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Con-thology: Stories of Convention Horror
EpicFearCon has come to town—but will anyone survive?
You hold a special anthology in your hands, one sold only at convention tables. In these stories, four horror authors reveal the terrifying forces that lurk behind the façade of cosplayers, vendors, and hungry horror fans.
One convention.
Four tales.
Written for a special guest like you.
You hold a special anthology in your hands, one sold only at convention tables. In these stories, four horror authors reveal the terrifying forces that lurk behind the façade of cosplayers, vendors, and hungry horror fans.
One convention.
Four tales.
Written for a special guest like you.
- GenresHorror
60 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2025
About the author
Douglas Ford
24 books59 followersDouglas Ford's short fiction has appeared in a variety of anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, as well as two collections, Ape in the Ring and Other Tales of the Macabre and Uncanny and The Infection Party and Other Stories of Dis-Ease. His longer works include The Beasts of Vissaria County, Little Lugosi (A Love Story), and The Trick, his newest from Madness Heart Press. He lives on the west coast of Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 9, 2025
As a member of my friend Josh Ginsburg's Patreon, I received a copy of Con-Thology, a horror collection.
As the title says, Con-Thology is a collection of horror stories that take place in the halls of a convention. Conventions can be organized chaos, full of vendors and characters and celebrities and guest appearances. You never know who or what you might run into in at a convention. These stories up the ante and increase the chaos of convention life.
Con-Thology is short. It is only 55 pages, including table of contents and author bio page. You can read it in one sitting. Each story ranges between 8 and 15 pages. They get to the point and bring the weirdness and horror.
1) Cosplay by Josh Strnad
The anthology starts with the shortest story in the collection. Josh tells the tale of a loner and social outcast who embraces his mysterious wraith costume and enjoys the attention he gets from his fellow attendees while still being able to hide within his disguise. His ability to hide in his mysterious attire provides cover for his darker intentions.
2) Autographed Edition by Douglas Ford
The set-up for this story is awesome. I love the idea of a reader finding a new release from a deceased author and further finding that the book is autographed with the author's signature. There is so much mystery and potential with that premise. It could have been its own book. But in the world of Con-Thology, other authors and bargains and ceremonies enter the story and while we pleasantly wade in the macabre and occult, we shift from the initial mystery to something more ceremonial. Perhaps Douglas will revisit that premise and flesh it out into something larger someday. Maybe there are other signed books out there.
(Note: I've met Doug. He and I did a book signing coordinated through Josh in St Petersburg last fall. Doug is also quite prolific, with several novels and collections to his name. I own The Infection Party, although I have not yet had a chance to read it.)
3) The Sally Anne Test by Elaine Pascale
Another very weird and usual story - which is to be expected of course. I enjoyed the point of view of someone who had been sheltered and used as an experiment by a manipulative parent. The horror of psychological manipulation is creepy and a fertile ground for something bad to happen. Eventually, the young girl not only has a chance to be around others, but she also has a chance to meet her favorite graphic artist. Or does she? The twists and turns of this story make it a very interesting read.
4) Closing Ceremony by Joshua Ginsburg
I had the pleasure of reading this story before it was in Con-Thology. Josh asked my thoughts on the story and the unique way it was written. I liked it then and I like the finished product. This story takes a unique perspective on a convention annihilated by a disaster. It reads like an investigative report, full of details and observations. There are no people, no characters, and no dialogue. It is an interesting read, chock full of name-drops and Easter eggs. And being that the convention hall is utterly devastated, Josh's story is a good way to end the book. Even if you have a wristband, you are not going back in after that.
Overall, I enjoyed Con-Thology. It was a fun, creepy, quick read. Highly recommend finding any of the authors and picking up a copy of Con-Thology at your nearest convention.
As the title says, Con-Thology is a collection of horror stories that take place in the halls of a convention. Conventions can be organized chaos, full of vendors and characters and celebrities and guest appearances. You never know who or what you might run into in at a convention. These stories up the ante and increase the chaos of convention life.
Con-Thology is short. It is only 55 pages, including table of contents and author bio page. You can read it in one sitting. Each story ranges between 8 and 15 pages. They get to the point and bring the weirdness and horror.
1) Cosplay by Josh Strnad
The anthology starts with the shortest story in the collection. Josh tells the tale of a loner and social outcast who embraces his mysterious wraith costume and enjoys the attention he gets from his fellow attendees while still being able to hide within his disguise. His ability to hide in his mysterious attire provides cover for his darker intentions.
2) Autographed Edition by Douglas Ford
The set-up for this story is awesome. I love the idea of a reader finding a new release from a deceased author and further finding that the book is autographed with the author's signature. There is so much mystery and potential with that premise. It could have been its own book. But in the world of Con-Thology, other authors and bargains and ceremonies enter the story and while we pleasantly wade in the macabre and occult, we shift from the initial mystery to something more ceremonial. Perhaps Douglas will revisit that premise and flesh it out into something larger someday. Maybe there are other signed books out there.
(Note: I've met Doug. He and I did a book signing coordinated through Josh in St Petersburg last fall. Doug is also quite prolific, with several novels and collections to his name. I own The Infection Party, although I have not yet had a chance to read it.)
3) The Sally Anne Test by Elaine Pascale
Another very weird and usual story - which is to be expected of course. I enjoyed the point of view of someone who had been sheltered and used as an experiment by a manipulative parent. The horror of psychological manipulation is creepy and a fertile ground for something bad to happen. Eventually, the young girl not only has a chance to be around others, but she also has a chance to meet her favorite graphic artist. Or does she? The twists and turns of this story make it a very interesting read.
4) Closing Ceremony by Joshua Ginsburg
I had the pleasure of reading this story before it was in Con-Thology. Josh asked my thoughts on the story and the unique way it was written. I liked it then and I like the finished product. This story takes a unique perspective on a convention annihilated by a disaster. It reads like an investigative report, full of details and observations. There are no people, no characters, and no dialogue. It is an interesting read, chock full of name-drops and Easter eggs. And being that the convention hall is utterly devastated, Josh's story is a good way to end the book. Even if you have a wristband, you are not going back in after that.
Overall, I enjoyed Con-Thology. It was a fun, creepy, quick read. Highly recommend finding any of the authors and picking up a copy of Con-Thology at your nearest convention.
April 6, 2025
Really good read!
There were a couple of typos that threw off my imagination, hahaha.
I loved Joshua Ginsberg's story the most. I just love that he uses real places and real names, conventions, etc. It just makes you picture yourself in this place, in this story, and feel the feels.
But all of the stories were good ones.
I had the opportunity to acquire this good read by being part of Joshua Ginsberg's patreon. I highly recommend not only following him but I also recommend his books.
There were a couple of typos that threw off my imagination, hahaha.
I loved Joshua Ginsberg's story the most. I just love that he uses real places and real names, conventions, etc. It just makes you picture yourself in this place, in this story, and feel the feels.
But all of the stories were good ones.
I had the opportunity to acquire this good read by being part of Joshua Ginsberg's patreon. I highly recommend not only following him but I also recommend his books.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews