I might want to revisit that world will probably be a no because of that damned stinking fog.
Well along comes Atomic Horrors, and I absolutely love this book. It's vile, and nasty, corrupt, and evil. It has some genuinely terrific stories in it, and some absolutely horrible stories in it, as in horror. Which... Is what it's supposed to be. Terrible horrible things, and boy is it ever!
The fact that Tim Curran can just create not only really amazing characters and monsters and a believable setting for them to torment and pull each other apart is great, but having them all be relatable and fleshed out, and then pulling the rug out from under them (and you, the reader) is an amazing talent.
It wasn't until I was halfway through this that one of the stories horrors reminded me of one of the baddies from Dead Sea... And then I found out, yes... It's the same author that I was like "God damn it!" because it reminded me of how I very much love Laird Barron's work (who has a lot of short story compilations, and a few full novels which kind of meander too much for most people, but that I dig).
There's not a story in this collection that I ever wanted to skip, a story that I didn't want to see how it ended. None of them really weaved together other than the setting of post-apocalyptic hellscape, which... I feel the need to actually say because since I mentioned Laird Barron, his work tends to link together in a mythos, almost like all of his short stories and novels are building a much larger world and somehow connected. But these stories seem to be much more self contained Tales From the Crypt style.
Except (to come back around) for the fact that I really did stop mid book, and looked up to see if this was the same author of Dead Sea because...
Now I really want these damned dots to connect, and I guess I have a new favorite author to add to my collection of weird cosmic horror!
September 15, 2024
Almost all protagonists in these stories are throw-away characters meant to die grisly deaths and encounter gruesome things - which would make sense for a collection of horror fiction if there was any real effort to make the protagonists likeable or relatable in any way. Even if a character is someone we as readers hate, there should be common ground we can find in ordinary thoughts or feelings, desires or motivations that we can identify. Then, when the inevitable horror stuff happens, we are emotionally invested in the character some way, even if such foul characters might deserve the things that happen to them. That is something good authors are masters of. This collection has some very ghastly, gross images and events but ultimately none of it matters because none of the characters do, even in their own stories. Reading this collection was an exercise in nihilism, reading story after story of pointless suffering, which culminates in grisly, unsurprising death.
In the afterword, the author uses the space to boastingly post passages describing the 'inspiration' for each tale -- this was infuriating and laughable at the same time since all these stories are so formulaic and unimaginative in their telling that its no wonder he can sum up their inspiration in 3-4 sentences each.
I'll admit he had me at the start with a very strong and horrific scene that opens this collection. And the horror and action is narrated competently itself in most of the stories - in that regard there is a lot of potential here. But in terms of story-telling, of trying to actually make any of these stories stand on their own as anything other than gore porn... absolutely 0/10.
In the afterword, the author uses the space to boastingly post passages describing the 'inspiration' for each tale -- this was infuriating and laughable at the same time since all these stories are so formulaic and unimaginative in their telling that its no wonder he can sum up their inspiration in 3-4 sentences each.
I'll admit he had me at the start with a very strong and horrific scene that opens this collection. And the horror and action is narrated competently itself in most of the stories - in that regard there is a lot of potential here. But in terms of story-telling, of trying to actually make any of these stories stand on their own as anything other than gore porn... absolutely 0/10.
January 25, 2024
Another Great Collection by Tim Curran
I want to start this review off by stating that I may not be impartial since I'm a fan of the vast majority of stuff Curran has wrote, especially his other shorts collected in "Horrors of War" and "Alien Terrors".
I also want to state that I usually LOATHE apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction with a passion.
That said...
"Atomic Horrors" is by far his best collection to date. Every story begins with a very real fear of the kind of hell a nuclear war would bring, and degenerates into a surreal nightmare before it is up.
Curran has a real talent for combining realistic characters, with harrowing situations, and truly dreadful monsters. In this collection he skirts the line between cosmic horror, creature feature, and even extreme horror (without verging into being as annoying as other extreme horror stories).
My personal favorites in this collection are "Ground Zero", "Doll Parts", "Fallout", "Wormcast", and "The Shape", though I did not read a single story I disliked.
I highly recommend this anthology, and I would give it six stars if it was an option.
I want to start this review off by stating that I may not be impartial since I'm a fan of the vast majority of stuff Curran has wrote, especially his other shorts collected in "Horrors of War" and "Alien Terrors".
I also want to state that I usually LOATHE apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction with a passion.
That said...
"Atomic Horrors" is by far his best collection to date. Every story begins with a very real fear of the kind of hell a nuclear war would bring, and degenerates into a surreal nightmare before it is up.
Curran has a real talent for combining realistic characters, with harrowing situations, and truly dreadful monsters. In this collection he skirts the line between cosmic horror, creature feature, and even extreme horror (without verging into being as annoying as other extreme horror stories).
My personal favorites in this collection are "Ground Zero", "Doll Parts", "Fallout", "Wormcast", and "The Shape", though I did not read a single story I disliked.
I highly recommend this anthology, and I would give it six stars if it was an option.
November 8, 2024
I’m usually not a fan of short story collections – I tend to prefer full-length novels – but Tim Curran is one of those authors whose work I’ll pick up no matter what, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed here. This collection has an incredible rhythm, with only a few stories that don’t leave a mark. Among all of them, Fallout and Crabmeat stood out to me – honestly, I wish they’d been expanded into full novels. Overall, this is a collection you shouldn’t miss, especially if you like a solid dose of atomic-age horror with Curran’s unique flair.
January 29, 2024
Im so obsessed with the artwork in the book. K. L. Turner did an absolutely gorgeous job.
Can I also take a minute to just talk about the physical quality of this book because WOW. The paper and ink quality is flawless. I was stunned, especially for it being an indie book. Bravo.
This is a post-apocalyptic collection of stories that all mesh together brilliantly.
Can I also take a minute to just talk about the physical quality of this book because WOW. The paper and ink quality is flawless. I was stunned, especially for it being an indie book. Bravo.
This is a post-apocalyptic collection of stories that all mesh together brilliantly.
March 29, 2024
Amazing end of the world shit your pants kind of story. Multiple little stories of different monsters after Multiple atomic warheads go off destroying most of man kind and the radiation creating monsters, rats, worms, dogs, etc... into this beautifully written book.
September 5, 2024
Every 1 of his books is amazing
I recently found Tim Curran about a year ago and I've read every 1 of his books this was amazing and frightening as all his books are. Looking forward to his next 1 about the back creatures
I recently found Tim Curran about a year ago and I've read every 1 of his books this was amazing and frightening as all his books are. Looking forward to his next 1 about the back creatures
June 6, 2024
meh
It was an anthology book. So we’re good others ok, still great writing despite that. Would recommend if ur into that.
It was an anthology book. So we’re good others ok, still great writing despite that. Would recommend if ur into that.
July 30, 2024
An excellent read. Loved every page of this book.
June 27, 2025
Another excellent collection of Tim's stories. This time focusing on nuclear fallout. Very fun and gory stories. Also loved the interior artwork that went along with each tale.
Read
October 9, 2025DNFed this at around 11%. Not a fan of gore and it just kept escalating.
Not really horror as much as it was gag inducing.
Not really horror as much as it was gag inducing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews