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Journals of Horror: Found Fiction
From Found footage is a genre of film making, especially horror, in which all or a substantial part of a film is presented as discovered film or video recordings, often left behind by missing or dead protagonists. Terry M. West and Pleasant Storm Entertainment, Inc. present a revolutionary approach to the horror fiction anthology. JOURNALS OF Found Fiction is a collection of terror inspired by the mechanics of the found footage horror film. In JOURNALS OF HORROR, the stories presented are horrific encounters committed to paper, item or device and discovered later. Each tale is a case file that has been transcribed from some type of unearthed diary. These tales can be discovered anywhere. This anthology is filled with some of the hottest talent in the horror fiction P.D. Cacek, Todd Keisling, Glenn Rolfe, Robin Dover, DS Ullery, Essel Pratt, Michael Thomas-Knight, John Ledger, Paul D. Marks, Sonja Thomas, Paula Cappa, Stuart Keane, Darryl Dawson, Crystal Leflar, Lori R. Lopez, Michael Seese, Jeff O’Brien, Matt Hayward, Joseph Ramshaw, Michael McGlade, DJ Tyrer, Wesley Thomas, Regina West, Evan Purcell, Robert McGough, Erik Gustafson, Christopher Alan Broadstone and Robert Holt.
366 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2014
28 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Terry M. West
198 books134 followersTerry M. West is an American horror author. His best known works: What Price Gory, Car Nex, Dreg and his Night Things series. He was a finalist for 2 International Horror Guild Awards and he was featured on the TV Guide Sci-Fi hot list for his YA graphic novel series, Confessions of a Teenage Vampire. Terry was born in Texas, lived in New York for two decades and he currently hangs his hat in California.
www.terrymwest.com
www.terrymwest.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 9, 2014
"Case #BF 4985369101 Journal transcribed from notes scribbled underneath a series of tables, in green crayon, in an abandoned diner."
When Tony McCasland, an "unofficial department head of project SIDEBOARD, a secret division of The Vault" learns of the dissolution of his department from long time friend Jason Bowman, a "special cold case liaison for the FBI", he reveals hidden truths and feelings, subjecting the FBI to hash embarrassment and Jason to a savage endgame.
This exchange goes down during a series of email correspondence between Tony and Jason, and so begins "Journals of Horror". A collection of "Found Fiction" pieces, the transcribed Black Files of project SIDEBOARD. Glimpses of the horror that we live our lives so close to everyday. Tread carefully.
Terry M. West has amassed quite an impressive lineup of talent, and it seems that they have all brought their A game to the party. Many of whom I haven't previously had the pleasure of making my acquaintance with. That's going to change.
Darkness and doom are prevalent through out, peppered with the eerie, the odd, the unknown, and just a pinch of black humor. But let's be honest, that's exactly why we've congregated here. To revel in the misery of others, to bear witness to their (possible?) last testaments, their potential final moments on this realm of existence.
Transcripts of strange occurrences, memoirs, last words, internal office correspondence, confessionals, goodbyes, a receipt, numerology, a 12 step program, "JoH" contains many imaginative takes on the subject of found footage. While not every story here knocked my socks off, they are all quite solid and very entertaining. I insist, there isn't a single "dud" in this package. Which can be a rare feat in an anthology.
The tales I gravitated to the most were those that strayed the furthest from a direct narrative, those embracing multiple formats and the chaos that the definition of "Found Footage" implies. Pound for pound this is a fantastic anthology and worthy of a purchase.
*P.S. I'm intentionally not going into detail on the Authors involved or the specific angles they take because I want you to go into this fresh. Mainly because the stories are great in their own right, but it's the package as a whole that elevates thing to a higher level of story telling.
When Tony McCasland, an "unofficial department head of project SIDEBOARD, a secret division of The Vault" learns of the dissolution of his department from long time friend Jason Bowman, a "special cold case liaison for the FBI", he reveals hidden truths and feelings, subjecting the FBI to hash embarrassment and Jason to a savage endgame.
This exchange goes down during a series of email correspondence between Tony and Jason, and so begins "Journals of Horror". A collection of "Found Fiction" pieces, the transcribed Black Files of project SIDEBOARD. Glimpses of the horror that we live our lives so close to everyday. Tread carefully.
Terry M. West has amassed quite an impressive lineup of talent, and it seems that they have all brought their A game to the party. Many of whom I haven't previously had the pleasure of making my acquaintance with. That's going to change.
Darkness and doom are prevalent through out, peppered with the eerie, the odd, the unknown, and just a pinch of black humor. But let's be honest, that's exactly why we've congregated here. To revel in the misery of others, to bear witness to their (possible?) last testaments, their potential final moments on this realm of existence.
Transcripts of strange occurrences, memoirs, last words, internal office correspondence, confessionals, goodbyes, a receipt, numerology, a 12 step program, "JoH" contains many imaginative takes on the subject of found footage. While not every story here knocked my socks off, they are all quite solid and very entertaining. I insist, there isn't a single "dud" in this package. Which can be a rare feat in an anthology.
The tales I gravitated to the most were those that strayed the furthest from a direct narrative, those embracing multiple formats and the chaos that the definition of "Found Footage" implies. Pound for pound this is a fantastic anthology and worthy of a purchase.
*P.S. I'm intentionally not going into detail on the Authors involved or the specific angles they take because I want you to go into this fresh. Mainly because the stories are great in their own right, but it's the package as a whole that elevates thing to a higher level of story telling.
January 9, 2015
I’m a big fan of found footage horror movies. The Last Broadcast, The Blair Witch Project, and even a couple of the Paranormal Activity movies weren't bad. When I saw Journals of Horror, and saw all the top-notch writers involved… I knew I had to have it! Found footage horror without the headache or motion sickness? Yes, please.
Each story within this anthology is listed by a case number, and how/where the notes were found & transcribed. They each find their own voice – FBI secret divisions, obsession, curses, even the criminally insane aren't safe!
JoH is something new & unique in the world of horror, and it couldn't have been done by a better group of authors.
Join the discussion on BBB
Each story within this anthology is listed by a case number, and how/where the notes were found & transcribed. They each find their own voice – FBI secret divisions, obsession, curses, even the criminally insane aren't safe!
JoH is something new & unique in the world of horror, and it couldn't have been done by a better group of authors.
Join the discussion on BBB
November 6, 2014
Review to come...not including my own story.
July 2, 2016
Easily one of my favorite anthologies that takes the popular trend of the found fiction formula and puts it in book form. If you're a fan of horror this is one you should pick up right away!
June 30, 2015
Superb collection
I absolutely loved the theme of this collection! Great stories by a load of authors new to me that I now get the chance to 'meet'.
I absolutely loved the theme of this collection! Great stories by a load of authors new to me that I now get the chance to 'meet'.
April 1, 2015
An exerpt from Unspeakable Gibberer
Sating that appetite for the weird while supplementing the idea of found footage, Terry M. West and Pleasant Strom Entertainment, Inc. have manifested from dark vaults, Journals of Horror: Found Fiction. 29 uncomforting tales of delusion and terror that will have you locking your doors, checking your phone settings and finding your journal so you can chronicle the onset of madness that may inevitably take hold. 29 authors who were fortunate enough to be released from their own straightjackets to pen some disturbing literature, instead of screaming their tales or spelling them out in missives with their medication. Oh, but enough with the Crypt Keeper treatment, lets open up this dark tome.
Anything from sensationalized pulp, to eloquent horror will be found while traveling through these pages. I myself found many of the stories to be entertaining, yet there were few that made me pause my reading and recollect my thoughts. Those were the best tales. There were stories that read like standard weird fiction, and some that read like submissions to Creepy Pasta. However, though these tales are works of fiction, the tales that teetered on the edge of truth were the ones that dragged me in. Some of these entries, for example; West’s “Bagged, Tagged & Buried,” Rolfe’s “Killing Jessica” and Leflar’s “Letter to Grandma,” exhibited masochistic tastes with dashes of schizophrenia and paranoia for flavor which, along with some other minor ingredients, developed a fun psychotic recipe for great found fiction.
For the rest of the review, check out, Unspeakable Gibberer
Sating that appetite for the weird while supplementing the idea of found footage, Terry M. West and Pleasant Strom Entertainment, Inc. have manifested from dark vaults, Journals of Horror: Found Fiction. 29 uncomforting tales of delusion and terror that will have you locking your doors, checking your phone settings and finding your journal so you can chronicle the onset of madness that may inevitably take hold. 29 authors who were fortunate enough to be released from their own straightjackets to pen some disturbing literature, instead of screaming their tales or spelling them out in missives with their medication. Oh, but enough with the Crypt Keeper treatment, lets open up this dark tome.
Anything from sensationalized pulp, to eloquent horror will be found while traveling through these pages. I myself found many of the stories to be entertaining, yet there were few that made me pause my reading and recollect my thoughts. Those were the best tales. There were stories that read like standard weird fiction, and some that read like submissions to Creepy Pasta. However, though these tales are works of fiction, the tales that teetered on the edge of truth were the ones that dragged me in. Some of these entries, for example; West’s “Bagged, Tagged & Buried,” Rolfe’s “Killing Jessica” and Leflar’s “Letter to Grandma,” exhibited masochistic tastes with dashes of schizophrenia and paranoia for flavor which, along with some other minor ingredients, developed a fun psychotic recipe for great found fiction.
For the rest of the review, check out, Unspeakable Gibberer
July 12, 2016
Wow! What a great read! Let me start by saying ... This is NOT my kind of horror. I made this purchase because of the rock star TOC ... and these amazing authors did not let me down. I like the "found" idea, but I am always disappointed in the POV and results. This is my testimony - if you are like me - go on and give this book a try - because you'll be excited enough to give it 5 stars too! Thank you, Terry, for making this happen - awesome job!
July 24, 2016
Project SIDEBOARD is a special cold case secret division of the FBI, dedicated to investigating eerie, unsolved murder and suicide cases. SIDEBOARD’S unsolved files are a variety of journalistic entries recording the events prior to each horrific occurrence. There are notes left on toilet paper, handwritten journals, video recordings, all of which spin spine-tingling tales that leave the reader astounded. “Journals of Horror: Found Fiction” is a collection of horror shorts written by up and coming authors guaranteed to frighten, fascinate, and leave the reader wanting more. Edited by Terry M. West, the book’s authors are bold, fresh, and page-turning, echoing the styles of greats such as Stephen King and HP Lovecraft.
The introduction, “Bagged, Tagged & Buried,” by the editor himself, is an email correspondence between the special cold case liaison, to the black file specialist and department head. What appears to be a regular business interaction abruptly shocks with an unexpected turn of events that draws the reader in from the beginning. “The Book of Flesh and Blood” by Jeff O’Brien is about a leather bound tome, but it’s no ordinary book; its pages are the flesh and blood of its authors. “Girl in the Woods” by Evan Purcell details the story of a dangerous mental patient’s unjustified release from an institution, despite the warnings of a prominent doctor. Then, the story transcribes, through text messages, a young girl’s getaway to the family cabin. She and her friends are met by an unexpected visitor.
“Hole” by Joseph Ramshaw is the ingenious first person account of a British soldier, stranded alongside his crew in the bitter cold of war. After nearly starving, they encounter a strange stray animal, one that becomes the ravenous crew’s feast. It is an action they will all regret, including the author. The story is amazingly creative, combining horror and humor perfectly. “The Seahorse Speaks” by Erik Gustafson is a note found in the mouth of a carousel seahorse. It reveals the final moments of a missing young man and what happened to him. The revelation is mind-blowing. “Note to Self” by Christopher Alan Broadstone is the story of a different kind of zodiac killer.
“Journals of Horror: Found Fiction” is filled with a slew of great writers such as Wesley Thomas, Crystal Leflar, Glenn Wolfe, Matt Hayward, Robin Dover, D.S. Ullery, and many more. If you’re searching for a horror anthology that will not only keep you reading, but freak you out as well, then this book is your best bet. Hopefully, a follow-up will be forthcoming.
The introduction, “Bagged, Tagged & Buried,” by the editor himself, is an email correspondence between the special cold case liaison, to the black file specialist and department head. What appears to be a regular business interaction abruptly shocks with an unexpected turn of events that draws the reader in from the beginning. “The Book of Flesh and Blood” by Jeff O’Brien is about a leather bound tome, but it’s no ordinary book; its pages are the flesh and blood of its authors. “Girl in the Woods” by Evan Purcell details the story of a dangerous mental patient’s unjustified release from an institution, despite the warnings of a prominent doctor. Then, the story transcribes, through text messages, a young girl’s getaway to the family cabin. She and her friends are met by an unexpected visitor.
“Hole” by Joseph Ramshaw is the ingenious first person account of a British soldier, stranded alongside his crew in the bitter cold of war. After nearly starving, they encounter a strange stray animal, one that becomes the ravenous crew’s feast. It is an action they will all regret, including the author. The story is amazingly creative, combining horror and humor perfectly. “The Seahorse Speaks” by Erik Gustafson is a note found in the mouth of a carousel seahorse. It reveals the final moments of a missing young man and what happened to him. The revelation is mind-blowing. “Note to Self” by Christopher Alan Broadstone is the story of a different kind of zodiac killer.
“Journals of Horror: Found Fiction” is filled with a slew of great writers such as Wesley Thomas, Crystal Leflar, Glenn Wolfe, Matt Hayward, Robin Dover, D.S. Ullery, and many more. If you’re searching for a horror anthology that will not only keep you reading, but freak you out as well, then this book is your best bet. Hopefully, a follow-up will be forthcoming.
November 16, 2018
Fascinating and hard to put down!
August 28, 2024
Found the book through Bob’s reddit post 👍
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews