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Burn Down the House and Everyone In It
A cat's glistening wound houses something monstrous. A brother and sister are haunted by the ashes of their uncle. A hipster falls prey to a murderous sorcerer. Three sexless, immoral beings climb out of a woman's head. These are the tales of Burn Down The House And Everyone In It, a collection of fiction ranging from the comically absurd to the deeply disturbing.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2015
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397 people want to read
About the author
Zachary T. Owen
7 books24 followersZachary T. Owen is an arsonist. A nice arsonist. He'd never burn a book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 17, 2017
This book of short stories is captivating on different levels. All of the stories contain an element of the bizarre and the impossible, with chilling imagery and visceral scenes. While there is a peppering of humor scattered throughout the pages, the prime ingredients are fear and a sense of the ominous. The stories work well on a psychological level, and the characters are imbued with emotions and apprehensions that we can relate to. Whether the subject matter is mental illness, childhood trauma or evil dentists, the situations that the characters are involved in surround us with mystery and dread. This is an excellent collection for anyone with a roving imagination and an attraction to the uncanny.
December 15, 2015
4.5 stars.
one of the best books i've read this year.
currently free to read if you have a kindle unlimited membership.
adult content, and bizarre.
my favorite story was the one with the dentist followed by the dandies.
lots of stand out paragraphs and lines which i highlighted on my kindle and might post later
one of the best books i've read this year.
currently free to read if you have a kindle unlimited membership.
adult content, and bizarre.
my favorite story was the one with the dentist followed by the dandies.
lots of stand out paragraphs and lines which i highlighted on my kindle and might post later
October 24, 2015
There are a couple memorable shorts in this one and I have read A LOT of great short stories this year. The first story SOMETIMES THE CLOSET ISN'T BIG ENOUGH (which I'm not going to spoil even a detail about) is downright terrifying. Zachary T. Owen understands very well what horror actually is and how to trigger that wordless feeling in his readers. If you like being afraid like me, it's a pleasure to find yourself prey to Owen's violent and unpredictable storytelling.
One thing that Owen does very well - and that most horror writers fail at - is that his stories are about more than just freaking out his readers. My favorite one FORGOTTEN TENANTS is as much about mental health than it is about ongoing horror. The audience's feeling of dread stems as much from the empathy felt towards the protagonist Erin as it does from the imagery.
Aside from a nagging tendency to over-describe things, people and feeling, I thought BURN DOWN THE HOUSE AND EVERYONE IN IT was a very ambitious short story collection from an intriguing new talent that is Zachary T. Owen. If you're looking for real horror that manages to avoid most clichés and tropes, this is worth your time.
One thing that Owen does very well - and that most horror writers fail at - is that his stories are about more than just freaking out his readers. My favorite one FORGOTTEN TENANTS is as much about mental health than it is about ongoing horror. The audience's feeling of dread stems as much from the empathy felt towards the protagonist Erin as it does from the imagery.
Aside from a nagging tendency to over-describe things, people and feeling, I thought BURN DOWN THE HOUSE AND EVERYONE IN IT was a very ambitious short story collection from an intriguing new talent that is Zachary T. Owen. If you're looking for real horror that manages to avoid most clichés and tropes, this is worth your time.
May 1, 2015
I feel this collection is Owen's strongest and most daring work to date. He delves fantastically into some truly disturbing subject matter; this is by no means a light read. The level of care and detail he has poured into each story is genuinely impressive. He weaves these micro-universes that you'll find yourself lost in. Especially in the last few stories - I found myself so caught up in the characters and plots that I lost any impressions of time.
The diversity of characters and stories in "Burn Down the House and Everyone In It" is remarkable as well; Owen is not a one-horse pony and these stories all find him exploring new subject matter. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe. Stories such as "Favors From Hell" and "I Know There Are People Who Wander in the Night" are especially interesting, and stuck with me long after I had put away Owen's book. "Little Danny" is honestly unlike anything else I've read, and is intermixed with a refreshing dark humor.
The downside to this collection is when it gets dark, it gets very, very dark. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is the fact that some of the stories (chiefly "Forgotten Tenants") were truly too disturbing for me. Which is actually a testament to Owen's talent.
The silver lining to "Burn Down the House...?" Every story has a heart to it, no matter how buried it is.
Owen's at the top of his game, and will only continue to get better. If you like horror or are like me and are just seeking some fiction that is a little out there, give this book a go. You won't regret it, despite if it haunts you long afterward.
The diversity of characters and stories in "Burn Down the House and Everyone In It" is remarkable as well; Owen is not a one-horse pony and these stories all find him exploring new subject matter. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe. Stories such as "Favors From Hell" and "I Know There Are People Who Wander in the Night" are especially interesting, and stuck with me long after I had put away Owen's book. "Little Danny" is honestly unlike anything else I've read, and is intermixed with a refreshing dark humor.
The downside to this collection is when it gets dark, it gets very, very dark. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is the fact that some of the stories (chiefly "Forgotten Tenants") were truly too disturbing for me. Which is actually a testament to Owen's talent.
The silver lining to "Burn Down the House...?" Every story has a heart to it, no matter how buried it is.
Owen's at the top of his game, and will only continue to get better. If you like horror or are like me and are just seeking some fiction that is a little out there, give this book a go. You won't regret it, despite if it haunts you long afterward.
December 30, 2015
Burn Down the House and Everyone In It isn aptly named conflagration of short fictions that sacrifices the good alongside the deviant. Like life, no one gets out alive, or at least not unscathed.
Owen knows that oddities show up in best relief against a backdrop of mundanity so none of the characters are extraordinary but they do see some outlandish and grotesque things. Searing images lurk in seemingly innocuous paragraphs. With stories of dental depravity and circus dwarf revenge this book is nightmarish and designed to discomfit. So if you're not afraid of fire, crack the pages and let it burn!
Owen knows that oddities show up in best relief against a backdrop of mundanity so none of the characters are extraordinary but they do see some outlandish and grotesque things. Searing images lurk in seemingly innocuous paragraphs. With stories of dental depravity and circus dwarf revenge this book is nightmarish and designed to discomfit. So if you're not afraid of fire, crack the pages and let it burn!
September 8, 2015
I was lucky to read this book before its release, and wrote a blurb for it. Here it is;
"Horror is a city, and the Absurd is one of its neighborhoods. Zachary T. Owen just moved in and he’s inviting you around to the house warming, to meet the Junk Man, Little Danny, Ruffles, the Limb King, all three of the Dandies… the whole damn family! You should accept his invite. Who knows what’ll happen to you if you don’t."
Excellent stuff, and I have to concur with other reviewers; we need to see more from the Dandies!
"Horror is a city, and the Absurd is one of its neighborhoods. Zachary T. Owen just moved in and he’s inviting you around to the house warming, to meet the Junk Man, Little Danny, Ruffles, the Limb King, all three of the Dandies… the whole damn family! You should accept his invite. Who knows what’ll happen to you if you don’t."
Excellent stuff, and I have to concur with other reviewers; we need to see more from the Dandies!
June 7, 2016
nicely done Zachary, nicely done. I can't think of a better spent 99 cents. you can't even get a frosted honeybun for that these days. definitely some very memorable horror, here. I have to say that the first story, Sometimes the Closet isn't big enough and Little Danny were my favorites. each story had something to offer the spook fiend in me, and I feel like Mr Owen here has a bright future. oh, a lovely future in deed. keep those frights and delights coming
February 11, 2015
The jacket of this book promises some of the stories to be "deeply disturbing", I would say that is an understatement! If you like something different, and like to step out of the box this book is by all means for you! These stories are much more than just interesting, they will draw you in and some will repulse you! This is one I will read more than once!
October 15, 2015
There are some really freaky stories in this anthology.
November 10, 2015
Owen is one to watch out for...longer review coming.
April 30, 2021
Bought this book on a whim around 4 odd years ago after listening one of the author's stories on Pseudopod, and forgot about it in my kindle list
All these years later, and the story still gave me chills, and the rest (except only for one) are beyond fantastic, loved the book as a whole, can't wait to read more works from Mr. Owen
All these years later, and the story still gave me chills, and the rest (except only for one) are beyond fantastic, loved the book as a whole, can't wait to read more works from Mr. Owen
July 30, 2016
Disturbing collection by Zachary T. Owen. Unforgettable shorts that will keep themselves and their creator alive in readers' minds long after they've consumed the last words and closed the book.
July 19, 2017
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads
July 5, 2017
"Burn Down the House and Everyone in It” Zachary T. Owen
Review written by Diana Iozzia
“Burn Down the House and Everyone in It” was a fun, exciting, thrilling, and scary book! I am a great fan of the horror legend, Stephen King. My favorite writings of his to read are his short stories, so I was eager to read this horror short story collection by Zachary T. Owen.
Mr. Owen is a very imaginative author, and he must have been influenced by great horror writers. I love that he can blend the odd, weird, and goofy aspects with the grotesque and spine-chilling aspects of horror together to make a fun mix. I must admit, I plan to read all of the writings of this author now.
I can’t help but use clichés to describe my liking for this book. The stories are really creative. I personally like to call myself a writer, and I like to imagine where Mr. Owen got his ideas, because they are very different and unique, however, they are not so far off in his imagination that we couldn’t have gotten there ourselves.
My favorite stories in this collection are “Sometimes the Closet Isn’t Big Enough”, “A Small Death Worth Morning”, “Kids’ Teeth and More”, and “Forgotten Tenants”. I think Mr. Owen’s writing is interesting, because each of his stories picks up on common fears held by humans, and really exaggerates them creatively to become quite horrific.
Some of his stories are a little too out there for me. I didn’t particularly enjoy “Little Danny”. “Growth” made me feel quite sad. “Glass Skeletons” was confusing. “Favors from Hell” was just not interesting or relatable. I didn’t like “I Know There Are People Who Wander in the Night”, because it was a very generic idea.
I think that many of Mr. Owen’s stories could be great for sitting around a campfire at night, in the spooky mood with only one flashlight. To be honest, that’s probably the scariest way to tell a story, if you ask me. I was always afraid of Bloody Mary, so I guess you could see why.
In conclusion, I truly enjoyed these stories. I read them in three days’ time. I didn’t have any nightmares, but being over the age of 12, that makes sense. I did feel a bit on edge after these stories, so I regard that as a worthwhile experience.
Review written by Diana Iozzia
“Burn Down the House and Everyone in It” was a fun, exciting, thrilling, and scary book! I am a great fan of the horror legend, Stephen King. My favorite writings of his to read are his short stories, so I was eager to read this horror short story collection by Zachary T. Owen.
Mr. Owen is a very imaginative author, and he must have been influenced by great horror writers. I love that he can blend the odd, weird, and goofy aspects with the grotesque and spine-chilling aspects of horror together to make a fun mix. I must admit, I plan to read all of the writings of this author now.
I can’t help but use clichés to describe my liking for this book. The stories are really creative. I personally like to call myself a writer, and I like to imagine where Mr. Owen got his ideas, because they are very different and unique, however, they are not so far off in his imagination that we couldn’t have gotten there ourselves.
My favorite stories in this collection are “Sometimes the Closet Isn’t Big Enough”, “A Small Death Worth Morning”, “Kids’ Teeth and More”, and “Forgotten Tenants”. I think Mr. Owen’s writing is interesting, because each of his stories picks up on common fears held by humans, and really exaggerates them creatively to become quite horrific.
Some of his stories are a little too out there for me. I didn’t particularly enjoy “Little Danny”. “Growth” made me feel quite sad. “Glass Skeletons” was confusing. “Favors from Hell” was just not interesting or relatable. I didn’t like “I Know There Are People Who Wander in the Night”, because it was a very generic idea.
I think that many of Mr. Owen’s stories could be great for sitting around a campfire at night, in the spooky mood with only one flashlight. To be honest, that’s probably the scariest way to tell a story, if you ask me. I was always afraid of Bloody Mary, so I guess you could see why.
In conclusion, I truly enjoyed these stories. I read them in three days’ time. I didn’t have any nightmares, but being over the age of 12, that makes sense. I did feel a bit on edge after these stories, so I regard that as a worthwhile experience.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews