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Little Deaths
You think you've got bad dreams? Consider author John F.D. Taff's nightmares.
How about the one where a guy resurrects his dead girlfriend with a set of the prop neck bolts used on Boris Karloff in the 1932 classic Frankenstein? Or one where the ghost of the author's dead dog keeps coming back to entice him into death so they can be together? Or the one where a guy loves candy... to death?
Taff has the kind of nightmares no one really wants. But it's nightmares like these that give him plenty of ideas to explore; ideas that he's turned into the short stories he shares in this new collection Little Deaths.
Little Deaths features 19 pieces of short horror fiction; some have appeared previously in print elsewhere, others appear for the first time here. All of them are chilling, weird looks at the human condition from a decidedly dark perspective.
How about the one where a guy resurrects his dead girlfriend with a set of the prop neck bolts used on Boris Karloff in the 1932 classic Frankenstein? Or one where the ghost of the author's dead dog keeps coming back to entice him into death so they can be together? Or the one where a guy loves candy... to death?
Taff has the kind of nightmares no one really wants. But it's nightmares like these that give him plenty of ideas to explore; ideas that he's turned into the short stories he shares in this new collection Little Deaths.
Little Deaths features 19 pieces of short horror fiction; some have appeared previously in print elsewhere, others appear for the first time here. All of them are chilling, weird looks at the human condition from a decidedly dark perspective.
ebook
First published April 20, 2012
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About the author
John F.D. Taff
85 books258 followersJohn F.D. Taff is a multi-Bram Stoker Award short-listed dark fiction author with more than 30 years experience, and more than 100 short stories and seven novels in print.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 1, 2020
Synopsis: Little Deaths opens up many rooms full of disturbing, dream-like imagery. Rooms where a farmer awakens to find a gigantic tentacle writhing in his fields. Where the desiccated mummy of a young girl wants nothing more than something warm to drink. Where a memorabilia collector resurrects his dead girlfriend with the prop neck bolts from the 1931 movie Frankenstein. And where the sweetest candy of all is a dead man's flesh.
Review: There were some gems in here that I really enjoyed, although none of them I would really describe as scary. This collection of tales was more akin to abstract and surreal paintings in the form of words, peaking my curiosity and entertaining me with how bizarre they could be, yet at the same time making me wonder what the hell I was even looking at. Very creative and trippy, though sometimes I think it got just a little too vague and abstract, leaving me wanting more grounded resolutions to some stories. Still an enjoyable book full of unique ideas, I respect the creativity.
Review: There were some gems in here that I really enjoyed, although none of them I would really describe as scary. This collection of tales was more akin to abstract and surreal paintings in the form of words, peaking my curiosity and entertaining me with how bizarre they could be, yet at the same time making me wonder what the hell I was even looking at. Very creative and trippy, though sometimes I think it got just a little too vague and abstract, leaving me wanting more grounded resolutions to some stories. Still an enjoyable book full of unique ideas, I respect the creativity.
June 13, 2018
There are few collections that I begin with my rating of five Amazon stars and a highly recommended note. This is an amazing collection of writing styles, Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection by John F. D. Taff shows off the author’s versatility. While all have something of a twist or weird quality, there is one horror story that will leave a reader laughing out loud. There is one that is emotional enough to bring tears. There is one in which the reader can join in with a feeling of vengeance deserved. There is one written in the slang-ridden language of today and one written in the style of Charles Dickens. Almost every story sent me to the dictionary at least once although looking back on the stories there were several times I had acted too quickly. Taff usually explained the term quite adequately in context. But that is me looking back.
Other than the stories, there are other great parts. The effusive introduction by Josh Malerman deserves a second read after finishing the twenty-four stories. Readers can compare their own impressions with that of an excellent Malerman introduction. In the Afterword, Taff gives us a small insight into a writer’s relations with the world of publishers. In Notes, we learn of the background to the stories. It is not good to read this first; it just will not make sense. Lastly, there are some blurbs from other offerings by Grey Press but I was not annoyed by these as I usually am. I learned of three other novels written by Taff which I will most definitely read. (Yeah, I could have done an Amazon search but I’ll take the offered gift).
I read every day and usually write one review per day. This collection took me three days to read. Some of the stories were so good they stopped me as I paused for reflection. The language is so good as to be a rich candy; don’t eat too much at one time. You don’t want to end up like The Mellified Man, a story of vengeance not served cold. Here are a few observations on several of the short stories. They are all superior but I don’t want to tell their stories; I just want to spark interest. Although the novel is available as a free read on Kindle Unlimited, I bought the novel for USD 3.99. I don’t want to return the book.
BOLTS Evoking imagery of Frankenstein, this tale also points out the pitfalls of hoarding.
DUST AT THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS Dr. Sanford wanted to take care of his daughter. She seemed to be thirsty a lot and he, a good father, would provide. What was the alternative?
CALENDAR GIRL Curiosity killed the …
BUT FOR A MOMENT…MOTIONLESS God announces a few limitations on omnipotence.
THE WATER BEARER Would you want a pond in your backyard? After this story, maybe not.
THE CLOSED EYE OF A DEAD WORLD What is the difference between a door and a window? This story will tell you.
SNAPBACK Don’t forget to write home often. But at least make the news believable.
THE PROJECTOR I have long been a fan of drive-in theaters. They never consumed me as much as they did the principals in this story.
THE MIRE OF HUMAN VEINS Lisa realizes her destiny lies with the family. She is willing to diet to fulfill their hopes for her.
THE SCENT William discovers his true self and begins to get rid of the artifices that limit his self-realization.
SHE UNMASKS HER BEAUTY TO THE MOON This story begins in 1754. I like the writing style exemplified by this “At this, White Antelope's companions flicked at him a glance expressing great displeasure, though I knew not of what he spoke.” (Kindle Location 3081).
CHILD OF DIRT If you suspect your wife of infidelity, you might think she left you for a more attractive partner. This story attacks that general premise.
ORIFICE Fear the Tattoo.
HELPING HANDS After reading this, I will have to be careful when someone requests me to lend a hand. One of my favorite phrases is here “His coat opened like the panels of a religious triptych, fell to the floor, revealing a horror that will live inside my mind forever. For even the darkness—or the madness, which you can well attest—could not blot it out.” (Kindle Location 3938).
IN MEN, BLACK Reading this reminded me of the television series “Fringe.”
DARKNESS UPON THE VOID This is a horror story about how we confront our inner terrors.
SHARP EDGES A week in the life of a very organized man. He counts literally everything. Including his victims.
COLD CALLS Buddy was finally a very successful salesperson. But was customer satisfaction on his list of goals?
THE LACQUERED BOX The magic never dies.
HERE Hector always responded when I called him with “Here!” It seems only right that maybe it was my time to respond.
THE TONTINE If the undead: Vampires, werewolves, and mummies, are not afraid of death, what are they afraid of? The Count reflects on the answer to this question. This is a story with laugh-out-loud humor.
PLANTING ROBERT There are elements of weirdness or possibly horror, but this is an emotional “family” story.
BOX OF ROCKS This is a story with lots of implied horror. It is the story that requires the most reader engagement to provide a conclusion.
Other than the stories, there are other great parts. The effusive introduction by Josh Malerman deserves a second read after finishing the twenty-four stories. Readers can compare their own impressions with that of an excellent Malerman introduction. In the Afterword, Taff gives us a small insight into a writer’s relations with the world of publishers. In Notes, we learn of the background to the stories. It is not good to read this first; it just will not make sense. Lastly, there are some blurbs from other offerings by Grey Press but I was not annoyed by these as I usually am. I learned of three other novels written by Taff which I will most definitely read. (Yeah, I could have done an Amazon search but I’ll take the offered gift).
I read every day and usually write one review per day. This collection took me three days to read. Some of the stories were so good they stopped me as I paused for reflection. The language is so good as to be a rich candy; don’t eat too much at one time. You don’t want to end up like The Mellified Man, a story of vengeance not served cold. Here are a few observations on several of the short stories. They are all superior but I don’t want to tell their stories; I just want to spark interest. Although the novel is available as a free read on Kindle Unlimited, I bought the novel for USD 3.99. I don’t want to return the book.
BOLTS Evoking imagery of Frankenstein, this tale also points out the pitfalls of hoarding.
DUST AT THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS Dr. Sanford wanted to take care of his daughter. She seemed to be thirsty a lot and he, a good father, would provide. What was the alternative?
CALENDAR GIRL Curiosity killed the …
BUT FOR A MOMENT…MOTIONLESS God announces a few limitations on omnipotence.
THE WATER BEARER Would you want a pond in your backyard? After this story, maybe not.
THE CLOSED EYE OF A DEAD WORLD What is the difference between a door and a window? This story will tell you.
SNAPBACK Don’t forget to write home often. But at least make the news believable.
THE PROJECTOR I have long been a fan of drive-in theaters. They never consumed me as much as they did the principals in this story.
THE MIRE OF HUMAN VEINS Lisa realizes her destiny lies with the family. She is willing to diet to fulfill their hopes for her.
THE SCENT William discovers his true self and begins to get rid of the artifices that limit his self-realization.
SHE UNMASKS HER BEAUTY TO THE MOON This story begins in 1754. I like the writing style exemplified by this “At this, White Antelope's companions flicked at him a glance expressing great displeasure, though I knew not of what he spoke.” (Kindle Location 3081).
CHILD OF DIRT If you suspect your wife of infidelity, you might think she left you for a more attractive partner. This story attacks that general premise.
ORIFICE Fear the Tattoo.
HELPING HANDS After reading this, I will have to be careful when someone requests me to lend a hand. One of my favorite phrases is here “His coat opened like the panels of a religious triptych, fell to the floor, revealing a horror that will live inside my mind forever. For even the darkness—or the madness, which you can well attest—could not blot it out.” (Kindle Location 3938).
IN MEN, BLACK Reading this reminded me of the television series “Fringe.”
DARKNESS UPON THE VOID This is a horror story about how we confront our inner terrors.
SHARP EDGES A week in the life of a very organized man. He counts literally everything. Including his victims.
COLD CALLS Buddy was finally a very successful salesperson. But was customer satisfaction on his list of goals?
THE LACQUERED BOX The magic never dies.
HERE Hector always responded when I called him with “Here!” It seems only right that maybe it was my time to respond.
THE TONTINE If the undead: Vampires, werewolves, and mummies, are not afraid of death, what are they afraid of? The Count reflects on the answer to this question. This is a story with laugh-out-loud humor.
PLANTING ROBERT There are elements of weirdness or possibly horror, but this is an emotional “family” story.
BOX OF ROCKS This is a story with lots of implied horror. It is the story that requires the most reader engagement to provide a conclusion.
October 8, 2012
I loved every story in this collection. I have been reading a lot of horror fiction lately and found these stories to be very original and well written.
June 30, 2013
(cross posted at http://www.horrornewsnetwork.net/news...)
Short stories rule. I love a good short story. I love an entire collection of good short stories even more. That's what you get with John F. D. Taff's Little Deaths.
Little Deaths is Taff's first published book though you'd never believe that once you start reading it. Given, he's been writing for about 20 years now, so it's not like he's a novice to the art of words. I'm simply surprised this is the first book he's had published.
The book kicks off with "Bolts", the story mentioned in the synopsis about a dude that brings his girlfriend back to life with a set of movie prop bolts. That right there is pure, classic horror gold. Next comes "Calendar Girl", which will make you never look at a date book the same way again. You think you have your life loosely planned out? The main character, Josh, takes that planning very seriously. In "But for a Moment… Motionless", we find the story of the final word of God. It is a sad and painful, tender-to-the-touch kind of story. It is also beautiful in its sheer horror, fascinating in its annihilation. It was also one of my favorite stories of the bunch.
"The Water Bearer" was also one of my top 5 in this collection. Story within a story, this is the tale of a pond, what appears to be a sentient pond at that. This pond, she's like a woman, enticing, voluptuous, in which one taste has you coming back for more. She's also a mystery, and she can get jealous and angry quite easily. In "The Closed Eyes of a Dead World", we have a Lovecraftian-esque tale about windows and doors. It's the kind of story you do not want to read right before you go house shopping.
"Snapback" is written in the vein of a Ray Bradbury story. It's entirely written in email communiques between military project heads and scientists. It's terrifying and completely believable in my opinion, which will make the reader nervous and anxious. You read it, and the "this could really happen" tug of an idea keeps nagging at you. Good stuff. If you're afraid of spiders, do not read "The Mire of Human Veins". Then again, you're reading a collection of horror short stories to be scared, right? Then have at it. This one kept me up the night I read it.
"The Scent" has a very horror noir feel to it, filled with tweed suits and beaver felt fedoras, city streets of brick buildings and back alleyways tacky with newly fallen rain. The story played out in my mind in black and white with a quiet symphony of music dancing in the background, rising to a crescendo at just the right moment, the dawning of an epiphany as to the familiarity of a particular scent the main character has been following.
For some reason "Child of Dirt" reminds me of that creepy X-Files episode "Home" about the incestuous family. It creeped me the hell out. Naturally, I thought it was excellent. "Orifice" is the only story about which I'm on the fence. Being a heavily tattooed chick, something just didn't feel right about it. For me, it was a miss. That doesn't mean you won't like it. I still say to give it a shot.
"Helping Hands" reminds me of some of Stephen King's short stories, particularly "N". It's written after the fact, after the deed has been done, in the form of a patient speaking to a psychiatrist (King is not the first writer to do so in this fashion; he's just who comes to mind). It's very well written and highly engaging. And it freaks you out. "In Men, Black" is the story of a very special suit. It's a smash up of "Men In Black" and The Mothman Mythos. Yes, really. "Darkness, Upon the Void" is one of the more disturbing stories of the lot, very well executed in my opinion. What happens when a man who was previously filled with God's love, who heard God's voice, who carried out God's Will, suddenly loses it all, finds it replaced with other voices? The horror that ensues is heartbreaking and graphic.
"Sharp Edges" follows a week in the life of an OCD serial killer. 'Nuff said. "The Laquered Box" is one of the first short stories Taff ever wrote. It's got the feel of the classic horror story, set around Halloween, centered around the death of a magician. The cast of characters of four neighborhood boys, a widow who felt her husband sucked at his lifelong career, and the magician himself make for a delicious little tale of mystery involving a special trunk.
"Here" is my very favorite story in the collection. Like Taff explains in the Notes section at the end of the book, you're either a dog lover or you're not. There's really no in-between. And like Taff, I am also a late blooming dog-lover, being on Team Feline for most of my life. This story kicked me in the gut. I cried through most of it. After I read it, I wanted to jump on Twitter and tell John how sorry I was for his loss. Is it a horror story? For me, it is.
"The Tontine" tells the new vampires of the last 10-15 years to go fuck themselves. I dig that. "The Mellified Man" is a good lesson in keeping addictions at bay. I also wanted to puke when I read a mellified man is a real thing when I got to the notes section. Gag. I almost lost my breakfast this morning, John. Job well done.
It all ends with "Box of Rocks". This one was a little difficult for me to read, being close to someone who was abused as a child by his mother's significant other. I couldn't help but imagine him as the boy in this story (which means once again, John did his job well). I'm still not sure how I was supposed to feel by the end of it? Was that Taff's point? Is the story supposed to make me feel uncomfortable because I wanted to comfort this boy, now a man? Is the whole point of the story exactly that, to see how each individual reader reacts to it, and what his thoughts are on that reaction? Whoa, my brain just exploded.
When I finished the collection this morning, I sat in the quiet of my kitchen for a moment. I sipped my coffee. And then I pulled out my laptop to see if John's new book, The Bell Witch, has been released yet because I need more. Nope, not yet. Be on the lookout for it, Dear Reader. And in the meantime, pick up Little Deaths to tide you over. And drop John a line on Twitter if you're so inclined @johnfdtaff. He's friendly, and he doesn't bite. You can keep up on his blog at http://johnfdtaff.com/ too.
Short stories rule. I love a good short story. I love an entire collection of good short stories even more. That's what you get with John F. D. Taff's Little Deaths.
Little Deaths is Taff's first published book though you'd never believe that once you start reading it. Given, he's been writing for about 20 years now, so it's not like he's a novice to the art of words. I'm simply surprised this is the first book he's had published.
The book kicks off with "Bolts", the story mentioned in the synopsis about a dude that brings his girlfriend back to life with a set of movie prop bolts. That right there is pure, classic horror gold. Next comes "Calendar Girl", which will make you never look at a date book the same way again. You think you have your life loosely planned out? The main character, Josh, takes that planning very seriously. In "But for a Moment… Motionless", we find the story of the final word of God. It is a sad and painful, tender-to-the-touch kind of story. It is also beautiful in its sheer horror, fascinating in its annihilation. It was also one of my favorite stories of the bunch.
"The Water Bearer" was also one of my top 5 in this collection. Story within a story, this is the tale of a pond, what appears to be a sentient pond at that. This pond, she's like a woman, enticing, voluptuous, in which one taste has you coming back for more. She's also a mystery, and she can get jealous and angry quite easily. In "The Closed Eyes of a Dead World", we have a Lovecraftian-esque tale about windows and doors. It's the kind of story you do not want to read right before you go house shopping.
"Snapback" is written in the vein of a Ray Bradbury story. It's entirely written in email communiques between military project heads and scientists. It's terrifying and completely believable in my opinion, which will make the reader nervous and anxious. You read it, and the "this could really happen" tug of an idea keeps nagging at you. Good stuff. If you're afraid of spiders, do not read "The Mire of Human Veins". Then again, you're reading a collection of horror short stories to be scared, right? Then have at it. This one kept me up the night I read it.
"The Scent" has a very horror noir feel to it, filled with tweed suits and beaver felt fedoras, city streets of brick buildings and back alleyways tacky with newly fallen rain. The story played out in my mind in black and white with a quiet symphony of music dancing in the background, rising to a crescendo at just the right moment, the dawning of an epiphany as to the familiarity of a particular scent the main character has been following.
For some reason "Child of Dirt" reminds me of that creepy X-Files episode "Home" about the incestuous family. It creeped me the hell out. Naturally, I thought it was excellent. "Orifice" is the only story about which I'm on the fence. Being a heavily tattooed chick, something just didn't feel right about it. For me, it was a miss. That doesn't mean you won't like it. I still say to give it a shot.
"Helping Hands" reminds me of some of Stephen King's short stories, particularly "N". It's written after the fact, after the deed has been done, in the form of a patient speaking to a psychiatrist (King is not the first writer to do so in this fashion; he's just who comes to mind). It's very well written and highly engaging. And it freaks you out. "In Men, Black" is the story of a very special suit. It's a smash up of "Men In Black" and The Mothman Mythos. Yes, really. "Darkness, Upon the Void" is one of the more disturbing stories of the lot, very well executed in my opinion. What happens when a man who was previously filled with God's love, who heard God's voice, who carried out God's Will, suddenly loses it all, finds it replaced with other voices? The horror that ensues is heartbreaking and graphic.
"Sharp Edges" follows a week in the life of an OCD serial killer. 'Nuff said. "The Laquered Box" is one of the first short stories Taff ever wrote. It's got the feel of the classic horror story, set around Halloween, centered around the death of a magician. The cast of characters of four neighborhood boys, a widow who felt her husband sucked at his lifelong career, and the magician himself make for a delicious little tale of mystery involving a special trunk.
"Here" is my very favorite story in the collection. Like Taff explains in the Notes section at the end of the book, you're either a dog lover or you're not. There's really no in-between. And like Taff, I am also a late blooming dog-lover, being on Team Feline for most of my life. This story kicked me in the gut. I cried through most of it. After I read it, I wanted to jump on Twitter and tell John how sorry I was for his loss. Is it a horror story? For me, it is.
"The Tontine" tells the new vampires of the last 10-15 years to go fuck themselves. I dig that. "The Mellified Man" is a good lesson in keeping addictions at bay. I also wanted to puke when I read a mellified man is a real thing when I got to the notes section. Gag. I almost lost my breakfast this morning, John. Job well done.
It all ends with "Box of Rocks". This one was a little difficult for me to read, being close to someone who was abused as a child by his mother's significant other. I couldn't help but imagine him as the boy in this story (which means once again, John did his job well). I'm still not sure how I was supposed to feel by the end of it? Was that Taff's point? Is the story supposed to make me feel uncomfortable because I wanted to comfort this boy, now a man? Is the whole point of the story exactly that, to see how each individual reader reacts to it, and what his thoughts are on that reaction? Whoa, my brain just exploded.
When I finished the collection this morning, I sat in the quiet of my kitchen for a moment. I sipped my coffee. And then I pulled out my laptop to see if John's new book, The Bell Witch, has been released yet because I need more. Nope, not yet. Be on the lookout for it, Dear Reader. And in the meantime, pick up Little Deaths to tide you over. And drop John a line on Twitter if you're so inclined @johnfdtaff. He's friendly, and he doesn't bite. You can keep up on his blog at http://johnfdtaff.com/ too.
February 5, 2014
I can't tell you how I discovered John fd Taff, but sure am glad I did.
This was the first book of his I read because I love short stories and can can usually get a good feel for an author from what he does with his short stories. There are 19 stories filling this book and there is something for everyone. With the first story 'Bolts' to the last 'Box of Rocks' you will be entertained with a bit of horror, syfy and the paranormal.
A few of my favorites include The Mellified Man which made me want to stay away from the candy isle for the foreseeable future, and Box of Rocks left that feeling in my stomach that was a mix of a bunch in the gut and true horror at what I had just digested. Calendar Girl has a great twilight zone feel (did that really happen) that left me wanting more. The Closed eye of a Dead World was a truly great classic scary story of a man who wonders why a window is covered and discovers he should have just let it be.
Snapback is a great syfy story told in a fashion very different from most if not all stories I have read and was great, I read it twice. The men in Black, Darkness upon the Void and Here were also some of my favorites.
Here was the last story I read and made me immediately give my dog a pet and think how glad I am to have him. If you haven't read anything by John fd Taff I highly recommend this book, it shows what a great talent he is and where he can take a story.
This was the first book of his I read because I love short stories and can can usually get a good feel for an author from what he does with his short stories. There are 19 stories filling this book and there is something for everyone. With the first story 'Bolts' to the last 'Box of Rocks' you will be entertained with a bit of horror, syfy and the paranormal.
A few of my favorites include The Mellified Man which made me want to stay away from the candy isle for the foreseeable future, and Box of Rocks left that feeling in my stomach that was a mix of a bunch in the gut and true horror at what I had just digested. Calendar Girl has a great twilight zone feel (did that really happen) that left me wanting more. The Closed eye of a Dead World was a truly great classic scary story of a man who wonders why a window is covered and discovers he should have just let it be.
Snapback is a great syfy story told in a fashion very different from most if not all stories I have read and was great, I read it twice. The men in Black, Darkness upon the Void and Here were also some of my favorites.
Here was the last story I read and made me immediately give my dog a pet and think how glad I am to have him. If you haven't read anything by John fd Taff I highly recommend this book, it shows what a great talent he is and where he can take a story.
July 21, 2012
What do you do when your girlfriend dies and you have a problem letting her go? If you’re a collector and you own a pair of neck bolts that Boris Karloff wore in the original Frankenstein movie you might be able to bring her back to life. Of course that could become a problem once the body decomposes.
This is one of the story lines from John F.D. Taff’s Little Deaths. This anthology includes 19 short horror stories that take a look at how humans react to bizarre situations. Another story in this collection looks at a woman named Melinda who marries a man named Josh. Josh has a book that tells every detail of his and Melinda’s life from birth to death. Despite her husband’s warnings to not look at the book, she does look and doesn’t like her destiny. She decides to rewrite the book and change everything but now she has to face the consequences.
My favorite stories in this anthology were the ones that mixed Science Fiction and Horror such as But For A Moment…Motionless which tells the tale of a man walking the streets of a deserted city and discovering that he may be the last one alive. I liked how the main character describes what he will miss about humanity and how he reacts when he learns what really happened.
I also enjoyed Snapback which tells what happens in the future as people learn how to master time travel. This one is told through a series of scientific reports and I thought it was interesting hearing how the tone of the reports change as the scientists discover that there is a problem.
Other good stories for the hard core horror fan include include The Mire Of Human Veins that had a Neil Gaiman feel to it and is about a girl who has a strange home life. Another one is Child Of Dirt about a baby who’s father may not be human. Also if you are into ghost stories, The story Here is a ghostly love story that has a good sense of humor and will appeal to all dog lovers.
I enjoyed John F.D. Taff’s Little Deaths more or less. I thought all the stories were well written and I like how the author describes the action and setting in each story. I also like the way he describes his characters. That being said I did have a problem with some of the stories. Such as The Scent, Bolts, Helping Hands and Calander Girl which were based on good ideas but had endings that left me confused. John F.D. Taff does make up for this though in the end of the book when he tells his idea behind each story and your able to find out what he was thinking as he wrote it. I do think Little Deaths is a good anthology and I look forward to seeing a novel by John F.D. Taff in the future.
This is one of the story lines from John F.D. Taff’s Little Deaths. This anthology includes 19 short horror stories that take a look at how humans react to bizarre situations. Another story in this collection looks at a woman named Melinda who marries a man named Josh. Josh has a book that tells every detail of his and Melinda’s life from birth to death. Despite her husband’s warnings to not look at the book, she does look and doesn’t like her destiny. She decides to rewrite the book and change everything but now she has to face the consequences.
My favorite stories in this anthology were the ones that mixed Science Fiction and Horror such as But For A Moment…Motionless which tells the tale of a man walking the streets of a deserted city and discovering that he may be the last one alive. I liked how the main character describes what he will miss about humanity and how he reacts when he learns what really happened.
I also enjoyed Snapback which tells what happens in the future as people learn how to master time travel. This one is told through a series of scientific reports and I thought it was interesting hearing how the tone of the reports change as the scientists discover that there is a problem.
Other good stories for the hard core horror fan include include The Mire Of Human Veins that had a Neil Gaiman feel to it and is about a girl who has a strange home life. Another one is Child Of Dirt about a baby who’s father may not be human. Also if you are into ghost stories, The story Here is a ghostly love story that has a good sense of humor and will appeal to all dog lovers.
I enjoyed John F.D. Taff’s Little Deaths more or less. I thought all the stories were well written and I like how the author describes the action and setting in each story. I also like the way he describes his characters. That being said I did have a problem with some of the stories. Such as The Scent, Bolts, Helping Hands and Calander Girl which were based on good ideas but had endings that left me confused. John F.D. Taff does make up for this though in the end of the book when he tells his idea behind each story and your able to find out what he was thinking as he wrote it. I do think Little Deaths is a good anthology and I look forward to seeing a novel by John F.D. Taff in the future.
September 28, 2012
Within a season which has already produced a great many excellent anthologies and single-author collections, John F.D. Taff's LITTLE DEATHS manages not only to distinguish itself, but also to raise itself just a tad above most of the rest. The collection runs the gamut from pure horror to science fiction and even includes a few "true life" tales with just the hint of an overlay of the supernatural. The genres may vary but, even so, the stories in LITTLE DEATHS are generally clever without being pretentious or contrived, and emotionally impacting without being treacly.
From the keyboard of a lesser wordsmith, the reader might find some of the pieces maudlin or a poor imitation of O. Henry with an end twist but no real lasting substance. Taff, however, has a lovely way with words and a penchant for creating a distinct and convincing tone within each piece. His prose is a joy to read, intelligent and carefully crafted to evoke a response in the reader and not at all flowery or affected. It's obvious that Taff uses language to try to communicate ideas; he's not just writing pedestrian "what if" horror stories. This is, sadly, a rarity in modern literature. As a result, most of this author's work makes the reader pause for a moment and actually think--about a concept, a possibility, or a situation--without for one instant eliminating the enjoyment of the story.
I have one small criticism of this collection, and it is indeed a small one. In a few instances, Taff seems to have tackled a story that is, in an odd way, "too big" for him. The germ of an idea is there, the writing is excellent as always, but somehow the particular story doesn't quite gel and ends up bordering on being precious. However, it is a minor flaw, easy to overlook, and only the most discriminating of readers might notice a vague dissatisfaction with the inchoate nature of one or two of the stories.
If you're looking to read a truly interesting new author, I can highly recommend LITTLE DEATHS.
From the keyboard of a lesser wordsmith, the reader might find some of the pieces maudlin or a poor imitation of O. Henry with an end twist but no real lasting substance. Taff, however, has a lovely way with words and a penchant for creating a distinct and convincing tone within each piece. His prose is a joy to read, intelligent and carefully crafted to evoke a response in the reader and not at all flowery or affected. It's obvious that Taff uses language to try to communicate ideas; he's not just writing pedestrian "what if" horror stories. This is, sadly, a rarity in modern literature. As a result, most of this author's work makes the reader pause for a moment and actually think--about a concept, a possibility, or a situation--without for one instant eliminating the enjoyment of the story.
I have one small criticism of this collection, and it is indeed a small one. In a few instances, Taff seems to have tackled a story that is, in an odd way, "too big" for him. The germ of an idea is there, the writing is excellent as always, but somehow the particular story doesn't quite gel and ends up bordering on being precious. However, it is a minor flaw, easy to overlook, and only the most discriminating of readers might notice a vague dissatisfaction with the inchoate nature of one or two of the stories.
If you're looking to read a truly interesting new author, I can highly recommend LITTLE DEATHS.
February 1, 2013
As with most collections some of the stories stick out more than others. Still there's not a bad tale in the book. Most have a slow burn effect and a subtle nature behind the words and often the end results are down right chilling. I highly recommend giving this entertaining collection a read (19 stories in all). You wont be disappointed.
Here are some of favorites ones.
Bolts - A fantastic modern day homage to Frankenstein. What a way to kick off a book.
But For a Moment...Motionless - The last man on Earth comes to a realization on his fate.
The Water Bearer - An old man reflects on the his previous employer and the mysterious pond in the back yard.
Closed Eye of the Dead World - A man buys a house only to discover a window which looks into another dimension but what lives on the other side doesn't like the view. The story has a very Lovecraftian feel.
Child of Dirt - A man questions if he is the actual father of his new born baby.
Orifice - A man, a woman, an ex-boyfriend, and a tattoo come together this odd tale of passion and loss of love.
The Mellified Man - A delicious treat of a story about a man with a sweet tooth for the rare leading to cannibalism.
Box of Rocks - A disturbing tale where a man talks about his abusive childhood. This one keeps you guessing until the last sentence.
For more reviews go to my blog http://fringesofhorror.blogspot.com/
Here are some of favorites ones.
Bolts - A fantastic modern day homage to Frankenstein. What a way to kick off a book.
But For a Moment...Motionless - The last man on Earth comes to a realization on his fate.
The Water Bearer - An old man reflects on the his previous employer and the mysterious pond in the back yard.
Closed Eye of the Dead World - A man buys a house only to discover a window which looks into another dimension but what lives on the other side doesn't like the view. The story has a very Lovecraftian feel.
Child of Dirt - A man questions if he is the actual father of his new born baby.
Orifice - A man, a woman, an ex-boyfriend, and a tattoo come together this odd tale of passion and loss of love.
The Mellified Man - A delicious treat of a story about a man with a sweet tooth for the rare leading to cannibalism.
Box of Rocks - A disturbing tale where a man talks about his abusive childhood. This one keeps you guessing until the last sentence.
For more reviews go to my blog http://fringesofhorror.blogspot.com/
September 27, 2013
I could not put this one down! I had been searching for some good horror, but not willing to commit the time a novel would take, and this was perfect! I was so entertained with each of the well told stories. John Taff's collection is a must read for several reasons. If you love horror like you love oxygen, purchase this one today! He doesnt bombard you with "gore porn" just for the sake of gore itself, something I truly find refreshing. Not that this gem lacks gore, by any means, but there is a point to it when it does appear. I wont be a spoil alert whore, and summarize each story, but must tell you I was creeped out, freaked out, and at one point moved to real tears. Yes, John Taff took me through all my horror paces with style. I will be reading much more of his work, as much as I can find! He even managed to breathe new life into my favorite classics. No matter what your horror-drug of choice happens to be John Taff has your fix with this delightfully wicked read!
July 15, 2018
Having read most of these stories already, I was eager to read the new additions in this definitive collection. What I enjoy most about this collection is that Taff manages (sometimes within a single tale) to elicit subtle dread, disgust, sorrow, nausea, laughter, and always wonder. His works explore the horrific intricacies of love and loss, of choice and fate, of fidelity and betrayal. A few of my favorites are "Calendar Girl," "Dust at the Center of All Things," "Bolts," "Child of Dirt", and "Orifice."
September 6, 2013
...and those who know my esteem for Taff's work know that's not a compliment I throw around willy-nilly. The short fiction in LITTLE DEATHS is everything a horror fan could want: brutal, on-topic, and capped with the kind of twist that brings back the classic stuff from EC Comics that got so many of us into the genre. Read it. Now. It's the best decision you'll make all week.
November 28, 2014
Great collection of creepy stories. I liked that they often had an 'aha' moment.
February 22, 2022
Good collection of short stories. As always with collections, a few I loved and I few I didn't like.
March 25, 2020
A collection of dark, twisted tales sure to creep you out. John F.D. Taff really covers a lot in this book from vampires, mummies, spiders, murderers and other things that haunt people's nightmares. There really is a little something for everyone in this collection of short stories.
Due to the violence and overall content, I would recommend this for YA or older.
February 2, 2013
John F.D. Taff is an author who has more than 65 short stories and seven novels in print but I had never heard of him until I read his short story Cold Calls within the excellent anthology Best New Vampire Tales Vol I. I absolutely loved Cold Calls and the unlikely hero of the piece, Buddy Burnett.
It was without hesitation that I started to read Little Deaths; a collection of Taff's own short stories.
I often find the quality of anthologies can vary wildly and although I was a fan of the author's work that I had encountered before, I had only read one piece by him...
What we have here in Little Deaths is a selection of Taff's best work from his career and some new pieces that are not only novel in nature but are sure to entertain; and as is suggested in the title, death is ever present in every story within. Each tale within Taff's anthology is very different and although it may well be criticised for not being outright horror, I would suggest that this book sits quite nicely within the genre. The overarching feeling permeating throughout all of Taff's work in Little Deaths is something that is reminiscent of episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits. The author moves between science-fiction type tales, the macabre, psychological thriller, body-horror and more, effortlessly whilst maintaining his distinctly charming, pulpy and entertaining writing style. This style may be attributable to the fact that Taff seems to stick to the advice "Write what you know, write what you love"; since there seems to be a little bit of the author in many of his stories. Some of the highlights for me within Little Deaths were:
The Mire of Human Veins: A neat little story about a young girl with an overbearing mother that is decidely macabre and doesn't quite turn out the way I had anticipated...
Helping Hands: A wonderfully enjoyable story about Victorian body horror that has the feel of a weird Sherlock Holmes tale.
The Mellified Man: A well-researched short story that turns out to be a veritable modern day fairytale that is filled with moral messages where one man's sweet tooth proves to be his undoing.
Here: Despite being a horror yarn, this is an incredibly personal and touching short story where it is perhaps most evident that the author has poured much of his heart and soul into the telling of the tale.
Box of Rocks: This particular tale genuinely shocked me. Taff guides you through one man's violent upbringing, with an ending that has tremendous impact.
The Tontine: This, among all of Taff's tales here, was undoubtedly my favourite. For me, this was Taff's love letter to the way the genre was and should be, while slickly commenting on the current state of horror simultaneously.
Despite his clear fondness for the classics of the genre, Taff's stories contained within Little Deaths are unique and don't rely on horror archetypes in the traditional sense of the genre; no mean feat in and of itself.
There is effectively a story here to cater for all horror tastes and I am of the opinion that Little Deaths would be perfect for the horror fan seeking to get back into reading; or perhaps for the reader who does not have the time or patience to settle into a full novel due to other commitments.
It was without hesitation that I started to read Little Deaths; a collection of Taff's own short stories.
I often find the quality of anthologies can vary wildly and although I was a fan of the author's work that I had encountered before, I had only read one piece by him...
What we have here in Little Deaths is a selection of Taff's best work from his career and some new pieces that are not only novel in nature but are sure to entertain; and as is suggested in the title, death is ever present in every story within. Each tale within Taff's anthology is very different and although it may well be criticised for not being outright horror, I would suggest that this book sits quite nicely within the genre. The overarching feeling permeating throughout all of Taff's work in Little Deaths is something that is reminiscent of episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits. The author moves between science-fiction type tales, the macabre, psychological thriller, body-horror and more, effortlessly whilst maintaining his distinctly charming, pulpy and entertaining writing style. This style may be attributable to the fact that Taff seems to stick to the advice "Write what you know, write what you love"; since there seems to be a little bit of the author in many of his stories. Some of the highlights for me within Little Deaths were:
The Mire of Human Veins: A neat little story about a young girl with an overbearing mother that is decidely macabre and doesn't quite turn out the way I had anticipated...
Helping Hands: A wonderfully enjoyable story about Victorian body horror that has the feel of a weird Sherlock Holmes tale.
The Mellified Man: A well-researched short story that turns out to be a veritable modern day fairytale that is filled with moral messages where one man's sweet tooth proves to be his undoing.
Here: Despite being a horror yarn, this is an incredibly personal and touching short story where it is perhaps most evident that the author has poured much of his heart and soul into the telling of the tale.
Box of Rocks: This particular tale genuinely shocked me. Taff guides you through one man's violent upbringing, with an ending that has tremendous impact.
The Tontine: This, among all of Taff's tales here, was undoubtedly my favourite. For me, this was Taff's love letter to the way the genre was and should be, while slickly commenting on the current state of horror simultaneously.
Despite his clear fondness for the classics of the genre, Taff's stories contained within Little Deaths are unique and don't rely on horror archetypes in the traditional sense of the genre; no mean feat in and of itself.
There is effectively a story here to cater for all horror tastes and I am of the opinion that Little Deaths would be perfect for the horror fan seeking to get back into reading; or perhaps for the reader who does not have the time or patience to settle into a full novel due to other commitments.
May 6, 2018
Now this was a pleasant surprise!
Honestly I wasn't expecting this collection to be great. I haven't had much luck with horror anthologies on Amazon and most of them tend to be either forgettable, weirdly sexual or just entirely gore-based. The stories in this aren't (on the whole) any of those things. Most of them are really unique, very gripping horror stories that manage to be surreal at times without crossing the line into absurd or incomprehensible. Alas not every story in this collection is great and I was slightly put off by the author gushing about his own stories at the end which knocked off a star or two.
So let's start off with the good. 'Bolts' is pretty solid, albeit I was very put off by the weird vibes the main character's relationship had. It felt very forced and read like someone writing about a fantasy relationship. Thankfully this doesn't last and the story is a neat twist on a classic. 'Calendar Girl' was really great and one of my favourites. The suspense is built up well and its not entirely predictable which is great, 'Here' is beautiful and mesmerizing, and again you can't really tell what is going on as the plot sucks you in. It's not really even a horror story but it fills you with dread and the potential for horror keeps you guessing. 'The Mellified Man' was another favourite and, while predictable, I still loved every second. All of these I would give 4-5 stars.
Most of the rest I would give 3 stars each. 'Helping Hands' was one of the more engaging ones, and 'The Lacquered Box' only missed out by not really being very clear in what was going on. I hated 'The Mire of Human Veins' at first but it grew on me as it went on. My main problem was the overly-descriptive writing style which doesn't really fit with the other stories and comes across as pretentious. 'Orifice' was so close to being good for me but it just fell a bit on the weird side.
There were only a couple that I either didn't read properly or actively disliked. They tended to either be more on the sci-fi side or else I hated the format of the story. 'Sharp Edges' was very bland and I skimmed it after the first few pages. I couldn't even read 'Snapback' due to the terrible format of it being emails or reports or whatever it was. 'In Men, Black' was also uninteresting to me and I couldn't engage with the alien plot at all. Assume all the rest that I haven't mentioned are middle of the road for me.
Overall, I was very pleased with this collection. Though this review may seem fairly negative, I was genuinely enthralled by most of the stories and some of them I know will stick with me for a very long time. Taff's writing style is clear, enjoyable and quick to digest which is perfect for a collection like this. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys horror anthologies and I would love to read more from the author.
Overall Rating-3.5/5
Honestly I wasn't expecting this collection to be great. I haven't had much luck with horror anthologies on Amazon and most of them tend to be either forgettable, weirdly sexual or just entirely gore-based. The stories in this aren't (on the whole) any of those things. Most of them are really unique, very gripping horror stories that manage to be surreal at times without crossing the line into absurd or incomprehensible. Alas not every story in this collection is great and I was slightly put off by the author gushing about his own stories at the end which knocked off a star or two.
So let's start off with the good. 'Bolts' is pretty solid, albeit I was very put off by the weird vibes the main character's relationship had. It felt very forced and read like someone writing about a fantasy relationship. Thankfully this doesn't last and the story is a neat twist on a classic. 'Calendar Girl' was really great and one of my favourites. The suspense is built up well and its not entirely predictable which is great, 'Here' is beautiful and mesmerizing, and again you can't really tell what is going on as the plot sucks you in. It's not really even a horror story but it fills you with dread and the potential for horror keeps you guessing. 'The Mellified Man' was another favourite and, while predictable, I still loved every second. All of these I would give 4-5 stars.
Most of the rest I would give 3 stars each. 'Helping Hands' was one of the more engaging ones, and 'The Lacquered Box' only missed out by not really being very clear in what was going on. I hated 'The Mire of Human Veins' at first but it grew on me as it went on. My main problem was the overly-descriptive writing style which doesn't really fit with the other stories and comes across as pretentious. 'Orifice' was so close to being good for me but it just fell a bit on the weird side.
There were only a couple that I either didn't read properly or actively disliked. They tended to either be more on the sci-fi side or else I hated the format of the story. 'Sharp Edges' was very bland and I skimmed it after the first few pages. I couldn't even read 'Snapback' due to the terrible format of it being emails or reports or whatever it was. 'In Men, Black' was also uninteresting to me and I couldn't engage with the alien plot at all. Assume all the rest that I haven't mentioned are middle of the road for me.
Overall, I was very pleased with this collection. Though this review may seem fairly negative, I was genuinely enthralled by most of the stories and some of them I know will stick with me for a very long time. Taff's writing style is clear, enjoyable and quick to digest which is perfect for a collection like this. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys horror anthologies and I would love to read more from the author.
Overall Rating-3.5/5
October 12, 2014
John F.D Taff has been making waves of late, particularly with his newly released novella collection The End in all Beginnings from Grey Matter Press, so I thought I'd check out one of his previous collections.
Little deaths is solid buy, full of a range of different story styles, there is something for everyone in here—be it apocalyptic time travel stories, to evil babies, to crazy girlfriends with evil tattoos or fixer-upper houses that come with portals to another dimension.
The thing I loved most about this collection is that John writes real, believable characters that have realistic emotions and reactions that you can really relate to. There are no two dimensional characters in this collection, rather fully fleshed out emotional human beings. They really are the glue of his stories, regardless of the subject matter. It's no wonder he's getting high praise from horror genre legends such as Jack Ketchum.
Some of the stand outs for me were:
Bolts - a story about a collector who purchases the neck bolts props from the original Frankenstein movie and uses them to reanimate his dead girlfriend.
Snapback - a story about time travel leading to a global apocalypse, told through the prism of a series of email exchanges between scientists.
Child of Dirt - a freaking creepy story about a guy who realises that his baby isn't really his. I was holding my infant daughter when I read this and had a geneuine urge to put the baby down. haha. creepy stuff.
Orifice - a body modification horror about about tattoos and things going into or coming out of other realms.
Hands down, this is a great book and I'd recommend it, and Taff generally, to any horror reader. Taff eases the reader into his stories in his own unique way and then takes them some place dark and uncomfortable. He's an immensely talented writer and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Little deaths is solid buy, full of a range of different story styles, there is something for everyone in here—be it apocalyptic time travel stories, to evil babies, to crazy girlfriends with evil tattoos or fixer-upper houses that come with portals to another dimension.
The thing I loved most about this collection is that John writes real, believable characters that have realistic emotions and reactions that you can really relate to. There are no two dimensional characters in this collection, rather fully fleshed out emotional human beings. They really are the glue of his stories, regardless of the subject matter. It's no wonder he's getting high praise from horror genre legends such as Jack Ketchum.
Some of the stand outs for me were:
Bolts - a story about a collector who purchases the neck bolts props from the original Frankenstein movie and uses them to reanimate his dead girlfriend.
Snapback - a story about time travel leading to a global apocalypse, told through the prism of a series of email exchanges between scientists.
Child of Dirt - a freaking creepy story about a guy who realises that his baby isn't really his. I was holding my infant daughter when I read this and had a geneuine urge to put the baby down. haha. creepy stuff.
Orifice - a body modification horror about about tattoos and things going into or coming out of other realms.
Hands down, this is a great book and I'd recommend it, and Taff generally, to any horror reader. Taff eases the reader into his stories in his own unique way and then takes them some place dark and uncomfortable. He's an immensely talented writer and I look forward to reading more of his work.
May 5, 2013
Little Deaths by John F.D. Taff is a strong collection of creepy tales, served up in a variety of literary styles. Taff experiments with different storytelling techniques, sometimes cribbing prose styles and themes from grand masters of the genre. In lesser hands this work would be hack, but Taff puts his own unique spin these horror genre tropes.
Taff summons a cool Lovecraft vibe in “The Closed Eye Of A Dead World,” and plays with Poe’s prose in “But For a Moment … Motionless.” “Helping Hands” is Taff’s self-admitted attempt at a moody “ye olde Englande” piece.
Other references are more contemporary. “Child of Dirt” pays homage to the 1970s cult horror film, It’s Alive. “The Mellified Man” riffs on a couple of lines from Peter Straub’s Ghost Story.
“Here” is a touching —and, at times, terrifying — goodbye to a faithful friend. “Snapback” is an excellent example of a modern epistolary tale. In Mary Shelly’s day, epistolary novels were told as an exchange of letters. Taff uses email exchanges to illustrate this time-bending tale of Armageddon.
Speaking of Shelly, the best tale in this collection — “Bolts” — pays homage to Frankenstein. Taff’s take on codependent relationships and self denial is chilling and sharp.
Little Deaths showcases Taff’s writing skill and knowledge of the horror genre. No matter how dark things get, Taff has fun with these tales, and that feeling comes across as you read them.
Taff summons a cool Lovecraft vibe in “The Closed Eye Of A Dead World,” and plays with Poe’s prose in “But For a Moment … Motionless.” “Helping Hands” is Taff’s self-admitted attempt at a moody “ye olde Englande” piece.
Other references are more contemporary. “Child of Dirt” pays homage to the 1970s cult horror film, It’s Alive. “The Mellified Man” riffs on a couple of lines from Peter Straub’s Ghost Story.
“Here” is a touching —and, at times, terrifying — goodbye to a faithful friend. “Snapback” is an excellent example of a modern epistolary tale. In Mary Shelly’s day, epistolary novels were told as an exchange of letters. Taff uses email exchanges to illustrate this time-bending tale of Armageddon.
Speaking of Shelly, the best tale in this collection — “Bolts” — pays homage to Frankenstein. Taff’s take on codependent relationships and self denial is chilling and sharp.
Little Deaths showcases Taff’s writing skill and knowledge of the horror genre. No matter how dark things get, Taff has fun with these tales, and that feeling comes across as you read them.
April 28, 2015
Anthologies are always hard to rate, but ultimately, reading this collection was an entertaining experience. Some stories are stronger than others - "Here," "Box of Rocks," "In Men, Black" and "Snapback" were my favorites - and some stories fall a little short - "The Scent," "But for a Moment - Motionless" and "Helping Hands".
I very much liked that the author explored several different subsets of horror - there are some supernatural, psychological, ghostly, bloody, sci-fi and some that are just.. weird. Many of the stories are creative, and you're sure to find several stories you hvaen't seen before.
I did feel a marked improvement in the second half of the book - the stories feel better written, and the author is more adept at bringing different narrators to life.
Overall a fun little collection, each with a different kind of "little death." Recommended to anyone who enjoys horror, as the variety within the genre here has something for every kind of fan.
I very much liked that the author explored several different subsets of horror - there are some supernatural, psychological, ghostly, bloody, sci-fi and some that are just.. weird. Many of the stories are creative, and you're sure to find several stories you hvaen't seen before.
I did feel a marked improvement in the second half of the book - the stories feel better written, and the author is more adept at bringing different narrators to life.
Overall a fun little collection, each with a different kind of "little death." Recommended to anyone who enjoys horror, as the variety within the genre here has something for every kind of fan.
October 11, 2020
Not every short story in this collection is a gem, but those that are shine, and brightly, too. Even the ones that disappointed me (often because when compared to the usually fascinating idea being developed, the ending was somewhat lacking) invariably left me with a creepy, uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, which I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I haven't been this impressed in years: To have a voice this... consistently disturbing (and I do mean this as a massive compliment), yet perfectly devoid of casual vulgarity and cheap nastiness, a horror writer would have to be exceptionally gifted. Which, sadly, has proved to be rare.
I'll definitely be revisiting Little Deaths and am now off to pick another John F. D. Taff book. Highly recommended.
I'll definitely be revisiting Little Deaths and am now off to pick another John F. D. Taff book. Highly recommended.
September 25, 2019
I've said it before and I'll say it again: variety can make the difference between a good short fiction collection and a great one. In the case of John F.D. Taff's Little Deaths, variety doesn't even begin to describe the dazzling array of themes, tones, and voices the author was able to cram into the compilation. From creepy horror and heartbreaking stories of loss to spooky narratives written in a Poe-esque prose and tales that can only be called Lovecraftian in nature, Little Deaths has something for everyone.
You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
January 22, 2014
Little Deaths is a collection of creepy stories which are well written and completely satisfying for before bed reading here in New England during the darkest part of the winter. I'd like to emphasize that these stories are creepy - not horrifying. I think that when an author deliberately writes death and destruction into everyday life, it gives goose bumps and images that haunt. That isn't what this book is. The stories are fantastic and creepy, not terrifying. Having differentiated, I really liked reading, the stories are really well written.
I purchased this discounted on Amazon for Kindle - really worth it!
I purchased this discounted on Amazon for Kindle - really worth it!
September 10, 2014
Freebie e-book of disturbing short stories.
Stand outs:
Calendar Girl: Can one truly plan one's entire relationship and life down to the last detail?
The Water Bearer: An unusual love story of a "woman" scorned...
The Mire of Human Veins: Strange story of a mother and daughter
Orafice: tattoos and holes
In Men, Black: Think Moth Man and the X-files
Here: A dogs love is so great he wants his master with always.
Mellified Man: Middle-eastern Willy Wonka with promises of an amazing and unforgettable candied treat to die for.
I'll admit that I only read about half of the last story, "Box of Rocks" because I can deal with anything but the abuse/killing of cats.
Stand outs:
Calendar Girl: Can one truly plan one's entire relationship and life down to the last detail?
The Water Bearer: An unusual love story of a "woman" scorned...
The Mire of Human Veins: Strange story of a mother and daughter
Orafice: tattoos and holes
In Men, Black: Think Moth Man and the X-files
Here: A dogs love is so great he wants his master with always.
Mellified Man: Middle-eastern Willy Wonka with promises of an amazing and unforgettable candied treat to die for.
I'll admit that I only read about half of the last story, "Box of Rocks" because I can deal with anything but the abuse/killing of cats.
October 25, 2015
Okay, so only a couple stories in this book got me. Most felt like they could have easily been my own twisted dreams.
But then there's the story of the dog, hit by a car, and the owner seeing this dogs ghost trying to encourage him into death. I could see this happening to me one day, that I'd lose one of the few things that keep me sane at the wrong time in my life. But my story wouldn't end with me living.
And that last story of a guy recounting to a doctor how abusive his stepfather was, how the stepfather didn't want more kids, how he had to help his stepfather drown his pet cat and her kittens. That final line..."What do you mean we didn't have a cat?"
But then there's the story of the dog, hit by a car, and the owner seeing this dogs ghost trying to encourage him into death. I could see this happening to me one day, that I'd lose one of the few things that keep me sane at the wrong time in my life. But my story wouldn't end with me living.
And that last story of a guy recounting to a doctor how abusive his stepfather was, how the stepfather didn't want more kids, how he had to help his stepfather drown his pet cat and her kittens. That final line..."What do you mean we didn't have a cat?"
October 7, 2019
Taff is a writer of enormous talent with a huge imagination and a keen sense of what it means to be human, even when interacting with the world of the supernatural. There are tales here that deal with everything from loss and grief to empathy and pain. And of course, fear in all it’s many iterations. Taff’s influences shine through, from surreal speculative fiction to good old-fashioned monster movies. His voice is distinct but also displays great range and fits right in with greats like Stephen King and Harlan Ellison. I’ve never been disappointed by anything Taff has written.
January 23, 2014
This is one of the best short story collections I`ve ever read. The style of each story is excellently adapted to the plot and characters. Each plot is fascinating in itself and constructed in very special ways. Of course, some stories I liked less then others, but all are very good. I really hope to get my hands on some other writing of Taff.
September 9, 2014
It feels like the stories were written by many different authors - so I've got to give credit for that. There was one, maybe two, stories that I somewhat enjoyed. The rest felt very forced or left me not understanding what was going on, therefore unable to enjoy the short. Good if you have nothing else to read.
December 29, 2014
I had a lot of down time recently (no internet, no Wifi, no cable, no TV) and very long days in hospital. I devoured this book! "Here" broke my heart. The rest were the just plain nasty, weird, scary I love. I think "Helping Hands" was the best, but read them all. Make up your own mind - you won't be disappointed. Unless of course you scare easily :)
June 4, 2018
Good collection
Great horror collection for the busy people and possibly Low attention span. I read one story and picked up with a fresh story between work, chores and assignments. The stories were original, apart from three or four that I read in other anthologies. Books like these make me so grateful of Kindle Unlimited and my kindle fire tablet.
Great horror collection for the busy people and possibly Low attention span. I read one story and picked up with a fresh story between work, chores and assignments. The stories were original, apart from three or four that I read in other anthologies. Books like these make me so grateful of Kindle Unlimited and my kindle fire tablet.
June 15, 2018
There's 24 stories in the updated version of this book which is the one I downloaded onto my kindle.
This is the first book I've read from this author and he doesn't disappoint. Some of these stories had me cringing and as a horror fan thats not usual for me.
Freaky and sometimes gruesome these short tales will delight the dark part of your heart... I was hooked.
Loved it.
This is the first book I've read from this author and he doesn't disappoint. Some of these stories had me cringing and as a horror fan thats not usual for me.
Freaky and sometimes gruesome these short tales will delight the dark part of your heart... I was hooked.
Loved it.
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