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EnSICKlopedia: A Collection of Horror from Matt Shaw
A Collection of some of Matt Shaw's horror stories - previously only available on Kindle! The stories included are: Tortured, Clown, Control, A House in the Country, The Cabin and The Cabin II. Also includes two previously unpublished short stories. Over 666 pages of horror!
- GenresHorror
666 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2014
37 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
529 books2,203 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 25, 2022
I hope the knowledge he is responsible for all these deaths...I hope it haunts Piers for as long as he lives. If he forgets, I hope the taste of my brains, in his mouth, serves as a distasteful reminder. As I ready myself to squeeze the trigger, I only hope the bullet doesn’t go through my head, and his too. I can’t promise it won’t.
* End of 8th *
* End of 8th *
February 19, 2021
I highly recommend Matt Shaw's Ensicklopedia. Yes I am still up at 3:30am as I was so engrossed and had to finish it.
Some really good short stories with some moments of extreme horror - sorry Matt but i am one of those readers you referenced in your foreword who want you to push it even further. Give me every excrutiating detail and i'll be super happy.
I adored Clown and the 8th the most, with Control and A house in the Country being a close second. It says a lot that i have 4 of the 9 stories tied for 1st and 2nd - the rest are pretty good too, just those were my faves and i thought them excellent! I would not say any are bad, even if i personally disliked some of the twists.
I noticed quite a lot of typos and minor SPaG errors in the first short story, Tortured, which detracted from my enjoyment of the story a lot. I found it really jarring and it just irritated me. The serial killer parts of Tortured though, were some examples of really outstanding horror. I just wanted more of that killer - so gruesome but enjoyable. The torture scenes were some examples of truly excellent horror. Apart from one typo i noticed in the rest of the book that amused me instead of taking away my enjoyment. (Hour an hour - i think it was supposed to be half an hour.)
Definitely buying the second Ensicklopedia at the end of the month as well as some more of Matt Shaw. Highly recommended :)
Just if you have a weak stomach some scenes might get to you.
Some really good short stories with some moments of extreme horror - sorry Matt but i am one of those readers you referenced in your foreword who want you to push it even further. Give me every excrutiating detail and i'll be super happy.
I adored Clown and the 8th the most, with Control and A house in the Country being a close second. It says a lot that i have 4 of the 9 stories tied for 1st and 2nd - the rest are pretty good too, just those were my faves and i thought them excellent! I would not say any are bad, even if i personally disliked some of the twists.
I noticed quite a lot of typos and minor SPaG errors in the first short story, Tortured, which detracted from my enjoyment of the story a lot. I found it really jarring and it just irritated me. The serial killer parts of Tortured though, were some examples of really outstanding horror. I just wanted more of that killer - so gruesome but enjoyable. The torture scenes were some examples of truly excellent horror. Apart from one typo i noticed in the rest of the book that amused me instead of taking away my enjoyment. (Hour an hour - i think it was supposed to be half an hour.)
Definitely buying the second Ensicklopedia at the end of the month as well as some more of Matt Shaw. Highly recommended :)
Just if you have a weak stomach some scenes might get to you.
August 11, 2018
If the title of this book isn't enough of a clue, it's safe to say that Shaw's style won't be to everyone's taste.
Shaw doesn't hold back, he's not afraid of taking things to, well, the extreme.
But he does it brilliantly. So often authors try and be extreme, gory, or shocking for just the sake of being shocking and it having no relevance to the story.
Anybody can write something solely in an attempt to shock, but the novelty soon wears off. Shaw doesn't have this issue - first and foremost, Shaw writes stories. Good stories. Damn good stories.
They won't be to everyone's taste, but then what is?
Shaw doesn't just set out to shock or disgust you, he writes good stories that may well shock or disgust you en route.
It doesn't sound like there's much of a difference, but there is. There is a world of difference, and Shaw knows how it works.
If you're easily offended, then this book is not for you. But if you like a little extra spice to your horror occasionally, then turn to the first page, buckle up and let Shaw do what he does best.
This is the first time I've reviewed Shaw's work, but this isn't the first of his books I've read - and it certainly won't be the last.
Shaw doesn't hold back, he's not afraid of taking things to, well, the extreme.
But he does it brilliantly. So often authors try and be extreme, gory, or shocking for just the sake of being shocking and it having no relevance to the story.
Anybody can write something solely in an attempt to shock, but the novelty soon wears off. Shaw doesn't have this issue - first and foremost, Shaw writes stories. Good stories. Damn good stories.
They won't be to everyone's taste, but then what is?
Shaw doesn't just set out to shock or disgust you, he writes good stories that may well shock or disgust you en route.
It doesn't sound like there's much of a difference, but there is. There is a world of difference, and Shaw knows how it works.
If you're easily offended, then this book is not for you. But if you like a little extra spice to your horror occasionally, then turn to the first page, buckle up and let Shaw do what he does best.
This is the first time I've reviewed Shaw's work, but this isn't the first of his books I've read - and it certainly won't be the last.
September 25, 2023
My review for this book will be for the eBook.
It's been awhile since I have read any extreme horror books, but I did like the book Sick Bastards by Matt Shaw.
I like his writing style, plus I have a dark & vivid imagination so that always helps.
My book reviews are for paperback, hardcover books, audiobooks & eBooks that I have purchased, I give my honest opinion in my book reviews for books I have actually read or listened to as a audiobook.
Due to the recent controversy involving this author & due to being a woman I just wanted to say this in my book review.
Any constructive criticism, or negative feedback I have given in any book review wasn't said to judge the author, to bash them, to judge their writing style or what they write about even if it is themes that I feel uncomfortable reading about such as: (incest, peadophilia) as a example.
Unfortunately some people with be offended, disgusted, or morally outraged by literally everything, some people just need to learn to accept that content that's intended for a niche audience is not for everyone, no one is forcing you to read it Splatterpunk & Extreme Horror books.
If you don't like Splatterpunk or Extreme Horror books then don't read them it's that simple!
I would only judge a writer for basic spelling, gramma, punctuation errors, their book just needs to be proofread a little bit more thoroughly.
I honestly express my opinion in my book reviews, if I don't agree with the author's opinion about something if they assume something inaccurate or incorrect about something they are ignorant about.
This eBook includes the following stories by Matt Shaw:
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧
𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫:
I like the way the sadist/serial killer describes torturing his victims, the way he describes his sadistic need to hear his victims scream in agony while he cruelly and sadistically tortures them.
I haven't read any book that is from the perspective or point of view of a sadist that is a serial killer before so it's interesting.
There are some spelling or grammatical errors sometimes in the writing, so not to be a bit nitpicky but the book needs to be proofread, and checked for spelling and gramma & grammatical errors.
I like the plot of the book, it's interesting that there is possibly a copycat killer, that is copying the crimes of the psychopath, and his "𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬"
The psychopath wants his"𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬" to be found, to be seen, he wants the admiration, attention, infamy, notoriety and for the general public to be shocked, disgusted or afraid of what he has done.
I like the intertwined plot about the serial killer, the family that moved into a new house and who they suspect is the serial killer and may be responsible for Ryan's coworker Vanessa disappearance
(death in absentia-missing but presumed dead)
The neighbours son Thomas seems like he is more than justa True Crime fan, he seems like is obsessed with True Crime, he is a Hybristophile-(they admire, idolize, romanticize, sexualize, fetishize serial killers, but not all Hybristophiles have romantic & sexual feelings towards serial killers)
They believe the serial killer didn't do anything wrong, they don't care about the victims, or feel any empathy, sympathy towards the victims of serial killers that are living or dead or their family members and friends.
There is a very fine line between being a respectful True Crime fan, a collector of Murderabilia and being a Hybristophile, and being a disturbed, depraved, sick Ghoul that would profit & benefit from the deaths of various people to create a profitable True Crime book that you can earn blood money from. Confirmation bias is the reason why the wrong man was accused and tortured due to Mike, his son Thomas and probably Ryan believing that Graeme Reynolds was the murderer, even though he wasn't, he was just a ordinary, obsessed stalker, pervert.
The ending of the story is inconclusive, it still doesn't explain who the torturer is, who the secondary fingerprints belong to on the parcel that was sent to the bank, or what happened to Vanessa.
I enjoyed reading this short story, it's one of my favourites.
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧:
I've never really been a fan of Clowns, they creep me out, there is something eerie, creepy, disturbing about them.
They were originally believed to be evil and to eat children.
I don't like the original Pennywise (portrayed by Tim Curry) or the horror film Clown made by Eli Roth either. Both creeped me out.
I didn't know there would be a story about a Clown 😬
I think I have Coulrophobia (fear of Clowns)
The Clown in the story is pathetic, weak, a people-pleaser that would do anything to avoid any type of confrontation, he doesn't have a backbone and never stands up for himself.
His roommate is trying to help him albeit in a harsh, unforgiving way to make him toughen up and stop him being such a pussy about everything.
I was expecting the Clown to be evil, sadistic and murdering children.
I like the plot of this story, I think the psychopath roommate has weird opinions about children and they believe that what they are doing is justified in some way.
I'm confused about if the roommate is a real person, or the entertainer that is a Clown is schizophrenic and hallucinating them because sometimes Matt Shaw refers to the unnamed roommate like he is a separate, person living a totally different life to the entertainer, sometimes he refers to the roommate like they are the same person. I am confused while reading this short story 🤨
The roommate did drive his van, kidnapped a child that was abandoned by their mother, it was a opportunistic crime.
The entertainer didn't know about the deaths of the children, being kidnapped, tortured and murdered or the macabre artwork his roommate created.
Does the entertainer have a fractured psyche and the roommate is a "alter" personality due to DID (Dissociative identity disorder) and he doesn't remember kidnapping, murdering the children and painting images of their corpses as artwork.
There are 20 victims so the roommate is a serial killer.
The plot for this story is a little bit confusing 🤨🤔
I really hate weak, pathetic the entertainer/Clown is in the story, I would prefer reading about the psychopath roommate and the horrific things that he's doing or his motivation for why he is doing what he did.
That would more interesting, but that's just my opinion.
𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲:
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥:
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠:
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇:
It's been awhile since I have read any extreme horror books, but I did like the book Sick Bastards by Matt Shaw.
I like his writing style, plus I have a dark & vivid imagination so that always helps.
My book reviews are for paperback, hardcover books, audiobooks & eBooks that I have purchased, I give my honest opinion in my book reviews for books I have actually read or listened to as a audiobook.
Due to the recent controversy involving this author & due to being a woman I just wanted to say this in my book review.
Any constructive criticism, or negative feedback I have given in any book review wasn't said to judge the author, to bash them, to judge their writing style or what they write about even if it is themes that I feel uncomfortable reading about such as: (incest, peadophilia) as a example.
Unfortunately some people with be offended, disgusted, or morally outraged by literally everything, some people just need to learn to accept that content that's intended for a niche audience is not for everyone, no one is forcing you to read it Splatterpunk & Extreme Horror books.
If you don't like Splatterpunk or Extreme Horror books then don't read them it's that simple!
I would only judge a writer for basic spelling, gramma, punctuation errors, their book just needs to be proofread a little bit more thoroughly.
I honestly express my opinion in my book reviews, if I don't agree with the author's opinion about something if they assume something inaccurate or incorrect about something they are ignorant about.
This eBook includes the following stories by Matt Shaw:
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧
𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫:
I like the way the sadist/serial killer describes torturing his victims, the way he describes his sadistic need to hear his victims scream in agony while he cruelly and sadistically tortures them.
I haven't read any book that is from the perspective or point of view of a sadist that is a serial killer before so it's interesting.
There are some spelling or grammatical errors sometimes in the writing, so not to be a bit nitpicky but the book needs to be proofread, and checked for spelling and gramma & grammatical errors.
I like the plot of the book, it's interesting that there is possibly a copycat killer, that is copying the crimes of the psychopath, and his "𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬"
The psychopath wants his"𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬" to be found, to be seen, he wants the admiration, attention, infamy, notoriety and for the general public to be shocked, disgusted or afraid of what he has done.
I like the intertwined plot about the serial killer, the family that moved into a new house and who they suspect is the serial killer and may be responsible for Ryan's coworker Vanessa disappearance
(death in absentia-missing but presumed dead)
The neighbours son Thomas seems like he is more than justa True Crime fan, he seems like is obsessed with True Crime, he is a Hybristophile-(they admire, idolize, romanticize, sexualize, fetishize serial killers, but not all Hybristophiles have romantic & sexual feelings towards serial killers)
They believe the serial killer didn't do anything wrong, they don't care about the victims, or feel any empathy, sympathy towards the victims of serial killers that are living or dead or their family members and friends.
There is a very fine line between being a respectful True Crime fan, a collector of Murderabilia and being a Hybristophile, and being a disturbed, depraved, sick Ghoul that would profit & benefit from the deaths of various people to create a profitable True Crime book that you can earn blood money from. Confirmation bias is the reason why the wrong man was accused and tortured due to Mike, his son Thomas and probably Ryan believing that Graeme Reynolds was the murderer, even though he wasn't, he was just a ordinary, obsessed stalker, pervert.
The ending of the story is inconclusive, it still doesn't explain who the torturer is, who the secondary fingerprints belong to on the parcel that was sent to the bank, or what happened to Vanessa.
I enjoyed reading this short story, it's one of my favourites.
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧:
I've never really been a fan of Clowns, they creep me out, there is something eerie, creepy, disturbing about them.
They were originally believed to be evil and to eat children.
I don't like the original Pennywise (portrayed by Tim Curry) or the horror film Clown made by Eli Roth either. Both creeped me out.
I didn't know there would be a story about a Clown 😬
I think I have Coulrophobia (fear of Clowns)
The Clown in the story is pathetic, weak, a people-pleaser that would do anything to avoid any type of confrontation, he doesn't have a backbone and never stands up for himself.
His roommate is trying to help him albeit in a harsh, unforgiving way to make him toughen up and stop him being such a pussy about everything.
I was expecting the Clown to be evil, sadistic and murdering children.
I like the plot of this story, I think the psychopath roommate has weird opinions about children and they believe that what they are doing is justified in some way.
I'm confused about if the roommate is a real person, or the entertainer that is a Clown is schizophrenic and hallucinating them because sometimes Matt Shaw refers to the unnamed roommate like he is a separate, person living a totally different life to the entertainer, sometimes he refers to the roommate like they are the same person. I am confused while reading this short story 🤨
The roommate did drive his van, kidnapped a child that was abandoned by their mother, it was a opportunistic crime.
The entertainer didn't know about the deaths of the children, being kidnapped, tortured and murdered or the macabre artwork his roommate created.
Does the entertainer have a fractured psyche and the roommate is a "alter" personality due to DID (Dissociative identity disorder) and he doesn't remember kidnapping, murdering the children and painting images of their corpses as artwork.
There are 20 victims so the roommate is a serial killer.
The plot for this story is a little bit confusing 🤨🤔
I really hate weak, pathetic the entertainer/Clown is in the story, I would prefer reading about the psychopath roommate and the horrific things that he's doing or his motivation for why he is doing what he did.
That would more interesting, but that's just my opinion.
𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲:
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥:
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠:
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇:
May 23, 2016
This is a great collection of Matts books brought together - and given the frankly ridiculous number of books he keeps releasing these collections make a lot of sense.
Highlights for me would be The 8th, Control, The Cabin 2... actually come to think of it they are all a great read. The least favourites would be Clown and The Cabin.
Highlights for me would be The 8th, Control, The Cabin 2... actually come to think of it they are all a great read. The least favourites would be Clown and The Cabin.
October 13, 2020
Really loved these stories! Not as extreme as the other books I've read by the author but still quite entertaining. Had a couple that were a bit hard to follow at times but I did end up liking them. Note that there are some spelling and grammar errors so if these bother you then avoid this one.
December 8, 2025
Solid collection of stories, I read the third one in a previous collection and really enjoyed it. Tortured kept me guessing. I wasn't too sure on clown but it flowed well. Control was very good and very clever. Reminiscing was a good quick little read as was Laughter in the night. The cabin stories were clever with a good little twist. The last one reminded me a bit of Rage by Stephen King.
June 21, 2020
I can't stop
I loved this book because each story had a surprise plot twist just when you think you know where it's going nope guess again!!!!
I loved this book because each story had a surprise plot twist just when you think you know where it's going nope guess again!!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews