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Hellfire & Damnation III
Hellfire & Damnation III by Connie Corcoran Wilson is another tour of the 9 Circles of Hell described in Dante’s Inferno. It picks up where the first two collections of short stories left off, using the same framing device of stories that explore the sins or crimes punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell in Dante’s Inferno.
The first book was the winner of the Silver Feather Award (Illinois Women’s Press Association), and the Gold Medal E-Lit Award (Horror category) from the Jenkins group. Five-time Bram Stoker winner Gary Braunbeck said of Book II in the Hellfire & Damnation collection: ” Seriously, Connie: can’t you write just one stinker so the rest of us will feel a little bit better?” Braunbeck added, ” Her writing is stronger, streamlined, and often lyrical, despite the nastiness her words describe. This is another impressive collection of tales from a writer I could very well learn to hate if she gets much better.”
Hellfire & Damnation III is another tour of the crimes or sins punished at each of the Circles of Hell in Dante’s “Inferno.” Like the second book in the series by Connie Corcoran Wilson, there are images whether it is a cave where teenagers are trapped, the lair of a psychopathic minister manipulating a young man of limited intelligence into murder, or a rage-fueled airplane traveler unleashing his pent-up fury on a Flight Attendant.
The author adds a From the Author, an informative peek into the creative mind of the author and the genesis of these 9 Tales of Terror. As one reviewer said (of Hellfire & Damnation II), “Connie Corcoran Wilson has written a book of short stories that will not only keep you up late nights reading, but might also keep you up long after you have stopped reading.”
The first book was the winner of the Silver Feather Award (Illinois Women’s Press Association), and the Gold Medal E-Lit Award (Horror category) from the Jenkins group. Five-time Bram Stoker winner Gary Braunbeck said of Book II in the Hellfire & Damnation collection: ” Seriously, Connie: can’t you write just one stinker so the rest of us will feel a little bit better?” Braunbeck added, ” Her writing is stronger, streamlined, and often lyrical, despite the nastiness her words describe. This is another impressive collection of tales from a writer I could very well learn to hate if she gets much better.”
Hellfire & Damnation III is another tour of the crimes or sins punished at each of the Circles of Hell in Dante’s “Inferno.” Like the second book in the series by Connie Corcoran Wilson, there are images whether it is a cave where teenagers are trapped, the lair of a psychopathic minister manipulating a young man of limited intelligence into murder, or a rage-fueled airplane traveler unleashing his pent-up fury on a Flight Attendant.
The author adds a From the Author, an informative peek into the creative mind of the author and the genesis of these 9 Tales of Terror. As one reviewer said (of Hellfire & Damnation II), “Connie Corcoran Wilson has written a book of short stories that will not only keep you up late nights reading, but might also keep you up long after you have stopped reading.”
- GenresHorror
122 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Connie Corcoran Wilson
29 books34 followersConnie Corcoran Wilson has published 10 books since 2003. "Hellfire & Damnation" (www.HellfireandDamnationtheBook.com) came out in February, 2010. Her three volumes of true ghost stories of Route 66 (Ghostly Tales of Route 66, www.GhostlyTalesofRoute66.com) are out from Quixote and in E-book format from Quad City Press. Her first book ("Training the Teacher As A Champion") was published by PLS Bookstores in 1989. Her sci fi novel "Out of Time" was published by Lachesis in 2008 and the screenplay written based on the book was a winner in a "Writer's Digest" competition. Her 2 humor collections are "Both Sides Now" (2003) and "Laughing through Life" (2011). Her illustrated children's book, "The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats" was released at Christmas in 2011. "Hellfire and Damnation II" was released July 28, 2012 in E-book format and in paperback shortly after (The Merry Blacksmith Press.) Her nonfiction book showcasing many of the movie reviews written for the Quad City Times between 1970 and 1979 made up the bulk of the book, along with 76 photos, major cast and interactive trivia. "The Color of Evil," a novel that is the first in a trilogy about a young boy with paranormal abilities, was released in 2012. "Red Is for Rage," the second book in the trilogy, will be released in January, 2013. Connie has been writing for pay since age 10 and taught writing at 6 IA/IL colleges. She is a member of AWP (American Writing Program), MWA (Midwest Writers' Association), MWC (Midwest Writing Center), HWA (Horror Writers Association), ITW (International ThrillerWriters) and IWPA (Illinois Women's Press Association.) Her books have won E-Lit, Pinnacle, NABE and Silver Feather awards and the 400,000 member blog Associated Content named her its Content producer of the year (for politics) in 2008. Since then, she has been named Midwest Writing Center Writer of the Year (2010) and won the Chicago chapter of IWPA Silver Feather award on June 6, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 12, 2015
I’m huge on short stories and collections so I knew I had to read this batch. The author states at the end of the book that she drew inspiration form true events on all but two of the stories. That explains why one of them felt familiar to me.
Some are scary and some are twisted. A few had me grinning sardonically. All are good.
There are the nines sins or as the author titles them, The Nine Circles of Hell. Each delves into crimes and punishments.
Circle One: Limbo – The Cave Robber
You’ll have an encounter with a giant cave spider.
Circle Two: Lust – The MOnster Within
Meet Brian, “The unhappiest man in El Reno,” who’s plotting revenge against his neighbor.
Circle Three: Gluttony – The Battle of Gate Pa
Crawl with the Maori warriors through the first tunnels used in warfare.
Circle Four: Avarice & Prodigality – Boxed In
Be there when a kidnap victim turns the table on his kidnapper.
Circle Five: Wrath & Sullenness – Do Not Go Gently
A cancer patient who thought he’d live forever does not go gently. Vows to be the worst patient ever.
Circle Six: Heresy – The Final Victim
A Reverend needs one more sacrifice for Satan.
Circle Seven: The Violent – KILLAL
An innocent computer game might not be so innocent.
Circle Eight: The Fraudulent – The Mirror
A heated car mirror solves a cold case.
Circle Nine: The Treacherous – A Losing Hand
It wasn’t hypothermia. It was murder.
I enjoyed all of these stories and enjoyed the authors comments afterwards. She explained a bit about each of the stories that came from true events and then where she got her inspiration for the two that weren’t. It was fascinating.
And the pictures peppered throughout the book made it creepier.
While most of these weren’t truly scary, they did have sin in each one. I think I sinned a bit myself when I celebrated some of the characters deeds.
These would be great reads for when you have only a short time, but I’d set aside enough time to finish all of them. They do suck you in and keep you going from one to the next, to the next…
I received this book for my honest review.
Some are scary and some are twisted. A few had me grinning sardonically. All are good.
There are the nines sins or as the author titles them, The Nine Circles of Hell. Each delves into crimes and punishments.
Circle One: Limbo – The Cave Robber
You’ll have an encounter with a giant cave spider.
Circle Two: Lust – The MOnster Within
Meet Brian, “The unhappiest man in El Reno,” who’s plotting revenge against his neighbor.
Circle Three: Gluttony – The Battle of Gate Pa
Crawl with the Maori warriors through the first tunnels used in warfare.
Circle Four: Avarice & Prodigality – Boxed In
Be there when a kidnap victim turns the table on his kidnapper.
Circle Five: Wrath & Sullenness – Do Not Go Gently
A cancer patient who thought he’d live forever does not go gently. Vows to be the worst patient ever.
Circle Six: Heresy – The Final Victim
A Reverend needs one more sacrifice for Satan.
Circle Seven: The Violent – KILLAL
An innocent computer game might not be so innocent.
Circle Eight: The Fraudulent – The Mirror
A heated car mirror solves a cold case.
Circle Nine: The Treacherous – A Losing Hand
It wasn’t hypothermia. It was murder.
I enjoyed all of these stories and enjoyed the authors comments afterwards. She explained a bit about each of the stories that came from true events and then where she got her inspiration for the two that weren’t. It was fascinating.
And the pictures peppered throughout the book made it creepier.
While most of these weren’t truly scary, they did have sin in each one. I think I sinned a bit myself when I celebrated some of the characters deeds.
These would be great reads for when you have only a short time, but I’d set aside enough time to finish all of them. They do suck you in and keep you going from one to the next, to the next…
I received this book for my honest review.
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April 17, 2015i was a winner of the goodreads giveaway for this book. Thanks goes to goodreads and the author.
I managed to read this book pretty quickly but i liked this book. It was a great read and i feel like i would like to read the other books that come before this one so that i can get a sense of the whole story so far. I think that it would be worth the time. Thanks for picking me to read this book and i recommend it to everyone. Definately start this series from the beginning to get the most out of this book
I managed to read this book pretty quickly but i liked this book. It was a great read and i feel like i would like to read the other books that come before this one so that i can get a sense of the whole story so far. I think that it would be worth the time. Thanks for picking me to read this book and i recommend it to everyone. Definately start this series from the beginning to get the most out of this book
October 19, 2015
Don't really like books of short stories, but this one has changed my mind. Just couldn't put it down.
Hellfire & Damnation III' is the 3rd book in a series that explores the sins or crimes at each of the 9 Circle of Hell in Dante's "Inferno."
Really enjoyed the stories, in particular the one set in New Zealand and the one about 'Hanging with Friends'.
Will have to get the first 2 books and read them as well. Bravo to Connie, you've written another winner.
Hellfire & Damnation III' is the 3rd book in a series that explores the sins or crimes at each of the 9 Circle of Hell in Dante's "Inferno."
Really enjoyed the stories, in particular the one set in New Zealand and the one about 'Hanging with Friends'.
Will have to get the first 2 books and read them as well. Bravo to Connie, you've written another winner.
May 22, 2015
From a ginormous spider to cancer to human sacrifice, this trip through the nine levels of hell show us that in our human condition, we are capable of creating hell on earth.
The Stories:
“The Cave Robber” – This story has the potential to creep you out even if you aren’t scared of spiders. A trio of boys plus one girl set out to explore a cave that the boys found. They find a ginormous spider waiting inside for any intruders into its domain. Do any of the kids manage to escape the spider’s lair?
“The Monster Within” – There is a monster inside each of us, but most of us manage to keep this unwelcome visitor under control. What happens if that monster is allowed to scheme and carry out his or her psychotic plans?
“The Battle of Gate Pa” – This is the story of how a tribe in New Zealand outsmarted the British who were more concerned with food and enjoying themselves than strategizing on how to win the war they were taking for granted they would win. This is a solemn reminder that we need to focus on the situation at hand rather than assuming we know the outcome before it happens.
“Boxed In” – A kidnapping gone wrong, avarice, betrayal, and a prodigal son show just how deadly greed can become.
“Do Not Go Gently” – If you found out you had cancer and that you were going to die from it, how would you feel? Would you be mad and take it out on everyone you met? How about those taking care of you? You might want to consider being nice. Otherwise, you might just die before the disease kills you.
“The Final Victim” – Some people will believe anything. Some can be persuaded to do just about anything, even murder. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it even creepier.
I believe the cover was taken from this story. Note the cruel, murderous intent on the face of the man holding the hammer who appears to already be in the midst of the fires of hell.
“KILLAL” – I am a huge fan of Scrabble and other word games, but I have never played any of them on my phone. After reading this story, I think that is a good thing.
“The Mirror” – A man of limited intelligence who had been working on a farm and staying at a bunkhouse is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Fragments of a broken mirror from a vehicle are the only clue. This very special mirror is heated, so the vehicle it came from shouldn’t be that hard to find.
“A Losing Hand” – Harsh feelings and a card game lead to murder and deceit.
All of the stories were good, but I love spider stories, and they really give me the creeps. So, my favorite was definitely “The Cave Robber”.
The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Stories:
“The Cave Robber” – This story has the potential to creep you out even if you aren’t scared of spiders. A trio of boys plus one girl set out to explore a cave that the boys found. They find a ginormous spider waiting inside for any intruders into its domain. Do any of the kids manage to escape the spider’s lair?
“The Monster Within” – There is a monster inside each of us, but most of us manage to keep this unwelcome visitor under control. What happens if that monster is allowed to scheme and carry out his or her psychotic plans?
“The Battle of Gate Pa” – This is the story of how a tribe in New Zealand outsmarted the British who were more concerned with food and enjoying themselves than strategizing on how to win the war they were taking for granted they would win. This is a solemn reminder that we need to focus on the situation at hand rather than assuming we know the outcome before it happens.
“Boxed In” – A kidnapping gone wrong, avarice, betrayal, and a prodigal son show just how deadly greed can become.
“Do Not Go Gently” – If you found out you had cancer and that you were going to die from it, how would you feel? Would you be mad and take it out on everyone you met? How about those taking care of you? You might want to consider being nice. Otherwise, you might just die before the disease kills you.
“The Final Victim” – Some people will believe anything. Some can be persuaded to do just about anything, even murder. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it even creepier.
I believe the cover was taken from this story. Note the cruel, murderous intent on the face of the man holding the hammer who appears to already be in the midst of the fires of hell.
“KILLAL” – I am a huge fan of Scrabble and other word games, but I have never played any of them on my phone. After reading this story, I think that is a good thing.
“The Mirror” – A man of limited intelligence who had been working on a farm and staying at a bunkhouse is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Fragments of a broken mirror from a vehicle are the only clue. This very special mirror is heated, so the vehicle it came from shouldn’t be that hard to find.
“A Losing Hand” – Harsh feelings and a card game lead to murder and deceit.
All of the stories were good, but I love spider stories, and they really give me the creeps. So, my favorite was definitely “The Cave Robber”.
The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2015
As evidenced by the title, this book is the third short story collection in the Hellfire and Damnation series by Connie Corcoran Wilson. The unifying theme for the series is Dante's nine circles of hell. It's been a while since I had a chance to read a short story collection and this was a nice change of pace.
The not so good: A few of the stories have abrupt endings as though the author was trying to stay within a word goal. At least one seemed to have excessive repetitiveness which kept jarring me out of the story.
The good: The stories have an element of reality or truth as the starting point. This will give the reader a slight chill of recognition. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of gore and this was perfect to read during my lunch hour. These stories aren't overly long but aren't too short either. The characters are varied in ages, backgrounds and circumstances. Some short story collections suffer from similar stories and each has enough differences to set them apart. I'm willing to read more by this author.
The not so good: A few of the stories have abrupt endings as though the author was trying to stay within a word goal. At least one seemed to have excessive repetitiveness which kept jarring me out of the story.
The good: The stories have an element of reality or truth as the starting point. This will give the reader a slight chill of recognition. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of gore and this was perfect to read during my lunch hour. These stories aren't overly long but aren't too short either. The characters are varied in ages, backgrounds and circumstances. Some short story collections suffer from similar stories and each has enough differences to set them apart. I'm willing to read more by this author.
June 1, 2015
This is a great collection of short stories that correspond to the 9 circles of hell. I liked that some were horror, some had natural disasters and some got in your head and were mentally disturbing. I loved the pictures that were throughout the book and it made the settings stories seem more realistic. 7 of the stories started from actual events and the authors tells you these events at the end of the book. I am a horror fan and some of these freaked me out. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews