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Creature Feature: Three Monster Stories
THREE CREATURE FEATURES - Into the Valley of Death - Home From the Sea - A Rock and a Hard Place Big beasties fascinate me. Some of that fascination stems from early film viewing. I remember being taken to the cinema to see The Blob. I couldn't have been more than seven or eight, and it scared the crap out of me. The original incarnation of Kong has been with me since around the same time. Similarly, I remember the BBC showing re-runs of classic creature features late on Friday nights, and THEM! in particular left a mark on my psyche. I've also got a Biological Sciences degree, and even while watching said movies, I'm usually trying to figure out how the creature would actually work in nature -- what would it eat? How would it procreate? What effect would it have on the environment around it? On top of that, I have an interest in cryptozoology, of creatures that live just out of sight of humankind, and of the myriad possibilities that nature, and man's dabbling with it, can throw up. All of this means I can't avoid writing about the beasties, from Giant Crabs in CRUSTACEANS, to Yeti in BERSERKER and ABOMINABLE, man-eating seaweed in THE CREEPING KELP, Native Indian Wendigo in NIGHT OF THE WENDIGO, Giant Ants in GENERATIONS and the various escapades of my Scottish squaddies in the S-SQUAD series. There are also an ever growing group of short stories. Here are three of my favorites.
90 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2020
30 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
410 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 10, 2023
Lots of old school pulp horror fun.
June 16, 2023
Meikle blends dramatic action and uncanny creatures with a hint of biology, evoking the rip-roaring excess of classic pulps without descending into accidental parody.
This collection contains three short stories, each in the style of a classic creature feature.
“Into the Valley of Death”: a small unit of Scottish soldiers head into the hills in search of Bedouin raiders who attacked their camp; instead, they discover an ancient temple dedicated to strange beetle gods.
“Home From the Sea”: a small group of villagers racing to rescue a foundering ship find the crew half-eaten by a strange tentacled species.
“A Rock and a Hard Place”: when a geologist apparently commits suicide off the cliffs of Dover after begging Professor Challenger to meet him, the scientist sets out to prove he was murdered by an unknown bludgeoning force.
In each case, Meikle includes just enough about the creatures’ interaction with the wider environment to create an impression they are natural creatures without providing enough that the reader’s logical mind has definite implausibilities to challenge. However, while this does add a greater sense of plausibility than, for example, the classic “radiation made it huge!”, these are still very much at the adventure/horror end of science-fiction rather than the speculative biology.
The arc of each plot is similarly a solid evoking of the classic man vs strange beast arc, swiftly getting to the discovery of a previously unknown (to civilised people at least) and dangerous creature, detailing doughty civilised men fighting against the threat, then even more swiftly concluding with the threat ended (at least for now). This arc—and Meikle’s ability to not descend into stereotypical excess—is perhaps clearest in the third story, which pastiches Conan Doyle’s brilliant but arrogant Professor Challenger.
Although the stories involve the realisation there are things science didn’t know, so are definitely adjacent to cosmic horror, human knowledge and gumption prove—at least mostly—efficacious, meaning there is not the dread of a universe we can neither survive or comprehend that defines the genre.
In addition to the three stories, the collection includes a self-interview with the author that fills around a quarter of the book. Depending on each reader’s attitude to biography and inclination to pay attention to how far through a book they are, this could provide a fascinating insight into his creation of these stories and life in general, or amplify the feeling that the third story has suddenly wrapped up.
Meikle’s characters display a plausible balance of competence and human flaws, including a sadly realistic moment of concern for profit rather than survival, that makes them feel like real people shaped by their world rather than simply heroes, fools, and victims. With the exception of Challenger, who is supposed to appear egotistical, the protagonists are always sympathetic if not always empathetic.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. I recommend to readers seeking brief bursts of pulp sci-fi action.
This collection contains three short stories, each in the style of a classic creature feature.
“Into the Valley of Death”: a small unit of Scottish soldiers head into the hills in search of Bedouin raiders who attacked their camp; instead, they discover an ancient temple dedicated to strange beetle gods.
“Home From the Sea”: a small group of villagers racing to rescue a foundering ship find the crew half-eaten by a strange tentacled species.
“A Rock and a Hard Place”: when a geologist apparently commits suicide off the cliffs of Dover after begging Professor Challenger to meet him, the scientist sets out to prove he was murdered by an unknown bludgeoning force.
In each case, Meikle includes just enough about the creatures’ interaction with the wider environment to create an impression they are natural creatures without providing enough that the reader’s logical mind has definite implausibilities to challenge. However, while this does add a greater sense of plausibility than, for example, the classic “radiation made it huge!”, these are still very much at the adventure/horror end of science-fiction rather than the speculative biology.
The arc of each plot is similarly a solid evoking of the classic man vs strange beast arc, swiftly getting to the discovery of a previously unknown (to civilised people at least) and dangerous creature, detailing doughty civilised men fighting against the threat, then even more swiftly concluding with the threat ended (at least for now). This arc—and Meikle’s ability to not descend into stereotypical excess—is perhaps clearest in the third story, which pastiches Conan Doyle’s brilliant but arrogant Professor Challenger.
Although the stories involve the realisation there are things science didn’t know, so are definitely adjacent to cosmic horror, human knowledge and gumption prove—at least mostly—efficacious, meaning there is not the dread of a universe we can neither survive or comprehend that defines the genre.
In addition to the three stories, the collection includes a self-interview with the author that fills around a quarter of the book. Depending on each reader’s attitude to biography and inclination to pay attention to how far through a book they are, this could provide a fascinating insight into his creation of these stories and life in general, or amplify the feeling that the third story has suddenly wrapped up.
Meikle’s characters display a plausible balance of competence and human flaws, including a sadly realistic moment of concern for profit rather than survival, that makes them feel like real people shaped by their world rather than simply heroes, fools, and victims. With the exception of Challenger, who is supposed to appear egotistical, the protagonists are always sympathetic if not always empathetic.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. I recommend to readers seeking brief bursts of pulp sci-fi action.
May 15, 2020
Creature Feature
I liked this book. The stories were short, but intense. Almost nonstop action. I especially liked the mother calling them home, but you will have to read the book to know what I am talking about. Five stars indeed, especially without the filthy langrage. For that point along, 5 stars.
I liked this book. The stories were short, but intense. Almost nonstop action. I especially liked the mother calling them home, but you will have to read the book to know what I am talking about. Five stars indeed, especially without the filthy langrage. For that point along, 5 stars.
July 21, 2022
Three Short Stories For Monster Lovers
From giant insects to maritime horrors, Meikle weaves a great tale about men surviving encounters with some of the most horrific monsters in literature. The last story with Professor Challenger felt too short with an ending that hung as a loose end, but the first two stories make up for it.
From giant insects to maritime horrors, Meikle weaves a great tale about men surviving encounters with some of the most horrific monsters in literature. The last story with Professor Challenger felt too short with an ending that hung as a loose end, but the first two stories make up for it.
September 10, 2022
My biggest complaint is that the first story is actually just a section from one of the S-Squad books dollied up a little. The Challenger one also felt like it just kind of stopped, the lack of explanation or proper conclusion was a little disappointing. Overall not bad, but something of a letdown, especially from an author of William Meikle's ability.
April 22, 2020
Worth it just for Professor Challenger
Three fun short stories with creatures worthy of their own B-movie. For me the highlight was the last story because Mr. Meikle writes great Professor Challenger tales, but all three are excellent!
Three fun short stories with creatures worthy of their own B-movie. For me the highlight was the last story because Mr. Meikle writes great Professor Challenger tales, but all three are excellent!
February 25, 2021
Awesome Creature Feature
Loved it. Just the right pace and information to allow the reader to care about the characters. Bought several of the chapbook collections and I am looking forward to reading the rest.
Loved it. Just the right pace and information to allow the reader to care about the characters. Bought several of the chapbook collections and I am looking forward to reading the rest.
April 18, 2020
When creatures seek to eat man
Three well written short stories. I may not consider eating crustaceans again when ordering seafood at a restaurant or pub.
Three well written short stories. I may not consider eating crustaceans again when ordering seafood at a restaurant or pub.
August 20, 2023
Three good creature stories that pretty much get right down to business. I think A Rock and a Hard Place might be my favourite. Nice, easy and fun reads.
November 22, 2023
great fun
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews