What do you think?
Rate this book
Occasional Demons
This collection, from an acclaimed Master of Dark Fiction, consists of twenty-one tales with some being straight genre entries, others psychological terror and finally a few shorts that include science fiction elements. The first eighteen are short stories written solely by Rick and the final three are collaborations with Jesse and Matti Hautala, Matthew J. Costello, and Jim Connolly.The stories included NephewsNightmare TranscriptNon-returnableDead LegendsI’ve Been Thinking About YouThe Man Who Looked Like MurphyToxic ShockThe CallGetting the Job DoneEvery Mother’s SonKnockingHotel HellThe Compost HeapIron FrogSetupThe Gates of DawnOff the CuffThe Screaming HeadAbduction (written with Jesse and Matti Hautala)And the Sea Shall Claim Them (written by Matthew J. Costello and A. J. Matthews)Scared Crows (written with Jim Connolly)
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Rick Hautala
137 books125 followersAKA A.J. Matthews
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 13, 2019
Genuinely spooky.
Read
June 28, 2022The Nephews - 3.25 out of 5.0
Atmospheric coastal ghost story that ends right when it's just getting started...
Nightmare Transcript - 2.75 out of 5
Second person narration adds interest to what amounts to just a sketch.
Non-returnable - 3.0 out of 5
A book consumes life. A bit long for the idea.
Atmospheric coastal ghost story that ends right when it's just getting started...
Nightmare Transcript - 2.75 out of 5
Second person narration adds interest to what amounts to just a sketch.
Non-returnable - 3.0 out of 5
A book consumes life. A bit long for the idea.
August 1, 2015
I received this audio book as a gift in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. While horror isn't my genre of choice, this audio book is pretty good. This is a collection of many different horror stories all compiled into one book. I really believe the narration made this book much better. I thought the special effects added in and the multiple voices and echoes were fantastic!
The author, Rick Hautala did a fine job writing this book. I believe the narration makes this book, but a narrator can only read what is written, therefore the author did a fantastic job too. There are multiple plots since there are multiple stories in this book. Lots of twists and turns and even some gore. The narrator, Jack Chekijian did a bang up job (fantastic) on the voices, sound effects, accents and so on. This man is a master of voices! The narration makes it feel like real action and you are there watching it.
The author, Rick Hautala did a fine job writing this book. I believe the narration makes this book, but a narrator can only read what is written, therefore the author did a fantastic job too. There are multiple plots since there are multiple stories in this book. Lots of twists and turns and even some gore. The narrator, Jack Chekijian did a bang up job (fantastic) on the voices, sound effects, accents and so on. This man is a master of voices! The narration makes it feel like real action and you are there watching it.
June 30, 2015
From the vaults of the prolific speculative fiction and horror writer Rick Hautala, comes this compilation of short stories showcasing his diverse talents. All 29 tales are entertaining and sort of make you wonder what it is about horror fiction writers from Maine. Great read for the subway/train/ waiting rooms.
Narrator Jack really adds to the experience with a surprising array of audio interpretations with so many characters to portray!
This book was a gift.
Narrator Jack really adds to the experience with a surprising array of audio interpretations with so many characters to portray!
This book was a gift.
December 31, 2015
This was a great collection of short horror stories!Jack Chekijian does many voices and gets them all right for each character.An amazing talent.Some of these stories keep you thinking well past the time you read them.I'm still looking for Muggins...
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
December 5, 2012
Excellent collection of stories.
February 10, 2013
Great collection. I recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews