What do you think?
Rate this book
Levitating: Stories
Gage Greenwood, who Nick Roberts, author of The Exorcist's House, called, "Arguably the most versatile voice writing today," puts that genre-blending flexibility on full display in this collection of short horror stories.
A failing stand-up comedian faces the ghosts of his past while performing on stage. A seemingly innocent interview slowly turns into a nightmare scenario. A father and son go face to face with a monstrous local legend. A man is asked if he would do anything to save his girlfriend and learns what "anything" entails. Two people meet in a bar and give up sobriety together, unleashing hell for both of them.
This "Intimate, raw, and personal collection" (MJ Mars, author of The Suffering and We've Already Gone Too Far) contains the following
Two Shows on Saturday
A Series of Attacks
Now Hiring
The Dunes
I Am Not Me Anymore
Dark Arts and Sweet Hearts
Glawackus
Brock Film Critic
Winter's First Myth
Levitating
This collection will haunt you and break your heart in equal measure. "These are stories that matter, and they'll ruin you." (Ben Young, author of Stuck and Home).
A failing stand-up comedian faces the ghosts of his past while performing on stage. A seemingly innocent interview slowly turns into a nightmare scenario. A father and son go face to face with a monstrous local legend. A man is asked if he would do anything to save his girlfriend and learns what "anything" entails. Two people meet in a bar and give up sobriety together, unleashing hell for both of them.
This "Intimate, raw, and personal collection" (MJ Mars, author of The Suffering and We've Already Gone Too Far) contains the following
Two Shows on Saturday
A Series of Attacks
Now Hiring
The Dunes
I Am Not Me Anymore
Dark Arts and Sweet Hearts
Glawackus
Brock Film Critic
Winter's First Myth
Levitating
This collection will haunt you and break your heart in equal measure. "These are stories that matter, and they'll ruin you." (Ben Young, author of Stuck and Home).
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2024
67 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Gage Greenwood
25 books380 followersGage Greenwood is the best-selling author of the Winter's Myths Saga, and Bunker Dogs. He's a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers association.He's been an actor, comedian, podcaster, and even the Vice President of an escape room company. Since childhood, he's been a big fan of comic books, horror movies, and depressing music that fills him with existential dread.He lives in New England with his girlfriend and son, and he spends his time writing, hiking, and decorating for various holidays
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 22, 2024
Gage’s released collection of tales was a bit of a surprise to me.
We know he can certainly tell a tale (see “Bunker Dogs”, “Winter’s Myths” and more), but I wasn’t sure how he’d transition to the short story.
Well I was pleasantly surprised- the depth and variety was fantastic. Gage tackles a number of tropes- aliens, hauntings, cryptids, and more within this book.
Standouts for me were: “I Am Not Me Anymore” (which is done in a found footage style) & “Glawackus” (a mysterious creature stalks a boy & his father).
The writing, characters, and plots were intriguing and well developed, and I enjoyed the author’s comments/inspirations listed after each entry. Easter Eggs abound here, so you’ll find lots of connections and hints at his other works.
For me, I found many of the stories either had a focus or undertone of sadness/loss/grief. This was hard for me as I found myself feeling more melancholy and relating more to these aspects than the actual horror. Not a bad thing at all, but not what I was necessarily looking for at this time.
We know he can certainly tell a tale (see “Bunker Dogs”, “Winter’s Myths” and more), but I wasn’t sure how he’d transition to the short story.
Well I was pleasantly surprised- the depth and variety was fantastic. Gage tackles a number of tropes- aliens, hauntings, cryptids, and more within this book.
Standouts for me were: “I Am Not Me Anymore” (which is done in a found footage style) & “Glawackus” (a mysterious creature stalks a boy & his father).
The writing, characters, and plots were intriguing and well developed, and I enjoyed the author’s comments/inspirations listed after each entry. Easter Eggs abound here, so you’ll find lots of connections and hints at his other works.
For me, I found many of the stories either had a focus or undertone of sadness/loss/grief. This was hard for me as I found myself feeling more melancholy and relating more to these aspects than the actual horror. Not a bad thing at all, but not what I was necessarily looking for at this time.
September 2, 2024
Reading a collection of Gage stories is a lot like being led into a dark cellar at knifepoint. There’s no way to be sure what he’s pushing you toward, but you know it’s bad. Big bad. and along the way there’s a clear sense that he’s just toying with you. You feel the blade and you know he can slide it deep whenever he damn well feels like it. Nothing is safe, there’s not even a fourth wall. He’s in your psyche as soon as you open the book.
And that’s precisely why these are not just stories, they’re a rumination on the human condition; you’re not reading horror tales, you’re front row for a showcase of tragedy and faulty coping and the full compliment of emotional turmoil we all know but can’t describe. These are stories that matter, and they’ll ruin you.
And that’s precisely why these are not just stories, they’re a rumination on the human condition; you’re not reading horror tales, you’re front row for a showcase of tragedy and faulty coping and the full compliment of emotional turmoil we all know but can’t describe. These are stories that matter, and they’ll ruin you.
August 25, 2024
Levitating is a very interesting and intense book of short stories. There’s several different types of horror stories mixed into this book; from aliens to other creatures and then all the way to grief and loss.
All of the stories are very deep and meaningful.
At the end of each story, the author gives a blurp on how the story came about, and lots of pieces stemmed from personal experiences.
Each story is very well written and I ended the book re-thinking about each one.
A few standouts are:
Now Hiring
Glawackus
Levitating
Thank you to Gage Greenwood for an arc copy of this outstanding book of emotion provoking short stories!
*This book comes out Aug 31st*
All of the stories are very deep and meaningful.
At the end of each story, the author gives a blurp on how the story came about, and lots of pieces stemmed from personal experiences.
Each story is very well written and I ended the book re-thinking about each one.
A few standouts are:
Now Hiring
Glawackus
Levitating
Thank you to Gage Greenwood for an arc copy of this outstanding book of emotion provoking short stories!
*This book comes out Aug 31st*
August 21, 2024
Last night, I finished an ARC of Gage Greenwood’s short story collection, Levitating.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a minute before reviewing. As someone who was unfortunately born with a non-creative brain, one of my favorite things about art, no matter the medium, is being able to see a little sliver of the artist’s soul in their work. Sometimes it’s more indirect, like a little window into how their brain works. The story doesn’t carry a piece of the author per se, but it showcases their creativity or imagination in a way that, to me, is enviable. Sometimes a story is for the reader, and the ultimate takeaway is it being a showcase for the author’s talent. A story the author wants to be heard. I appreciate that talent. It should be rewarded and celebrated. It’s what makes art, art.
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to consume art that is born from a piece of the author themselves. A memory or an emotion wiggles its way through an artist’s core and bursts through their fingertips onto a canvas, a score, or a page. That’s what I think Levitating is. I am always very conscious of avoiding interpreting an author’s work for them. I take away what I take away, and then I like to hear from the author themselves what they were thinking and feeling and what they were trying to get me to think and feel. In this collection, Gage hands that to his readers by including notes about how each story came to be and what it means to him. It feels like we get that little nugget of Gage’s soul.
Levitating is a collection of the most unavoidable and natural horrors, what it means to simply be human. It touches on subjects that inevitably find their way into our lives in some shape or form, universal experiences of the human condition, death, disaster, addiction, and grief. Each of these are dug into so deeply and presented in such a raw way, it rubs straight through to the bone. They’re the kind of stories that cause the reader to look at themselves and face truths they wouldn’t necessarily speak of out loud.
Now Hiring appears to be a fan favorite so far, and I can see why. It’s widely relatable. It takes a small, nagging fear that lives in so many of our heads for years and magnifies it. My favorite is the title story, Levitating. It felt incredibly personal to me. Grief horror is one of my favorite subgenres, and Gage does it so well. I love it when a book makes me feel something, and this one had me feeling it long after I put it down.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a minute before reviewing. As someone who was unfortunately born with a non-creative brain, one of my favorite things about art, no matter the medium, is being able to see a little sliver of the artist’s soul in their work. Sometimes it’s more indirect, like a little window into how their brain works. The story doesn’t carry a piece of the author per se, but it showcases their creativity or imagination in a way that, to me, is enviable. Sometimes a story is for the reader, and the ultimate takeaway is it being a showcase for the author’s talent. A story the author wants to be heard. I appreciate that talent. It should be rewarded and celebrated. It’s what makes art, art.
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to consume art that is born from a piece of the author themselves. A memory or an emotion wiggles its way through an artist’s core and bursts through their fingertips onto a canvas, a score, or a page. That’s what I think Levitating is. I am always very conscious of avoiding interpreting an author’s work for them. I take away what I take away, and then I like to hear from the author themselves what they were thinking and feeling and what they were trying to get me to think and feel. In this collection, Gage hands that to his readers by including notes about how each story came to be and what it means to him. It feels like we get that little nugget of Gage’s soul.
Levitating is a collection of the most unavoidable and natural horrors, what it means to simply be human. It touches on subjects that inevitably find their way into our lives in some shape or form, universal experiences of the human condition, death, disaster, addiction, and grief. Each of these are dug into so deeply and presented in such a raw way, it rubs straight through to the bone. They’re the kind of stories that cause the reader to look at themselves and face truths they wouldn’t necessarily speak of out loud.
Now Hiring appears to be a fan favorite so far, and I can see why. It’s widely relatable. It takes a small, nagging fear that lives in so many of our heads for years and magnifies it. My favorite is the title story, Levitating. It felt incredibly personal to me. Grief horror is one of my favorite subgenres, and Gage does it so well. I love it when a book makes me feel something, and this one had me feeling it long after I put it down.
August 18, 2024
Is Gage a Pisces? Because I’m a Pisces, and this definitely came from the mind of a water sign. 😅
Normally I would review a book like this story by story, but with this one I’m afraid it would take away from my overall review. So, we’re going to do things a bit differently.
I’ve been more and more of a short story collection person lately, and this one was amazing. It’s sophisticated. It’s thought provoking. The horrors of ghosts and inner demons alongside human emotions and folklore makes this collection ideal for any horror reader. It hits on a variety of tropes, so there’s something for everyone. The way each story was set up and written from start to finish was both unique and insightful.
There’s almost never a book that I would recommend to EVERYONE in this community, however this is one that I absolutely would.
September 10, 2024
Ten stories, each one a perfect little horror nugget, some visceral, some emotionally devastating and some with a very familiar feel but all written in Gage’s trademark poetic prose and deliciously descriptive dialogue. Well drawn characters that feel real and raw.
Each story has a paragraph or two at the end where Gage explains the inspiration and reasoning behind writing it. These are very human stories of horror, excellent!
Each story has a paragraph or two at the end where Gage explains the inspiration and reasoning behind writing it. These are very human stories of horror, excellent!
August 19, 2024
Gage... who hurt you? Because jeez... did you have to hurt my soul like this? 💔
This has no right being this good. This collection of shorts is absolutely depressing and yet haunting and beautiful, too.
Back with a full review soon.
This has no right being this good. This collection of shorts is absolutely depressing and yet haunting and beautiful, too.
Back with a full review soon.
March 13, 2025
I loved that every story was very unique (there’s ghosts, monsters, aliens and creatures) and covered very real human issues (grief, addiction and mental health).
The standouts for me were I Am Not Me Anymore, Glawackus, Levitating and Dark Arts and Sweethearts.
The standouts for me were I Am Not Me Anymore, Glawackus, Levitating and Dark Arts and Sweethearts.
August 28, 2024
Gage Greenwood's first short story collection is one of a kind: it presents itself as a typical horror collection, employing familiar horror tropes to tell a story; in truth, however, it's trying all along to draw the reader's attention away from where the true horror lies, so that !BAM! a hugely subtle ending reveals the true, cruel, uncomfortable terror right under our noses. It's absolutely refreshing to find stories where the obviously spooky and the loudly weird serve to convey the unobviously horrific and the quietly scary. These are not campfire tales, certainly not mere snapshots of creepiness or cheap gimmicks redeployed for the hundredth time in order to simply shatter the false calmness of a quiet night. You do get ghosts and monsters, but the horror is displaced elsewhere: it's found in what the ghosts mean to say, in what the presence of monsters signify in the story's specific context. These are stories you'll end up thinking about several times the next day, they'll be occupying a part of your mind seldom touched by those other, often overused, storytelling methods. Plus, the author's fascinating story notes take you one level up (or one level down!) and show you the dark place the story came from. It's not always a blessing, but the tales originate in experience, not just in the oddities of a fertile imagination.
I'll say a few words on the stories I liked.
I doubt anyone but Greenwood can have a stand-up comedian facing the ghost of his mother on stage, without succumbing to the temptation of making a joke out of it; Greenwood, instead, transforms it into a heart-rending meditation on the excruciatingly painful impact of guilt, grief, failure, and addiction ("Two Shows on Saturday"). Nor can I imagine anyone else starting a story with a horrible bus explosion (never shown) and going straight into the undoing of a survivor's recovery, without parading it as the whimsy of a metaphysical tragedy; yet, a bit shockingly, the story ends up being about romantic relationships, soulmates and predestination ("A Series of Attacks")! Similarly, a tale about a mother losing her child, a harrowing and disorientating narrative of eclipsed motherhood, seriously undermines all expectations, shakes you up and then suddenly grabs you by the throat without letting go till the end, when it's shown that the person who's been really missing (and missing everything) was not the child after all ("Now Hiring"). Perhaps the most unsettling story in standard horror terms is the one told in transcripts: a sort of supernatural, framentary tale of dissolving friendships, with strong urban legend vibes, presented as a series of (true and falsified) memories, the whole displaced into a "Stand By Me"-type of setting; a truly clever story to conceive, let alone sit yourself down and write (" I Am Not Me Anymore"). More emblematic of the aforementioned pattern is the one creature feature story, where the promise of a cryptid attack, though fulfilled, turns out not to be the horror element of the story: this is revealed in the end, as an unsettling throwaway one-liner ("Glawackus"). The same pattern appears in the absolutely wonderful, yet ultimately cruel, tale of a young teenager who finds himself under attack from so many different fronts (bullying, parents, school, frustrated ambitions), no wonder he's always one step from getting crashed under the unfulfilled promises and the painful betrayals ("Brock Hesford: Film Critic"). This story, by the way, felt like a badly-wired Christian allegory: the son's early messianic promise, the absent biological father, the invisible, famed spiritual father, the son's tribulations, his patient toleration of torment; the ending, however, throws the poor guy to the dogs (thankfully, not them bunker ones). In any case, if these stories seem to follow a narrative pattern, hiding the real horror elements behind a familiar horror trope or under the vagaries of ordinary life misread and misunderstood, then the closing tale is the self-annihilation of this pattern: the story is entirely built upon a sense of horror-displacement, dangling several horror carrots throughout and never showing directly the stick. It's a story about sex and addiction: a one-night stand gone wrong, brought out by compulsion, fuelled by self-punishment, guilt and despair, using the idea of the supernatural as an exordium to death, instead of the promise of an afterlife ("Levitating").
There is tragedy in these stories, and frustration, and love; there's even a poem. But they all carry that nuanced Greenwood blend of insight, empathy, and intelligence, turning skin-deep horror into penetrating expressions of flawed character. This is not easy to achieve without falling into the trap of moralizing, and there's nothing more laughable than horror writers patronizing their readers. Greenwood will entertain and amuse you, horrify you and even terrorize you into submission, but as an author he will neither look down on failure nor indulge into martyrdom. There are real lessons to take from his stories. Definitely worth checking out for yourself!
I'll say a few words on the stories I liked.
I doubt anyone but Greenwood can have a stand-up comedian facing the ghost of his mother on stage, without succumbing to the temptation of making a joke out of it; Greenwood, instead, transforms it into a heart-rending meditation on the excruciatingly painful impact of guilt, grief, failure, and addiction ("Two Shows on Saturday"). Nor can I imagine anyone else starting a story with a horrible bus explosion (never shown) and going straight into the undoing of a survivor's recovery, without parading it as the whimsy of a metaphysical tragedy; yet, a bit shockingly, the story ends up being about romantic relationships, soulmates and predestination ("A Series of Attacks")! Similarly, a tale about a mother losing her child, a harrowing and disorientating narrative of eclipsed motherhood, seriously undermines all expectations, shakes you up and then suddenly grabs you by the throat without letting go till the end, when it's shown that the person who's been really missing (and missing everything) was not the child after all ("Now Hiring"). Perhaps the most unsettling story in standard horror terms is the one told in transcripts: a sort of supernatural, framentary tale of dissolving friendships, with strong urban legend vibes, presented as a series of (true and falsified) memories, the whole displaced into a "Stand By Me"-type of setting; a truly clever story to conceive, let alone sit yourself down and write (" I Am Not Me Anymore"). More emblematic of the aforementioned pattern is the one creature feature story, where the promise of a cryptid attack, though fulfilled, turns out not to be the horror element of the story: this is revealed in the end, as an unsettling throwaway one-liner ("Glawackus"). The same pattern appears in the absolutely wonderful, yet ultimately cruel, tale of a young teenager who finds himself under attack from so many different fronts (bullying, parents, school, frustrated ambitions), no wonder he's always one step from getting crashed under the unfulfilled promises and the painful betrayals ("Brock Hesford: Film Critic"). This story, by the way, felt like a badly-wired Christian allegory: the son's early messianic promise, the absent biological father, the invisible, famed spiritual father, the son's tribulations, his patient toleration of torment; the ending, however, throws the poor guy to the dogs (thankfully, not them bunker ones). In any case, if these stories seem to follow a narrative pattern, hiding the real horror elements behind a familiar horror trope or under the vagaries of ordinary life misread and misunderstood, then the closing tale is the self-annihilation of this pattern: the story is entirely built upon a sense of horror-displacement, dangling several horror carrots throughout and never showing directly the stick. It's a story about sex and addiction: a one-night stand gone wrong, brought out by compulsion, fuelled by self-punishment, guilt and despair, using the idea of the supernatural as an exordium to death, instead of the promise of an afterlife ("Levitating").
There is tragedy in these stories, and frustration, and love; there's even a poem. But they all carry that nuanced Greenwood blend of insight, empathy, and intelligence, turning skin-deep horror into penetrating expressions of flawed character. This is not easy to achieve without falling into the trap of moralizing, and there's nothing more laughable than horror writers patronizing their readers. Greenwood will entertain and amuse you, horrify you and even terrorize you into submission, but as an author he will neither look down on failure nor indulge into martyrdom. There are real lessons to take from his stories. Definitely worth checking out for yourself!
December 18, 2024
Levitating: Stories – by Gage Greenwood
Having read every book Gage has released, I was really excited to read this, and honored that he sent me an ARC copy.
This is a collection of stories that run you through a myriad of emotions. It’s his first foray into short stories, but you’d never know that. They’re horror themed BUT, through each of them you slowly get to the REAL horror. It could be someone’s past, a death in the family, and more. Through a small horror story Gage is able to give us the real horror of humans…their emotions, their psyche, real life. Like me, you’ll find yourself thinking about these stories long after you’ve finished reading them. After each story, Gage gives us a short footnote-like explanation of where the story came from, what inspired it and/or what was happening in his life that helped create them. I loved and appreciated those because they give us a small glimpse into all that he’s gone through to become who he is today.
I’ve said it before in my previous reviews of his books…I’m just amazed at Gage’s talent of writing, and how each release is somehow better than the one before.
Having read every book Gage has released, I was really excited to read this, and honored that he sent me an ARC copy.
This is a collection of stories that run you through a myriad of emotions. It’s his first foray into short stories, but you’d never know that. They’re horror themed BUT, through each of them you slowly get to the REAL horror. It could be someone’s past, a death in the family, and more. Through a small horror story Gage is able to give us the real horror of humans…their emotions, their psyche, real life. Like me, you’ll find yourself thinking about these stories long after you’ve finished reading them. After each story, Gage gives us a short footnote-like explanation of where the story came from, what inspired it and/or what was happening in his life that helped create them. I loved and appreciated those because they give us a small glimpse into all that he’s gone through to become who he is today.
I’ve said it before in my previous reviews of his books…I’m just amazed at Gage’s talent of writing, and how each release is somehow better than the one before.
August 18, 2024
Levitating And Other Stories by Gage Greenwood is a collection of stories that will just flat out punch you in the face. In a good way.
Each story is emotional, sophisticated and visceral, with some nice Easter eggs peppered in (or should that be Bacon and eggs?), there is not a single story that will not have you feeling things you didn’t want to feel, but now you just want more. Great plots, fleshed out characters (although their flesh might always stay attached to them) and gut-wrenching moments, every story is poetry in motion: even if you are sitting down to read them.
Creatures, ghosts, aliens, trauma and grief are all explored in this collection with some amazing author notes after each tale. I wish these were more common, because I really loved reading the meaning behind each story, the inspirations and the difficulties with the writing.
Gage’s writing shines as beautifully as ever, he is so good at building worlds and making characters that are painfully realistic: every story here is beautiful and plays out like a movie in your mind.
Each story is emotional, sophisticated and visceral, with some nice Easter eggs peppered in (or should that be Bacon and eggs?), there is not a single story that will not have you feeling things you didn’t want to feel, but now you just want more. Great plots, fleshed out characters (although their flesh might always stay attached to them) and gut-wrenching moments, every story is poetry in motion: even if you are sitting down to read them.
Creatures, ghosts, aliens, trauma and grief are all explored in this collection with some amazing author notes after each tale. I wish these were more common, because I really loved reading the meaning behind each story, the inspirations and the difficulties with the writing.
Gage’s writing shines as beautifully as ever, he is so good at building worlds and making characters that are painfully realistic: every story here is beautiful and plays out like a movie in your mind.
August 23, 2024
Human beings are inherently flawed and complex creatures. We feel pain, joy, lust, sadness and fear. One of our greatest gifts is being able to convey those emotions to our fellow humans through a number of different mediums. What Gage Greenwood was able to achieve in Levitating and Other Stories is an example of the horrors of the human experience without the in your face jump scares and shock value. This collection of stories are like a deep yearning that settles down into your soul and won't let go until it has been properly feed. But once you give in and give it everything it needs it tears you apart from the inside out as you feel the trauma, stress and anxiety that Gage poured into these tales leaving you in a state of melancholy and bliss for simply being able to have experienced it.
February 2, 2025
This was one of the best books I read this year. It’s ten very different intense and thought provoking stories that carry with them loss and grief. I absolutely loved how Gage writes a blurb at the end of each story.
This book made me feel all kinds of different emotions and I absolutely love when a book does that. It was a very well written book. All ten stories were absolutely amazing.
Even though I loved all ten stories, my favorites were Now Hiring, I Am Not Me Anymore, Winter’s First Myth, Levitating and Dark Arts and Sweethearts.
This book made me feel all kinds of different emotions and I absolutely love when a book does that. It was a very well written book. All ten stories were absolutely amazing.
Even though I loved all ten stories, my favorites were Now Hiring, I Am Not Me Anymore, Winter’s First Myth, Levitating and Dark Arts and Sweethearts.
September 7, 2024
4.5/5⭐ rounded up
If we still had Twilight Zone around I think most of the pieces in this collection would feel right at home. The combination of creepy and heartbreaking make these stories feel personal and all the more effective. Greenwood also employs the tactic of having most of these stories adjacent to Tanner’s Switch, which is now firmly fixed in my mind as one of the Best Creepy Towns (along with the classics of Castle Rock and Derry). Greenwood’s ability to take real life horrors right over the edge into high terror leave these stories resonating like finely plucked nerve endings.
Standouts for me:
Now Hiring: a mother’s attempt to return to the workforce turns into a paranoid hallucinatory nightmare become real (or was it?) after she attends an interview with her young daughter in tow, where her little girl’s entire existence is erased in an eyeblink for everyone around her, except herself.
I Am Not Me Anymore: ok, this one completely did me in. There was something so brutally effective in the combination of ‘found evidence’ and flashback narratives told to an ‘investigative’ reporter by the odd name of Gage Greenwood, natch (and I swear that seemed to really freak me out even more for some reason?). This tale had that small town, nostalgic mysterious feel of the best of King, but amped up. Fourteen years after a mysterious tragedy involving a close group of young teenage boys, the mystery isn’t over.
This one had me well and truly freaked out and it didn’t help when just as I was finishing the story, my Kindle started acting like it was being used by aliens to broadcast signals to me by turning pages on its own at a very high rate (I gave it a forced restart and put it away for the night and went to a physical book.) So, thanks Gage for possessing the very material you want us to read!
A Series of Attacks is an all too real tale of an all too common and modern-day tragedy that turns into one man’s concern/obsession for a fellow victim. This one is so effective because every piece of it is possible. A real horror.
Glawackus is a fantastic, straight up monster tale based on a Connecticut myth which intersects with a newly relocated father and son after a divorce. Also set in the small town of Tanner’s Switch, this is one seriously terrifying father-son bonding moment.
Winter’s First Myth (I have not read either of the two novels that this short is a part of) is a ‘tale-within-a-tale”. The setting was intriguing – a post-apocalyptic community is surviving after a mysterious event (I’m sure this is explored more in the novel of Winter’s Myths). I loved the strange names of everyone, which leads me to believe there is a rich history to this community and how they view the world and it’s past. As soon as I finished this I immediately ordered Winter’s Myths.
Dark Arts And Sweethearts: I made a note right at the end of this” “like a creepy cross between Gaiman and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Sad and sweet. Kinda uplifting to end the collection.”
I’d like to thank the author, Gage Greenwood, for providing me with a review copy of Levitating Stories. I am leaving this review voluntarily
If we still had Twilight Zone around I think most of the pieces in this collection would feel right at home. The combination of creepy and heartbreaking make these stories feel personal and all the more effective. Greenwood also employs the tactic of having most of these stories adjacent to Tanner’s Switch, which is now firmly fixed in my mind as one of the Best Creepy Towns (along with the classics of Castle Rock and Derry). Greenwood’s ability to take real life horrors right over the edge into high terror leave these stories resonating like finely plucked nerve endings.
Standouts for me:
Now Hiring: a mother’s attempt to return to the workforce turns into a paranoid hallucinatory nightmare become real (or was it?) after she attends an interview with her young daughter in tow, where her little girl’s entire existence is erased in an eyeblink for everyone around her, except herself.
I Am Not Me Anymore: ok, this one completely did me in. There was something so brutally effective in the combination of ‘found evidence’ and flashback narratives told to an ‘investigative’ reporter by the odd name of Gage Greenwood, natch (and I swear that seemed to really freak me out even more for some reason?). This tale had that small town, nostalgic mysterious feel of the best of King, but amped up. Fourteen years after a mysterious tragedy involving a close group of young teenage boys, the mystery isn’t over.
This one had me well and truly freaked out and it didn’t help when just as I was finishing the story, my Kindle started acting like it was being used by aliens to broadcast signals to me by turning pages on its own at a very high rate (I gave it a forced restart and put it away for the night and went to a physical book.) So, thanks Gage for possessing the very material you want us to read!
A Series of Attacks is an all too real tale of an all too common and modern-day tragedy that turns into one man’s concern/obsession for a fellow victim. This one is so effective because every piece of it is possible. A real horror.
Glawackus is a fantastic, straight up monster tale based on a Connecticut myth which intersects with a newly relocated father and son after a divorce. Also set in the small town of Tanner’s Switch, this is one seriously terrifying father-son bonding moment.
Winter’s First Myth (I have not read either of the two novels that this short is a part of) is a ‘tale-within-a-tale”. The setting was intriguing – a post-apocalyptic community is surviving after a mysterious event (I’m sure this is explored more in the novel of Winter’s Myths). I loved the strange names of everyone, which leads me to believe there is a rich history to this community and how they view the world and it’s past. As soon as I finished this I immediately ordered Winter’s Myths.
Dark Arts And Sweethearts: I made a note right at the end of this” “like a creepy cross between Gaiman and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Sad and sweet. Kinda uplifting to end the collection.”
I’d like to thank the author, Gage Greenwood, for providing me with a review copy of Levitating Stories. I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 21, 2025
4.5/5⭐ rounded up
If we still had Twilight Zone around I think most of the pieces in this collection would feel right at home. The combination of creepy and heartbreaking make these stories feel personal and all the more effective. Greenwood also employs the tactic of having most of these stories adjacent to Tanner’s Switch, which is now firmly fixed in my mind as one of the Best Creepy Towns (along with the classics of Castle Rock and Derry). Greenwood’s ability to take real life horrors right over the edge into high terror leave these stories resonating like finely plucked nerve endings.
Standouts for me:
Now Hiring: a mother’s attempt to return to the workforce turns into a paranoid hallucinatory nightmare become real (or was it?) after she attends an interview with her young daughter in tow, where her little girl’s entire existence is erased in an eyeblink for everyone around her, except herself.
I Am Not Me Anymore: ok, this one completely did me in. There was something so brutally effective in the combination of ‘found evidence’ and flashback narratives told to an ‘investigative’ reporter by the odd name of Gage Greenwood, natch (and I swear that seemed to really freak me out even more for some reason?). This tale had that small town, nostalgic mysterious feel of the best of King, but amped up. Fourteen years after a mysterious tragedy involving a close group of young teenage boys, the mystery isn’t over.
This one had me well and truly freaked out and it didn’t help when just as I was finishing the story, my Kindle started acting like it was being used by aliens to broadcast signals to me by turning pages on its own at a very high rate (I gave it a forced restart and put it away for the night and went to a physical book.) So, thanks Gage for possessing the very material you want us to read!
A Series of Attacks is an all too real tale of an all too common and modern-day tragedy that turns into one man’s concern/obsession for a fellow victim. This one is so effective because every piece of it is possible. A real horror.
Glawackus is a fantastic, straight up monster tale based on a Connecticut myth which intersects with a newly relocated father and son after a divorce. Also set in the small town of Tanner’s Switch, this is one seriously terrifying father-son bonding moment.
Winter’s First Myth (I have not read either of the two novels that this short is a part of) is a ‘tale-within-a-tale”. The setting was intriguing – a post-apocalyptic community is surviving after a mysterious event (I’m sure this is explored more in the novel of Winter’s Myths). I loved the strange names of everyone, which leads me to believe there is a rich history to this community and how they view the world and it’s past. As soon as I finished this I immediately ordered Winter’s Myths.
Dark Arts And Sweethearts: I made a note right at the end of this” “like a creepy cross between Gaiman and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Sad and sweet. Kinda uplifting to end the collection.”
I’d like to thank the author, Gage Greenwood, for providing me with a review copy of Levitating Stories. I am leaving this review voluntarily
If we still had Twilight Zone around I think most of the pieces in this collection would feel right at home. The combination of creepy and heartbreaking make these stories feel personal and all the more effective. Greenwood also employs the tactic of having most of these stories adjacent to Tanner’s Switch, which is now firmly fixed in my mind as one of the Best Creepy Towns (along with the classics of Castle Rock and Derry). Greenwood’s ability to take real life horrors right over the edge into high terror leave these stories resonating like finely plucked nerve endings.
Standouts for me:
Now Hiring: a mother’s attempt to return to the workforce turns into a paranoid hallucinatory nightmare become real (or was it?) after she attends an interview with her young daughter in tow, where her little girl’s entire existence is erased in an eyeblink for everyone around her, except herself.
I Am Not Me Anymore: ok, this one completely did me in. There was something so brutally effective in the combination of ‘found evidence’ and flashback narratives told to an ‘investigative’ reporter by the odd name of Gage Greenwood, natch (and I swear that seemed to really freak me out even more for some reason?). This tale had that small town, nostalgic mysterious feel of the best of King, but amped up. Fourteen years after a mysterious tragedy involving a close group of young teenage boys, the mystery isn’t over.
This one had me well and truly freaked out and it didn’t help when just as I was finishing the story, my Kindle started acting like it was being used by aliens to broadcast signals to me by turning pages on its own at a very high rate (I gave it a forced restart and put it away for the night and went to a physical book.) So, thanks Gage for possessing the very material you want us to read!
A Series of Attacks is an all too real tale of an all too common and modern-day tragedy that turns into one man’s concern/obsession for a fellow victim. This one is so effective because every piece of it is possible. A real horror.
Glawackus is a fantastic, straight up monster tale based on a Connecticut myth which intersects with a newly relocated father and son after a divorce. Also set in the small town of Tanner’s Switch, this is one seriously terrifying father-son bonding moment.
Winter’s First Myth (I have not read either of the two novels that this short is a part of) is a ‘tale-within-a-tale”. The setting was intriguing – a post-apocalyptic community is surviving after a mysterious event (I’m sure this is explored more in the novel of Winter’s Myths). I loved the strange names of everyone, which leads me to believe there is a rich history to this community and how they view the world and it’s past. As soon as I finished this I immediately ordered Winter’s Myths.
Dark Arts And Sweethearts: I made a note right at the end of this” “like a creepy cross between Gaiman and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Sad and sweet. Kinda uplifting to end the collection.”
I’d like to thank the author, Gage Greenwood, for providing me with a review copy of Levitating Stories. I am leaving this review voluntarily
August 18, 2024
After really enjoying Bunker Dogs and the short stories I had read, this year's On A Clear Day You Can See Block Island made me fall in love with Greenwood's writing. I have been eagerly anticipating what he would release next, and I jumped at the chance to read this new collection of short stories.
Levitating touches on a variety of different tropes and styles of horror, from coming-of-age to aliens, ghost stories to folk horror, mythology to obsession. In lesser hands, covering so many individual subjects could feel disjointed, but there is a personal thread running throughout that adds an element of cohesion. Greenwood provides a short afterword to each story, giving context and often expanding on how his own experiences shaped them, making this an intimate read. A common argument about this genre is what does and doesn't fit into it, but for me there are few things so horrifying as laying yourself so bare, as recounting times you've looked in the mirror and couldn't stand the reflection staring back at you—those moments you've known you need to make a change.
The quality here is so high that it's almost impossible to single out my favourites. I was so impressed by the opening story, Two Shows On A Saturday, and the way it combines grief, addiction as a coping method, and the feeling of desperate loneliness a performer gets in front of a crowd, surrounded by people yet adrift as their own island. A relatable, painful read, Greenwood uses ghosts to good effect but left me feeling that there are worse things to be haunted by.
Now Hiring is destined to be one that is singled out in many reviews, in which a parent's worst nightmare is played out—their child goes missing. Ultimately, though, it becomes something even scarier. My mother raised me as a single parent, and this incredibly effective story felt like it'd given me some more insight into how that experience was for her. A must-read.
Other highlights include I Am Not Me Anymore, a traumatic experience for a childhood friendship group told in an epistolary-style format, and the rural horror Glawackus, which again touches on the single parent experience, this time from the father's perspective, while also exploring the divide between city dwellers and country folk. The book is capped off with the title story, Levitating, in which two people in recovery meet in a bar and decide to quit sobriety, knowing that this choice will blow up everything in their lives that they've fought to claw back. I didn't need to read the author's note to feel how achingly personal this one is.
In a year with some excellent collections released from a wide variety of great authors, Levitating stands out as one of the very best. Sometimes cynical, occasionally hopeful, and an experience that left me drained upon finishing, these stories are never less than beautifully devastating. An easy 4.5* rating for me.
Levitating touches on a variety of different tropes and styles of horror, from coming-of-age to aliens, ghost stories to folk horror, mythology to obsession. In lesser hands, covering so many individual subjects could feel disjointed, but there is a personal thread running throughout that adds an element of cohesion. Greenwood provides a short afterword to each story, giving context and often expanding on how his own experiences shaped them, making this an intimate read. A common argument about this genre is what does and doesn't fit into it, but for me there are few things so horrifying as laying yourself so bare, as recounting times you've looked in the mirror and couldn't stand the reflection staring back at you—those moments you've known you need to make a change.
The quality here is so high that it's almost impossible to single out my favourites. I was so impressed by the opening story, Two Shows On A Saturday, and the way it combines grief, addiction as a coping method, and the feeling of desperate loneliness a performer gets in front of a crowd, surrounded by people yet adrift as their own island. A relatable, painful read, Greenwood uses ghosts to good effect but left me feeling that there are worse things to be haunted by.
Now Hiring is destined to be one that is singled out in many reviews, in which a parent's worst nightmare is played out—their child goes missing. Ultimately, though, it becomes something even scarier. My mother raised me as a single parent, and this incredibly effective story felt like it'd given me some more insight into how that experience was for her. A must-read.
Other highlights include I Am Not Me Anymore, a traumatic experience for a childhood friendship group told in an epistolary-style format, and the rural horror Glawackus, which again touches on the single parent experience, this time from the father's perspective, while also exploring the divide between city dwellers and country folk. The book is capped off with the title story, Levitating, in which two people in recovery meet in a bar and decide to quit sobriety, knowing that this choice will blow up everything in their lives that they've fought to claw back. I didn't need to read the author's note to feel how achingly personal this one is.
In a year with some excellent collections released from a wide variety of great authors, Levitating stands out as one of the very best. Sometimes cynical, occasionally hopeful, and an experience that left me drained upon finishing, these stories are never less than beautifully devastating. An easy 4.5* rating for me.
September 2, 2024
Gage Greenwood is one of the few authors that I will read whatever they put out immediately. His writing is always emotional, immersive, and wildly entertaining. Levitating is no exception. Each story in this collection is incredibly layered. The outer stories are wonderfully written and scary. If you dig a little deeper, you will find multiple instances of heartfelt emotions about life, addiction, grief, guilt, and madness. Forgive me for being unable to pick a favorite, they are all too damn good. However, I will give you a few notes about my top 3 (or 4).
Two Shows on a Saturday- A devastating tale of a stand-up comic and his struggles with addiction, guilt, and loss. Extremely emotional with some harrowing imagery. The author's note afterward made it even more special. Thank you for sharing this one, Gage.
I Am Not Me Anymore- I absolutely love stories told in this format! Transcripts, voice recordings, emails. I enjoy the way it flows and shows different POVs so clearly. I especially love the when the story is this damn good! A psychological, coming-of-age tale.
Glawackus- You cannot beat a fantastic local cryptid story. This one was short and sweet. I loved the relationship between father and son. And it got gnarly!
Levitating- The title story was spectacular. Two alcoholics walk into a bar...and decide to be chaotic together. Emotions run high and deep simultaneously, and the more Dylan drinks, the more bizarre this tale becomes. Plus, spicy!
All of these stories run the gamut of emotions from A to Z. The layering in some of these shorts is incredibly well done. A well-paced plot makes for an enjoyable read, but these tales go much deeper if you pay attention. The author notes after each story are heartfelt and very appreciated by this reader.
Highly recommend, don't miss this one!
Two Shows on a Saturday- A devastating tale of a stand-up comic and his struggles with addiction, guilt, and loss. Extremely emotional with some harrowing imagery. The author's note afterward made it even more special. Thank you for sharing this one, Gage.
I Am Not Me Anymore- I absolutely love stories told in this format! Transcripts, voice recordings, emails. I enjoy the way it flows and shows different POVs so clearly. I especially love the when the story is this damn good! A psychological, coming-of-age tale.
Glawackus- You cannot beat a fantastic local cryptid story. This one was short and sweet. I loved the relationship between father and son. And it got gnarly!
Levitating- The title story was spectacular. Two alcoholics walk into a bar...and decide to be chaotic together. Emotions run high and deep simultaneously, and the more Dylan drinks, the more bizarre this tale becomes. Plus, spicy!
All of these stories run the gamut of emotions from A to Z. The layering in some of these shorts is incredibly well done. A well-paced plot makes for an enjoyable read, but these tales go much deeper if you pay attention. The author notes after each story are heartfelt and very appreciated by this reader.
Highly recommend, don't miss this one!
August 20, 2024
What I really love about Gage’s books is how relatable they are and how every book I’ve read of his so far has real character depth. No matter the plot, Gage will manage to portray real life and real human struggles. At the heart of this collection of stories, you can find people struggling with addiction, loss, grief, loneliness, love. The great thing is though, these raw human emotions are then thrown into a horror story. Whether that’s a creature feature, a more human psychological horror, or an investigation type approach, you are guaranteed a whole lot of variety and heart.
I’m not going to go through every single story but will just highlight my two standouts (as I couldn’t have just one).
NOW HIRING - Follows a woman as she goes to an interview with her toddler and during this, something happens. It’s a heartbreaking story about time and family and in general, life. This really ate away at my soul and it’s a cold realisation of the reality most of us face. The psychological horror element really got to me in this.
I AM NOT ME ANYMORE - An investigation which centres around a group of friends telling their secret which happened to them many years ago. Told in mixed media format (audio transcripts, email transcripts, police interviews), this was a very unique and interesting story which I would love an extended version of tbh 👀
What I also loved about this is the author had a note after each story on why he wrote it and how it relates to him. I really felt this gave the collection a more personal touch. You can always count on Gage to throw a great quote in too.
I think we can all get from my words that I loved this collection, I highly recommend BUNKER DOGS and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE BLOCK ISLAND too.
I’m not going to go through every single story but will just highlight my two standouts (as I couldn’t have just one).
NOW HIRING - Follows a woman as she goes to an interview with her toddler and during this, something happens. It’s a heartbreaking story about time and family and in general, life. This really ate away at my soul and it’s a cold realisation of the reality most of us face. The psychological horror element really got to me in this.
I AM NOT ME ANYMORE - An investigation which centres around a group of friends telling their secret which happened to them many years ago. Told in mixed media format (audio transcripts, email transcripts, police interviews), this was a very unique and interesting story which I would love an extended version of tbh 👀
What I also loved about this is the author had a note after each story on why he wrote it and how it relates to him. I really felt this gave the collection a more personal touch. You can always count on Gage to throw a great quote in too.
I think we can all get from my words that I loved this collection, I highly recommend BUNKER DOGS and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE BLOCK ISLAND too.
August 26, 2024
I've read some of Gage's books/stories before. I've seen some authors call it WTF GAGE, so I thought I knew what to expect.
I was wrong.
You can tell when reading this collection that Gage put a part of his heart and soul into each and every one of these stories. He includes a snippet from himself at the end of each one, explaining what it means to him/where he came up with the idea/the driving force behind it. I really like that he included that, getting a glimpse into his mind, more that what we see when reading the stories itself.
Each story was incredible, but there were a few that stood out higher than the rest for me.
Two Shows On Saturday: after chatting with Gage quite a bit the day before Books and Brews, I could tell that this one hit home for him.
Brock Film Critic: this one hit me harder than it should have. There was a lot of devastation going on in Brock's life, especially for a young teen. And the one constant that he clung to for dear life? Well, you just have to read it.
And now we get to the real WTF GAGE story: Now Hiring. When I started reading it, I was expecting it to go one way, and then somewhere along the line, an emotional bus slammed through my house and carried me miles away, stuck to the front of it like a fly trying to cross the highway. It doesn't help that my kids just started school, and I wasn't able to just scoop them up in my arms and squeeze them when I was done reading it. Nobody makes me feel my own feelings!!! (please tell me you read that as White Goodman from Dodgeball)
Now if you excuse me, I'm off to move Winter's Myths up on my TBR.
I was wrong.
You can tell when reading this collection that Gage put a part of his heart and soul into each and every one of these stories. He includes a snippet from himself at the end of each one, explaining what it means to him/where he came up with the idea/the driving force behind it. I really like that he included that, getting a glimpse into his mind, more that what we see when reading the stories itself.
Each story was incredible, but there were a few that stood out higher than the rest for me.
Two Shows On Saturday: after chatting with Gage quite a bit the day before Books and Brews, I could tell that this one hit home for him.
Brock Film Critic: this one hit me harder than it should have. There was a lot of devastation going on in Brock's life, especially for a young teen. And the one constant that he clung to for dear life? Well, you just have to read it.
And now we get to the real WTF GAGE story: Now Hiring. When I started reading it, I was expecting it to go one way, and then somewhere along the line, an emotional bus slammed through my house and carried me miles away, stuck to the front of it like a fly trying to cross the highway. It doesn't help that my kids just started school, and I wasn't able to just scoop them up in my arms and squeeze them when I was done reading it. Nobody makes me feel my own feelings!!! (please tell me you read that as White Goodman from Dodgeball)
Now if you excuse me, I'm off to move Winter's Myths up on my TBR.
September 9, 2024
Thank you, Gage Greenwood, for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
This is only my second time reading Gage's work (tragic, I know), but now I want to go on a binge read of all his other works because, holy cow, what a collection. Each story in this collection felt like a complete novel crammed into 40 pages. There wasn't a story in this collection that I didn't like, but a few of my favorites were:
Two Shows On Saturday: a story about loss and the ghosts that haunt us, real and imagined, when we lose someone close to us.
I Am Not Me Anymore: a story told through voice memos, diary entries, police interviews, and emails. Such a unique story that had me guessing till the end.
Levitating: a story about sobriety and relapse and two people who struggle with both who find each other at a pivotal point in their lives.
Each story has an accompanying author note, which I felt really added to the story as a whole and let us see the inner workings of Gage's mind as he wrote these amazing stories. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, as it was such an enjoyable read that will stick with me forever.
This is only my second time reading Gage's work (tragic, I know), but now I want to go on a binge read of all his other works because, holy cow, what a collection. Each story in this collection felt like a complete novel crammed into 40 pages. There wasn't a story in this collection that I didn't like, but a few of my favorites were:
Two Shows On Saturday: a story about loss and the ghosts that haunt us, real and imagined, when we lose someone close to us.
I Am Not Me Anymore: a story told through voice memos, diary entries, police interviews, and emails. Such a unique story that had me guessing till the end.
Levitating: a story about sobriety and relapse and two people who struggle with both who find each other at a pivotal point in their lives.
Each story has an accompanying author note, which I felt really added to the story as a whole and let us see the inner workings of Gage's mind as he wrote these amazing stories. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, as it was such an enjoyable read that will stick with me forever.
September 2, 2024
I’ve been trying to find the words to review this collection of short stories by Gage Greenwood. They’re all amazing and they’d all make great movies, or episodes of The Twilight Zone if it were still around! My favorites were Two Shows on Saturday and Brock Hesford: Film Critic but every story made me think and feel strong emotions.
I had to put the book down a few times when I was reading Brock Hesford: Film Critic. I couldn’t breathe. I felt so anxious for the main character. He reminded me of my younger self. I swear Gage Greenwood stole things out of my head when he wrote that story!
It’s been a long time since a book made me cry. This book made me want to hug my Mom and Dad. It made me think of relationships in a new light. It helped me understand depression and that people will fake it until they just can’t anymore. And these stories made me see that we all have many faces.
This is my second Gage Greenwood book and it’s beautiful. If you haven’t read anything by him yet you’re missing out!
I had to put the book down a few times when I was reading Brock Hesford: Film Critic. I couldn’t breathe. I felt so anxious for the main character. He reminded me of my younger self. I swear Gage Greenwood stole things out of my head when he wrote that story!
It’s been a long time since a book made me cry. This book made me want to hug my Mom and Dad. It made me think of relationships in a new light. It helped me understand depression and that people will fake it until they just can’t anymore. And these stories made me see that we all have many faces.
This is my second Gage Greenwood book and it’s beautiful. If you haven’t read anything by him yet you’re missing out!
August 18, 2024
WOW! Gage Greenwood knows how to write short stories that pack a punch. Without going into detail on each story, this collection offers such a broad, but still potent, range of emotions. From dread, to fear of losing your mind/ self, to obsession, and self fulfilling prophecies, this book has it all. I personally loved all the references to folklore, as well as reading the author’s reasonings and experiences used to create every story in the afterword between each wonderful tale. Before having the opportunity to read this collection, I had only ever read On a Clear Day You Can See Block Island by this author. I’m now even more motivated to read the rest of his work as soon as possible! I wasn’t expecting just how much I’d love the immersive short story “Winter’s First Myth” but now I NEED to read his book “Winter’s Myth” before continuing on to any other book on my endless TBR list. Well done Gage Greenwood! I’ve fallen in love with your writing!
Read
September 1, 2024Levitating stories by Gage Greenwood, this is another short story collection by my favorite author of any genre and although they start off with some good old favorites there’s also new ones in the collection to blow your mind. The short story Two Shows A Day always breaks my heart and creeps me out and equal measure and that’s definitely in the book as well as the weird story, Job Interview. Although I’ve read them before I read them again because I love gages stories. Gauge Greenwood is painfully human and absolutely honest and it comes through whether he’s riding about monsters Giants or alternative universe is he’s one of the only horror author I know that uses other emotions and not just fear to stir the reader and I have been a big fan for a long time and don’t see that changing I love these books and Levitating Stories it’s just one collection in a line of mini that I cannot get enough of.#Gauge Greenwood, #levitating stories,
August 19, 2024
Review: Levitating: Other Stories. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Levitating: Stories, by the inimitable Gage Greenwood, and let me tell you - these stories will punch you in the gut.
Each story is deeply personal and emotional, with a note at the end of each one, giving insight into the author's writing process and thoughts about the subject matter. The imagery and descriptions were so vivid, I felt like I was present in each of the protagonists' lives. When a story can take you out of everyday life and transport you completely into a different world, you know the author has talent - and for me, this collection does exactly that.
There are also some fun easter eggs for those who have read this author's previous works, and I highly recommend checking out this collection, as well as his other books.
This book deserves ALL the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Levitating: Stories, by the inimitable Gage Greenwood, and let me tell you - these stories will punch you in the gut.
Each story is deeply personal and emotional, with a note at the end of each one, giving insight into the author's writing process and thoughts about the subject matter. The imagery and descriptions were so vivid, I felt like I was present in each of the protagonists' lives. When a story can take you out of everyday life and transport you completely into a different world, you know the author has talent - and for me, this collection does exactly that.
There are also some fun easter eggs for those who have read this author's previous works, and I highly recommend checking out this collection, as well as his other books.
This book deserves ALL the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 22, 2024
It can be a difficult task to build worthy characters in just a couple of dozen pages, but Gage Greenwood does that here, in each and every story in Levitating. It’s easy enough to write horrific stories filled with gore and blood spatter, but it takes a master of the craft to showcase the true horrors of life: our own minds, flaws, and habits. I can’t pick just one favorite story, because they are all fantastic in their own rights (plus I don’t want to spoil the adventure!), but I can’t recommend this collection enough! *if I had to pick favorites, I would say Now Hiring and I Am Not Me Anymore, but I’m not picking favorites, so it’s a moot point.
This will be one of the rare titles that I revisit again and again. Do yourself a favor and pick up Levitating and Other Stories right now!!
This will be one of the rare titles that I revisit again and again. Do yourself a favor and pick up Levitating and Other Stories right now!!
August 31, 2024
Let me start by saying, I finished the first story “Two Shows on Saturday” and I was already crying. Right away, I was thrown into a hole of emotion. At times, it made me examine my life and think about my choices. I love when authors do this with their writing!
In this collection, you will find different types of horror such as ghosts, aliens, and monsters but you will also find terrifying metaphors of real human struggles such as regret, tragedy, grief, and addiction. I’ve seen many reviews say this collection is raw and heart-wrenching, and I couldn’t agree more.
Gage does a great job of creating a feeling of dread. You can tell he put his soul into this, and I really appreciated the commentary after each story which gave context and explained his connection to it. It was very well written.
My favorite stories are: Now Hiring, I Am Not Me Anymore, and Levitating
“It was stupid and fun and creative. Somewhere in our timelines, we lost that. We still had fun. We still acted stupid. And sometimes we were even creative. But almost never were we all three. I think that’s the tragedy of growing up. Those strings get separated.”
You should read this and check out Bunker Dogs also by Gage Greenwood!
In this collection, you will find different types of horror such as ghosts, aliens, and monsters but you will also find terrifying metaphors of real human struggles such as regret, tragedy, grief, and addiction. I’ve seen many reviews say this collection is raw and heart-wrenching, and I couldn’t agree more.
Gage does a great job of creating a feeling of dread. You can tell he put his soul into this, and I really appreciated the commentary after each story which gave context and explained his connection to it. It was very well written.
My favorite stories are: Now Hiring, I Am Not Me Anymore, and Levitating
“It was stupid and fun and creative. Somewhere in our timelines, we lost that. We still had fun. We still acted stupid. And sometimes we were even creative. But almost never were we all three. I think that’s the tragedy of growing up. Those strings get separated.”
You should read this and check out Bunker Dogs also by Gage Greenwood!
September 11, 2024
Another hit from Gage Greenwood
I am a big fan of short story collections. I like when authors get to explore and showcase different subgenres, interesting characters, and unique "what if" situations. Even if a story or two is a miss, there's still a fun grab bag of other goodies to try.
The first story shows you right away that you won't know what to expect from this collection. There's tragedy, loneliness, mental illness, and addiction themes alongside the ghosts, cryptids, spooks, and blood splatter. This is emotional, thought provoking, suspenseful, and fun.
While I can't say every story was a hit with me, I can say that I enjoyed the full experience of reading this and getting to see the author's notes explaining his motivation and mind set for each one. Give this a read!
I am a big fan of short story collections. I like when authors get to explore and showcase different subgenres, interesting characters, and unique "what if" situations. Even if a story or two is a miss, there's still a fun grab bag of other goodies to try.
The first story shows you right away that you won't know what to expect from this collection. There's tragedy, loneliness, mental illness, and addiction themes alongside the ghosts, cryptids, spooks, and blood splatter. This is emotional, thought provoking, suspenseful, and fun.
While I can't say every story was a hit with me, I can say that I enjoyed the full experience of reading this and getting to see the author's notes explaining his motivation and mind set for each one. Give this a read!
September 18, 2024
Levitating: Stories by Gage Greenwood
5/5
Gage just keeps getting better and better. His ability to weave between subjects and get me so invested in fully realised human characters in such a short time is inspiring.
Not only can Gage make to care for characters, he has no problem putting them through Hell. Movies have taught me that good guys win and main characters don't die because the audiences won't like it.
Indie Horror has taught me that everyone is fair game, this is maybe why it all feels so real because when we talk about killers, monsters and deadly viruses, the stakes really are that high. I fear for every character in one of Gage's books. That's why they're so engaging.
This is a collection that punches you in the face, rips out your heart, kisses you on the cheek leaving a big lipstick mark and tells you this was a good time.
And it was.
5/5
Gage just keeps getting better and better. His ability to weave between subjects and get me so invested in fully realised human characters in such a short time is inspiring.
Not only can Gage make to care for characters, he has no problem putting them through Hell. Movies have taught me that good guys win and main characters don't die because the audiences won't like it.
Indie Horror has taught me that everyone is fair game, this is maybe why it all feels so real because when we talk about killers, monsters and deadly viruses, the stakes really are that high. I fear for every character in one of Gage's books. That's why they're so engaging.
This is a collection that punches you in the face, rips out your heart, kisses you on the cheek leaving a big lipstick mark and tells you this was a good time.
And it was.
August 31, 2024
“So, we die on hills we can’t stand on
And laugh little nightmares
To the bold black night.
And if we chose to listen,
We’d hear it laugh back.”
Just finished this AMAZING collection of stories by Gage Greenwood! I got it as an arc and really took my time reading each story. Each were unique and truly heartbreaking. It always feels like he takes these natural human moments of trauma and turns into something horrific that makes you think “that’s exactly what it would look like if I had to face it”.
My favorites were definitely “Levitating”, “Now Hiring”, and “Two Shows on Sunday”. The best thing about this collection is it’s out NOW! So go check it out, and have good time leaning into that trauma a little more 😉
And laugh little nightmares
To the bold black night.
And if we chose to listen,
We’d hear it laugh back.”
Just finished this AMAZING collection of stories by Gage Greenwood! I got it as an arc and really took my time reading each story. Each were unique and truly heartbreaking. It always feels like he takes these natural human moments of trauma and turns into something horrific that makes you think “that’s exactly what it would look like if I had to face it”.
My favorites were definitely “Levitating”, “Now Hiring”, and “Two Shows on Sunday”. The best thing about this collection is it’s out NOW! So go check it out, and have good time leaning into that trauma a little more 😉
September 3, 2024
I freely admit that I am generally not a fan of short stories. But I am a fan of everything I’ve read by Gage Greenwood thus far, so I decided to give his stories collection a read. And I’m glad I did, because I enjoyed them. I generally find short stories very unsatisfying, feeling like they’re unfinished, and not immersive enough to care about anyone or anything in them. But Gage has a way of writing that grabs your emotions from the very beginning, keeping you invested throughout. And these stories are no different.
I also loved the author notes at the end of each story. I absolutely love behind the scenes stuff, as I enjoy learning about people’s inspiration, their process, and the things that fuel their passion. So I’m glad that he included these too.
I also loved the author notes at the end of each story. I absolutely love behind the scenes stuff, as I enjoy learning about people’s inspiration, their process, and the things that fuel their passion. So I’m glad that he included these too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews