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Dark Screams: Volume Two
Robert McCammon, Norman Prentiss, Shawntelle Madison, Graham Masterton, and Richard Christian Matheson scale new heights of horror, suspense, and grimmest fantasy in Dark Screams: Volume Two, from Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar of the renowned Cemetery Dance Publications.
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon
Everyone thinks the drowning death of Neil Calder in the local swimming pool was a tragic accident. Only his father knows better. Now, on the last night of summer, Neil returns in search of revenge.
INTERVAL by Norman Prentiss
Flight 1137 from St. Louis by way of Nashville has gone missing. As anxious friends and family gather around the gate, a ticket clerk finds herself eyewitness to a moment of inhuman evil.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK by Shawntelle Madison
Eleanor has come from New York City to prep an old Victorian house in Maine for America’s Mysterious Hotspots. Although she’s always thrown herself into her work, this job will take her places she’s never dreamed of going.
THE NIGHT HIDER by Graham Masterton
C. S. Lewis wrote about a portal that led to a world of magic and enchantment. But the wardrobe in Dawn’s room holds only death—until she solves its grisly mystery.
WHATEVER by Richard Christian Matheson
A 1970s rock ’n’ roll band that never was—in a world that is clearly our own . . . but perhaps isn’t, not anymore . . . or, at least, not yet—takes one hell of a trip.
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon
Everyone thinks the drowning death of Neil Calder in the local swimming pool was a tragic accident. Only his father knows better. Now, on the last night of summer, Neil returns in search of revenge.
INTERVAL by Norman Prentiss
Flight 1137 from St. Louis by way of Nashville has gone missing. As anxious friends and family gather around the gate, a ticket clerk finds herself eyewitness to a moment of inhuman evil.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK by Shawntelle Madison
Eleanor has come from New York City to prep an old Victorian house in Maine for America’s Mysterious Hotspots. Although she’s always thrown herself into her work, this job will take her places she’s never dreamed of going.
THE NIGHT HIDER by Graham Masterton
C. S. Lewis wrote about a portal that led to a world of magic and enchantment. But the wardrobe in Dawn’s room holds only death—until she solves its grisly mystery.
WHATEVER by Richard Christian Matheson
A 1970s rock ’n’ roll band that never was—in a world that is clearly our own . . . but perhaps isn’t, not anymore . . . or, at least, not yet—takes one hell of a trip.
Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
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About the author
Robert McCammon
168 books5,776 followersPseudonyms: Robert R. McCammon; Robert Rick McCammon
Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.
McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.
McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 23, 2015
When this book came up for review at Net Galley I jumped on it, because I enjoyed the first volume so much. Unfortunately, I didn't find this volume to be as good as the first.
My favorite story of the bunch is BY FAR, The Deep End by Robert McCammon. Not just because he's one of my favorite authors, but because the story ROCKED. 5*
Unfortunately, most of the rest of the stories just didn't resonate with me.
Interval by Norman Prentiss should have made an impression on me, considering what's gone on in the world over the last 6 months, but sadly, it did not. 3*
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison. I did enjoy this story, it's probably my second favorite. The way in which the story was told was a little bit scattered, but I enjoyed the way it developed. 4*
The Night Hider by Graham Masterton. I would have been fine with it still hiding. 2*
Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson. I kind of liked this one, but it was told in such a disjointed manner that I got confused and then I was just like...whatever. 3*
Find this review and others like it at HorrorAfterDark.com.
*I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
My favorite story of the bunch is BY FAR, The Deep End by Robert McCammon. Not just because he's one of my favorite authors, but because the story ROCKED. 5*
Unfortunately, most of the rest of the stories just didn't resonate with me.
Interval by Norman Prentiss should have made an impression on me, considering what's gone on in the world over the last 6 months, but sadly, it did not. 3*
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison. I did enjoy this story, it's probably my second favorite. The way in which the story was told was a little bit scattered, but I enjoyed the way it developed. 4*
The Night Hider by Graham Masterton. I would have been fine with it still hiding. 2*
Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson. I kind of liked this one, but it was told in such a disjointed manner that I got confused and then I was just like...whatever. 3*
Find this review and others like it at HorrorAfterDark.com.
*I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
February 28, 2015
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
4 Stars!
Anthologies can be very tough to rate. I find that most anthologies have some stories that I like and some that don't work for me. This group of stories was surprisingly good. I loved a couple of the stories, liked a couple, and disliked only one story. I picked this short book up because I was in the mood for something a little different and I had planned to just read one story at a time in between other books. Once I started this book, I didn't want to read anything else - so much for my plan.
"The Deep End" by Robert McCammon - 4.5 Stars
I probably shouldn't admit that I haven't read anything by Robert McCammon before I read this story. I loved his writing. This story was such a great introduction to this anthology. I felt for the main character and was actually afraid for him. Such an original and interesting idea. I definitely need to read more from Robert McCammon soon.
"Interval" by Norman Prentiss - 3.5 Stars
Norman Prentiss is another author that I haven't had a chance to read. The focus of the families at the airport was so compelling. I was immediately pulled into this story but I must admit that I was a bit let down as the story ended.
"If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawtelle Madison - 5 Stars
I have read Shawntelle Madison's debut novel, Under My Skin, and absolutely loved it so I was really looking forward to this story in the grouping. I was not disappointed. It took a little time for everything to fall into place but as soon as things started happening in this story it was non-stop. The way this one ended really was creepy for me.
"The Night Hider" by Graham Masterson - 4 Stars
This is the first chance that I have had to read anything by Graham Masterson and I really enjoyed this story. I probably shouldn't admit that I have never read the Narnia series but I think fans of that series will be very interested in this story. I loved how he built on a basic, well known plot and made it so incredibly interesting.
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Matheson - 1 Star
I didn't care for this story at all. I found it to be confusing and pointless. I am still not really sure what happened. This is the longest story in the group and it was told in the most original way with lots of letters, songs, interviews, and memos. I quickly lost interest and felt confused for most of the story.
I love to sample the writing of authors I haven't had a chance to read by reading anthologies. I would definitely pick up a book by most of these authors after reading this compilation of stories. Some of the copyrights on the stories go back a few years but all of the stories were new to me and I really enjoyed the book as a whole. In fact, I actually liked this one better than the first volume, Dark Screams: Volume One. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Hydra via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
4 Stars!
Anthologies can be very tough to rate. I find that most anthologies have some stories that I like and some that don't work for me. This group of stories was surprisingly good. I loved a couple of the stories, liked a couple, and disliked only one story. I picked this short book up because I was in the mood for something a little different and I had planned to just read one story at a time in between other books. Once I started this book, I didn't want to read anything else - so much for my plan.
"The Deep End" by Robert McCammon - 4.5 Stars
I probably shouldn't admit that I haven't read anything by Robert McCammon before I read this story. I loved his writing. This story was such a great introduction to this anthology. I felt for the main character and was actually afraid for him. Such an original and interesting idea. I definitely need to read more from Robert McCammon soon.
"Interval" by Norman Prentiss - 3.5 Stars
Norman Prentiss is another author that I haven't had a chance to read. The focus of the families at the airport was so compelling. I was immediately pulled into this story but I must admit that I was a bit let down as the story ended.
"If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawtelle Madison - 5 Stars
I have read Shawntelle Madison's debut novel, Under My Skin, and absolutely loved it so I was really looking forward to this story in the grouping. I was not disappointed. It took a little time for everything to fall into place but as soon as things started happening in this story it was non-stop. The way this one ended really was creepy for me.
"The Night Hider" by Graham Masterson - 4 Stars
This is the first chance that I have had to read anything by Graham Masterson and I really enjoyed this story. I probably shouldn't admit that I have never read the Narnia series but I think fans of that series will be very interested in this story. I loved how he built on a basic, well known plot and made it so incredibly interesting.
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Matheson - 1 Star
I didn't care for this story at all. I found it to be confusing and pointless. I am still not really sure what happened. This is the longest story in the group and it was told in the most original way with lots of letters, songs, interviews, and memos. I quickly lost interest and felt confused for most of the story.
I love to sample the writing of authors I haven't had a chance to read by reading anthologies. I would definitely pick up a book by most of these authors after reading this compilation of stories. Some of the copyrights on the stories go back a few years but all of the stories were new to me and I really enjoyed the book as a whole. In fact, I actually liked this one better than the first volume, Dark Screams: Volume One. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Hydra via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
February 21, 2015
3.5 stars.
Dark Screams: Volume Two, like the first, is a decent horror anthology. Although I only really liked two stories out of the five, those two were pretty damn good. The Deep End by Robert R. McCammon was my first McCammon story and I enjoyed it very much. I have heard from McCammon fans that this wasn't his best but regardless, I liked it. The writing was good, the story line captivating and the ending....well, you will just have to read it to find out. The other one that I really liked was Interval by Norman Prentiss. I will fully admit that I am a fan of Norman Prentiss; there isn't anything I have read from him that I haven't liked. Interval was not an exception. It sort of reminded me of the movie Red Eye that came out a million years ago. I would say that both stories were worth your price of admission, whatever that may be.
I think that If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison had potential, story-wise, but the writing was unremarkable and the most memorable lines from the story were "Holy S#!t." and "The cops aren't coming!" I realize it is a short story but there were several background stories that were touched upon but not enough to really give the story any sense of credibility or depth.
The Night Hider by Graham Masterson wasn't bad. It wasn't my favorite. The initial storyline was strong. I loved the premise and the writing was decent. However I felt that the story midway through veered towards the ridiculous and never got back on track. I found the ending disappointing.
Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson: There aren't words. There aren't any nice words that I can come up for, for this one. It may be the worst (longer) short story I have ever read. The entire thing reminded me of that old 80's commercial: "This is your brain." "This is your brain on drugs." Except, the commercial made a lot more sense.
That said, I have never seen an anthology containing different authors where I liked all of the stories. I intend to read the next ones that come out because Dark Screams so far has been good for at least two (or three) very strong stories per volume and that's still really good.
I received this as an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dark Screams: Volume Two, like the first, is a decent horror anthology. Although I only really liked two stories out of the five, those two were pretty damn good. The Deep End by Robert R. McCammon was my first McCammon story and I enjoyed it very much. I have heard from McCammon fans that this wasn't his best but regardless, I liked it. The writing was good, the story line captivating and the ending....well, you will just have to read it to find out. The other one that I really liked was Interval by Norman Prentiss. I will fully admit that I am a fan of Norman Prentiss; there isn't anything I have read from him that I haven't liked. Interval was not an exception. It sort of reminded me of the movie Red Eye that came out a million years ago. I would say that both stories were worth your price of admission, whatever that may be.
I think that If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison had potential, story-wise, but the writing was unremarkable and the most memorable lines from the story were "Holy S#!t." and "The cops aren't coming!" I realize it is a short story but there were several background stories that were touched upon but not enough to really give the story any sense of credibility or depth.
The Night Hider by Graham Masterson wasn't bad. It wasn't my favorite. The initial storyline was strong. I loved the premise and the writing was decent. However I felt that the story midway through veered towards the ridiculous and never got back on track. I found the ending disappointing.
Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson: There aren't words. There aren't any nice words that I can come up for, for this one. It may be the worst (longer) short story I have ever read. The entire thing reminded me of that old 80's commercial: "This is your brain." "This is your brain on drugs." Except, the commercial made a lot more sense.
That said, I have never seen an anthology containing different authors where I liked all of the stories. I intend to read the next ones that come out because Dark Screams so far has been good for at least two (or three) very strong stories per volume and that's still really good.
I received this as an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2015
3.5 stars.
DARK SCREAMS: Volume Two is another great collection of five shorter tales by both well known, and one new-to-me, author.
The first story, "The Deep End", by Robert McCammon was my favorite story in the collection. An emotionally-charged tale that will have you thinking twice before your next trip to the community pool.... A solid 5 stars!
"Interval", by Norman Prentiss is another tale that focuses on the emotions it evokes, but in an entirely different way. 4 stars.
"If These Walls Could Talk", by Shawntelle Madison had great atmosphere, but I just didn't get into the characters as I would have liked to. 2.5 stars.
"The Night Hider", by Graham Masterton centers around a wardrobe that could have been a sinister inspiration to a well-known classic. Highly original, and I loved the "connection" to C.S. Lewis! 4.5 stars.
"Whatever", by Richard Christian Matheson struck me as more literary than horror. While it was an interesting series of excerpts that made up the bulk of this longer story, I just didn't feel that it really fit into this anthology as well as the others did. 2.5 stars.
Overall another great collection by editors Brian James Freeman, and Richard Chizmar.
Recommended!
*I received an advance copy of this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
DARK SCREAMS: Volume Two is another great collection of five shorter tales by both well known, and one new-to-me, author.
The first story, "The Deep End", by Robert McCammon was my favorite story in the collection. An emotionally-charged tale that will have you thinking twice before your next trip to the community pool.... A solid 5 stars!
"Interval", by Norman Prentiss is another tale that focuses on the emotions it evokes, but in an entirely different way. 4 stars.
"If These Walls Could Talk", by Shawntelle Madison had great atmosphere, but I just didn't get into the characters as I would have liked to. 2.5 stars.
"The Night Hider", by Graham Masterton centers around a wardrobe that could have been a sinister inspiration to a well-known classic. Highly original, and I loved the "connection" to C.S. Lewis! 4.5 stars.
"Whatever", by Richard Christian Matheson struck me as more literary than horror. While it was an interesting series of excerpts that made up the bulk of this longer story, I just didn't feel that it really fit into this anthology as well as the others did. 2.5 stars.
Overall another great collection by editors Brian James Freeman, and Richard Chizmar.
Recommended!
*I received an advance copy of this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 12, 2015
What a nice surprise. I read, and was disappointed in, volume one of this series, but this was such an improvement - five stories and four of them I really liked.....you can't ask for much more from any anthology.
"The Deep End" - Robert R. McCammon - I've been a McCammon fan since reading the fantastic Swan Song when I was in high school. A haunted....swimming pool? OK, sounds crazy, but it totally works. I always appreciate stories where the danger is recognized by the world at large, and not just the protagonists. This story was previously published, but I had not read it.
"Interval" - Norman Prentiss - Fabulous set-up, a flight attendant is working when she and her co-workers learn of a downed plane on the way to their airport. But even that real life horror isn't enough for Prentiss who adds an interesting twist to the tale.
"If These Walls Could Talk" - Shawntelle Madison - Another interesting set up, an advance team for a show on haunted locations arrives at a home to get it ready for the taping of the show. Nice sense of dread.
"The Night Hider" - Graham Masterson - this one was my least favorite, but it still wasn't bad. Dawn has a new piece of furniture...or does it have her? Didn't really buy the premise but fans of C.S. Lewis may enjoy.
"Whatever" - Richard Christian Matheson - Probably my favorite in the collection, and told solely through memos, articles, song lyrics, author's notes and the like - imagine "Almost Famous" as a great story. Those searching for gore will be disappointed, this is just a darn good story with only a little "horror" thrown in. I really enjoyed the format (done so well in Night Film). This has a 1997 copyright date, but there was no indication it had been previously published.
I've had bad luck with anthologies recently, but this one has restored my faith. Horror fans should definitely put it on their lists.
"The Deep End" - Robert R. McCammon - I've been a McCammon fan since reading the fantastic Swan Song when I was in high school. A haunted....swimming pool? OK, sounds crazy, but it totally works. I always appreciate stories where the danger is recognized by the world at large, and not just the protagonists. This story was previously published, but I had not read it.
"Interval" - Norman Prentiss - Fabulous set-up, a flight attendant is working when she and her co-workers learn of a downed plane on the way to their airport. But even that real life horror isn't enough for Prentiss who adds an interesting twist to the tale.
"If These Walls Could Talk" - Shawntelle Madison - Another interesting set up, an advance team for a show on haunted locations arrives at a home to get it ready for the taping of the show. Nice sense of dread.
"The Night Hider" - Graham Masterson - this one was my least favorite, but it still wasn't bad. Dawn has a new piece of furniture...or does it have her? Didn't really buy the premise but fans of C.S. Lewis may enjoy.
"Whatever" - Richard Christian Matheson - Probably my favorite in the collection, and told solely through memos, articles, song lyrics, author's notes and the like - imagine "Almost Famous" as a great story. Those searching for gore will be disappointed, this is just a darn good story with only a little "horror" thrown in. I really enjoyed the format (done so well in Night Film). This has a 1997 copyright date, but there was no indication it had been previously published.
I've had bad luck with anthologies recently, but this one has restored my faith. Horror fans should definitely put it on their lists.
February 12, 2015
I recieved an ARC copy on NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The second in the series continues the high quality. Read it in one sitting.
Overall Rating 4 stars.
The Deep End by Robert McCammon
I don’t like swimming in my pool at night with the light off. Yes, it is my pool and I know every inch of it. Maybe if I hadn’t read so many horror stories over the years, my imagination wouldn’t conjure up things in the dark water. I just find myself waiting for the touch of something on my leg from down below. This story is just like that. Creepy. Old School. It plays on fears of what is in the dark, or maybe just something we can’t see. Something that is nasty and old and “other.” 5 stars.
Interval by Norman Prentiss Very modern story that took several directions that I did not see coming in what, to all appearances, is a very realistic horror of a downed airplane and the hell that waits for the families waiting for news. Then it becomes about something else entirely. 4 stars.
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison My first story by this author and I enjoyed it very much. Can’t say much about this story that wouldn’t ruin it. I guess the best way to describe it is that when you are in a haunted house, sometimes the ghosts are the least of your worries. 4 stars.
The Night Hider by Graham Masterton Interesting story by one of the best ever. Think of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Now what if it wasn’t Narnia on the other side and what if instead of you going into another world, things from another world come into yours? A Masterton style ending too, which may not be expected. 4 stars.
Whatever by Richard Matheson I lived through the times described in this stream of consciousness rock music montage, so I feel that I caught most of the references. While I found the story interesting, I really don’t have a clue what was going on here. I did enjoy it for what it was though. 3 stars.
The second in the series continues the high quality. Read it in one sitting.
Overall Rating 4 stars.
The Deep End by Robert McCammon
I don’t like swimming in my pool at night with the light off. Yes, it is my pool and I know every inch of it. Maybe if I hadn’t read so many horror stories over the years, my imagination wouldn’t conjure up things in the dark water. I just find myself waiting for the touch of something on my leg from down below. This story is just like that. Creepy. Old School. It plays on fears of what is in the dark, or maybe just something we can’t see. Something that is nasty and old and “other.” 5 stars.
Interval by Norman Prentiss Very modern story that took several directions that I did not see coming in what, to all appearances, is a very realistic horror of a downed airplane and the hell that waits for the families waiting for news. Then it becomes about something else entirely. 4 stars.
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison My first story by this author and I enjoyed it very much. Can’t say much about this story that wouldn’t ruin it. I guess the best way to describe it is that when you are in a haunted house, sometimes the ghosts are the least of your worries. 4 stars.
The Night Hider by Graham Masterton Interesting story by one of the best ever. Think of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Now what if it wasn’t Narnia on the other side and what if instead of you going into another world, things from another world come into yours? A Masterton style ending too, which may not be expected. 4 stars.
Whatever by Richard Matheson I lived through the times described in this stream of consciousness rock music montage, so I feel that I caught most of the references. While I found the story interesting, I really don’t have a clue what was going on here. I did enjoy it for what it was though. 3 stars.
March 3, 2015
Anthologies are very hit or miss for me and Dark Screams 2 is no exception. This one starts out strong and then unfortunately falls into similar trappings that a lot of anthologies fall into by including lesser known and obscure works that are suppose to bring depth to the collection, but ultimately bring the whole thing down into mediocrity.
My favorites by a wide margin were the first two stories - The Deep End by Robert McCammon and Interval by Norman Prentiss. The other three were not nearly as good. If These Walls Could Talk seemed choppy and disjointed; The Night Hider had promise at the start, then fizzled out and Whatever by Richard Matheson may have been the most disappointing and difficult to interpret of the bunch.
All told and tallied this one works out to be 3.2 Stars, but felt more like 2.5. Too bad. I think that if the order of the stories were switched up a bit, it may have read higher.
*I received an advance review copy of this release from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My favorites by a wide margin were the first two stories - The Deep End by Robert McCammon and Interval by Norman Prentiss. The other three were not nearly as good. If These Walls Could Talk seemed choppy and disjointed; The Night Hider had promise at the start, then fizzled out and Whatever by Richard Matheson may have been the most disappointing and difficult to interpret of the bunch.
All told and tallied this one works out to be 3.2 Stars, but felt more like 2.5. Too bad. I think that if the order of the stories were switched up a bit, it may have read higher.
*I received an advance review copy of this release from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2021
As in most anthologies, there were hit and miss stories in this book for me.
The Deep End by Robert McCammon: I liked this story, and found the scenes in the pool both tense and scary, but I'm not sure I cared all that much for the ending. 3 stars
Interval by Norman Prentiss: I did not care for this story all that much. I found the characters to be universally unlikable and so that made me less interested in the story itself. I did like the premise, but it reminded me of the Twilight Zone Episode "The Howling Man." 2 stars
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison: One of my favorite stories in the book. I liked both the premise and the structure of the story. I thought the story was one thing but then there was a twist at the end I did not see coming. 4 Stars
The Night Hider by Graham Masterson: I had never heard of Mr. Masterson and he seems to be write short stories almost exclusively, but this might have been my favorite story in the book. The possibility that C.S. Lewis' Christian Allegory, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe could be something more, very intriguing. 4 stars
Whatever by Richard Matheson: I do not care for stories told in journal/letterform in general, with the possible exception of Max Brooks, so this one would probably have been a miss for me anyway. It was an interesting story but I'm not sure it was really horror. 2 stars
The Deep End by Robert McCammon: I liked this story, and found the scenes in the pool both tense and scary, but I'm not sure I cared all that much for the ending. 3 stars
Interval by Norman Prentiss: I did not care for this story all that much. I found the characters to be universally unlikable and so that made me less interested in the story itself. I did like the premise, but it reminded me of the Twilight Zone Episode "The Howling Man." 2 stars
If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison: One of my favorite stories in the book. I liked both the premise and the structure of the story. I thought the story was one thing but then there was a twist at the end I did not see coming. 4 Stars
The Night Hider by Graham Masterson: I had never heard of Mr. Masterson and he seems to be write short stories almost exclusively, but this might have been my favorite story in the book. The possibility that C.S. Lewis' Christian Allegory, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe could be something more, very intriguing. 4 stars
Whatever by Richard Matheson: I do not care for stories told in journal/letterform in general, with the possible exception of Max Brooks, so this one would probably have been a miss for me anyway. It was an interesting story but I'm not sure it was really horror. 2 stars
April 20, 2015
While the first Dark Screams volume was a wild mixture of stories without a recognizable common theme, this second collection seems better tuned. It presents stories of dark things lurking in completely unobtrusive places. A swimming pool, walls in a house, or even a wardrobe - suddenly they reveal a hidden evil which bereaves them of their inconspicuousness.
The Deep End (Robert McCammon)
Very straightforward and uncomplicated. My only criticism would be the unnecessary 'epilogue'. I guess this one is my favorite. 4 stars.
Interval (Norman Prentiss)
The first part really gave me the creeps because of its realistic subject. Unfortunately, the author added some supernatural element which didn't work out for me, but add confusion to an otherwise great story. 3 stars
If These Walls Could Talk (Shawntelle Madison)
Nice one with an unexpected twist that caught me by surprise and made me shudder. I loved the detail with the fox eye. 4 stars
The Night Hider (Graham Masterton)
Great reference to the author C.S. Lewis, though I would have preferred something more fantastic in the line of his work. The ending was not as climactic as expected and Jerry's sacrifice seemed unnecessary. 4 stars
Whatever (Richard Matheson)
A collection of song lyrics, interview snippets and articles, loosely connected into a story about a rock band. Dragged on and on without getting anywhere. Sorry, this was not my cup of tea. 1 star
A nice collection with some great authors, perfect to pass some time.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
The Deep End (Robert McCammon)
Very straightforward and uncomplicated. My only criticism would be the unnecessary 'epilogue'. I guess this one is my favorite. 4 stars.
Interval (Norman Prentiss)
The first part really gave me the creeps because of its realistic subject. Unfortunately, the author added some supernatural element which didn't work out for me, but add confusion to an otherwise great story. 3 stars
If These Walls Could Talk (Shawntelle Madison)
Nice one with an unexpected twist that caught me by surprise and made me shudder. I loved the detail with the fox eye. 4 stars
The Night Hider (Graham Masterton)
Great reference to the author C.S. Lewis, though I would have preferred something more fantastic in the line of his work. The ending was not as climactic as expected and Jerry's sacrifice seemed unnecessary. 4 stars
Whatever (Richard Matheson)
A collection of song lyrics, interview snippets and articles, loosely connected into a story about a rock band. Dragged on and on without getting anywhere. Sorry, this was not my cup of tea. 1 star
A nice collection with some great authors, perfect to pass some time.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
February 19, 2015
Volume two of this horror anthology was uncharacteristically better than the debut one. Again same format, five stories with no theme. Two of the authors lesser known. With the first three stories it was the same sort of averageness that hindered the volume one, but then terrific story by the master really landed it, as always the strength is the backstory and, aside from the fact that antique furniture is decidedly creepy on its own, you'll never look at wardrobes the same way again. Last story took up nearly the third of the volume and isn't actually horror as such, but it shows some serious hereditary but entirely authentic in its own right talent. Not sure of its appropriateness for inclusion here, but very interesting. Subtlety seems to be the thing here, nothing overtly graphic, no gratuitous gore. Pretty good anthology, good way to spend an evening for a horror fan. Thanks Netgalley. Recommended.
March 10, 2015
4*
This short anthology featured 5 great short stories.
McCammon's story is a nice start to the collection. Is there really a murderous creature inhabiting the town's public pool or has a father's grief gone brought his sanity to its edge? Straight forward, no frills. Prentiss's "Interval" is a unique idea that hits a little too close to home. Madison and Masterson deliver, one with a more happy ending than the other. Richard Matheson ends the collection with a more ponderous experience, where pop culture hides the more horrific elements of one band's curious run of fame.
This short anthology featured 5 great short stories.
McCammon's story is a nice start to the collection. Is there really a murderous creature inhabiting the town's public pool or has a father's grief gone brought his sanity to its edge? Straight forward, no frills. Prentiss's "Interval" is a unique idea that hits a little too close to home. Madison and Masterson deliver, one with a more happy ending than the other. Richard Matheson ends the collection with a more ponderous experience, where pop culture hides the more horrific elements of one band's curious run of fame.
December 30, 2019
Well narrated, but none of the stories did much for me, a real come down after the first collection. I'm giving it 2 stars because it wasn't terrible, but I certainly could have been reading something better.
Table of Contents
"The Deep End" by Robert R. McCammon was a lot of buildup, but pretty obvious. Not creepy. 2 stars
"Interval" by Norman Prentiss was kind of creepy, but didn't grab me. I'm not sure why. 2 stars
"If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawntelle Madison was totally pedestrian. Yawn. Saw most of it coming. 2 stars
"The Night Hider" by Graham Masterton about the same as the above, except I was so bored I took a break from the book. It actually ended pretty well & featured the wardrobe of Lewis' that inspired Narnia. 3 stars
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Matheson was a l-o-n-g, boring account of a Rolling Stone reporter's notes about a band. I'm not much for following band members. Except for the occasional anecdote, I only care about their music, preferably the studio version. What they do outside the studio is their business, so this started at a disadvantage. Coupled with the lack of anything remotely interesting, horrific or otherwise, happening during the hour or so I did listen meant I couldn't finish it. 1 star
Table of Contents
"The Deep End" by Robert R. McCammon was a lot of buildup, but pretty obvious. Not creepy. 2 stars
"Interval" by Norman Prentiss was kind of creepy, but didn't grab me. I'm not sure why. 2 stars
"If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawntelle Madison was totally pedestrian. Yawn. Saw most of it coming. 2 stars
"The Night Hider" by Graham Masterton about the same as the above, except I was so bored I took a break from the book. It actually ended pretty well & featured the wardrobe of Lewis' that inspired Narnia. 3 stars
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Matheson was a l-o-n-g, boring account of a Rolling Stone reporter's notes about a band. I'm not much for following band members. Except for the occasional anecdote, I only care about their music, preferably the studio version. What they do outside the studio is their business, so this started at a disadvantage. Coupled with the lack of anything remotely interesting, horrific or otherwise, happening during the hour or so I did listen meant I couldn't finish it. 1 star
March 6, 2015
Another outstanding collection of stories. The second volume in this ongoing series of books brings five writers together and one of their stories. The five stories in this collection are from Richard Christian Matheson, Robert McCammon,Norman Prentiss,Graham Masterton and a new writer to me Shawntelle Madison. The McCammon story and the Richard Christian Matheson stories are reprints but stories I have never read. The other three are new stories and are all good. The only complaint with this series is I want more. I wish they were longer. But we only have to wait till May for volume 3. I highly recommend this book as well as volume 1.
May 12, 2025
I have an overall rating of 3⭐️ for this book, but my favourite story was The Night Hider. This story alone was 5⭐️.
March 3, 2015
This is the second book in this ebook only series that collects five short horror stories by popular authors. Two of the stories in this collection are previously published with the other three being printed for the first time. In the first book, I knew all the authors, this time I only know two of them. However, my favourite story in the collection was by a new-to-me author, Shawntelle Madison.
1. The Deep End by Robert McCammon (1987) - This collection starts with a previously published story by master genre writer McCammon. A typical alien/monster story. Entertaining, I liked it, but the ending was a bit lacklustre. (3/5)
2. Interval by Norman Prentiss (2015) - Starting with a missing plane, which is such a current fear these days, the story progresses into a dark and morbid story of a visit by a demon to those who are going through grief. A genuinely morbid story, well told. (4/5)
3. If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison (2015) - I can't say much about this as the story slowly builds up in tension and reveals it's plot at the chilling end. However it deals with a creepy Gothic mansion and one of most people's darkest fears, certainly one of mine. Never heard of this author before. Great story! (5/5)
4. The Night Hider by Graham Masterton (2015) - This was a fun haunting story. A bit creepy but more scary in a fun way, if you kwim. Here we have a haunted wardrobe and not just any wardrobe, but CS Lewis' original wardrobe that inspired the Narnia books! (4/5)
5. Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson (1997) - The second previously published story in this collection and by far, the longest. This is not a horror story by any means, but it is on the dark side. I'm not sure I feel like it really even belongs in the collection. Written as a series of recorded conversations/interviews, magazine articles and the narrator's personal notes this is the story of the rise and fall of a rock band during the span of the seventies. The letters/articles are partly chronological with the occasional one coming in from further ahead in time letting us know how some things turned out at the same time as the story is being told. This story honestly brings the collection to a unsatisfying ending, but I did enjoy it a bit. (3/5)
Looking forward to seeing wo the line-up of authors are for Volume 3!
1. The Deep End by Robert McCammon (1987) - This collection starts with a previously published story by master genre writer McCammon. A typical alien/monster story. Entertaining, I liked it, but the ending was a bit lacklustre. (3/5)
2. Interval by Norman Prentiss (2015) - Starting with a missing plane, which is such a current fear these days, the story progresses into a dark and morbid story of a visit by a demon to those who are going through grief. A genuinely morbid story, well told. (4/5)
3. If These Walls Could Talk by Shawntelle Madison (2015) - I can't say much about this as the story slowly builds up in tension and reveals it's plot at the chilling end. However it deals with a creepy Gothic mansion and one of most people's darkest fears, certainly one of mine. Never heard of this author before. Great story! (5/5)
4. The Night Hider by Graham Masterton (2015) - This was a fun haunting story. A bit creepy but more scary in a fun way, if you kwim. Here we have a haunted wardrobe and not just any wardrobe, but CS Lewis' original wardrobe that inspired the Narnia books! (4/5)
5. Whatever by Richard Christian Matheson (1997) - The second previously published story in this collection and by far, the longest. This is not a horror story by any means, but it is on the dark side. I'm not sure I feel like it really even belongs in the collection. Written as a series of recorded conversations/interviews, magazine articles and the narrator's personal notes this is the story of the rise and fall of a rock band during the span of the seventies. The letters/articles are partly chronological with the occasional one coming in from further ahead in time letting us know how some things turned out at the same time as the story is being told. This story honestly brings the collection to a unsatisfying ending, but I did enjoy it a bit. (3/5)
Looking forward to seeing wo the line-up of authors are for Volume 3!
February 17, 2015
These volumes are quickly becoming my favorite collections of short stories. I devoured the first one, and this one was no different. I guess I should just review one story at a time.
"The Deep End" - Poor Glen Calder has just lost his sixteen year old son in a drowning accident. Only Glen knows that it wasn't really an accident, but some creepy force that has been "drowning" people for years. This story reminded me of Stephen King's Dreamcatcher, and that's a good thing. Added terrifying bonus because most of this story took place in a pool, and water scares the bajesus out of me.
"Interval" - Michelle, an airport employee, has to deal with an airplane reported down and the families that are waiting for word of their loved ones. But they're not the only ones waiting, and not the only ones with a stake in this mess. This story took a complete u-turn from where I thought it was going, and I loved it. It was scary and strange and slow-moving in the best way possible.
"If These Walls Could Talk" - A television crew, including Eleanor, has arrived at the Foster farmhouse to film for "America's Mysterious Hotspots." Eleanor stumbles across a body hidden in the walls, and that's not even the scariest thing to happen in this story. This was probably my favorite in this book. Things got started right off the bat and the ending was killer.
"The Night Hider" - Dawn received a large standing wardrobe from her aunt, but it doesn't only hold clothes. This story was kind of strange - it dealt a lot with C.S. Lewis and a creepy burned man - and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. The ending was surprising, but in an almost "what are you doing?" way. It was very different from the rest of the stories, and I think it may have thrown my off the groove of the book.
"Whatever" - I don't even know how to recap this story. It's a bunch of different news articles and notes about a 70s supergroup called Whatever. There wasn't a lot of horror in this story, so it didn't really fit in the book, but it was good, nonetheless. It was interesting to read about one of those bands that seem untouchable, but have just as many bad days as everyone else, if not worse.
"The Deep End" - Poor Glen Calder has just lost his sixteen year old son in a drowning accident. Only Glen knows that it wasn't really an accident, but some creepy force that has been "drowning" people for years. This story reminded me of Stephen King's Dreamcatcher, and that's a good thing. Added terrifying bonus because most of this story took place in a pool, and water scares the bajesus out of me.
"Interval" - Michelle, an airport employee, has to deal with an airplane reported down and the families that are waiting for word of their loved ones. But they're not the only ones waiting, and not the only ones with a stake in this mess. This story took a complete u-turn from where I thought it was going, and I loved it. It was scary and strange and slow-moving in the best way possible.
"If These Walls Could Talk" - A television crew, including Eleanor, has arrived at the Foster farmhouse to film for "America's Mysterious Hotspots." Eleanor stumbles across a body hidden in the walls, and that's not even the scariest thing to happen in this story. This was probably my favorite in this book. Things got started right off the bat and the ending was killer.
"The Night Hider" - Dawn received a large standing wardrobe from her aunt, but it doesn't only hold clothes. This story was kind of strange - it dealt a lot with C.S. Lewis and a creepy burned man - and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. The ending was surprising, but in an almost "what are you doing?" way. It was very different from the rest of the stories, and I think it may have thrown my off the groove of the book.
"Whatever" - I don't even know how to recap this story. It's a bunch of different news articles and notes about a 70s supergroup called Whatever. There wasn't a lot of horror in this story, so it didn't really fit in the book, but it was good, nonetheless. It was interesting to read about one of those bands that seem untouchable, but have just as many bad days as everyone else, if not worse.
June 6, 2015
After thoroughly enjoying the first volume of Dark Screams, I quite looked forward to this second volume. In the back of my mind though, I wondered if it could meet expectations.
It certainly started off strong enough with the likes of Robert McCammon and some good ol' small town horror in a tale called "The Deep End." It's a really good, gripping story about a grieving father convinced it was a monster that killed his son at the town swimming pool and not the latest in a long line of drownings. Folks are always praising McCammon's novels and rightfully so, but if there is a collection of his short stories somewhere, then I need to track it down, because he has a real knack for those too.
Following that was a good showing from Norman Prentiss with "Waiting Room," about a plane crash at a small airport that has this cool claustrophobic effect, since the entire story takes place inside the airport through the viewpoint of an employee trying to keep everyone orderly and calm while also trying to figure out what really happened to that plane and who might be responsible.
Shawntelle Madison's "If These Walls Could Talk" was a decent haunted house story, but just didn't hook me the way I'd hoped. Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" was a little better with it's enchanted wardrobe as a nod to C.S. Lewis, but still left me a tad underwhelmed. And then there was Richard Christian Matheson's "Whatever," to which I say exactly that ... whatever. As talented a writer as he is, this story felt tedious to me and just a chore to read through on account of its epistolary style, which is a writing style I have come to loathe. If you go for that sort of thing, then you may get more enjoyment from it than I did.
All in all, a solid second volume in this series, but just falls well short of the mark made by the first, as far as I'm concerned. If you have yet to read that first volume, please do yourself a favor and check it out, but unless you're a real fan of these authors and eager to check out their specific works, you're probably not going to lose any sleep for having missed out on this one.
It certainly started off strong enough with the likes of Robert McCammon and some good ol' small town horror in a tale called "The Deep End." It's a really good, gripping story about a grieving father convinced it was a monster that killed his son at the town swimming pool and not the latest in a long line of drownings. Folks are always praising McCammon's novels and rightfully so, but if there is a collection of his short stories somewhere, then I need to track it down, because he has a real knack for those too.
Following that was a good showing from Norman Prentiss with "Waiting Room," about a plane crash at a small airport that has this cool claustrophobic effect, since the entire story takes place inside the airport through the viewpoint of an employee trying to keep everyone orderly and calm while also trying to figure out what really happened to that plane and who might be responsible.
Shawntelle Madison's "If These Walls Could Talk" was a decent haunted house story, but just didn't hook me the way I'd hoped. Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" was a little better with it's enchanted wardrobe as a nod to C.S. Lewis, but still left me a tad underwhelmed. And then there was Richard Christian Matheson's "Whatever," to which I say exactly that ... whatever. As talented a writer as he is, this story felt tedious to me and just a chore to read through on account of its epistolary style, which is a writing style I have come to loathe. If you go for that sort of thing, then you may get more enjoyment from it than I did.
All in all, a solid second volume in this series, but just falls well short of the mark made by the first, as far as I'm concerned. If you have yet to read that first volume, please do yourself a favor and check it out, but unless you're a real fan of these authors and eager to check out their specific works, you're probably not going to lose any sleep for having missed out on this one.
January 16, 2016
DARK SCREAMS VOLUME 2 was as amazingly good as the names on the cover will lead you to believe. And these names did provide every bit of entertainment and reading pleasure you could ask for. i was surprised to see two reprints within, but had only one on my shelf. And I don't mind saying that having it on kindle is a pleasure.
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon is my duplicate. It won the Stoker award in 1987 for Best Short Story. It was well deserved! McCammon wrote a kickass story about a grieving father whose son died in a public swimming pool.
Norman Prentiss grabbed the baton for the next story, INTERVAL. like the professional he is, he led us down the plane crash story path...but oh, the layers!
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK was my introduction to Shawntelle Madison. What an introduction it was! You will be horrified. Let's leave it at that.
Graham Masterton told of things across the pond in THE NIGHT HIDER, a salute to C.S. Lewis about a haunted wardrobe. Seemingly the same wardrobe that inspired Lewis to pen his famous story.
And Richard Christian Mathesen's story from 1997 entitled WHATEVER took me a little bit to get into. but it was my era, the 1970's. And my love, rock and roll. I'm not sure if I figured out what he was trying to say, but I think I might have a glimmer of a clue. I don't think the people he was hoping to reach will hear him. And that's sad.
This is a solid 5 star book that's worth every penny. I had pre-ordered it prior to the publisher giving me an e-arc for review. I can't recommend this more.
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon is my duplicate. It won the Stoker award in 1987 for Best Short Story. It was well deserved! McCammon wrote a kickass story about a grieving father whose son died in a public swimming pool.
Norman Prentiss grabbed the baton for the next story, INTERVAL. like the professional he is, he led us down the plane crash story path...but oh, the layers!
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK was my introduction to Shawntelle Madison. What an introduction it was! You will be horrified. Let's leave it at that.
Graham Masterton told of things across the pond in THE NIGHT HIDER, a salute to C.S. Lewis about a haunted wardrobe. Seemingly the same wardrobe that inspired Lewis to pen his famous story.
And Richard Christian Mathesen's story from 1997 entitled WHATEVER took me a little bit to get into. but it was my era, the 1970's. And my love, rock and roll. I'm not sure if I figured out what he was trying to say, but I think I might have a glimmer of a clue. I don't think the people he was hoping to reach will hear him. And that's sad.
This is a solid 5 star book that's worth every penny. I had pre-ordered it prior to the publisher giving me an e-arc for review. I can't recommend this more.
March 13, 2015
First of all thank you to NetGalley and Brian James Freeman for providing me with a review copy!
Well, this is another collection of shorts from some of the powerhouse authors of dark fiction/horror. Although not as good as Vol 1, this is still a good variety of stories.
The Deep End - a story of loss and revenge with some monster action was one of my favourites from this collection.
I also thought The Night Hider by Graham Masterton was a solid story as well - things got started from the opening, although the ending was a little weak for me.
Interval by Norman Prentiss had my thinking Twilight Zone / Fringe, and was another pretty good story.
I was not a fan of the other 2 in this collection. The last story suffered from some formatting errors, although that is the reason for review copies after all right? I felt that overall Vol I was a much better collection with stronger stories.
Any fan of short story collections, and quick captivating reads will surely enjoy this.
Well, this is another collection of shorts from some of the powerhouse authors of dark fiction/horror. Although not as good as Vol 1, this is still a good variety of stories.
The Deep End - a story of loss and revenge with some monster action was one of my favourites from this collection.
I also thought The Night Hider by Graham Masterton was a solid story as well - things got started from the opening, although the ending was a little weak for me.
Interval by Norman Prentiss had my thinking Twilight Zone / Fringe, and was another pretty good story.
I was not a fan of the other 2 in this collection. The last story suffered from some formatting errors, although that is the reason for review copies after all right? I felt that overall Vol I was a much better collection with stronger stories.
Any fan of short story collections, and quick captivating reads will surely enjoy this.
November 23, 2015
3.35
THE DEEP END
I am not a fan of monsters, but this was interesting. That it is a undetected public pool monster is a definate plus.
INTERVAL
Great idea which failed a bit at the end and could have been a bit better written at the beginning. There was probably just too much going on here for a short story -- at least the way it was ultimately presented.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
Clunky.
THE NIGHT HIDER
Again, not the best written story, but passable. Also felt that the plot could have been more developed.
WHATEVER
This was a lovely story, though I have to say I have no idea how it fits into this collection. I wouldn't call it horror -- even human horror.
THE DEEP END
I am not a fan of monsters, but this was interesting. That it is a undetected public pool monster is a definate plus.
INTERVAL
Great idea which failed a bit at the end and could have been a bit better written at the beginning. There was probably just too much going on here for a short story -- at least the way it was ultimately presented.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
Clunky.
THE NIGHT HIDER
Again, not the best written story, but passable. Also felt that the plot could have been more developed.
WHATEVER
This was a lovely story, though I have to say I have no idea how it fits into this collection. I wouldn't call it horror -- even human horror.
September 24, 2018
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon 4 Stars
INTERVAL by Norman Prentiss 3.75 Stars
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK by Shawntelle Madison 3 Stars
THE NIGHT HIDER by Graham Masterton 2 Stars
WHATEVER by Richard Christian Matheson 3 Stars (Even though it didn't quite fit into the anthology)
INTERVAL by Norman Prentiss 3.75 Stars
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK by Shawntelle Madison 3 Stars
THE NIGHT HIDER by Graham Masterton 2 Stars
WHATEVER by Richard Christian Matheson 3 Stars (Even though it didn't quite fit into the anthology)
January 4, 2020
Super spooky loved it
April 27, 2015
Of all of the sub-genres grouped under the umbrella term of speculative fiction, horror is the one I’m least at home in. After an early experiment reading Carrie and a rather disastrous encounter with It, it has only been in the past few years that I’ve slowly stuck my toe in the pool that is horror fiction to test whether I dare get in the water. And I’ve mostly enjoyed those first few steps into the pool to stretch the metaphor a bit. Still, my first reaction when offered a horror title for review is always caution, because “I’m not a horror reader.” This year I decided to try and read more of it so I could broaden my knowledge of what horror is exactly, so Dark Screams: Volume Two was a great way to introduce myself to five new horror authors and five different flavours of horror.
Robert McCammon - The Deep End
McCammon’s story about a father convinced that his son’s drowning in the local community pool wasn’t accidental and bent on revenge, is both heart-breaking and chilling. With Calder positioned to be the perfect unreliable narrator, torn apart by grief as he is, the story retains a flavour of uncertainty as to whether there truly is a monster in the water right up to the end. I liked the way McCammon developed the tension in the story and keep it going until the end.
Norman Prentiss - Interval
While I really liked the premise of Interval, I can’t really discuss it as it would completely spoil the story. What I can comment on some of the other elements that bring the horror to the story. Any plane crash is horrific, and though I was very confused by what actually happened to the flight at the centre of the story – did it actually crash? If so, why? – Prentiss manages to convey the uncertainty and fear of the people waiting for its passengers palpably. What I found horrible as well was the way the man in charge of communications with the survivors fumbles the ball, not telling anyone anything, keeping people out who should be allowed in – I found the refusal of the man who was there to pick up his (same-sex) partner especially infuriating – and basically just mishandling the entire situation. Interval made for an interesting read and was quite self-contained.
Shawntelle Madison - If These Walls Could Talk
If These Walls Could Talk is perhaps at first glance the most traditional of these horror stories, containing some of the most classic tropes in the genre. Eleanor, the story’s protagonist works on a show called America’s Mysterious Hotspots, which in itself is fertile grounds for a horror story, yet Madison takes it in a completely different direction. I really like the twist she put on the story and while discussing it more in depth will only lead to spoilers, I can say that this one might be my favourite of the bunch.
Graham Masterton - The Night Hider
Masterton’s The Night Hider left me somewhat conflicted. I loved the premise of the haunted antique piece of furniture, in this case a wardrobe, but the reason for that haunting and the way the story resolved fell somewhat flat for me. Still, I really enjoyed the book until the last couple of scenes and the idea of the wardrobe was just very cool.
Richard Christian Matheson - Whatever
Whatever is a great story, but to me it didn’t exactly feel like a horror story. I loved this alternate history/reality telling of the rise and fall of the super band in the vein of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It was fun to catch all the references to real people and bands and seeing how Whatever would have fit right in there. The structure and telling of the story was fascinating, in that the story is a collection of notes from a reporter that haven’t really been ordered into a proper article and as such the story jumps around in time and in the form of recording—sometimes its notes, sometimes transcriptions. Whatever is also very much a sketch of an era, of the way the music scene was in the late sixties and in the seventies, which I very much enjoyed.
Of these five stories Shawntelle Madison’s If These Walls Could Talk was my favourite, just edging out Richard Christian Matheson’s Whatever, due to the latter’s tenuous (to me) horror status. Overall, Dark Screams: Volume Two is an interesting collection of horror stories and an entertaining read for those interested in the horror short form and those looking for new authors or trying out a new genre to read.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
Robert McCammon - The Deep End
McCammon’s story about a father convinced that his son’s drowning in the local community pool wasn’t accidental and bent on revenge, is both heart-breaking and chilling. With Calder positioned to be the perfect unreliable narrator, torn apart by grief as he is, the story retains a flavour of uncertainty as to whether there truly is a monster in the water right up to the end. I liked the way McCammon developed the tension in the story and keep it going until the end.
Norman Prentiss - Interval
While I really liked the premise of Interval, I can’t really discuss it as it would completely spoil the story. What I can comment on some of the other elements that bring the horror to the story. Any plane crash is horrific, and though I was very confused by what actually happened to the flight at the centre of the story – did it actually crash? If so, why? – Prentiss manages to convey the uncertainty and fear of the people waiting for its passengers palpably. What I found horrible as well was the way the man in charge of communications with the survivors fumbles the ball, not telling anyone anything, keeping people out who should be allowed in – I found the refusal of the man who was there to pick up his (same-sex) partner especially infuriating – and basically just mishandling the entire situation. Interval made for an interesting read and was quite self-contained.
Shawntelle Madison - If These Walls Could Talk
If These Walls Could Talk is perhaps at first glance the most traditional of these horror stories, containing some of the most classic tropes in the genre. Eleanor, the story’s protagonist works on a show called America’s Mysterious Hotspots, which in itself is fertile grounds for a horror story, yet Madison takes it in a completely different direction. I really like the twist she put on the story and while discussing it more in depth will only lead to spoilers, I can say that this one might be my favourite of the bunch.
Graham Masterton - The Night Hider
Masterton’s The Night Hider left me somewhat conflicted. I loved the premise of the haunted antique piece of furniture, in this case a wardrobe, but the reason for that haunting and the way the story resolved fell somewhat flat for me. Still, I really enjoyed the book until the last couple of scenes and the idea of the wardrobe was just very cool.
Richard Christian Matheson - Whatever
Whatever is a great story, but to me it didn’t exactly feel like a horror story. I loved this alternate history/reality telling of the rise and fall of the super band in the vein of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It was fun to catch all the references to real people and bands and seeing how Whatever would have fit right in there. The structure and telling of the story was fascinating, in that the story is a collection of notes from a reporter that haven’t really been ordered into a proper article and as such the story jumps around in time and in the form of recording—sometimes its notes, sometimes transcriptions. Whatever is also very much a sketch of an era, of the way the music scene was in the late sixties and in the seventies, which I very much enjoyed.
Of these five stories Shawntelle Madison’s If These Walls Could Talk was my favourite, just edging out Richard Christian Matheson’s Whatever, due to the latter’s tenuous (to me) horror status. Overall, Dark Screams: Volume Two is an interesting collection of horror stories and an entertaining read for those interested in the horror short form and those looking for new authors or trying out a new genre to read.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
February 28, 2021
All five stories in Dark Screams kept my attention as I plowed thru this shorter anthology in less than a day. I love seeing Robert McCammon back in the game writing wonderful horror stories again. Graham Masterton's unique take on history and folk horror always pleases me. Believe it or not, this was my first read of Norman Prentiss, Richard Christian Matheson and Shawntelle Madison. All 3 were enjoyable first reads. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2015
This review is for the second book in the Dark Screams series published by Cemetery Dance. I received an advanced reading copy and this is my review of the contents, with an effort toward not spoiling the fun for YOU:
“The Deep End” by Robert McCammon first appeared in print 28 years ago, but the story is as fresh as if it had just been written. It centers on a father, Glenn, who has lost his son in a drowning accident at a local public pool. After researching other deaths, Glenn becomes convinced his son did not simply drown. The story’s language creates its own atmosphere of dread as we wonder, along with Glenn’s wife, whether he himself has “slipped right off the deep end.” Regardless, he is determined that no one else will lose a loved one to what took his boy. To say more would spoil the surprise awaiting the reader, but fans of Robert McCammon’s early fiction (or ANY of his fiction) will not be disappointed. This story is a great, rediscovered gem.
The title of “Interval” by Norman Prentiss refers to that time “when you know something’s bad, but you can’t quite give up.” Michelle works for an airline whose Flight 1137 is late in arriving, but her supervisor won’t give her or those awaiting passengers the reason for the delay. When family members are finally invited into Courtesy Office 2-C, tensions build until a stunning revelation is made. I subscribe to Cemetery Dance magazine, and enjoy short horror fiction. This is one of the best stories I have read in years. I found its premise wholly original and even worthy of my favorite series – The Twilight Zone!
“If These Walls Could Talk” is my first encounter with the fiction of Shawntelle Madison. Like “The Price You Pay” from volume one of Dark Screams, it proves that dark (and I mean DARK) fiction is not written only by men. The story begins as Eleanor arrives at the Donahue home with her crew to prepare for an upcoming shoot for America’s Mysterious Hotspots. After viewing a painting of a fox hunt that disturbs her, she is told by Mr. Donahue that “with the right hunter, any prey can be found.” As the group prepares the house for the arrival of the production crew, a unsettling discovery is made concerning the house’s history, followed by an even more shocking link to Eleanor’s past. This story is like your worst nightmare brought to life.
“The Night Hider” by Graham Masterton tells of Dawn, who is haunted by a dream(?) of a burned man threatening her in her bedroom and then vanishing. The only place he could have hid is the large wardrobe which was a gift from her Aunt Selina, an antiques dealer. When her boyfriend Jerry arrives, they find the wardrobe empty and locked. When the nightmare(?) repeats a second night, Jerry’s intervention saves Dawn from being attacked, and they both become convinced this is no dream. As they dig to uncover the history of the wardrobe, Masterton spins a tale unlike any I have ever read. To say more would do him (and this story) a disservice. Read it. I know you’ll enjoy it!
What can I say about “Whatever” by Richard Christian Matheson? To me, this piece is the low point of the collection, and I am a little surprised it came last. The story details the rise and fall of the rock band Whatever through a series of articles, notes, and letters. I just didn’t get it, I guess., but I didn’t have ANY of the emotional connection I had with the other four stories in the collection. You ask for honest of opinion, and here it is. Whatever.
As a collection, this is a strong addition to the Dark Screams series. Fans of these authors, or just dark fiction in general, will love it. And, come on, you can’t say the price isn’t right!!
“The Deep End” by Robert McCammon first appeared in print 28 years ago, but the story is as fresh as if it had just been written. It centers on a father, Glenn, who has lost his son in a drowning accident at a local public pool. After researching other deaths, Glenn becomes convinced his son did not simply drown. The story’s language creates its own atmosphere of dread as we wonder, along with Glenn’s wife, whether he himself has “slipped right off the deep end.” Regardless, he is determined that no one else will lose a loved one to what took his boy. To say more would spoil the surprise awaiting the reader, but fans of Robert McCammon’s early fiction (or ANY of his fiction) will not be disappointed. This story is a great, rediscovered gem.
The title of “Interval” by Norman Prentiss refers to that time “when you know something’s bad, but you can’t quite give up.” Michelle works for an airline whose Flight 1137 is late in arriving, but her supervisor won’t give her or those awaiting passengers the reason for the delay. When family members are finally invited into Courtesy Office 2-C, tensions build until a stunning revelation is made. I subscribe to Cemetery Dance magazine, and enjoy short horror fiction. This is one of the best stories I have read in years. I found its premise wholly original and even worthy of my favorite series – The Twilight Zone!
“If These Walls Could Talk” is my first encounter with the fiction of Shawntelle Madison. Like “The Price You Pay” from volume one of Dark Screams, it proves that dark (and I mean DARK) fiction is not written only by men. The story begins as Eleanor arrives at the Donahue home with her crew to prepare for an upcoming shoot for America’s Mysterious Hotspots. After viewing a painting of a fox hunt that disturbs her, she is told by Mr. Donahue that “with the right hunter, any prey can be found.” As the group prepares the house for the arrival of the production crew, a unsettling discovery is made concerning the house’s history, followed by an even more shocking link to Eleanor’s past. This story is like your worst nightmare brought to life.
“The Night Hider” by Graham Masterton tells of Dawn, who is haunted by a dream(?) of a burned man threatening her in her bedroom and then vanishing. The only place he could have hid is the large wardrobe which was a gift from her Aunt Selina, an antiques dealer. When her boyfriend Jerry arrives, they find the wardrobe empty and locked. When the nightmare(?) repeats a second night, Jerry’s intervention saves Dawn from being attacked, and they both become convinced this is no dream. As they dig to uncover the history of the wardrobe, Masterton spins a tale unlike any I have ever read. To say more would do him (and this story) a disservice. Read it. I know you’ll enjoy it!
What can I say about “Whatever” by Richard Christian Matheson? To me, this piece is the low point of the collection, and I am a little surprised it came last. The story details the rise and fall of the rock band Whatever through a series of articles, notes, and letters. I just didn’t get it, I guess., but I didn’t have ANY of the emotional connection I had with the other four stories in the collection. You ask for honest of opinion, and here it is. Whatever.
As a collection, this is a strong addition to the Dark Screams series. Fans of these authors, or just dark fiction in general, will love it. And, come on, you can’t say the price isn’t right!!
March 10, 2015
Volume two of Freeman and Chizmar's Dark Screams anthology is, when compared to its predecessor, a mixed bag.
Once again things open up with the big-ticket name, in this case Robert McCammon and his tale "The Deep End." I've read this story several times in the past as it's been included in a number of "Year's Best" anthologies, but I read it again here because it is just so fantastically written. It is the story of a grieving father that refuses to accept that his son died of something so mundane as drowning, and the lengths he goes to in an effort to prove this. McCammon is second to none when it comes to capturing emotions on the written page; a sense of loss and desperation permeates every sentence of this story.
Next up is "Interval" by Norman Prentiss. Another story of loss and pain, this one details the agonizing time between an airline sequestering folks waiting for a flight to arrive and finally announcing that the plane they are waiting for has crashed and there are no survivors. The majority of this story works perfectly fine as a very grounded (no pun intended) horror, but right at the end Prentiss inserts something supernatural and, surprisingly, it works without ruining everything that came before.
The third story, "If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawntelle Madison, is where things start to take a downward slope in terms of quality. That's not to say this is a bad story, because it's not, but it's also not really on equal footing with the two earlier tales. Here, we follow a producer for a reality TV show as she and her team work to prepare an old house for filming. The house has a sordid history that's based more on rumors than facts, but it's perfect for their show. Horror ensues. The problem with this one is that it's largely predictable. I may not have guessed the exact details of the ending, but it was clear from the outset that something bad was going to happen. That said, it is a competently-told story and I'll be keeping my eye on Madison.
Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" is the weakest story in this volume. It concerns a young woman that has recently received a rather elegant wardrobe from a family member. Unfortunately for her, this piece of furniture has a sordid history that goes back to C.S. Lewis and involves the inspiration for his most famous work. That is a hell of setup, but Masterton just plods along with it, writing almost as if he had a checklist and was just marking things off. Much like the previous story, the problem isn't that this tale is badly written, it just doesn't do anything noteworthy with an interesting premise.
The final story is Richard Christian Matheson's "Whatever," which chronicles the rise and fall of fictional '70s rock band Whatever. The story is presented as a collection of notes, articles, and interviews that have been collected in preparation of writing a history of the band. First and foremost, I want to say that this is an excellent piece of fiction. However, it is grossly out of place in a horror anthology because it's just not a horror story. I suppose it can be argued that Matheson cracks the door the tiniest amount in the closing lines, but honestly I think it works better as an examination of just how hard the '70s rock scene was on the stars.
This anthology was frustrating in that it combined two extremely good horror stories and combined them with two mediocre horror stories and one excellent non-horror story. I've given it four stars because, even with the so-so stories, the other three (even Matheson's) make this a book worth picking up.
Once again things open up with the big-ticket name, in this case Robert McCammon and his tale "The Deep End." I've read this story several times in the past as it's been included in a number of "Year's Best" anthologies, but I read it again here because it is just so fantastically written. It is the story of a grieving father that refuses to accept that his son died of something so mundane as drowning, and the lengths he goes to in an effort to prove this. McCammon is second to none when it comes to capturing emotions on the written page; a sense of loss and desperation permeates every sentence of this story.
Next up is "Interval" by Norman Prentiss. Another story of loss and pain, this one details the agonizing time between an airline sequestering folks waiting for a flight to arrive and finally announcing that the plane they are waiting for has crashed and there are no survivors. The majority of this story works perfectly fine as a very grounded (no pun intended) horror, but right at the end Prentiss inserts something supernatural and, surprisingly, it works without ruining everything that came before.
The third story, "If These Walls Could Talk" by Shawntelle Madison, is where things start to take a downward slope in terms of quality. That's not to say this is a bad story, because it's not, but it's also not really on equal footing with the two earlier tales. Here, we follow a producer for a reality TV show as she and her team work to prepare an old house for filming. The house has a sordid history that's based more on rumors than facts, but it's perfect for their show. Horror ensues. The problem with this one is that it's largely predictable. I may not have guessed the exact details of the ending, but it was clear from the outset that something bad was going to happen. That said, it is a competently-told story and I'll be keeping my eye on Madison.
Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" is the weakest story in this volume. It concerns a young woman that has recently received a rather elegant wardrobe from a family member. Unfortunately for her, this piece of furniture has a sordid history that goes back to C.S. Lewis and involves the inspiration for his most famous work. That is a hell of setup, but Masterton just plods along with it, writing almost as if he had a checklist and was just marking things off. Much like the previous story, the problem isn't that this tale is badly written, it just doesn't do anything noteworthy with an interesting premise.
The final story is Richard Christian Matheson's "Whatever," which chronicles the rise and fall of fictional '70s rock band Whatever. The story is presented as a collection of notes, articles, and interviews that have been collected in preparation of writing a history of the band. First and foremost, I want to say that this is an excellent piece of fiction. However, it is grossly out of place in a horror anthology because it's just not a horror story. I suppose it can be argued that Matheson cracks the door the tiniest amount in the closing lines, but honestly I think it works better as an examination of just how hard the '70s rock scene was on the stars.
This anthology was frustrating in that it combined two extremely good horror stories and combined them with two mediocre horror stories and one excellent non-horror story. I've given it four stars because, even with the so-so stories, the other three (even Matheson's) make this a book worth picking up.
March 8, 2021
Goede bijdragen van Robert McCammon, Norman Prentiss en Graham Masterton.
Shawntelle Madison is OK.
Richard Mateson haalt het niveau van de bundel naar omlaag.
Shawntelle Madison is OK.
Richard Mateson haalt het niveau van de bundel naar omlaag.
March 10, 2015
Disclosure: I received an uncorrected proof of this e-book from NetGallery for an honest review.
This second volume of Dark Screams is as impressive as the first. All of the stories are well-written and each has its own take on horror.
Robert McCammon's leadoff tale, "The Deep End" is an old fashioned, satisfying horror story of grief and revenge. The chills mount as the murkiness of pool waters close in on the hunter and when the climax occurs it is quick and pulse pounding. Like the King story in the first volume, there is just enough sf to remind older readers of Saturday afternoon matinees of 57 to 68 minute chillers. This reprint from Night Visions IV (1987) was well-worth resurrecting.
Norman Prentiss is a really fine writer. "Interval" is a tale in which the horror seems to be unfolding in a specific direction and then takes a sharp turn from real, mundane horror into the supernatural. Well done and creepy.
With the atmospheric depictions of the Foster farmhouse, I was expecting Shawntelle Madison's "If These Walls Could Talk" to be a haunted house story, even though she deftly dropped little clues that there was something else going on. When Eleanor finally realizes that the oddness is really deadly the tale suddenly moves from hauntings to a human based horror that is quite Poesque.
Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" is a story of the dark origins of a children's fantastic masterwork. This tale has revenge at its heart but there is pathos in the revelation. And there is real horror in the final scene.
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Masterson is a reprint from Douglas Winter's 1997 themed anthology Revelations. This longish story is told piecemeal, using interviews, magazine excerpts, song lyrics, journal entries, and a non-sequential timeline to describe the slow death of a 70s rock group. While some might scratch their heads trying to find the horror element in this tale it essentially is a depiction of the horror that is human in nature. Of all the stories in this volume this is the one I want to reread.
The quality of the stories in this volume bodes well for future releases in the series. (less)
This second volume of Dark Screams is as impressive as the first. All of the stories are well-written and each has its own take on horror.
Robert McCammon's leadoff tale, "The Deep End" is an old fashioned, satisfying horror story of grief and revenge. The chills mount as the murkiness of pool waters close in on the hunter and when the climax occurs it is quick and pulse pounding. Like the King story in the first volume, there is just enough sf to remind older readers of Saturday afternoon matinees of 57 to 68 minute chillers. This reprint from Night Visions IV (1987) was well-worth resurrecting.
Norman Prentiss is a really fine writer. "Interval" is a tale in which the horror seems to be unfolding in a specific direction and then takes a sharp turn from real, mundane horror into the supernatural. Well done and creepy.
With the atmospheric depictions of the Foster farmhouse, I was expecting Shawntelle Madison's "If These Walls Could Talk" to be a haunted house story, even though she deftly dropped little clues that there was something else going on. When Eleanor finally realizes that the oddness is really deadly the tale suddenly moves from hauntings to a human based horror that is quite Poesque.
Graham Masterton's "The Night Hider" is a story of the dark origins of a children's fantastic masterwork. This tale has revenge at its heart but there is pathos in the revelation. And there is real horror in the final scene.
"Whatever" by Richard Christian Masterson is a reprint from Douglas Winter's 1997 themed anthology Revelations. This longish story is told piecemeal, using interviews, magazine excerpts, song lyrics, journal entries, and a non-sequential timeline to describe the slow death of a 70s rock group. While some might scratch their heads trying to find the horror element in this tale it essentially is a depiction of the horror that is human in nature. Of all the stories in this volume this is the one I want to reread.
The quality of the stories in this volume bodes well for future releases in the series. (less)
March 12, 2015
I received an advance reader copy (arc) of this book for the purpose of providing an honest review.
My excitement for this anthology series continues as I embark on the dark horror train that is Dark Screams: Volume Two. I was mostly as impressed with the content of this volume as I had been with the previous volume, with one glaring exception detailed below. There also seemed to be more of a theme tying the first four of these tales together … the idea of a dark and sinister force lurking just outside of our senses.
This anthology includes these stories:
—The Deep End, by Robert McCammon. The lead-off story for this collection set a dark tone of horror. While this story was a reprint, I had never read it and it was an on-the-edge-of-your-seat horror story about a father's revenge against the swimming pool that took his son's life. 4.5 Stars
—Interval, by Norman Prentiss. Long and slow build-up to a great twist ending. Very reminiscent of the Final Destination movies. Very entertaining. 4 Stars
—If These Walls Could Talk, by Shawntelle Madison. Almost seemed to be a typical haunted house story. Then, it almost seemed like a reality Ghost Hunters story. The completely unexpected twist is very reminiscent of Poe and drew to a close an extremely readable and enjoyable tale. 4 Stars
—The Night Hider, by Graham Masterton. Possibly the second best story in the collection with an unexpected connection to C.S. Lewis and Narnia. The ending seemed contrived and unnecessary. 3.5 Stars
—Whatever, by Richard Christian Matheson. The title of this story says it all: "Whatever." This disjointed story chronicles the rise and fall of the rock band Whatever through a mishmash of articles, interviews, notes and letters. I found it to be a laborious chore to trudge through and found it to be a wholly disappointing closing to a truly enjoyable anthology. 1 Star
Overall, even with the final story dragging the anthology down for me, I found this volume to be as enjoyable as the first. I have high hopes for the remaining volumes in this anthology series.
My excitement for this anthology series continues as I embark on the dark horror train that is Dark Screams: Volume Two. I was mostly as impressed with the content of this volume as I had been with the previous volume, with one glaring exception detailed below. There also seemed to be more of a theme tying the first four of these tales together … the idea of a dark and sinister force lurking just outside of our senses.
This anthology includes these stories:
—The Deep End, by Robert McCammon. The lead-off story for this collection set a dark tone of horror. While this story was a reprint, I had never read it and it was an on-the-edge-of-your-seat horror story about a father's revenge against the swimming pool that took his son's life. 4.5 Stars
—Interval, by Norman Prentiss. Long and slow build-up to a great twist ending. Very reminiscent of the Final Destination movies. Very entertaining. 4 Stars
—If These Walls Could Talk, by Shawntelle Madison. Almost seemed to be a typical haunted house story. Then, it almost seemed like a reality Ghost Hunters story. The completely unexpected twist is very reminiscent of Poe and drew to a close an extremely readable and enjoyable tale. 4 Stars
—The Night Hider, by Graham Masterton. Possibly the second best story in the collection with an unexpected connection to C.S. Lewis and Narnia. The ending seemed contrived and unnecessary. 3.5 Stars
—Whatever, by Richard Christian Matheson. The title of this story says it all: "Whatever." This disjointed story chronicles the rise and fall of the rock band Whatever through a mishmash of articles, interviews, notes and letters. I found it to be a laborious chore to trudge through and found it to be a wholly disappointing closing to a truly enjoyable anthology. 1 Star
Overall, even with the final story dragging the anthology down for me, I found this volume to be as enjoyable as the first. I have high hopes for the remaining volumes in this anthology series.
March 7, 2015
I had the distinct pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of Dark Screams: Volume One with the understanding that I would again receive an advanced copy of Dark Screams: Volume Two after I wrote a review.
So, here is my review of Dark Screams: Volume Two.
Again, I must preface this with the fact that I HATE e-books. But these two volumes have made it less painful. I eagerly await volume three.
Again, this book consisted of five stories. Here's the breakdown:
1. “The Deep End” by Robert McCammon: What a way to start a horror anthology. This story will do for swimming pools what "Jaws" did for the ocean. Guaranteed you will give things in a pool a second look.
2. “Interval” by Norman Prentice: A different take on demons. I liked how the story built - it was well written, suspenseful, with an ending that was unexpected.
3. “If These Walls Could Talk” by Shawntelle Madison: One of my favorites. You think it's a typical "haunted house" story, but takes an unexpected turn. It was very Poe-like (which could be why I enjoyed it so much).
4. “The Night Hider” by Graham Masterson: This is my absolute favorite. Being a fan of the C.S. Lewis Narnia series, this story revolved around the writing of it - having revenge at the heart of the story.
5. “Whatever” by Richard Christian Matheson: Sorry, but this story should have been titled "What-the-hell". This was by far the worst piece of trash I have ever had the displeasure to read. I found it tedious, and confusing - basically a bunch of disjointed newspaper articles that made no sense. I am truly confused as to even why this story was included in a horror anthology, unless it was chosen by mistake. There was nothing horrific, scary, supernatural, ghostly, or even gruesome - it was a complete stream of consciousness about the rise and fall of a fictitious 70s band. Skip it.
So, for the price, 80% of the book is more than worth the purchase price - you won't be disappointed. And who knows, maybe you'll get something out of the last story that I might have missed - if so, whatever.
So, here is my review of Dark Screams: Volume Two.
Again, I must preface this with the fact that I HATE e-books. But these two volumes have made it less painful. I eagerly await volume three.
Again, this book consisted of five stories. Here's the breakdown:
1. “The Deep End” by Robert McCammon: What a way to start a horror anthology. This story will do for swimming pools what "Jaws" did for the ocean. Guaranteed you will give things in a pool a second look.
2. “Interval” by Norman Prentice: A different take on demons. I liked how the story built - it was well written, suspenseful, with an ending that was unexpected.
3. “If These Walls Could Talk” by Shawntelle Madison: One of my favorites. You think it's a typical "haunted house" story, but takes an unexpected turn. It was very Poe-like (which could be why I enjoyed it so much).
4. “The Night Hider” by Graham Masterson: This is my absolute favorite. Being a fan of the C.S. Lewis Narnia series, this story revolved around the writing of it - having revenge at the heart of the story.
5. “Whatever” by Richard Christian Matheson: Sorry, but this story should have been titled "What-the-hell". This was by far the worst piece of trash I have ever had the displeasure to read. I found it tedious, and confusing - basically a bunch of disjointed newspaper articles that made no sense. I am truly confused as to even why this story was included in a horror anthology, unless it was chosen by mistake. There was nothing horrific, scary, supernatural, ghostly, or even gruesome - it was a complete stream of consciousness about the rise and fall of a fictitious 70s band. Skip it.
So, for the price, 80% of the book is more than worth the purchase price - you won't be disappointed. And who knows, maybe you'll get something out of the last story that I might have missed - if so, whatever.
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