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Under Rotting Sky
Twenty unforgettable tales of transgression and horror from Matthew V. Brockmeyer, the award-winning author of KIND NEPENTHE.
In "Mine" a child hangs precariously between the isthmus of innocence and evil, shedding his humanity for the altar of a wolf pup.
A horrifying and ancient legend reveals itself with a shocking new twist in "A Dirty Winter Moon."
"Have a Heart" teaches us that nature always prevails over the follies of man, sometimes in an extremely gruesome manner.
In "Rumpelstiltskin" the troll under the bridge is very real, and wants your children for unspeakable deeds.
In "The Gym Teacher" a boy's obsession with serial killers leads him to discover the true nature of a monster.
These twenty stories traverse the outskirts of society to reveal the brutality of humanity in all its gory glory.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2019
224 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Matthew V. Brockmeyer
17 books340 followersMatthew Brockmeyer lives in an off-grid cabin deep in the forest of Northern California with his wife and two children. In his off time he enjoys howling at the moon and bathing his fangs in human blood.
He is the author of the novel KIND NEPENTHE: A Savage Tale of Terror Set in the Heart of California's Marijuana Country.
Praise for KIND NEPENTHE:
“Thoroughly suspenseful and haunting”—Kirkus Reviews
“Riveting. Stephen King fans may have found a new favorite author in this haunting novel”—Best Thrillers
“This story has twists and turns that will be a true pulling factor for thriller readers everywhere. 4 out of 4 stars”—Online Book Club
“An ultramodern horror thriller that has something for everyone. Fantastic read and one that is highly recommended. This is a definite five out of five read”—Media B Literary
“Mesmerizing”—Horror News
His work has appeared in numerous publications, both in print and online, including, among others, Infernal Ink Magazine, Timeless Tales Magazine, Alephi, Pulp Metal Magazine, Not One of Us, Body Parts Magazine, and Dark Fire Fiction.
He is a regular contributor to Cultured Vultures, where he writes book reviews and interviews authors.
He also writes extreme horror under the pseudonym Humboldt Lycanthrope.
He has a fun Facebook page with links to writing contests, submission requests, craft essays, and all manner of things horror: https://www.facebook.com/matthewbrock...
He is the author of the novel KIND NEPENTHE: A Savage Tale of Terror Set in the Heart of California's Marijuana Country.
Praise for KIND NEPENTHE:
“Thoroughly suspenseful and haunting”—Kirkus Reviews
“Riveting. Stephen King fans may have found a new favorite author in this haunting novel”—Best Thrillers
“This story has twists and turns that will be a true pulling factor for thriller readers everywhere. 4 out of 4 stars”—Online Book Club
“An ultramodern horror thriller that has something for everyone. Fantastic read and one that is highly recommended. This is a definite five out of five read”—Media B Literary
“Mesmerizing”—Horror News
His work has appeared in numerous publications, both in print and online, including, among others, Infernal Ink Magazine, Timeless Tales Magazine, Alephi, Pulp Metal Magazine, Not One of Us, Body Parts Magazine, and Dark Fire Fiction.
He is a regular contributor to Cultured Vultures, where he writes book reviews and interviews authors.
He also writes extreme horror under the pseudonym Humboldt Lycanthrope.
He has a fun Facebook page with links to writing contests, submission requests, craft essays, and all manner of things horror: https://www.facebook.com/matthewbrock...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 22, 2019
This review originally appeared in the Sept/Oct 2019 issue #56 of SCREAM Mag
According to Matthew V. Brockmeyer’s author bio, he lives in the redwoods of Northern California which makes me happy I moved away from that area and two states away to Washington because Brockmeyer scares me. I mean, I’m sure he’s a normal guy. I bet he puts his pants on one leg at a time. He probably eats his dinner with his family and uses a napkin. He’s probably a well-adjusted, kind-to-strangers-type-of-guy as most horror authors tend to be--
However, these stories of his in UNDER ROTTING SKY are appalling.
They’re wicked.
Disturbing. Unsettling. Foul. Dark. Ugly.
And you can’t stop reading them. That’s maybe the most horrifying aspect of this story collection. As much as the words on the page startle you and repulse you, Brockmeyer’s effortlessly stylistic and literary prose completely and utterly mesmerize you.
Take for instance the first story, MINE. At first blush, it feels like a coming of age story as you follow a young boy dressed in a wolf suit named Max who lives in poverty with his older brother and his overweight, housebound mother. Something dark is lurking around the edges of the story. You feel the tension as you read it. You fear the worst as the young boy fixates on a female classmate. The story comes to a close and you don’t feel nervous anymore because your worst fears are realized and now you know. Now you’re just disturbed by what you just read and more disturbing than that is your desire for more stories like that one.
Why did I finish this whole collection if the tales were that morose? That disgusting? You’ll see. Try to pry your eyes away from the story of a junky haunted by a ghost.
Close the book on the legend of a witch so powerful, she can turn a boy into a pig. A lifeguard with a sexual agenda. Twins possessed by demons who terrorize their father. I’m purposefully not disclosing the more harrowing bits about these stories.
Twenty different tales and I swear, each one darker than the last.
If I’m honest with myself, I had zero issues with Brockmeyer’s ability to write. That much is obvious--skills abound. But I struggle to rate it the highest score only because some of the stories were so foul, I skimmed over some of the more gruesome bits or I skipped to the ending. But I only did that three times that I remember and one time I just plain didn’t like the story. It’s this reader’s opinion that this collection will be too visceral, too unflinching for some but for most horror fans, this is a home run and fans will want to keep Brockmeyer’s name on their list of ones to watch.
4 out of 5 skulls
Sadie Hartmann
According to Matthew V. Brockmeyer’s author bio, he lives in the redwoods of Northern California which makes me happy I moved away from that area and two states away to Washington because Brockmeyer scares me. I mean, I’m sure he’s a normal guy. I bet he puts his pants on one leg at a time. He probably eats his dinner with his family and uses a napkin. He’s probably a well-adjusted, kind-to-strangers-type-of-guy as most horror authors tend to be--
However, these stories of his in UNDER ROTTING SKY are appalling.
They’re wicked.
Disturbing. Unsettling. Foul. Dark. Ugly.
And you can’t stop reading them. That’s maybe the most horrifying aspect of this story collection. As much as the words on the page startle you and repulse you, Brockmeyer’s effortlessly stylistic and literary prose completely and utterly mesmerize you.
Take for instance the first story, MINE. At first blush, it feels like a coming of age story as you follow a young boy dressed in a wolf suit named Max who lives in poverty with his older brother and his overweight, housebound mother. Something dark is lurking around the edges of the story. You feel the tension as you read it. You fear the worst as the young boy fixates on a female classmate. The story comes to a close and you don’t feel nervous anymore because your worst fears are realized and now you know. Now you’re just disturbed by what you just read and more disturbing than that is your desire for more stories like that one.
Why did I finish this whole collection if the tales were that morose? That disgusting? You’ll see. Try to pry your eyes away from the story of a junky haunted by a ghost.
Close the book on the legend of a witch so powerful, she can turn a boy into a pig. A lifeguard with a sexual agenda. Twins possessed by demons who terrorize their father. I’m purposefully not disclosing the more harrowing bits about these stories.
Twenty different tales and I swear, each one darker than the last.
If I’m honest with myself, I had zero issues with Brockmeyer’s ability to write. That much is obvious--skills abound. But I struggle to rate it the highest score only because some of the stories were so foul, I skimmed over some of the more gruesome bits or I skipped to the ending. But I only did that three times that I remember and one time I just plain didn’t like the story. It’s this reader’s opinion that this collection will be too visceral, too unflinching for some but for most horror fans, this is a home run and fans will want to keep Brockmeyer’s name on their list of ones to watch.
4 out of 5 skulls
Sadie Hartmann
August 20, 2019
UNDER ROTTING SKY: Stories, is a collection of twenty tales by Matthew V. Brockmeyer. These are not your light "campfire-style" stories, but rather they embrace the more extreme side of horror. Triggers? Oh yes--just about every major one you can think of!
I'm not one to shy away from extreme horror, but I will admit there was one tale that touched upon a subject that was off-limits to me. While I did find several stories that I enjoyed for their originality, I felt that the collection focused overwhelmingly upon the most bleak and depressing aspects of life you could envision. The abrupt endings worked for some, but I felt that others could have used a bit more "depth". Perhaps if some "different" themes had been interspersed throughout, I would have enjoyed it more, as a whole.
As it stands, some of the tales I enjoyed were:
--"Lifeguard": There was no shortage of extreme images in this story! Its originality, and the thoughts left in my mind after its conclusion, made it one that won't soon be forgotten.
--"A New Man": This was one of my favorite selections in this collection. While the story was fairly predictable (I believe it was designed to be), it was the tone and little comments throughout that made it so spellbinding. The very first sentence began: "Bartholomew had the internet to thank for everything. Without the internet, he wouldn't have know anything about transorbital lobotomies . . ." If THAT doesn't grasp you attention, I'm not sure what would!
--"The Gym Teacher": This one deals with a young man obsessed with the macabre and serial killers, in general. "What makes a man a monster?"
--"Mine": This was the first story of the collection. The way individuals deal with grief in their own ways was a powerful statement. ". . . Max decided he was no longer a little boy, but a wolf pup . . . "
--"Nightingale": was my number one choice for favorite story here. A historical fiction piece, told in interview style, the descriptions and emotions were so potent throughout this one. ". . . A bunch of misfits, losers, and orphans, sure, but we were bound to each other like a family might be . . . "
Overall, a mixed bag of extreme horror. Some I identified with, but many that I personally found too "bleak" to be entertaining. Opinions always vary, and fans of more extreme horror may find this to their liking.
I'm not one to shy away from extreme horror, but I will admit there was one tale that touched upon a subject that was off-limits to me. While I did find several stories that I enjoyed for their originality, I felt that the collection focused overwhelmingly upon the most bleak and depressing aspects of life you could envision. The abrupt endings worked for some, but I felt that others could have used a bit more "depth". Perhaps if some "different" themes had been interspersed throughout, I would have enjoyed it more, as a whole.
As it stands, some of the tales I enjoyed were:
--"Lifeguard": There was no shortage of extreme images in this story! Its originality, and the thoughts left in my mind after its conclusion, made it one that won't soon be forgotten.
--"A New Man": This was one of my favorite selections in this collection. While the story was fairly predictable (I believe it was designed to be), it was the tone and little comments throughout that made it so spellbinding. The very first sentence began: "Bartholomew had the internet to thank for everything. Without the internet, he wouldn't have know anything about transorbital lobotomies . . ." If THAT doesn't grasp you attention, I'm not sure what would!
--"The Gym Teacher": This one deals with a young man obsessed with the macabre and serial killers, in general. "What makes a man a monster?"
--"Mine": This was the first story of the collection. The way individuals deal with grief in their own ways was a powerful statement. ". . . Max decided he was no longer a little boy, but a wolf pup . . . "
--"Nightingale": was my number one choice for favorite story here. A historical fiction piece, told in interview style, the descriptions and emotions were so potent throughout this one. ". . . A bunch of misfits, losers, and orphans, sure, but we were bound to each other like a family might be . . . "
Overall, a mixed bag of extreme horror. Some I identified with, but many that I personally found too "bleak" to be entertaining. Opinions always vary, and fans of more extreme horror may find this to their liking.
April 4, 2019
Under Rotting Sky
By Matthew V. Brockmeyer
Genre - Fiction
Subgenre - Single Author Short Stories/Horror/Psychological Horror/Dark Fairy Tales
Pages - 266
Publication Information - Black Thunder Press - Expected Date April 20, 2019
Format - Print
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙
It was not until I started reading Under Rotting Sky by Matthew V. Brockmeyer that I realized I know this guy’s writing. It was then that I started to look through some of my previous readings of anthologies authored by various authors that I found his work in a few of the anthologies that I’ve read. His style is an unmistakable take no prisoners, no-holds barred, hardcore physical and psychological horror. This collection of twenty short stories are brutal, in your face, unapologetic and incredibly visceral. You will not soon forget the characters or the plots of these diverse tales of the macabre. It’s filled with ghosts, shapeshifters, ghouls, homicidal children, and a darker take on a Grimm’s Fairy Tales, just to name a few. This is one of those books that I will keep within arms distance and most definitely pick up later and read a story here and there. If you’re looking for a horror fix filled with blood and gore, deranged minds and done with masterful wordsmanship you will most assuredly want to pick up a copy of this collection when it’s available. I look forward to what nightmares this author can inject into my memory as well as the ones he has already placed there.
From the back cover: Twenty tales of darkness and transgression from Matthew V. Brockmeyer, award-winning author of Kind Nepenthe.
Enter a disturbing dreamscape where your worst fears are illuminated and taboos are mockingly shattered.
In Mine a child hangs precariously between the isthmus of innocence and evil, shedding his humanity for the altar of a wolf pup. In RUMPELSTILTSKIN the troll under the bridge is very real, and wants your children for unspeakable deeds. In THE GYM TEACHER a boy’s obsession with serial killers leads him to discover the true nature of a monster.
These twenty stories traverse the outskirts of society to reveal the brutality of humanity in all its gory glory.
About the Author: Matthew Brockmeyer lives in an off-grid cabin deep in the forest of Northern California with his wife and two children. In his off time he enjoys howling at the moon and bathing his fangs in human blood.
Other works by Matthew V. Brockmeyer: Kind Nepenthe. Contributed to The Horror Collection, Collected Christmas Horror Shorts 2, After the Happily Ever After, Infinite Darkness, Deciduous: Tales of Darkness and Horror, and 1o0 Word Horrors just to mention a few.
By Matthew V. Brockmeyer
Genre - Fiction
Subgenre - Single Author Short Stories/Horror/Psychological Horror/Dark Fairy Tales
Pages - 266
Publication Information - Black Thunder Press - Expected Date April 20, 2019
Format - Print
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙
It was not until I started reading Under Rotting Sky by Matthew V. Brockmeyer that I realized I know this guy’s writing. It was then that I started to look through some of my previous readings of anthologies authored by various authors that I found his work in a few of the anthologies that I’ve read. His style is an unmistakable take no prisoners, no-holds barred, hardcore physical and psychological horror. This collection of twenty short stories are brutal, in your face, unapologetic and incredibly visceral. You will not soon forget the characters or the plots of these diverse tales of the macabre. It’s filled with ghosts, shapeshifters, ghouls, homicidal children, and a darker take on a Grimm’s Fairy Tales, just to name a few. This is one of those books that I will keep within arms distance and most definitely pick up later and read a story here and there. If you’re looking for a horror fix filled with blood and gore, deranged minds and done with masterful wordsmanship you will most assuredly want to pick up a copy of this collection when it’s available. I look forward to what nightmares this author can inject into my memory as well as the ones he has already placed there.
From the back cover: Twenty tales of darkness and transgression from Matthew V. Brockmeyer, award-winning author of Kind Nepenthe.
Enter a disturbing dreamscape where your worst fears are illuminated and taboos are mockingly shattered.
In Mine a child hangs precariously between the isthmus of innocence and evil, shedding his humanity for the altar of a wolf pup. In RUMPELSTILTSKIN the troll under the bridge is very real, and wants your children for unspeakable deeds. In THE GYM TEACHER a boy’s obsession with serial killers leads him to discover the true nature of a monster.
These twenty stories traverse the outskirts of society to reveal the brutality of humanity in all its gory glory.
About the Author: Matthew Brockmeyer lives in an off-grid cabin deep in the forest of Northern California with his wife and two children. In his off time he enjoys howling at the moon and bathing his fangs in human blood.
Other works by Matthew V. Brockmeyer: Kind Nepenthe. Contributed to The Horror Collection, Collected Christmas Horror Shorts 2, After the Happily Ever After, Infinite Darkness, Deciduous: Tales of Darkness and Horror, and 1o0 Word Horrors just to mention a few.
June 22, 2019
I held very high hopes for this book of short stories. I knew one was going to be a tribute to "Where The Wild Things Are" and to be honest that really concerned as someone who grew up with that book.
The best way to describe this book is like "story time" for adults! I enjoyed Brockmeyer's take on Max in "Mine", a great way to start the book and the stories just kept getting better.
By the time I reached "Under Rotting Sky" I knew this was a five star book but wow that story was hard to swallow.
I'll definitely be reading more from Brockmeyer and highly recommend this to lovers of short stories.
The best way to describe this book is like "story time" for adults! I enjoyed Brockmeyer's take on Max in "Mine", a great way to start the book and the stories just kept getting better.
By the time I reached "Under Rotting Sky" I knew this was a five star book but wow that story was hard to swallow.
I'll definitely be reading more from Brockmeyer and highly recommend this to lovers of short stories.
April 22, 2019
Great stories. Loved that a lot of them paid homage to story lines I love. Especially the first one. This author just keeps getting better. Highly recommend.
April 5, 2019
Under Rotting Sky is an intense collection of hardcore horror, chock full of murderous children, lost souls, deranged fairy tales, and punk-rock ghosts. Brockmeyer reels you in with addictive prose and unforgettable characters only to reach down your throat and pull your guts out from between your teeth. His writing will bring you comfort, wrap you in a warm embrace... if, that is, you are going through something that pales in comparison to the nightmares his stories will conjure, such as death, divorce, disease or destitution.
Favorite stories were the eponymous “Under Rotting Sky” (tragic, visceral, and inspired) & “Rumpelstiltskin.” I mean, come on, are you really going to try to tell me that you’ve read a more original take on the German fairy tale than Brockmeyer’s twisted and blackly humorous version featuring heroin dealer and opportunistic human trafficker the Rump???
I didn’t think so...
Favorite stories were the eponymous “Under Rotting Sky” (tragic, visceral, and inspired) & “Rumpelstiltskin.” I mean, come on, are you really going to try to tell me that you’ve read a more original take on the German fairy tale than Brockmeyer’s twisted and blackly humorous version featuring heroin dealer and opportunistic human trafficker the Rump???
I didn’t think so...
July 8, 2019
4.5 rounded up for Goodreads
There's no denying Brockmeyer has writing chops.
The first story of this collection, "Mine," is just a wonderfully dark twist on "Where the Wild Things Are," and it sets the mood perfectly for what's to come. "Reckoning the Corn" and "Gym Teacher" were also stellar entries, both perfectly written and played out.
The only reason I couldn't give this a 5 out of 5 is because there is some subject matter here that sickens me too much (I cannot stand reading about children dying, and there's some of that here).
That being said, there is most definitely HORROR to be found throughout this collection. It is certainly unsettling, disturbing, and pretty fuckin' fantastic. I have found a new favorite author in Brockmeyer.
There's no denying Brockmeyer has writing chops.
The first story of this collection, "Mine," is just a wonderfully dark twist on "Where the Wild Things Are," and it sets the mood perfectly for what's to come. "Reckoning the Corn" and "Gym Teacher" were also stellar entries, both perfectly written and played out.
The only reason I couldn't give this a 5 out of 5 is because there is some subject matter here that sickens me too much (I cannot stand reading about children dying, and there's some of that here).
That being said, there is most definitely HORROR to be found throughout this collection. It is certainly unsettling, disturbing, and pretty fuckin' fantastic. I have found a new favorite author in Brockmeyer.
February 21, 2020
What a great collection of short stories. I say short, but there is plenty of emotional involvement in the majority of them, and they didnt read like short ones. Very descriptive (but not overly), enough to let your imagination drift to whatever situation the main character is in.
Horrific, emotional, disturbing - plenty in here to satisfy any horror lover.
Top work, a truly superb collection that i struggled to pick a favorite in. They are all of such a high quality.
Horrific, emotional, disturbing - plenty in here to satisfy any horror lover.
Top work, a truly superb collection that i struggled to pick a favorite in. They are all of such a high quality.
Read
May 19, 2019I bought my copy and read it through at one sitting. Couldn't put it down. This is Humboldt horror, with permaculture couples in Redway, Cthulhu cults in Whitethorn, and gutter punks and tweakers in Old Town. He supplies horror story explanations for the Indian Island Massacre, the great Old Town Fire around the turn of the century that wiped out all the bars and brothels between 1st & 2nd -- he even has a heart warming Christmas tale set at Bayshore Mall. This is one of the tightest, most solid debut collections I've seen from a young author in a long time. These tales are Humboldt harsh, and they WILL blow you away.
April 25, 2019
“Because [darkness] is there, that's why. Because there is no denying it. Because looking away is being a coward and lying to yourself. And to not acknowledge it would be to give it more power.”
These stories were bloody and emotional and disturbing and beautiful. Multiple times as I'd come to the end of another story I'd think “ok this is my new favorite.��� Every story completely blindsided me. I thought I knew where they were going yet Brockmeyer surprised me every time. I'm not going to lie, a couple stories were horrific; they made me intensely uncomfortable yet it's evident how much thought he put into his craft and the stories are not solely for shock value. He has a clear goal in mind, a purpose, and as crazy as the story is, it never gets muddled down or confused.
The first story, Mine, was the best introduction to this short story collection anyone could ask for, and when all is said and done, it is one of my favorites by far. It was reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are which is one of my favorite children's books. (And we need to take a moment to appreciate the cover art! Daniele Serra killed it with his macabre Max.) I loved how Brockmeyer took a beloved children's book and made it decidedly unchildlike. It's like when King took something so comforting to me - The Wizard of Oz - and made it dark and creepy. It really crawls under your skin and stays with you.
A lot of these stories were inspired by children's tales. But these were anything but watered down Disney fairy tales. These were some DARK and twisted fairy tales. These stories explored the dark side of childhood, the unhappily ever after, the princess isn't saved at the end (the princess is hacked into bloody pieces and fed to the birds more like it). But there was a balanced mix between these fairy tales and real life horrors. Some of my favorites include:
Carried Statues - it speaks volumes to a writer's ability when he can pack such an emotional punch into two pages
A New Man - this story was about a man looking for love and acceptance...with a twist. It made my skin crawl. And that ending!
Have a Heart - I literally said out loud “yeah Brockmeyer have a heart!”
Under Rotting Sky - so melancholy and sad
The Gym Teacher - I thought this story was a perfect ending to the collection. It encapsulated many different ideas of horror.
Whether the stories were of the supernatural, Lovecraftian horror variety or the very human, very real, dirty, grimy horror each story shines a light on the dark side of life lurking in the shadows or hiding in the gutters, to show us monsters walk among us.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
These stories were bloody and emotional and disturbing and beautiful. Multiple times as I'd come to the end of another story I'd think “ok this is my new favorite.��� Every story completely blindsided me. I thought I knew where they were going yet Brockmeyer surprised me every time. I'm not going to lie, a couple stories were horrific; they made me intensely uncomfortable yet it's evident how much thought he put into his craft and the stories are not solely for shock value. He has a clear goal in mind, a purpose, and as crazy as the story is, it never gets muddled down or confused.
The first story, Mine, was the best introduction to this short story collection anyone could ask for, and when all is said and done, it is one of my favorites by far. It was reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are which is one of my favorite children's books. (And we need to take a moment to appreciate the cover art! Daniele Serra killed it with his macabre Max.) I loved how Brockmeyer took a beloved children's book and made it decidedly unchildlike. It's like when King took something so comforting to me - The Wizard of Oz - and made it dark and creepy. It really crawls under your skin and stays with you.
A lot of these stories were inspired by children's tales. But these were anything but watered down Disney fairy tales. These were some DARK and twisted fairy tales. These stories explored the dark side of childhood, the unhappily ever after, the princess isn't saved at the end (the princess is hacked into bloody pieces and fed to the birds more like it). But there was a balanced mix between these fairy tales and real life horrors. Some of my favorites include:
Carried Statues - it speaks volumes to a writer's ability when he can pack such an emotional punch into two pages
A New Man - this story was about a man looking for love and acceptance...with a twist. It made my skin crawl. And that ending!
Have a Heart - I literally said out loud “yeah Brockmeyer have a heart!”
Under Rotting Sky - so melancholy and sad
The Gym Teacher - I thought this story was a perfect ending to the collection. It encapsulated many different ideas of horror.
Whether the stories were of the supernatural, Lovecraftian horror variety or the very human, very real, dirty, grimy horror each story shines a light on the dark side of life lurking in the shadows or hiding in the gutters, to show us monsters walk among us.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2019
This was my first book by the author. I loved the various styles of writing he used in the stories. The characters were vivid. The stories were engaging and they flowed really well. I don't recall any grammatical issues. (Thank you, that is so distracting!) I don't scare easily but I did find many stories disturbing. While there were a few chuckles here and there, many stories ended in a manner that was uncomfortable. I really enjoyed this ride and will be looking for more from the author.
April 18, 2019
Short stories usually leave me feeling cheated. Not here. Each story is complete - gut wrenching, scary, and thoroughly satisfying.
September 24, 2019
Folks, you need this book in your life.
I've often been disappointed by short story horror collections. Many times I find them lacking in substance, disjointed, and unnecessarily ambiguous. This is none of them. It's incredibly entertaining, creative and terrifying. There's some crazy good and shocking stuff going on in here. Some of my favorite stories included:
Reckoning the Corn - I'll never look at bacon the same way again.
Have a Heart - I literally had to take a step back on this one and couldn't believe where it went.
A New Man - Internet research gone wrong!
This is one of those collections where the stories stick with you. I could easily see so many of these being adapted into television episodes, i.e., Tales from the Crypt or Creepshow. And trigger warnings? Just stay away if you're easily offended.
So yeah, read this book. You'll thank me later!
I've often been disappointed by short story horror collections. Many times I find them lacking in substance, disjointed, and unnecessarily ambiguous. This is none of them. It's incredibly entertaining, creative and terrifying. There's some crazy good and shocking stuff going on in here. Some of my favorite stories included:
Reckoning the Corn - I'll never look at bacon the same way again.
Have a Heart - I literally had to take a step back on this one and couldn't believe where it went.
A New Man - Internet research gone wrong!
This is one of those collections where the stories stick with you. I could easily see so many of these being adapted into television episodes, i.e., Tales from the Crypt or Creepshow. And trigger warnings? Just stay away if you're easily offended.
So yeah, read this book. You'll thank me later!
April 20, 2019
This is the first work I have read from Matthew Brockmeyer and was excited to do so, having seen the high praise his novel, Kind Nepenthe, had received. I’m a big fan of short stories, and read a lot of collections, but Under Rotting Sky stands out as being exceptional. As soon as I began the book I was hooked – the writing is some of the best I have read. I usually find with collections of this nature that some stories don’t hold my attention, but there was not a single story here that I did not enjoy. Brockmeyer has put together a collection which covers a huge range of themes, from the subtle and spooky, to the outright extreme. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, and have moved Kind Nepenthe to the top of my TBR list.
April 24, 2019
Horror fans, check this out
I have been a horror fan my whole life, but never has a book scared me like this one.
The stories are short and well written. Each story leaves you wanting more.
I have been a horror fan my whole life, but never has a book scared me like this one.
The stories are short and well written. Each story leaves you wanting more.
July 19, 2019
A unique and varied collection of stories. The characters are well-developed and interesting. While there is no shortage of blood and gore, these are riveting stories surrounding a sacrificed child, a murdered witch, a were-teacher, among others. A great collection!
July 3, 2019
Absolutely wonderful collection.
I attended the release party for Under Rotting Sky on facebook, which was really a lot of fun, and I was telling the author that I would be reading and reviewing his book for Kendall Reviews. He offered to send over a new copy with a few formatting corrections, which I accepted. Thank you to Matthew V. Brockmeyer and Black Thunder Press for providing me with an e-review copy.
Extremely deep. Dark. Nostalgic. And refreshing, if you can say that horror is refreshing. Sometimes it can be. Well, that is until the darkness creeps in. Then, it lingers a bit before making itself comfortable and showing its unmasked face. Once comfortable, the show begins.
I hadn’t read anything by Matthew V. Brockmeyer before, but I will definitely be reading more of his work. This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read.
4.7 stars out of 5.
Mine
In the wake of Kurt Cobain’s death, a couple of fatherless brothers scrounge the streets of Seattle for survival. With their father gone, it’s up to them to search for recyclables to return for food money for themselves and their hard-to-please, alcoholic mother. While downtown searching for bottles and cans, Max spots Mary Ellen. As he follows her through town, we realize this is no ordinary crush. There is something far more sinister going on here.
A Dirty Winter Moon
This is one of the stories I referred to as refreshing. It’s refreshing because I haven’t read a lot of stories set in the Pacific Northwest. It is a nice change of scenery, and I can almost smell the fresh air and earth and see this beautiful place.
As different as the setting is to read about, it’s a familiar way of life for me. It’s almost like Brockmeyer is describing my family’s cabin in the woods at times, right down to the propane refrigerator.
Hopefully my life won’t end up like this story.
Dandelion, Henry, and their daughter, Sophia, have acquired forty acres of land an hour’s drive away from the closest small town. They’re building their cabin—their life—off the grid here. A lot of work has been accomplished, but there’s much more work to be done. They have added a dozen Rhode Island Red chickens and a small greenhouse and are planning to add much more to their farm.
They learn that homesteading is a lot of hard work that usually comes with slow progress. They’ve already experienced some crop loss and setbacks.
Life on a farm comes with intrusions.
A creepy man appears as Dandelion and Sophia are planting garlic. He has a message to deliver. A warning.
Then there’s chaos. Destruction. Loss.
Joyride
Roach is out looking to score some drugs. On a whim, he decides to steal something bigger, which would have been a really bad decision even if the he hadn’t been high. Now, as if Roach’s life wasn’t bad enough, it gets worse. The pain and sadness are bad. Now, Roach’s own personal Jiminy Cricket is steering him to do good deeds, but it can’t really be there, can it?
Extremely dark and sad.
Underground Fire
Greg and Katherine’s marriage is pretty much a train-wreck. Greg suggests they take a trip and try to repair their relationship. Things are not going as planned, but then there does seem to be a turn for the better.
I certainly didn’t see that ending coming! Wow!
A New Man
Thank goodness for all the knowledge you can gain from the internet. Without his online education, Bartholomew wouldn’t have this wonderful life he’s made for himself.
Reckoning the Corn
An exhilarating, witchy story. This one made me really sad and squeezed my cold, black heart. Lots of twists and turns. That ending!
Lifeguard
A science fiction story where there’s a lot more going on that what meets the eye. Lots of gross-out moments!
Have a Heart
This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. This is one of the most horrific stories I’ve ever read.
We have a large, old white oak tree in our yard at the cabin, and my dad always comments on how dangerous it is. He pretty much hates the tree, and he cuts down trees near his own home all the time as they grow. I love that tree, and it’s one one of the things I made sure was kept off limits while the land was being cleaned up for the cabin. I walked past the live trap we have set to catch various creatures who like to cause chaos, go toward the giant white oak tree with at least one questionable branch hanging out over the fire pit, and up the steps to our cabin where I sat and read Have a Heart. When I finished, I thought maybe Matthew Brockmeyer had written this story right here on my own front porch. When my husband and son brought home new baby chicks a couple weeks ago, my husband told me he almost decided to get me a goose, too. Had he brought me a gosling, we might be stacking new firewood today because I might have really thought hard about cutting down the old tree after all.
Raymond and Beatrice are fighting over the decision to keep or cut the old madrone tree as they often do.
A broody goose is sitting on a clutch of eggs.
An unwanted visitor has been lurking at night, and Raymond tries to trap it.
Horrible, horrible, terrible things happen!
This story raises a lot of flags. If you’re a cryer, it might bring some tears. It nearly ripped out my heart.
Under Rotting Sky
I don’t know whether the sadness, pain, or darkness stands out more.
An 80s, punk rock, homelessness, and drug-laden kind of love story.
“Dead, ethereal.”
“My name is Garbage and forever will my name be etched into my head by the girl I loved. I haunt a world of filth, piss, and blood beneath a rotting sky.”
I attended the release party for Under Rotting Sky on facebook, which was really a lot of fun, and I was telling the author that I would be reading and reviewing his book for Kendall Reviews. He offered to send over a new copy with a few formatting corrections, which I accepted. Thank you to Matthew V. Brockmeyer and Black Thunder Press for providing me with an e-review copy.
Extremely deep. Dark. Nostalgic. And refreshing, if you can say that horror is refreshing. Sometimes it can be. Well, that is until the darkness creeps in. Then, it lingers a bit before making itself comfortable and showing its unmasked face. Once comfortable, the show begins.
I hadn’t read anything by Matthew V. Brockmeyer before, but I will definitely be reading more of his work. This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read.
4.7 stars out of 5.
Mine
In the wake of Kurt Cobain’s death, a couple of fatherless brothers scrounge the streets of Seattle for survival. With their father gone, it’s up to them to search for recyclables to return for food money for themselves and their hard-to-please, alcoholic mother. While downtown searching for bottles and cans, Max spots Mary Ellen. As he follows her through town, we realize this is no ordinary crush. There is something far more sinister going on here.
A Dirty Winter Moon
This is one of the stories I referred to as refreshing. It’s refreshing because I haven’t read a lot of stories set in the Pacific Northwest. It is a nice change of scenery, and I can almost smell the fresh air and earth and see this beautiful place.
As different as the setting is to read about, it’s a familiar way of life for me. It’s almost like Brockmeyer is describing my family’s cabin in the woods at times, right down to the propane refrigerator.
Hopefully my life won’t end up like this story.
Dandelion, Henry, and their daughter, Sophia, have acquired forty acres of land an hour’s drive away from the closest small town. They’re building their cabin—their life—off the grid here. A lot of work has been accomplished, but there’s much more work to be done. They have added a dozen Rhode Island Red chickens and a small greenhouse and are planning to add much more to their farm.
They learn that homesteading is a lot of hard work that usually comes with slow progress. They’ve already experienced some crop loss and setbacks.
Life on a farm comes with intrusions.
A creepy man appears as Dandelion and Sophia are planting garlic. He has a message to deliver. A warning.
Then there’s chaos. Destruction. Loss.
Joyride
Roach is out looking to score some drugs. On a whim, he decides to steal something bigger, which would have been a really bad decision even if the he hadn’t been high. Now, as if Roach’s life wasn’t bad enough, it gets worse. The pain and sadness are bad. Now, Roach’s own personal Jiminy Cricket is steering him to do good deeds, but it can’t really be there, can it?
Extremely dark and sad.
Underground Fire
Greg and Katherine’s marriage is pretty much a train-wreck. Greg suggests they take a trip and try to repair their relationship. Things are not going as planned, but then there does seem to be a turn for the better.
I certainly didn’t see that ending coming! Wow!
A New Man
Thank goodness for all the knowledge you can gain from the internet. Without his online education, Bartholomew wouldn’t have this wonderful life he’s made for himself.
Reckoning the Corn
An exhilarating, witchy story. This one made me really sad and squeezed my cold, black heart. Lots of twists and turns. That ending!
Lifeguard
A science fiction story where there’s a lot more going on that what meets the eye. Lots of gross-out moments!
Have a Heart
This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. This is one of the most horrific stories I’ve ever read.
We have a large, old white oak tree in our yard at the cabin, and my dad always comments on how dangerous it is. He pretty much hates the tree, and he cuts down trees near his own home all the time as they grow. I love that tree, and it’s one one of the things I made sure was kept off limits while the land was being cleaned up for the cabin. I walked past the live trap we have set to catch various creatures who like to cause chaos, go toward the giant white oak tree with at least one questionable branch hanging out over the fire pit, and up the steps to our cabin where I sat and read Have a Heart. When I finished, I thought maybe Matthew Brockmeyer had written this story right here on my own front porch. When my husband and son brought home new baby chicks a couple weeks ago, my husband told me he almost decided to get me a goose, too. Had he brought me a gosling, we might be stacking new firewood today because I might have really thought hard about cutting down the old tree after all.
Raymond and Beatrice are fighting over the decision to keep or cut the old madrone tree as they often do.
A broody goose is sitting on a clutch of eggs.
An unwanted visitor has been lurking at night, and Raymond tries to trap it.
Horrible, horrible, terrible things happen!
This story raises a lot of flags. If you’re a cryer, it might bring some tears. It nearly ripped out my heart.
Under Rotting Sky
I don’t know whether the sadness, pain, or darkness stands out more.
An 80s, punk rock, homelessness, and drug-laden kind of love story.
“Dead, ethereal.”
“My name is Garbage and forever will my name be etched into my head by the girl I loved. I haunt a world of filth, piss, and blood beneath a rotting sky.”
June 6, 2019
This is a tough one to review, because it was kind of uneven. Didn't love some of the stories at the beginning of the book and felt kind of meh about going on; but because I really liked Kind Nepenthe, I decided to persevere. And it paid off, in a way, because beginning at roughly the 50% mark, the stories start grabbing you by the gut.
And I do mean by the gut, because there is some really dark and disturbing stuff in this collection. This is NOT a book for anyone who has any triggers at all. Period. I don't plan to list them, just take my word for it: Under Rotting Sky contains some of the most extreme horror I've read, maybe ever, and runs the gamut of upsetting ideas and activities. ("The Gym Teacher" is transgressive in almost every way I can think of.) I certainly won't forget some of these stories any time soon. 3.5 stars for the stories being hit-and-miss, rounded up to 4 for having shocked its way into my memory.
And I do mean by the gut, because there is some really dark and disturbing stuff in this collection. This is NOT a book for anyone who has any triggers at all. Period. I don't plan to list them, just take my word for it: Under Rotting Sky contains some of the most extreme horror I've read, maybe ever, and runs the gamut of upsetting ideas and activities. ("The Gym Teacher" is transgressive in almost every way I can think of.) I certainly won't forget some of these stories any time soon. 3.5 stars for the stories being hit-and-miss, rounded up to 4 for having shocked its way into my memory.
April 6, 2020
I initially picked this collection up because it shared its name with a song by the band Khanate, one of the most soul crushing, intense and disturbing bands of all time.
Upon finishing I can say that it is one of the most soul crushing, intense and disturbing short story collections of all time,
Highly recommended if you can stomach it.
Upon finishing I can say that it is one of the most soul crushing, intense and disturbing short story collections of all time,
Highly recommended if you can stomach it.
May 30, 2019
This entire collection of stories is right up my alley - dark, gory, creepy horror. I highly recommend that you read this!
June 6, 2019
Women beware..
The stories in this book are well written, but I just couldn't get past the mysogynistic themes present in nearly every story. The male gaze in these stories is overwhelming, and most female characters are portrayed as victims, stereotypical b*tches, or objects.
The stories in this book are well written, but I just couldn't get past the mysogynistic themes present in nearly every story. The male gaze in these stories is overwhelming, and most female characters are portrayed as victims, stereotypical b*tches, or objects.
August 20, 2019
Hit or miss collection of short stories from Brockmeyer. Some really good, some not so much, others good or ok. Not on the level of Kind Nepenthe but there are enough good ones to make it worthwhile.
April 27, 2019
Twenty tales of darkness and transgression from Matthew V. Brockmeyer, award-winning author of Kind Nepenthe. Enter a disturbing dreamscape where your worst fears are illuminated and taboos are mockingly shattered. These twenty stories traverse the outskirts of society to reveal the brutality of humanity in all its gory glory.
MINE is about a boy who decided he wanted to be a wolf pup. This child has some serious problems and really needs to seek professional help. This story will give you an uneasy feeling.
NIGHTINGALE is an interview style story, just when you think it's just a story about the "red-light district" a twist is thrown in. Very descriptive, I was pulled right into the story.
DIRTY WINTER MOON is a heart braking story. Living off the land isn't easy, more so when something keeps destroying stuff. Was not expecting it to end the way it did and it left me wanting more.
CARRIED STATUES this is a very short but powerful story. Reminds you of the strength of a mother's love.
UNDERGROUND FIRE...A simple trip to Centralia, PA to make up with his wife, doesn't turn out the way Greg had hoped. Nothing is worse than a pissed off wife. Interesting story with another ending I didn't expect.
A NEW MAN..."Without the internet, he wouldn't have known anything about transorbital lobotomies." This seems to be a very fitting story for our times, need to learn something..look it up. This story grabbed me from the beginning, definitely my favorite in the collection.
BUBBLEGUM CIGARETTES is definitely a story about a parents worst dream. I use to love bubblegum and candy cigarettes as a kid, you did feel older while "smoking" them. This is a story that could turn into a great novel.
MALL SANTA is another story that fits perfectly in our times, people obsessed over likes on social media. What could go wrong rushing to get the perfect picture of your child with Santa? Read this story and find out.
UNDER ROTTING SKY is a story about love gone wrong, very wrong. When Garbage met Raven he fell head over heels for her and she did the same, at least that's what Garbage though.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN is definitely not the story you remember from your childhood. This story is dark, gritty, and horrifying...to say the least.
This collection has some great stories. There are many more stories in this collection, for you to check out. The cover art on this book gives a small hint to what is inside, definitely a creepy picture for a creepy set of stories. The description and details in each story really pulls you in and makes you think. Many of these stories stuck in my mind for awhile after reading, I really liked how the author took stories from fairy tales and children's stories, and gave them a horror element. This is definitely an author you have to check out!
MINE is about a boy who decided he wanted to be a wolf pup. This child has some serious problems and really needs to seek professional help. This story will give you an uneasy feeling.
NIGHTINGALE is an interview style story, just when you think it's just a story about the "red-light district" a twist is thrown in. Very descriptive, I was pulled right into the story.
DIRTY WINTER MOON is a heart braking story. Living off the land isn't easy, more so when something keeps destroying stuff. Was not expecting it to end the way it did and it left me wanting more.
CARRIED STATUES this is a very short but powerful story. Reminds you of the strength of a mother's love.
UNDERGROUND FIRE...A simple trip to Centralia, PA to make up with his wife, doesn't turn out the way Greg had hoped. Nothing is worse than a pissed off wife. Interesting story with another ending I didn't expect.
A NEW MAN..."Without the internet, he wouldn't have known anything about transorbital lobotomies." This seems to be a very fitting story for our times, need to learn something..look it up. This story grabbed me from the beginning, definitely my favorite in the collection.
BUBBLEGUM CIGARETTES is definitely a story about a parents worst dream. I use to love bubblegum and candy cigarettes as a kid, you did feel older while "smoking" them. This is a story that could turn into a great novel.
MALL SANTA is another story that fits perfectly in our times, people obsessed over likes on social media. What could go wrong rushing to get the perfect picture of your child with Santa? Read this story and find out.
UNDER ROTTING SKY is a story about love gone wrong, very wrong. When Garbage met Raven he fell head over heels for her and she did the same, at least that's what Garbage though.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN is definitely not the story you remember from your childhood. This story is dark, gritty, and horrifying...to say the least.
This collection has some great stories. There are many more stories in this collection, for you to check out. The cover art on this book gives a small hint to what is inside, definitely a creepy picture for a creepy set of stories. The description and details in each story really pulls you in and makes you think. Many of these stories stuck in my mind for awhile after reading, I really liked how the author took stories from fairy tales and children's stories, and gave them a horror element. This is definitely an author you have to check out!
May 8, 2019
Like Two Queens, A Pair of Jacks, and a Joker
What do you want to know about Matt Brockmeyer’s first collection of short fiction, UNDER ROTTING SKY: STORIES?
Is it good writing? Damn straight!
Is it safe? Not even remotely!
Does it tell the truth? Always. But maybe not the truth you were looking for...
As a writer, who does Brockmeyer remind you of?
-Like Shirley Jackson and Joyce Carol Oates, he makes you examine the human condition— compassion and love, abomination and depravity, desire and despair—each strand entwined with the others.
-Like Jack Ketchum and Jack Kerouac, he tells it like it is, whether you want to hear it or not.
-Like Chuck Palahniuk he will make you laugh, and then make you feel like an a-hole for laughing.
Does it come with a trigger warning? Yes, the words “Matthew V. Brockmeyer” are clearly written at the top of the book.
Should I buy this collection? If you like your coffee black, your whiskey straight, and your meat rare, absolutely.
What do you want to know about Matt Brockmeyer’s first collection of short fiction, UNDER ROTTING SKY: STORIES?
Is it good writing? Damn straight!
Is it safe? Not even remotely!
Does it tell the truth? Always. But maybe not the truth you were looking for...
As a writer, who does Brockmeyer remind you of?
-Like Shirley Jackson and Joyce Carol Oates, he makes you examine the human condition— compassion and love, abomination and depravity, desire and despair—each strand entwined with the others.
-Like Jack Ketchum and Jack Kerouac, he tells it like it is, whether you want to hear it or not.
-Like Chuck Palahniuk he will make you laugh, and then make you feel like an a-hole for laughing.
Does it come with a trigger warning? Yes, the words “Matthew V. Brockmeyer” are clearly written at the top of the book.
Should I buy this collection? If you like your coffee black, your whiskey straight, and your meat rare, absolutely.
May 16, 2019
Great!!
Awesome anthology and it gave me something new to read every night. Truthfully I did skip a few stories that weren’t quite flowing well for me but I guess everyone has a preference!👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Awesome anthology and it gave me something new to read every night. Truthfully I did skip a few stories that weren’t quite flowing well for me but I guess everyone has a preference!👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
April 27, 2019
Excellent, thought provoking, creepy collection
April 28, 2019
Under Rotting Sky
This is my first time reading anything by Brockmeyer. His writing is captivating. I could hardly put it down. I wanted to keep reading the next story. This wasn't quite horror to me so much as gory shock and awe. I found the stories quite disturbing, but in a good -I'm glad this isn't real just a story- sort of way. I'll definitely be reading more of Brockmeyer's work.
This is my first time reading anything by Brockmeyer. His writing is captivating. I could hardly put it down. I wanted to keep reading the next story. This wasn't quite horror to me so much as gory shock and awe. I found the stories quite disturbing, but in a good -I'm glad this isn't real just a story- sort of way. I'll definitely be reading more of Brockmeyer's work.
April 17, 2019
Under rotting sky was beautifully dreadful. The words are alive, rich, and buried in the back of your psyche, until the Author kindly reminds you of them. With each story I was more engrossed and engaged. Mr.Brockmeyer’s descriptions are inexhaustibly creative and keeps you wide awake long after its said and done. Sometimes you find yourself in a “urine-soaked back ally” ( Mathew Brockmeyer) and you wonder how you got there. The cover art is genius. These bed time fears are just waiting for a second read, but I’ll be pulling the blankets up to my chin this time. Leave the light on.
November 22, 2019
Under Rotting Sky: Stories is Matthew V. Brockmeyer’s debut collection of short, dark fiction. With an emphasis on dark. These stories are shockingly disturbing and brutal. I legitimately cannot recommend this book without giving that warning upfront. That being said, I absolutely loved this collection, and highly recommend it. Brockmeyer has no qualms whatsoever about crossing every line imaginable, and he does so with brutal bluntness. These stories make you feel. They hurt the soul and make you question the decency of the human race. If you aren’t afraid to be taken to some dark, bleak and terrifying places, this is the collection for you.
One thing about this collection that I found interesting is the publication history included at the end of the book. A large number of the stories were originally published on various online horror forums over the last 5 years. I think it’s fascinating and inspiring that Brockmeyer seems to have gotten his start writing stories in horror forums, and now has such a well received collection, as well as his novel, Kind Nepenthe. In fact, my top three stories originated on those forums.
Of the 20 stories included, I absolutely loved 13 of them, quite liked 5 of them, and there were only 2 that didn’t really do it for me.
My Top Three Stories
Under Rotting Sky- The namesake of the collection, Under Rotting Sky tells the tragic story of a punk-rocker named Garbage. He falls madly in love, and of course, that is his downfall. This story paints a vivid picture of the 80s punk-rock subculture. The ending is haunting and terrifying and tragic.
The Number of Darkness- This story is told through the journal entries of Charles Cooperton, a member of an entrepreneurial family in California in the late 1800s. After the Cooperton family moves across the continent to California to etch out a living in farming and milling, a series of misfortunes dwindle their funds and the members of their clan. When Charles’ two young daughters fall ill, he exhausts all other options before eventually calling for a priest. The stylistic voice Brockmeyer uses for Charles’ journal entries really adds a different layer and perspective to this classic tale of demonic possession.
The Abalone Thief/ Call- I’m including these stories together, despite appearing as two seperate tales. The Abalone Thief is a cosmic horror story that takes place in the small fishing town of Shelter Cove, California. Here, our main character Theodore is conducting research for his PhD in marine biology. His specialty is the red abalone, a type of sea mollusk. During his research, he notes a sudden mass disappearance of the red abalone. Determined to discover who poached the large quantity of abalone, Ted stumbles upon the dark, cosmic secrets of the town. Call takes up where The Abalone Thief left off, describing the aftermath of the horrific events from the perspective of a new character, Jimmy. I’m a big fan of cosmic horror, and the mythos and creatures that Brockmeyer has come up with for these stories really did it for me.
A Note On The Stories That Weren’t For Me
There were only two stories in the collection that just didn’t do it for me. Those stories were Carried Statues and Mall Santa. I think it’s worth mentioning that both stories were well written and interesting. Carried Statues just didn’t really resonate with me. Perhaps if I had a bit of a different life perspective, it may have worked better. The issue that I took with Mall Santa was actually the ending. I felt it simply wasn’t dark enough. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the stories in the collection. Perhaps that juxtaposition is why it didn’t quite do the job for me.
Conclusion
Matthew V. Brockmeyer has put together an astoundingly diverse collection of horror here. I thoroughly enjoyed glimpsing into such dark and depraved worlds. If you have a weak stomach or are easily offended by extremely difficult topics, you should absolutely not pick up this book. There were several stories that were hard to read at times, especially reading aloud as I did. If you think you might enjoy sinking to the depths of filth and depravity, Matthew V. Brockmeyer is a fine tour guide.
One thing about this collection that I found interesting is the publication history included at the end of the book. A large number of the stories were originally published on various online horror forums over the last 5 years. I think it’s fascinating and inspiring that Brockmeyer seems to have gotten his start writing stories in horror forums, and now has such a well received collection, as well as his novel, Kind Nepenthe. In fact, my top three stories originated on those forums.
Of the 20 stories included, I absolutely loved 13 of them, quite liked 5 of them, and there were only 2 that didn’t really do it for me.
My Top Three Stories
Under Rotting Sky- The namesake of the collection, Under Rotting Sky tells the tragic story of a punk-rocker named Garbage. He falls madly in love, and of course, that is his downfall. This story paints a vivid picture of the 80s punk-rock subculture. The ending is haunting and terrifying and tragic.
The Number of Darkness- This story is told through the journal entries of Charles Cooperton, a member of an entrepreneurial family in California in the late 1800s. After the Cooperton family moves across the continent to California to etch out a living in farming and milling, a series of misfortunes dwindle their funds and the members of their clan. When Charles’ two young daughters fall ill, he exhausts all other options before eventually calling for a priest. The stylistic voice Brockmeyer uses for Charles’ journal entries really adds a different layer and perspective to this classic tale of demonic possession.
The Abalone Thief/ Call- I’m including these stories together, despite appearing as two seperate tales. The Abalone Thief is a cosmic horror story that takes place in the small fishing town of Shelter Cove, California. Here, our main character Theodore is conducting research for his PhD in marine biology. His specialty is the red abalone, a type of sea mollusk. During his research, he notes a sudden mass disappearance of the red abalone. Determined to discover who poached the large quantity of abalone, Ted stumbles upon the dark, cosmic secrets of the town. Call takes up where The Abalone Thief left off, describing the aftermath of the horrific events from the perspective of a new character, Jimmy. I’m a big fan of cosmic horror, and the mythos and creatures that Brockmeyer has come up with for these stories really did it for me.
A Note On The Stories That Weren’t For Me
There were only two stories in the collection that just didn’t do it for me. Those stories were Carried Statues and Mall Santa. I think it’s worth mentioning that both stories were well written and interesting. Carried Statues just didn’t really resonate with me. Perhaps if I had a bit of a different life perspective, it may have worked better. The issue that I took with Mall Santa was actually the ending. I felt it simply wasn’t dark enough. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the stories in the collection. Perhaps that juxtaposition is why it didn’t quite do the job for me.
Conclusion
Matthew V. Brockmeyer has put together an astoundingly diverse collection of horror here. I thoroughly enjoyed glimpsing into such dark and depraved worlds. If you have a weak stomach or are easily offended by extremely difficult topics, you should absolutely not pick up this book. There were several stories that were hard to read at times, especially reading aloud as I did. If you think you might enjoy sinking to the depths of filth and depravity, Matthew V. Brockmeyer is a fine tour guide.
November 24, 2019
UNDER ROTTING SKY is a collection of twenty short stories. I can't write a review on all twenty stories nor would you want me to, right? ...don't answer that. I'm not writing twenty separate reviews on these stories. This damn book. This damn book and its writing and all these damn words. These stories were incredible. They were incredibly fucked up. They were the darkest shade of black one could imagine. They were soulless and evil. They were brilliant, but simultaneously had me scratching my head. "What in the hell did I just read?" was a popular question I asked myself after reading the last sentence at the end of each story. They're not for the faint of heart and according to reviews I've read on both Goodreads and Amazon, even some hardcore horror aficionados complained about a few of the stories being too insensitive to some content. Despite the level of darkness of these stories, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Quite a few notable standouts in this collection, including, "A Dirty Winter Moon", "Joyride", "Underground Fire", "A New Man", "Reckoning the Corn" and "Have A Heart".
I wanted to take just a moment to tell you about one of my favorites called "A New Man". The story opens with us learning that Bartholomew has used the internet to research everything possible on transorbital lobotomies. It was a simple procedure first performed in 1946 and can be performed with ease using a simple ice pick and hammer. He's on his way home and gets his wife some flowers. The scene opens with her sitting on the sofa, staring at the television and drooling excessively. Her mouth is slightly open and she's got that weird, blank stare. There have been so many before her until he perfected the procedure. He hated loneliness and isolation. He perfected it with his wife and now she belonged to him. Prior to that, he had attempted the transorbital lobotomy procedure on so many women after luring them in one way or another only to kill them accidentally. Once the body would begin to decay, he'd get lonely as he'd have to get rid of it. He'd set out to find another woman to practice on.
"He had been digging into the cerebellum. What he needed to be doing was severing the connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe."
I'm not a fan of short stories or anthologies. I'm just not, but these fucked up little stories superseded that opinion. I know a lot of people will say anthologies allow you to sample so many different writers! Short stories are a great way to sample an author's writing without the commitment of an 800-page novel. All of that is true. I'd rather just plow along and focus my efforts and reading on one particular story, but UNDER ROTTING SKY surprised me in a good way. These stories shook me the way several good horror stories should. There's witches and wolves and shapeshifters and drug users and children and bizarre sexual missions and aliens and creatures and serial killers and all of it was just so strange. The stories bring your psyche to a place that's completely uncomfortable. Even though certain paragraphs left me uneasy, I was eager to finish each story and the book, in general. In fact, at one point, I found myself reading too many stories at once and I purposely slowed down so I could enjoy it more.
There's no doubt the stories are extreme, overall. I was disappointed to see so many so-called horror lovers on Amazon and Goodreads fault the writer and the book because of how extreme some of the stories were in this collection. Some actually said they were 'triggered' and turned off by some of the stories. If that's the case, then you can't possibly be a fan of the horror genre, can you? I mean, if you don't like it, you don't like it, but don't sit there and say the stories were too extreme. For some reason, a lot of the negative comments really turned me off. I wouldn't read a romance novel and then give it 1-star because there was too much romance. Look at the cover of this book for crying out loud. The title is UNDER ROTTING SKY. You mean to tell me you picked this up expecting butterflies, sunshine and happy places? Don't read a horror novel, give it a 1-star review and say it's 'too extreme'. Absolutely, it is extreme. There are several points that pushes you the brink of being uneasy, but isn't that what good art and good writing is supposed to do? Kudos to Mr. Brockmeyer for every story he told in this collection. Quite a few of them made me disappointed they ended so soon. I wanted to stay and play in those scenes and those environments. Then the story would start wrapping up and voila! It was over. That's basically why I don't care for short story collections and anthologies. Trust me when I say that has nothing to do with UNDER ROTTING SKY. I absolutely LOVED this collection of short stories. It is simply my personal opinion on short stories, in general. I bought this one after seeing it shared on so many #bookstagram feeds on Instagram (thanks to those of you who shared this one!)
I'm beating a dead horse here at this point, but if you love horror, if you enjoy short stories, if you enjoy being pushed emotionally during your reading experience - I highly, highly, highly recommend UNDER ROTTING SKY. It is a beautiful, dark, terribly macabre collection of stories that will shake you. This is a solid 5-star read for me simply because of the way the stories resonated with me. I use that word a lot when I have the opportunity to read a book that I deem worthy of a 5-star rating simply because I don't know how else to explain it. I often times put the book down to contemplate what I had just read. I thought about a couple of stories while sitting outside on my lunch break at work. One of the stories popped into my mind while driving to work. It's a book that wreaked havoc on me (in a good way) and simply put, I loved it. This is a must-have for anyone with a solid horror collection!
Quite a few notable standouts in this collection, including, "A Dirty Winter Moon", "Joyride", "Underground Fire", "A New Man", "Reckoning the Corn" and "Have A Heart".
I wanted to take just a moment to tell you about one of my favorites called "A New Man". The story opens with us learning that Bartholomew has used the internet to research everything possible on transorbital lobotomies. It was a simple procedure first performed in 1946 and can be performed with ease using a simple ice pick and hammer. He's on his way home and gets his wife some flowers. The scene opens with her sitting on the sofa, staring at the television and drooling excessively. Her mouth is slightly open and she's got that weird, blank stare. There have been so many before her until he perfected the procedure. He hated loneliness and isolation. He perfected it with his wife and now she belonged to him. Prior to that, he had attempted the transorbital lobotomy procedure on so many women after luring them in one way or another only to kill them accidentally. Once the body would begin to decay, he'd get lonely as he'd have to get rid of it. He'd set out to find another woman to practice on.
"He had been digging into the cerebellum. What he needed to be doing was severing the connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe."
I'm not a fan of short stories or anthologies. I'm just not, but these fucked up little stories superseded that opinion. I know a lot of people will say anthologies allow you to sample so many different writers! Short stories are a great way to sample an author's writing without the commitment of an 800-page novel. All of that is true. I'd rather just plow along and focus my efforts and reading on one particular story, but UNDER ROTTING SKY surprised me in a good way. These stories shook me the way several good horror stories should. There's witches and wolves and shapeshifters and drug users and children and bizarre sexual missions and aliens and creatures and serial killers and all of it was just so strange. The stories bring your psyche to a place that's completely uncomfortable. Even though certain paragraphs left me uneasy, I was eager to finish each story and the book, in general. In fact, at one point, I found myself reading too many stories at once and I purposely slowed down so I could enjoy it more.
There's no doubt the stories are extreme, overall. I was disappointed to see so many so-called horror lovers on Amazon and Goodreads fault the writer and the book because of how extreme some of the stories were in this collection. Some actually said they were 'triggered' and turned off by some of the stories. If that's the case, then you can't possibly be a fan of the horror genre, can you? I mean, if you don't like it, you don't like it, but don't sit there and say the stories were too extreme. For some reason, a lot of the negative comments really turned me off. I wouldn't read a romance novel and then give it 1-star because there was too much romance. Look at the cover of this book for crying out loud. The title is UNDER ROTTING SKY. You mean to tell me you picked this up expecting butterflies, sunshine and happy places? Don't read a horror novel, give it a 1-star review and say it's 'too extreme'. Absolutely, it is extreme. There are several points that pushes you the brink of being uneasy, but isn't that what good art and good writing is supposed to do? Kudos to Mr. Brockmeyer for every story he told in this collection. Quite a few of them made me disappointed they ended so soon. I wanted to stay and play in those scenes and those environments. Then the story would start wrapping up and voila! It was over. That's basically why I don't care for short story collections and anthologies. Trust me when I say that has nothing to do with UNDER ROTTING SKY. I absolutely LOVED this collection of short stories. It is simply my personal opinion on short stories, in general. I bought this one after seeing it shared on so many #bookstagram feeds on Instagram (thanks to those of you who shared this one!)
I'm beating a dead horse here at this point, but if you love horror, if you enjoy short stories, if you enjoy being pushed emotionally during your reading experience - I highly, highly, highly recommend UNDER ROTTING SKY. It is a beautiful, dark, terribly macabre collection of stories that will shake you. This is a solid 5-star read for me simply because of the way the stories resonated with me. I use that word a lot when I have the opportunity to read a book that I deem worthy of a 5-star rating simply because I don't know how else to explain it. I often times put the book down to contemplate what I had just read. I thought about a couple of stories while sitting outside on my lunch break at work. One of the stories popped into my mind while driving to work. It's a book that wreaked havoc on me (in a good way) and simply put, I loved it. This is a must-have for anyone with a solid horror collection!
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