Philophobia

by Sin Ribbon

A gripping short story in a haunting, surreal world. The solitary Mr. Fetters is collecting precious, bizarre objects in a small neighborhood for one unthinkable purpose: resurrection.

Philophobia is a bizarre, surreal horror for those with a macabre appreciation for Gillian Flynn, Blake Butler, Junji Ito, and David Lynch. Reading this strange journey may invoke a dark spell or two.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

ebook

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Zane Desjarlais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Sin Ribbon even since I listened to her podcast In Her Burning. So I was very happy to find out she has written a short story and it did not disappoint. It was very creepy but in the best possible way. It almost felt like I was reading the script for a Black Mirror episode, I couldn't get enough of it. I highly recommend reading PHILOPHOBIA along with her debut novel TEN.

[Paddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a short Saturday afternoon read, this book was really good. A tell of lost love, sacrifice, terror and and ultimately (I won’t spoil that part) I really did enjoy it!

[Louis Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure which is the strangest part of this story, the fact that Mr Fetters is collecting strange items to resurrect his dead wife, or the fact that the town folk have all the weird and wonderful items that he’s asking for, and are happy to give him said items, for a price.

Following our unnamed narrator through this story, gives you the heebie-jeebies, making you feel really awkward, almost voyeuristic, and you can’t get any creepier than that.

This wonderfully surreal short story is cleverly told, in a third person drawl which succinctly paints the picture of a backwater society, cut off from the rest of civilisation; the stereotypical setting for this kind of creepy tale.

If you like creepy tales, then you’ll love this beautifully written short.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, weird story.

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was rated fairly highly on Amazon, perhaps I got my hopes up to high, but I was really disappointed in it. It is a very short dark story.... I very much disliked the childish voice portraying the story. The lack of detail, but that is common with short stories. The most depressing was the end, I don't want to give it away with spoilers, so I'll just say it ends, no reason or explanation, no details on the why or why not.... just the end. I feel like this was a good concept for a book, with more details, better writing/voice, and a better conclusion it could have been something.

[Adam Klatka · Rating 2 out of 5]

God, I loved this right up until the last paragraph. Like it was SO GOOD. 5 stars. And then a huge letdown. Can we get, like, a sequel? Maybe the town goes all pitchforks and torches and we get a real fucking explanation somewhere in there? Please?

It lost a whole 3 stars because I read the last word and immediately thought: Y tho?

[Jeremy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little, creepy tale

I can't say much without giving anything away, but if you want to get creeped out for a half-hour or so, Philophobia is a good way to do it.