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Darkness Ad Infinitum: Villipede Horror Anthology I
On Sale Now! Villipede Publications' first horror and dark speculative fiction anthology will tenderly caress your amygdalae and viciously twist your imagination. With fifteen short stories and four poems from both established and upcoming authors, this haunting collection will force readers to reevaluate their thoughts on what darkness really is: something we're all born of yet perpetually trying to flee; a malevolent force that desires our servitude or destruction—or something that simply wishes to lock us in its cold, scaly, fathomless grip. Or perhaps, even, it's an asylum for our jittery minds and confused hearts—a place of solace where humans may patiently inspect their primal natures and desires . . . a place where the barriers between monster and man begin to shift and break down.
The authors' origins span the breadth of the globe: the UK, Greece, Australia, Sweden, the US—and their stories are just as diverse. While the styles and subject matter of the stories may differ greatly, what is consistent is the dedication each author has harnessed to create unique fiction and scenarios of bewitching caliber.
Holding Darkness Ad Infinitum in your trembling hands, you may find yourself faced with a simple ultimatum: Do you turn around and embrace the darkness of your own free will . . . or will it embrace you first?
The authors' origins span the breadth of the globe: the UK, Greece, Australia, Sweden, the US—and their stories are just as diverse. While the styles and subject matter of the stories may differ greatly, what is consistent is the dedication each author has harnessed to create unique fiction and scenarios of bewitching caliber.
Holding Darkness Ad Infinitum in your trembling hands, you may find yourself faced with a simple ultimatum: Do you turn around and embrace the darkness of your own free will . . . or will it embrace you first?
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 7, 2014
Someday I am going to make a list of Anthology books that are must-reads for those who really don't like anthologies.
I am one of those readers who do not usually like anthologies, but this would be on the list of those that I do like, and very much so.
For one, there is a unifying factor here that isn't always present, part of it being the definite quality of the stories. From the intro which sets the stage and hits a nice tone, to the artwork that ties it all together, this anthology was a string of stories that connected well. Horror and dark fantasy blended, with much of the content about going inward to the cracks in your walls (walls of your house, or otherwise) and to that which creeps all around us.
I am one of those readers who do not usually like anthologies, but this would be on the list of those that I do like, and very much so.
For one, there is a unifying factor here that isn't always present, part of it being the definite quality of the stories. From the intro which sets the stage and hits a nice tone, to the artwork that ties it all together, this anthology was a string of stories that connected well. Horror and dark fantasy blended, with much of the content about going inward to the cracks in your walls (walls of your house, or otherwise) and to that which creeps all around us.
March 17, 2016
Consisting of fifteen stories, four poems, and a bounty of darkly evocative illustrations (full color in the eBook version), Darkness Ad Infinitum is the first horror anthology from Villipede Publications.
Founded in 2011, Villipede is a publisher for which written art and visual art have always been strongly intertwined. On a purely physical level, DAI is a pleasure to behold. With its dark and tattered aesthetic accentuated by a splash of crimson, the cover by Wednesday Wolf sets the tone. After more wonderfully grotesque artwork (most notably on the title page), the anthology begins with a brief introduction in the form of a story that explains the infinite darkness referred to in the title. Then come the stories proper, each one accompanied by an original illustration by one of ten artists. The well-suited pictures accompanying each story are impressive in their detail.
The horror between these pages is predominantly of the insidious, creeping variety, its encroachment gradual but eventually all-encompassing. As modern as it may be, it’s horror in the old-fashioned vein, perfect for reading by a crackling fire on a windswept night. Lovecraftian strains pair well with surrealistic nightmares. Madness looms, whether it be religious, familial, or chemical in nature. Places people were never meant to set foot in beckon with dark temptation.
A considerable number of stories involve weird houses or uncanny occurrences in seemingly ordinary ones. Fans of this particular trope will be duly satisfied, and there’s enough variation that it doesn’t come across as redundant. Other stories run the gamut of subjects, from deadly subterranean creatures to a modern take on Pinocchio, to ruthless skinwalkers and cannibals hiding in plain sight.
The poems interspersed between the longer pieces are best absorbed with logic set aside. Their imagery and word choice serve to unsettle, and they’re a welcome addition to (though certainly not a break from) the dread to be found in the stories.
It’s obvious just picking the book up and flipping through its pages that a lot of time, energy and care went into it. From the typesetting to the illustrations to the stories themselves, and even the author bios, Darkness Ad Infinitum is a true work of art. As far as anthologies go, it’s a fair bet that most horror fans will be pleased with this one. Recommended.
review originally posted at http://www.hellnotes.com
Founded in 2011, Villipede is a publisher for which written art and visual art have always been strongly intertwined. On a purely physical level, DAI is a pleasure to behold. With its dark and tattered aesthetic accentuated by a splash of crimson, the cover by Wednesday Wolf sets the tone. After more wonderfully grotesque artwork (most notably on the title page), the anthology begins with a brief introduction in the form of a story that explains the infinite darkness referred to in the title. Then come the stories proper, each one accompanied by an original illustration by one of ten artists. The well-suited pictures accompanying each story are impressive in their detail.
The horror between these pages is predominantly of the insidious, creeping variety, its encroachment gradual but eventually all-encompassing. As modern as it may be, it’s horror in the old-fashioned vein, perfect for reading by a crackling fire on a windswept night. Lovecraftian strains pair well with surrealistic nightmares. Madness looms, whether it be religious, familial, or chemical in nature. Places people were never meant to set foot in beckon with dark temptation.
A considerable number of stories involve weird houses or uncanny occurrences in seemingly ordinary ones. Fans of this particular trope will be duly satisfied, and there’s enough variation that it doesn’t come across as redundant. Other stories run the gamut of subjects, from deadly subterranean creatures to a modern take on Pinocchio, to ruthless skinwalkers and cannibals hiding in plain sight.
The poems interspersed between the longer pieces are best absorbed with logic set aside. Their imagery and word choice serve to unsettle, and they’re a welcome addition to (though certainly not a break from) the dread to be found in the stories.
It’s obvious just picking the book up and flipping through its pages that a lot of time, energy and care went into it. From the typesetting to the illustrations to the stories themselves, and even the author bios, Darkness Ad Infinitum is a true work of art. As far as anthologies go, it’s a fair bet that most horror fans will be pleased with this one. Recommended.
review originally posted at http://www.hellnotes.com
August 25, 2014
DARKNESS AD INFINITUM, the debut horror anthology from Villipede Publications, is a finely balanced blend of horror fiction, poetry, and art. The goal here is clearly horror as an art form, and the anthology accomplishes that goal exceedingly well. This is horror and dark speculative fiction of the highest caliber.
As a publisher of horror/suspense fiction myself (Smart Rhino Publications), I can fully appreciate the amount of talent and effort behind a project like this--and the love for the art form fairly exudes from each page. Frankly, this is a beautiful book! I'd be hard-pressed to select a favorite story here--perhaps the dark humor of "Smudge" by Jonathan Templar stands out for me. But, really, I'd recommend you purchase the book and enjoy all the writing packed between these covers!
Keep your eye on Villipede Publications. I wouldn't be surprised if the best is yet to come!
As a publisher of horror/suspense fiction myself (Smart Rhino Publications), I can fully appreciate the amount of talent and effort behind a project like this--and the love for the art form fairly exudes from each page. Frankly, this is a beautiful book! I'd be hard-pressed to select a favorite story here--perhaps the dark humor of "Smudge" by Jonathan Templar stands out for me. But, really, I'd recommend you purchase the book and enjoy all the writing packed between these covers!
Keep your eye on Villipede Publications. I wouldn't be surprised if the best is yet to come!
July 30, 2014
I can finally state with utmost certainty that I have officially read the best horror anthology of 2014 thus far: DARKNESS AD INFINITUM, the first horror anthology from Villipede Publications. This collection of masterfully crafted tales will keep you up at night, trembling under your covers as you pray for daylight. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed every single story this much in a single anthology; I even reread a couple of them just for fun after I had finished the book! That is a true testament to the abundance of talent contained within this collection.
Just writing this review gets me juiced to read this anthology again. Even now, two days after I finished it, a couple of the stories are still resonating with me. Talk about residual effects!
Every story in DARKNESS AD INFINITUM is woven together by a master artist who has taken great care in the construction of his or her masterpiece. These tales are written very well and are intertwined in a sense, thanks to an overarching storyline that is set up at the beginning of the book. I love this concept, as it reminds me of horror film anthologies such as V/H/S.
The book itself looks amazing as well; the cover art is courtesy of Wednesday Wolf, and it is nothing short of terrifying. While simplistic in design, it strikes a primal nerve within the brain that has the same power as a punch to the throat. The interior design is elegant and unnerving, a true compliment to the stories themselves. You will enjoy looking at and inside this book as much as you will enjoy reading it.
I have a hard time trying to figure out a favorite story in this collection; they are all that good. One I have to mention is the first story, “Longboat” by Becky Regalado. In this tale, a sailor who has been set adrift on a line in the longboat thanks to his drunken ways, watches in horror as strange creatures overtake the main ship. But the creatures are more than they seem…and the horror of the truth will force him into a drastic decision. The dark atmosphere Regalado sets within the story is simply stunning; it is pitched and lonely, exactly the way I would assume being alone in a vast ocean must be like. Regalado is definitely a writer to watch out for.
As is every author in this collection, for that matter. DARKNESS AD INFINITUM is one hell of an anthology, and I recommend every one of my readers get a copy immediately. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are, then you simply must hate good horror fiction.
Just writing this review gets me juiced to read this anthology again. Even now, two days after I finished it, a couple of the stories are still resonating with me. Talk about residual effects!
Every story in DARKNESS AD INFINITUM is woven together by a master artist who has taken great care in the construction of his or her masterpiece. These tales are written very well and are intertwined in a sense, thanks to an overarching storyline that is set up at the beginning of the book. I love this concept, as it reminds me of horror film anthologies such as V/H/S.
The book itself looks amazing as well; the cover art is courtesy of Wednesday Wolf, and it is nothing short of terrifying. While simplistic in design, it strikes a primal nerve within the brain that has the same power as a punch to the throat. The interior design is elegant and unnerving, a true compliment to the stories themselves. You will enjoy looking at and inside this book as much as you will enjoy reading it.
I have a hard time trying to figure out a favorite story in this collection; they are all that good. One I have to mention is the first story, “Longboat” by Becky Regalado. In this tale, a sailor who has been set adrift on a line in the longboat thanks to his drunken ways, watches in horror as strange creatures overtake the main ship. But the creatures are more than they seem…and the horror of the truth will force him into a drastic decision. The dark atmosphere Regalado sets within the story is simply stunning; it is pitched and lonely, exactly the way I would assume being alone in a vast ocean must be like. Regalado is definitely a writer to watch out for.
As is every author in this collection, for that matter. DARKNESS AD INFINITUM is one hell of an anthology, and I recommend every one of my readers get a copy immediately. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are, then you simply must hate good horror fiction.
August 10, 2014
Please check out my full review on Lurid-lit.com.
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October 13, 2014I loved the short story by Pete Clark! ;) It was gripping, creative and totally gave me goosebumps!
January 8, 2018
As with most anthologies, some stories/poems are very strong, some are just ok, and a few (particularly the last one) are weak. Interestingly, the strongest stories are frontloaded in the collection, so the overall arc of the collection loses momentum as the reader progresses.
I see good comments about the artwork; however, since I received this as an ARC on my Kindle, I could only evaluate the prose - Kindle images on my Paperwhite aren't anything to look at. I'm sure the art enhances the print version. But they can't make a mediocre story better.
On the basis of the excellence of 5 or 6 of the contributions, I'm giving the anthology 3 stars instead of 2.
I received this ARC from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
I see good comments about the artwork; however, since I received this as an ARC on my Kindle, I could only evaluate the prose - Kindle images on my Paperwhite aren't anything to look at. I'm sure the art enhances the print version. But they can't make a mediocre story better.
On the basis of the excellence of 5 or 6 of the contributions, I'm giving the anthology 3 stars instead of 2.
I received this ARC from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
November 27, 2014
I like all 19 horror short stories and all the artwork too. My favorite was The High Priest by C. Deskin Rink. Had to look up a word so that was a bonus to learn something new.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews