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Arithmophobia
Arithmophobia is a collection of short stories that leads you on a journey to consider the sometimes haunting, sometimes humorous impact of numbers. Whether it be the value we assign to our lot in life, a date on a calendar, or the numerical magic that mother-nature can offer, Arithmophobia’s nine stories examine the magic and mystery that begins at the intersection of life and a single digit. Adam is a young preacher, with a loving wife and a child on the way. His family, his congregation, and his affinity for one particular science fiction movie are enough to keep him happy with his life. But when a new member of that congregation begins to haunt him at seemingly the worst possible moments, he begins to question the weight of his life’s responsibilities. Can he handle being “the one” – the one so many look to in times of need? Detective Oswald Quinn is not so happy with life. His marriage has not turned out quite as happy as Adam’s, but his responsibilities have become just as heavy. The latest of these burdens have led him to the investigation of a serial killer who seems to seek perfection in the number 3. Meanwhile, Scott seems completely unburdened by responsibility, save for his endless pursuit for a full glass at the bar. The drinks should be flowing freely on May 5, or “Cinco de Mayo”. But on this date, Scott discovers a failure much more haunting than an unquenchable thirst.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 30, 2018
I have read some of Ruschelle’s work previously online and in the latest Women In Horror Annual 2 so I was curious to see what sort of collection she would come up with. I had high expectations as she writes to a high standard and I am pleased to say this was reflected throughout her book.
Arithmophobia is a Greek word meaning the fear of numbers. Each story within this collection carries the importance of a particular number as a central theme; the numbers ranging from one to nine. These stories range from the squeamishly horrific, to the horrifically tragic with a dollop of dark humour thrown in for good measure. The standard is such that it is hard to pick a favourite, but here are my standouts:
Three is as Magic as can be. A cop hunts for parents who have disappeared in strange and worrying circumstances as his own family life crumbles around him. The eventual discovery of the murderer also allows him to resolve his own personal issues and you think, ah a happy ending until you get to that final, tragic twist; a heartbreaking denouement.
Four Men on Horses. I love Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and this tale of the Four Horsemen of the (failed) Apocalypse is wonderful and strongly reminds me of his writing. War, Famine, Death and Pestilence each take on the modern human and each is defeated. The responses of man, woman and child, whether the desire to take selfies with War or happily join a new Death ‘cult’, are not what the four expect and ultimately defeats them.
Seven Colors focusses on a scientist who, whilst experimenting with light, captures himself a leprechaun … and good old-fashioned chaos ensues.
Ruschelle Dillon is certainly a woman in horror to watch out for.
Arithmophobia is a Greek word meaning the fear of numbers. Each story within this collection carries the importance of a particular number as a central theme; the numbers ranging from one to nine. These stories range from the squeamishly horrific, to the horrifically tragic with a dollop of dark humour thrown in for good measure. The standard is such that it is hard to pick a favourite, but here are my standouts:
Three is as Magic as can be. A cop hunts for parents who have disappeared in strange and worrying circumstances as his own family life crumbles around him. The eventual discovery of the murderer also allows him to resolve his own personal issues and you think, ah a happy ending until you get to that final, tragic twist; a heartbreaking denouement.
Four Men on Horses. I love Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and this tale of the Four Horsemen of the (failed) Apocalypse is wonderful and strongly reminds me of his writing. War, Famine, Death and Pestilence each take on the modern human and each is defeated. The responses of man, woman and child, whether the desire to take selfies with War or happily join a new Death ‘cult’, are not what the four expect and ultimately defeats them.
Seven Colors focusses on a scientist who, whilst experimenting with light, captures himself a leprechaun … and good old-fashioned chaos ensues.
Ruschelle Dillon is certainly a woman in horror to watch out for.
May 28, 2018
This is a quirky, unusual collection by Ruschelle Dillon, of nine horror short stories, with each story inspired by and written around the single digit numbers 1-9. As John A. Monaco writes in his Foreword ‘Numbers bring mystery. Superstition. Fear.’
It is an interesting concept; the title by the way means ‘the fear of numbers’- which many of the fictional protagonists in these 9 stories come to feel in various excruciating ways. Fear, horror, sci-fi, black humour, all blend together in Dillon’s nonet -with references to The Matrix in the first story, hints of ‘Alien’ in another tale and reminders of ‘The Stepford Wives’ (for this reader) in ‘It Takes Two’ but with a blackly humorous twist.
That is key in these stories, you, the reader can expect the unexpected. Just as you think you’ve got the ending sussed, Ruschelle Dillon veers off at a bizarre angle and takes us down weirder, darker byways. It’s a roller-coaster of a ride for the reader guided by a writer with a most distinctive voice.
Personal favourites – ‘It Takes Two’ with an ending you won’t guess; ‘These Six Walls’ – a future world filled with ‘Hive Rises’ and their inhabitants and ‘A Perfect Eight’, where Octopussies rule and sisterly love mutates .
Dip a toe in Dillon’s smart, bloody, terrible waters.
It is an interesting concept; the title by the way means ‘the fear of numbers’- which many of the fictional protagonists in these 9 stories come to feel in various excruciating ways. Fear, horror, sci-fi, black humour, all blend together in Dillon’s nonet -with references to The Matrix in the first story, hints of ‘Alien’ in another tale and reminders of ‘The Stepford Wives’ (for this reader) in ‘It Takes Two’ but with a blackly humorous twist.
That is key in these stories, you, the reader can expect the unexpected. Just as you think you’ve got the ending sussed, Ruschelle Dillon veers off at a bizarre angle and takes us down weirder, darker byways. It’s a roller-coaster of a ride for the reader guided by a writer with a most distinctive voice.
Personal favourites – ‘It Takes Two’ with an ending you won’t guess; ‘These Six Walls’ – a future world filled with ‘Hive Rises’ and their inhabitants and ‘A Perfect Eight’, where Octopussies rule and sisterly love mutates .
Dip a toe in Dillon’s smart, bloody, terrible waters.
November 8, 2018
I'm a sucker for a short story collection, but I'm also a harsh critic of them. What makes a good collection is the author's ability to write many stories that are each unique and with its own voice. Many times all the stories sound the same and I get bored by the third one.
Ruschelle Dillion has created an entertainingly creepy and eclectic collection of dark fantasy fiction in her book Arithmophobia.
First things first, Arithmophobia is the fear of numbers. Here is a link if you want to know more. I was intrigued by the cover...I love the way the ship looks like a tiara on her head, and who doesn't love an octopus? But the cover only represents one of the stories, the number 8, if you're wondering. Combine that with the cool theme of the collection (the numbers 1-9) and I was hooked.
What a delightful read. The stories are Twilight Zone/Tales of the Crypt entertainment. Each has a twisted dark edge. Some lean more towards horror and others more towards dark humor and no two stories are the same.
If you enjoy that kind of thing Arithmophobia is worth a read!
The book/eBook being reviewed was provided for an honest review, and that no compensation was provided.
4.5 "wickedly fun" Sheep
https://goo.gl/YfDcTZ
Ruschelle Dillion has created an entertainingly creepy and eclectic collection of dark fantasy fiction in her book Arithmophobia.
First things first, Arithmophobia is the fear of numbers. Here is a link if you want to know more. I was intrigued by the cover...I love the way the ship looks like a tiara on her head, and who doesn't love an octopus? But the cover only represents one of the stories, the number 8, if you're wondering. Combine that with the cool theme of the collection (the numbers 1-9) and I was hooked.
What a delightful read. The stories are Twilight Zone/Tales of the Crypt entertainment. Each has a twisted dark edge. Some lean more towards horror and others more towards dark humor and no two stories are the same.
If you enjoy that kind of thing Arithmophobia is worth a read!
The book/eBook being reviewed was provided for an honest review, and that no compensation was provided.
4.5 "wickedly fun" Sheep
https://goo.gl/YfDcTZ
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May 1, 2020What is it about numbers, anyway?
From that very first sentence in John A Monaco’s introduction until the very last sentence in the final story, I enjoyed this odd, occasionally funny and more often disturbing collection. Arithmophobia is the irrational fear of numbers, and Ruschelle’s collection, each story dealing with a particular number, is unlikely to attract any arithmophobes.
I found a lot to like in this book, not least the combination of genres. There is a plethora of interesting characters, from a preacher obsessed with the movie The Matrix to an alien invasion of a different sort. Along the road, we visit a search for the perfect family, a group of humiliated horsemen, people living like insects and a mischievous leprechaun, among others. But I don’t want to give too much away. I enjoyed especially the humorous tales—they’re not the ones you’d expect to be funny—and some had me laughing out loud. My only gripe was that occasionally I feel the editor may have been asleep at his job, leaving us lines like "Both girls completed their respected (instead of "respective") chores." A very good read, with both humour and more than a few disquieting moments.
From that very first sentence in John A Monaco’s introduction until the very last sentence in the final story, I enjoyed this odd, occasionally funny and more often disturbing collection. Arithmophobia is the irrational fear of numbers, and Ruschelle’s collection, each story dealing with a particular number, is unlikely to attract any arithmophobes.
I found a lot to like in this book, not least the combination of genres. There is a plethora of interesting characters, from a preacher obsessed with the movie The Matrix to an alien invasion of a different sort. Along the road, we visit a search for the perfect family, a group of humiliated horsemen, people living like insects and a mischievous leprechaun, among others. But I don’t want to give too much away. I enjoyed especially the humorous tales—they’re not the ones you’d expect to be funny—and some had me laughing out loud. My only gripe was that occasionally I feel the editor may have been asleep at his job, leaving us lines like "Both girls completed their respected (instead of "respective") chores." A very good read, with both humour and more than a few disquieting moments.
June 7, 2021
Yet again, Ruschelle delivers creativity and imagination with this collection of short stories. If you weren't scared of numbers before, you would be after reading this. There is a story in there for everyone, whether you like sci-fi or crime style horror or even a comedy horror involving the four horsemen. This book will have you wanting more; she did an incredible job at thinking outside the box. I loved it so much I did a video review on YouTube. So I give this a massive 10/10 for story structure, character models and lots of twisty endings mixed in.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews