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Four Cheers to Madness: A Collection of Horror Novellas
Four novellas that span the past fifteen years of Robert Essig’s writing career. With forwards by Judith Sonnet, Megan Stockton, S.C. Mendes, and the author himself!
The Philth Pig
The Filth Pig is an emotional junkie. All he wants are your hopes and dreams, but when confronted by someone whose soul is suffering, has he met his match?
Salpsan
A neo-gothic tale of demons and redemption. On the hillside of Spain in an old, crumbling farmhouse, there’s a sick creature in need. A desperate nurse, stripped of her license for making a deadly, yet compassionate decision, is called upon, but can she help the sick beast?
Follow the Maggot Wagon
It was supposed to be a quick jaunt to rekindle an old friendship, but sometimes the demons of the past will not let go. When old friends find themselves stuck behind a slow-moving tallow truck, old memories come back for better or worse as they meander through the countryside behind the maggot wagon.
The Madness
Back in print for the first time in many years! Forced to trust the kindness of strangers to avoid getting caught in a blizzard, Tony is accepted into the Ritter household to wait out the storm, only things aren't what anyone expects.
So raise a glass of cheer to these four stories of revenge, deceit, murder, and . . . MADNESS!
The Philth Pig
The Filth Pig is an emotional junkie. All he wants are your hopes and dreams, but when confronted by someone whose soul is suffering, has he met his match?
Salpsan
A neo-gothic tale of demons and redemption. On the hillside of Spain in an old, crumbling farmhouse, there’s a sick creature in need. A desperate nurse, stripped of her license for making a deadly, yet compassionate decision, is called upon, but can she help the sick beast?
Follow the Maggot Wagon
It was supposed to be a quick jaunt to rekindle an old friendship, but sometimes the demons of the past will not let go. When old friends find themselves stuck behind a slow-moving tallow truck, old memories come back for better or worse as they meander through the countryside behind the maggot wagon.
The Madness
Back in print for the first time in many years! Forced to trust the kindness of strangers to avoid getting caught in a blizzard, Tony is accepted into the Ritter household to wait out the storm, only things aren't what anyone expects.
So raise a glass of cheer to these four stories of revenge, deceit, murder, and . . . MADNESS!
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2025
About the author
Robert Essig
99 books303 followersRobert Essig is the author of 30 books such as Baby Fights, Disco Rice, and Master of Bodies, which was nominated for a Splatterpunk Award. He has published over 130 short stories and edited three anthologies. Robert lives with his family in east Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 20, 2025
The best novella collection I've read in years! Robert Essig has gathered together in one thick volume four of his previously published works, four true gems of terror and insanity, with wonderful, brief introductions by none other than Judith Sonnet, Megan Stockton, Marc Ciccarone/S.C. Mendes, and the author himself! There's quiet horror, extreme horror, Gothic horror, and even road trip horror - each one a brilliant take on some of the best horror tropes the genre has to offer! In fact, the book is so rich, so varied in theme and content, it's easy to forget this is the work of one and the same person: Essig has complete mastery of all the ins and outs of what makes a good horror story, whether one with demons, ghosts, demented killers, or just two good friends hashing it out before going at each other's throats!
Two of the stories, I was fortunate to read them when they first appeared, but they've lost none of their brilliance: "The Philth Pig," the opening novella, arguably one of the very best of Essig's stories, this time with an introduction by Judith Sonnet; and "Follow the Maggot Wagon," which as Essig himself explains, "has a lot of blood on its pages," coming from deep within his own personal experience.
"Philth" is Essig going for a creepy story rather than his usual tales of extreme horror; it figures centrally a really awful character, a guy who's a sort of bum parasite (yeah, I heard it too) addicted to people's happy emotions, hopes, ambitions, and dreams. He made me feel claustrophobic and anxious every time he appeared. Essig has created a nasty piece of work, a emotional vampire-like kind of being who unhesitatingly destroys families and personalities. Facing him is Melissa, depressed and socially awkward; a real mess, with no hopes or dreams at all. What might happen when these two come across each other?
"Follow the Meat Wagon" is a dialogue-heavy exploration of male friendship with seemingly minimal gore, atmospheric, gritty, realistic, with deep psychological insight into the two central characters. The tension escalates along with the bitterness, the accusations, and the cruelty between the two friends. The story felt like a theatrical play of sorts, or a Fargo episode if Essig had a hand in it.
"Salpsan" comes with an introduction by Megan Stockton, and is as Gothic as they come. An old nurse leaves the States for an isolated mansion in Spain, where she's expected to take care of a mysterious patient - a disastrous choice, since the patient is slowly revealed to be not what they appear. The poor nurse (not lacking sin herself) soon realizes that her life's in danger - both her body and her spirit.
Finally, "Madness," my favorite story in the collection, with an introduction by Mendes, is one messed up tale of pure insanity! Perhaps mild by today's standards of extreme horror, but still very gory and psychologically very intense! During a snowstorm a guy finds shelter in the home of a family, where the father acts unpredictable and viciously, the mom doesn't hide her attraction to the guest, and the poor preteen son has to watch everything from the sidelines, unable to put a stop to the embarrassing behavior of his parents. But how much of what's happening is true as it appears? A few pages in, and the twists start coming, turning this seemingly straightforward story into a nightmarish home invasion thriller! Lovely ending! If you're a horror fan, that is.
Recommending any of Essig's works comes easy for me by now; but recommending this one is also mandatory! Don't deprive yourself of the chance to read these mind-blowing stories in one place!
Two of the stories, I was fortunate to read them when they first appeared, but they've lost none of their brilliance: "The Philth Pig," the opening novella, arguably one of the very best of Essig's stories, this time with an introduction by Judith Sonnet; and "Follow the Maggot Wagon," which as Essig himself explains, "has a lot of blood on its pages," coming from deep within his own personal experience.
"Philth" is Essig going for a creepy story rather than his usual tales of extreme horror; it figures centrally a really awful character, a guy who's a sort of bum parasite (yeah, I heard it too) addicted to people's happy emotions, hopes, ambitions, and dreams. He made me feel claustrophobic and anxious every time he appeared. Essig has created a nasty piece of work, a emotional vampire-like kind of being who unhesitatingly destroys families and personalities. Facing him is Melissa, depressed and socially awkward; a real mess, with no hopes or dreams at all. What might happen when these two come across each other?
"Follow the Meat Wagon" is a dialogue-heavy exploration of male friendship with seemingly minimal gore, atmospheric, gritty, realistic, with deep psychological insight into the two central characters. The tension escalates along with the bitterness, the accusations, and the cruelty between the two friends. The story felt like a theatrical play of sorts, or a Fargo episode if Essig had a hand in it.
"Salpsan" comes with an introduction by Megan Stockton, and is as Gothic as they come. An old nurse leaves the States for an isolated mansion in Spain, where she's expected to take care of a mysterious patient - a disastrous choice, since the patient is slowly revealed to be not what they appear. The poor nurse (not lacking sin herself) soon realizes that her life's in danger - both her body and her spirit.
Finally, "Madness," my favorite story in the collection, with an introduction by Mendes, is one messed up tale of pure insanity! Perhaps mild by today's standards of extreme horror, but still very gory and psychologically very intense! During a snowstorm a guy finds shelter in the home of a family, where the father acts unpredictable and viciously, the mom doesn't hide her attraction to the guest, and the poor preteen son has to watch everything from the sidelines, unable to put a stop to the embarrassing behavior of his parents. But how much of what's happening is true as it appears? A few pages in, and the twists start coming, turning this seemingly straightforward story into a nightmarish home invasion thriller! Lovely ending! If you're a horror fan, that is.
Recommending any of Essig's works comes easy for me by now; but recommending this one is also mandatory! Don't deprive yourself of the chance to read these mind-blowing stories in one place!
March 5, 2026
What an excellent collection by one of the best in the genre! These four novellas, picked by Essig himself, needed more love and I see why now. Strong, gothic, and full of madness, this collection is a must have in your personal library
The Philth Pig: The Philth Pig loves to get high. But his preferred substance isn't pills or even alcohol, it's something much deeper than that. Dreams, Hopes, Joy, is what he really enjoys and he's stumbled upon a family who's drowning in them. Will this be a normal stop? Or will he overdose on the things he enjoys most.
Salpsan: An elderly woman travels to Spain to take care of a special patient. Needing the money and wanting to work, she goes with little information. Once she enters the beautiful stone gothic home, things turn cold. When she realizes who her patient is and it's secrets, will she stay and complete her job?
Follow The Maggot Wagon: Jamie and Adam have been friends for a while but something has changed. They decide to drive up to Jamie's family barn to catch up but the drive there is tense. Reminiscing on old times, they try to make the best of it. That is until horrible secrets are revealed and also the true nature of the trip shows it's nasty face.
The Madness: Tony is at work at the local bank when a snow storm hits. Once he's done work he tries to get home quickly but the storm has different plans. He's forced to stop and ask a family if he can stay until the snow blows over. The man of the house is drinking and warns Tony to show respect. Little does this family know, Tony has ulterior motives and help from someone close. What Tony wasn't aware of is the house he stumbled into, has secrets of their own.
All four novellas were excellent! Each one with a unique plot, great characters, and blood. I highly suggest this collection! One of the very best I've read!
The Philth Pig: The Philth Pig loves to get high. But his preferred substance isn't pills or even alcohol, it's something much deeper than that. Dreams, Hopes, Joy, is what he really enjoys and he's stumbled upon a family who's drowning in them. Will this be a normal stop? Or will he overdose on the things he enjoys most.
Salpsan: An elderly woman travels to Spain to take care of a special patient. Needing the money and wanting to work, she goes with little information. Once she enters the beautiful stone gothic home, things turn cold. When she realizes who her patient is and it's secrets, will she stay and complete her job?
Follow The Maggot Wagon: Jamie and Adam have been friends for a while but something has changed. They decide to drive up to Jamie's family barn to catch up but the drive there is tense. Reminiscing on old times, they try to make the best of it. That is until horrible secrets are revealed and also the true nature of the trip shows it's nasty face.
The Madness: Tony is at work at the local bank when a snow storm hits. Once he's done work he tries to get home quickly but the storm has different plans. He's forced to stop and ask a family if he can stay until the snow blows over. The man of the house is drinking and warns Tony to show respect. Little does this family know, Tony has ulterior motives and help from someone close. What Tony wasn't aware of is the house he stumbled into, has secrets of their own.
All four novellas were excellent! Each one with a unique plot, great characters, and blood. I highly suggest this collection! One of the very best I've read!
November 18, 2025
Four unique horror tales
These are four great horror novellas by a master of his craft. Robert does a fantastic job at anchoring whatever crazy things are going on into reality, because the emotions that the characters are going through feel real. I couldn't pick a favorite of the four, they are all really fun reads in their own ways. One about a vampire but he feeds on emotions instead of blood. Next is about a old woman who is a caring nurse ostracized for a reasonable decision she had once made, now she is taking on a home care job in Spain. Her patient is not quite right. After that we have two former best friends, going on a trip to try to rekindle their friendship. Though one has other ideas. Finally it ends with a nasty little tale of madness. It runs in the family of the house that a guy ends up at during a bad snowstorm. Though this tale isn't quite what it appears.
Highly recommended, you will never go wrong with Robert Easing and these tales are great examples of his flexibility as a writer.
These are four great horror novellas by a master of his craft. Robert does a fantastic job at anchoring whatever crazy things are going on into reality, because the emotions that the characters are going through feel real. I couldn't pick a favorite of the four, they are all really fun reads in their own ways. One about a vampire but he feeds on emotions instead of blood. Next is about a old woman who is a caring nurse ostracized for a reasonable decision she had once made, now she is taking on a home care job in Spain. Her patient is not quite right. After that we have two former best friends, going on a trip to try to rekindle their friendship. Though one has other ideas. Finally it ends with a nasty little tale of madness. It runs in the family of the house that a guy ends up at during a bad snowstorm. Though this tale isn't quite what it appears.
Highly recommended, you will never go wrong with Robert Easing and these tales are great examples of his flexibility as a writer.
November 15, 2025
Four Cheers to Madness is a delirious plunge into the surreal, the violent, and the psychologically unhinged. Robert Essig doesn’t just tell horror stories—he rips open the walls of reality and invites you to crawl inside.
Each of the four tales feels like a different flavor of madness: strange, vivid, and unsettling in its own unique way. The imagery is bold and visceral, the tension is sharp, and the atmosphere is a kaleidoscope of dread. Essig’s storytelling is fearless—he pushes boundaries, twists expectations, and delivers that perfect blend of disturbing and addictive.
This is indie horror at its most unapologetically chaotic, and I loved every unhinged minute of it.
Each of the four tales feels like a different flavor of madness: strange, vivid, and unsettling in its own unique way. The imagery is bold and visceral, the tension is sharp, and the atmosphere is a kaleidoscope of dread. Essig’s storytelling is fearless—he pushes boundaries, twists expectations, and delivers that perfect blend of disturbing and addictive.
This is indie horror at its most unapologetically chaotic, and I loved every unhinged minute of it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews