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The Dark at the End of the Tunnel
This Bram Stoker Award nominated collection features ten gripping and darkly imaginative stories by Bestselling author Taylor Grant, a rising star in the suspense and horror genres.
Discover what happens when:
- A wealthy industrialist awakens after ten years in suspended animation, and finds out that the horrors of the past can never be left behind.
- A lonely man realizes that he’s gradually vanishing from existence, into a nightmarish limbo of his own making.
- An author stumbles upon an incomplete manuscript by his deceased father, and makes the grave mistake of trying to complete the story.
- A woman learns that the imaginary voices that haunt the delusional and criminally insane are, in fact, real.
This remarkable collection of short fiction exposes the terrors that hide beneath the surface of our ordinary world, behind people’s masks of normalcy, and lurking in the shadows at the farthest reaches of the universe.
“A master class in storytelling…one of the best collections of the last ten years." – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award Winner, Dead City, The Dead Won't Die
“… so full of talent and commitment, that it is an inspiration.” – Dennis Etchison, Two-time World Fantasy Award Winner, The Dark Country
“A bold and unsettling new voice in suspense and horror.” – Scott Nicholson, Bestselling thriller author, The Red Church
"… a cornucopia of horror from a master of the genre!" – Tim Waggoner, Eat The Night, The Way of All Flesh
“…written with the precise-concise language of a poet. Each story has an almost perfect closure….” – Gene O’Neill, Bram Stoker Award Winner, The Cal Wild Chronicles, The Hitchhiking Effect
"Grant is a writer who never fails to engage. Frankly, his stories frighten me…” – Christopher Ransom, International Bestselling Author, The Birthing House, The Fading
“…beautifully crafted tales… a depth and humanity of which we all can relate.” – John Claude Smith, Riding the Centipede, Autumn in the Abyss
“As classic, elegant, deadly effective and efficient as a switchblade.” – John Palisano, Bram Stoker Award Finalist, Dust of the Dead, Nerves
“A master at balancing pure dread, raw untethered emotion, and brilliant characters.” – Robert S. Wilson, Bram Stoker Award nominated editor, author of Empire of Blood series.
“Grant picks away at your worst fears…the bogeyman finally has a name...” – David Owain Hughes, Walled In, White Walls and Straightjackets
Discover what happens when:
- A wealthy industrialist awakens after ten years in suspended animation, and finds out that the horrors of the past can never be left behind.
- A lonely man realizes that he’s gradually vanishing from existence, into a nightmarish limbo of his own making.
- An author stumbles upon an incomplete manuscript by his deceased father, and makes the grave mistake of trying to complete the story.
- A woman learns that the imaginary voices that haunt the delusional and criminally insane are, in fact, real.
This remarkable collection of short fiction exposes the terrors that hide beneath the surface of our ordinary world, behind people’s masks of normalcy, and lurking in the shadows at the farthest reaches of the universe.
“A master class in storytelling…one of the best collections of the last ten years." – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award Winner, Dead City, The Dead Won't Die
“… so full of talent and commitment, that it is an inspiration.” – Dennis Etchison, Two-time World Fantasy Award Winner, The Dark Country
“A bold and unsettling new voice in suspense and horror.” – Scott Nicholson, Bestselling thriller author, The Red Church
"… a cornucopia of horror from a master of the genre!" – Tim Waggoner, Eat The Night, The Way of All Flesh
“…written with the precise-concise language of a poet. Each story has an almost perfect closure….” – Gene O’Neill, Bram Stoker Award Winner, The Cal Wild Chronicles, The Hitchhiking Effect
"Grant is a writer who never fails to engage. Frankly, his stories frighten me…” – Christopher Ransom, International Bestselling Author, The Birthing House, The Fading
“…beautifully crafted tales… a depth and humanity of which we all can relate.” – John Claude Smith, Riding the Centipede, Autumn in the Abyss
“As classic, elegant, deadly effective and efficient as a switchblade.” – John Palisano, Bram Stoker Award Finalist, Dust of the Dead, Nerves
“A master at balancing pure dread, raw untethered emotion, and brilliant characters.” – Robert S. Wilson, Bram Stoker Award nominated editor, author of Empire of Blood series.
“Grant picks away at your worst fears…the bogeyman finally has a name...” – David Owain Hughes, Walled In, White Walls and Straightjackets
- GenresHorrorFictionCollections
236 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2015
12 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Grant
101 books60 followersTAYLOR GRANT is a two-time Bram Stoker Award Nominated Author, professional screenwriter, and award-winning filmmaker. His work has been seen on network television, the big screen, the stage, the web, newspapers, comic books, national magazines, anthologies, and heard on the radio.
As an author, he has shared pages with Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Blake Crouch, Kelley Armstrong, Joe R. Lansdale, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and many of the top writers in speculative fiction. He wrote and produced the hit comic adaptation "Rot & Ruin," based on the New York Times Bestselling series, which became the #1 horror comic for WEBTOON, the largest digital comics publisher in the world, with over 75 million active readers.
His fiction has been published by Random House, Cemetery Dance, National Lampoon, Crystal Lake Publishing, WEBTOON, Moonstone Books, and many more.
As an author, he has shared pages with Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Blake Crouch, Kelley Armstrong, Joe R. Lansdale, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and many of the top writers in speculative fiction. He wrote and produced the hit comic adaptation "Rot & Ruin," based on the New York Times Bestselling series, which became the #1 horror comic for WEBTOON, the largest digital comics publisher in the world, with over 75 million active readers.
His fiction has been published by Random House, Cemetery Dance, National Lampoon, Crystal Lake Publishing, WEBTOON, Moonstone Books, and many more.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 25, 2016
Great variety of storyline and character. While I truly enjoyed every story in this collection, my favorites are: The Vood, Dead Pull, Whispers in the Trees Screams in the Dark, and of course The Dark at the End of the Tunnel. Author, Taylor Grant is a talented writer with a dark, creative, entertaining twist to his imagination. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2016
Chilling to the Core!
Taylor Grant. Remember that name. Read his book. Why? Because it’s a name you’ll soon be hearing a lot. A name that will go down in writing history. The upcoming household name of a writer that sends a chill down your spine. Yes, his storytelling is THAT compelling!
“The Dark at the End of the Tunnel” is a collection of stories that will push your imagination to its limits. Weaving haunting images that stick with you long after your close the pages, Taylor Grant’s masterful storytelling will stick with you for the rest of your life. He is more than just a writer. His characters come to life through your eyes and will live in your heart. Your blood vessels will fill with dread and you’ll want to keep a light on at night. The darkness approaches and you won’t be able to stop turning the pages….faster, and faster, until you’ve finished the book. Then, you’ll want to read it all again!
The book opens with “Masks”, a spine tingling story about one’s true identity in life and how it changes. It’s stunning, visual, and haunting! Everything a short story should be a more!
It’s appropriately followed by “The Silent Ones”, a story that’s sure to float around in your psyche and make your flinch every time that mailbox is empty! The story plays on one of most people’s fears: being forgotten and blending in.
Next up we have “The Vood”. Be sure you turn on all the lights before starting this one, but be warned that even that can’t save you forever!
“Gods and Devils” is a tale of lone man, searching for his lost son who is farther away than you’d suspect and yet right beside him. Taylor Grant bends your mind and makes you question what truly makes a person a person.
“Dead Pull” is the story of an overworked and under paid employee, a rich kid, and a fish. This story is among the creepiest in the collection. It unfolds in a way that grips you from the start and is rather reminiscent of Stephen King’s short stories…no doubt this one will take your breath your away and leave you steering clear of fish for a good, long while.
“Show and Tell” is a visually stunning masterpiece with a plot that speeds along as fast as your eyes can scan the page. This story is my favorite for how it’s well written, the images Taylor Grant puts in your head, and gut wrenching terror that follows!
“The Infected” is among the best stories I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a LOT). Upon finishing this story, I closed the book, rested my head back on my chair, and just took it all in. There’s nothing else to do. It was so real…it still lives in my mind not as a story but a flawless telling by a masterful storyteller, an eye-witness even! I saw everything that happened…I felt everything the characters felt. I wasn’t reading a story, I was in the world. Taylor Grant does an incredible and unprecedented job of pulling the reader deep, deep into the story. So far in that they forget they’re even reading.
“Whispers in the Trees” is a hauntingly beautiful tale, vivid and compelling. It sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let go. Fitting for the genre and yet in a category all of its own, Taylor Grant brings yet another story to life in a way that most writer’s only dream of!
“Intruders” is a phenomenal, mind-bending psychological thriller that will test you every step of the way. It makes you question the world, the characters, and what you know to be true.
Concluding with “The Dark at the End of the Tunnel” a mystery thriller that will have you racing to figure out the twists and turns as Taylor Grant leads on you on an adventure unmatched by any other.
This collection is among the best you will find in the horror/suspense/thriller genres. This is a book that I believe you will soon find on nearly every bookshelf - a modern day classic and must-have! Taylor Grant is incredible storyteller and I highly recommend this collection to any and all who love a good story well told.
Taylor Grant. Remember that name. Read his book. Why? Because it’s a name you’ll soon be hearing a lot. A name that will go down in writing history. The upcoming household name of a writer that sends a chill down your spine. Yes, his storytelling is THAT compelling!
“The Dark at the End of the Tunnel” is a collection of stories that will push your imagination to its limits. Weaving haunting images that stick with you long after your close the pages, Taylor Grant’s masterful storytelling will stick with you for the rest of your life. He is more than just a writer. His characters come to life through your eyes and will live in your heart. Your blood vessels will fill with dread and you’ll want to keep a light on at night. The darkness approaches and you won’t be able to stop turning the pages….faster, and faster, until you’ve finished the book. Then, you’ll want to read it all again!
The book opens with “Masks”, a spine tingling story about one’s true identity in life and how it changes. It’s stunning, visual, and haunting! Everything a short story should be a more!
It’s appropriately followed by “The Silent Ones”, a story that’s sure to float around in your psyche and make your flinch every time that mailbox is empty! The story plays on one of most people’s fears: being forgotten and blending in.
Next up we have “The Vood”. Be sure you turn on all the lights before starting this one, but be warned that even that can’t save you forever!
“Gods and Devils” is a tale of lone man, searching for his lost son who is farther away than you’d suspect and yet right beside him. Taylor Grant bends your mind and makes you question what truly makes a person a person.
“Dead Pull” is the story of an overworked and under paid employee, a rich kid, and a fish. This story is among the creepiest in the collection. It unfolds in a way that grips you from the start and is rather reminiscent of Stephen King’s short stories…no doubt this one will take your breath your away and leave you steering clear of fish for a good, long while.
“Show and Tell” is a visually stunning masterpiece with a plot that speeds along as fast as your eyes can scan the page. This story is my favorite for how it’s well written, the images Taylor Grant puts in your head, and gut wrenching terror that follows!
“The Infected” is among the best stories I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a LOT). Upon finishing this story, I closed the book, rested my head back on my chair, and just took it all in. There’s nothing else to do. It was so real…it still lives in my mind not as a story but a flawless telling by a masterful storyteller, an eye-witness even! I saw everything that happened…I felt everything the characters felt. I wasn’t reading a story, I was in the world. Taylor Grant does an incredible and unprecedented job of pulling the reader deep, deep into the story. So far in that they forget they’re even reading.
“Whispers in the Trees” is a hauntingly beautiful tale, vivid and compelling. It sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let go. Fitting for the genre and yet in a category all of its own, Taylor Grant brings yet another story to life in a way that most writer’s only dream of!
“Intruders” is a phenomenal, mind-bending psychological thriller that will test you every step of the way. It makes you question the world, the characters, and what you know to be true.
Concluding with “The Dark at the End of the Tunnel” a mystery thriller that will have you racing to figure out the twists and turns as Taylor Grant leads on you on an adventure unmatched by any other.
This collection is among the best you will find in the horror/suspense/thriller genres. This is a book that I believe you will soon find on nearly every bookshelf - a modern day classic and must-have! Taylor Grant is incredible storyteller and I highly recommend this collection to any and all who love a good story well told.
September 14, 2016
This review was orginally published on Beneath The Underground
http://beneaththeunderground.com/book...
When it comes to short story collections it can be a mixed bag. You may get one or two great stories and then the rest often feel like filler and padding. However, with The Dark at the End of the Tunnel, I was pleasantly surprised to find that each story contained in the book was well written and well thought out.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is a collection of stories written by Taylor Grant. An author I must admit I was not very familiar with when I first was asked to review this book. Grant has an extremely gifted writing ability and tells captivating tales.
There is a total of ten stories found in this collection, including a very nice introduction written by Gene O’Neil at the beginning. It really sets the reader up for the stories and explains what type of writer Grant is.
My four favorite stories were Masks, The Silent Ones, The Vood and The Infected. Masks is the most straightforward story in the collection but it has a very nice payoff. The ending is surprising and graphic. For anyone who has ever felt ignored or lonely, I believe they would identify with The Silent Ones. It’s a sad and horrific tale that paints very haunting and bloody pictures. The Vood I found downright terrifying, it reminded me of my fear of the dark and shadows as a child. My only complaint about it would be that the ending was too predictable. The Infected, (like The Silent Ones) plays on emotions rather than fear. It does have some scary and disturbing imagery but it's the feeling of hopelessness that this story really preys upon.
Grant’s writing is simple and easy to understand, yet it’s also written with intelligence and wit. He creates scenes very well with his deep and vivid descriptions and the minor occurrences that are happening around the main action. When his characters speak, it comes off realistic. That to me is the most important aspect every writer must master. Grant masters it very well.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is a good read and has many great tales of horror and sadness. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their horror fiction dark and with deep thought and intelligence.
http://beneaththeunderground.com/book...
When it comes to short story collections it can be a mixed bag. You may get one or two great stories and then the rest often feel like filler and padding. However, with The Dark at the End of the Tunnel, I was pleasantly surprised to find that each story contained in the book was well written and well thought out.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is a collection of stories written by Taylor Grant. An author I must admit I was not very familiar with when I first was asked to review this book. Grant has an extremely gifted writing ability and tells captivating tales.
There is a total of ten stories found in this collection, including a very nice introduction written by Gene O’Neil at the beginning. It really sets the reader up for the stories and explains what type of writer Grant is.
My four favorite stories were Masks, The Silent Ones, The Vood and The Infected. Masks is the most straightforward story in the collection but it has a very nice payoff. The ending is surprising and graphic. For anyone who has ever felt ignored or lonely, I believe they would identify with The Silent Ones. It’s a sad and horrific tale that paints very haunting and bloody pictures. The Vood I found downright terrifying, it reminded me of my fear of the dark and shadows as a child. My only complaint about it would be that the ending was too predictable. The Infected, (like The Silent Ones) plays on emotions rather than fear. It does have some scary and disturbing imagery but it's the feeling of hopelessness that this story really preys upon.
Grant’s writing is simple and easy to understand, yet it’s also written with intelligence and wit. He creates scenes very well with his deep and vivid descriptions and the minor occurrences that are happening around the main action. When his characters speak, it comes off realistic. That to me is the most important aspect every writer must master. Grant masters it very well.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is a good read and has many great tales of horror and sadness. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their horror fiction dark and with deep thought and intelligence.
November 8, 2016
Even before I read, "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" by Taylor Grant, I knew it was going to be a great book because I knew the man that wrote it. He’s been involved in almost all aspects of writing for decades from short story to screenplays and he’s one of the nicest people in the world.
While I haven’t had many conversations with him, I was thoroughly looking forward to reading this not only for his reputation, but also for the amazing things I had heard about the book. I wasn’t disappointed.
"The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" is a short story collection and each story has its own flavor that you’re going to get a taste for. Grant has a wonderful talent of painting a picture not only of a scene, but also the motivations of his characters. Often, it’s difficult to truly flesh out characters in short stories, but not once in the 10 stories did I ever feel lost about a character.
Everyone thinks that there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel, but Grant shows what happens when that light is extinguished and instead you’re surrounded by total darkness. Masks is about a man trapped in the banality of a normal life who sees cracks in his boring mild mannered façade. He’s both scared and intrigued by the changes, but should he feel revulsion or excitement?
"In Dark at the End of the Tunnel," a millionaire struggles to remember his past, but the answers he finds aren’t what he hoped. When it comes to deals, always remember buyer beware.
Each of his stories from "Dead Pull" to the sad story of "The Infected," you’ll find yourself entranced by Grant’s writing. I was particularly enamored with "Whispers in the Trees, Screams in the Dark" and "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel."
Grant’s collection is extraordinary and I suggest everyone who wants to get a shiver down their spine to give it a read.
While I haven’t had many conversations with him, I was thoroughly looking forward to reading this not only for his reputation, but also for the amazing things I had heard about the book. I wasn’t disappointed.
"The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" is a short story collection and each story has its own flavor that you’re going to get a taste for. Grant has a wonderful talent of painting a picture not only of a scene, but also the motivations of his characters. Often, it’s difficult to truly flesh out characters in short stories, but not once in the 10 stories did I ever feel lost about a character.
Everyone thinks that there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel, but Grant shows what happens when that light is extinguished and instead you’re surrounded by total darkness. Masks is about a man trapped in the banality of a normal life who sees cracks in his boring mild mannered façade. He’s both scared and intrigued by the changes, but should he feel revulsion or excitement?
"In Dark at the End of the Tunnel," a millionaire struggles to remember his past, but the answers he finds aren’t what he hoped. When it comes to deals, always remember buyer beware.
Each of his stories from "Dead Pull" to the sad story of "The Infected," you’ll find yourself entranced by Grant’s writing. I was particularly enamored with "Whispers in the Trees, Screams in the Dark" and "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel."
Grant’s collection is extraordinary and I suggest everyone who wants to get a shiver down their spine to give it a read.
February 6, 2016
Wow! The strongest, most varied collection of short horror stories I’ve read in years. Each of the ten short stories in The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is utterly compelling and unique. Taylor Grant’s prose is so clean and precise. The one thing these stories do have in common is their tendency to creep up on you. Suspenseful, heartbreaking, and spine-tinglingly macabre! It would be hard to compare the author’s style to anything else I’ve read. The work of Richard Matheson comes to mind, in particular. Taylor has a knack for taking a mundane reality and manipulating it like one of those balloon animals into something horrifying and sinister. Masks was a middle-class office drone’s dark fantasy-come-true. Dead Pull reminded me of something out of Creepshow, and The Vood threw me straight into one of those nightmares where the thing that’s after you is truly inescapable. Gods and Devils had me relating to the horrible choices made by the Captain of a deep-space vessel as a father myself. I realized I had already read the Infected, a powerful and slightly longer work of fiction, as it was one of the Stoker nominees at last year’s awards.
This is a book filled with excellence, and nothing less. But my absolute favourite here would have to be The Silent Ones. This dug deep, for some reason, even more so than the others, and stayed with me for days.
Overall, The Dark at the End of the Tunnel is an exceptional piece of work, and should be on the reading list of just about anyone, whether they’re into horror or not.
December 24, 2015
Taylor Grant has given us a stunning debut collection with THE DARK AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL one that would be well-received by any horror fiction aficionado. He weaves tales with a strong voice, tackling subjects that he makes all his own. Flavors of madness permeate throughout his work, somehow alluring, somehow drawing you in.
Grant defy dances around topics, from loneness rendering a person unable to interact with the material world in “The Silent Ones,” to a paralyzing fear of devouring monsters that live in the shadows as seen in “The Vood.” Vampires are reimagined in the far future with tragic consequences in “Gods and Devils,” while a young boy describes the horrors at home to his school counselor in “Show and Tell.” In my favorite story in the collection, “Intruders,” a psychic virus propagated by extra-dimensional entities manifests as violent schizophrenia, the first possible stage in an invasion. Five more excellent stories round out this collection, all equally impressive.
With his background as a screenwriter, Grant brings a certain vitality to his words, these works jumping to life in your imagination. They are dark yet vivid, the characters and situations believable. Grant’s acclaim will only grow as more people read this collection and he releases more work.
Grant defy dances around topics, from loneness rendering a person unable to interact with the material world in “The Silent Ones,” to a paralyzing fear of devouring monsters that live in the shadows as seen in “The Vood.” Vampires are reimagined in the far future with tragic consequences in “Gods and Devils,” while a young boy describes the horrors at home to his school counselor in “Show and Tell.” In my favorite story in the collection, “Intruders,” a psychic virus propagated by extra-dimensional entities manifests as violent schizophrenia, the first possible stage in an invasion. Five more excellent stories round out this collection, all equally impressive.
With his background as a screenwriter, Grant brings a certain vitality to his words, these works jumping to life in your imagination. They are dark yet vivid, the characters and situations believable. Grant’s acclaim will only grow as more people read this collection and he releases more work.
October 24, 2018
Anthologies are a mixed bag to me. I love reading them but most of them are inconsistent. This is one that breaks with that mold. I truly enjoyed every single story in it. Probably the two things I love most about writers is consistency and versatility. Yes, all the stories presented are of the horror variation but each one has it's own vibe going on and I loved that. This guy is a very unique writer, not the typical shit that one finds out there. I can't say anything about how consistent he is outside of this book, and these stories, because this is the only book he has out. But I am really excited to have found a new writer to keep an eye on and will anxiously snap up anything that he releases. If you are looking for some great stories and a cool new writer then I highly suggest getting this book at once.
April 27, 2017
This is a very entertaining collection of short stories by a talented author. It was very addicting and a real page-turner. Picking a favorite story is tough but I do recall "Show and Tell" being especially appealing.
These stories read like extra dark Twilight Zone episodes. If you are averse to gory and/or violent tales of terror then this book might not be for you. I personally put it down a couple of times. However, the sometimes brutal content only momentarily tempered my enthusiasm for the smoothly written stories featured within.
These stories read like extra dark Twilight Zone episodes. If you are averse to gory and/or violent tales of terror then this book might not be for you. I personally put it down a couple of times. However, the sometimes brutal content only momentarily tempered my enthusiasm for the smoothly written stories featured within.
May 16, 2016
*** DISCLAIMER: I received an electronic review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review ***
Taylor Grant is a solid writer and makes good use of the minimalist style. As with all collections, some stories are more engaging than others and this depends on the reader's taste, but if you're on the lookout for a truly well put together collection of horror short stories by one of the best this genre has to offer, look no further than Dark at the End of the Tunnel.
Taylor Grant is a solid writer and makes good use of the minimalist style. As with all collections, some stories are more engaging than others and this depends on the reader's taste, but if you're on the lookout for a truly well put together collection of horror short stories by one of the best this genre has to offer, look no further than Dark at the End of the Tunnel.
March 24, 2016
Well written and consistently solid, there’s not one story in The Dark at the End of the Tunnel that I wanted to skip over, even the one or two I had read previously in their original releases. It’s not only a delight to reread these stories, it’s great to see how they fit together as part of this excellent collection. This is well crafted throughout.
June 1, 2016
After the first 2 stories, I knew I had to slowly savor this book!! It really took all my will power to just read a story at a time.And at the end of each one, the author really makes you wonder..some things are closer to home than you think! Excellent read!! I want more!!
April 21, 2016
An entertaining read. The short stories are in the same vein as The Twilight Zone, but are a lot darker. I wish some of them had been longer which would have given the author more opportunity to flesh things out.
November 25, 2015
This book was a spooky little grab bag of monstrous short fiction. I had a lot of fun reading this one. Especially the story "Vood"
Read
June 17, 2016Review to come.
September 30, 2017
Great, original, creepy stories! My favorite was "Infected." This is a must-have for horror lovers.
March 19, 2016
I don't think I've ever started a review like this, but here goes:
If I could give this book another 5 stars, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Yes, it's THAT good.
As I said in a previous "half-review" of this book (another first), if you haven't heard of Taylor Grant, and you are a horror fan, you have a severe hole in your library. I said it before, and I'll say it again - there is a reason this man is a Bram Stoker nominee. Brilliant doesn't even begin to describe this anthology.
I became "friends" with Taylor on Facebook some time ago (hence the quotes - I haven't had the pleasure to meet the man, but we do converse online) and bought this anthology shortly after. But, as my faithful readers know, I loathe e-books - so it took me a while to get to his as part of my TBR pile. I am sorry I waited so long - I enjoyed it so much that I bought a physical copy as well since it deserves a spot on my shelves among the likes of King, Barker, Koontz, and Hill.
So, lets begin with the breakdown of stories:
1) Masks - What a way to start the book. A frightening look at what truly lies beneath our outward facade. What is hidden behind that which we show to others? And when it's finally revealed, is it real or imaginary? Beware the mask others wear, there may be a beast within.
2) The Silent Ones - When this story started, I wasn't sure where it was going. It's a first person perspective - where the author is going through life and mysteriously seems to become invisible. But not in the way you think. People can see him when he creates a ruckus, they just seem to ignore him otherwise. He starts to cease to exist as the story progresses, and you start to think that maybe he IS actually a ghost, and that his existence is in his imagination. But it turns out to be much worse. Much worse.
3) The Vood - Guaranteed to make you turn on every light in the house, right up until the end. This was certainly one of the more gruesome stories in the whole book. I did find that it started out slow, but the ending will hit you like a piano falling from the third story window. Stick with it, and be sure to check the shadows.
4) Gods and Devils - Nice sci-fi meets Dracula story, with a little 2001 thrown in for fun. Vega is a captain aboard a ship that left an Earth void of humanity. An alien race infected everyone, turning them into blood sucking monsters. What's that? You've heard this story before. No, you haven't. Trust me when I say that you will not see where this story is going - no matter how many times you've see Alien, or Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Taylor's twist on what you may think is an overdone story is genius. It has all the makings for a great, and terrifying, film.
5) Dead Pull - In every anthology of short stories, you have the one you absolutely love, a bunch that are great, one that was OK, and one you didn't like at all. That's the nature of the beast. While there isn't a story in this that I didn't like, this one would fall into the OK category for me - not enough to take away from the 10 star review I give this, but one that I would put at the end of the list in ranking. Brennan is a sadistic bastard who works in a pet shop. He likes to work alone, and the animals (even the fish) are terrified of him. The owner tells Brennan that he will be having a new intern - the son of their best customer - shadow him. Of course, Brennan doesn't like that and mentally tortures the poor kid. Revenge is a nasty thing - especially when you don't see it coming.
6) Show and Tell - I have no idea how to describe this story without giving anything away. Truly. But I will try. Jacob is a sixth grader who has been brought to the school councilor to discuss the horrific pictures he was caught drawing. The truth behind the drawings is found to be more terrifying that the drawings themselves. The story is a nice analogy for how adults tend to disbelieve, or dismiss, what a child may say - attributing it to an overactive imagination, rather than the truth.
7) Infected - The BEST short story I have read in my 45+ years of reading. Hands down. I consider myself very well read - especially in the horror genre. And if I was to pick a king of the short story, it would be Clive Barker, without a doubt. That being said, not one of his stories ever had the effect that Infected had on me. I had to stop reading at the end of the story, just to process what I had just read. If you are stuck in a corporate 9-5 soul sucking corporate job, you must read this. Although, I can't be held responsible for how you will feel afterwards. Bravo, Taylor. You've bumped Barker out of the top spot in my list of short-story kings. Not an easy feat.
8) Whispers in the Trees, Screams in the Dark - How far would you go to have friends? What are you willing to give up in order to at least have someone to talk to? Blake is an unpopular, overweight, kid who's father has remarried and basically forgotten about him. His only two potential friends is a gimp and a stutterer. They tell him about this house in the middle of the woods where the most beautiful girl they've ever seen performs strip teases for them. Not believing, Blake bets the only thing he values - his entire comic collection - that they are lying. They aren't. But what Blake discovers is that somethings are better off believed, rather than seen.
9) Intruders - Here's another story that I don't know what to say about it. What if those homeless people you see on the streets and subway - the ones that seemingly talk to themselves - are actually not crazy and they are talking to someone? Just someone we can't see? What if David Berkowitz DID actually hear voices coming from that dog? And what if those voices are from an alien race conducting experiments on us? What if just by typing this review of the story I start to hear those voices?
10) The Dark at the End of the Tunnel - Another of my favorite stories. Matt Jackson is bought back from 10 years in suspended animation - at his own request. One of the side effects is that he has no memory of who he is or why he had himself frozen for 10 years. Without revealing anything, just remember, if you make a deal with the devil, he always collects. There are no loopholes, regardless of what Faust may tell you.
All in all, this was a fantastic journey. This anthology has something for everyone - the bizarre, grotesque, psychotic, alien, vampiric, and demonic. Taylor's writing style is smooth, descriptive, and very easy to read; with his characters being relatable and believable. He puts a unique twist on time-worn themes that makes them seem new.
Many times we buy books, read them once, and then they sit on our shelves - to be forgotten about. Not this one. I will most certainly be rereading this book - more than once. Pick it up, you won't be sorry. And if you start hearing voices, or seeing movement in the shadows, don't say I didn't warn you.
If I could give this book another 5 stars, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Yes, it's THAT good.
As I said in a previous "half-review" of this book (another first), if you haven't heard of Taylor Grant, and you are a horror fan, you have a severe hole in your library. I said it before, and I'll say it again - there is a reason this man is a Bram Stoker nominee. Brilliant doesn't even begin to describe this anthology.
I became "friends" with Taylor on Facebook some time ago (hence the quotes - I haven't had the pleasure to meet the man, but we do converse online) and bought this anthology shortly after. But, as my faithful readers know, I loathe e-books - so it took me a while to get to his as part of my TBR pile. I am sorry I waited so long - I enjoyed it so much that I bought a physical copy as well since it deserves a spot on my shelves among the likes of King, Barker, Koontz, and Hill.
So, lets begin with the breakdown of stories:
1) Masks - What a way to start the book. A frightening look at what truly lies beneath our outward facade. What is hidden behind that which we show to others? And when it's finally revealed, is it real or imaginary? Beware the mask others wear, there may be a beast within.
2) The Silent Ones - When this story started, I wasn't sure where it was going. It's a first person perspective - where the author is going through life and mysteriously seems to become invisible. But not in the way you think. People can see him when he creates a ruckus, they just seem to ignore him otherwise. He starts to cease to exist as the story progresses, and you start to think that maybe he IS actually a ghost, and that his existence is in his imagination. But it turns out to be much worse. Much worse.
3) The Vood - Guaranteed to make you turn on every light in the house, right up until the end. This was certainly one of the more gruesome stories in the whole book. I did find that it started out slow, but the ending will hit you like a piano falling from the third story window. Stick with it, and be sure to check the shadows.
4) Gods and Devils - Nice sci-fi meets Dracula story, with a little 2001 thrown in for fun. Vega is a captain aboard a ship that left an Earth void of humanity. An alien race infected everyone, turning them into blood sucking monsters. What's that? You've heard this story before. No, you haven't. Trust me when I say that you will not see where this story is going - no matter how many times you've see Alien, or Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Taylor's twist on what you may think is an overdone story is genius. It has all the makings for a great, and terrifying, film.
5) Dead Pull - In every anthology of short stories, you have the one you absolutely love, a bunch that are great, one that was OK, and one you didn't like at all. That's the nature of the beast. While there isn't a story in this that I didn't like, this one would fall into the OK category for me - not enough to take away from the 10 star review I give this, but one that I would put at the end of the list in ranking. Brennan is a sadistic bastard who works in a pet shop. He likes to work alone, and the animals (even the fish) are terrified of him. The owner tells Brennan that he will be having a new intern - the son of their best customer - shadow him. Of course, Brennan doesn't like that and mentally tortures the poor kid. Revenge is a nasty thing - especially when you don't see it coming.
6) Show and Tell - I have no idea how to describe this story without giving anything away. Truly. But I will try. Jacob is a sixth grader who has been brought to the school councilor to discuss the horrific pictures he was caught drawing. The truth behind the drawings is found to be more terrifying that the drawings themselves. The story is a nice analogy for how adults tend to disbelieve, or dismiss, what a child may say - attributing it to an overactive imagination, rather than the truth.
7) Infected - The BEST short story I have read in my 45+ years of reading. Hands down. I consider myself very well read - especially in the horror genre. And if I was to pick a king of the short story, it would be Clive Barker, without a doubt. That being said, not one of his stories ever had the effect that Infected had on me. I had to stop reading at the end of the story, just to process what I had just read. If you are stuck in a corporate 9-5 soul sucking corporate job, you must read this. Although, I can't be held responsible for how you will feel afterwards. Bravo, Taylor. You've bumped Barker out of the top spot in my list of short-story kings. Not an easy feat.
8) Whispers in the Trees, Screams in the Dark - How far would you go to have friends? What are you willing to give up in order to at least have someone to talk to? Blake is an unpopular, overweight, kid who's father has remarried and basically forgotten about him. His only two potential friends is a gimp and a stutterer. They tell him about this house in the middle of the woods where the most beautiful girl they've ever seen performs strip teases for them. Not believing, Blake bets the only thing he values - his entire comic collection - that they are lying. They aren't. But what Blake discovers is that somethings are better off believed, rather than seen.
9) Intruders - Here's another story that I don't know what to say about it. What if those homeless people you see on the streets and subway - the ones that seemingly talk to themselves - are actually not crazy and they are talking to someone? Just someone we can't see? What if David Berkowitz DID actually hear voices coming from that dog? And what if those voices are from an alien race conducting experiments on us? What if just by typing this review of the story I start to hear those voices?
10) The Dark at the End of the Tunnel - Another of my favorite stories. Matt Jackson is bought back from 10 years in suspended animation - at his own request. One of the side effects is that he has no memory of who he is or why he had himself frozen for 10 years. Without revealing anything, just remember, if you make a deal with the devil, he always collects. There are no loopholes, regardless of what Faust may tell you.
All in all, this was a fantastic journey. This anthology has something for everyone - the bizarre, grotesque, psychotic, alien, vampiric, and demonic. Taylor's writing style is smooth, descriptive, and very easy to read; with his characters being relatable and believable. He puts a unique twist on time-worn themes that makes them seem new.
Many times we buy books, read them once, and then they sit on our shelves - to be forgotten about. Not this one. I will most certainly be rereading this book - more than once. Pick it up, you won't be sorry. And if you start hearing voices, or seeing movement in the shadows, don't say I didn't warn you.
May 10, 2022
Taylor has the eloquence of a horror master ! There is something in here for everyone and I can't wait to read more of his work. A collection of stories that you wish would never end, and once you begin you just can't put them down. BUY IT !!!!! I guarantee you won't be disappointed and will be begging for more. Taylor has a style that will grip you from the beginning and to really get his message across in a few pages is a talent that some can master - and Taylor has done that. You can almost feel every ounce of sweat and blood that went into writing this......and if the cover alone doesn't draw you in - then take my word for it - the stories will ! Well done !!
February 5, 2016
Telling a short story is an art form. One has only so many words in which to plot out his story, flesh out his characters, and bring everything together to form a cohesive tale. I think Taylor Grant has truly nailed this. Each story here is worthy of reading.
There is quite an eclectic collection to be found here. Although they are horror stories, there is something to be learned. A study in humanity if you will, but with only the dark side showing through once the veneer has been pulled away. Entertaining and frightening at the same time.
In "Masks", we see a man’s façade slowly slip away as his true nature begins to surface. How many of us have those baser feelings that we tamp down, allowing to them to slowly simmer until we give in?
"Dead Pool" is a story of revenge. I’m sure we’ve all encountered a bully at some time in our lives, someone we just dream of getting revenge on. Aah, but sometimes those dreams can come to fruition and is it ever sweet!
"The Infected", such a sad story; it could be a story about any of us. A life of hope and ambition that without us realizing until it’s too late has become one of tedium.
Have ever glimpsed something out of the corner of your eye? Perhaps a shadowy figure, a dark splotch. Well, Grady has. He has a name for those things, "The Vood". Most people ignore these phenomena, but Grady knows it’s real and has made it his life to avoid encounters with the Vood. We all know what they say about best-laid plans.
What would you do if given a chance to begin anew? "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" is a story of one such man who did just that. New name, new face, but alas, the old memories are slowly coming back. One’s destiny is inescapable, no matter how hard you try to change it.
Altogether there are ten very different stories that will keep you turning the pages. If you are a fan of short stories this is truly a good book to pick up!
There is quite an eclectic collection to be found here. Although they are horror stories, there is something to be learned. A study in humanity if you will, but with only the dark side showing through once the veneer has been pulled away. Entertaining and frightening at the same time.
In "Masks", we see a man’s façade slowly slip away as his true nature begins to surface. How many of us have those baser feelings that we tamp down, allowing to them to slowly simmer until we give in?
"Dead Pool" is a story of revenge. I’m sure we’ve all encountered a bully at some time in our lives, someone we just dream of getting revenge on. Aah, but sometimes those dreams can come to fruition and is it ever sweet!
"The Infected", such a sad story; it could be a story about any of us. A life of hope and ambition that without us realizing until it’s too late has become one of tedium.
Have ever glimpsed something out of the corner of your eye? Perhaps a shadowy figure, a dark splotch. Well, Grady has. He has a name for those things, "The Vood". Most people ignore these phenomena, but Grady knows it’s real and has made it his life to avoid encounters with the Vood. We all know what they say about best-laid plans.
What would you do if given a chance to begin anew? "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" is a story of one such man who did just that. New name, new face, but alas, the old memories are slowly coming back. One’s destiny is inescapable, no matter how hard you try to change it.
Altogether there are ten very different stories that will keep you turning the pages. If you are a fan of short stories this is truly a good book to pick up!
August 23, 2016
A darkly disturbing collection of stories. Well-written, original, and peopled with deeply flawed yet authentic characters you can easily see yourself in, which makes it all the more unsettling. I look forward to seeing what other visceral nightmares and unquiet shadows Taylor Grant has hidden up his sleeves.
June 22, 2016
It was good
I liked this story collection. They skirted the lines of horror, terror and a little science fiction. I think my favorite was the title story. I would have liked a little more.
I liked this story collection. They skirted the lines of horror, terror and a little science fiction. I think my favorite was the title story. I would have liked a little more.
July 15, 2023
A quick read and most stories were good but just didn't satisfy like I thought they would. The exception to this would be the very enjoyable 'Whispers in the Trees'.. a very suspenseful and well written horror short. I thought 'The Infected' was interesting as well.
Look forward to reading more work from this author.
Look forward to reading more work from this author.
December 28, 2016
My review for Monster Librarian can be found at http://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCi....
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