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The third collection of fiction by C.M. Saunders featuring revised versions of stories taken from the pages of The Literary Hatchet, Siren's Call, Morpheus Tales, Gore Magazine, Indie Writer's Review and several anthologies. Also includes two previously unpublished stories, extensive notes, and exclusive artwork by the award-winning artist Greg Chapman. Meet the airline passenger who makes an alarming discovery, the boy who takes on an evil troll, an ageing couple facing the apocalypse, a jaded music hack on the trail of the Next Big Thing, the gambler taking one last spin, and many more. Full The Final Curtain ‘Til Death do us Part Gwraig Annwn The Delectable Hearts The Answer in Darkness What Happened to Huw Silverthorne What Happened Next Altitude Sickness Switchblade Sunday Slots-a-Pain The Elementals & I Afterword
- GenresHorror
111 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2018
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Saunders
67 books75 followersChristian Saunders, a constant reader who writes fiction as C.M. Saunders, is a freelance journalist and editor from south Wales. His work has appeared in almost 100 magazines, ezines and anthologies worldwide including Fortean Times, the Literary Hatchet, ParABnormal, Fantastic Horror, Haunted MTL, Feverish Fiction and Crimson Streets, and he has held staff positions at several leading UK magazines ranging from Staff Writer to Associate Editor. His books have been both traditionally and independently published, the latest release being Tethered on Terror Tract Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 6, 2018
Genre - Horror/Anthology
Pages - 58
Publication Info - April 13, 2018
Format - Digital
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A few months ago I read ‘100 Word Horrors: An Anthology of Horror Drabbles’ by Various Authors. C. M. Saunders was one of those authors. So, when he contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in reading his latest collection ‘X3’ the third collection in the series of short stories I was more than happy to take a look. 10 well rounded, imaginative, creepy, dark tales emerged from the pages to scare, titillate, tantalize and terrorize. One tale was actually marked by evil by being 666 words long...a very nice mixture of stories from trolls under the bridge, to Welsh mythology. A quick but deadly read. Very much recommend and enjoyed this collection. I look forward to ready more of C.M. Saunders very soon.
From the back cover: “The third collection of fiction by C.M. Saunders featuring revised versions of stories taken from the pages of The Literary Hatchet, Siren's Call, Morpheus Tales, Gore Magazine, Indie Writer's Review and several anthologies. Also includes two previously unpublished stories, extensive notes, and exclusive artwork by the award-winning artist Greg Chapman.
Meet the airline passenger who makes an alarming discovery, the boy who takes on an evil troll, an ageing couple facing the apocalypse, a jaded music hack on the trail of the Next Big Thing, the gambler taking one last spin, and many more.”
About the Author (from Amazon author page): Christian Saunders, who writes fiction as C.M. Saunders, began writing in 1997, his early fiction appearing in several small-press titles and anthologies. His first book, Into the Dragon's Lair - A Supernatural History of Wales was published in 2003. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Southampton Solent university he worked extensively in the freelance market, contributing to numerous international publications including Fortean Times, Chat, Its Fate! Bizarre, Urban Ink, Enigma, Record Collector, Nuts and Maxim, and a regular column to the Western Mail newspaper. He has also held desk jobs at several newsstand magazines including Nuts, Forever Sports and Coach.
Since returning to dark fiction he has had stories published in Screams of Terror, Shallow Graves, Dark Valentine, Fantastic Horror, Unbroken Waters, Gore magazine, The Literary Hatchet and others, as well as several anthologies. These works have been collected in his X series of short fiction, which currently stands at three volumes. His novellas Apartment 14F: An Oriental Ghost Story, Out of Time, Dead of Night, Devil's Island and Human Waste are available now, as is his acclaimed historical novel Sker House.
Pages - 58
Publication Info - April 13, 2018
Format - Digital
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A few months ago I read ‘100 Word Horrors: An Anthology of Horror Drabbles’ by Various Authors. C. M. Saunders was one of those authors. So, when he contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in reading his latest collection ‘X3’ the third collection in the series of short stories I was more than happy to take a look. 10 well rounded, imaginative, creepy, dark tales emerged from the pages to scare, titillate, tantalize and terrorize. One tale was actually marked by evil by being 666 words long...a very nice mixture of stories from trolls under the bridge, to Welsh mythology. A quick but deadly read. Very much recommend and enjoyed this collection. I look forward to ready more of C.M. Saunders very soon.
From the back cover: “The third collection of fiction by C.M. Saunders featuring revised versions of stories taken from the pages of The Literary Hatchet, Siren's Call, Morpheus Tales, Gore Magazine, Indie Writer's Review and several anthologies. Also includes two previously unpublished stories, extensive notes, and exclusive artwork by the award-winning artist Greg Chapman.
Meet the airline passenger who makes an alarming discovery, the boy who takes on an evil troll, an ageing couple facing the apocalypse, a jaded music hack on the trail of the Next Big Thing, the gambler taking one last spin, and many more.”
About the Author (from Amazon author page): Christian Saunders, who writes fiction as C.M. Saunders, began writing in 1997, his early fiction appearing in several small-press titles and anthologies. His first book, Into the Dragon's Lair - A Supernatural History of Wales was published in 2003. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Southampton Solent university he worked extensively in the freelance market, contributing to numerous international publications including Fortean Times, Chat, Its Fate! Bizarre, Urban Ink, Enigma, Record Collector, Nuts and Maxim, and a regular column to the Western Mail newspaper. He has also held desk jobs at several newsstand magazines including Nuts, Forever Sports and Coach.
Since returning to dark fiction he has had stories published in Screams of Terror, Shallow Graves, Dark Valentine, Fantastic Horror, Unbroken Waters, Gore magazine, The Literary Hatchet and others, as well as several anthologies. These works have been collected in his X series of short fiction, which currently stands at three volumes. His novellas Apartment 14F: An Oriental Ghost Story, Out of Time, Dead of Night, Devil's Island and Human Waste are available now, as is his acclaimed historical novel Sker House.
April 12, 2018
X3 by C. M. Saunders
In his third collection, Mr. Saunders once again stretches our imagination and leaves us with plenty to ponder. Questions such as "Do curses really exist and can they be effectual?" "What is REALLY beneath that old stone bridge in rural Wales?" {And do I really want to know?} "How many bands have done what the Delectable Hearts did--and has my favourite band {fill in name}?" Then there's also poetic justice: "Slots-a-Pain," "Altitude Sickness," "What Happened Next"; the Cosmic Horror of "The Elementals and I"; and the answer to Life Itself, in "The Answer in Darkness." I know I'll be staying awake pondering these questions; won't you join me?
In his third collection, Mr. Saunders once again stretches our imagination and leaves us with plenty to ponder. Questions such as "Do curses really exist and can they be effectual?" "What is REALLY beneath that old stone bridge in rural Wales?" {And do I really want to know?} "How many bands have done what the Delectable Hearts did--and has my favourite band {fill in name}?" Then there's also poetic justice: "Slots-a-Pain," "Altitude Sickness," "What Happened Next"; the Cosmic Horror of "The Elementals and I"; and the answer to Life Itself, in "The Answer in Darkness." I know I'll be staying awake pondering these questions; won't you join me?
November 6, 2025
3.75 rounded to 4 because there were more stories that I liked than not.
June 29, 2021
3.5 stars
Short book of short stories. Enjoyed them without anything really standing out. As with the author's collection X4, there are no bad stories, no great stories, but several pretty good ones.
Short book of short stories. Enjoyed them without anything really standing out. As with the author's collection X4, there are no bad stories, no great stories, but several pretty good ones.
August 2, 2023
A fantastic collection with not a bad story in the bunch. All were fantastic stories that spanned different facets of horror, both real world and more supernatural. My favourites in this collection were Gwraig Annwn and What Happened to Huw Silverthorne, both for their folkloric elements.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews