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Weird. Dark
This is an alternate cover edition. The original ISBN is 1523255277,
COLLECTING THREE OF LUKE SMITHERD'S BOOKS; HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK, THE MAN ON TABLE TEN, AND MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF, PLUS EXCLUSIVE BONUS STORY THE CRASH, UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE!
Luke Smitherd is bringing his unique brand of strange storytelling once again, delivered here in an omnibus edition that collects four of his weirdest and darkest tales:
MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF: what if you could get rid of your pain immediately? What price would you be prepared to pay?
HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK: a hangover, a forgotten night out, old men screaming in the street, and a mystery with a terrible, terrible answer ...
THE MAN ON TABLE TEN: he has a story to tell you. One that he has kept secret for decades. But now, the man on table ten can take no more, and the knowledge - as well as the burden - is now yours.
EXCLUSIVE story, THE CRASH: if you put a dent in someone's car, the consequences can be far greater - and more strange - than you expect.
COLLECTING THREE OF LUKE SMITHERD'S BOOKS; HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK, THE MAN ON TABLE TEN, AND MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF, PLUS EXCLUSIVE BONUS STORY THE CRASH, UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE!
Luke Smitherd is bringing his unique brand of strange storytelling once again, delivered here in an omnibus edition that collects four of his weirdest and darkest tales:
MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF: what if you could get rid of your pain immediately? What price would you be prepared to pay?
HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK: a hangover, a forgotten night out, old men screaming in the street, and a mystery with a terrible, terrible answer ...
THE MAN ON TABLE TEN: he has a story to tell you. One that he has kept secret for decades. But now, the man on table ten can take no more, and the knowledge - as well as the burden - is now yours.
EXCLUSIVE story, THE CRASH: if you put a dent in someone's car, the consequences can be far greater - and more strange - than you expect.
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2015
50 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Luke Smitherd
32 books593 followersLuke Smitherd is the author of The Stone Man (shortlisted for Audible Book of the Year 2015) and its sequels as well as several other novels. A former singer and guitarist, he now writes full time, hosts the comedy music-discussion show Cracker Juice, and performs around Los Angeles as a stand-up comic. He divides his time between the United States and the United Kingdom.
www.lukesmitherd.com
www.lukesmitherd.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 16, 2018
'Weird. Dark' is a more eclectic little collection that the title might suggest. That said, one thing I enjoy about Smitherd's writing is that you know things are going to get weird and/or dark, but you never know in quite which ways or to what degrees.
'The Man on Table Ten' could be a sketch towards 'A Head Full of Knives' or 'The Physics of the Dead' without all the cosmological world-building. It gnaws at the same existentialist bone as 'He Waits' - namely, that we are thrown into this world, don't know what's going on, and there's the terrifyingly real possibility that it all ends up subsumed in void. Personally I preferred the personification of this horror in 'He Waits' - more Goosebumpsy arguably, but also more vivid to me. That said, Luke does a great job of closely aligning the reader's viewpoint with that of the protagonist - many of her little thoughts and observations especially ringing true if you have worked in customer services or retail.
'The Crash' is more of a dramatised moment and its reverberations than a fully-fledged story... though that worked for me as I find horror most affecting when it is not over-explained. The idea of becoming somehow "unstuck" in time and space (like in a computer glitch) has scared me ever since I listened to a radio dramatisation of Susan Cooper's 'The Dark is Rising' and there was (to memory, at least) a section in which a boy wakes up in the morning and goes downstairs only to find that all his family are frozen and unresponsive - but, it's not them who are "stuck in time" it is he who has gotten unstuck...
When I was a child my mum told me that if I didn't get to sleep I wouldn't be able to "get up" in the morning. Having OCD and being impressionable, I took this literally - i.e. that I wouldn't be able to move or get out of bed. I'd be frozen; locked-in. This thought used to terrifying me as I lay awake at night, scared that that would be the night I couldn't fall asleep and so, in the morning, would find that I couldn't get out of bed ever again.
Anyway, 'The Crash' gave me (in more enjoyable form) the same sensations I had as a child when I experienced the above!
'My Name is Mr. Grief' is one of the most straight-forward stories in the collection and wouldn't have felt out of place in Harlan Ellison's edited 'Dangerous Visions' (1967) anthology or, indeed, in a collection of Ellison's own work. It has a neat central premise which I was surprised to see crop up in just a slightly different form in the Season 4 'Black Mirror' episode 'The Black Museum' - a coincidence I believe due to similarities in the style and themes of the show and Smitherd's writing. However, I much prefer Smitherd's treatment of the idea, not least because he considers keenly the psychological ramifications such a power would have upon an individual. Plus it didn't have the daft twist of Mr. Grief suddenly getting off on the pain due to some improbable deus ex machina. It's a melancholy, almost haunting story, which will stay with me, I think.
Finally, the wonderfully named 'Hold On Until Your Fingers Break' (which reminds me of a title of a Bukowski poetry collection) is the closest to science-fiction in the collection. It's very intelligently plotted and I wonder whether Smitherd had to draw diagrams to keep it whatsoever logical! At times it risked becoming a thought episode or an especially difficult lateral thinking puzzle, but the friendship or the two young men brought some emotional heft to what could have been a rather abstract story.
In conclusion, a more tonally varied collection that I was expecting - refreshing, intelligent and enjoyably chilling. I think the novella is the sweet spot for Smitherd's writing.
'The Man on Table Ten' could be a sketch towards 'A Head Full of Knives' or 'The Physics of the Dead' without all the cosmological world-building. It gnaws at the same existentialist bone as 'He Waits' - namely, that we are thrown into this world, don't know what's going on, and there's the terrifyingly real possibility that it all ends up subsumed in void. Personally I preferred the personification of this horror in 'He Waits' - more Goosebumpsy arguably, but also more vivid to me. That said, Luke does a great job of closely aligning the reader's viewpoint with that of the protagonist - many of her little thoughts and observations especially ringing true if you have worked in customer services or retail.
'The Crash' is more of a dramatised moment and its reverberations than a fully-fledged story... though that worked for me as I find horror most affecting when it is not over-explained. The idea of becoming somehow "unstuck" in time and space (like in a computer glitch) has scared me ever since I listened to a radio dramatisation of Susan Cooper's 'The Dark is Rising' and there was (to memory, at least) a section in which a boy wakes up in the morning and goes downstairs only to find that all his family are frozen and unresponsive - but, it's not them who are "stuck in time" it is he who has gotten unstuck...
When I was a child my mum told me that if I didn't get to sleep I wouldn't be able to "get up" in the morning. Having OCD and being impressionable, I took this literally - i.e. that I wouldn't be able to move or get out of bed. I'd be frozen; locked-in. This thought used to terrifying me as I lay awake at night, scared that that would be the night I couldn't fall asleep and so, in the morning, would find that I couldn't get out of bed ever again.
Anyway, 'The Crash' gave me (in more enjoyable form) the same sensations I had as a child when I experienced the above!
'My Name is Mr. Grief' is one of the most straight-forward stories in the collection and wouldn't have felt out of place in Harlan Ellison's edited 'Dangerous Visions' (1967) anthology or, indeed, in a collection of Ellison's own work. It has a neat central premise which I was surprised to see crop up in just a slightly different form in the Season 4 'Black Mirror' episode 'The Black Museum' - a coincidence I believe due to similarities in the style and themes of the show and Smitherd's writing. However, I much prefer Smitherd's treatment of the idea, not least because he considers keenly the psychological ramifications such a power would have upon an individual. Plus it didn't have the daft twist of Mr. Grief suddenly getting off on the pain due to some improbable deus ex machina. It's a melancholy, almost haunting story, which will stay with me, I think.
Finally, the wonderfully named 'Hold On Until Your Fingers Break' (which reminds me of a title of a Bukowski poetry collection) is the closest to science-fiction in the collection. It's very intelligently plotted and I wonder whether Smitherd had to draw diagrams to keep it whatsoever logical! At times it risked becoming a thought episode or an especially difficult lateral thinking puzzle, but the friendship or the two young men brought some emotional heft to what could have been a rather abstract story.
In conclusion, a more tonally varied collection that I was expecting - refreshing, intelligent and enjoyably chilling. I think the novella is the sweet spot for Smitherd's writing.
September 23, 2016
Four tales from Weird. Dark. Exactly what it says weird and dark. Four very different tales. Ranging from deep dark grieve and despair to saving the world. The talent of an author is measured by how much you can empathise with the characters and this is Highly Emotional reading. This is read by the author Luke Smitherd who also co-hosts 'Are you sure' podcast which is how I found out about this author. My favourite tale was the first one 'My name is Mister Grief' but all four are enjoyable and made better being narrated by the author.
March 29, 2016
Review coming.
**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 22, 2017
A great collection of books collated here. The best being "My Name is Mister Grief", with the short story "The Crash" coming a close second. The weakest story for me was "The Man On Table Ten" but to be honest - all of Luke's books are a pleasure to read. He knows how to tell good yarn, and he has a great imagination as you rarely know how the stories are going to end. One of my favourite authors.
September 17, 2017
Awesome!
Like all his books,totally original and unlike anyone else. Both thought provoking and macabre.Always a great read.
One of my favorite authors.Keep up the good work!
Like all his books,totally original and unlike anyone else. Both thought provoking and macabre.Always a great read.
One of my favorite authors.Keep up the good work!
July 6, 2022
great stories!
Loved every story in this book.
Each like a little twilight zone episode. Easy to read… hard to put down. Creative, eerie, riveting!
Loved every story in this book.
Each like a little twilight zone episode. Easy to read… hard to put down. Creative, eerie, riveting!
May 13, 2025
This is my first time reading my second favorite author's short fiction and I’m happy to report that it's just as brilliant as his novels.
As always, the plot and characters are really well developed, which I think is even more of a feat in short stories where one or the other can sometimes be overlooked.
I’ve said this before and I’ll never shut up about it: Luke Smitherd knows how to write people. They always feel so real to me, it’s hard not to get attached to them!
I listened to the audiobook and, as always, Luke always does a fantastic job bringing his work to life.
Though admittedly I could have done without the chewing noises in The Man on Table 10.
I enjoyed these 4 stories immensely and I’m looking forward to reading more of his short fiction.
As always, the plot and characters are really well developed, which I think is even more of a feat in short stories where one or the other can sometimes be overlooked.
I’ve said this before and I’ll never shut up about it: Luke Smitherd knows how to write people. They always feel so real to me, it’s hard not to get attached to them!
I listened to the audiobook and, as always, Luke always does a fantastic job bringing his work to life.
Though admittedly I could have done without the chewing noises in The Man on Table 10.
I enjoyed these 4 stories immensely and I’m looking forward to reading more of his short fiction.
July 24, 2023
I really enjoyed You See the Monster by Smitherd; I found it super entertaining, intriguing and a fresh take on a modern monster. And although I enjoyed Weird. Dark it just didn't resonate with me like his novel did. I found it a bit too much like listening to a podcast, the stories were interesting but I didn't ultimately care which way they went or what happened to the characters. Sorry Luke Smitherd, I am a fan, so I will stick to your novels from now on.
December 5, 2023
Wow!!
The story was magnificent- Table 10. They were all really good but Table 10 takes the cake. This is the 11th book of his I have read. Besides this one, the very best was now you see the monster. I love this author's writing and his imagination! He is brilliant. His audiobooks are great as well, as he reads his own books with passion that only the author can show.
The story was magnificent- Table 10. They were all really good but Table 10 takes the cake. This is the 11th book of his I have read. Besides this one, the very best was now you see the monster. I love this author's writing and his imagination! He is brilliant. His audiobooks are great as well, as he reads his own books with passion that only the author can show.
December 24, 2025
Another solid block of short stories from Luke Smitherd. I really enjoy his style. If your looking for something dark or weird (or perhaps dark AND weird) then this book will live up to your expectations.
June 19, 2017
Very interesting
First book of short stories I've read. Luke has opened a new genre for me. I enjoyed TMOTT the most being that I work in the service industry.
First book of short stories I've read. Luke has opened a new genre for me. I enjoyed TMOTT the most being that I work in the service industry.
August 19, 2017
Love this stuff
I am totally hooked on this author. Stories are so out of this world that they provide great escapism. Keep them coming !!
I am totally hooked on this author. Stories are so out of this world that they provide great escapism. Keep them coming !!
September 3, 2019
Another great collection of stories by Luke. Interesting premises with great twists.
March 1, 2016
I would like to thank Luke Smitherd for a copy of this e-book to review. Though I received this for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.
Goodreads Teaser (Abbreviated): "COLLECTING THREE OF LUKE SMITHERD'S BOOKS; HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK, THE MAN ON TABLE TEN, AND MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF, PLUS EXCLUSIVE BONUS STORY THE CRASH, UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE!
Luke Smitherd is bringing his unique brand of strange storytelling once again, delivered here in an omnibus edition that collects four of his weirdest and darkest tales:
MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF: what if you could get rid of your pain immediately? What price would you be prepared to pay?
HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK: a hangover, a forgotten night out, old men screaming in the street, and a mystery with a terrible, terrible answer ...
THE MAN ON TABLE TEN: he has a story to tell you. One that he has kept secret for decades. But now, the man on table ten can take no more, and the knowledge - as well as the burden - is now yours.
EXCLUSIVE story, THE CRASH: if you put a dent in someone's car, the consequences can be far greater - and more strange - than you expect."
I think the easiest way to do this review is story by story. So, let's take it from the top, beginning with My Name Is Mister Grief. This is a story about grief in its purest form. The very distilled essence of grief, a feeling we are all intimately familiar with, no matter how well we may hide it. But this isn't just about grief. It's also about paranormal abilities, shadowy organizations that train children with unusual talents, and the results of such training. What happens when those two worlds intersect; the world of the normal people and that of those who were trained to use extraordinary talents for the goals & gains of others? Robert, Jerry, Mister Grief, and John all meet at one point or another — what happens from the point of meeting is the crux of the story, or is it? This is a real mind tease, and will likely leave you thinking of the various ramifications for some time to come. So maybe sit back and simply be with the results of this story before stepping off the ledge and into the next one. You may be surprised by what you find if you sit long enough.
The Crash - what can I say about this story, other than that it's one hell of a mind-f*#k. Well, you know what I mean. This is one heck of a short, extremely twisted tale; yet like the story before it this one has legs that last well past the end of reading the story.
Hold on Until Your Fingers Break is a bleak examination of the future. Well at least a version of the future, or perhaps several versions and you simply need to pick the correct one, the one you want. Perhaps not. Tom and Terry are two college-aged kids, best friends from forever ago on. But now they face an uncertain future, and watching how they handle it, what lessons they learn - a whole world is revealed in those life lessons. Will you learn your lessons right along with them, or will you need more time? And how much time is to much?Maybe by the end Tom or Terry can let you know the answers you seek.
The Man on Table Ten — Hmmm, well what to say about this story. Think Stephen King as a manic depressive with a pen or laptop, but a version whose horror is a tad more subtle (than I recall at least). It's a sad, twisted story that you want to refute, yet it leaves this one niggling little question. Could it really happen? I mean really, why not? With much of the story told in first person, bouncing between the two main characters, we never even get to learn the name of the old man on table ten. Yet all else revolves around his story, wether we know it or not.
Smitherd has a real knack for spinning twisted psychological stories than leave you wondering long after you've read them. Stories that sit in the back of your mind slowly percolating, only to pop up at unexpected moments and bring those same questions back to the forefront. And sometimes those questions bring new, often queerly frightening, friends along with them. This is his gift, his ability to translate the twists and turns of his own mind onto paper in such a way that the reader gets sucked into that same labyrinth along with him. While he may dictate the direction the reader takes while in the story, upon completing it any and all new twists belong to the reader, even while they still pertain to Smitherd's stories. It certainly makes me extremely curious to know what he's like in person, what conversations are like, how much power he wields in face to face chats. Do his daily interactions look even remotely similar to those in his stories? If so, why isn't he institutionalized? Or is he no crazier than the rest of us, simply better at expressing his crazy? Anyone who can leave a reader with questions such as these has a seriously impressive skill, and I strongly urge you to get your hands on his work and discover what I'm talking about for yourself. What have you got to lose, other than your sanity?
Goodreads Teaser (Abbreviated): "COLLECTING THREE OF LUKE SMITHERD'S BOOKS; HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK, THE MAN ON TABLE TEN, AND MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF, PLUS EXCLUSIVE BONUS STORY THE CRASH, UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE!
Luke Smitherd is bringing his unique brand of strange storytelling once again, delivered here in an omnibus edition that collects four of his weirdest and darkest tales:
MY NAME IS MISTER GRIEF: what if you could get rid of your pain immediately? What price would you be prepared to pay?
HOLD ON UNTIL YOUR FINGERS BREAK: a hangover, a forgotten night out, old men screaming in the street, and a mystery with a terrible, terrible answer ...
THE MAN ON TABLE TEN: he has a story to tell you. One that he has kept secret for decades. But now, the man on table ten can take no more, and the knowledge - as well as the burden - is now yours.
EXCLUSIVE story, THE CRASH: if you put a dent in someone's car, the consequences can be far greater - and more strange - than you expect."
I think the easiest way to do this review is story by story. So, let's take it from the top, beginning with My Name Is Mister Grief. This is a story about grief in its purest form. The very distilled essence of grief, a feeling we are all intimately familiar with, no matter how well we may hide it. But this isn't just about grief. It's also about paranormal abilities, shadowy organizations that train children with unusual talents, and the results of such training. What happens when those two worlds intersect; the world of the normal people and that of those who were trained to use extraordinary talents for the goals & gains of others? Robert, Jerry, Mister Grief, and John all meet at one point or another — what happens from the point of meeting is the crux of the story, or is it? This is a real mind tease, and will likely leave you thinking of the various ramifications for some time to come. So maybe sit back and simply be with the results of this story before stepping off the ledge and into the next one. You may be surprised by what you find if you sit long enough.
The Crash - what can I say about this story, other than that it's one hell of a mind-f*#k. Well, you know what I mean. This is one heck of a short, extremely twisted tale; yet like the story before it this one has legs that last well past the end of reading the story.
Hold on Until Your Fingers Break is a bleak examination of the future. Well at least a version of the future, or perhaps several versions and you simply need to pick the correct one, the one you want. Perhaps not. Tom and Terry are two college-aged kids, best friends from forever ago on. But now they face an uncertain future, and watching how they handle it, what lessons they learn - a whole world is revealed in those life lessons. Will you learn your lessons right along with them, or will you need more time? And how much time is to much?Maybe by the end Tom or Terry can let you know the answers you seek.
The Man on Table Ten — Hmmm, well what to say about this story. Think Stephen King as a manic depressive with a pen or laptop, but a version whose horror is a tad more subtle (than I recall at least). It's a sad, twisted story that you want to refute, yet it leaves this one niggling little question. Could it really happen? I mean really, why not? With much of the story told in first person, bouncing between the two main characters, we never even get to learn the name of the old man on table ten. Yet all else revolves around his story, wether we know it or not.
Smitherd has a real knack for spinning twisted psychological stories than leave you wondering long after you've read them. Stories that sit in the back of your mind slowly percolating, only to pop up at unexpected moments and bring those same questions back to the forefront. And sometimes those questions bring new, often queerly frightening, friends along with them. This is his gift, his ability to translate the twists and turns of his own mind onto paper in such a way that the reader gets sucked into that same labyrinth along with him. While he may dictate the direction the reader takes while in the story, upon completing it any and all new twists belong to the reader, even while they still pertain to Smitherd's stories. It certainly makes me extremely curious to know what he's like in person, what conversations are like, how much power he wields in face to face chats. Do his daily interactions look even remotely similar to those in his stories? If so, why isn't he institutionalized? Or is he no crazier than the rest of us, simply better at expressing his crazy? Anyone who can leave a reader with questions such as these has a seriously impressive skill, and I strongly urge you to get your hands on his work and discover what I'm talking about for yourself. What have you got to lose, other than your sanity?
April 5, 2023
No table of contents in ebook. Includes the following four stories:
1. My Name is Mister Grief (pages 1-97): 4.5 stars
2. The Crash (pages 99-114): 4 stars
3. Hold On Until Your Fingers Break (pages 116-186): 3 stars
4. The Man on Table Ten (pages 188-251): 4.5 stars
1. My Name is Mister Grief (pages 1-97): 4.5 stars
2. The Crash (pages 99-114): 4 stars
3. Hold On Until Your Fingers Break (pages 116-186): 3 stars
4. The Man on Table Ten (pages 188-251): 4.5 stars
February 28, 2016
Luke Smitherd has done it again. These are 4 tales of horror and suspense that show how far the human psyche can be pushed before it breaks.
1. I Am Mr. Grief
Mr Grief
Jerry and Robert are as different as can be, but they have been best friends since college. They've been brought closer together by their shared losses and grief over the death of their wives just a few years apart. Robert shows up at Jerry's wife's funeral looking like a new man. He tells Jerry of a mysterious man who helped him after he nearly killed himself over his overwhelming grief.
This is a story of high emotion dealing with the loss of someone you love so much. Smitherd is an author who deals with emotion and he is a master of his craft. He has the ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling, bringing you that much further into the world's he creates. I found myself trying to guess who this mysterious man is the whole way through the story, because his identity and how he helps are left very vague until the very end. I never did guess right either.
2. The Crash
Sarah is an event coordinator getting ready for her first real booking. She is in a huge rush because the vendor sent the wrong colored fabric. She was able to get them to overnight the correct color but she has to stop back off at her loft to pick them up. On her way home she gets into a minor car crash with a parked Mercedes. The owner is nowhere around and Sarah makes the decisions to leave since the damage is so minimal. This is the catalyst to a series of events that keep getting stranger.
This is a story of psychological suspense. As the main character becomes more scared you are left wondering what is going on and if she is simply going crazy.
3. Hold On Until Your Fingers Break
Tom wakes up looking haggard and sick, not remembering what happened the night before. He assumes he had been out binge drinking with his best friend since childhood, Terry. Terry shows up, also not knowing what happened, and their appearances shock Tom's mom. On the way to the doctor they meet Tom's neighbor, who screams and runs at the sight of them, but later shows up at Tom's house begging them to come to his house so that together, they can unravel this mystery.
This is a tale of desperation when no hope is in sight. It tears at your heart and your psyche as you experience these events with Tom and Terry. Their desperation is yours and all you want to do is try to help them.
4. The Man on Table Ten
Lisa is a busy college student just trying to make it through finals and finish at her university. She's a waitress at a bar and on one slow day an odd older gentleman comes in ordering a lot of alcohol and a fatty meal of sausages and chips. She gets a bad feeling from him but engages him anyway finally hearing a tale too bizarre to be real... or is it?
This is the tale of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders and he's just ready for it to be over. He's old and he's tired.
Of you are can of Stephen King you will be a fan of Luke Smitherd. He's quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. He's an expert at revealing the darkness in the human condition. And like King, I spotted references to characters from another work, linking his stories into a single universe. Once again, I was captivated and can't wait to read more of his titles.
1. I Am Mr. Grief
Mr Grief
Jerry and Robert are as different as can be, but they have been best friends since college. They've been brought closer together by their shared losses and grief over the death of their wives just a few years apart. Robert shows up at Jerry's wife's funeral looking like a new man. He tells Jerry of a mysterious man who helped him after he nearly killed himself over his overwhelming grief.
This is a story of high emotion dealing with the loss of someone you love so much. Smitherd is an author who deals with emotion and he is a master of his craft. He has the ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling, bringing you that much further into the world's he creates. I found myself trying to guess who this mysterious man is the whole way through the story, because his identity and how he helps are left very vague until the very end. I never did guess right either.
2. The Crash
Sarah is an event coordinator getting ready for her first real booking. She is in a huge rush because the vendor sent the wrong colored fabric. She was able to get them to overnight the correct color but she has to stop back off at her loft to pick them up. On her way home she gets into a minor car crash with a parked Mercedes. The owner is nowhere around and Sarah makes the decisions to leave since the damage is so minimal. This is the catalyst to a series of events that keep getting stranger.
This is a story of psychological suspense. As the main character becomes more scared you are left wondering what is going on and if she is simply going crazy.
3. Hold On Until Your Fingers Break
Tom wakes up looking haggard and sick, not remembering what happened the night before. He assumes he had been out binge drinking with his best friend since childhood, Terry. Terry shows up, also not knowing what happened, and their appearances shock Tom's mom. On the way to the doctor they meet Tom's neighbor, who screams and runs at the sight of them, but later shows up at Tom's house begging them to come to his house so that together, they can unravel this mystery.
This is a tale of desperation when no hope is in sight. It tears at your heart and your psyche as you experience these events with Tom and Terry. Their desperation is yours and all you want to do is try to help them.
4. The Man on Table Ten
Lisa is a busy college student just trying to make it through finals and finish at her university. She's a waitress at a bar and on one slow day an odd older gentleman comes in ordering a lot of alcohol and a fatty meal of sausages and chips. She gets a bad feeling from him but engages him anyway finally hearing a tale too bizarre to be real... or is it?
This is the tale of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders and he's just ready for it to be over. He's old and he's tired.
Of you are can of Stephen King you will be a fan of Luke Smitherd. He's quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. He's an expert at revealing the darkness in the human condition. And like King, I spotted references to characters from another work, linking his stories into a single universe. Once again, I was captivated and can't wait to read more of his titles.
November 14, 2017
I had never heard of Luke Smitherd before picking up this book - my partner likes to try and find me books that are unusual or that I have never heard of; a tradition that began when she picked up a copy of John Dies at the End for me and I instantly fell in love with it - books like David Wong's and Smitherd's are what make me so glad for that tradition.
The types of stories contained within Weird. Dark. are probably easiest to describe as a cross between The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror and … something else weird. The writing style itself is good, not anything particularly special but what Smitherd does have in spades is fantastic ideas. All four stories contain such interesting concepts and ideas that I’ve never actually come across anywhere else, it's truly refreshing to read something that feels so new. Of the four my personal favourite is “My Name is Mister Grief”, being the most unique and also most fleshed out of the four. I won’t go into more detail because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, but I honestly recommend this if you want to read something a bit out of the ordinary. I have been handed a copy of Smitherd’s In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room Story just as I finished up Weird. Dark. and I couldn’t be more pleased to have more of his innovative tales to try to wrap my brain around.
The types of stories contained within Weird. Dark. are probably easiest to describe as a cross between The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror and … something else weird. The writing style itself is good, not anything particularly special but what Smitherd does have in spades is fantastic ideas. All four stories contain such interesting concepts and ideas that I’ve never actually come across anywhere else, it's truly refreshing to read something that feels so new. Of the four my personal favourite is “My Name is Mister Grief”, being the most unique and also most fleshed out of the four. I won’t go into more detail because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, but I honestly recommend this if you want to read something a bit out of the ordinary. I have been handed a copy of Smitherd’s In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room Story just as I finished up Weird. Dark. and I couldn’t be more pleased to have more of his innovative tales to try to wrap my brain around.
April 9, 2016
This is a collection of three short stories. Each of them makes you ask yourself what you would do if you were in these situations. The answers aren't easy. The decisions made can be questionable, but that is what makes these stories so relatable. The characters are just like us. They are human, with all the good and bad that brings. We try to do the right things, but sometimes things don't turn out how we expected.
1. Hold on Until Your Fingers Break asks the question: How far would you go to avoid certain death? The consequences of that decision determines the fate of the characters.
2. The Man on Table Ten - I immediately thought of this as a Twilight Zone episode as I read it. The question asked here: Is the old man in the pub crazy or does he really know how the world will end? Or both? Do we want to know the answer?
3. My Name is Mister Grief - This is the most emotional of the three stories. It will haunt you after you read it. The question asked here: Would you do anything, regardless of the consequences, to end your grief? If you could eliminate that pain and emptiness, would it matter if others were hurt or if you lost yourself in the process? You will be asking yourself those questions long after you've finished this story. There is also a story-within-a-story that tells the tale of two boys with special "gifts" and the different ways their gifts are used. That story could be expanded into a book itself and would be fascinating.
I highly recommend this book. These stories will stay with you long after you've finished them.
1. Hold on Until Your Fingers Break asks the question: How far would you go to avoid certain death? The consequences of that decision determines the fate of the characters.
2. The Man on Table Ten - I immediately thought of this as a Twilight Zone episode as I read it. The question asked here: Is the old man in the pub crazy or does he really know how the world will end? Or both? Do we want to know the answer?
3. My Name is Mister Grief - This is the most emotional of the three stories. It will haunt you after you read it. The question asked here: Would you do anything, regardless of the consequences, to end your grief? If you could eliminate that pain and emptiness, would it matter if others were hurt or if you lost yourself in the process? You will be asking yourself those questions long after you've finished this story. There is also a story-within-a-story that tells the tale of two boys with special "gifts" and the different ways their gifts are used. That story could be expanded into a book itself and would be fascinating.
I highly recommend this book. These stories will stay with you long after you've finished them.
September 11, 2015
Trio of Stories Showcases Smitherd's Talent
The first story, "Mr. Grief" and the third, "The Man at Table Ten" illustrate Smitherd's talent for taking an ordinary situation and plausibly twisting them into something that is riveting, creepy, threatening, imaginative, dark and unique.
Smitherd's stories all exhibit his unique style. Compelling is too weak an adjective to describe his writing - once the weirdness starts, each story demands to be read. It is simply too difficult to stop, and of course, you won't until the last word. These are stories that I find myself thinking about long after they've been read.
The only exception was the second story, "The Crash". It was the shortest of the three in the collection, and had the least impact. Bracketed by the two strong pieces, it seemed less developed, less thought through. The weirdness occurs, but it's neither a large part, nor puts forth reasons why we should care. There is no context.
The two stories, alone, are worth the price of admission. They are outstanding. If you have never read Smitherd, you're in for a treat. Once you start reading Smitherd, you will want to read more, and there is much more to read.
The first story, "Mr. Grief" and the third, "The Man at Table Ten" illustrate Smitherd's talent for taking an ordinary situation and plausibly twisting them into something that is riveting, creepy, threatening, imaginative, dark and unique.
Smitherd's stories all exhibit his unique style. Compelling is too weak an adjective to describe his writing - once the weirdness starts, each story demands to be read. It is simply too difficult to stop, and of course, you won't until the last word. These are stories that I find myself thinking about long after they've been read.
The only exception was the second story, "The Crash". It was the shortest of the three in the collection, and had the least impact. Bracketed by the two strong pieces, it seemed less developed, less thought through. The weirdness occurs, but it's neither a large part, nor puts forth reasons why we should care. There is no context.
The two stories, alone, are worth the price of admission. They are outstanding. If you have never read Smitherd, you're in for a treat. Once you start reading Smitherd, you will want to read more, and there is much more to read.
December 31, 2017
I already left 5-star reviews for: "The Man on Table Ten", "Hold on Until Your Fingers Break", and "My Name is Mister Grief". The new story in this collection is, "The Crash", a short story about how random acts (of yours, of nature, of supernatural) can have very unpredictable (and terrible) effects on your life. I suppose they can also have good effects, but then this story wouldn't be included in a collection titled, "Weird, Dark".
A woman is driving home in a hurry to pick up some things she needs for work. Then there's a pigeon, a crash, a flash, and a fateful decision. Now, we really don't know if this fateful decision is responsible for the events that transpire or if there's just a "glitch" in reality. I think that's what makes the story weird, dark, and scary because we don't know what the consequences of our actions will be. Something we think is very minor may have ripple effects on others that we'll never know about, and vice-versa. Do we really have much control over our own lives or do random events determine our fates?
Good story, well-written, and short. I do look forward to when there are 40 of them. WD40 is a miracle. You can do almost anything with that stuff.
A woman is driving home in a hurry to pick up some things she needs for work. Then there's a pigeon, a crash, a flash, and a fateful decision. Now, we really don't know if this fateful decision is responsible for the events that transpire or if there's just a "glitch" in reality. I think that's what makes the story weird, dark, and scary because we don't know what the consequences of our actions will be. Something we think is very minor may have ripple effects on others that we'll never know about, and vice-versa. Do we really have much control over our own lives or do random events determine our fates?
Good story, well-written, and short. I do look forward to when there are 40 of them. WD40 is a miracle. You can do almost anything with that stuff.
April 19, 2016
This collection of dark, urban sci-fi short stories is a delight. Each story, plus a sneak peak exclusive, is an engrossing tale of creepy intrigue. In his usual Hitchcockian style, Smithered spins up drama, and psychological suspense at every turn, leaving the reader to ponder, along with the characters, “What if…?”
I loved this anthology. Not too scary, but just a perfect amount of chilling tension. As someone fascinated by human behavior, I appreciate the way Smitherd allows us inside of his character’s heads. They are mercilessly honest, and frequently leave me wondering what I would do in a similar situation. I also enjoy the window into European culture that UK writers like Smitherd help us glimpse.
If you’ve read and enjoyed other Smitherd books, this is a sure thing. If you’re obsessed with sci-fi, Twilight Zone-style plots, or bizzare psychoanalysis novellas, you need to get this now.
I loved this anthology. Not too scary, but just a perfect amount of chilling tension. As someone fascinated by human behavior, I appreciate the way Smitherd allows us inside of his character’s heads. They are mercilessly honest, and frequently leave me wondering what I would do in a similar situation. I also enjoy the window into European culture that UK writers like Smitherd help us glimpse.
If you’ve read and enjoyed other Smitherd books, this is a sure thing. If you’re obsessed with sci-fi, Twilight Zone-style plots, or bizzare psychoanalysis novellas, you need to get this now.
April 5, 2016
I loved it! Weird Dark grabbed my attention with the first story and held on to it through the last one. I discovered this author by accident when I purchased The Stoneman and have yet to be disappointed with any of his writings. Being a new mom I don't have the time like I used to have to sit and read for hours but I do like the audiobook version so I can listen whIle my 3 month old son is napping and sleeping and I'm catching up on house or laying in bed myself for the night. It's a wonderful surprise and a treat to listen to Mr. Smitherd narrate his own books! I highly recommend all of them!
September 14, 2021
Pretty good, some nice ideas.
July 5, 2016
For me this was a truly bad read and I gave up reading it halfway through. Something I don't normally do. Mr Grief started OK but then the narration got bogged down in a boring monologue that went on and on - all tell and no action. Somehow, I struggled on.
Onto the next story: "The Crash" a mercifully short story.
And then the killer, "Hold on until your fingers break" It started well and then it got bogged down in a boring monologue ... you know the rest. Life is too short, I'd rather snap my fingers against my eyeballs than read any more of this rubbish!
Onto the next story: "The Crash" a mercifully short story.
And then the killer, "Hold on until your fingers break" It started well and then it got bogged down in a boring monologue ... you know the rest. Life is too short, I'd rather snap my fingers against my eyeballs than read any more of this rubbish!
August 16, 2016
Another mindfeck from Mr Smitherd
This collection of stories is really pretty good, I'm definitely reminded of SK as I read but that is a compliment to LS. I really liked this book, some stories more than others, hence the four not five twinkly stars. The Crash was probably my least favourite but really because it is very short and leaves far too many unanswered questions for my liking. TMOTT was an intriguing delve into sci-fi and I thoroughly enjoyed Tom and Terrys apocolit story (especially the references to the black room). Definitely worth a look :)
This collection of stories is really pretty good, I'm definitely reminded of SK as I read but that is a compliment to LS. I really liked this book, some stories more than others, hence the four not five twinkly stars. The Crash was probably my least favourite but really because it is very short and leaves far too many unanswered questions for my liking. TMOTT was an intriguing delve into sci-fi and I thoroughly enjoyed Tom and Terrys apocolit story (especially the references to the black room). Definitely worth a look :)
December 27, 2016
Excellent group of stories.
Wow this was worth the time. These four stories are great. They maybe short stories but they pull you in and have you on the end he fully engrossed in the characters. The characters are believable and you feel what the author wants you to feel for them. You are holding your vehicle breath while reading feeling the anxiety that the character feels. All of these are just fantastic. All I can say is this book is worth what ever you spend on it. Yes I will be telling my friends about this book.
Wow this was worth the time. These four stories are great. They maybe short stories but they pull you in and have you on the end he fully engrossed in the characters. The characters are believable and you feel what the author wants you to feel for them. You are holding your vehicle breath while reading feeling the anxiety that the character feels. All of these are just fantastic. All I can say is this book is worth what ever you spend on it. Yes I will be telling my friends about this book.
September 9, 2015
Ok so I've already read 3 of the stories in this book, but downloaded for the 4th! I loved it, random, dark & again right up my street!
I will continue reading Luke books as long as he stays this bizarre! not true Sci fi, not true horror, genre of its own.
a crash happens, a phone call, who's talking to who? blue runnnnn
I will continue reading Luke books as long as he stays this bizarre! not true Sci fi, not true horror, genre of its own.
a crash happens, a phone call, who's talking to who? blue runnnnn
February 23, 2017
I'm a big fan of short stories and indeed Luke Smitherd having read TSM and The dark room stuff. These are pretty ones, mister grief being in my opinion the better one.
A great deal of imagination and courage I find in Luke's books and for that they're always worth a read even if not all of them quite hit the spot.
Still I recommend the author and in particular The Stone Man.
A great deal of imagination and courage I find in Luke's books and for that they're always worth a read even if not all of them quite hit the spot.
Still I recommend the author and in particular The Stone Man.
June 13, 2019
This book is a collection of some of Luke's works. As the book title says, the stories are often strangely weird, and in a very dark tone, but never fail to be entertaining. My favorite of which would be "My Name is Mister Grief", a very gripping tale of moving on.
Would recommend this for persons looking for a title to read on the go.
Would recommend this for persons looking for a title to read on the go.
January 10, 2016
As Always, Luke Smitherd Delivers Nightmare Fodder
If your mind likes to wallow in horrific layers of possibilities, read Luke Smitherd. If you don't know the significance of being a Smithereen, you're not reading the author remarks after the story.
If your mind likes to wallow in horrific layers of possibilities, read Luke Smitherd. If you don't know the significance of being a Smithereen, you're not reading the author remarks after the story.
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