Dark Love - Twenty Two All-original Tales Of Lust And Obsession - Includes Stories By Stephen King; Ramsey Campbell; S. Kaminsky

by Mel Odom; (Illustrator)

Twenty-two original tales of lust and obsession include Stephen King's ""Lunch at the Gotham Cafe,"" Ramsey Campbell's ""Going Under,"" John Lutz's ""Hanson's Radio,"" and Stuart Kaminsky's ""Hidden,"" as well as others by Ed Gorman, George C. Chesbro, and Karl Edward Wagner.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Erotica, Romance, Vampires

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[GabyUfita · Rating 2 out of 5]

De 22 relatos, sólo me quedo con 5 historias, como mucho, la verdad, es que la mayoría me dió 0 miedo y mil de aburrimiento.
La que más recomiendo es "La doncella", mi favorita.

[⚔️ Mythica ⚔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 3 stories didn’t really grab me so I almost shelved it but it started to pick up and I’m glad I decided to finish it. Overall a decent collection of short stories and some I wish had been longer.

[Carmen Carminis ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 años después... Mas vale tarde que nunca.

[Catty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection, with stories from some of the best old school writers in the business - some of which may still shock many readers even in this day and age (I'm looking at you, "The Pentinent"! I loved you though!). There are no weak stories in this at all - which is unusual for an anthology - and some (particularly "Hymenoptera" and "Loop") are really beautifully written despite some challenging subject matter. Plus it includes a King story written specifically for the volume, the great Karl Edward Wagner's last ever story before his death, AND one of my favourite stories of all time in "Pas De Deux" by Kathe Kolja - what's not to love? Highly recommended if you're ok with sex, death, and breaking (quite!) a few taboos around them!!

[Tekken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Väga kirju valik, aga oli ka häid leide, näiteks Stephen Kingi Lunch at the Gotham Cafe ja George Chesbro Waco. Minu eriline lemmik oli hoopis Ed Gormani The End of It All, mis ülejäänud lugudest täielikult erineb.

[Elizabeth Nesbit-comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very rarely do I find a collection of horror stories that are all good. Except for two stories the one with the artist and the bug; and the last story I really enjoyed this collection and even found a few new authors that i will need to check out.

My favorite was the story with the recently released mental patient who becomes a vacume salesman.
Next favorite was the creepy one where he falls in love with his ex- crushes daughter and they all try to kill each other.

[Jeanette Greaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I bought this anthology when it came out, and have read it a few times since. I've mentioned before how weird it feels to look at the contents page of a horror anthology and see so few female names. It's even weirder because, you know, 1995 doesn't FEEL that long ago. Well, not to me anyway.
So, this book. It starts off with what is probably my least favourite Stephen King short story, 'Lunch at the Gotham Cafe' I've read this story a few times, it's been anthologised by the master himself, but I just can't get on with it. It's just too dismal. 'The Psycho' is a nice little story with a killer punchline, I enjoy it every time round. Kathe Koja's 'Pas de Deux' didn't really ring my bell, and I dnf'd the story, I've read this anthology several times now and even my terrible memory let me know that I wouldn't enjoy the rest of it. It's a perfectly good story, just not my thing. 'Bright Blades Gleaming' is your standard serial killer / Jack the Ripper origin story. OK, but nothing to set the world on fire. And so we reach John Lutz's 'Hanson's Radio' which is still a cracking, creepy, and well crafted dose of horror. 'Refrigerator Heaven' is a proper horror story, along the 'evil that men do' route of the sheer banality of evil and horror. I still liked it, and enjoyed the hint of eldritch horror lurking behind the normality of the story. 'Ro Erg' is basically a Mary Sue story about adopting a new identity and being a naughty boy. I finished it, out of curiosity. It's well written, but the story didn't stir any interest this time round. Ah, but then the English master takes his turn - Ramsey Campbell's 'Going Under' is properly creepy and horrible, and is one of the best tales in the book. 'Hidden' and 'Prism' are very short stories about troubled children, I enjoyed both of them, and am glad the authors didn't try to lengthen them, they're perfect as they are. 'The Maiden' is a nasty little story about some nasty little teenagers. It's not subtle. 'You've Got Your Troubles, I've got Mine' is a first person pov story about a chap who really shouldn't have been allowed out of the asylum. 'Waco' is a tale examining how one of the poor deluded victims of the Waco cult would react if they truly believed they were meeting God. 'The Penitent' is an ode to torture. Not my thing. 'Driven', the next story, did hit my buttons. I do enjoy a story about desperation and mundane threats. It's well written and I was 'driven' to re-read it to capture it properly. 'Barbara' is a tale of tables turned, a fun read with a fairly predictable but still satisfying ending. 'Hymenoptera' is a story about a fashion designer and a wasp. I got nothing from it, I'm afraid. That's the thing about these multi author themed collections, every so often the box of chocolates yields a malteser. 'The End of It All' is another nasty story about nasty people who all get what they probably believe they deserve. 'Heat' is another very short story about sex and violence. 'Thin Walls' is a thin but enjoyable read, with two of the few characters in this anthology that I found myself caring about. 'Locked Away' is pretty much porn, with very little story. It's followed by the last story of the collection, 'Loop' which is appropriately enough about porn, with a lot of story.
I'm saying goodbye to this anthology now, to make room for new books (or, if I'm honest, to clear a shelf space for a book that is in a pile on a table ...)

[Briar Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aggressively "90s", and so inevitably dated in many ways, but scattered with some really good stories and worth checking out for these & as an interesting piece of horror history. "Pas de Deux" is minor Koja, nothing there she hasn't done much better in other places, but I hadn't read the story before and I did like it. "Refrigerator Heaven" really disturbed me when I read it in a YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR anthology as a teenager and it totally holds up-- I think it should rightly be considered a major classic of short psychological horror fiction, better known and more widely read than it is. "Hymenoptera" is a weird and wonderful parable, and "Thin Walls" is a meditative, cynical, and ultimately bittersweet character study. "The Penitent" was melodramatic and a little silly, but I found it surprisingly moving and some of its language is beautiful; it's also a sympathetic, if very sensationalist, look at a 24/7 BDSM relationship. "Lunch At the Gotham Café" isn't one of Stephen King's best short stories, but as with Koja, even minor King is entertaining King.

[Bart Vanderheyden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies and short stories because there is only so much time to introduce caracters, a situation and a development. In every single story of these 22 stories it is done with great effect. Every story takes you in, in just a couple of sentences... and yes, you are in for a very sick ride!!

There isn't a bad story in this book and yet, they are all different but sickening perfect.

But warning here. For people who are carrying a trauma and specifically a trauma of mistreatement, abuse and more specific sexually, be careful. Some stories could trigger that, and although they are just stories, at that point they can come in and be experienced very traumatic and unsettling.

But I must say that every single story in this book is a piece of art! If you are fan of body horror, unsettling atmosphere and see what these (sick) writers make of weird love stories, read this. You will have fun, but also feel very uncomfortable. The way it's meant to be.

[Alejandra Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 Un libro con muchos personajes trastornados o mentalmente inestables (demasiado).

La mayoría de protagonistas, tanto hombres como mujeres, que he leído a lo largo de este libro están tan locos, que espero que nadie se tope con alguno de ellos en ningún momento. Obsesivos, locos, asesinos, celosos, pirómanos, son algunos adjetivos que describirían de manera general sus conductas.

Algunos más interesantes que otros, por supuesto. Mis favoritos: El fin de todo y La doncella. ¡Me encantaron!

[mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

era da un bel po' che non mi dedicavo ad una raccolta di racconti ed è quindi per me un piacere parlarvi di questo titolo, perché? perché nella sua varietà si può trovare sempre una costante cioè l'amore, sotto tutte le sue forme; dark love ne mostra le varie sfaccettature, da quello convenzionale a quello malato, è un quadro macabro di come l'essere umano può arrivare allo strazio e alla pazzia per gelosia, rabbia, dolore, malinconia per il proprio innamorato; ci disegna al contempo scene di ses*o ma anche di amor proprio per la famiglia, tutto condito da uno scenario nudo e crudo, impossibile non innamorarsi della maggior parte dei racconti contenuti che nella loro originalità scavano nel profondo e nel personale, rendendoci tutti un po' protagonisti.

[Richard Pulfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this books is . . . as you can guess from the title . . . dark. On their own, the stories are well-crafted and atmospheric, with some particular stand-outs from Stephen King, Robert Weinberg, Nancy Collins and Ramsay Campbell. On the whole, it wasn't my cup of tea, if only because after a while you're left bracing for the worst before each story. Still, if you're looking for the ultimate anti-Valentine's Day collection . . . look no further.

[Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Malignos y macabros es una recopilación de relatos bastante oscuros, estoy casi seguro que son unos los relatos más oscuros que he leído (y eso que consumo bastante terror). Tiene relatos perfectos, son éxtasis; pero también los hay MUY MALOS e innecesarios.


Regreso a hacer reseña. (porque la merece)

Pd: Me apena darle esta calificación, este libro me encanta y lo odio a la vez.

[Juan Jesús · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta recopilación de relatos nos muestra el extremo de la perversidad, la locura y la enfermedad mental humana. Ahí relatos muy buenos y otros difíciles de digerir. Es un contenido adulto totalmente y para personas con criterio. Recomendado.

[Turi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great compilation of short stories.

[yassin k · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was suprised by this book i really liked it it was a mix of books by book authors

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sex. Terror. Love gone bad. It's a scary world out there for you love. Beware!

[Martín · Rating 2 out of 5]

La mayoría de los relatos son malos o simplemente no pasan de un "meh", hay pocas excepciones. Recomendación: saltee sin miramientos los relatos que no le agraden y tendrá un libro de lectura rápida.

[Lordvoldemor Gmailyosoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pocos Buenos, la mayoría normales, un par de joyas

[Elettra Arazatah · Rating 3 out of 5]

So trashy, so good.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several stories were good, a few ok, a few not so engaging. As always, the nature of an anthology. I'd say, for me, judging as a whole, I'd say this one and try another.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Asahi88 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premetto che non sono riuscita a finirlo tutto. Non ce la facevo. Era troppo.

1) Colazione al Gotham Café, ringraziare King per aver messo una storia già presente in un'altra raccolta "Tutto è Fatidico" forse pensava che chi l'aveva già letta non se ne sarebbe accorto. Avrei preferito che scrivesse una cosa nuova.

2) Psycho, ogni volta che penso a questo racconto mi viene da ridere. Praticamente parla di un uomo che si sveglia la mattina, esce dal suo appartamento e spara a ogni malcapitato che gli passa accanto (bambini, vecchietti, tutti!) per poi scoprirsi che in realtà è...CUPIDO. E tutte le persone che ha sparato si alzano, come niente fosse, e vanno a trovare i loro amati. (o s'innamorano perdutamente di chi gli sta vicino.) Come ho trovato questo racconto? Una barzeletta!

3) Pais de Deux, la storia di una ragazza sola e abbandonata alla ricerca di avventure del vero amore, o come lo chiama lei, del vero principe, si mette a fare balli erotici con gente sconosciuta per poi portarla immancabilmente a letto. Come ho trovato la storia? Ma perchè era una storia quella...?

4) Lame Lucenti, storia carina, scritta anche abbastanza bene, che a tratti mi ha ricordato Jack lo Squartatore...

5) La Radio di Hanson, questa l'ho trovata spassosa! Sarà che volevo che alla fine il Vicino si facesse il marito e non la moglie (troppo prevedibile). Però tra tutte le storie mi è piaciuta.

6) Frigorifero Paradiso, storia che ho lasciato dopo neanche 4 frasi, perchè non riuscivo a capirla, ma sopratutto a interessarmi.

7) Ro Erg, quando un po' di soldi su una carta di credito, possono fare impazzire qualcuno.

8) Sprofondare, questa storia, incredibilmente irritante, mi ha fatto venire però un dubbio, ma invece di farsi la passeggiata per le grotte, e poi rompere l'anima con il cellulare per chiamare la moglie, perchè non è andato lui alla posta a spedire quei soldi alla sua ex invece di scassare le palle a tutti?!

9) Nascosto, forse questa storia avrebbe dovuto fare venire i brividi, ma invece no. L'ho trovata carina, però niente di speciale. Certo non capisco come una persona con un cervello anche messo un pochino bene, possa nascondersi in un buco e mettere anche ALTRE cose oltre alla sua persona.

10) Prisma di Wendy Webb, l'ho lasciata, non mi andava proprio di leggere qualcosa di un orfanotrofio, con bimbe schizzofreniche e altro.

11) La Vergine, racconto che mi è piuttosto piaciuto, anche se prevedibile, mi è piaciuta sopratutto la fine, che poi se la son presi tutti...

12) Voi avete i vostri problemi, io i miei, e questo l'hanno fatto uscire da un'ospedale psichiatrico?

13) Waco, non l'ho ben capita, sarà che quando ho letto che Dio era un corvo che straparlava, non me la sono sentita di continuare.

14) Il Penitente, storia di due ragazzi che hanno una fissazione per i tatuaggi e per il sadomaso e che per nostra sfortuna s'incontrano.

Le altre storie l'ho lasciate nel baratro dell'ignoranza, preferisco non sapere cosa contengono (altri orrori, prosumo, solo non del genere che preferisco).
opinione scritta il 05\07\11

[Meikoningin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dark Love: twenty-two all-original Tales of Lust and Obsession by Stephen King [et al.]: ! Just to get out of my own comfort zone I sometimes pick books that I would not usually pick, in this case an anthology. Stephen King's "Lunch at the Gotham Cafe" leads a group of modern masters of the macabre in carving their own eerie chapters into the Book of Love. Visit a place where ecstasy meets agony and the carnal and the creepy spawn unholy terror. Each of these original stories has been commissioned especially for this anthology. Works includes as mentioned a novella by Stephen King and Karl Edward Wagner's last short story. This books is as dark as a love story can get. On their own the stories are well-crafted and atmospheric with some particular stand-outs. If you are looking for the ultimate anti-Valentine's Day collection look no further: this is it! The stories were generally well-paced with some nice plot twists and unique characters. I am still not convinced that anthologies are my cup of tea but I will keep trying one out now and then. I am very picky when it comes to writers and the problem with anthologies is that they feature quite a few authors I do not enjoy. On a brighter note: one is introduced to authors one might not come in contact with otherwise. All in all an enjoyable read.
Introduction by T. E. D. Klein
Lunch at the Gotham Café by Stephen King
The Psycho by Michael O'Donoghue
Pas de Deux by Kathe Koja
Bright Blades Gleaming by Basil Copper
Hanson's Radio by John Lutz
Refrigerator Heaven by David J. Schow
Ro Erg by Robert Weinberg
Going Under by Ramsey Campbell
Hidden by Stuart M. Kaminsky
Prism by Wendy Webb
The Maiden by Richard Laymon
You've Got Your Troubles, I've Got Mine by Bob Burden
Waco by George C. Chesbro
The Penitent by John Peyton Cooke
Driven by Kathryn Ptacek
Barbara by John Shirley
Hymenoptera by Michael Blumlein
The End of It All by Ed Gorman
Heat by Lucy Taylor
Thin Walls by Nancy A. Collins
Locked Away by Karl Edward Wagner
Loop by Douglas E. Winter

[Demetria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was some sick ish. Like, for real. The places these authors when to for this horror/romance anthology are mind-boggling. I don't know how you reach the hell depths of some of the stories storylines without losing a tad bit of sanity. We're talking beheadings, rape, torture, post-mortem cunnilingus and many other cringe-worthy scenarios. It's friggin' gross, man. Plus, some of the stories peppered in real life scenarios. So, I learned about Budd Dwyer's live , on-camera suicide in 1987 and was thoroughly grossed out by the YouTube video. Thoroughly. Like, hand over mouth, goose bumps and the whole nine. This book is not for the faint of heart.

[Elso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the get go this collection of "Dark Love" grabbed my attention. The introduction by T.E.D Klein asks a very simple question to the writers of this book: Do you really let your parents read this stuff? I constantly struggle with sharing my reading pleasure with my spouse, friends and family fearing what they may think. What sort of person reads this stuff? With Twenty two all original tales of lust and obsession I am sure we are going to have some fun reading these. Stand out performances from Stephen King, Lunch at the Gotham Cafe', Richard Laymon, The Maiden, Bob Burden, You've got your troubles I've got mine, Karl Edward Wagner, Locked away

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story collection. The offerings were well-paced, with some nice plot twists and unique characters. Stephen King, Ed Gorman, and Ramsay Campbell have work included, as well as nineteen other authors. If there's a complaint, it's that a few of the selections are dark, but don't seem to fulfill the "love" part of the equation, no matter how loosely it's interpreted.

[Steph (loves water) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't give it a 2.5 rating, and could not give it a 3 because I did not like most of the stories. "Refrigerator Heaven," "Barbara" and "Locked Away" were creative.

I think I could have lived the rest of my life without reading "Loop" and been happy.

[Brett]

Anthology,Horror

[bluetyson]

Dark Love: 22 All-Original Tales of Lust and Obsession by Stephen King (1996)