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Hells Empire: Tales of the Incursion
A unique anthology of two thrones at war as the forces of Hell assault an unsuspecting Victorian Britain.The cry went out to theologians and engineers, to artificers and antiquarians, to every name which could be named. By telegraph where lines were still intact, and by volunteer riders where they were not; smuggled along the coast in fishing smacks, semaphored from hill-tops. It came without royal sanction, issued jointly by the Lords of the Admiralty and Marquess Lansdowne, the new Secretary of State for War:"In God's name, help us. We are losing."
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2019
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
John Linwood Grant
102 books42 followersJohn Linwood Grant lives in Yorkshire with a pack of lurchers and a beard. He may also have a family.
When he's not chronicling the adventures of Mr Bubbles, the slightly psychotic pony, he writes a range of supernatural, horror and speculative tales, some of which are actually published.
You can find him every week on his website which celebrates weird fiction and weird art, greydogtales.com, often with his dogs.
When he's not chronicling the adventures of Mr Bubbles, the slightly psychotic pony, he writes a range of supernatural, horror and speculative tales, some of which are actually published.
You can find him every week on his website which celebrates weird fiction and weird art, greydogtales.com, often with his dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 14, 2019
The premise for the book is that Hell is taking over late-Victorian Britain. The stories all show the impact of that on humans - and the demons who emerge from hell.
Each story is so well written as an individual piece, but the outstanding element of the anthology is how well the fourteen stories have been stitched together with linking pieces written by the editor. Instead of reading a group of separate stories on a theme, there is a distinct feeling of progression throughout the book - the beginning of the incursion, the development of it, and ultimately a climax. The varied styles and subjects that the authors chose to focus on merge and blend into a whole that is most definitely greater than the sum of its parts.
I couldn't put it down...
Each story is so well written as an individual piece, but the outstanding element of the anthology is how well the fourteen stories have been stitched together with linking pieces written by the editor. Instead of reading a group of separate stories on a theme, there is a distinct feeling of progression throughout the book - the beginning of the incursion, the development of it, and ultimately a climax. The varied styles and subjects that the authors chose to focus on merge and blend into a whole that is most definitely greater than the sum of its parts.
I couldn't put it down...
September 21, 2019
As a fan of alternative history but not a big supernatural story buff, I was leery of this one. But I liked one of the authors' previous works on other subjects, so I gave it a shot. And it was amazing. A wide variety of stories, with different settings and perspectives. And each interesting on its own, and fitting well into the storyline: Victorian England invaded by Hell. Intriguing characters, plenty of surprises, and accurate historical details combined to make this one I couldn't put down.
November 15, 2020
Great collection. Hell invades Victorian Britain and the pompous are forced to embrace the witches and occult to save them. What could go wrong?
July 5, 2021
Unique— that's how I would like to describe this anthology.
It contains fourteen short stories and two poems, all linked by editorial text. But that simply doesn’t explain the scope of it.
Hell attacking Britain!
And yet, not a single story went for slapstick. Instead, the authors were deadly serious in their projection of the hell that resides within us, waiting for an opportunity to come out.
The best stories of this anthology came in the beginning ("The Battle of Alma" by Matthew Willis) and at the end ("A Swig in Hell" by Charles R. Rutledge).
Charlotte Bond's "The Singing Stones" and Frank Coffman's "Reinforcements" were also immensely enjoyable.
Rest of the stories were good, but not THAT good. But overall, the anthology gets extra points for this incredible endeavour.
Recommended.
It contains fourteen short stories and two poems, all linked by editorial text. But that simply doesn’t explain the scope of it.
Hell attacking Britain!
And yet, not a single story went for slapstick. Instead, the authors were deadly serious in their projection of the hell that resides within us, waiting for an opportunity to come out.
The best stories of this anthology came in the beginning ("The Battle of Alma" by Matthew Willis) and at the end ("A Swig in Hell" by Charles R. Rutledge).
Charlotte Bond's "The Singing Stones" and Frank Coffman's "Reinforcements" were also immensely enjoyable.
Rest of the stories were good, but not THAT good. But overall, the anthology gets extra points for this incredible endeavour.
Recommended.
August 5, 2019
An outstanding collection of stories and characters as Victorian Britain take on the forces of Hell itself.
Such a rich variety of characters and settings across Britain bring this book to life. Witches, Lounge Singers, Unbelieving Theologians and a neglected little girl are just a few that tame the demons ravaging Southern Coastlands to the Northern reaches. Each story brilliantly and coherently weaved together so that it reads as a novel rather than a collection.
I thoroughly enjoyed the blend of occult and traditional warfare. But it is the depth and quality of the stories is definitely something to champion.
Long Live The Queen
Such a rich variety of characters and settings across Britain bring this book to life. Witches, Lounge Singers, Unbelieving Theologians and a neglected little girl are just a few that tame the demons ravaging Southern Coastlands to the Northern reaches. Each story brilliantly and coherently weaved together so that it reads as a novel rather than a collection.
I thoroughly enjoyed the blend of occult and traditional warfare. But it is the depth and quality of the stories is definitely something to champion.
Long Live The Queen
June 22, 2023
This collection is, as I have already stated while reviewing another edition, unique.
It could have easily entered into the Monty Python territory. But the authors took themselves seriously (a bit too seriously at times), and presented a collection of grim(-ish) tales that superimpose hellish initiatives onto an existing historical landscape.
The end results are surprising, since they don't look jarring by any means. It’s almost like the Anno Dracula series where reality, despite imbibing a hefty dose of unreal, doesn’t become surreal. Instead, we are served with some credible versions of 'what if' and lots of sobering thoughts.
Recommended.
It could have easily entered into the Monty Python territory. But the authors took themselves seriously (a bit too seriously at times), and presented a collection of grim(-ish) tales that superimpose hellish initiatives onto an existing historical landscape.
The end results are surprising, since they don't look jarring by any means. It’s almost like the Anno Dracula series where reality, despite imbibing a hefty dose of unreal, doesn’t become surreal. Instead, we are served with some credible versions of 'what if' and lots of sobering thoughts.
Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews