What Fresh Hell Is This? Dark Tales

by Del Howison, Clive Barker (Foreword)

Step into the twisted mind of Del Howison with this unflinching collection of dark tales. What Fresh Hell Is This? brings together stories from across Howison's prolific career, each one exploring the eerie and the macabre, examining humanity's deepest fears and desires. Drawing on his rich life experiences—from being baptized in a river and attending a private Christian college to his ownership of the famed Horror bookstore Dark Delicacies—Howison crafts tales that delve into the darkest corners of the human soul.

These tales push boundaries, blending the supernatural with psychological terror, and invite readers into worlds where the unimaginable becomes real. From paranormal happenings to supernatural horrors, Howison’s storytelling prowess ensures that these stories will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Table of Contents:

• The Lost Herd
• The Last Great Monster
• The Resurrection of Father
• Vast Expanse of Nothing
• The Tingler
• Alley Oops
• Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair
• Lucky Crate 156594
• Liminality
• For Mother
• The Witch Pool
• A Flicker of Bright Light
• The Humps in the Field
• Chains of Love
• The Necrosis Factor
• Called to the Sea
• Papa's Arms

Genres: Horror

273 pages, ebook

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del Howison's "What Fresh Hell Is This? Dark Tales" is a wide-ranging horror collection of 17 stories of varying length, plus a foreword by Clive Barker and an interview with the author tucked at the volume's end. The stories inbetween have been published in anthologies and magazines up to 2023, except for a couple which, though written during the same time period, had never been published before. They are all dark, though straightforward, easy reads, built around an engaging central idea, often with a surprising ending.

Case in point: the opening story, "The Lost Herd," a western horror that makes you think you're reading one kind of story and then turns the tables on you, presenting you with a nasty surprise in the ending. What's most impressive, however, is how lean the stories are: no fluff writing, no unnecessary digressions, no filler; never a dull moment in this collection. Take the very short, darkly humorous, closing story, for example, "Papa's Arms": if horror jokes didn't exist, we'd have to invent the trope for this story - a grandfather implants a nasty image in his baby granddaughter's mind. Nothing is explained, you gotta catch the joke yourself. And this makes the story so much more precious. Written in a similar spirit, this time brimming with weirdness, though not lacking in extreme horror imagery, is "The Resurrection of Father": a tale of death and domestic abuse by a controlling father, all in the context of a very dark (in both senses of the term) family legacy. This reads like a nightmare you forgot to wake from.

By contrast, "Vast Expanse of Nothing" is a moving essay (memoir) about the author and his brother, and the heart-breaking "Alley Oops," the first short story the author published and his most reprinted, will blow you away with its startling very last line (similarly, you will feel goosebumps all over by the last line of "Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair ," inspired by the Irish folksong with the same name; and your heart will break a second time reading "For Mother," published here for the first time, a tale about which the author himself confesses "This is not my happiest piece," after remarking that "some of my beta readers have become upset at me for
writing it"; I'll just mention it's about a slow person and touches on euthanasia, though not in the way you might think! And if third time's the charm, try reading "A Flicker of Bright Light" up to the last line, a tale about a little girl facing certain death).

My favorite story, however, and, to my eye, the most accomplished by far, was the penultimate story, "Called to the Sea," a dialogue-heavy sea horror story with a terrific ending. It's about young male cousins reconnecting after some time, though on a very dark anniversary: seven years ago the brother of the younger cousin disappeared. Did the sea take him? All will be revealed.

In sum, "What Fresh Hell Is This?", though not precisely following today's trends (no gore or drama, no social commentary or any hints of this kind), is filled with palpably dark and grating, emotionally charged horror. It keeps delivering intelligent twists coupled with an attractive, sober writing style. At least one the stories will mess you up. Give it a shot. Highly recommended!

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del Howison is a master storyteller who presents here seventeen short stories to delight and disturb horror fans with originality and shocking twists.

In just a few of my favorites, a father anxiously awaits the birth of his child, even as his wife carries out her revenge, a school bully learns how it feels to be helpless, and a siren's song calls young men to the sea.

Monsters, both supernatural and human, medical experiments gone horribly wrong, and even something as simple as a shopping trip to enjoy the feel of merchandise and hope to afford it someday can and does end in horror.

I enjoyed all of these expertly crafted stories, especially when I was tricked into thinking I knew who or what the monster was and then knocked off my feet at the reveal. They are fresh, freaky, and frightful. I loved every minute of it.

5 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.

[Rhiannon Boyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐

First time reading this author. I was intrigued by the fact that Clive Barker was doing an intro to this collection so I thought I'd check it out.

I was kinda underwhelmed. Maybe this is my fault for expecting something more with a Barker foreword... and don't get me wrong, it's not bad! It was just... okay I guess? Nothing really grabbed me outright; nothing revolutionary, or shocking. I didn't get particularly engaged until about the fourth story - "Vast Expanse of Nothing" which was decent. "For Mother" was heartbreaking.

The author is fond of using the 'surprise turn' in the very last one or two sentences of the story, with an abrupt end right after. It's useful as a literary plot device at times, but can also get tiresome when used all the time. Too often it reminds me of the old campfire ghost stories from adolescence... you know, the jump scare that basically ends the story? There's a lot like that.

Anyway, decent collection, but not really for me I guess.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing and the author for the ARC.

[John Palisano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del Howison’s short story collection is a welcome addition to the genre. Gathering several previously published pieces, as well as a few stories new to this volume, the book acts as a terrific introduction to Howison’s storytelling.

The first thing that comes to mind with these stories is that they’re classy. They are of a style popularised by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dennis Etchison, and other similar practitioners. Not to say Howison doesn’t have his own voice, he surely does. But the writing style is the kind where the author gets out of the way and lets the characters and the story take center stage.

A key aspect of each story is that they possess a strong emotional core. Even the ones that seem more plot driven also have rich emotional qualities and content. And that’s what stands out, especially in tales like “Alley Oops”.

These are relatively direct stories, too, which is welcome. You don’t need a cipher and a wiki to understand them. They’re self-contained. That’s where they feel most powerful and enjoyable.

Each story begins with an anecdote, mostly about where it was published and its inspiration. These are always very interesting to me. In addition, his introduction equally illuminates his journey as a writer.

Clive Barker delivers a fun forward that offers additional insight.

Crystal Lake’s production design is top notch, as well, as always.

Highly recommended.

[Ian Gielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An expertly crafted short story collection, this one boasts 18 stories filled with variation and twists and turns that you won't see coming that will indeed get you to ask "What Fresh Hell Is This?"

Short stories are one of my favourite formats to read because if done well, they can have a far bigger impact than a full novel or novella and so it proves here. These stories are varied, often brutal and unforgiving and even sometimes sad and in my opinion, there wasn't a weak one amongst them.
A foreward by non other than Clive Barker should give an indication of the quality you will be reading in this collection.

Some of my favourites were "Alley Oops" which ends with one single sentence that flips the whole tale around, "For Mother", a very sad tale that hit me in the feels, and "Called to the Sea", a seaside tale that evokes the creep factor perfectly and "A Flicker of Bright Light" that captures the ick factor expertly. There were many more fantastic stories, ranging from the supernatural to revenge, to melancholy so there is definitely something for everyone here.

If you are a fan of short story collections, this is one of the best out there. If you haven't read one yet and aren't sure where to start, give this one a go and if you don't like any short story collections you've read to date, this one might well change your mind.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful horror tales to entertain

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little collection. The stories vary a bit between supernatural and your standard gory human evils. I struggled to find my footing with the first few stories. Most of the stories are pretty dark and bleak and at times strangely sexual.

My two favorites were Called to the Sea and A Flicker of Bright Light. Howison is quite fond of the using a sudden twist at the end which worked well with some stories but felt a bit too on the nose with others.

I’d definitely be open to checking out more work from Howison in the future. Many of these are easy to see an expansion into a fuller novel but Called to the Sea definitely nailed the short story for me.

[Mark F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of What Fresh Hell Is This?, by Del Howison. Consisting of 18 stories, this collection is amazing. How have the works of Del Howison escaped me until now?!?

I’m happy to report that there was not one story that I didn’t like and many that I loved. With varied types of horror making up this book, the author transformed the stories into tales that weaved their way into my brain in a most horror-filled way, guiding me along, and making me wonder what was going to happen next. And just when I thought I had figured things out, I was blindsided again and again. Not in a bad way, but in a way that makes reading these stories all the more enjoyable.

Though I really enjoyed them all, my favorites were The Lost Herd (for me, a new take on legendary horror), Alley Oops (the “Oops” says it all), Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair (a creepy tale of good parenting gone wrong), Liminality (a dark tale of belonging, or not), For Mother (the horror, the sadness, the good intentions…my heart really went out to Wayne), The Witch Pool (a good coming of age horror tale with a dose of karma), A Flicker of Bright Light (no words, you have to read it for yourself), The Humps in the Field (maybe it’s best not to return home, especially if it’s the scene of a crime), The Necrosis Factor (a great tale of horror, and of the things we do for love), and with Called to the Sea and the very short, Papa’s Arms, being the icing on the cake. I can’t say much about Called to the Sea without spoilers, so let me just say that this was my favorite, with ever increasing tension, horror, and shock. And what better way to end this book than with the short, short Papa’s Arms. Del, you had me laughing so hard with this one.

If you haven’t already pre-ordered “What Fresh Hell is This?”, I highly recommend you do so now. I gave it a 5 out of 5.

[Derek McCaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, I’m not talking about what I say every morning when I wake up. Though sometimes that’s fair. Writer Del Howison borrowed Dorothy Parker’s famous line to title a collection of his horror short stories. Though he writes across genres, this tome keeps one foot in one hell or another.

Some of these dark tales have appeared before. A couple even flirted with television. Many veer toward gore, though Howison can leave you uneasy with just a suggestion of it. They’re all a bit disturbing, even the story that appeared in an edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He provides a brief history before each one, including the one or two that he wasn’t wholly satisfied to write. To some extent it’s clear “A Flicker of Bright Light” was a stretch to add his preferred macabre tastes to a post-apocalyptic science fiction tale. When Howison writes about the here and now, it’s far more successful and disturbing.

And yet, the piece that stood out for me is non-fiction, “Vast Expanse of Nothing.” A personal story of dealing with his older brother’s passing, it’s barely horror (though it had previously appeared in a horror magazine). Instead, it’s about grief, old family wounds, and ultimately finding a sort of peace.

Some of the stories leave room for expansion. So if you read “The Witching Pool” here, keep an eye out in case Howison does develop it into a full YA horror novel. Spinning off the urban legends of drowned towns lying undisturbed beneath a lake, it’s effective and leaves room for the supernatural to just shake its head from a distance.

A satisfying collection, What Fresh Hell Is This? is a good place to start with Howison the author. The anthologies he’s edited are worth a look, too. Those may not have his voice, but they definitely have his hand.

It’s not even disembodied.

[Ivana]

Ono što me je najviše privuklo ovoj zbirci nepoznatog mi autora je to što je predgovor napisao Klajv Barker.

U predgovoru je naveo da mu se dopada raznovrsnost priča, što nisu sve na isti kalup, istu temu, isto štagod. Što nema komercijalnog pisanja ni beskrajnog ponavljanja onog što se najbolje prodaje. I to me je podsetilo na Barkerove "Knjige krvi", gde su priče takođe prilično raznovrsne.

Samo, kod Barkera su sve te priče pisane u istom periodu, i to se oseća. Mada nisu iste po kvalitetu, ipak im to daje neku ujednačenost. Ovde te ujednačenosti nema, pošto su sakupljene priče (i dva teksta koji nisu priče) pisane tokom niza godina za različite antologije i časopise, plus je tu i poneka koja je prvi put objavljena ovde. I tako se tu našla i prva autorova objavljena priča, kao i neke pisane znatno kasnije. A čak nisu ni poređane hronološkim redosledom/onim redom kojim su objavljivane, što je moglo da pruži osećaj razvoja. Bez kontinuiteta ili tematske ili već nekakve povezanosti, delovalo mi je pomalo nabacano.

A pojedinačno, kakve su? Kako koja. Neke su na nivou fore (što uopšte ne mora da bude loše). Neke su znatno razrađenije, sa zaista interesantnim idejama. Neretko je obrt na samom kraju, u poslednjim rečenicama, što može da bude efektno, ali se u okviru zbirke ponavlja malko prečesto za moj ukus. Plus sam ja, po svoj prilici, zbog Barkerovog predgovora očekivala previše. Ovo ipak nije na tom nivou, niti zadire toliko duboko kao neke Barkerove priče. Što ovu zbirku ne čini lošom, samo nije ono što sam očekivala i, po svoj prilici, nije moja šoljica čaja.

Hvala autoru i izdavaču što su mi ustupili ARC.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Del Howison and I’m really glad I did! This collection of 18 short stories is unique and entertaining and offers some great twists. It includes a variety of horror ranging from the supernatural to monsters to real-life horror. Some of the stories are brutal and frightening because I could imagine them happening to me.

I really enjoyed that some of the stories made you think. For example, Crate 156594 gives you another perspective of humans and our relationship with wild animals. Or another example is Liminality, which provides perspective from a monster instead of the people under attack. Overall, I loved Howison’s writing and the originality of each story.

The quick summaries provided before each short story were really nice too! I appreciated the chance to hear what the author wants to share and get some background on why it was written.

Some of my favorites are: Called to the Sea, The Humps in the Field, and Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy!

[Joshua Welch · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I wanted to love this collection of short stories, I just didn’t. Del has a tendency to shift between points of view, locations, and timelines without warning, which often felt disorganized and distracting.

The collection starts strong with The Last Herd—a seemingly predictable western horror that delivers a decent twist. Alley Oops was an entertaining tale of a terrible turn of events, and both Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair and For Mother were solid. But ultimately, nothing really hooked me or made me think, “This is a damn good read.”

There’s an art to writing short stories. While Del clearly has a talent for spooky, unsettling ideas, I think their style might shine more in dialogue or performance than on the page.

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark tales from the life of Del Howison, told by the revered author himself. A fascinating glimpse into the life an esteemed writer. An amazing look into the past.

[Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection brings together stories from across Howison's prolific career, each one exploring the eerie and the macabre, examining humanity's deepest fears and desires. Each one of these stories were masterfully done, from supernatural horror to human monsters. If you're a fan of short story collections give this one a go. A few of my favorites were The Lost Herd, The Witch Pool, A Flicker of Bright Light, The Humps in the Field, The Necrosis Factor, Called to the Sea, Papa’s Arms.

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Del Howison knows horror. So I was excited to read this collection of his own horror stories, and I was not disappointed.

Favorite stories:

The Witch Pool - A bet leads to a bully's dangerous encounter when he jumps into a lake with a flooded town at the bottom of it. Some truly gnarly bits in this one, and I mean that as a compliment.

The Tingler - Inspired by the classic Vincent Price film, a man agrees to test a new electiricity buzzer on his spine in hopes of curing a pretty horrible ongoing case of tinnitus. All goes well until he starts losing time and the story builds to a blood crescendo.

The Last Great Monster - A fun creature feature monster story. A woman hits a monster with her car, killing it. The cop who discovers the creature's body contacts a reality show director who brings out his sound man and camera guy to film it. Unfortunately for all involved, it's not the only dangerous thing in the woods.

Called to Sea - Austin visits his aunt, uncle, and cousin, who seem to blame him for the disappearance of his other cousin. While visiting, Austin comes across a beautiful young woman on the beach, singing, and ends up hooking up with the strange lady, which, as any horror fan can tell you, turns out to be a really bad idea.


I hope this is just the first of many collections from Howison, as I could easily have read a dozen more stories by him, they were just so engaging. Del Howison knows horror, so if you're looking for a good creepy story, check this collection out.