Oil Spill

by John Hoffman

OIL SPILL is the first collection of short stories from John Hoffman, vocalist of the hardcore/punk band Weekend Nachos. This collection features six (6) fictional tales that focus on both the atrocities of human nature as well as dark, fantastical themes of horror and suspense. For fans of Stephen King and The X-Files.

Genres: Horror

113 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Alex Lupella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror is best in short-form and these six tales remind me of the reason I love the genre.

Excited to see what else sifting press does in the future. We need more punk/DIY spirit in other types of media.

[Dave Hofer · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a first effort, I have to grade this on a curve because hey . . . I haven't written any fiction, let alone published it!!

Hoffman makes no bones about his Stephen King influence, and it shows in that most of the six stories incorporate King's trademark italics-as-inner-dialogue method, which I don't hate, but could have been used a little more sparingly.

The stories themselves are nicely-varied in tone, like there's not four ghost stories or anything like that, but while I love short stories I think that a few of these could have been fleshed out a little more. Some of the plots advanced rather quickly IMO.

The only other editorial nitpick I have is that Hoffman is sometimes TOO descriptive: "his withering partner," "absolutely unrelenting," "direct eye contact," etc. This is also where the grading-on-a-curve comes into play, as Hoffman has been a lyricist for much longer than he's been a novelist, and to me, some lines in Oil Spill read more like lyrics than prose. Again, I recognize that this is a bit of a nitpick.

I would absolutely recommend this for horror fans, but keep in mind that this is Hoffman's first foray into fiction and enjoy it for what it is: a true, passionate, horror fan enthusiastically contributing to the genre.

[Matt Thomason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What John Hoffman wrote was no ordinary book with spooky stories. He wrote what would happen to be the creepiest, most messed up tales my eyes ever gazed upon. Six different stories that made me feel the same way I used to read those Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books. Except this book was definitely written for the grownups without a doubt. Its stories are surreal and haunting. Not a single page was turned without being nervous on what will happen next. It’s been years since I’ve felt this rush of fear going down my spine. Each story is absolutely unique and all much more morbid that one would except. Its stories “Solomon’s Trail” and “Behind Scott’s House” remind me of the perfect childhood goosebumps I got from R.L. Stine’s book. I didn’t expect to have my eyes bugged out in horror near the end of both stories. What a rush of nostalgic youthful fear. Then things get rather go quite dark and disturbing on another level in “Oil Spill” and “The Sacrifice.” Not by any oddities, but by how we as human beings are when it comes to just normal day-to-day life. The choices still haunt me. Now as for “Four Sessions In” and “Anita,” this is where all things become bizarre and will completely guarantee you will feel like the X-Files and the Twilight Zone are trying to merged you and them altogether as your heart beats a little more than it should. In my opinion, this book has the best collection of scary short stories I’ve read in years. This one will keep you adults up for a while before bedtime. John Hoffman is one twisted mastermind behind that pen. I wonder what other warped tales he has in store for us readers in the near future…

[Antonio Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

John has put together a very well thought out collection of short stories. Where the horror is masked in actual real life lessons/situations. These 6 short stories serve as a wild ride with depiction of horror, suspense, psychological intrigue, and loss. However, each story also serves as a mirror into ourselves as we self reflect on each stories relevance on a personal level. Each story has complex and unique characters and really delves into the the darkest corners of your mind as your reflect. This is also achieved by the atmosphere John creates with every story. You truly are transported there. There is no question these stories will stay with you for a long time.

Every story is incredible but Anita being one that, to me, was one of the most creative. It deviates from the style he wrote for the other 5 stories but serves a twist that I truly didn't expect.

FFO: Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and other masters of dark/horror fiction will find much to admire in John's work. If you're looking for a collection of short stories that will stay with you long after you finish reading, Oil Spill is definitely worth checking out. Don't sleep (LOL)

Can't wait to see what John writes next!

[Ben Wittlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent debut from John Hoffman. Oil Spill offers six short horror stories that are told with concise and effective writing. Hoffman's themes are illustrated rather than spelt out and remain meaningful to the narratives without detracting from them. The stories are unique from each other and intriguing, and his characters are treated with a sense of humanity and understanding. Hoffman captures a sense of unease and dread that feels both familiar and sometimes otherworldly-those small moments you feel and shake off, brought to the threshold of reality. Horror executed this deftly is rare!

[N. Hertzberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

John’s greatest strengths are detailing the horrors that stem from real life violence and terror in our homes and relationships. They feel real. Visceral. Learned. Truly haunting.

My favorite story was the titular Oil Spill. It bent away from the way he told the other stories (which follow a more King/Schwartz ease of narrative) and made sense why he called the collection what he did.

I felt some stories could have used a bit more depth or explanation to certain aspects like endings, but for the sake of keeping them short, relatable, and spooky - I understand why some of this is not the most important to spill ink on.

Looking forward to reading more of his soon!

[Todd Lavictoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. John has a fantastic way of world and character building that’s especially impressive given the short nature of the stories. Each story was gripping, the characters compelling, and the story beats fun and surprising. I felt sadness for some characters, and sympathy for others. Audibly laughed at some of the more insane and incredible twists and turns. Can’t recommend this enough, and can’t wait for what’s next!

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how there’s introduction pages for every short story.

I couldn’t put this book down when I was reading the short story “The Sacrifice.”

It was very simple to visualize imaginary while reading.

I hope you continue to write John. Btw, I saw Weekend Nachos last night at the Warehouse. Thanks for such a great set.

[J A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong debut for Hoffman. Reads at a brisk pace. Knocked it out in one sitting. Comparisons to King are completely justified. It will be a great day when Hoffman’s next book is announced. Fingers crossed it’s a novel.

[Rachel Yafchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great writing! Each short story immediately drew me in and all offered different themes of horror. The end of the short story, “Oil Spill”, made my jaw drop, literally. Loved it!

[Marco Velazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of short stories by John Hoffman that I highly recommend. As a big horror enthusiast I really enjoyed the various forms of fear that left me interested and hooked. For first time work Mr John Hoffman left me extremely impressed and I hope to see more future work from Sifting Press.


Favorite Short Story: The Sacrifice

[Molly Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating concepts and a straightforward style- reminded me of The Twilight Zone but with a fun mix of story types. I particularly liked The Sacrifice and the final story.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up one of the discounted misprints and it delivered. The oil spill story the book is named after was especially good. John Hoffman is one of those creative types who’s just good at everything he tries.

[Jess Barfaroni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite short stories I’ve read lately. Quick, but engaging. Throughly entertaining and sharp. A “no skip album”. Hope to get more in the future.

[James Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror isn't a genre I typically gravitate toward, but this adds such a human element to it that it's hard not to really fall in deep with the characters and their stories.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

OIL SPILL is the literature equivalent of watching a Troma film: Brutal, blood-pumping, insane. Couched in the familiar milieu of 80’s slashers, Creepshow, XFiles, and Stephen King are some great premises that show a thoughtful creativity which Hoffman emulates in his music as well. I look forward to his future work.

[P. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil Spill is a visceral plunge into the gritty, shadowy realms of human nature. In just six compact stories, Hoffman crafts worlds that feel simultaneously claustrophobic and expansive, where every gutter and every echo hums with something darkly combustible. The tone is haunting, contemplative, and never gratuitously grotesque. Each story is grounded in a fully realized place, and the tension builds from that foundation.

Themes & Style
Hoffman’s horror doesn’t rely solely on surface shocks. Instead, it stems from the unease of inevitability and the distortion of memory. Several stories pull from youth perspectives, which intensifies the impact of the horror — innocence meets the uncanny, and the result feels devastatingly real.

Standout Moments
- Title story (Oil Spill): Told through the perspective of a confused teenager losing grip on reality, this tale is claustrophobic and disorienting. The relentless tension and surreal dread echo themes of cognitive collapse.
- Four Sessions In: Four Sessions In unfolds in the contained space of a therapy room, where measured conversation becomes its own form of menace. The clinical setting strips away any distractions, forcing the reader to confront the slow unspooling of a mind in real time. Its restraint makes the eventual unease hit harder, leaving questions that feel deliberately unanswered.

This juxtaposition of youthful innocence and adult disorientation threads through much of the collection, creating a dynamic emotional range.

For Readers Who…
- Revel in horrors that linger through unease, not just spectacle.
- Appreciate writing that anchors fear in place and mood, not flashy prose.
- Seek short-form horror that’s punchy, memorable, and raw.

Fans of Stephen King, Robert Aickman, and Thomas Ligotti.

Final Thoughts
Oil Spill is a raw, effective entry in contemporary horror, unafraid to dwell in youth’s extremities, to dismantle control, and to let dread shout through small, sharp moments. Across the collection, Hoffman moves through themes of heroism, revenge, and the fragile veil that separates the human psyche from deterioration. Each story approaches these ideas differently, but all of them carry the same undercurrent of inevitability that makes this book impossible to forget.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name of the book, Oil Spill, has a funny and uneasy mouthfeel. Was that intentional? Is this a book about environmental scorched earth type shit? Coupled with the stark typeface on blank brown dust jacket, Hoffman gave me no cover to judge his book by—I would need to dig in to know what its intentions were.

Hoffman seems to have found solace in horror and his first book and the four short stories within don't disappoint. Each felt like they could be their own feature in a rated-R Tales from the Crypt episode. Granted, a gory, intense, and uncomfortable one. If it was Hoffman's intention to share something fucked up in a creative and tangible way, he succeeded. I followed every word and imagined the terrible visions clearly, fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it.

Not knowing what the next paragraph or page turn would have in stock, I was simply along for the ride. These stories have repeatability and I'm both excited and scared to dig in for a second time knowing what I know now.

[Harry Nott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoffman’s first outing into short horror stories through a DIY-published collection of his works proves a strong statement of both his imaginative vision of dark, frightening worlds and a commanding, flexible sense of prose.

Frank and visceral, OIL SPILL’s six stories span the minds of terrified adolescents surviving day-by-day to beaten-down, ageing men trying to do the right thing in a morally absent world. Well-paced throughout, there’s a compelling sense of identity to each of these shorts and it’s a surprisingly powerful demonstration of Hoffman’s ability to craft chilling and memorable horror material. Evocative of the referenced Stephen King amongst others, Hoffman proves a worthy disciple of the craft, thanks to some imaginative and far-spanning premises.

Though I found it strongest in its first person perspectives (The Sacrifice and Anita, in particular), OIL SPILL shows a great deal of promise to be had from Hoffman’s passionate take on suspense, the unnatural and the disturbing.

[Megan Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this author may be the vocalist of one of my favorite bands... I wanted to review this objectively. The sense of dread I felt through some of the stories reminded me of how an A24 film has been invoking as of late.

From the introduction about childhood friends to the end of Anita it shook me to my core. I think the sentiments or reflections between the stories were what was most captivating. While dread built in the stories it was the reflections that allowed for the vulnerability of the author to lure and captivate each subsequent story. Like Pennywise the clown salting the meat, with fear, John lured us in and pulled at our emotions even further.

I would say this is a great introduction to a 'newer' author and will be a welcomed author on my shelves for years to come!

-Ethan Grant

[Chad Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oil Spill" is a collection of 6 short horror stories reminiscent of Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark and R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series. Comparisons have also been drawn to Stephen King (I can't speak on that as I've never read a King novel, but have seen countless film adaptations of his novels and I think those are fair comparisons). X-Files is another apt comparison.

Hoffman expands on his writing as a lyricist/vocalist for several hardcore bands and has turned his talent for songwriting into a longer form here with these short dreadful tales. Descriptive and vividly written, the imagery and lingering horror will stick with you long after reading.

[Ira Kaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil Spill is a small collection of short stories that cut right to the point with no bullshit filler. Written so masterfully you'd think this was the author's 50th book but it's actually their first. I have been trying to pick a favorite story but I really can't, each story is well thought out, with scenes painted of blood, sick thoughts and hatred. I highly encourage you to check this out if you are a fan of Thrillers, Horror, Creepy shit, or just plain ol' good writing.

[Evan Martin-Casler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having already established himself as a powerfully creative lyricist, John Hoffman still manages to surprise with just how nuanced, thorough, and emotionally engaging his transition to fiction is. Spanning diverse styles and subgenres, the stories in this collection are arresting and affecting in visceral but also tender ways. This debut has clearly been long in the making, as it reads like the work of a much more established author. I am eager to read much more from this brilliant craftsman.

[Grant A Staab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not good with writing reviews, as I’m not that articulate. This book was fantastic though. Funny enough, I brought it with me on a flight to Chicago to see Weekend Nachos (the band John Hoffman, the writer of the book, fronts). The only reason I put it down the whole flight was because we landed and it was time to de-board. Went straight to my hotel room and finished it there. It’s not that often I start a book and have to finish it in one sitting. It had me hooked with each new story.

[Evan Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book , and I do hope he chooses to right more horror . I always like when I am lead to feel for a character when I’m reading , that doesn’t always happen , and I had concern for sure for for one boy , and thought about that kid specifically through out the night . Like I said earlier , I hope for more .

[Brian Schroeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great collection of quickly read stories. John draws the readers in and allows their imaginations to run while also guiding them. His love of horror movies and horror authors can be seen in the way he writes and images he presents to the reader. Each story, while different from each other, felt familiar.

Looking forward to the next collection this author puts out.

[Mickey Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 short stories from a new entrant on the horror scene. Some familiar themes and some new concepts; each story is propelled by a sense of urgency and dread.

I hope this is the first of many releases by an exciting new voice in the genre!

[LFHG · Rating 5 out of 5]

When horror comes across our table we typically think monsters, collasal masses, or serial killers in masks stumbling to welcome your demise. John Hoffman’s debut Oil Spill give the read six stories of terror that surrounds us in our everyday life & sometimes… afterlife….

4 1/2 stars

-LFHG

[Rachel Kathlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book if you seek suspense. Perfect combination of fantasy and real life horrors, unsettling in the best way. Will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Karen Kammes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me on the edge of my seat! Couldn’t put it down ;very reminiscent of Stephen King