Fantastic Tales of Terror: History's Darkest Secrets

by Eugene Johnson (Editor), Christopher Golden, Kevin J. Anderson

Discover the lost supernatural stories behind some of the most famous people and events in history.These Fantastic Tales explore the secret history that has been hidden in the shadows of the world, and even alternative histories from other worlds. Tales such as a young man seeking the secret of immortality from none other than Bela Lugosi. The tragic story of how the Titanic really sank. The horrifying lengths the people of New York city would go to raise above the Great Depression, rather in seeking fame or trying to feed the city. And many more Fantastic Tales of Terror.

Introduction by Tony Todd“The Deep Delight of Blood” by Tim Waggoner“Unpretty Monster” by Mercedes Yardley“The Tell-Tale Mind” by Kevin J. Anderson“Topsy-Turvy” by Elizabeth Massie“Ray and the Martian” by Bev Vincent“The Girl with the Death Mask” by Stephanie M. Wytovich“On a Train Bound for Home” by Christopher Golden“The Custer Files” by Richard Chizmar“Red Moon” by Michael Paul Gonzalez“The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl” by John Palisano“The Secret Engravings” by Lisa Morton“Mutter” by Jess Landry“La Llorona” by Cullen Bunn“The London Encounter” by Vince Liaguno“Bubba Ho-Tep” by Joe R. Lansdale“Gorilla my Dreams” by Jonathan Maberry“Articles of Teleforce” by Michael Bailey“Sic Olim Tyrannis” by David Wellington“The Washingtonians” by Bentley Little“Scent of Flesh” by Jessica Marie Baumgartner“Rotoscoping Toodies” by Mort Castle“Lone Wolves” by Paul Moore“The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles” by Jeff StrandProudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.



Horror AnthologyHistorical FantasyHorror Short StoriesDark FictionAnthologies & CollectionsHorror booksWeird TalesWeird FictionAlternative historyMonstersAliensSupernatural

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Supernatural, Paranormal

572 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2018

Reviews

[Keep Calm Novel On · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Marie Baumgartner provided a copy of the PDF in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic Tales of Terror: History’s Darkest Secrets is a unique collection of short stories. Each author reveals chilling historical secrets. Horror fans will most definitely read and enjoy each page-turning story. The twists and turns make this a must-read for fans of the genre. A perfect collection for the Halloween season.

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story in this anthology features a different famous (or infamous) character, from Hollywood stars to politicians to creatures of the night. And as diversified as the characters are their stories, offering a multitude of original and entertaining works, with a remarkable story count of 24.

While each story was entertaining in its own way - more or less so, as with everything, tastes vary - these are my favorite stories (in order of appearance):

The Custer Files by Richard Chizmar:
Wow! This horrific version of Custer's Last Stand was the first noteworthy story for me. *****

The Secret Engravings by Lisa Morton:
Being a story about a not so familiar painter (Hans Holbein) by a not so familiar author (though I at least heard both their names before), this came as an unexpected surprise. Very original and so creepy. *****

Mutter by Jess Landry Wow:
Honestly, I never heard of this author before, so I read the story without any expectations at all and it literally blew me away. The last sentence totally sealed the deal! *****

Washingtonians by Bentley Little:
What if historians didn't just recount history, but remodel it to fit their own purposes? Just the thought of it makes me shiver again...this one was super scary. *****

The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles by Jeff Strand:
One of the reasons I wanted to read this anthology, apart from its original theme, was that it has a story by Jeff Strand included. And as expected, he weaved a hilarious and original tale, this one featuring the great Buster Keaton. *****

What I love most about this anthology is the wide range it covers both in choice of character and the mood it put me in while reading it, covering everything from scary to funny. Recommended!

(Thanks to the publishers at Crystal Lake for kindly providing an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own)

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of FANTASTIC TALES Anthology edited by Eugene Johnson

Subtitled “History's Darkest Secrets,” this “fantastic” collection goes where few if any writers have gone before. In the tradition of excellence readers expect from Crystal Lake Publishing, these incredible stories will expand imaginations (and instill terror at times). A stellar line-up of favourite authors are included in this Anthology, very well chosen and curated by Editor Eugene Johnson. I expect this one will achieve the Bram Stoker Award; it's unbeatable.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a Halloween read? You'll find no tricks just plenty of treats in this collection! Check out my full review here... https://horrornovelreviews.com/2018/1...

[Debbi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I've never read an anthology that out such a twist on historical figures. It gave it all such a different view of things. This book is a keeper to be reread time after time. Highly recommended.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fantastic" is the operative word in the title of this collection of consistently high-quality stories involving fictional terrors visited upon factual events and people. The table of contents is a laundry list of great speculative fiction authors, including a few with whom I was unfamiliar but will make a concerted effort read more of in the future. The theme of the collection works much better than I expected with almost every story being noteworthy, and the color illustrations for particular stories add yet another level to the experience. Relax and enjoy these imaginative distractions as you're greeted by legendary figures of history confronted with extreme cirucumstances.

Story ratings below:
The Deep Delight of Blood" by Tim Waggoner: 3/5 - I always enjoy Waggoner's pacing and easy, intimate prose. This vampire story was a charming mix of alternate history and melodrama with a touch of cliche to create a fun little bloodsucking adventure.

"The Unpretty Monster" by Mercedes M. Yardley: 4/5 - a nearly perfect story about the true circumstances of the Titanic's sinking. Cleverly combines sea lore with historical detail and a vividly imagined narrator to deliver a convincingly chilling tale.

"The Tell-Tale Mind" by Kevin J. Anderson: 4/5 - another solid short from the talented author, this one is like a different perspective on SGJ's Poe story in Midnight from Beyond the Stars, spanning a selection of Poe's greatest hits to further immortalize the dark fantasist with additional abilities and talents. A very satisfying dark-fantasy adventure.

"Topsy-Turvy" by Elizabeth Massey: 5/5 - If ever a real-life execution was ideal for a horror story, Edison's electricity experiment on Topsy the elephant is likely it. The mythology and historical detail here are delightful; both moral and practical enough to hit that sweet spot in your suspension of disbelief. Best line: "My grin died right there on my elephant lips."

"Ray and the Martian" by Bev Vincent: 4/5 - this short, fun tale is your out-of-the-box UFO crash-landing story, yet it distinguishes itself in almost every area. In a few short pages, Vincent manages to cram in character development, historical references, literary jokes and cool aliens-meet-rural-farmer stuff, with a surprise ending to boot. Word-for-word, a strong contender.

"The Girl with the Death Mask" by Stephanie M. Wytovich: 3/5 - this very short story offers vivid imagery and interesting mythology, but not enough breadcrumbs for this history dunce to understand the connection between Diego Rivera, the witch-doctor tooth-man and the frog. There's probably great stuff here, but for me it was just scenery.

"On a Train Bound for Home" by Christopher Golden: 3/5 - Golden is a perennial favorite in these collections, and consistently delivers unique, fleshed-out concepts for every theme. This one features Houdini on hte Midnight Express, pitted against a vengeful spiritualist whom he apparently met (and debunked) in Egypt. The scheme against the magician is a little cartoonish.

"The Custer Files" by Richard Chizmar: 3/5 This epistolary re-imagining of Custer's last stand is told with authentic details that make the sparing description vivid. A great, gritty concept for the story, but a bit of a cop-out ending.

"Red Moon" by Michael Paul Gonzalez: 4/5 - I'm a sucker for sincere werewolf stories, and while this idea wasn't entirely unique, it was an awful lot of fun. Readers witness the hidden history of the moon landing as Armstrong and Aldrin receive a secondary mission on the Apollo 11.

"The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl" by John Palisano: 3/5 - an enjoyable adventure with Marilyn Monroe in the jungle topped off with the best illustration so far, which is chilling and beautiful at the same time. Another one where I'd probably have gotten more out of it if I knew the history better.

"The Secret Engravings" by Lisa Morton: 5/5 - this story is more haunting than viscerally scary, but conveys a breadth of emotion not usually accessible in heavier horror. Not being familiar with the German artist, Hans Holbein, was no disadvantage thanks to the immersive detail in this wonderfully imaginative account of a talented man who meets Death during an outbreak of the plague in 16th century England.

"Mutter" by Jess Landry: 2/5 - while the historical setting being aboard the Hindenburg LZ 129 was instantly attractive, the mythology in this story leaves the reader with too many questions and a lot to be desired. This one inspired one of the better illustrations in the collection, but otherwise it's unremarkable.

"La Llorna" by Cullen Bunn: 3/5 - this combination of the La Llorna legend with the mysterious disappearance of Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge author Ambrose Bierce is poetic and vivid, despite being short and simple.

"Bubba Ho-Tep" By Joe R. Lansdale: 4/5 - originally published almost 30 years ago, I can understand why this story has been republished and adapted. It's edgy, viscerally repellent; it's funny, with sardonic mockery of popular culture as well as being playful with history; and it's smart, questions of life, death, aging and the everlasting always just below the surface. Punchline style ending notwithstanding.

"Gorilla My Dreams" by Jonathan Maberry: 4/5 - As is probably apparent from the title, Maberry's strong sense of humor is a big part of this story. The historical aspect of it seems more focused on the plot of King Kong than anything factual, but it's a lot of fun. The story is presented as a series of conversations building up to a press conference dealing with the presence and aftermath of the giant ape.

"Articles of Teleforce" by Michael Bailey: 3/5 - this weird fiction story of crossover histories connects Nikola Tesla, Mark Twain, the New Deal and Flight 93 in an interesting mixture of fact and fantasy. Not scary, but creative, thoroughly researched and enjoyable.

"Sic Olim Tyrannis" by David Wellington: 5/5 - I've enjoyed Wellington's shorts in the past and this was no exception. A refreshing infusion of natural (yet fantastic) history evokes Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal. Such an imaginative premise, it offers an entirely new vision of the zombie apocalypse. Not necessarily terrifying or profound, yet it's still everything a horror story should be.

"The Washingtonians" by Bentley Little: 3/5 - this story's absolutely off-the-wall concept hints at a much larger story, and even aspects of this one seem to have gotten the Reader's Digest treatment. Extremely exciting and creative, but too short to achieve its potential. A man discovers a letter written by George Washington that implicates the historical figure in terrible acts.

"The Scent of Flesh" by Jessica Marie Baumgartner: 1/5 - this clumsy fictional history of Annie Oakley as a wendigo hunter is only tenuously connected to any factual life and the poorly structured prose is the scariest thing about it. A shame to see something like this so far into such a high quality collection."

"Rotoscoping Toodies" by Mort Castle: 4/5 - what begins as a creepily mystical tale about Walt Disney's secret to success evolves into a more complex character study of the narrator, concluding with a twist so bleak at the end that the story could easily be the darkest of the collection.

"The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles" by Jeff Strand: 5/5 - the author's signature sense of b-movies come-to-life is showcased in this story about Buster Keaton filming an unusual project with a behind-the-scenes secret manifesting in an unexpected way. The story is both scary and funny, with a casually abrupt ending that leaves you wanting more and yet totally satisfied.

"The Return of the Thin White Duke" by Neil Gaiman: 3/5 - this wonderfully creative adventure challenges the reader's imagination more than his or her courage. An eternal monarch of a fantastic multiverse is confronted with a change of power that requires him to prove himself, experience novelty for the first time in ages and reveal his true identity. References indicate a David Bowie-Ziggy Stardust connection.

[Darrell Grizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling anthology of alternate histories, some horror, some fantasy, all of them intriguing. Standout stories include Lisa Morton’s “The Secret Engravings,” which explores the relationship between Death and Hans Holbein; “The Tell-Tale Mind” by Kevin J. Anderson, in which Edgar Allan Poe supernaturally “knows” things (and uses that gift/curse to unmask a killer); Tim Waggoner’s “The Deep Delight of Blood,” which presents a very different view of Bela Lugosi; Christopher Golden’s Houdini story, “On a Train Bound for Home” – and my favorite story in the collection, “The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles,” Jeff Strand’s account of Buster Keaton battling gargoyles that have come to life. Most of the stories are new to this anthology, but it also includes a reprint of Joe Lansdale’s classic story “Bubba Ho-Tep” (which has an opening paragraph that is not for the squeamish!).

[John J Questore · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a famous quote (often misattributed to Winston Churchill) that says, “History is written by the victors.” While that may be true in certain instances, what if the history we think we know was written in such a way as to hide the true nature of the events that occurred? What if the historians would rather say that Native Americans met Custer at Little Big Horn, rather than what he actually faced? Or, what If Elvis didn’t really die, and just faked it to retire early, only to end up in a retirement home to battle much worse? Well, Eugene Johnson has put together a fantastic collection of “alternate history” stories that will make you go, “Hmmm, I wonder.” With some of the biggest names in the horror writing community, this is, without a doubt, one of my favorite anthologies of 2018.

Here’s a quick run-down of each story with my ratings (1-5):

Introduction by Tony Todd - right off the bat, you have to love this. I mean, come on – the Candyman himself was inspired enough to write the introduction. You know this will be a great read.

“The Deep Delight of Blood” by Tim Waggoner - Bela Lugosi didn’t hang up his Dracula cape. In fact, he’s mentoring someone to take his place; with horrific, yet quite funny, results. 4 of 5.

“Unpretty Monster” by Mercedes Yardley - Lately there has been some speculation as to just what did sink the Titanic (and yes, there was room on that door Rose); was it really an iceberg, or was it a fire? What if it was something completely different and much more terrifying? 4 of 5.

“The Tell-Tale Mind” by Kevin J. Anderson - Did Poe have a vivid imagination, or did he just write accounts of things that actually happened? The truth might surprise you. 5 of 5.

“Topsy-Turvy” by Elizabeth Massie - This story may be a little obscure for some younger readers, and that’s what makes it so good, they’ll have to do some research and maybe learn something. A great take on a ghost story, from a non-human perspective. 5 of 5.

“Ray and the Martian” by Bev Vincent - Ray Bradbury’s name is synonymous with Science Fiction. But what really inspired him to jump into that genre? Maybe it was something that happened in his childhood? 4 of 5.

“The Girl with the Death Mask” by Stephanie M. Wytovich - I’ll admit, I had to do some research on this one. I wasn’t familiar with Frieda and Diego Rivera. But even still, the story holds its own as an interesting “deal with the Devil” tale. 3 of 5.

“On a Train Bound for Home” by Christopher Golden - This one, while one of my favorites, may confuse a lot of people. In 1924, H.P. Lovecraft wrote a story called “Imprisoned with the Pharaohs” which is a first-person fictional account of an encounter Houdini had in Egypt. This story is a sequel to that one. So, unless you’ve read Lovecraft’s story, this one might not make sense. However, I have, so this gets a 5 of 5.

“The Custer Files” by Richard Chizmar - Well, it’s no secret that Richard is one of my favorite authors, and can do no wrong. This “true” account of what really happened at Little Big Horn is fantastic and scary. 5 of 5.

“Red Moon” by Michael Paul Gonzalez – Was Neil Armstrong really the first person to step foot on the Moon? Did Russia beat us, and the Apollo 11 mission was something much more than we were told? As someone who has studied astronomy, and wanted to be an aerospace engineer (stupid Differential Equations), I have to give this one a 5 of 5.

“The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl” by John Palisano – I guess you could also call this one, “Marilyn Monroe – Demon Hunter”. An interesting story revolving around a talent that nobody knew Miss Monroe had. 3 of 5.

“The Secret Engravings” by Lisa Morton – If you haven’t heard of Lisa Morton, you are missing out. She is the premier authority on Halloween, and has written a number of books and stories. This one revolves around the true nature of Hans Holbein’s Dance of Death series of paintings. 5 of 5.

“Mutter” by Jess Landry – My apologies to both Rich and Lisa, but this story from Jess Landry is – hands down – my favorite of the lot. Revolving around the true nature of the Hindenburg crash, it was just absolutely perfect. Sadly, I don’t want to say exactly why, but if you know me, and get to the ending, you’ll understand. 5 of 5.

“La Llorona” by Cullen Bunn – This story tells of what exactly happened to Ambrose Bierce when he went to Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. He encountered something more sinister than rebels. 3 of 4.

“The London Encounter” by Vince Liaguno – Judy Garland was found dead in a bathroom of a rented house from an apparent overdose; or was that really the cause of death? Could she have received a visit from an infamous London resident named Jack? 4 of 4.

“Bubba Ho-Tep” by Joe R. Lansdale – Sorry, Joe. I love your writing, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The premise is that Elvis faked his death, and is now in a retirement home. He soon finds himself battling an ancient Egyptian soul-sucker. I understand this one was made into a movie, but I had a really hard time getting through it. 2 of 5.

“Gorilla my Dreams” by Jonathan Maberry – I think we’ve all seen at least one version of the King Kong story. But what we never find out is this – what happened to the body after it fell from the Empire State Building? I know that always bothered me. Well, read this and find out the gruesome details. 5 of 5.

“Articles of Teleforce” by Michael Bailey – I read this story twice and actually still don’t really get it. The story revolves around a weapon that was developed by Tesla, and it’s somehow tied into the events of 9/11/11. I found it to be confusing enough that I felt the need to read it twice to see if I missed something. 1 of 5.

“Sic Olim Tyrannis” by David Wellington – I make no qualms about thinking the zombie genre has been over-played. I feel the market has been saturated with brain-eating undead, and that it’s become stale and pedestrian. Because of that, I try to avoid it when I can. I can honestly say (and I pointed this out to Eugene) that I despise David Wellington for writing a refreshing, enjoyable, and twisted take on the zombie story. 5 of 5.

“The Washingtonians” by Bentley Little – We think of George Washington as an upstanding person; I mean, he is considered the “Father of our Country” here in the USA. But what if a note is found showing that Washington belonged to a group of people that wasn’t as upstanding as we’d like to think? 5 of 5.

“Scent of Flesh” by Jessica Marie Baumgartner – What a great story revolving around Annie Oakley and her husband, Frank Butler. Targets aren’t the only thing they are good at shooting. 5 of 5.

“Rotoscoping Toodies” by Mort Castle – This was a bizarre story revolving around Disney, and what cartoons are really about. Ever wonder why Snow White looked so real, while everything else looked like a cartoon? It’s know that Disney was obsessed with Snow White, and this story tells the real reason. 5 of 5.

“Lone Wolves” by Paul Moore – The adventures of Teddy Roosevelt are endless, and legendary. But this adventure is one you’ll never see in the history books. My only issue with the story is this – Roosevelt is joined by the famous Native American Avonaco. The story takes place in 1886, but Avonaco died in 1864, and there’s no record of him and Roosevelt ever meeting (although he did meet Lincoln). But I still found this very enjoyable. 5 of 5.

“The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles” by Jeff Strand – This was a cute story revolving around Buster Keaton (I’m sure there are a lot of younger readers who have no idea who that is, and that’s a shame) and the reason he was called “The Great Stone Face”. Join Buster on the set of a movie that was never released. 4 of 5.

“The Return of the Thin White Duke” by Neil Gaiman – A beautiful tribute to the late, great, David Bowie. I can’t say more than that. 5 of 5.

There you have it. There were some stories that I thoroughly enjoyed, and others that fell flat. But the anthology as a whole was rock solid. Eugene reached out to me concerned that it would find an audience. My response was that yes, the subject matter is a niche market (history isn’t many people’s “cup of tea”), however, those who read it will find that within its pages are some Fantastic Tales of Terror; and if only a handful of people take the time to Google some of the historical references within, then that’s just a bonus on top.

[Carolyn Evans]

Strange

An odd assortment of stories loosely based around historical events or people, it was a strange yet very satisfying read.

[Ayana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted History

This collection of short stories run with the theme of twisted history . The topics covered really push button on rather the story could be consider fringe historical fiction or just dark side of history in another time line? This is not for faint hearted as I even put down for mind reset. One story will be very familiar to anyone who has watch the Tv series Masters of Horror.

[Swords & Spectres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasons to read this anthology despite the three out of five I gave it:
- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin hunting Russian werewolves on the moon
- A horror version of Custer’s Last Stand told entirely through letters sent from the front
- Edgar Allen Poe as a psychic detective
- Elvis & and old black man who thinks he’s JFK fighting a soul-sucking mummy in a care home
- Zombie Dinosaur Battle Royale

The Deep Delight of Blood by Tim Waggoner – 4 Stars

This tale focuses around a young horror addict named Mike who, with the aid of horror film legend Bella Lugosi, is trying to become a real vampire. I was initially put off by being thrust right into things, but the author soon pulled it back and made things go at a much smoother, less frenetic pace. The writing style wasn’t my favourite, but the author took me in a direction I never imagined and left me feeling very satisfied. A good opener to the anthology.

Unpretty Monster by Mercedes M. Yardley – 3 stars

Unpretty monster tells of a siren who wishes to experience life as a human instead of a monster. It tells of the sinking of the Titanic and takes said sinking in a way you’d never have imagined. At its core, Unpretty Monster is a light-horror/romance tale. The writing is fairly simplistic and a little too melancholy for my tastes. Although the author did a fine job, I just couldn’t feel myself getting excited for it.

A Tell-Tale Mind by Kevin J. Anderson – 5 Stars

Edgar Allen Poe, before he was a writer, was a tortured soul who would use alcohol to dull the ability to hear other peoples’ thoughts. Poe, having heard the guilty thoughts of a murderer, tries to see justice done no matter how insane it may make him appear. This was great writing from a great author and feels like it could well have a series of its own.

Topsy-Turvey by Elizabeth Massie – 1 Star

This tells of the first ever filmed execution of an animal (Topsy the elephant). The story revolves around Topsy’s afterlife and the attempts at Haunting her killer, Thomas Edison. I felt the writing read too childish and silly and, for that reason, I struggled to get into the piece or stay focused whilst reading.

Ray and the Martian by Ben Vincent – 1 Star

I was really underwhelmed by this one. It tells of a young boy whose family have a small UFO land on their property. Nobody (in the family) seems to act with any real urgency that something has just crashed on their land. They literally go to bed, almost as if nothing has happened. The writing itself is simplistic and easy to pick up but I was left expecting more than I got.

The Girl with the Dead Mask by Stephanie M. Wytovich – 3 Stars

This story tells of a young artist, Frida Kahlo, recently disabled in an accident and how she would give anything to walk again. The writing was top-notch, you can tell the author is really talented. The only downside, and it’s a pretty big downside, was the ending. I felt it ended too abruptly and that there was no real pay-off. A shame, considering how much I was enjoying it.

On A Train Bound for Home by Christopher Golden – 4 Stars

Harry Houdini, escapist extraordinaire, agrees to take part in a daring escape atop a train that could see him splattered against the roof of an approaching tunnel. Golden’s writing is, as one would expect from him, fantastic. He tells the story well and gives good depth to his characters. The villain felt a bit like a pantomime villain, but that could be due to the theatrics of the final scenes. The ending really left me wanting to know what happens next.

The Custer Files by Richard Chizmar – 5 Stars

This, so far, is the stand out story. I can already tell that it will be one of my top five in this anthology. It details the days leading up to and including the Battle of Little Bighorn and Custer’s famous last stand. It does so purely through the medium of short letters sent from the soldiers from Custer’s Seventh Cavalry regiment. Very well told and the added horror element was done amazingly well.

Red Moon by Michael Paul Gonzales – 5 Stars

For a short story about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin hunting Russian werewolves on the moon … it was pretty damn amazing. The world needs more B-movie concepts pulled off spectacularly well. The actual concept was explained in such a way that kept me constantly hooked and, in a strange, roundabout kind of sci-fi way, made believable sense. The writing was great and the pace kept me on my toes. Top stuff.

The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl by John Palisano – 2 Stars

This one was written well and I feel a tad guilty for marking it so low. I just found it a bit tedious. It was literally Marylyn Monroe having a conversation with a demon for eighty percent of the story. It just didn’t really do anything to excite me.

The Secret Engravings by Lisa Morton – 5 Stars

This story tells of famous 16th century artist Hans Holbein and how striking up a friendship with the being known as Death helped inspire Hans to sketch his famed ‘Danse Macabre’ (Dance of Death) series. The writing is superb and in-keeping with the time period. Absolutely loved this one. Can see it inspiring readers to check out Holbein’s sketches.

Mutter by Jess Landry – 4 Stars

The Hindenburg Crash was one of the most famous crashes in aviation history. Was it sabotage like so many thought? In this alternate re-telling we are treated to a new, very different theory. Along with this theory we are treated to the origin story of one of the most popular creatures from American Folklore. For a good portion of this one I was really on the fence. But the ending tied it together beautifully and really cemented my enjoyment.

La Llorona by Cullen Bunn – 3 stars

Ambrose Bierce was one of America’s most famous writers of horror, sci-fi, fantasy & war short stories. He was, during his life, however, more famous for his journalism. His disappearance is one of those unsolved mysteries that lingers to this day. This first person perspective tale (from the POV of Bierce himself) explores the possibility of Latin American folktale ‘La Llorona’ being responsible for his disappearance. The writing was good but I did not really feel hooked by this one. It interested me, but I would describe it as more of a passing interest. I feel the ending could have offered a little more.

The London Encounter by Vince A. Liaguno – 4 Stars

This story gives an alternate take on Judy Garland’s last night on Earth. The writing is good, even though it feels like the author tries a tad too hard at times. To start with, I found myself really disliking Judy. The author did a good job of changing my feelings towards her as the story played out, however. I really like the antagonist. Some incredibly fine writing where the antagonist is concerned.

Bubba Ho-Tep by Joe R. Lansdale – 5 Stars

I started off by struggling to like this. The main character, Elvis Presley (alive after trading places with an Elvis impersonator one night) starts off as thoroughly unlikeable. However, I found it impossible to stay cold towards The King for long and soon found myself warming to him. The premise is that of Elvis and an old black man, who is convinced he’s JFK, doing their utmost to stop a soul-sucking mummy that haunts a Texas rest home. This is by far the longest tale in the book and, quite easily, one of the best. You can’t help get behind Elvis and JFK as they do battle with their ancient foe. Extremely enjoyable! Just a warning; it is laden with sex references. Day turning to night even gets a sex similie. And there’s even an incredibly awkward scene where we get to read about Elvis masturbating.

Gorilla My Dreams by Johnathan Maberry – 2 Stars

This tells of King Kong’s rampage through New York from the viewpoint of the mayor and the chief of police. Kong is only really glimpsed and feels entirely detached from the main story. I felt the whole thing was a little too light-hearted and comedic. The piece was fully of typos (the version I had any way) and, at the start, one character makes reference to his daughter only for the narrator say he has only sons two pages later. The interesting take on Kong’s rampage was the only thing that saved it from a 1 star rating.

Articles of Teleforce by Michael Bailey – 1 Star

I really wanted to enjoy this one as it features Nicola Tesla and the proposed building of his ‘Death Ray’. However, it was entirely written from old newspaper cuttings or letters (in the past) or conversations intercepted by a hacker group (in the present). That, coupled with heavy science-based discussion, redacted letters/transcripts and official government-sounding conversations, there was just zero emotion. Not once did I get that sense of joy or wonder from reading. It just felt dry from start to finish and somewhat of a chore.

Sic Ocim Tyrannis by David Wellington – 5 Stars

Ever read a story that featured a battle royale of zombie dinosaurs? No? I hadn’t either until Sic Ocim Tyrannis. The story starts just after the asteroid that wiped out the dinos crashes into Earth. Then we learn of the horrifying taint it brought with it from the far reaches of space. Aside from the T-rex having modern day knowledge (knowing what calories are and how they work etc…) This was an incredibly fun read. I didn’t know it; but Zombie Dinosaurs was just what I needed in my life. And I think it might be just what you need in yours, too.

The Washingtonians by Bentley Little – 3 Stars

This one plays on how history is what we are told, not particularly what is true. A letter written by George Washington, found in the modern day, shows him to be a cannibal. What follows is a group, dressed as Washington, trying to catch, kill and eat the owners of the damning letter. Everything happens a little too fast for my liking and I found that, despite the excellent writing, I couldn’t take it seriously. A fun concept, regardless.

Scent of Flesh by Jessica Marie Baumgartner – 3 Stars

This one features the famous marksman married couple of Annie Oakley and Frank E. Butler as they hunt monsters on their way across America. There was a huge time jump midway through where the couple went from barely knowing each other to being married without any mention of the wedding or anything inbetween. That kind of soured me to the piece. I also struggled to get excited due to, at no point throughout the story, feeling as if they were ever in any danger from the things they hunted.

Rotscoping Toodies by Mort Castle – 1 Star DNF

It’s rare that I can’t finish a short story. But this … The speech was so badly written it’s just impossible to think that anyone could or would ever speak in that way. Every sentence just went further towards cementing the unreadability. ‘We want another child. So last night I did sex to my wife.’ I honestly felt as if my IQ was melting away as I read it.

Lone Wolves by Paul Moore – 4 Stars

This features Teddy Roosevelt as he and two others go off in search of a pack of skinchangers. Deadly wolves part of the time and men with dark pasts the rest. This story is incredibly well-written and was on the verge of a solid five out of five until the ending came along. It wasn’t a ad ending, I just kind of felt as though a few questions could have been answered for a certain character. I’d certainly have loved to have seem said characters thoughts and how they changed at the end compared to the start.

The Great Stone Face vs the Gargoryles by Jeff Strand – 3 stars

Silent film star, Buster Keaton, does battle with four gargoyles that foul up the shooting of one of this latest motion pictures. I like how this plays on the fact that he isn’t really a stunt-man, just both incredibly lucky and unlucky all at once as, no matter what he does, trips, slips and falls dog him every step of the way. He just has the good fortune to land right every time. I really enjoyed this story but felt a little let down by the ending. Just felt a bit more could have been offered. Such has been the case with many of the stories in this anthology. Maybe that was a sub-theme Crystal Lake were going for?

The Return of the Thin White Duke by Neil Gaiman – 1 Star

I confess that I didn’t really understand what was going on most of the time. Some godlike duke went off in search of adventure through boredom and literally a whole lot of nothing seemed to happen. If there was a horror element to this piece then I must have missed it. But I just don’t think it was there in all honesty. I didn’t particularly feel the writing was up to a very high-standard nor the storytelling. I feel this made its way into the anthology because of the name attached to it rather than any particularly ground-breaking writing or storytelling.

[Michael J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of horror fiction can hardly go wrong by picking up any of the many Crystal Lake anthologies. I’ve read many of them over the last several years, and find them always to be premium quality, including many stories worth a second reading, and very affordable in both digital and print versions. Although FANTASTIC TALES OF TERROR fell a little short of my lofty expectations, it still fits the Crystal Lake template and is worthy of your consideration.

Inside this new collection are nineteen original stories and five reprints, all tales of alternate history involving a supernatural or secretive element. As a different kind of themed anthology, the title FANTASTIC TALES OF TERROR doesn’t give a true indication of the contents. Too often, the subtitle goes unnoticed or is actually shortened on some listings. Some readers may pass it by, thinking it just another in a long list of horror story collections, and that would be a shame. Some indication of the true nature of this collection should have been included in the title, to at least give readers a better hint of the contents (maybe HORRIFIC SECRETS OF HISTORY or SUPERNATURAL HISTORIES, etc. . .)

While I did not enjoy every single story in this collection, I did appreciate the creativity on display and diversity of themes within. All of the authors deserve recognition for their clever twists on historical events. Some of the events referred to are well-known, while other stories revolve around historical or pop culture figures of the past - some significant and some trivial. An introduction to the anthology is provided by horror film icon Tony Todd. There are biographies and additional credits for each author in the end-piece.

Among the facts of alternative history I learned while reading are the revelation that Bela Lugosi became a vampire trainer after his film career ended; what really caused the sinking of the Titanic and the crash of the Hindenberg; Edgar Allan Poe was really a police informant; elephants never forget (I already knew that, but not why); what sparked the imagination of Ray Bradbury; Harry Houdini ran afoul of Chthulu cultists; there were vampires at the battle of Little Big Horn; werewolves got to the moon first; both Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland encountered famous murderers; the unlikely muse of a famous painter; what started Ambrose Pierce reflecting; how Elvis really spent his latter years; Tesla’s influence on a modern tech weapon; how George Washington survived the harsh Valley Forge winter and the bad habit he developed; what forced Annie Oakley to become a sharpshooter; how Disney really filmed Snow White; David Bowie was an alien before he became a rock star; Teddy Roosevelt’s connection to weird native American mythology; that Buster Keaton was a documentarian and not a silent comedy star - which would make him the father of reality television; what really killed the dinosaurs; and other bits of trivia.

The reprinted stories (only two of which I had read before) are all stellar, the best tales in the collection. Joe R. Lansdale’s “ Bubba Ho-Tep” is the real standout, always good for producing howls of hilarity no matter how many times I’ve read it. Close behind Lansdale is Bentley Little’s conspiracy-laced distortion of American History in “The Washingtonians.” Also worthy of multiple readings are “On A Train Bound For Home” by Christopher Golden, “The Secret Engravings” by Lisa Morton, and “The Return Of The Thin White Duke” by Neil Gaiman.

Of the original stories selected for this volume, only “Mutter” by Jess Landry is worthy of a spot on the pedestal besides Lansdale, Little, Golden, Morton and Gaiman. However, nine stories are above average, with only one real clunker in the remaining stories of which eight are amusing but fall a bit short of expectations.

These are the other stories that impressed me: “The Deep Delight Of Blood” (Tim Waggoner), Unpretty Monster (Mercedes M Yardley), “The Custer Files” (Richard Chizmar), “La Llorona” (Cullen Bunn), “The London Encounter” (Vince A Liaguno), “Gorilla My Dreams”(Jonathan Maberry), “Sic Olim Tyrannis” (David Wellington), “Rotoscoping Toodies” (Mort Castle), and “Lone Wolves” (Paul Moore).

Interesting but lacking in either a dynamic resolution or significance were “The Tell-Tale Mind” (Kevin J Anderson), “Topsy Turvey” (Elizabeth Massie), “Ray And The Martian” (Bev Vincent), “The Girl With The Death Mask” (Stephanie M Wytovich), “Red Moon” (Michael Paul Gonzalez), “The Prince Of Darkness And The Showgirl” (John Palisano), “Scent Of Flesh” (Jessica Marie Baumgartner), and “The Great Stone Face Vs The Gargoyles” (Jeff Strand). I only regretted reading one story, “Articles Of Teleforce” a tale of Tesla by Michael Bailey related through a series of letters, documents, and correspondence that is tedious, boring and lacks emotion.

Overall, there’s much to appreciate here. With a digital copy being offered for just $3.99 on Amazon, it’s hard to pass up.

I was provided an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[GracieKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be totally honest with you guys. As soon as I saw the intro by Tony Todd I was all "gimme, gimme". For anyone questioning my fangirl squeeing you can check this out. His introduction is very good. I also can't refuse a good horror anthology. I was a little hesitant to see that it was a historical figure/horror mash-up. My reading history with mash-ups has been iffy at best. I've liked some but disliked others but I thought I'd give Fantastic Tales a try as they are original stories and the books I usually dislike are reworks of other novels (such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

I typically do a story by story review of an anthology but, as you can see from the above list, Fantastic Tales of Terror has a lot of stories. So I decided to categorize them by groups and talk a little about the stories that I liked the best.

5 Star: The Secret Engravings and Mutter

4 Star: Unpretty Monster, The Girl with the Death Mask, On a Train Bound for Home, The London Encounter, and Rotoscoping Toodies,

3 Star: The Tell-Tale Mind, Red Moon, Sic Olim Tyrannis, Scent of Flesh, and Articles of Teleforce, and The Return of the Thin White Duke

2 Star: Topsy-Turvy, Ray and the Martian, Gorilla My Dreams, The Deep Delight of Blood, and The Great Stone Face vs. The Gargoyles

1 Star: The Custer Files, The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl, and Bubba Ho-Tep (saw the movie, hated it too),



I can't say that I was extremely thrilled with the collection. This is not to say, however, that other people won't enjoy it more. It's a pretty mixed bag and I believe that there will be a story or two for everyone. I believe that the subjects and historical figures in certain stories will appeal to certain readers and other stories will appear to a whole other group of readers. Such as stories like Ray and the Martian.  People who connect better with Ray Bradbury's stories might connect with the story better than I did. Some of the stories, such as The Girl with the Death Mask, might be higher rated for others (and I rated it at a 4 because it was so well-written) if I was more familiar with the person in question. Others were just so middle of the road they didn't elicit much of a response, good or bad, from me such as The Tell-Tale Mind. Some stories in the collection were just too silly for me like Topsy-Turvy.

The stories that really caught my eye were Mutter by Jess Landry. The historical and mythological blended well together and it kept you guessing. The Secret Engravings by Lisa Morton (although I wasn't positive which historical figure they were drawing from) had a very interesting premise and outcome. 

All in all Fantastic Tales of Terror: History's Darkest Secrets is a solid collection with a little something for everyone.

Received from the publisher for review consideration

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book of scary stories for anyone wanting to read a bit of horror.

This book was given to me by one of the authors in exchange for a honest review

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection of tales. Of course you'd expect Marilyn Monroe and Elvis, but it also was intriguing to read about other famous people such as Hans Holbein and Annie Oakley. I was able to identify most of the pretty quickly but if you're unable to figure out who the famous person is, it doesn't take away from the story. I didn't enjoy the Walt Disney one and frankly couldn't finish it. I didn't really like Neil Gaiman's story either; learning later that it was about David Bowie didn't help - it just felt like he was trying too hard.

My favorites were probably the stories about Annie Oakley and Teddy Roosevelt, not just because they were well written but the interesting take on how these scenarios could have fit into these famous people's lives.

[Annatasia Meehleder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited about doing this book around Halloween because of the content and I was not disappointed. I was thrilled. History changed, imagination and horror was brought to the fullest. Some humor was brought too. I’d have to take a note from Unpretty Monster and say this was exquisite, ridiculous and magical. I think this piece is one of a kind and should be on anyone’s shelf. Electronic or physical.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these were quite good.

[J KEEGAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of strange tales

All the tales feature stars from the past . Takes that capture the imagination but not really tales of terror.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5. Not the best offering from Crystal Lake Publishing, but not the worst by any means. RED MOON and THE GREAT STONE FACE VS. THE GARGOYLES were my favorites. It was also a real treat reading BUBBA HO-TEP & THE WASHINGTONIANS for the first time. I have seen and enjoyed the film adaptations numerous times. The stories were just as intriguing and WASHINGTONIANS is probably the most chilling read in the collection. THE SECRET ENGRAVINGS was the most imaginative and creative tale in my opinion. The author takes a bold risk blending Erasmus, Holbein, and Death into a plague driven account of artistic fright. The rest of the stories had the right formulas, historical figures and settings, but in the end, I expected more.

[Kaitiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good compilation

This was a great read. Short stories by varying authors, and as such, a few of the stories were a bit if-fy, but overall I was quite pleased with the vast majority. Interesting to see historical figures twisted and shaped into characters in thrillers.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good anthology. Liked all of the stories so some 3,4,5 stars that average to 4. History with a bent and will think about King Kong, Teddy Roosevelt and George Washington with a different perspective.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic tales of terror is a collection of stories geared towards horror and fantasy. This assembly of science fictional tales, each to its own, was a perfect work for Halloween.


I found the literature to be very descriptive which was necessary for what the genre was. The stories were long enough to keep the reader intrigued in finishing the segment and then leaving the rest for another time. The author emphasis portrayed a more horror anthology intervention and I believe had something for all sorts of dark fiction fans.



I believe what made this book stand out was its turn of historical characters and how the author blended that into the story. I enjoyed the dynamic of this particular way of storytelling and thought that it worked pretty well.



As a book reviewer, I understand that no matter how long or short a story is, it should be enjoyable to read and the author succeeded in doing just that.



I recommend this book to horror book fans and dark fiction readers.