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Minotaur: stories
Stories of the worlds that lie just below and behind this one.
A grieving boy finds a doorway within a burnt out house that opens onto the past. A woman researching her dissertation on a famous Irish poet discovers secrets she wishes she could forget. A red, lichenous growth rises out of the seas and destroys everything in its path. A boy discovers the crawlspace beneath his house and begins a transformation that he can not begin to understand. A couple find a strange pool in the trees behind their house, seeming to offer pure happiness but unleashing terror. A small Montana town is invaded by Sovereign Citizen militiamen, and find no recourse but to open the door to the old mine, releasing what lives beneath.
A grieving boy finds a doorway within a burnt out house that opens onto the past. A woman researching her dissertation on a famous Irish poet discovers secrets she wishes she could forget. A red, lichenous growth rises out of the seas and destroys everything in its path. A boy discovers the crawlspace beneath his house and begins a transformation that he can not begin to understand. A couple find a strange pool in the trees behind their house, seeming to offer pure happiness but unleashing terror. A small Montana town is invaded by Sovereign Citizen militiamen, and find no recourse but to open the door to the old mine, releasing what lives beneath.
- GenresHorror
122 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Josh Hanson
18 books53 followersAuthor of King’s Hill, the Woodcutters, Marshbank (novelette), and Minotaur (short stories). Fortress and Caliope Street are both forthcoming in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Josh hanson lives in Northern Wyoming with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Montana MFA program and teachers high school English. His work has appeared in the Horror Zine, The Chamber, as well as various anthologies.
Josh hanson lives in Northern Wyoming with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Montana MFA program and teachers high school English. His work has appeared in the Horror Zine, The Chamber, as well as various anthologies.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2024
This has been a very interesting and quite enjoyable read.
This book contains eight short stories, some of which I would describe more as LiFic with a hint of horror, others as horror with a good amount of LitFic sprinkled it.
I found all stories to be captivating, well-written, and engaging, and many of them also make you sit back and think about what you just read for a while. Some for more than just a while.
Can absolutely recommend this for everyone who enjoys thought-provoking stories and has no aversion against horror elements in them.
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Transparency disclaimer: Receiving an eARC of this story from the author did not influence my review in any way, shape, or form.
This book contains eight short stories, some of which I would describe more as LiFic with a hint of horror, others as horror with a good amount of LitFic sprinkled it.
I found all stories to be captivating, well-written, and engaging, and many of them also make you sit back and think about what you just read for a while. Some for more than just a while.
Can absolutely recommend this for everyone who enjoys thought-provoking stories and has no aversion against horror elements in them.
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Transparency disclaimer: Receiving an eARC of this story from the author did not influence my review in any way, shape, or form.
December 27, 2024
The author very kindly sent me an eARC to check out and I’m glad he did!
Here the author has presented a set of seven fantastically different stories. However, each showcases the author’s dexterity and writing know how. All throughout my reading I kept coming back to this singular thought, wow Hanson can write.
A terrible fire leaves nothing behind but the back door which mysteriously stands as a reminder of what was. A PhD student heads out for six weeks of study—a breakup day of leaves her feeling as if she needs something more, but is the trip worth it? A red lichenous plague spreads through the coasts creating a new kind of apocalypse—can they get to safety in time? The title story, Minotaur, tells the tale of a boy finding or perhaps losing his true self as he becomes one with the Labyrinthine basement under his stilted home. A grieving mother and a lost observer on a dead boat. A hole in the ground with mystifying properties to the water within. And the last is this sort of culty western feeling story with an abandoned mine that’s perhaps not so empty.
While none of the stories above are inked by any characters or plots, and most of these are kind of a general to speculative fiction, there is this kind of creeping, meandering undertone of horror that I felt throughout reading all of them. This made reading as a collection make so much sense to me, and the dread only built as I waited for something explosive to happen.
A great example of what the author is capable of, I definitely need to check out a full length novel next.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-minota...
Here the author has presented a set of seven fantastically different stories. However, each showcases the author’s dexterity and writing know how. All throughout my reading I kept coming back to this singular thought, wow Hanson can write.
A terrible fire leaves nothing behind but the back door which mysteriously stands as a reminder of what was. A PhD student heads out for six weeks of study—a breakup day of leaves her feeling as if she needs something more, but is the trip worth it? A red lichenous plague spreads through the coasts creating a new kind of apocalypse—can they get to safety in time? The title story, Minotaur, tells the tale of a boy finding or perhaps losing his true self as he becomes one with the Labyrinthine basement under his stilted home. A grieving mother and a lost observer on a dead boat. A hole in the ground with mystifying properties to the water within. And the last is this sort of culty western feeling story with an abandoned mine that’s perhaps not so empty.
While none of the stories above are inked by any characters or plots, and most of these are kind of a general to speculative fiction, there is this kind of creeping, meandering undertone of horror that I felt throughout reading all of them. This made reading as a collection make so much sense to me, and the dread only built as I waited for something explosive to happen.
A great example of what the author is capable of, I definitely need to check out a full length novel next.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-minota...
December 7, 2024
These stories reminded me of classic Twilight Zone episodes or the short stories they were modeled after. They’re tightly written, haunting, and they stay with you hours after you’ve finished reading. My favorite stories in the collection were After the Fire, Minotaur, Sovereign, and Exclusion Zone.
February 8, 2025
I already enjoyed Hanson's work and was concerned that my dislike of short story collections might affect my appreciation. However, "Minotaur: Short Stories" has impressed me for a few reasons.
Hanson's writing style, vivid language and use of place creates an immersive experience without weighing down the story. Instead, it adds dimension to his works that I thoroughly enjoy. In just a few pages, he evokes a depth of emotion that's practically alchemical. His ability to create vivid characters and poignant situations had me hooked fast and hard. Hanson possesses an uncanny talent to distill complex emotions into concise narratives, leaving a lasting impact that lingers.
It's like being wrapped in a warm blanket and comfortably unsettled; perfecty executed cosmic horror and literary prose. "Cozy" in a "weird girl" way.
Hanson masterfully achieves yet another 5 star read from me.
Top 3 stories:
"After the Fire"
"Nobody Saves You"
"Exclusion Zone"
Hanson's writing style, vivid language and use of place creates an immersive experience without weighing down the story. Instead, it adds dimension to his works that I thoroughly enjoy. In just a few pages, he evokes a depth of emotion that's practically alchemical. His ability to create vivid characters and poignant situations had me hooked fast and hard. Hanson possesses an uncanny talent to distill complex emotions into concise narratives, leaving a lasting impact that lingers.
It's like being wrapped in a warm blanket and comfortably unsettled; perfecty executed cosmic horror and literary prose. "Cozy" in a "weird girl" way.
Hanson masterfully achieves yet another 5 star read from me.
Top 3 stories:
"After the Fire"
"Nobody Saves You"
"Exclusion Zone"
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews