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Now That We're Alone
“I’ve had a wonderful time, really the best. Do you want to come inside? It’s still early. I’d love to tell you a story. But first, let me take off my face…” Now That We’re Alone 11 short stories from Nicholas Day, celebrating the weird, wicked, and wonderful monsters hiding in the dark, hiding behind their human masks.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
138 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2017
8 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Day
37 books50 followersNicholas Day is an award-nominated author who writes predominantly within the horror, science fiction, and crime genres.
Currently, he co-owns Rooster Republic Press and Strangehouse Books with fellow writer Don Noble. In addition to this, the duo handle acquisitions and oversee production for Bizarro Pulp Press, an imprint of JournalStone.
Currently, he co-owns Rooster Republic Press and Strangehouse Books with fellow writer Don Noble. In addition to this, the duo handle acquisitions and oversee production for Bizarro Pulp Press, an imprint of JournalStone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 4, 2018
Consisting of 11 stories, spanning (as the author lays out in the afterword) 15 years - there is certainly a lot to grab on to in each of these tales, as they are almost unanimously constructed to get right to the point (plot-wise) while cutting to their emotional core. There’s no disorientation (unless he wants there to be) which is also how the greatest roller coasters are designed - and a roller coaster would be a nice descriptor of ‘Now That We’re Alone’ as a whole. Day’s prose shifts from the lean to the baroque as the story naturally dictates, which means solid writing from the first page to the last. Good horror and fresh ideas, this all-too-brief collection was pretty great, grabbing my attention and not letting it go.
Standouts for me were “Spoiling” “Beast Mode” and “GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium”
Standouts for me were “Spoiling” “Beast Mode” and “GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium”
October 30, 2017
One of the best single author collections I've read in years, no bullshit. Short story collections I'll read more than once are extremely rare, but Now That We're Alone falls easily into that category. Full review coming soon.
June 27, 2019
This is a great collection of unique and imaginative stories. They are beautifully written and very entertaining.
May 21, 2019
When I think of Bizarro Pulp Press (BPP), I think, naturally, of bizarro, the relatively young genre that has seen a healthy amount of growth over the last few years, both in readership and in production on the part of several key publishers, including that previously mentioned. So, when author Nicholas Day approached me with his latest collection published by BPP, I naturally assumed it was a collection of bizarre, off-the-wall tidbits from another delightfully creative but zany individual in the genre. But, as I’ve since discovered, Day is not an author who can easily be placed into a category, and presuming to do so was, albeit an honest one, a mistake on my part. His newest book, Now That We’re Alone, is packed with a cornucopia of greatness that draws on virtually every niche imaginable in the realm of dark, speculative fiction.
You can read Shane's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Shane's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
October 16, 2017
Listen to my interview with the author here!
https://soundcloud.com/losingtheplotp...
https://soundcloud.com/losingtheplotp...
July 16, 2019
I've read a few of these stories before, as I have been very lucky to have been published in the same places as the author. Of the ones I haven't read before, I really enjoyed "My Unshaped Form" best, as there aren't nearly as many weird western tales out there as there should be. "Jacks" was extraordinarily creepy. "Bright Red Mess" is absolutely chilling. "Chomp Chomp" was a lot of fun. How can you go wrong with a giant killer turtle? And my God! Look at that excellent cover!
July 7, 2018
I'll be honest this is not my normal fair, BUT I think Mr. Day may have converted me.
Bizzaro/horror is something that most casual readers don't come across too terribly often and I'm always the sucker for an anthology of shorts.
NOW THAT WE'RE ALONE is eleven stories of varying genres that embody a similar gruesome, but haunting vibe to them that most enthusiasts of the genre should enjoy. "Negative Space" and "Spoiling" for me were the most emotionally intimate and have continued to linger with their rather unsettling images.
What also stood out to me with this, was the afterword, where Day talks a bit about where each story came from and the inspiration about it. You don't usually come across that kind of self-reflection and I for one, truly appreciate that.
Overall, I was a huge fan of this and will need to keep an eye out for what Day does next.
Bizzaro/horror is something that most casual readers don't come across too terribly often and I'm always the sucker for an anthology of shorts.
NOW THAT WE'RE ALONE is eleven stories of varying genres that embody a similar gruesome, but haunting vibe to them that most enthusiasts of the genre should enjoy. "Negative Space" and "Spoiling" for me were the most emotionally intimate and have continued to linger with their rather unsettling images.
What also stood out to me with this, was the afterword, where Day talks a bit about where each story came from and the inspiration about it. You don't usually come across that kind of self-reflection and I for one, truly appreciate that.
Overall, I was a huge fan of this and will need to keep an eye out for what Day does next.
January 11, 2019
I don't read a lot of short stories, but when I do, they're worth it. For example, Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning." I don't need to explain how talented of an author that man is. But this author is similar, there doesn't appear to be a limit to his imagination in each of the 11 stories in this collection. While some share similar circumstances in their stories, they're each different in their own right - in writing style, time frame, disturbing factors, etc. My favorites were "Jacks" for its quick and intriguing suspense, "Beast Mode" because I too like werewolves and because it stood out as one of the stories with an oddly happy ending, and lastly, the last story "GG ALLIN AND THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM BYZANTIUM." I liked this one because it really felt like the author was trying to give all he could in the writing and creativity of the story, plus it was pretty humorous. So all-in-all, this was definitely a well-worth-it short story collection. Check it out and bring it with you to read to bed one evening when it's particularly dark and cold outside, you'll enjoy the fright you get.
May 20, 2019
Now That We're Alone by Nicholas Day is a collection 11 horror stories.
I picked this book I am a fan of spooky, psychological horror stories that are spine chilling and make hair stand but this book was not my cup of tea. This book is for those who love to read gory stories full of blood and and gore and and that make you want to hurl .
The best of the lot is the first one call it flash fiction or poem "That's why Johnny's in therapy" this one deserves a 5 star alone
Another better story was My unshaped Form and then Beast Mode in that order
but rest were ok maybe because I am not a fan of this genre or for me because they were confusing
I got this book @BookTasters
I picked this book I am a fan of spooky, psychological horror stories that are spine chilling and make hair stand but this book was not my cup of tea. This book is for those who love to read gory stories full of blood and and gore and and that make you want to hurl .
The best of the lot is the first one call it flash fiction or poem "That's why Johnny's in therapy" this one deserves a 5 star alone
Another better story was My unshaped Form and then Beast Mode in that order
but rest were ok maybe because I am not a fan of this genre or for me because they were confusing
I got this book @BookTasters
May 23, 2020
Now That We're Alone was super engaging with each story being uniquely chilling! There is not a dull moment among these stories, they were deeply entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, the events of each story are described in a way that made it easy to immerse myself in the terror. Each character was intriguing and although I only spent a few pages with some characters, I found myself sympathizing and caring for them, they felt very real. The plot of each story progresses swiftly but I was still able to form an emotional attachment to many characters. Some of my favourites from the collection were Bright Red Mess, Spoiling, and Jacks. The illustrations were also spectacular!
July 7, 2018
“Bad decisions are their own kind of rush, I guess. That’s one of the big steps you take when becoming an adult: making the right decisions and avoiding the rest.”
NOW THAT WE’RE ALONE includes eleven dark tales. Every story leaves the reader a little more uneasy and more prone to look under the bed, over the shoulder, and inside the closet for things that go bump in the night.
My favorites include “Chomp Comp,” which features a man (and woman) eating turtle, “Beast Mode” a love story with werewolves, and “Jacks” a ghost story.
Each story inspired a drawing by Luke Spooner, which adds to the story’s visceral impact.
I look forward to seeing what other madness lurks inside the brilliant mind of Nick Day.
NOW THAT WE’RE ALONE includes eleven dark tales. Every story leaves the reader a little more uneasy and more prone to look under the bed, over the shoulder, and inside the closet for things that go bump in the night.
My favorites include “Chomp Comp,” which features a man (and woman) eating turtle, “Beast Mode” a love story with werewolves, and “Jacks” a ghost story.
Each story inspired a drawing by Luke Spooner, which adds to the story’s visceral impact.
I look forward to seeing what other madness lurks inside the brilliant mind of Nick Day.
October 20, 2017
I am new to the work of Nicholas Day. Sure, I had seen the front cover image for this collection (by Jim Agpalza) pop up on social media (isn’t it incredible!?), but I wasn’t familiar with any of Nicholas’s work. From reading this collection, it became clear that he has been busy doing what many young writers do when they start out; submitting short stories while honing his craft. And it certainly seems to have worked for him. He has already released a debut novella, Necrosaurus Rex (Bizarro Pulp Press, 2015), to critical acclaim and he seems to have done it again with Now That We’re Alone (also from Bizarro Pulp Press).
After the incredibly entertaining and creative opening poem, ‘This is Why Johnny is in Therapy Now’ (I always assumed poetry was flowers and fluffy feelings but, after reading this, you can sign me up!), the first story is ‘The Ghosts in Winter’s Wake’. It seemingly concerns a gardener for a well-to-do family, ruminating on the cold of winter and how it seems to bear a grudge against the family for which he works, recalling past tragedies the Reed’s have faced. But, gradually, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem, and Day does an excellent job of building the atmosphere and dread until the unnerving finale.
‘Chomp Chomp’ tells the story of a group of men reconnecting for their high school reunion. The narrator, Shawn, tells the story of the tragedy that haunts them from their youth when the solitary girl in their little group of misfits falls prey to the town legend, Chomp Chomp, the monstrous giant killer turtle. The underlying tension between the characters when they return to the scene of the tragedy, and the depiction of the action scene when Chomp Chomp makes his inevitable return, are handled equally well, further proving Day’s wonderful skill as a storyteller.
Although containing some uncomfortable and disturbing imagery, ‘Bright Red Mess’ also contains some wonderfully poetic language. After surviving a car crash with his father, but losing his mother in the process, Matthew becomes withdrawn. During an afternoon with his Aunt Emily and her boyfriend Stephen, Matthew asks to visit his mother’s grave. This leads to a horrific chain of events, including a flashback of a disturbing conversation between the grieving father, David, and his sister. The foreshadowing is done superbly and the ending, though not graphic, is not for the squeamish. A well written and excellent story.
‘Negative Space’, one of the shorter stories in the collection, is told entirely from the point of view of Rubin who, having just lost his wife in a car wreck (deliciously described by Day in a dark and graphic way), confronts her lover with a gun. But they are not alone. Someone else is present, just in the periphery. A grim and dark little tale.
After making a compelling argument for the existence of ghosts, ‘Snow Like Lonely Ghosts’ tells the story of Lewis, a man haunted by the memory of his mother and her legacy. The horror is subtler in this tale, yet still thoroughly compelling as a character study of loneliness and depression.
Day adopts a unique narrative style to tell the next story, ‘Spoiling’, combining elements of Polish folklore with a traditional and modern nightmare. Timothy awakes from a car accident but soon discovers he isn’t as alone as he first thought. Day then proceeds the tell the backstory leading up to the accident, in small segments, each describing the scene that came before. It is a very interesting and effective way to tell this story, and he allows the information to flow naturally and in a way that keeps the reader interested, even though it is being told in reverse.
‘My Unshaped Form’ is a little different from all of the previous stories as it is set in the Old West. But it is no less intriguing. It is probably my favourite story of a flawless collection. The characters are so deep and so well-developed given the short length of the story, especially the antagonist, Charles Washington Biddle, a truly unsettling young man. He encounters a farmer, Gideon, while he toils on his farm, and the two soon strike up a conversation, but it is clear that Gideon is never at ease with the stranger’s talk of his holy mission. The tension between the two men is thick from the beginning, and only grows thicker, until the explosive finale. Day does a wonderful job of capturing the voice of old-time cowboys, and his descriptions of the harsh landscape and unforgiving atmosphere are handled with the skill of a natural storyteller which, by this point in the collection, is a title befitting Mr. Day.
‘Jacks’ is very cinematic in style, not surprising given Day’s experience in screenwriting. The story reads like so many horror movies concerning a one-parent family that gets a house with a chequered past for a steal, only to realise (too late!) that there is a reason for the low price and maybe those sounds aren’t “just the house settling”. Two young sisters are left alone one evening when their mother leaves the house in a rush, and they soon encounter creepy goings-on. Noises from the house, especially from the attic, which is off-limits. And then there is the strange old man from across the street who is desperate to get in. Then the eldest sister loses sight of the younger, vulnerable sister and… I’ve said too much. Day really cranks the creepy dial to 11 for this scary tale. Remember to breathe when you get towards the end of the story. And stay away from the attic.
‘Beast Mode’ reads like a love-letter to the B-movies of the 70s and 80s as a biker gang mess with the wrong couple on a moonlit night. This tale perfectly demonstrates Day’s ability to switch modes, here ramping up the action as the man (no ordinary man as it transpires) seeks revenge on the gang that stole his woman and left him for dead. Unfortunately, revenge works both ways and the remaining members of the gang have an idea of what he is and how to fight him. Action-packed from start to finish, this exhilarating tale is a slight departure from the atmospheric and creepy horror of the other stories, but it still delivers in blood.
If ‘Beast Mode’ was a slight departure, the final story, ‘GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium’, is straight out of left field. Now, I have only the tiniest idea of who GG Allin was, but through a small amount of research, it is clear to see that Day really put a lot of effort into getting the character’s voice as realistic as possible. Because GG is the protagonist of this weird, epic science fiction/bizarro story which begins with the line “In the year 2666, GG Allin was supposed to save us all.” The story spans hundreds of years and takes all manner of strange turns including resurrection (Allin did die in ’93 after all), the afterlife, heaven and hell, god and satan, appearances by both Harry Houdini and John Wayne Gacy, a super-flu, and war. The story may seem crazy, but Day pulls it off. As shocking and horrible as Allin may have been in real life (indeed, Day captures this throughout) he is also the hero of the story and the reader will be hard-pressed to do anything other than root for him. His is an interesting and exciting voice, and Day does a wonderful job of weaving a thought-provoking and utterly entertaining tale.
In a collection made up of ten stories and one poem, Nicholas Day has managed to include tales of horror classics like ghosts and witches and lycanthropy, real-life horror like dementia and loneliness and violence, Jewish cowboys and golems, monstrous creatures, cannibalism. And GG Allin. He has clearly demonstrated a powerful talent for storytelling within a wide range of stories, populating each with wonderfully deep characters, telling them with some truly beautiful prose and fantastic description. Not a word is wasted as he takes us by the hand and leads us through these often creepy, always entertaining landscapes of his creation. It is almost impossible to state that all of these stories fall under the same heading. But Day does it best in the foreword: “I like reading stuff that isn’t afraid to get weird, and I like writing weird stories.” If this sounds like a statement you can identify with, you should really check out this collection. And look out for more from Nicholas Day. I know I will.
After the incredibly entertaining and creative opening poem, ‘This is Why Johnny is in Therapy Now’ (I always assumed poetry was flowers and fluffy feelings but, after reading this, you can sign me up!), the first story is ‘The Ghosts in Winter’s Wake’. It seemingly concerns a gardener for a well-to-do family, ruminating on the cold of winter and how it seems to bear a grudge against the family for which he works, recalling past tragedies the Reed’s have faced. But, gradually, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem, and Day does an excellent job of building the atmosphere and dread until the unnerving finale.
‘Chomp Chomp’ tells the story of a group of men reconnecting for their high school reunion. The narrator, Shawn, tells the story of the tragedy that haunts them from their youth when the solitary girl in their little group of misfits falls prey to the town legend, Chomp Chomp, the monstrous giant killer turtle. The underlying tension between the characters when they return to the scene of the tragedy, and the depiction of the action scene when Chomp Chomp makes his inevitable return, are handled equally well, further proving Day’s wonderful skill as a storyteller.
Although containing some uncomfortable and disturbing imagery, ‘Bright Red Mess’ also contains some wonderfully poetic language. After surviving a car crash with his father, but losing his mother in the process, Matthew becomes withdrawn. During an afternoon with his Aunt Emily and her boyfriend Stephen, Matthew asks to visit his mother’s grave. This leads to a horrific chain of events, including a flashback of a disturbing conversation between the grieving father, David, and his sister. The foreshadowing is done superbly and the ending, though not graphic, is not for the squeamish. A well written and excellent story.
‘Negative Space’, one of the shorter stories in the collection, is told entirely from the point of view of Rubin who, having just lost his wife in a car wreck (deliciously described by Day in a dark and graphic way), confronts her lover with a gun. But they are not alone. Someone else is present, just in the periphery. A grim and dark little tale.
After making a compelling argument for the existence of ghosts, ‘Snow Like Lonely Ghosts’ tells the story of Lewis, a man haunted by the memory of his mother and her legacy. The horror is subtler in this tale, yet still thoroughly compelling as a character study of loneliness and depression.
Day adopts a unique narrative style to tell the next story, ‘Spoiling’, combining elements of Polish folklore with a traditional and modern nightmare. Timothy awakes from a car accident but soon discovers he isn’t as alone as he first thought. Day then proceeds the tell the backstory leading up to the accident, in small segments, each describing the scene that came before. It is a very interesting and effective way to tell this story, and he allows the information to flow naturally and in a way that keeps the reader interested, even though it is being told in reverse.
‘My Unshaped Form’ is a little different from all of the previous stories as it is set in the Old West. But it is no less intriguing. It is probably my favourite story of a flawless collection. The characters are so deep and so well-developed given the short length of the story, especially the antagonist, Charles Washington Biddle, a truly unsettling young man. He encounters a farmer, Gideon, while he toils on his farm, and the two soon strike up a conversation, but it is clear that Gideon is never at ease with the stranger’s talk of his holy mission. The tension between the two men is thick from the beginning, and only grows thicker, until the explosive finale. Day does a wonderful job of capturing the voice of old-time cowboys, and his descriptions of the harsh landscape and unforgiving atmosphere are handled with the skill of a natural storyteller which, by this point in the collection, is a title befitting Mr. Day.
‘Jacks’ is very cinematic in style, not surprising given Day’s experience in screenwriting. The story reads like so many horror movies concerning a one-parent family that gets a house with a chequered past for a steal, only to realise (too late!) that there is a reason for the low price and maybe those sounds aren’t “just the house settling”. Two young sisters are left alone one evening when their mother leaves the house in a rush, and they soon encounter creepy goings-on. Noises from the house, especially from the attic, which is off-limits. And then there is the strange old man from across the street who is desperate to get in. Then the eldest sister loses sight of the younger, vulnerable sister and… I’ve said too much. Day really cranks the creepy dial to 11 for this scary tale. Remember to breathe when you get towards the end of the story. And stay away from the attic.
‘Beast Mode’ reads like a love-letter to the B-movies of the 70s and 80s as a biker gang mess with the wrong couple on a moonlit night. This tale perfectly demonstrates Day’s ability to switch modes, here ramping up the action as the man (no ordinary man as it transpires) seeks revenge on the gang that stole his woman and left him for dead. Unfortunately, revenge works both ways and the remaining members of the gang have an idea of what he is and how to fight him. Action-packed from start to finish, this exhilarating tale is a slight departure from the atmospheric and creepy horror of the other stories, but it still delivers in blood.
If ‘Beast Mode’ was a slight departure, the final story, ‘GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium’, is straight out of left field. Now, I have only the tiniest idea of who GG Allin was, but through a small amount of research, it is clear to see that Day really put a lot of effort into getting the character’s voice as realistic as possible. Because GG is the protagonist of this weird, epic science fiction/bizarro story which begins with the line “In the year 2666, GG Allin was supposed to save us all.” The story spans hundreds of years and takes all manner of strange turns including resurrection (Allin did die in ’93 after all), the afterlife, heaven and hell, god and satan, appearances by both Harry Houdini and John Wayne Gacy, a super-flu, and war. The story may seem crazy, but Day pulls it off. As shocking and horrible as Allin may have been in real life (indeed, Day captures this throughout) he is also the hero of the story and the reader will be hard-pressed to do anything other than root for him. His is an interesting and exciting voice, and Day does a wonderful job of weaving a thought-provoking and utterly entertaining tale.
In a collection made up of ten stories and one poem, Nicholas Day has managed to include tales of horror classics like ghosts and witches and lycanthropy, real-life horror like dementia and loneliness and violence, Jewish cowboys and golems, monstrous creatures, cannibalism. And GG Allin. He has clearly demonstrated a powerful talent for storytelling within a wide range of stories, populating each with wonderfully deep characters, telling them with some truly beautiful prose and fantastic description. Not a word is wasted as he takes us by the hand and leads us through these often creepy, always entertaining landscapes of his creation. It is almost impossible to state that all of these stories fall under the same heading. But Day does it best in the foreword: “I like reading stuff that isn’t afraid to get weird, and I like writing weird stories.” If this sounds like a statement you can identify with, you should really check out this collection. And look out for more from Nicholas Day. I know I will.
March 29, 2019
There are a lot of strong things in this book. To Day's credit, flash or micro horror is a very tough genre, so even attempting it is commendable.
There are some very creepy and poignant moments, some really interesting ideas. I like it that the stories happen in Alton, Illinois, and he gives a bit of a feel for that town. I feel like if this author had used a stronger editor it could have been a phenomenal book. The biggest flaw overall is that it needs a developmental edit. Unfortunately that problem persists throughout. There is lovely original artwork that complements the tone of the stories beautifully. Despite how much I enjoyed the illustrations, I am disappointed that the author didn't upgrade his editor instead, because again these are almost really great stories. Very frustrating.
The main issues throughout:
*Too many undefined characters create a confusing plot line. I was usually not sure exactly what happened in the story at the end, or why. I couldn't place myself in the shoes of the person being killed by the turtle.
*Jarring transitions and shifts in time and perspective made the stories difficult to follow.
*Day has not quite mastered the spartan economy of words that this genre requires. The scenes are often not set enough to orient me, or focus is diverted.
These stories are quite similar to Edgar Allen Poe or another favorite flash/micro horror writer, Etgar Keret. In "The Sphinx," Poe shows us a man terrified by a strange, enormous beast coming ever closer to him, and his panic in not knowing what he will do when it arrives. He discovers that it is only a fly that has come very close to his eye while he was daydreaming. So losing your perspective can cause paranoia over nothing at all. This is flash/micro horror at its best: experiencing the grip of terror only to learn something important about the human condition.
None of that happens here. Of course nobody else is Edgar Allen Poe. If "not being Poe" were the main issue this would be a five-star review. But that's the gold standard for this genre IMO, a tiny slice of something awful that lets your mind break free.
The other form of this genre is "creepypasta," like campfire tales that may have no moral at all and are told for the scary thrill, like the escaped murderer in the woods or Slenderman. That is more where this book fits IMO. I think that's unfortunate, because this author is clearly capable of more. Lots of people love creepypasta, I own up to being a bit of a snob. If my only issue were that it's creepypasta I would also give it five stars, because in fairness it's my personal taste.
In "Dirt," Etgar Keret uses less than 500 words to show the insidiousness of depression, and how someone whose life seems normal or fine can actually be in suicidal despair, alienated in an irreconcilable way. While "Dirt" doesn't have the same kind of clear moral message as "The Sphinx," it is the sort of robustly creepy slice of life that this author seems to have been going for. I believe Day can accomplish this with a stronger editor.
That said, every story in this book was confusing and/or unsatisfying for me. It opens with the strongest piece I read. The fact that he did it in verse was pleasantly surprising and gave it a Victorian flair. However even in this brief, simple tale the actual telling of it didn't make sense to me: "Johnny goes to get the gun and Bobby screams as bullets belch through baluster wood." Wait, is he getting the gun or has he already fired it? Everything happens at the same time in this book in a way it doesn't in real life. Had it been quite clear what happened, and yet unclear whether it was intentional or not, that would be at the Edgar Allen Poe level for me. I'd love to be left wondering if that angelic looking boy deserves the benefit of the doubt or if he's utterly rotten. There is little tension in this as written, it's just a reminder that some kids are sociopathic and they often have stupid parents.
"The Ghosts in Winter's Wake" is similarly confusing. This is a great premise, of a murderous snowman. But like everything else in this book, it's not entirely clear exactly what happened, or WHY. The frustration of finishing each story after the first and not being entirely sure what happened or why caused me to DNF after "Spoiling." I get that the snowman has been killing people for generations. But the emotional entanglements among those generations are not in place. Same issue with “Snow Like Lonely Ghosts,” my favorite story in the book. Maybe there is no why, it’s just a snow demon. Maybe I’m overthinking it. However I was having trouble keeping all the people straight.
"Chomp Chomp" is a creepypasta story about a giant turtle that very predictably kills someone it almost killed before, because he goes back in the most predictable time and way, with the same generic people except the one who died in between (and the person it killed the first time). I would not have included this story, and am surprised he has it right at the front of the book. This story and "Bright Red Mess" both feature many characters that I had difficulty distinguishing. In "Chomp Chomp" there was not enough detail for me to actually understand exactly what happened, although it seemed clear that the "why" was "because there's a monster in that lake, dummy." Remember when it ate your girlfriend? Right. : |
"Bright Red Mess" is a good name for this story. It's about a boy whose mom dies in a car accident. This story was a giant ball of confusion for me. At one point someone was in a car accident and ate a little bit of someone's charred skin. I thought that was fantastic, in terms of the potential to go all Edgar Allen Poe on it. But I wasn’t sure if that was before or after the wreck where the mom died, or the same one? I had to bail on this story. Very inventive and creepy premise that makes you think about the things people do when they're freaked out in a trauma. But the story lurched in a different direction and I had trouble following it. Like "Chomp Chomp," "Spoiling," really all of them, there are too many indistinguishable characters. I can't pull the plot together in my head.
"Negative Space" is another almost Poe-level premise that fails in execution. Especially in flash or micro, the protag can't do a soliloquy. Tight, snappy dialogue, back and forth, would have made that story work.
My favorite piece of the book was "Snow Like Lonely Ghosts." I would actually have liked to see this expanded into a novella. I got quite a good feel for Lewis, the most relatable character in the book. There were not too many characters and we didn't jump all around, which allowed me to mostly follow it and care. However the paternal grandfather comes in and calls Lewis Martin, which is either a typo or he's just being rude, hard to tell. But I don't understand how the story ends, or again the infernal WHY.
The suggestion is that the ghost of the mother throws the bag of sugar. But I didn't understand any of the emotional underpinnings that would have made the story satisfying: Lewis and his mother, his mother and the paternal grandfather who calls him Martin, and Lewis himself. I get that Lewis doesn't like the grandfather and vice versa. But why does that make the ghost throw the bag of sugar? Why does it take him so long to clean it up? At one point Lewis hurts his finger trying to open a cupboard but even that is not clear why. Did his nail catch under the edge and tear? For me, simple things like that not quite making sense are too frustrating and I had to DNF.
There are some very creepy and poignant moments, some really interesting ideas. I like it that the stories happen in Alton, Illinois, and he gives a bit of a feel for that town. I feel like if this author had used a stronger editor it could have been a phenomenal book. The biggest flaw overall is that it needs a developmental edit. Unfortunately that problem persists throughout. There is lovely original artwork that complements the tone of the stories beautifully. Despite how much I enjoyed the illustrations, I am disappointed that the author didn't upgrade his editor instead, because again these are almost really great stories. Very frustrating.
The main issues throughout:
*Too many undefined characters create a confusing plot line. I was usually not sure exactly what happened in the story at the end, or why. I couldn't place myself in the shoes of the person being killed by the turtle.
*Jarring transitions and shifts in time and perspective made the stories difficult to follow.
*Day has not quite mastered the spartan economy of words that this genre requires. The scenes are often not set enough to orient me, or focus is diverted.
These stories are quite similar to Edgar Allen Poe or another favorite flash/micro horror writer, Etgar Keret. In "The Sphinx," Poe shows us a man terrified by a strange, enormous beast coming ever closer to him, and his panic in not knowing what he will do when it arrives. He discovers that it is only a fly that has come very close to his eye while he was daydreaming. So losing your perspective can cause paranoia over nothing at all. This is flash/micro horror at its best: experiencing the grip of terror only to learn something important about the human condition.
None of that happens here. Of course nobody else is Edgar Allen Poe. If "not being Poe" were the main issue this would be a five-star review. But that's the gold standard for this genre IMO, a tiny slice of something awful that lets your mind break free.
The other form of this genre is "creepypasta," like campfire tales that may have no moral at all and are told for the scary thrill, like the escaped murderer in the woods or Slenderman. That is more where this book fits IMO. I think that's unfortunate, because this author is clearly capable of more. Lots of people love creepypasta, I own up to being a bit of a snob. If my only issue were that it's creepypasta I would also give it five stars, because in fairness it's my personal taste.
In "Dirt," Etgar Keret uses less than 500 words to show the insidiousness of depression, and how someone whose life seems normal or fine can actually be in suicidal despair, alienated in an irreconcilable way. While "Dirt" doesn't have the same kind of clear moral message as "The Sphinx," it is the sort of robustly creepy slice of life that this author seems to have been going for. I believe Day can accomplish this with a stronger editor.
That said, every story in this book was confusing and/or unsatisfying for me. It opens with the strongest piece I read. The fact that he did it in verse was pleasantly surprising and gave it a Victorian flair. However even in this brief, simple tale the actual telling of it didn't make sense to me: "Johnny goes to get the gun and Bobby screams as bullets belch through baluster wood." Wait, is he getting the gun or has he already fired it? Everything happens at the same time in this book in a way it doesn't in real life. Had it been quite clear what happened, and yet unclear whether it was intentional or not, that would be at the Edgar Allen Poe level for me. I'd love to be left wondering if that angelic looking boy deserves the benefit of the doubt or if he's utterly rotten. There is little tension in this as written, it's just a reminder that some kids are sociopathic and they often have stupid parents.
"The Ghosts in Winter's Wake" is similarly confusing. This is a great premise, of a murderous snowman. But like everything else in this book, it's not entirely clear exactly what happened, or WHY. The frustration of finishing each story after the first and not being entirely sure what happened or why caused me to DNF after "Spoiling." I get that the snowman has been killing people for generations. But the emotional entanglements among those generations are not in place. Same issue with “Snow Like Lonely Ghosts,” my favorite story in the book. Maybe there is no why, it’s just a snow demon. Maybe I’m overthinking it. However I was having trouble keeping all the people straight.
"Chomp Chomp" is a creepypasta story about a giant turtle that very predictably kills someone it almost killed before, because he goes back in the most predictable time and way, with the same generic people except the one who died in between (and the person it killed the first time). I would not have included this story, and am surprised he has it right at the front of the book. This story and "Bright Red Mess" both feature many characters that I had difficulty distinguishing. In "Chomp Chomp" there was not enough detail for me to actually understand exactly what happened, although it seemed clear that the "why" was "because there's a monster in that lake, dummy." Remember when it ate your girlfriend? Right. : |
"Bright Red Mess" is a good name for this story. It's about a boy whose mom dies in a car accident. This story was a giant ball of confusion for me. At one point someone was in a car accident and ate a little bit of someone's charred skin. I thought that was fantastic, in terms of the potential to go all Edgar Allen Poe on it. But I wasn’t sure if that was before or after the wreck where the mom died, or the same one? I had to bail on this story. Very inventive and creepy premise that makes you think about the things people do when they're freaked out in a trauma. But the story lurched in a different direction and I had trouble following it. Like "Chomp Chomp," "Spoiling," really all of them, there are too many indistinguishable characters. I can't pull the plot together in my head.
"Negative Space" is another almost Poe-level premise that fails in execution. Especially in flash or micro, the protag can't do a soliloquy. Tight, snappy dialogue, back and forth, would have made that story work.
My favorite piece of the book was "Snow Like Lonely Ghosts." I would actually have liked to see this expanded into a novella. I got quite a good feel for Lewis, the most relatable character in the book. There were not too many characters and we didn't jump all around, which allowed me to mostly follow it and care. However the paternal grandfather comes in and calls Lewis Martin, which is either a typo or he's just being rude, hard to tell. But I don't understand how the story ends, or again the infernal WHY.
The suggestion is that the ghost of the mother throws the bag of sugar. But I didn't understand any of the emotional underpinnings that would have made the story satisfying: Lewis and his mother, his mother and the paternal grandfather who calls him Martin, and Lewis himself. I get that Lewis doesn't like the grandfather and vice versa. But why does that make the ghost throw the bag of sugar? Why does it take him so long to clean it up? At one point Lewis hurts his finger trying to open a cupboard but even that is not clear why. Did his nail catch under the edge and tear? For me, simple things like that not quite making sense are too frustrating and I had to DNF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2019
"Now That We`re Alone" by Nicholas Day is a collection of 11 short stories, and something weird happens in every single story.
A big turtle chomps on people, a man becomes a werewolf, and a man who has promised to never shit again, has become an immortal! But this is not all. There are weird situations leaving you shocked in a realistic world exploded by a bizarre element (event, character, form, etc.) and "Bizarre doesn’t come close to describing it.”
The shorter, earlier stories are set in a realistic world. You cannot guess something bizarre will happen there. You easily believe and feel the reality of the room, the garden, and even the water hiding a big turtle; and that is exactly what makes you feel more shocked in the supposed time.
Technically, the book is very well written, surprising you by each turn in the plot and reorienting you on the local axis of the story world.
In “THE GHOSTS IN WINTER’S WAKE,” you feel lost in the old abandoned snowy garden as much as feeling lost in the old man’s mind.
You feel the shock and horror when a girl is sucked down in a swamp and when you step inside the house of a father tasting his son’s pieces in “BRIGHT RED MESS”.
You try to imagine how the narrator tries to awaken the optical illusion of his dead wife in the edges of his periphery and in presence of his dead wife’s lover in “NEGATIVE SPACE”.
You sweat with fat Lewis trying to pick a sugar bag from the unreachable cupboard while you think of his dead mother passing away of diabetes in “SNOW LIKE LONELY GHOSTS”.
You are wavery unsure to enter the structure behind the farmhouse, its meager architecture a shadow of the same skill that crafted the house in “MY UNSHAPED FORM" and to enter the dark attic of the house which scares the children home alone in “JACKS”.
And in “BEAST MODE”, the dirtiest bad dudes face something that really scares the shit out of them saving a romance from the darkest places for a young woman.
“GG ALLIN AND THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM BYZANTIUM” is a parody of every saviour myth you have read in the old millenniums texts arising in year 2666! (This one, I found that, is the most praised story of the collection in readers` reviews, but honestly, I did not like it as much as the other stories in the book. It lacks details, characterisation, scene, setting, etc. and somehow it is still a draft.)
But, do you believe in conflict at the beginning words? (I do.) “Spoiling” is one of the best stories ever written:
“Timothy woke – upright - in the driver’s seat.”
A big turtle chomps on people, a man becomes a werewolf, and a man who has promised to never shit again, has become an immortal! But this is not all. There are weird situations leaving you shocked in a realistic world exploded by a bizarre element (event, character, form, etc.) and "Bizarre doesn’t come close to describing it.”
The shorter, earlier stories are set in a realistic world. You cannot guess something bizarre will happen there. You easily believe and feel the reality of the room, the garden, and even the water hiding a big turtle; and that is exactly what makes you feel more shocked in the supposed time.
Technically, the book is very well written, surprising you by each turn in the plot and reorienting you on the local axis of the story world.
In “THE GHOSTS IN WINTER’S WAKE,” you feel lost in the old abandoned snowy garden as much as feeling lost in the old man’s mind.
You feel the shock and horror when a girl is sucked down in a swamp and when you step inside the house of a father tasting his son’s pieces in “BRIGHT RED MESS”.
You try to imagine how the narrator tries to awaken the optical illusion of his dead wife in the edges of his periphery and in presence of his dead wife’s lover in “NEGATIVE SPACE”.
You sweat with fat Lewis trying to pick a sugar bag from the unreachable cupboard while you think of his dead mother passing away of diabetes in “SNOW LIKE LONELY GHOSTS”.
You are wavery unsure to enter the structure behind the farmhouse, its meager architecture a shadow of the same skill that crafted the house in “MY UNSHAPED FORM" and to enter the dark attic of the house which scares the children home alone in “JACKS”.
And in “BEAST MODE”, the dirtiest bad dudes face something that really scares the shit out of them saving a romance from the darkest places for a young woman.
“GG ALLIN AND THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM BYZANTIUM” is a parody of every saviour myth you have read in the old millenniums texts arising in year 2666! (This one, I found that, is the most praised story of the collection in readers` reviews, but honestly, I did not like it as much as the other stories in the book. It lacks details, characterisation, scene, setting, etc. and somehow it is still a draft.)
But, do you believe in conflict at the beginning words? (I do.) “Spoiling” is one of the best stories ever written:
“Timothy woke – upright - in the driver’s seat.”
March 21, 2018
It’s nice when a short story collection can catch you by the jugular and strip your throat out from page one, and that’s exactly what Nicholas Day’s book, “Now That We’re Alone,” does. Dipping into the independent press markets one toe at a time is wearisome work, so I’ve got a hundred samples on my phone for every one book I’ve purchased. And after reading Day’s gruesome opener, “This is Why Johnny is in Therapy Now,” I was hooked, and had no problem handing over the ticket fee for this parade of paroxysms.
Day’s work serves as a kind of horror bouquet, with different psychological thrillers, domestic violations, and monster fantasies accenting the perfect aroma of spilled gore. Tales like, “Bright Red Mess” and “Negative Space” demonstrate inversions of common love narratives.
If these stories serve as the Snowball Roses of our metaphorical bouquet then the monster stories, “Chomp Chomp” and “Beast Mode” might be Sword Ferns and Dogwood greens rounding out the empty space.
Nicholas Day is at his absolute best when he’s deep inside the head of the character, lost in the casement of his character’s self-imposed delusions so that the reader isn’t certain what is real and what isn’t.
This is most prevalent in my favorite story of the collection, “The Ghosts in Winter’s Wake”, where a family’s longtime gardener find himself on the losing side of time, “William tried to conjure the garden in winter as he closed his eyes: A blanket of white snow spread across the acre of growth; heavy shade afforded by the great pine cutting that acre in half; a snowman, tucked away in the darkest corner, near the trunk of the evergreen. The hysterical Mrs. Reed, on her knees, screamed and pulled at her hair, while a faceless Mr. Reed ran out of the three-story brick home toward a dead little boy wearing red wool mittens. Why can’t I remember Mr. Reed’s face?” Many of the greatest stories in this collection share these limited perspectives, although Day is clearly in the early stages of his writing career and eager to experiment.
Overall, this is a spectacular collection well worth the price, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Nicholas Day including his novel, “Necrosaurus Rex”, which was praised heavily in the book’s front copy.
I also should note that Luke Spooner’s artistic illustrations lend an incredible visual element to the collection. This is one bouquet of dead flowers that I’m happy to sit on my desk, no matter how much of my blood it eats.
May 28, 2019
*Thank you to BookTasters and Nicholas Day for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Even though horror stories are not usually my cup of tea, I quite enjoyed reading "Now that we’re alone" by Nicholas Day. It is a collection of 11 short stories whose genre can’t just be defined rigorously; indeed, in every story we can find a different style, different characters or even different time and space. For example, the first story, entitled This Is Why Johnny Is in Therapy Now, is mainly a morbid poetic piece. Surprising, isn’t it? Another example might be Beast Mode (one of my favourites) because while reading I felt the sensation of watching a movie and in the last part of the book, in the so-called “Afterword”, the author confirmed my supposition because he stated that «the style of prose purposefully mimics what you’d see in a screenplay».
Talking about the Afterword section, I must say that it was really interesting discovering every story’s “behind-the-scenes” because it gave light about so many little details that may go otherwise unnoticed by the reader. For instance, you may find out that Chomp Chomp, the third story of the book, was an attempt by the author to overcome his fear of big turtles or that other stories were originally conceived as a first chapter to a possible full-length novel. Moreover, you may want to look out for that story that takes place in the same universe as Ghostbusters (obviously, if you like it).
Returning to the matter at hand, that is the book itself, as the title or even the cover may suggest, the intent of the author was to reveal the fears, the emotions, the secrets that lay hidden behind the masks we put on everyday in front of others. One of the stories, i.e., turns out to be the story of a cannibal (I spare you the gory details).
My favourite stories were Chomp Chomp, Spoiling, Jacks and Beast Mode.
I hope you enjoy your read because I can’t wait to read more stories by Nicholas Day!
Even though horror stories are not usually my cup of tea, I quite enjoyed reading "Now that we’re alone" by Nicholas Day. It is a collection of 11 short stories whose genre can’t just be defined rigorously; indeed, in every story we can find a different style, different characters or even different time and space. For example, the first story, entitled This Is Why Johnny Is in Therapy Now, is mainly a morbid poetic piece. Surprising, isn’t it? Another example might be Beast Mode (one of my favourites) because while reading I felt the sensation of watching a movie and in the last part of the book, in the so-called “Afterword”, the author confirmed my supposition because he stated that «the style of prose purposefully mimics what you’d see in a screenplay».
Talking about the Afterword section, I must say that it was really interesting discovering every story’s “behind-the-scenes” because it gave light about so many little details that may go otherwise unnoticed by the reader. For instance, you may find out that Chomp Chomp, the third story of the book, was an attempt by the author to overcome his fear of big turtles or that other stories were originally conceived as a first chapter to a possible full-length novel. Moreover, you may want to look out for that story that takes place in the same universe as Ghostbusters (obviously, if you like it).
Returning to the matter at hand, that is the book itself, as the title or even the cover may suggest, the intent of the author was to reveal the fears, the emotions, the secrets that lay hidden behind the masks we put on everyday in front of others. One of the stories, i.e., turns out to be the story of a cannibal (I spare you the gory details).
My favourite stories were Chomp Chomp, Spoiling, Jacks and Beast Mode.
I hope you enjoy your read because I can’t wait to read more stories by Nicholas Day!
September 22, 2020
I started reading Now That We’re Alone prepared to be shocked. The book title hinted at some offering of private facts, of matters not fit for public discourse, but behind closed doors, preferably spoken of in hushed tones. So, what was it like at the end?
In eleven short stories we meet among others; homicidal children, a giant man-eating turtle lurking at the bottom of a lake, a family of cannibals, a witch bent on revenging her spurned love, a golem raised for one deadly goal, a love-struck werewolf facing off leather-clad bikers, and, to cap off the menagerie, the singular “poop-punk” icon, GG Allen. The stories in the book are certainly original, and some even manage — in a “Who thinks up this stuff?” way — to be unsettling.
Nicholas Day says he likes writing “weird stories” and it shows. The book’s weakness is a corollary of that fondness. The stories in it seethe with enthusiasm which often gets in the way of the plot, resulting in instances of what feels like performative weirdness. But it is hard to be overly critical of Day. In the Foreword, he admits Now That We’re Alone is a “collage of early works,” and was an opportunity for him “to shed some skin.” There is nothing wrong in that. I only wish he’d been neater doing so.
Overall, Now That We’re Alone is an interesting read. Although not as transgressive as it tries to present itself, the book is a welcome if trifle addition to the horror genre.
I’d want to read Day’s future works.
In eleven short stories we meet among others; homicidal children, a giant man-eating turtle lurking at the bottom of a lake, a family of cannibals, a witch bent on revenging her spurned love, a golem raised for one deadly goal, a love-struck werewolf facing off leather-clad bikers, and, to cap off the menagerie, the singular “poop-punk” icon, GG Allen. The stories in the book are certainly original, and some even manage — in a “Who thinks up this stuff?” way — to be unsettling.
Nicholas Day says he likes writing “weird stories” and it shows. The book’s weakness is a corollary of that fondness. The stories in it seethe with enthusiasm which often gets in the way of the plot, resulting in instances of what feels like performative weirdness. But it is hard to be overly critical of Day. In the Foreword, he admits Now That We’re Alone is a “collage of early works,” and was an opportunity for him “to shed some skin.” There is nothing wrong in that. I only wish he’d been neater doing so.
Overall, Now That We’re Alone is an interesting read. Although not as transgressive as it tries to present itself, the book is a welcome if trifle addition to the horror genre.
I’d want to read Day’s future works.
Read
February 16, 2021Thank you to @BookTasters & to Nicholas Day for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Now That We're Alone is a compilation of eleven short horror stories. I had no prior experience with the work of this author.
I really enjoyed this book and the fact that I enjoyed it so much made me wonder a little bit if I should be concerned about my own psyche. I generally prefer my horror to be more of the "something went bump in the night" and less of the out and out gore fest (zombies excepted). This book of stories contained a range of both themes.
The book opened with a literal bang and I am not ashamed to say I was caught totally off guard with "This is Why Johnny is in Therapy Now". Incredibly unsettling (at least to me) and a great opener.
I was not disappointed by any of the stories that followed. In fact, at points in some of them, if I had been reading a hardcopy book, I would have slammed it shut and thrown it on the sofa while I tried to erase the images now seared into my brain. This was not a book I could read in the late evening.
"The Ghosts in Winter's Wake", "Spoiling" and "Jacks" were my three favourites of the collections.
Overall, the book was a quick and entertaining read. If you are a horror genre aficionado and are not familiar with this author, you should definitely give it a whirl.
Now That We're Alone is a compilation of eleven short horror stories. I had no prior experience with the work of this author.
I really enjoyed this book and the fact that I enjoyed it so much made me wonder a little bit if I should be concerned about my own psyche. I generally prefer my horror to be more of the "something went bump in the night" and less of the out and out gore fest (zombies excepted). This book of stories contained a range of both themes.
The book opened with a literal bang and I am not ashamed to say I was caught totally off guard with "This is Why Johnny is in Therapy Now". Incredibly unsettling (at least to me) and a great opener.
I was not disappointed by any of the stories that followed. In fact, at points in some of them, if I had been reading a hardcopy book, I would have slammed it shut and thrown it on the sofa while I tried to erase the images now seared into my brain. This was not a book I could read in the late evening.
"The Ghosts in Winter's Wake", "Spoiling" and "Jacks" were my three favourites of the collections.
Overall, the book was a quick and entertaining read. If you are a horror genre aficionado and are not familiar with this author, you should definitely give it a whirl.
September 29, 2019
I am not a big fan of horror, though I do like to read some every once in a while. The short stories in these book were spooky good, I can tell you that!
I loved that the real monsters of the book were ordinary people, like it is explained in the story of "Bright Red Mess." All the stories for me were uncanny. They filled me up with fear, surprise, and suspense, without going all the way to horror gore which is not enjoyable for me.
All the stories are unique, filling you with anticipation into what is going to happen, and always managing to surprise to what actually happens in the story. I enjoyed every single story very much.
The illustration were on par with what the stories are about. A very good introduction to each story in the best of ways. I don't believe the stories would have been as effective, they have not had these illustrations.
Favorite stories were "This Is Why Johnny Is In Therapy now", which is a brilliant introduction to what you are about to read in the book, and "Bright Red Mess" of course.
A very good book to choose when you want to get spooked!
I loved that the real monsters of the book were ordinary people, like it is explained in the story of "Bright Red Mess." All the stories for me were uncanny. They filled me up with fear, surprise, and suspense, without going all the way to horror gore which is not enjoyable for me.
All the stories are unique, filling you with anticipation into what is going to happen, and always managing to surprise to what actually happens in the story. I enjoyed every single story very much.
The illustration were on par with what the stories are about. A very good introduction to each story in the best of ways. I don't believe the stories would have been as effective, they have not had these illustrations.
Favorite stories were "This Is Why Johnny Is In Therapy now", which is a brilliant introduction to what you are about to read in the book, and "Bright Red Mess" of course.
A very good book to choose when you want to get spooked!
August 23, 2019
3.5 stars
Now That We’re Alone is a collection of 11 short stories written by Nicholas Day. Each story is unique, and the stories cover a wide range of topics including ghosts, loneliness, witches, violence, cannibalism and so much more. Each story has a different style and feel to it and different characters. This isn’t necessarily the type of book I would typically read but the cover image and title grabbed my attention. The stories are written beautifully and are indeed entertaining. A few that stood out to me include This is Why Johnny is in Therapy, Beast Mode and Bright Red Mess. I really enjoyed the Afterword section where Nicholas discusses the behind the scenes of his story and where his ideas came from. Thank you to BookTasters and Nicholas Day for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now That We’re Alone is a collection of 11 short stories written by Nicholas Day. Each story is unique, and the stories cover a wide range of topics including ghosts, loneliness, witches, violence, cannibalism and so much more. Each story has a different style and feel to it and different characters. This isn’t necessarily the type of book I would typically read but the cover image and title grabbed my attention. The stories are written beautifully and are indeed entertaining. A few that stood out to me include This is Why Johnny is in Therapy, Beast Mode and Bright Red Mess. I really enjoyed the Afterword section where Nicholas discusses the behind the scenes of his story and where his ideas came from. Thank you to BookTasters and Nicholas Day for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2019
Nicholas Day is not normal. He has created a book of short stories that demonstrates how scary he can be. The dedication in this book says “this is what happens when you let a little kid watch too many horror movies”. What a warning! It is a collection of shivery, hair on the back of the neck stands up stories from an author clearly attuned to the horror genre. These stories will keep you up and make you wonder what horror is next.
This collection doesn’t have a central theme. I believe that is what makes it better. Like riding a roller coaster in the dark, you don’t know what will come next. Nicholas Day is also very imaginative. Writing a horror story that spans 666 years is unique and illustrates the talent of the author.
Lock your doors, turn on all the lights, grab this book and go get creeped out!
This collection doesn’t have a central theme. I believe that is what makes it better. Like riding a roller coaster in the dark, you don’t know what will come next. Nicholas Day is also very imaginative. Writing a horror story that spans 666 years is unique and illustrates the talent of the author.
Lock your doors, turn on all the lights, grab this book and go get creeped out!
May 9, 2020
ARC provided by the Author
(3 stars) What the hell did I just read.
I am honestly confused.
Now that We're Alone is a bizarro horror short story collection. And ye its definitely Bizzare.
The stories got one of 3 reactions from me. Some of the stories spooked me and I liked those the most. Some of the stories made me question why I was reading this book and others didn't do anything.
My favorites are Spoiling and Jacks. My least favorites Chomp Chomp and GG Allin and the final flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium.
If you like bizzaro/horror short stories I really think you'd enjoy these. The writing was good and was different in most stories which made every story feel unique, but it wasn't really for me.
(3 stars) What the hell did I just read.
I am honestly confused.
Now that We're Alone is a bizarro horror short story collection. And ye its definitely Bizzare.
The stories got one of 3 reactions from me. Some of the stories spooked me and I liked those the most. Some of the stories made me question why I was reading this book and others didn't do anything.
My favorites are Spoiling and Jacks. My least favorites Chomp Chomp and GG Allin and the final flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium.
If you like bizzaro/horror short stories I really think you'd enjoy these. The writing was good and was different in most stories which made every story feel unique, but it wasn't really for me.
March 25, 2019
To be honest, I am not that much into horror things..they don't seem much interesting unless they have some real thrills beside the regular "horror things". "Now That We're Alone" by Nicholas Day was recommended to me and I thought okay let's give it a try. The book wouldn't take long to finish, specially since you will kind off desperately (in a good way) want to know the end of each story. Unfortunately I was a bit sick and had to wait a few more days. But this book has been quite an entertainer in my shot breaks. Worth reading if you are in the mood for some short horror stories to pastime.
March 28, 2019
Delighted to discover an author who really delivers a great story. This collection covers a nice range from ghostly, psychological horror with at least one (Jacks) being flat out terrifying, and a few more on the unrestrained gruesome side, and all of them composed with a subtle sense of humor.
Mr. Day has also written screenplays and he has that skill I admire and look for in a captivating tale - the ability to let me see and feel what's happening in a gripping, first hand way, yet using an original, entertaining, intelligent use of words.
I've learned that he is writing a mystery novel next, and I really look forward to reading that as well.
Mr. Day has also written screenplays and he has that skill I admire and look for in a captivating tale - the ability to let me see and feel what's happening in a gripping, first hand way, yet using an original, entertaining, intelligent use of words.
I've learned that he is writing a mystery novel next, and I really look forward to reading that as well.
June 3, 2019
Now that we are alone
Nicholas Day
“Now that we are alone”, we can talk about this collection of eleven stories.
Once you start reading, you will not be prepared to what follows.
We all have heard about strange stories or events that happened here or there, Nicholas Day takes us in high speed railway of emotions, that range from surprise, erotism, disgust, fear, tenderness, anger, astonishment, and terror.
The scenarios, the real characters, and the details given in this amusing and the author's enticing writing will give you a reading experience as a roller coaster ride, filled with thrilling emotions and eager to have another round.
Nicholas Day
“Now that we are alone”, we can talk about this collection of eleven stories.
Once you start reading, you will not be prepared to what follows.
We all have heard about strange stories or events that happened here or there, Nicholas Day takes us in high speed railway of emotions, that range from surprise, erotism, disgust, fear, tenderness, anger, astonishment, and terror.
The scenarios, the real characters, and the details given in this amusing and the author's enticing writing will give you a reading experience as a roller coaster ride, filled with thrilling emotions and eager to have another round.
October 28, 2020
Short stories are always hard to write, I believe. The writer made great build ups and the story felt to short and almost unsatisfied, which, I have to say,.if done write, works great in horror. It felt as if I swallowed nightmares that might not give me jump scares at the moment, but I carry them in the pit of my stomach. At any moment in my life, I can be reminded of a father that ate it's son. Any moment I can be buying sugar in walmart and be reminded of his work.
Horror should never be happily ever after and leave you satisfied...
I also really like the Author's writing style.
However, I do believe the stories could have been longer, each story could have offered just a bit more.
Horror should never be happily ever after and leave you satisfied...
I also really like the Author's writing style.
However, I do believe the stories could have been longer, each story could have offered just a bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2019
Now That We’re Alone is a collection of 10 short horror stories and one poem. Or perhaps better described as a collection of the weird.
I rarely read short stories as it’s tough to find a collection that is full of gems. This book is no exception but it does have some really interesting stories – I particularly enjoyed The Ghosts in Winter’s Wake, Chomp Chomp, Spoiling, my Unshaped Form, Beast Mode and my favourite GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium.
Definitely worth reading for these stories alone and I would have a look at any future Novel.
I rarely read short stories as it’s tough to find a collection that is full of gems. This book is no exception but it does have some really interesting stories – I particularly enjoyed The Ghosts in Winter’s Wake, Chomp Chomp, Spoiling, my Unshaped Form, Beast Mode and my favourite GG Allin and the Final Flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium.
Definitely worth reading for these stories alone and I would have a look at any future Novel.
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May 25, 2020Very intriguing stories. I'm not a fan of horror books but I enjoyed this. All the stories were well crafted.
This collection consists of a poem and 10 short stories. Nicholas Day started with 'This Is Why Johnny Is In Therapy Now', he totally expressed poetry in a different form.
'Chomp Chomp' is my favourite. A monster giant killer turtle?! I just had to imagine it. Nicholas Day is an awesome storyteller.
I'm glad I picked this book, thanks to Booktasters. I decided to try something different and I liked it.
This collection consists of a poem and 10 short stories. Nicholas Day started with 'This Is Why Johnny Is In Therapy Now', he totally expressed poetry in a different form.
'Chomp Chomp' is my favourite. A monster giant killer turtle?! I just had to imagine it. Nicholas Day is an awesome storyteller.
I'm glad I picked this book, thanks to Booktasters. I decided to try something different and I liked it.
October 20, 2020
First of all, I would like to say this book is good and horrorly interesting to read even though it is not my cup of tea. Each of the chapters tells a different story which will make the reader chilled to the bone. Thumbs up to the author for being a great storyteller that managed to captured the readers' attention, and made them glued to the book till the end. It is quite impressive because only a talented writer able to do it. Therefore, I totally recommend this book for you to read and have on your shelves.
September 25, 2017
A great collecton of stories that never limits itself to a specific genre. Style wise, each tale differs greatly from the previous one so the book never becomes boring. Chomp Chomp, my favorite of the bunch, is a story about youth and tragedy and growing up, it's an emotional juggernaut that hits quick and hard. GG Allin and the final flight of the Chrysanthemum Byzantium is the last one and is immensly entertaining. Looking forward to reading more from the author
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