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Aftermath of an Industrial Accident: Stories
A Korean War veteran must rely on wits, improvised weapons, and words from the dread Necronomicon to escape the lair of a deranged cult. A ghost cannot communicate how she died, no matter how desperately she tries, while an unconventional ghost hunter incurs the venomous wrath of the Queen of Night. Murderous conspiracies reveal themselves in online video clips, a saint blasphemes as a serial killer prays for mercy, and corrupt families in ancient kingdoms trade blood and souls for leverage over foes. Enduring nightmares for a living can lead to a fate worse than burnout. A gruesome invasion from outside space and time tests courage—and corporate loyalty—past all rational limits.
In these twenty-three stories and poems, two-time World Fantasy Award nominee Mike Allen spins twisted narratives, some wound through the fabric of our world, some set in imagined pasts or futures, all plumbing the depths of human darkness. "The consistency, here, is simply excellence," writes Bram Stoker Award finalist and Punktown creator Jeffrey Thomas in his introduction. "You are holding in your hands an overflowing cornucopia of monstrous goodness."
Cover art by Danielle Tunstall
In these twenty-three stories and poems, two-time World Fantasy Award nominee Mike Allen spins twisted narratives, some wound through the fabric of our world, some set in imagined pasts or futures, all plumbing the depths of human darkness. "The consistency, here, is simply excellence," writes Bram Stoker Award finalist and Punktown creator Jeffrey Thomas in his introduction. "You are holding in your hands an overflowing cornucopia of monstrous goodness."
Cover art by Danielle Tunstall
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2020
61 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Mike Allen
93 books155 followersMike Allen wears many creative hats, at least one of them tailor-made by his wife and partner-in-crime Anita.
An author, editor and publisher of science fiction, fantasy and horror, Mike has written, edited, or co-edited thirty-nine books, among them his forthcoming dark fantasy novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS, his sidearms, sorcery, and zombies sequence THE BLACK FIRE CONCERTO and THE GHOULMAKER’S ARIA, and his newest horror collection, SLOW BURN.
UNSEAMING and AFTERMATH OF AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT, his first two volumes of horror tales, were both finalists for the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Story Collection, and his dark fable “The Button Bin” was a nominee for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story. Another collection, THE SPIDER TAPESTRIES, contains experiments in weird science fiction and fantasy.
As an editor and publisher, Mike has been nominated twice for the World Fantasy Award: first, for his anthology CLOCKWORK PHOENIX 5, the culmination of the Clockwork Phoenix series showcasing tales of beauty and strangeness that defy genre classification; and then, for MYTHIC DELIRIUM, the magazine of poetry and fiction he edited for twenty years.
He’s a three-time winner of the Rhysling Award for poetry. His six poetry collections include STRANGE WISDOMS OF THE DEAD, a Philadelphia Inquirer Editor’s Choice selection, and HUNGRY CONSTELLATIONS, a Suzette Haden Elgin Award nominee.
With Anita, he runs Mythic Delirium Books, based in Roanoke, Virginia. Their cat Pandora assists.
An author, editor and publisher of science fiction, fantasy and horror, Mike has written, edited, or co-edited thirty-nine books, among them his forthcoming dark fantasy novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS, his sidearms, sorcery, and zombies sequence THE BLACK FIRE CONCERTO and THE GHOULMAKER’S ARIA, and his newest horror collection, SLOW BURN.
UNSEAMING and AFTERMATH OF AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT, his first two volumes of horror tales, were both finalists for the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Story Collection, and his dark fable “The Button Bin” was a nominee for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story. Another collection, THE SPIDER TAPESTRIES, contains experiments in weird science fiction and fantasy.
As an editor and publisher, Mike has been nominated twice for the World Fantasy Award: first, for his anthology CLOCKWORK PHOENIX 5, the culmination of the Clockwork Phoenix series showcasing tales of beauty and strangeness that defy genre classification; and then, for MYTHIC DELIRIUM, the magazine of poetry and fiction he edited for twenty years.
He’s a three-time winner of the Rhysling Award for poetry. His six poetry collections include STRANGE WISDOMS OF THE DEAD, a Philadelphia Inquirer Editor’s Choice selection, and HUNGRY CONSTELLATIONS, a Suzette Haden Elgin Award nominee.
With Anita, he runs Mythic Delirium Books, based in Roanoke, Virginia. Their cat Pandora assists.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 8, 2020
Someone with a better education in Clive Barker's work could probably spot his influence in Allen's work. However, Barker is, perhaps surprisingly, a pop culture blind spot for me, so I couldn't point out similarities. And while I've read some Laird Barron, a contemporary of Allen's in so-called weird horror, I'm also not familiar enough with his work to contrast and compare.
Instead, the author comparison that first came to mind to me, besides one I'll get to in a minute, was Karen Russell. Although St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves is not a horror book--unless you look at the title story as an allegory for Indian boarding schools, as I do--there is a similarity to me in the settings. For example, you start reading a story by either Russell or Allen. It seems like it's set in our world. It seems as if it has our rules. But then something shifts. Someone reveals their many limbs or that their daddy's actually a Minotaur and you realize this isn't our world after all. I love that.
And I liked most of the stories. My favorite would probably be "Longsleeves," a horror meets fantasy story about what men will sacrifice for an inch more of power. I also liked the goofy grossness of "Tick Flick" and the dread of "Drift from the Windrows," a darkly satiric sketch of life at a Monsanto-esque corporation.
If there were a weakness in the book for me, then it would be the story endings. Many stories just stop, which left me wondering, And then what? In addition, through no fault of his own, Allen has the misfortune of my reading this book shortly after I read Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country. Like "Sun Saw," it is also a tale of a Korean War veteran who encounters cosmic horror. And I absolutely LOVED it, so it's a hard act to follow. Again, that's out of Allen's control. But it probably did affect my enjoyment of the story.
So while that tale didn't necessarily wow me, I did enjoy the book as a whole. And I'm pretty sure it made me have at least one nightmare. Because that's the cumulative effect of the stories--the otherworldly aspect of their settings can come off as magical realism. In the daytime. But in the dark, each offering is like a tender slice of a bad dream.
Instead, the author comparison that first came to mind to me, besides one I'll get to in a minute, was Karen Russell. Although St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves is not a horror book--unless you look at the title story as an allegory for Indian boarding schools, as I do--there is a similarity to me in the settings. For example, you start reading a story by either Russell or Allen. It seems like it's set in our world. It seems as if it has our rules. But then something shifts. Someone reveals their many limbs or that their daddy's actually a Minotaur and you realize this isn't our world after all. I love that.
And I liked most of the stories. My favorite would probably be "Longsleeves," a horror meets fantasy story about what men will sacrifice for an inch more of power. I also liked the goofy grossness of "Tick Flick" and the dread of "Drift from the Windrows," a darkly satiric sketch of life at a Monsanto-esque corporation.
If there were a weakness in the book for me, then it would be the story endings. Many stories just stop, which left me wondering, And then what? In addition, through no fault of his own, Allen has the misfortune of my reading this book shortly after I read Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country. Like "Sun Saw," it is also a tale of a Korean War veteran who encounters cosmic horror. And I absolutely LOVED it, so it's a hard act to follow. Again, that's out of Allen's control. But it probably did affect my enjoyment of the story.
So while that tale didn't necessarily wow me, I did enjoy the book as a whole. And I'm pretty sure it made me have at least one nightmare. Because that's the cumulative effect of the stories--the otherworldly aspect of their settings can come off as magical realism. In the daytime. But in the dark, each offering is like a tender slice of a bad dream.
August 4, 2021
Diverse collection with interesting ideas, but I'm not a fan of the writing.
June 16, 2020
A great introduction for me to Mike Allen. I've heard about him, but somehow not read him. Need to correct that after Aftermath of an Industrial Accident, and find some previous works. Different stories with weird horror. Much recommend.
July 24, 2020
This was such a treat to read I wish it wouldn't have ended. The breadth of genres and emotions explored was as broad as any collection or anthology I've read, and each story within was great. There was weird fiction in 'Tick Flick', fantasy in 'Longsleeves', and horror in 'Puppet Show' which has still left tendrils in my mind. What really struck me though was the care taken with the characters and the writing. None of these stories are "filler" or let the rest of the collection down, instead each of them are chock full of characters and motivation and feeling and vivid scenes. I most likely throw 5 stars around too frequently, but this is one case where I know it's the right pick and I highly recommend this.
Thanks NetGalley, Mike Allen, and Mythic Delirium for letting me read this.
Thanks NetGalley, Mike Allen, and Mythic Delirium for letting me read this.
September 29, 2020
The stories in Aftermath call out for gluttonous consumption, to be devoured with satisfaction. I read each one twice, first in the frenzy they beckoned, and then with marrow sucking devotion to word and whole. Having read much of Allen’s work I feel this is his best yet. The stories and poems are precise and polished, style mature and words honed.
Aftermath can be toted a companion read to his previous collection, Unseaming. Allen mentions in his afterword that some stories directly relate to that collection, and the cover is by the same artist and model. I’d go further to say that Aftermath is an evolution of Unseaming’s horror and the feelings it evoked.
Horror fans will enjoy the variety here, from Poe-esque fluidity and symbolism to Bradbury brilliance and a bit of gore such as David Wong produced. At times, all rolled into one tale. My favorites are very different from one another, in that Six Waking Nightmares, the very first in the collection, invokes a spirit of the author sharing his terrors, many of which I can relate to, and the title story, Aftermath of an Industrial Accident, which takes me out of my comfort zone with the unknown science fiction threats that could be unleashed upon the earth in apocalyptic force.
The flow of stories is well thought out, with a dispersion of longer and shorter, darker and darker yet, varying style and feel. It is all a reader can do but hold on and enjoy the ride, then go back and do it again.
Aftermath can be toted a companion read to his previous collection, Unseaming. Allen mentions in his afterword that some stories directly relate to that collection, and the cover is by the same artist and model. I’d go further to say that Aftermath is an evolution of Unseaming’s horror and the feelings it evoked.
Horror fans will enjoy the variety here, from Poe-esque fluidity and symbolism to Bradbury brilliance and a bit of gore such as David Wong produced. At times, all rolled into one tale. My favorites are very different from one another, in that Six Waking Nightmares, the very first in the collection, invokes a spirit of the author sharing his terrors, many of which I can relate to, and the title story, Aftermath of an Industrial Accident, which takes me out of my comfort zone with the unknown science fiction threats that could be unleashed upon the earth in apocalyptic force.
The flow of stories is well thought out, with a dispersion of longer and shorter, darker and darker yet, varying style and feel. It is all a reader can do but hold on and enjoy the ride, then go back and do it again.
July 6, 2020
I was intrigued by this collection of short stories and poems by Mike Allen from the description of the book, so I requested to review it from NetGalley.
What a ride this book is!
Throughout the 23 offerings in "Aftermath of an Industrial Accident - Stories by Mike Allen," the author offers a considerable range and variety of horror for the reader to enjoy, from traditional horror to fantasy horror to sci-fi horror.
While I didn't connect with them all, I did encounter some definite favorites among Allen's stories, such as "Binding," "Longsleeves," "Sun Saw," and the title story.
If you enjoy horror stories, especially ones that don't fit neatly into a box or cliche, you'll definitely want to check out "Aftermath of an Industrial Accident: Stories by Mike Allen." Oh and you have to be comfortable with gore, because some stories have a lot of it (would you expect any less from a story that features the NECRONOMICON?).
I'm giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 because I enjoyed the majority of the stories, which were original and inventive.
Visit zengrrl.com to read my full review. I received a copy to review, but my opinions are my own. Thanks!
What a ride this book is!
Throughout the 23 offerings in "Aftermath of an Industrial Accident - Stories by Mike Allen," the author offers a considerable range and variety of horror for the reader to enjoy, from traditional horror to fantasy horror to sci-fi horror.
While I didn't connect with them all, I did encounter some definite favorites among Allen's stories, such as "Binding," "Longsleeves," "Sun Saw," and the title story.
If you enjoy horror stories, especially ones that don't fit neatly into a box or cliche, you'll definitely want to check out "Aftermath of an Industrial Accident: Stories by Mike Allen." Oh and you have to be comfortable with gore, because some stories have a lot of it (would you expect any less from a story that features the NECRONOMICON?).
I'm giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 because I enjoyed the majority of the stories, which were original and inventive.
Visit zengrrl.com to read my full review. I received a copy to review, but my opinions are my own. Thanks!
September 3, 2020
My introduction to Mike Allen was through the Outer Dark Virtual Symposium where he read some of his work. I was greatly impressed and so purchased Aftermath of an Industrial Accident. This collection contains Weird tales in every form; horror, fantasy, scifi, poems, and some that defy categorization. There is truly something for everyone to be found in these pages.
Every story pulls you into the lives of the characters, even when those characters aren't human. At the end of most stories I was so invested in the characters I desperately wanted more. Reading a Mike Allen story is like opening a box of chocolates, you can't have just one!
Every story pulls you into the lives of the characters, even when those characters aren't human. At the end of most stories I was so invested in the characters I desperately wanted more. Reading a Mike Allen story is like opening a box of chocolates, you can't have just one!
August 23, 2020
I'd never read anything by Mike Allen before, but I like weird and I like horror so I went for this one. Aftermath of an Industrial Accident is a mix of short stories and poems. Each and every one is carefully crafted, well thought out. I hated some and loved others. Longsleeves, Puppet Show, and Binding were favorites. I think every genre was covered, and no matter which you favor, you're sure to find at least one you'll enjoy. I was originally going to give this 3 stars but man I have to respect the craftsmanship Allen put into each and every piece. Solid 4 for me.
May 13, 2022
This is an incredible collection! I've never read Mike Allen before and I am so glad I came across this on Libby. The writing is wonderful, the characters and settings vivid and diverse with plenty of horrors. The Ivy-Smothered Palisade is my favorite story in the collection, I wish it were a novel. I will definitely seek out Allen's other works, I'm truly impressed by him.
August 21, 2020
I'm a big Mike Allen fan. This is another excellent collection. Check it out.
October 16, 2020
DNF @ 8%
September 23, 2022
A collection of short stories that is a must for any self-respecting horror fan.
April 19, 2023
Favorites were Binding and Burn The Kool Kidz At The Stake. The fantasy and sci-fi ones were cool too, an interesting change of pace from Allen's usual style.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews