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Split Scream #1
Split Scream Volume One
Dread Stone Press presents SPLIT SCREAM, a new Horror Novelette Double Feature. This is Volume One. Grab some popcorn, turn the lights low, and don't be afraid to scream.
FEATURING:
"The Guts of Myth" - Carson Winter
It's 1973. British-American thug Byron is tasked with finding the occultist Allosaurus D'Ambrosere, given only handwritten instructions and two hateful associates. Where they're going, they'll find blood red skies, obsidian towers, and a deep thirst for violence. But will they find the man who calls himself the Golden King? "The Guts of Myth" is Weird horror that snaps like hardboiled noir with vistas lifted straight from Beksinski.
"The Mourner Across the Flames" - Scott J. Moses
The world is a salt-ridden dystopia. Bharath, an exile given to hallucinations, is ordered to escort an emaciated mourner across the barren flats. The journey reveals the existence of a monster, evolved to live in the After among the remaining humans. But which is worse-the monster new to Bharath, or the humans who robbed him of his love? "The Mourner Across the Flames" is a grief-stricken tale of spiraling delusion held afloat by enduring love.
FEATURING:
"The Guts of Myth" - Carson Winter
It's 1973. British-American thug Byron is tasked with finding the occultist Allosaurus D'Ambrosere, given only handwritten instructions and two hateful associates. Where they're going, they'll find blood red skies, obsidian towers, and a deep thirst for violence. But will they find the man who calls himself the Golden King? "The Guts of Myth" is Weird horror that snaps like hardboiled noir with vistas lifted straight from Beksinski.
"The Mourner Across the Flames" - Scott J. Moses
The world is a salt-ridden dystopia. Bharath, an exile given to hallucinations, is ordered to escort an emaciated mourner across the barren flats. The journey reveals the existence of a monster, evolved to live in the After among the remaining humans. But which is worse-the monster new to Bharath, or the humans who robbed him of his love? "The Mourner Across the Flames" is a grief-stricken tale of spiraling delusion held afloat by enduring love.
166 pages, Paperback
Published January 17, 2024
1 person is currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Carson Winter
35 books109 followersCarson Winter is an award-winning author, punker, and raw nerve. He's written two novels, The Psychographist and A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree. His short fiction has appeared in over twenty publications, including Apex, Vastarien, and Chthonic Matter Quarterly. He lives in Saint Paul, MN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 29, 2022
Dreadstone Press has revived the double feature horror book gimmick, and has done so with fantastic aplomb, by charging out of the gate with two stories that hearken back to the fantasists of old, while remaining wholly within the modern scope of horror fiction. Carson Winter and Scott Moses have really outdone themselves with their offerings here, and much like Palpatine with young Anakin Skywalker, I will be watching their careers with great interest from here on out.
Winter's The Guts of Myth, is a blend of three fantastic flavors of horror ice cream: The hard-boiled horror of Laird Barron, the fantastic whimsy of Clark Ashton Smith, and the grim, nightmarish imagination of Zdzisław Beksiński. By the end of this tale I was blown away at how original the story was. The mythos that Carson Winter creates here is one so intriguing as to impress upon the reader the need to seek out more of his work in the hopes of going deeper. Quite impressive stuff.
For his part, Scott Moses has offered up a dish of an entirely different, but still decadent, sort. In his story, The Mourner Across the Flames, a man named Bharath is charged with escorting someone across a ruined land. Moses calls back to the finest of the pulp prose stylists, and his words paint vivid portraits that will stay with you long after you close the pages. There is a somberness that lasts, long after the weirdness has passed, which is already sure to overstay its welcome.
In summation, I'd say this book is one of the surest bets you could make: thoroughly entertaining, horrific, unsettling, and strangely beautiful all in somewhat equal measures. I may have been given an ebook copy in exchange for a fair review, but I would be leaving this exact review regardless. Pick this one up when it's available. You won't regret it.
Winter's The Guts of Myth, is a blend of three fantastic flavors of horror ice cream: The hard-boiled horror of Laird Barron, the fantastic whimsy of Clark Ashton Smith, and the grim, nightmarish imagination of Zdzisław Beksiński. By the end of this tale I was blown away at how original the story was. The mythos that Carson Winter creates here is one so intriguing as to impress upon the reader the need to seek out more of his work in the hopes of going deeper. Quite impressive stuff.
For his part, Scott Moses has offered up a dish of an entirely different, but still decadent, sort. In his story, The Mourner Across the Flames, a man named Bharath is charged with escorting someone across a ruined land. Moses calls back to the finest of the pulp prose stylists, and his words paint vivid portraits that will stay with you long after you close the pages. There is a somberness that lasts, long after the weirdness has passed, which is already sure to overstay its welcome.
In summation, I'd say this book is one of the surest bets you could make: thoroughly entertaining, horrific, unsettling, and strangely beautiful all in somewhat equal measures. I may have been given an ebook copy in exchange for a fair review, but I would be leaving this exact review regardless. Pick this one up when it's available. You won't regret it.
August 25, 2022
Literally, the best double feature and the best way to start what I hope is a long-running series of novelettes. These are POWERHOUSES and need to be read as soon as possible. Oh my god. I'm just blown away.
August 5, 2023
Kind of a letdown after Vol. 2 (reading in reverse order), but a solid afternoon of entertainment. Carson Winter's 1970s noir occult gangster story never quite clicked for me, though I liked the concept, and the prose and pacing seemed to actively grow worse over the course of the story, almost as though after the characters' arrival in a Beksinskian hellscape Winter got bored and hurriedly dashed off the denouement in one draft. That said, again, the concept here is good; the story structure solid, if predictable; the last-second emotional revelation poignant; the jokes all pretty much land.
Moses's "The Mourner Across the Flames" was much stronger: a surreal, brutal mashup of vampire story, post-apocalyptic nuclear cultism, sword and sandal, sci-fi mysticism, and heavy metal album cover. You're plunged right into the deep end of this bizarre world, and the delight is in discovering its nightmares and trying to make sense of them. The prose is glowing purple. The hero is violent, damaged, mad, and enormously sympathetic. It is not always clear exactly what's happening. There are fountains of blood and nightmarish, silent armored figures dragging swords across the desert sand. There are old men with sharklike teeth and appetites. I had a great time; I strongly recommend reading this with some appropriate music playing, while smoking a bowl or two.
Moses's "The Mourner Across the Flames" was much stronger: a surreal, brutal mashup of vampire story, post-apocalyptic nuclear cultism, sword and sandal, sci-fi mysticism, and heavy metal album cover. You're plunged right into the deep end of this bizarre world, and the delight is in discovering its nightmares and trying to make sense of them. The prose is glowing purple. The hero is violent, damaged, mad, and enormously sympathetic. It is not always clear exactly what's happening. There are fountains of blood and nightmarish, silent armored figures dragging swords across the desert sand. There are old men with sharklike teeth and appetites. I had a great time; I strongly recommend reading this with some appropriate music playing, while smoking a bowl or two.
August 30, 2022
I am so down with this format. A double-feature of two incredible artists at the top of their game. These two stories played off each other in completely different but complimentary ways!
I've been lucky enough to be published alongside one of Carson's tremendous novelettes (BLOODLINES: FOUR TALES OF FAMILIAL FEAR), so when the chance to read another came along, I jumped at it. "The Guts of Myth" captures that noir feeling perfectly, taking the mystery we love from authors like Raymond Chandler and infusing them with a grime you can only get away with these days. You have a character with one foot in America and one foot in England, which is thematically perfect when we see the turns the tale takes. It's witty, gritty, and set in grim cities with an ending that tugs at your heart and delivers a melancholy punch that—at this point—might as well be Winter's trademark. Fans of Laird Barron are going to really *open up* to this one.
Scott Moses's contribution to this collection was completely different, but dripping with a style in much the same way. "The Mourner Across the Flames" toes the edge of fantasy, forcing you to parse out this new world using little clues here and there. When you finally think you've figured things out, he throws you for another loop! This one feels delightfully apocalyptic, but in a very fresh way. This isn't your typical zombie story. This isn't ghouls ravaging a nuclear wasteland. This is something completely different, and man do I dig it. If you're looking for something a little like WHO FEARS DEATH by Nnedi Okorafor, this one will be right up your alley.
If subsequent volumes are anything like what Dreadstone Press has delivered here, we're in for a great ride.
I've been lucky enough to be published alongside one of Carson's tremendous novelettes (BLOODLINES: FOUR TALES OF FAMILIAL FEAR), so when the chance to read another came along, I jumped at it. "The Guts of Myth" captures that noir feeling perfectly, taking the mystery we love from authors like Raymond Chandler and infusing them with a grime you can only get away with these days. You have a character with one foot in America and one foot in England, which is thematically perfect when we see the turns the tale takes. It's witty, gritty, and set in grim cities with an ending that tugs at your heart and delivers a melancholy punch that—at this point—might as well be Winter's trademark. Fans of Laird Barron are going to really *open up* to this one.
Scott Moses's contribution to this collection was completely different, but dripping with a style in much the same way. "The Mourner Across the Flames" toes the edge of fantasy, forcing you to parse out this new world using little clues here and there. When you finally think you've figured things out, he throws you for another loop! This one feels delightfully apocalyptic, but in a very fresh way. This isn't your typical zombie story. This isn't ghouls ravaging a nuclear wasteland. This is something completely different, and man do I dig it. If you're looking for something a little like WHO FEARS DEATH by Nnedi Okorafor, this one will be right up your alley.
If subsequent volumes are anything like what Dreadstone Press has delivered here, we're in for a great ride.
November 21, 2022
I absolutely love the idea of Split Scream. Two bite-sized pieces of fiction, back to back. I cruised right through these two novellettes (is that the word?) in mere days, totally addicted to both. I'll review each separately:
"Guts of Myth" by Carson Winter: man, Carson has a way with setting the scene. I felt like I was there, right alongside our main character Byron, as he went on the hunt for Allosaurus. The period details are perfect, the noir feeling dripping off of every page. I couldn't put this down. An incredible story.
"The Mourner Across the Flames" by Scott J. Moses: Scott doesn't pull any punches here, throwing the reader straight into the deep end. I had no clue what was going on for a bit, but loved as I slowly figured things out. A very creative world and a creative story!
"Guts of Myth" by Carson Winter: man, Carson has a way with setting the scene. I felt like I was there, right alongside our main character Byron, as he went on the hunt for Allosaurus. The period details are perfect, the noir feeling dripping off of every page. I couldn't put this down. An incredible story.
"The Mourner Across the Flames" by Scott J. Moses: Scott doesn't pull any punches here, throwing the reader straight into the deep end. I had no clue what was going on for a bit, but loved as I slowly figured things out. A very creative world and a creative story!
November 9, 2023
I guess they're putting "trigger warnings" in horror books now. Ugh. Spare me.
That aside, this was pretty good.
The Guts of Myth: 3.5*
The Mourner Across the Flames 4.5*
That aside, this was pretty good.
The Guts of Myth: 3.5*
The Mourner Across the Flames 4.5*
February 20, 2025
Split Scream is a series of books that contain two horror novelettes by two different authors. The intro was very clear that it is a novelette, not a short story, not a novella. Tenebrous Press folded the series into their own publishing house last year or so, and re-released the first few volumes. That is how I came across them, being that Tenebrous Press is one of my favorite indie publishers. Seriously, go check out all their stuff. This first volume of Split Scream felt like it was finding its legs. Neither story reaches the heights of greatness, but both had elements that felt worth the read. The first story was a bit predictable, but at the same time, it had some very cool imagery. I enjoyed picturing the events unfold. The second story throws you in the deep end and starts to sort itself out over time. By the end, I was fairly impressed with the framework of the world as a whole even if I felt like it took some strange paths to get there. When it comes down to it, this won't take up a lot of your time. It is a nice thing to fit in-between other larger works. It won't blow you away, but it fits in that nice middle ground of being entertaining despite its flaws.
August 30, 2022
What a joy! The format, back to back novelettes, is fascinating. Each tale had its own engine, but pairing them together just feels right once the reading is done.
I hadn’t read anything from Carson Winter before, but his half is a brutal trip and I will look for more of his work.
I have read Moses’s previous work and seeing his evolution up to this point has been a joy.
Here’s hope volume two of Dreadstone’s “Split Screams” can live up to this debut edition.
I hadn’t read anything from Carson Winter before, but his half is a brutal trip and I will look for more of his work.
I have read Moses’s previous work and seeing his evolution up to this point has been a joy.
Here’s hope volume two of Dreadstone’s “Split Screams” can live up to this debut edition.
September 11, 2022
Yeah, yeah, Here it comes… “He rated his own book!” Well, yes, but no. This review is based solely on Carson Winter’s “The Guts of Myth.”
A shocking blend of weird, gritty noir with sharp wit in prose and dialogue. Carson crafts such believable characters from the get go, and it’s easy to hop on for the ride. There’s heart, plenty of weird, and grit in this story, and the only thing I disliked about it was that it eventually ended.
A shocking blend of weird, gritty noir with sharp wit in prose and dialogue. Carson crafts such believable characters from the get go, and it’s easy to hop on for the ride. There’s heart, plenty of weird, and grit in this story, and the only thing I disliked about it was that it eventually ended.
September 11, 2022
//rtc
THIS WAS SO GOOD
-----
my review here
this collection of 2 stories is phenomenal. i loved it, i will be keeping eyes out for more work by Winter, Moses, and Dread Stone Press for sure. eager for Volume 2!!!!!!
give this a read, you won't be disappointed!
thanks to Alex at Dread Stone Press for the eARC in exchange for a review. <3
THIS WAS SO GOOD
-----
my review here
this collection of 2 stories is phenomenal. i loved it, i will be keeping eyes out for more work by Winter, Moses, and Dread Stone Press for sure. eager for Volume 2!!!!!!
give this a read, you won't be disappointed!
thanks to Alex at Dread Stone Press for the eARC in exchange for a review. <3
August 25, 2022
Split Scream Volume 1 features two separate stories and authors and is brought to you by Dread Stone Press. It's a great concept for showcasing novellette length fiction that might normally be difficult to place. The two stories selected for volume one are the perfect double feature to introduce the series and I'm already looking forward to volume two.
The Guts of Myth by Carson Winter
Byron is on the hunt for an elusive occultist and it proves to be much more of a complex job than he could ever imagine. Accompanied by a couple of shady accomplices and vague handwritten instructions, the three of them journey into a dark and dangerous world.
I liked the artwork at the start and how it immediately set the tone for the events that followed. The story itself is a weird and wild mix of hard boiled noir and horror that intrigues and unsettles. As a lover of those genres, I fell head over heels for the slick prose and dialogue, and Byron's caustic wit. I had no choice but to pour myself a bourbon and put a jazz record on in the background because I was completely immersed in the whole noir vibe and was reminded of some favourite classics. The fight sequences and action scenes were especially good!
The Guts of Myth is a wild, fast paced ride with a fresh voice and storyline that will thrill you to the very last word.
The Mourner Across the Flames
by Scott J. Moses
As with the first story, The Mourner Across The Flames opens with a fantastic illustration that invites the reader straight into the story's world.
Bharath is responsible for escorting a mourner across a salt ridden dystopian land. During this journey, he makes a discovery and must face an intense unfolding of events.
The dystopian setting felt like an appropriate backdrop to the character's exploration of grief and pain. There was a raw, vulnerability to Bharath that I liked. The events that unfold is an unnerving and intriguing mix of horror and fantasy that reaches deep.
I especially liked the author's descriptive language and immersive prose. I found the story to be an enlightening and emotionally charged experience.
Split Scream has been an exhilarating read and the selected stories are a wonderful debut to the series. I'm sure the next volume will be equally as good.
Samantha SL
The Guts of Myth by Carson Winter
Byron is on the hunt for an elusive occultist and it proves to be much more of a complex job than he could ever imagine. Accompanied by a couple of shady accomplices and vague handwritten instructions, the three of them journey into a dark and dangerous world.
I liked the artwork at the start and how it immediately set the tone for the events that followed. The story itself is a weird and wild mix of hard boiled noir and horror that intrigues and unsettles. As a lover of those genres, I fell head over heels for the slick prose and dialogue, and Byron's caustic wit. I had no choice but to pour myself a bourbon and put a jazz record on in the background because I was completely immersed in the whole noir vibe and was reminded of some favourite classics. The fight sequences and action scenes were especially good!
The Guts of Myth is a wild, fast paced ride with a fresh voice and storyline that will thrill you to the very last word.
The Mourner Across the Flames
by Scott J. Moses
As with the first story, The Mourner Across The Flames opens with a fantastic illustration that invites the reader straight into the story's world.
Bharath is responsible for escorting a mourner across a salt ridden dystopian land. During this journey, he makes a discovery and must face an intense unfolding of events.
The dystopian setting felt like an appropriate backdrop to the character's exploration of grief and pain. There was a raw, vulnerability to Bharath that I liked. The events that unfold is an unnerving and intriguing mix of horror and fantasy that reaches deep.
I especially liked the author's descriptive language and immersive prose. I found the story to be an enlightening and emotionally charged experience.
Split Scream has been an exhilarating read and the selected stories are a wonderful debut to the series. I'm sure the next volume will be equally as good.
Samantha SL
July 26, 2025
Beksinski AND Sandia National Laboratories Nuclear Message MENTIONS?!?!?!? My kinda crazy and niche
October 23, 2022
Look -- Every once in a while you run across a book that you weren't expecting to hit as hard as it did. This was one of those for me. I fucking loved it. Winter and Moses are both excellent writers and they spin two vastly different tales here. If I had to give the edge to one of them, it would be Winter's noir London grimefest. I never knew where it was taking me and I was game for the ride. The ending punches hard with that wonderful "Ah ha!" moment you didn't see coming but was really the only way for the story to properly end. Masterful. Moses' story is more in line with dark fantasy. It had a very "Gunslinger" vibe to me...and a lot of salt (you'd have to read it to know what I mean). It's a tale full of heart and reads like a fever dream. If the next Split Scream is anywhere as good as this one, I'll be looking to pick them up on the regular.
Excellent!
Excellent!
May 3, 2023
Clive Barkeresque dip into lost books, other dimensions, and a heist gone wrong. Kept building momentum right up to the gory finale. Guys of Myth was a fun ride.
January 19, 2024
Loved it.
September 28, 2022
I loved SPLIT SCREAM VOL. 1! “The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter felt like a black magic (black metal?) horror noir equal parts Barker, Barron, and Ballingrud, while “The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses was a blood-soaked post-apocalyptic fever dream reminiscent of Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun. This dark fantasy/horror double feature was an absolute blast to read!
November 13, 2022
Alex Ebenstein of Dread Stone Press presents a fascinating vision with Split Scream: Volume One, twin novelettes offered to the reader in a single package to complement and enhance one another. The first offering is by genre luminaries Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses with “The Guts of Myth” and “The Mourner Across the Flames,” respectively.
You can read Zach's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zach's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
September 19, 2022
This duo of weird fiction was amazing! Let’s be real, novelettes are an under-appreciated length for stories and Ebenstein is a genius for thinking of starting this series of double features — he actually discusses the inspiration for this idea in our interview, so make sure to check that out! I won’t give it away here.
Though very different, both stories vibed well together so it didn’t feel jarring to move from the first to the second. Each is accompanied by a stunning illustration (by Marisa Bruno) and custom page break, which I appreciated! Let’s look at each story on its own, shall we? Again, I’ll be keeping this review spoiler-free, so read on without worry.
“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter: this novelette had the most hilariously named cultist I ever had the pleasure of reading about (if you want to know what it is, check out the interview!)! Set in the 70s, we follow bruiser Byron as he sets on a caper unlike any other. From the very first page, Winter grips the reader by the throat and immerses them in the dim, foggy streets of England to beyond — you won’t be expecting the end destination, I can promise you that. “The Guts of Myth” is equal parts weird as it is viscerally horrific. Exploring themes of otherness (Byron is English-American and feels out of place in both countries, as well as being gay in a time where it still wasn’t truly accepted), the tale is told in the melancholic voice of a man struggling to prove himself and can be surprisingly vulnerable at times. I really enjoyed watching this tale unfold. And the ending? Absolutely gut-wrenching. (Bahdumtsh)
“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses: this novelette is as chilling as it is ominous and Moses makes sure to drown us in decadent despair. Simply put, “The Mourner Across the Flames” is an example of masterful world-building and lore incorporation. Moses explores themes of grief, guilt, and vengeance in a world unlike our own, where the land is brutal and rendered infertile by salt, and those still living are ruled by fear. The main character, Bharath, mourns the loss of his wife as he lives in exile in a tall tower, surrounded by salty wastelands. He is given a task: escort the Mourner or be killed. What follows is a surreal, unsettling journey across the salt, and the ending is brutally delicious.
Overall, this double feature of novelettes is a powerhouse duo of dark tales of masterful prose, delicious world-building, and authentic horror.
Though very different, both stories vibed well together so it didn’t feel jarring to move from the first to the second. Each is accompanied by a stunning illustration (by Marisa Bruno) and custom page break, which I appreciated! Let’s look at each story on its own, shall we? Again, I’ll be keeping this review spoiler-free, so read on without worry.
“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter: this novelette had the most hilariously named cultist I ever had the pleasure of reading about (if you want to know what it is, check out the interview!)! Set in the 70s, we follow bruiser Byron as he sets on a caper unlike any other. From the very first page, Winter grips the reader by the throat and immerses them in the dim, foggy streets of England to beyond — you won’t be expecting the end destination, I can promise you that. “The Guts of Myth” is equal parts weird as it is viscerally horrific. Exploring themes of otherness (Byron is English-American and feels out of place in both countries, as well as being gay in a time where it still wasn’t truly accepted), the tale is told in the melancholic voice of a man struggling to prove himself and can be surprisingly vulnerable at times. I really enjoyed watching this tale unfold. And the ending? Absolutely gut-wrenching. (Bahdumtsh)
“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses: this novelette is as chilling as it is ominous and Moses makes sure to drown us in decadent despair. Simply put, “The Mourner Across the Flames” is an example of masterful world-building and lore incorporation. Moses explores themes of grief, guilt, and vengeance in a world unlike our own, where the land is brutal and rendered infertile by salt, and those still living are ruled by fear. The main character, Bharath, mourns the loss of his wife as he lives in exile in a tall tower, surrounded by salty wastelands. He is given a task: escort the Mourner or be killed. What follows is a surreal, unsettling journey across the salt, and the ending is brutally delicious.
Overall, this double feature of novelettes is a powerhouse duo of dark tales of masterful prose, delicious world-building, and authentic horror.
October 1, 2022
This is for Scott's story, "The Mourner Across the Flames." This is the sort of story you can fall in love with.
Desolate, hostile environments; eerie twists on classic horror tropes; and scary good prose that Pied Piper's you deep into its world. This is a stunning novelette filled with lyrical language and dripping with atmosphere. Highly recommended.
Desolate, hostile environments; eerie twists on classic horror tropes; and scary good prose that Pied Piper's you deep into its world. This is a stunning novelette filled with lyrical language and dripping with atmosphere. Highly recommended.
April 1, 2023
I love this idea, the horror double feature book, and it did not disappoint.
Both Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses have strong voices that carry you into nightmarish worlds in very different ways. A thoroughly enjoyable offering from Dread Stone Press, and I look forward to reading more in the Split Scream series!
Both Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses have strong voices that carry you into nightmarish worlds in very different ways. A thoroughly enjoyable offering from Dread Stone Press, and I look forward to reading more in the Split Scream series!
August 30, 2022
Dread Stone Press’s SPLIT SCREAM series is off to a wonderfully disturbing start with this double feature. I was immersed in Carson Winter’s weird noir “The Guts of Myth” and then chilled by Scott J. Moses’ stark dystopian “The Mourner Across the Flames.”
June 25, 2023
My only shame is that I cannot read these two stories for the first time again.
September 24, 2023
Two banger stories in a small package. Excited to see the future of this series post-press merger!
February 16, 2024
I definitely preferred the first story to the second, but they both had their charms. Wished the endings of each story had been stronger.
April 28, 2023
I've not been reading as much horror as I'd like, so I needed a short sharp burst of nightmares. For that, Split Scream Volume 1 was the perfect package. The book consists of two novelettes by different authors, preceded by a (frankly welcome) editorial note explaining just what a novelette is, exactly. Then we're into it - two unique and compelling stories, each with their own dread atmosphere.
The first novelette, Carson Winter's The Guts of Myth, grabs from the off. Just look at this opening:
I always thought I looked a little like Roger Moore. I wore the same suits and I had the same chestnut hair. We were both English, even though I only got in on a technicality. The real difference between us was that he was a movie star and I was a crook. But that was fine. I doubted either of us were keeping score.
Can there be any doubt that we're in the hands of a master?
This is a punchy blend of noir and cosmic horror that calls to mind classic Laird Barron while maintaining its own evocative voice. There is dread and despair suffused deeply into this story, from the surging prose to the bleak imagery. Exceptional.
There are a couple of flaws to this gem, however. There are rare occasions where the writing falls down. It feels clumsy, for example, to have a character simply state that your setting looks like a Beksiński painting - and especially bizarre when your description has already done such a sublime job of conveying that atmosphere. The novelette format also has its weaknesses - while there are strengths to having a story more fleshed out than a short story will be, yet shorter than a novella, it also means that the piece is a bit too long for the sharp buildup-and-twist of a short story but not long enough to fully explore its concepts. Regardless, this is a brooding, powerful, compelling story.
As the credits fade on the first part of our double-feature, it's on to the second. The Mourner Across the Flames, by Scott J. Moses, is a post-apocalyptic monster story whose brevity is belied by its labyrinthine nature. We are dropped without a compass into an alien but coherent world of faith, loss, tradition and salt. That sharp brine-tang is rubbed into the wounds of protagonist and reader alike as we follow on a journey both physical and emotional, while having to get our own bearings enhances the reality of this strange setting. It's remarkable how Moses manages to fit so many elements - a powerful evocation of grief, a fanatical post-apocalyptic religion, a classic horror monster and myth - into this story without it feeling crammed in or overly busy. Perhaps none of these elements would hold up so well in a longer piece, I don't know, but they don't need to - for this format, there is just enough to keep the reader on the hook while feeling like a consistent and fleshed-out world.
Whether you're looking for a brief foray into a world of nightmares, or simply for something new, imaginative and well-crafted in the horror genre, either of these novelettes would fulfill that need. To get them both in one package? The reader is spoiled.
The first novelette, Carson Winter's The Guts of Myth, grabs from the off. Just look at this opening:
I always thought I looked a little like Roger Moore. I wore the same suits and I had the same chestnut hair. We were both English, even though I only got in on a technicality. The real difference between us was that he was a movie star and I was a crook. But that was fine. I doubted either of us were keeping score.
Can there be any doubt that we're in the hands of a master?
This is a punchy blend of noir and cosmic horror that calls to mind classic Laird Barron while maintaining its own evocative voice. There is dread and despair suffused deeply into this story, from the surging prose to the bleak imagery. Exceptional.
There are a couple of flaws to this gem, however. There are rare occasions where the writing falls down. It feels clumsy, for example, to have a character simply state that your setting looks like a Beksiński painting - and especially bizarre when your description has already done such a sublime job of conveying that atmosphere. The novelette format also has its weaknesses - while there are strengths to having a story more fleshed out than a short story will be, yet shorter than a novella, it also means that the piece is a bit too long for the sharp buildup-and-twist of a short story but not long enough to fully explore its concepts. Regardless, this is a brooding, powerful, compelling story.
As the credits fade on the first part of our double-feature, it's on to the second. The Mourner Across the Flames, by Scott J. Moses, is a post-apocalyptic monster story whose brevity is belied by its labyrinthine nature. We are dropped without a compass into an alien but coherent world of faith, loss, tradition and salt. That sharp brine-tang is rubbed into the wounds of protagonist and reader alike as we follow on a journey both physical and emotional, while having to get our own bearings enhances the reality of this strange setting. It's remarkable how Moses manages to fit so many elements - a powerful evocation of grief, a fanatical post-apocalyptic religion, a classic horror monster and myth - into this story without it feeling crammed in or overly busy. Perhaps none of these elements would hold up so well in a longer piece, I don't know, but they don't need to - for this format, there is just enough to keep the reader on the hook while feeling like a consistent and fleshed-out world.
Whether you're looking for a brief foray into a world of nightmares, or simply for something new, imaginative and well-crafted in the horror genre, either of these novelettes would fulfill that need. To get them both in one package? The reader is spoiled.
September 29, 2023
I loved the concept of the Split Scream series as soon as I heard about it, and now that I've finally gotten a chance to dive in, I'm so glad I did. The two novellas in this little book are fast-moving doses of dread with fantastic images and characters. I admit that, for me, Carson Winter's was the standout simply because I fell into the world so completely, and couldn't have put the book down if I'd wanted to. In a small amount of space, he brought an entire world and cast of characters to life without it ever feeling as if an image or a moment were being given less than its full worth of attention, and I loved every minute. The blend of horror and noir only made me want more work in the same style, and only made me more of a fan of Winter's work.
On the other hand...I have to admit that there were a lot of moments where I found it hard to determine exactly what Moses was going for, meaning-wise, and the feeling of wanting more was based in confusion as much as engagement, so the second novella in the book was a much tougher read for me. I suspect reading it again would make it a lot clearer, but I'm just not sure I was engaged enough to really sit down for that, though I'd certainly give Moses' work another try.
All told, I had a great time settling into this little book, and I'm excited for the next Split Scream volume on my shelf.
On the other hand...I have to admit that there were a lot of moments where I found it hard to determine exactly what Moses was going for, meaning-wise, and the feeling of wanting more was based in confusion as much as engagement, so the second novella in the book was a much tougher read for me. I suspect reading it again would make it a lot clearer, but I'm just not sure I was engaged enough to really sit down for that, though I'd certainly give Moses' work another try.
All told, I had a great time settling into this little book, and I'm excited for the next Split Scream volume on my shelf.
January 23, 2024
Two stories for the price of one is always a draw and I enjoyed the contrast between these two weird horror tales. Being a noir fan, I was immediately drawn into The Guts of Myth which expertly blends that genre with some deeply horrific events. Our narrator's voice so perfectly captures the wise guy anti-hero that I couldn't help but identify with and root for him all the while cringing at his headlong determination to throw himself into a mission that seems doomed to disaster from the start. Excellent storytelling and characters.
The Mourner Across the Flames is less easy to describe. The reader is plunged into a dystopian, post-apocalyptic setting and only gradually fed clues as to both the society and the outcast obsessed with revenge that we first meet on lonely guard duty in a tower amid a wasteland of salt. Under duress, he agrees to escort a mourner with bodies to bury and a hidden agenda to the distant mountains. Intriguing world building and an unexpected twist made this an interesting read though less emotionally involving than the subject matter seemed to call for, but overall, this 2 for 1 special is a great deal for fans of weird horror.
The Mourner Across the Flames is less easy to describe. The reader is plunged into a dystopian, post-apocalyptic setting and only gradually fed clues as to both the society and the outcast obsessed with revenge that we first meet on lonely guard duty in a tower amid a wasteland of salt. Under duress, he agrees to escort a mourner with bodies to bury and a hidden agenda to the distant mountains. Intriguing world building and an unexpected twist made this an interesting read though less emotionally involving than the subject matter seemed to call for, but overall, this 2 for 1 special is a great deal for fans of weird horror.
September 20, 2022
The Guts of Myth: While seeming to start by answering the question ‘What if Guy Ritchie got his hands on the Necronomicon?’, Carson Winter’s The Guts of Myth peels back its layers to reveal a vulnerable, sensitive emotional core beneath the weird and horrific. Like its tough-talking, ‘perma-chip on his shoulder’ protagonist, The Guts of Myth offers glimpses of its true nature throughout while keeping its darkest secrets until the end
The Mourner Across the Flames: In The Mourner Across the Flames, Scott J. Moses blends the emotional turmoils of loss, grief, and a desperate search for meaning after the unthinkable occurs, with as sure a talent as he does when bringing together dark fantasy, horror, and the post-apocalyptic narrative. Impossible to classify, this unforgettable novelette showcases Moses’s uncanny skill at creating grand, awe-inspiring otherworld landscapes populated with complex characters who come alive in the moral gray areas.
The Mourner Across the Flames: In The Mourner Across the Flames, Scott J. Moses blends the emotional turmoils of loss, grief, and a desperate search for meaning after the unthinkable occurs, with as sure a talent as he does when bringing together dark fantasy, horror, and the post-apocalyptic narrative. Impossible to classify, this unforgettable novelette showcases Moses’s uncanny skill at creating grand, awe-inspiring otherworld landscapes populated with complex characters who come alive in the moral gray areas.
September 30, 2022
Two strange, compelling tales to take you to dark places.
Carson Winter's "The Guts of Myth" begins in classic noir style with the sarcastic Byron taking on a dangerous job. The story becomes stranger and stranger as it progresses, leading to a terrifying landscape. The cosmic horror of the supernatural is balanced with the realistic pain of the natural, and the story builds to an emotional crescendo, ending in a place I never expected.
Scott J. Moses' "The Mourner Across the Flames" is set in a horrific fantasy world full of plague and salt. The prose is brutal and lyrical, like Anglo-Saxon poetry. This story feels both ancient and futuristic, and it contemplates how to have hope at the end of the world, even if it's all you have. I loved the twists in this story, the surprises that played with genre.
Carson Winter's "The Guts of Myth" begins in classic noir style with the sarcastic Byron taking on a dangerous job. The story becomes stranger and stranger as it progresses, leading to a terrifying landscape. The cosmic horror of the supernatural is balanced with the realistic pain of the natural, and the story builds to an emotional crescendo, ending in a place I never expected.
Scott J. Moses' "The Mourner Across the Flames" is set in a horrific fantasy world full of plague and salt. The prose is brutal and lyrical, like Anglo-Saxon poetry. This story feels both ancient and futuristic, and it contemplates how to have hope at the end of the world, even if it's all you have. I loved the twists in this story, the surprises that played with genre.
January 28, 2023
Split Scream, published by Dread Stone Press, is a fantastic double feature of weird fiction novelettes that I couldn't put down until I finished it! Carson´s story is an incredible tale with bizarre elements, a lot of action, and a third act that left me speechless. It reminded me of an old noir movie in the best way possible, and the ending was beautiful and tragic at the same time, and it was the perfect way to close the protagonist's journey. Scott´s story was incredible, especially because of the post-apocalyptic setting, and the hints throughout the novelette about what happened to our protagonist. It's a blood-soaked ride that combines fantasy and weird fiction, has shocking twists, and perfectly shows how talented Scott is as a writer. I really recommend it!
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