Suspended in Dusk II

Suspended in Dusk #2

by Simon Dewar (Editor), Angela Slatter (Introduction), Ramsey Campbell

Life is change. Change forces us into the light or the dark. Dusk is the time in between. It defends the light from the dark. It's the tipping point. Where things go well. Or where thy go very, very bad. Confront change. But you must first survive dusk.

Suspended in Dusk II continues the legacy of editor Simon Dewar's anthology series. The second volume is introduced by Angela Slatter and includes fiction from Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Graham Jones, Bracken MacLeod, Damien Angelica Walters, Alan Baxter, Paul Tremblay, Sarah Read, Christopher Golden, Nerine Dorman, Dan Rabarts, Gwendolyn Kiste, Benjamin Knox, Annie Neugebauer, J.C. Michael, Letitia Trent, Paul Michael Anderson and Karen Runge.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2018

About the author

Simon Dewar was born and bred in Canberra, Australia. He lives there with his wife and 3 daughters.

Simon is the editor for the Suspended in Dusk anthology series from Books of the Dead Press.

His own fiction published in the Bloody Parchment: The Root Cellar and Other Stories, The Sea by Crossroads Press, Death’s Realm from Grey Matter Press, Morbid Metamorphosis from Lycan Valley Press and others.

By day, he is an ICT systems engineer; by night he writes, and edits, the literature of anxiety.

You may find him on twitter @herodfel

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong night owl, night time is my favorite time—it’s when I’m most alert, happiest, and when I function the best. The best part of nighttime is dusk, when I can watch the world slowly begin to quiet around me as the sun dips below the horizon, the air chills, and everything takes on this hushed tone of mystery, curiosity, and adventure—or, as we see in this collection, maybe something a little more sinister, a little tougher to understand.

“This time of dusk—the time between times—is the time between the light and the dark. This grey area that we all find ourselves in from time to time is the fulcrum, the tipping point. This tipping point is the penultimate moment of change—where things either come good, or go badly, badly wrong.”
—Simon Dewar

Suspended in Dusk II is a horror collection of stories that all somehow involve this odd, captivating time of day—whether it’s through symbolism or fact, mysticism gone wrong or one’s impending demise approaching as the light fades. It’s a delightfully enjoyable collection, full of authors I recognized and loved as well as names altogether new to me, and I can absolutely recommend it to any fans of horror, but especially anyone looking for new indie horror authors to support.

Something else I have to gush about here is the fact that, right in the foreword of the anthology, it’s mentioned that the collection of authors involved is very diverse—authors here range from multiple gender identities, sexualities, races, religions, and backgrounds. Given that horror literature is viewed by so many as a white man’s sport, it’s always refreshing to put the spotlight on women and marginalized individuals in the community, and I appreciate Dewar’s efforts on that front tremendously!

Now, for my favorites:
→ THE SUNDOWNERS by Damien Angelica Walters, in which an elderly woman is convinced that people have taken her husband from her and are plotting against her.
→ RIPTIDE by Dan Rabarts, a story full of Maori lore and the tragedy that has befallen a man seeking his lost children.
→ DEALING IN SHADOWS by Annie Neugebauer, where we watch a woman mourning her father’s death consider striking a deal with Shadow People to get one last moment with him.
→ WANTS AND NEEDS by Paul Michael Anderson, a devastating story of a woman left to face a blizzard on her own after the death of her son and the end of her marriage.
→ LOVE IS A CAVITY I CAN’T STOP TOUCHING by Stephen Graham Jones, which revisits the memories of a man who, as a teen, shared a bonding moment with his girlfriend that involved consuming bits of one another’s flesh, and the ways that moment has shaped the rest of his life.

While these four were the stand-out titles to me, I gave almost every story in this collection 3-5 stars, and even the ones that didn’t work out as well for me were due to personal taste and not a lack of talent in any shape or form. All in all, Suspended in Dusk II is a skillfully crafted collection of spooky tales.

Content warnings for child death (several stories), pedophilia, child stalking, abuse, cannibalism, addiction, suicide, ableism, homophobic slurs

Thank you so much to the editor for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"DUSK DEFENDS THE LIGHT FROM THE DARK. SOMETIMES...

Life is nothing if not constant change. And these changes force us to make terrifying choices that will lead us into either the light or the dark. Dusk is this tipping point, where things go well, or where they go very, very bad."

I loved reading the Editor's Foreward by Simon Dewar and Angela Slatter's Intro because both of their thoughts served to set the tone for the stories in this collection. They also helped me to keep a loose idea of the theme in my head while I was partaking of the various stories-it was entertaining to look for the common threads.

I like to highlight my favorite stories in an anthology and say a few words about them-that way people reading this review can approach my (non spoiler) opinions with either a growing interest to pick this one up for themselves OR an invitation to discuss their favorites from the collection.

SUSPENDED IN DUSK starts off with ANGELINE by Karen Runge. This is the first time I've read anything from Karen and I can't think of a better story to ignite my appetite for more.
In just about 15 pages, Karen was able to dive into the deep end with a character named Angeline. This story was just a slice in the characters life but the glimpses the reader gets into this woman's mind are so painfully raw and intimate--I was floored by it, honestly. One of the best stories here.

CRYING DEMON by Alan Baxter
Aussie Author, Alan Baxter has quickly become a new favorite of mine. I always know, going into one of his stories, that I'm in very capable, writing hands. I love his author voice!
This story, from the beginning, had this sour feeling that something bad was going to happen. It was particularly intense for me since the main characters were about the same age as my son-so I was already invested with some built-in "mom concern" for the situation. Alan had his hand on the temperature control and steadily kept turning up the heat until the end--and wow! That ending. This one unsettled me BAD. I even had to do a quick check on my son to make sure he was "just playing video games". Terrifying read.

STILL LIFE WITH NATALIE by Sarah Read
I read THE BONE WEAVER'S ORCHARD, a novel released this year (2019) and now I'm a huge fan! This story was totally written in Sarah's unique author's voice that I came to love over the course of reading her novel. She has a brilliant way with words that paint pictures in my mind--very detailed and descriptive prose. This one had an unexpected, startling conclusion that lingered with me for the day. Loved it.

LOVE IS A CAVITY I CAN'T STOP TOUCHING by Stephen Graham Jones
This story is so disturbing. I mean, on the surface of it--it appears very sweet and almost innocent but it's not. It's not innocent or sweet. It's dark and insidious. It creeps up on you like a tendril and then WHAM--it attacks you with a solid, creepy ending that just leaves you reeling. I kind of sat there and was like, "Wait--what did he just say? What's he doing? What is going to do??" and I read it like three times, each time getting more and more creeped out. I love SGJ! He's so unexpected with his storylines.

THERE'S NO LIGHT BETWEEN FLOORS by Paul Tremblay
In classic Tremblay form, this story was both emotional and terrifying. It played off my claustrophobia so effectively, I almost had to stop reading a few times just because I could feel my blood pressure rising and my chest getting that restrictive feeling that gives me anxiety.
I love that Paul taps those subtle fears--the ones that hit so close to home.

THE MOURNFUL CRY OF OWLS by Christopher Golden
I love a good folklore tale, especially with a modern setting. This one was especially creepy because while I love owls, they're my favorite bird next to crows, I am still a little creeped out by them and there was some descriptive language in here about the 'shtriga' that really unnerved me.

WANTS AND NEEDS by Paul Michael Anderson
I'll show up for *anything* PMA wants to offer me. He owns the corner pocket of emotional horror/grief horror. I can't explain the way his stories make me feel but every time I start reading his prose, I know it's him. He evokes very visceral, raw emotion with his storytelling. This one is no exception. Do yourself a favor and get his collection, BONES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.

AN ELEGY FOR CHILDHOOD MONSTERS by Gwendolyn Kiste
Two sisters have to fight off a monster in their room night after night.
I.
LOVED.
THIS.
STORY.
One of my favorites in the collection. I'd recommend this whole anthology JUST for this story alone. Gwendolyn is my go-to horror author for amazing female protagonists.

LYING IN THE SUN ON A FAIRY TALE DAY by Bracken MacLeod
This story killed me. It's good that it was the last story because I was wrecked.
Oops. This one might be my favorite in the anthology. Damn, it would be hard to choose. Bracken is a forever favorite author. I swear the man can write *anything*. Literally any genre. Any style. Any subject. He is so comfortable with his voice and his narrative ability that as soon as I start reading, I feel totally in the zone every damn time. Truly one of the best in the genre right now. Insta-buy author.

This is a must have anthology! But like Lavar Burton always says, you don't have to take my word for it! (This is Horror also just recognized it as a best anthology for 2018 and I voted for it to win!)

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his foreword, Simon Dewar discusses the themes behind the period of dusk, noting that this is a moment of change, a "time between times", when light turns dark, when good can turn bad. It's a flashpoint for life and death, an instant where the inevitable can turn on a dime, where one's greatest fears or greatest hopes can be realized, a time when people are forever altered and either ruined or reborn. Collected in Suspended in Dusk II are 17 stories that realize these instances of change, to varying degrees. Some are poignant, others are subtle, and all work together to make this a seriously strong anthology of dark fiction.

Much of this strength lies in this anthology's commitment to diversity. Plenty of hay has been made, in certain social media circles, over the lack of inclusiveness in certain high-profile anthologies recently announced and how, in 2018, certain publishers, editors, or compilers could release an all-white male anthology and completely ignore the breadth of voices dark fiction has to offer. Suspended in Dusk II makes no such mistake, giving readers a number of strong voices from across the gender and sexual spectrum. Dewar has collected here several powerful women, writers whose names may be instantly recognizable and lesser-known talents who deserve to become household names, people of color, authors with a wide range of religious affiliations or no religion at all, from a handful of continents. Each, of course, are storytellers first and foremost, but their works carry a certain depth and breadth of experience to challenge publishing's oftentimes default homogeneity.

Take, for instance, Dan Rabarts's Riptide. Rabarts is a New Zealand author, and his story of loss and revenge is built upon the foundations of Māori mythology as a bereaved father and widower battles a taniwha. Gwendolyn Kiste tackles issues of childhood abuse and sexual trauma through an allegorical tale of monsters. Karen Runge, too, tackles similar subjects and their fetishization in this anthology's opening story, Angeline. It's a powerful opener, and Runge's writing is flat-out wonderful. I haven't read Runge's work previously, but you rest assured her novel Seeing Double will be in my hands soon.

Suspended in Dusk II runs the gamut of dark fiction. Not every piece included here is a work of straight-up horror, although it's certainly an element common to most of the stories here. Some are more subtle horrors drawn from the tapestry of life, or death in the case of Bracken MacLeod's story of an injured hiker. Christopher Golden's The Mournful Cry of Owls is a fantastical coming-of-age story, and an incredibly well-drawn one at that, told from the perspective of a 15-year-old girl about to celebrate her Sweet 16, as she passes through the dusk separating adolescence from adulthood and the secrets in between. Others carry overtones of the apocalypse, such as Paul Tremblay's There's No Light Between Floors, a sort-of 9/11 event with Lovecraftian overtones, and Ramsey Campbell's Another World. Campbell's in particular is an excellent use of a decidedly foreign perspective, whose central character encounters our modern world through the filter of religious extremism. Letitia Trent takes her own tract on another world, giving us an encounter with infected, rabid children cast out into the wild and fenced off from society.

Dewar does a fine job balancing the tonal rhythms and themes of each story, giving the anthology a unique pulse. The stories dovetail between their similarities and differences, giving readers slight arcs across the narratives, book-ending them all between Runge's and MacLeod's wildly different, yet thematically similar, stories of a central figure cast out, either by choice or by circumstance, into the wild and left to survive by their own wits, suspended in a moment of dusk.

[Note: I received an advanced reader's copy of this work from the publisher, Grey Matter Press.]

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the editor in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars.

Dusk has always been my favorite time of day. When dusk approaches it's that moment when the sun sinks behind the horizon that feels like the earth is finally becoming still and peaceful. The hustle and bustle of the day is fading, and night approaches to wrap the world in a blanket of darkness. I'm a night owl, but dusk is a moment in between, a time when the day shifts from light to dark, and the world begins to wind down. These stories reflect that shift, and how dusk is a time when the world is open to change and anything can happen.

This is a solid collection by a very diverse group of talented writers. There's No Light Between Floors by Paul Tremblay and Another World by Ramsey Campbell explore that time of change through an apocalyptic lens; one other worldly and ancient, the other through religious fervor. Love is a Cavity I Can't Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones is about two teens who experiment with expressing love, and how one of them is unable to stop reenacting their macabre exchange. Mother of Shadows by Benjamin Knox is a tense and truly creepy story about a missing girl, and the secrets a mother keeps from her family in plain sight. An Elegy for Childhood Monsters by Gwendolyn Kiste is a melancholy tale about abuse and how people learn to deal with the monsters they carry inside them. by Bracken MacLeod is a haunting tale of a hiker's bad luck. I think my favorite story in this anthology is The Mournful Cry of Owls by Christopher Golden. This story about a 16-year-old girl on the cusp of womanhood who discovers that becoming a young woman will forever change her life. It is a brilliant take on adolescent maturity.

All of the stories in this anthology are captivating. It contains some of my favorite writers, along with a number of writers who are new to me that I am eager to explore further. This one is solid and entertaining, and absolutely worth it. Spend some time in the dusk with these fantastic writers. You'll be glad you did.

[Frank Errington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Copy

Before we review the anthology, Suspended In Dusk II, I just have to comment on the cover art from the amazing Dean Samed, without a doubt, the best I've seen in 2018. Absolutely stunning. And, for the most part, the stories beneath the cover are just as good.

In Simon Dewar's foreword, he talks about dusk—"the time between light and dark. This grey area that we all find ourselves in from time to time is the fulcrum, the tipping point. This tipping point is the penultimate moment of change—where things either come good, or go badly, badly wrong. This is a fantastic place for great stories to be found, written and collected. "

Now on to the stories, featuring a truly diverse mix of writers...

Angeline by Karen Runge (author and visual artist based in South Africa) - A believable tale of a woman of the night and her varied clients. "I loved all the men who came to see me. Their frailty, their fragility. I loved them for their need, and the ways they tried to hide it."

The Sundowners by Damien Angelica Walters (twice nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two rescued pit bulls) - Alzheimer's is such a terrible tragedy, as evidenced by this story from the patient's POV.

Crying Demon by Alan Baxter (multi-award winning British-Australian author who also teaches Kung Fu) - A gripping tale of The Dark Web. Nothing frighten's me more. "'It’s a game on the Dark Web, but you have to finish it.' 'What do you mean?' Claude leaned closer to the screen, half-turning his face away even as he did so, trying to decide how authentic the image was. 'If you don’t finish, you become part of the game. Like this kid.'”

Still Life with Natalie by Sarah Read (a dark fiction writer and freelance editor now living in Wisconsin) - a surprising tale of art in still life.

Love is a Cavity I Can’t Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones (author of sixteen novels living in Boulder Colorado with his family and too many old trucks) - Wow. Unusual and gruesomely wonderful. How's this for an opening line? "When I was fourteen, I ate a cooked piece of thigh meat off my girlfriend Sherry Wilkes."

There’s No Light Between Floors by Paul Tremblay (his most recent novel is the critically acclaimed Cabin at the End of the World. He currently resides outside of Boston) - You can't go wrong with a story of the old gods.

That Damned Cat by Nerine Dorman (a South African author and editor of SFF) - "It’s not every day that a coven attempts to bring through a Duke of the Ninth Infernal Circle—especially not in a city where consorting with demons was an offense punishable by death."

Riptide by Dan Rabarts (Dan's writing and editing work have earned him both New Zealand’s Sir Julius Vogel Award and the Australian Shadows Award multiple times) - A more literary approach to horror and a sad story filled with beautiful prose.

The Immortal Dead by J.C. Michael (horror author from North Yorkshire England) - My favorite story so far and one with an excellent twist. Just great storytelling. I felt as if I was actually on a ghost tour of merry old England.

Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer (novelist, short story author, and poet, living in Texas with two crazy cute cats and a husband who is exceptionally well prepared for the zombie apocalypse) - Quite an imaginative tale of bereavement and the shadow people. Another high note in a strong anthology.

Another World by Ramsey Campbell (Britain's most respected living horror writer) - Upon his father's death, a young lad searches for the Kingdom of God.

The Hopeless in the Uninhabitable Places by Letitia Trent (Letitia lives in a haunted Ozark mountain town with her son, husband, and three black cats) - Anthologies are a wonderful way to discover authors you might not be familiar with as was the case with this terrific powerful and original story.

Mother of Shadows by Benjamin Knox (best known for his Dead of Winter novellas) - A quiet and creepy tale of a search for a girl who goes missing at her grandmother's funeral.

The Mournful Cry of Owls by Christopher Golden (New York Time bestselling author born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family) - When is an owl not an owl? A somewhat joyous, yet sad, and totally original tale filled with rich characters. Pretty damn good for a short story.

Wants and Needs by Paul Michael Anderson (lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter) - Alone after the death of her son. A snow storm. An intruder. It all comes together in this intense short story filled with beautiful imagery.

An Elegy for Childhood Monsters by Gwendolyn Kiste (a speculative fiction writer living in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, two cats, and not nearly enough ghosts) - Do we ever really outgrow our childhood monsters?

Lying in the Sun on a Fairy Tale Day by Bracken MacLeod (author of Mountain Home, Stranded, and Come to Dust. He lives outside of Boston with his wife and son) - Starts much like the descriptive title and then BAM! A cleverly constructed tale. My favorite in an exceptional anthology.

Suspended In Dusk II is a superior anthology with most of its tales appearing here for the first time. It's well worth your time and money. Totally recommended.

Available now in both paperback and e-book formats from Grey Matter Press.

[Andi Rawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Anthologies are always something I both look forward to and dread. I love short stories, but I rarely like more than one or two stories in an anthology that I'm reading and often I hate the rest. This is one of my exceptions. I liked almost every story and I loved several of them. I didn't care for a few but they were the minority. I've seen the process for a few anthologies, and between submissions, editing, and just being able to pick stories that mesh well together, I have nothing but admiration for someone who can make one read more like a book than just a collection of stories.

My favorite story was Lying in the Sun on a Fairy Tale Day by Bracken MacLeod. My other favorites were: The Immortal Dead by J.C. Michael, Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer, The Mournful Cry of Owls by Christopher Golden, and Wants and Needs by Paul Michael Anderson. My least favorite part of reviewing is telling you what I didn't like about a book or a story. The only story I truly disliked in this collection was The Hopeless in the Uninhabitable Places and not entirely for the story itself, which I thought was okay. The biggest issue I had with this one was the complete lack of punctuation in dialogue. I realize that some people consider this a "style," but I find it annoying and feel that it makes the story seem less coherent.

Overall I think that Suspended in Dusk II is a solid anthology with some amazing authors, who I already knew, and a few I am happy to have discovered. I would highly recommend it and as I haven't read the first anthology, I am looking forward to reading that as well.

I received a copy of this from the editor in exchange for an honest review.

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

"Horror literature is, to me at least, the history of sharing nightmares." -Angela Slatter

Suspended in Dusk II is a fantastic anthology. I was really happy to see some authors I love in here, and to be introduced to some new favorites as well. The balance of men and women authors in this book was incredibly refreshing, and I was very happy with this book as a whole. All of the stories are related to dusk in some way, and are well-written. You can feel that you're in that time between times right before it gets dark. Things are about to change, and this anthology shows a promising future for horror.

Every story in Suspended in Dusk II received 3-5⭐ from me, and there were more 5⭐ than anything else. I am happy to say that there isn't a bad story in this book. My top 5 favorite stories are Crying Demon by Alan Baxter, Love is a Cavity I Can't Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones, Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer, Mother of Shadows by Benjamin Knox, and An Elegy for Childhood Monsters by Gwendolyn Kiste. There were so many other amazing ones that came close, and it was hard to narrow it down to 5. I was genuinely creeped out by both Crying Demon by Alan Baxter & Mother of Shadows by Benjamin Knox, so that was very exciting. I read Crying Demon right before bed & then had to automatically pick up a happier book so that I wasn't as spooked. I love that feeling.

I am so happy that Grey Matter Press offered me a copy of Suspended in Dusk II to review. I figured I would like it, but I ended up being so impressed with it as a whole anthology. I can't wait to read more from these authors!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of current, talented authors. It really has something for everyone. Personally, I love that fact that it is inclusive of both men and women writers. I have my favorites, but I'll leave you to explore this tasteful journey through the minds of some of the very best. Be sure to pick this one up!

[Red Lace Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen stories that tell of life and death and those happenings in between, where change is all but inevitable. Be prepared for horrors of all kinds, some more subtle than others.

(WARNING: This review contains MAJOR spoilers.)

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Grey Matter Press for giving me the opportunity.

First of all, I appreciated the large amount of diversity in this book; from the foreword it became clear that individuals of all shapes of life were given the chance to contribute, and I feel that’s largely absent in anthologies these days. It’s a shame, because nobody, no matter what ethnicity or sexuality or whatever else, should be excluded from such opportunities to expand their craft.

I’ll admit however, this anthology started off as rather weak for me, with stories I didn’t much care for situated right at the beginning. Angeline by Karen Runge was about, what I assumed to be, sexual abuse at a young age and the resulting aftermath in later years, whilst The Sundowners by Damien Angelica Walters focused on the complications of old age, and they were certainly interesting to a degree, but they both fell a bit short. Crying Demon by Alan Baxter made me smile, as I’m a personal fan of horror games, yet whilst it held a great deal of potential, it didn’t make it to the top of the list. Still Life with Natalie by Sarah Read was far too verbose, even for my tastes, and Love is a Cavity I Can’t Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones didn’t really include all that much. Yes, cannibalism is one of my most favoured themes, but the story struck me as hollow. The Immortal Dead by J. C. Michael also didn't do much for me - I mean, it was well-written but just a little bland.

Now, let’s get into the stories that made an excellent impression and completely changed my overall thoughts regarding the book.

There’s No Light Between Floors by Paul Tremblay
A man emerges into something catastrophic, where gods freely roam. I feel like this is the one to either love or hate, as it’s left intentionally vague as to what’s actually happening, and it’s that obscurity that might put off a lot of readers. I tried to look at it from a different angle and take events less literal than how they were described by the character. My conclusion and subsequent theory was that his worldly perspective was entirely skewed, perhaps from trauma. I do enjoy tales that hold a deeper meaning, where I need to put my thinking cap on.

That Damned Cat by Nerine Dorman
A cult try to summon A Duke of the Ninth Infernal Circle, yet events take a rather odd turn. This surprised me - I never thought I’d be so entertained and find humour amongst this collection, but Simon Dewar clearly had his head screwed on right, as this in particular was incredibly engaging.

Riptide by Dan Rabarts
Desperate for revenge, a man sets out to hunt down the monster that took his family. I regarded this one as possibly the strongest addition. It introduced me to the taniwha, which compelled me to further read into Māori mythology. It was memorable in the sense that it was a perfect mini-novel, with a start, middle and end that captivated me the whole time.

It occurs to me that this review is already too long, so I'll refrain from writing a ten-page essay. Suffice it to say, the rest of these stories had me hooked, and there was a tremendous amount of variety in tone, atmosphere, and writing. In some, like Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer, I felt emotion, and in others, such as An Elegy for Childhood Monsters by Gwendolyn Kiste, I experienced a sense of fascination. Seriously, every one offered me something new.

In conclusion: I believe there's something here for everyone to enjoy. Naturally, there were the weaker links, but it was a simple matter of them not being my sort of thing. Those that did appeal to me, really made Suspended in Dusk II worth it.

© Red Lace 2018

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[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great book from GMP, and it's why I keep reading what they print. My review is posted here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1F8

[Mommacat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Copy

I'd list the authors here, but why? You're fully capable of doing a "look inside" and getting that thrill that you get when you see your favorite authors listed within. I know that I've added several must read authors to my personal list since discovering Grey Matter Press some years ago.

This short story collection starts out strong and gets stronger to endwith a punch in the gut that will leave satisfied and yet wanting more.

Highly recommended- don't wait!

[Ethan Harris]

I found the collection, written by a host of talented authors, to be somewhat free-ranging, allowing room for the expression of diverse perspectives on a dark theme.

Jumping up from the pages is the story by Stephen Graham Jones, entitled, "Love is a Cavity I Can't Stop Touching." Jones attacked my sense of well-being from the first sentence and established his own disturbing story without allowing me a second to adjust. This is a story that I really enjoy, grabbing me and pulling me along in a smooth way, but so unique in ability that I didn't feel able to slow the pace.

Paul Tremblay's "There's No Light Between Floors" strikes me as something steady with a transcendental quality to the character's perspective. I find this story hard to describe and hard to define. The character is emerging through a catastrophic old world and is confronted with the development of a new order that is beyond his grasp and advancing, never sure of where the journey may end. I feel as though I've just read something by Thoreau.

I think the most enjoyable story for me was either "The Immortal Dead" by J. C. Michael or "Dealing in Shadows" by Annie Neugebauer. Michaels' is a nicely written story with a fun quality about it that had a nice little twist. Fun. "Dealing in Shadows" struck me as a satisfying story, happy with where the author led me. Also fun.

And there are so many others, that I really can't imagine doing them justice in a review.

I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing in the anthology. I found the overwhelming majority to be thoughtful, without relying on a quick shock or a cheap device to keep my interest. I have no problem in recommending this to readers who want a little dark reading with stories that are nicely developed and have a finished feel to them.

[Holly (The GrimDragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars~

“The shadows below seem to hold their breath at my approach. I always seek them out, something to do with grief, maybe. Does my sadness draw me to dark corners? I don’t know why exactly, but ever since I started noticing shadows, they seem more and more alive to me, as if they’re waiting just for me. Waiting for me to walk by so they can let out their breaths.”

Suspended in Dusk II reads like it was written by the firelight of a world on fire. Goddamn. I dug the hell out of this!

The electrifying introduction from Angela Slatter sets the dark tone of the collection. I was smitten from that point on. Truly. I dare you not to feel some type of way after reading this anthology!

“Reading on the couch, you’ll wrap yourself tightly in a blanket because that’s the kind of protection which is second only to ensuring that all your limbs are not hanging over the edge of the mattress at night. Periodically, you’ll get up and check the locks on the doors and windows. You’ll keep reading and you’ll tell yourself that you’re safe. That your loved ones are safe. That no one will burst through that carefully locked door or, worse still, sneak in through the tightly latched windows as you sleep. That you’re just enjoying an amuse-bouche of death and destruction, nothing serious, nothing permanent. That you’re neither hunted nor haunted, that it’s all in your imagination, that it’s just a book. That you’re in control.

Tell yourself that enough times and maybe you’ll believe it.

Maybe.”

Editor Simon Dewar mentions in his foreword that the theme for his anthology is that dusk is a time of change. The time between light and dark. We all experience this in our lives at some point. This grey period is an integral moment when it comes to change. It’s imminent.. whether good or bad. Dusk is when I personally start to unwind from the day. It’s certainly a reflective time when I am able to look back on what has transpired and the opportunity to work through it is there.. or leave it and instead enjoy some whiskey and Netflix.. which is also a wonderful choice! There are ups and downs throughout the day, the year, your life. Oftentimes it’s the in-between moments that mean the most. What a fucking rad idea to base this book on!

Suspended in Dusk II is a diverse assortment of horror and dark fiction, not only in the styles of the work seen within, but also in the authors. Simon Dewar has done an incredible job producing a plethora of quality writers from all walks of life for this. Men and women from all over the world with different cultures and backgrounds.

With many talented writers, there absolutely does not need to be a lack of inclusiveness. This proves that. Yet it seems to be an issue when it comes to science fiction, fantasy and horror. Especially within anthologies. There are plenty of white dude collections. It’s boring. Let’s dismantle the standard tropes and see more stories from a unique perspective, shall we? Differences are good. They help us to learn, to become more well-rounded individuals. There are so many authors out there with different voices, with different stories to tell. Why limit yourself?

This anthology was solid from beginning to end! There wasn’t a single one that I disliked. My standouts were:

Angeline by Karen Runge, Crying Demon by Alan Baxter, Love is a Cavity I Can’t Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones, There’s No Light Between Floors by Paul Tremblay, Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer.

It’s a collection for fundamentally broken people, for tortured souls and for those that have experienced a change within themselves. There are stories of abuse, pain, mythology, religion, fetishes, obsession, grief, memories and love. Some are hauntingly beautiful, others are chilling and grim. Some will punch you straight in the throat with immense emotion, others are injected with subtle humor.

“Love, it can be grim. It can be so grim it hurts.”

There is something special for everyone in Suspended in Dusk II. There were authors that I already enjoyed and even more that I was introduced to and would like to read more from! What a brilliant collection! Enthusiastically recommended!

(Thanks to the incredibly badass Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy!)

[Suz Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With horror maybe we get to have a preview, a try-before-you-buy kind of thing without the commitment to actual death. Just maybe coming close to the edge reminds us we’re alive.”

Angela Slatter’s introduction sets the tone for this great collection of horror stories. I enjoyed each story, but my favorites are Sarah Read’s “Still Life with Natalie,” Gwendolyn Kiste’s “An Elegy for Childhood Monsters,” and Nerine Dorman’s “That Damned Cat.”

Read’s story focuses on a painter’s obsession with capturing “Still Alives,” flowers that grow in graveyard soil. The awesome imagery paints the story in vivid and colorful brushstrokes.

Kiste’s tale of two sisters and their painful childhood is packed with gorgeous prose: “We were always so afraid of being devoured whole, of the monsters biting deep and not letting go. Instead, they devoured us slowly, one aching piece at a time.”

Dorman infuses her story of a demon summoning gone horribly wrong with subtle humor. Despite the lightness, the tale addresses the persecution of magic practitioners.

Those who enjoy horror can’t go wrong with this eclectic collection of well-written tales.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Dewar’s second instalment of the series really delivers. There. That’s my review. Deal with it.

Ah, who the hell am I kidding? There is plenty to talk about between the covers. So much so, I fear I may be suspended in my own nightmare of everlasting dusk if I reviewed every single tale. But, I am definitely going to touch on some high points, because this collection has thrown together a multitude of quality writing that begs to be read.

Full Review here: http://kendallreviews.com/suspended-i...

[GracieKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspended in Dusk II grabs you by the throat from the very first story and does not let go. I honestly can't overstate how good this anthology was. I didn't read the first Suspended in Dusk anthology but I am definitely going to now. If the stories in the first collection are half as good as the stories in Suspended in Dusk II then it will be well worth it. There are some very heavy topics in the stories but they're written so well and not a single one is played merely for shock value or cheap emotion. There was one in particular, Dealing in Shadows by Annie Neugebauer, that hit me very hard and everything about it was just so well done.

I usually go story by story but I don't really want to give any stories away. You need to read them for yourselves. So I will just mention my favorites. Although with a five star review you can pretty much guess that there will be a lot. There were one or two that didn't really 'grab' me but even those were well-written and someone else might like them better.

My Favorites:
Angeline - Karen Runge
Sundowners - Damien Angelica Walters
Crying Demon - Alan Baxter
That Damned Cat - Nerine Dorman
The Immortal Dead - J.C. Michael
Dealing in Shadows - Annie Neugebauer
Mother of Shadows - Benjamin Knox
The Mournful Cry of Owls - Christopher Golden
Wants and Needs - Paul Michael Anderson
An Elegy for Childhood Monsters - Gwendolyn Kiste

Other Stories:
Still Life with Natalie - Sarah Read
Love is a Cavity I Can't Stop Touching - Stephen Graham Jones
There's No Light Between Floors - Paul Tremblay
Riptide - Dan Rabarts
Another World - Ramsey Campbell
The Hopeless in the Uninhabitable Places - Letitia Trent
Lying in the Sun on a Fairy Tale Day - Bracken MacLeod

My particular favorites are Crying Demon (because I love good video game horror), The Immortal Dead (awesome use of ghost tours), Dealing in Shadows (thank you for tearing my heart out of my chest and stomping on it, by the way) and That Damned Cat (a bit of needed levity that was absolutely hilarious).

This is a solid collection and definitely worth getting.

Find this review and much more at https://www.scifiandscary.com/

Received from the publisher for review consideration

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspended in Dusk II, edited by Simon Dewar, closes out this year's slate of horror anthologies with an interesting mix of new-to-me authors and genre heavyweights like Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, Christopher Golden, and more. Here, the running theme is that of dusk, the time between times . . . the time between the light and the dark . . . the grey area . . . the tipping point.

Overall, I'd say this was an average collection with a few above average stories. While there were a small handful that didn't really work for me, there was a bigger handful that wowed me. Love is a Cavity I Can’t Stop Touching by Stephen Graham Jones was a creepy tale of young love and cannibalism; There’s No Light Between Floors by Paul Tremblay was a monstrous tale of apocalyptic horror, easily my favorite; That Damned Cat by Nerine Dorman was the lone bright spot in the collection, a darkly humorous tale of demon summoning; Another World by Ramsey Campbell was another fantastic tale of apocalyptic horror; Mother of Shadows by Benjamin Knox was a powerful tale of a mother's love . . . and her secrets; while Wants and Needs by Paul Michael Anderson was a sad tale of survival that really resonated with me.


https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...

[Brian Bogart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Dewar’s second instalment of the series really delivers. There. That’s my review. Deal with it.

Ah, who the hell am I kidding? There is plenty to talk about between the covers. So much so, I fear I may be suspended in my own nightmare of everlasting dusk if I reviewed every single tale. But, I am definitely going to touch on some high points, because this collection has thrown together a multitude of quality writing that begs to be read.

It kicks off with a wonderful introduction by Angela Slatter and sets the tone for this dark anthology. Even for those who skip intros, I suggest you read it. It’s moody and spot-on for this series.

Karen Runge kicks us off with Angeline, the tale of a sad and broken woman with a not-so-subtle fascination and fetish, finding hope and love in the fantasy. This story is a hell of a way to get started- a quick slap to the senses to get the ball rolling. The world can be a harsh mistress, especially for those blinded by obsession.

Full Review: http://kendallreviews.com/suspended-i...

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover art is delightful in concept and composition, wrought by Dean Samed, who might be worth a look-up online. I did. Best search of the week so far...
The five star clincher for me was that last story, Lying in the Sun on a Fairy Tale Day by Bracken MacLeod. It is one of the shorter stories. But it has no reason to be any longer and still be cringe-worthy.
When I read a collection of short stories I make them last, only reading one or two at a sitting. Any more than that and they bleed together, losing their individuality like so many limbs in a wood chipper. I was thinking tree limbs, but go where you want with that one.
Even the weaker stories in this group were well written and enjoyable reads.
Thanks, Simon, for this fine presentation. What else ya got?

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, solid horror anthology, and well worth the price. I loved the forward and the theme of suspension in dusk, and the in between places where terrors can lurk and you don't suspect them.
It starts off strong to get you interested and by the end you have experienced a wide range of very well written frights from a pool of amazingly talented authors.
It has something for everyone, from cheesy to disturbing. I have quite a few favorites, but there wasn't one that I didn't like, which is rare for me for any collection like this.

[Alan Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

‪I just finished reading my contributor copy of this one. It’s an outstanding anthology, and it’s an honour to be part of it. Well done, Simon Dewar.

[Father Longlegs · Rating 3 out of 5]

¯\(ツ)/¯ Sometimes you get peaches and sometimes you get lunch meat. Some good stories, some cheeseball ones. Still searching for the perfect horror anthology!!

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy, Gothic, psychological, exceedingly dark, this anthology works due to the contributions of Gwendolyn Kiste, Sarah Read, Damien Angelica Walters, and Annie Neugebauer alone, but tales by Paul Tremblay and Ramsey Campbell can’t hurt either. The most effective stories linger far after the book is closed, transforming dusk from a liminal—but navigable—space into a world of trapdoors and unseen passages that will drop you into realms far more dangerous than a simple, moonless night.