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We Make Monsters Here
In a country built on dreams, nightmares swell beneath the surface. Monsters face job insecurity in a new age. A group of former friends gather for one last game. A pizza delivery driver’s search for the ultimate high becomes an odyssey in body horror. Romance blossoms between a DJ and a woman who wants to be dinner. A soldier returns home from war but isn’t what he seems. The lessons learned at a family dinner have bloody consequences. History darkens the present as an underground boxing match leads a young woman to a path of destruction.These stories and more sift through the pieces of 21st century American wreckage as the pursuit for identity and belonging take dark twists of fate. Discover what we’ve sown in this place we call home. Discover what happens when a society based on winning ultimately loses. Discover the truth, that above all else, We Make Monsters Here.
205 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 6, 2021
Richard Newby’s first horror collection is a book nine years in the making. The first story (‘Monster Truck’) was written in 2012 and Newby has made the interesting choice of presenting each story chronologically, in the order in which they were written. It makes for interesting reading when there is the added factor of chronicling a writer’s development and growth over such a long period.
I was surprised, therefore, to find that a lot of my favourite stories were spread over a pretty wide cross-section of the books ten short stories. In fact, I found the whole book to be both consistent and cohesive. Newby’s introduction demonstrates an interest in both fairy tales and real word societal issues and a lot of his stories use wildly imaginative and outlandish ideas and imagery to tell very real stories about people and their experiences, whether they be regarding somebody’s appearance, race, beliefs or just their feelings about the world they live in.
The opening story (‘Monster Truck’) is a great example and a strong opener. It features classic monsters (vampires, werewolves, sirens) who have fallen on hard times and don’t feel particularly relevant anymore, a fact that becomes especially apparent when they meet a man who is a true monster. A lot of the stories have a great hook or original idea behind them, which is then used to examine an element of our lives that Newby finds interesting. ‘Soundstage Earth’ is humorous, but a simultaneously melancholy and disturbing tale of a world where people are forced to play a part in a long ongoing movie without an end. ‘Doughboy’ tells a story of a manmade creature built to imitate the people around it, and its introduction into a selfish, self-absorbed middle-class family of overachievers has some interesting outcomes. I thoroughly enjoyed the unbridled creativity at work, but the extra layer of subtext and social commentary was definitely an added bonus.
My favourite story was perhaps the most unusual. ‘Madge, the World Spider, and One Last Drink’ is exactly as odd as you would expect based on the title, a mix of grim reality, heightened fantasy and existential horror, it was both memorable and relatable, with an unpredictable set-up and an underlying message that will speak to a lot of readers. The books closing tale (‘Black Bone Pit’), both the most recent and the longest story in the collection, was another stand-out. Generations spanning short about a small town mired in racial divide, anchored by a fantastic lead character, and boasting a simultaneously satisfying, challenging and scary ending, it was a fantastic story to wrap up a wonderful book.
Every story here more than justifies its inclusion and even those I enjoyed less (‘War Mother’ has some incredible imagery and memorable moments) are simply victims of the success of those that bookend it, by simply being solid, well-told stories, nothing more or less.
‘We Make Monsters Here’ is a stellar collection of outstanding stories that both work as pieces of pure entertainment, but contain depths that reward those willing to dig a little deeper. I sincerely hope we don’t have to wait another nine years for a follow-up!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at www.myindiemuse.com/category/genre/ho...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
I was surprised, therefore, to find that a lot of my favourite stories were spread over a pretty wide cross-section of the books ten short stories. In fact, I found the whole book to be both consistent and cohesive. Newby’s introduction demonstrates an interest in both fairy tales and real word societal issues and a lot of his stories use wildly imaginative and outlandish ideas and imagery to tell very real stories about people and their experiences, whether they be regarding somebody’s appearance, race, beliefs or just their feelings about the world they live in.
The opening story (‘Monster Truck’) is a great example and a strong opener. It features classic monsters (vampires, werewolves, sirens) who have fallen on hard times and don’t feel particularly relevant anymore, a fact that becomes especially apparent when they meet a man who is a true monster. A lot of the stories have a great hook or original idea behind them, which is then used to examine an element of our lives that Newby finds interesting. ‘Soundstage Earth’ is humorous, but a simultaneously melancholy and disturbing tale of a world where people are forced to play a part in a long ongoing movie without an end. ‘Doughboy’ tells a story of a manmade creature built to imitate the people around it, and its introduction into a selfish, self-absorbed middle-class family of overachievers has some interesting outcomes. I thoroughly enjoyed the unbridled creativity at work, but the extra layer of subtext and social commentary was definitely an added bonus.
My favourite story was perhaps the most unusual. ‘Madge, the World Spider, and One Last Drink’ is exactly as odd as you would expect based on the title, a mix of grim reality, heightened fantasy and existential horror, it was both memorable and relatable, with an unpredictable set-up and an underlying message that will speak to a lot of readers. The books closing tale (‘Black Bone Pit’), both the most recent and the longest story in the collection, was another stand-out. Generations spanning short about a small town mired in racial divide, anchored by a fantastic lead character, and boasting a simultaneously satisfying, challenging and scary ending, it was a fantastic story to wrap up a wonderful book.
Every story here more than justifies its inclusion and even those I enjoyed less (‘War Mother’ has some incredible imagery and memorable moments) are simply victims of the success of those that bookend it, by simply being solid, well-told stories, nothing more or less.
‘We Make Monsters Here’ is a stellar collection of outstanding stories that both work as pieces of pure entertainment, but contain depths that reward those willing to dig a little deeper. I sincerely hope we don’t have to wait another nine years for a follow-up!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at www.myindiemuse.com/category/genre/ho...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
February 25, 2021
This dark collection of grim stories contain an eclectic mix of humor, horror, sci-fi and parable. Most of the monsters are of the human variety. While not every story was a big hit with me, the reason I ended up giving this book a 5 star rating was because the stories that I did love, were so crazy over the top good. The kind that make me wish somebody in Hollywood would pick up a book once in a while, and read a new author instead of rehashing sequels and remaking played out tired plots.
My favorites in this collection were A Dinner Date, in which a lonely young woman who is obsessed with a strange fetish thinks she has finally found the man who can fulfill her bizarre desire.
The Weed, which brought to mind two things from the 80s, a combination of Nancy Reagan telling me to just say no to drugs and Stephen King's comedic portrayal of Jordy in Creepshow, although the moral of the story delves deeper.
What I Learned About Ghosts off Route 64 shows that sometimes people are not haunted by ghosts, but by the actions of other people.
In Doughboy A man brings home a toy that can feed on and mirror the values he and his wife have passed on to their children.
War Mother is a heartbreaking reminder that the casualties of war don't just occur on the battlefield but continue long after the war has ended, and can spread to those who never fought.
The final story Black-Bone Pit was in my opinion the star of the show. It is a visceral tale that put me through a wringer of emotions. It is one of my favorite types of horror, full of small town secrets built on a dark history of evil. In the end, justice delayed does not always mean justice denied.
I received a complimentary copy for review
My favorites in this collection were A Dinner Date, in which a lonely young woman who is obsessed with a strange fetish thinks she has finally found the man who can fulfill her bizarre desire.
The Weed, which brought to mind two things from the 80s, a combination of Nancy Reagan telling me to just say no to drugs and Stephen King's comedic portrayal of Jordy in Creepshow, although the moral of the story delves deeper.
What I Learned About Ghosts off Route 64 shows that sometimes people are not haunted by ghosts, but by the actions of other people.
In Doughboy A man brings home a toy that can feed on and mirror the values he and his wife have passed on to their children.
War Mother is a heartbreaking reminder that the casualties of war don't just occur on the battlefield but continue long after the war has ended, and can spread to those who never fought.
The final story Black-Bone Pit was in my opinion the star of the show. It is a visceral tale that put me through a wringer of emotions. It is one of my favorite types of horror, full of small town secrets built on a dark history of evil. In the end, justice delayed does not always mean justice denied.
I received a complimentary copy for review
February 11, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Those of you familiar with my reviews know that receiving an ARC will in no way affect my review.
While horror is my preferred genre, short stories are my passion. I was immediately intrigued by the name and cover of this book. I generally hope to get one or two good stories out of a collection. I was thrilled to find that I enjoyed each of these stories. If you are expecting bloody, gory violence, you will find a more subtle but equally as terrifying horror among these pages. These stories are intelligent and intelligent horror is a rather rare commodity these days. I literally watched these stories play out in my mind as I read them, the author creating such vivid imagery.
While I am thoroughly entertained by monsters, it is only the human monster that truly scares me. Newby successfully touches upon those fears. Each story is uniquely creative.
Madge, the World-Spider, and One Last Drink rivals the best of the Twilight Zone episodes. TZ is sacred to me and I would never casually compare anything to it. This is the story that keeps coming back to me the most and will most likely haunt me forever.
War Mother left me in tears and I was not expecting that. The dog tags visual was overwhelming. This one will also stay with me for a long time.
The Weed - Jordy Verill immediately popped to mind when I started this one. That story was fun while The Weed is much darker. Again - those visuals were spot on and intense.
All the stories in this book are great. But those are my personal favorites. Newby is obviously a quite talented writer and I look forward to seeing what he produces in the future.
While horror is my preferred genre, short stories are my passion. I was immediately intrigued by the name and cover of this book. I generally hope to get one or two good stories out of a collection. I was thrilled to find that I enjoyed each of these stories. If you are expecting bloody, gory violence, you will find a more subtle but equally as terrifying horror among these pages. These stories are intelligent and intelligent horror is a rather rare commodity these days. I literally watched these stories play out in my mind as I read them, the author creating such vivid imagery.
While I am thoroughly entertained by monsters, it is only the human monster that truly scares me. Newby successfully touches upon those fears. Each story is uniquely creative.
Madge, the World-Spider, and One Last Drink rivals the best of the Twilight Zone episodes. TZ is sacred to me and I would never casually compare anything to it. This is the story that keeps coming back to me the most and will most likely haunt me forever.
War Mother left me in tears and I was not expecting that. The dog tags visual was overwhelming. This one will also stay with me for a long time.
The Weed - Jordy Verill immediately popped to mind when I started this one. That story was fun while The Weed is much darker. Again - those visuals were spot on and intense.
All the stories in this book are great. But those are my personal favorites. Newby is obviously a quite talented writer and I look forward to seeing what he produces in the future.
February 4, 2021
I received an e-Galley ARC of We Make Monsters Here, authored by Richard Newby, for review consideration. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.
I rated this collection 4.5 stars. This was a diverse collection within a theme, and I think we can agree that some monsters are of our own making. They’re the ones hardest to slay, because they start from a piece of any one of us.
MONSTER TRUCK
Different components in this I liked, but overall this may count as my bottom story. The setup had my interest piqued, reading more on that would have been more satisfying to me. Looking at some of today’s drama, people add monstrous traits on the already feared ‘every man’, I’m not sure we are ready to let go of what moves in the shadows just yet to help explain our fears.
A DINNER DATE
The chaotic opening scene to Feed (2005) flooded my mind for the first time in almost ten years. I’ve not read much fictional vorarephilia, whether by me just missing it, or the lack of volume pertaining to it. I could see the Bridget Jones’s Diary format working for a horror genre dating book following Melinda on her quest. I’d read that.
THE WEED
The pull of this experience would be strong for many, even with warnings, I imagine. I’m interested in how the dealer came to have a strain capable of this, and how did he discover it’s capabilities? Also, what does he gain from this seemingly profitless practice?
SOUNDSTAGE EARTH
I think earth’s karma, or more appropriate, humanity’s karma, makes this scenario possible. Did the last few words of this story tie back to a thought the MC had a few pages before? Is he trying to push blame off his shoulders, or is this an honest realization/connection?
BUSHIDO VIRTUE #5
An odd, ghoulish story, in a good way. Still not sure of how it all untangles meaning-wise, enjoyable in it’s strangeness.
MADGE, THE WORLD SPIDER, AND ONE LAST DRINK
One of my favorites in this collection. Such a unique concept. I would love to see an artist do their take of the world spider and his web behind the counter at Bar-ness, passing the drink to Rodney.
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT GHOSTS OFF ROUTE 64
Broke my heart, but this is the star in the collection for me. We Make Monsters Here gives the reader horrific creatures, both familiar and new, but at the end of the day fiction, you can put it down, walk away from. Almost. Then you reach here, the story that could come from any corner of our country, revealed in hushed, sorrowful confidence.
DOUGHBOY
I’m on the fence for the effectiveness with this one, I was engaged throughout but felt it was heavy handed with the message. Reminded me of Stephen King when he’s on a roll in some of his novels, every once in a while it can pull you from the narrative.
WAR MOTHER
Another favorite, the image of War in my mind is powerful, the author shows great talent in guiding the reader to seeing his creations. Both my grandfathers were war veterans and quiet in the time I was able to know them. This is a perceptive story.
BLACK-BONE PIT
For a closing story I thought this an excellent choice. What I took from it was the land remembers, the blood remembers, the debt will come due. You have one last chance to accept your place in creating that debt, but I would not expect it to move the feather of Ma’at in your favor.
I rated this collection 4.5 stars. This was a diverse collection within a theme, and I think we can agree that some monsters are of our own making. They’re the ones hardest to slay, because they start from a piece of any one of us.
MONSTER TRUCK
Different components in this I liked, but overall this may count as my bottom story. The setup had my interest piqued, reading more on that would have been more satisfying to me. Looking at some of today’s drama, people add monstrous traits on the already feared ‘every man’, I’m not sure we are ready to let go of what moves in the shadows just yet to help explain our fears.
A DINNER DATE
The chaotic opening scene to Feed (2005) flooded my mind for the first time in almost ten years. I’ve not read much fictional vorarephilia, whether by me just missing it, or the lack of volume pertaining to it. I could see the Bridget Jones’s Diary format working for a horror genre dating book following Melinda on her quest. I’d read that.
THE WEED
The pull of this experience would be strong for many, even with warnings, I imagine. I’m interested in how the dealer came to have a strain capable of this, and how did he discover it’s capabilities? Also, what does he gain from this seemingly profitless practice?
SOUNDSTAGE EARTH
I think earth’s karma, or more appropriate, humanity’s karma, makes this scenario possible. Did the last few words of this story tie back to a thought the MC had a few pages before? Is he trying to push blame off his shoulders, or is this an honest realization/connection?
BUSHIDO VIRTUE #5
An odd, ghoulish story, in a good way. Still not sure of how it all untangles meaning-wise, enjoyable in it’s strangeness.
MADGE, THE WORLD SPIDER, AND ONE LAST DRINK
One of my favorites in this collection. Such a unique concept. I would love to see an artist do their take of the world spider and his web behind the counter at Bar-ness, passing the drink to Rodney.
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT GHOSTS OFF ROUTE 64
Broke my heart, but this is the star in the collection for me. We Make Monsters Here gives the reader horrific creatures, both familiar and new, but at the end of the day fiction, you can put it down, walk away from. Almost. Then you reach here, the story that could come from any corner of our country, revealed in hushed, sorrowful confidence.
DOUGHBOY
I’m on the fence for the effectiveness with this one, I was engaged throughout but felt it was heavy handed with the message. Reminded me of Stephen King when he’s on a roll in some of his novels, every once in a while it can pull you from the narrative.
WAR MOTHER
Another favorite, the image of War in my mind is powerful, the author shows great talent in guiding the reader to seeing his creations. Both my grandfathers were war veterans and quiet in the time I was able to know them. This is a perceptive story.
BLACK-BONE PIT
For a closing story I thought this an excellent choice. What I took from it was the land remembers, the blood remembers, the debt will come due. You have one last chance to accept your place in creating that debt, but I would not expect it to move the feather of Ma’at in your favor.
March 3, 2021
We make monsters here
This book was recommended to me and I don’t do horror so I was pretty interested to see why I should read it. This book is worth the read. It looks at the things we bury, lie about, hide and destroy ourselves with in order to create and become our own monsters. It is no scarier than the monsters we read about everyday in our country. It is not what nightmares are made of that’s frightening but how the nightmares are of our own doing - living and past actions we created. The stories are weird, interesting, sad, and honest. My favorite is Black Bone Pit, a true illustration of a story of our buried past. I love the way Richard tells these stories, each so unique and built on the different types of monsters and destructions we create.
He builds characters in a way that you know them. Every story is set up so vividly you can see them play out in your head. This book is a Twilight Zone show in the making. Looking forward to the next read from Richard Newby!
This book was recommended to me and I don’t do horror so I was pretty interested to see why I should read it. This book is worth the read. It looks at the things we bury, lie about, hide and destroy ourselves with in order to create and become our own monsters. It is no scarier than the monsters we read about everyday in our country. It is not what nightmares are made of that’s frightening but how the nightmares are of our own doing - living and past actions we created. The stories are weird, interesting, sad, and honest. My favorite is Black Bone Pit, a true illustration of a story of our buried past. I love the way Richard tells these stories, each so unique and built on the different types of monsters and destructions we create.
He builds characters in a way that you know them. Every story is set up so vividly you can see them play out in your head. This book is a Twilight Zone show in the making. Looking forward to the next read from Richard Newby!
February 23, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the short stories that made up this book. Some of them I would have liked different endings, but they definitely were enjoyable reads.
Not as scary as I expected, but cleverly written with unusual plots and twists.
Well worth reading.
I enjoyed the short stories that made up this book. Some of them I would have liked different endings, but they definitely were enjoyable reads.
Not as scary as I expected, but cleverly written with unusual plots and twists.
Well worth reading.
March 7, 2021
First Impression: Horror is one of my top favorite genres and the title intrigued me.
Pros: Newby did a fantastic job of creating vast worlds that embody their own endless hells. I could easily envision the particular atmospheres with each story. The pacing was also well established throughout each of the stories and the characters felt like real people. Being a horror collection, I also appreciated the fact that none of the characters made nonsensical decisions that can often follow horror-esque content.
Cons: There were only two stories that I didn’t really care for and couldn’t get into. None of the stories were uninteresting or bland, I just couldn’t focus in on the two.
Overall Thoughts: I enjoyed the writing style, the characters, and how widely unique each short story was from the next. A great read for true horror fans. I hope the author continues to put out more collections.
Rating: 4 ⭐️ out of 5.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily**
Pros: Newby did a fantastic job of creating vast worlds that embody their own endless hells. I could easily envision the particular atmospheres with each story. The pacing was also well established throughout each of the stories and the characters felt like real people. Being a horror collection, I also appreciated the fact that none of the characters made nonsensical decisions that can often follow horror-esque content.
Cons: There were only two stories that I didn’t really care for and couldn’t get into. None of the stories were uninteresting or bland, I just couldn’t focus in on the two.
Overall Thoughts: I enjoyed the writing style, the characters, and how widely unique each short story was from the next. A great read for true horror fans. I hope the author continues to put out more collections.
Rating: 4 ⭐️ out of 5.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily**
April 2, 2021
There are monsters among us. These 10 tales toe the line between the real and the fantastical, between humor and horror, and are ultimately a testament to the harrowing reality of life in America.
I particularly liked “A Dinner Date,” about a woman who obsessively fetishizes being eaten alive and has finally found a partner willing to fulfill her fantasy; “The Weed,” about a strain of cannabis with troubling side effects; and “What I Learned about Ghosts off Route 64,” which delves into the true ways in which America is haunted. The last story “The Black-Bone Pit,” is simply stunning. A mixed-race woman stuck in a racist small town will do anything to defend her family, but she doesn’t realize how deep the roots of her family grow, and how intertwined they are with a dark history of the townspeople who are willing to do anything to keep their community “clean”.
The writing reminds me so much of the works of Alissa Nutting and Mariana Enriquez, which is the kind of writing that I adore. The stories often take unexpected twists and turns, but in the end, they all ring true. The scariest monsters are the ones we unknowingly see every day, and We Make Monsters Here knows exactly how to reveal them.
I particularly liked “A Dinner Date,” about a woman who obsessively fetishizes being eaten alive and has finally found a partner willing to fulfill her fantasy; “The Weed,” about a strain of cannabis with troubling side effects; and “What I Learned about Ghosts off Route 64,” which delves into the true ways in which America is haunted. The last story “The Black-Bone Pit,” is simply stunning. A mixed-race woman stuck in a racist small town will do anything to defend her family, but she doesn’t realize how deep the roots of her family grow, and how intertwined they are with a dark history of the townspeople who are willing to do anything to keep their community “clean”.
The writing reminds me so much of the works of Alissa Nutting and Mariana Enriquez, which is the kind of writing that I adore. The stories often take unexpected twists and turns, but in the end, they all ring true. The scariest monsters are the ones we unknowingly see every day, and We Make Monsters Here knows exactly how to reveal them.
April 24, 2021
This anthology was not what I was expecting, but it was full of a surprising number of gems that I really enjoyed. The author does a great job of delving into the horrors of the human mind/heart. Each story gives you a moment to pause and reflect on your own experiences and the state of the world. A couple of stories in particular stood out for me - "The Weed", "Madge, the World-Spider, and One Last Drink", and "Black-Bone Pit". If you enjoy horror, short stories, or just want a mental palate cleanser between longer novels - definitely give this one a try.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 18, 2023
I came across Richard Newby on Twitter through his excellent film criticism. Now I can say I’m a fan of him as an author as well. These stories span from darkly humorous to tragic supernatural spectacle. There is great satire, science fiction, and allegory. At its heart, this is a horror collection, though. And the horror rages under the surface, bubbling up occasionally to the surface. But always there. I would love to see Black-Bone Pit as a movie.
May 31, 2021
These tales of life and the choices we make were interesting. Giving them a supernatural twist was definitely a fun take on what could be the same cliche tales. Even still some of them were fairly predictable. The beginning stories were the most interesting. They had their flaws but were still fun reads. As the stories progressed however, they evolved and devolved into something that felt more agenda-driven than life lesson driven, and in some it was hard to decipher the lesson through the delivery. For at least two of them, maybe three I knew what the message was but if a reader didn’t grab the message before the end of the story something about the way they delivered gave the impression it would be hard to weed out.
A Dinner Date
This was definitely fun to read. I may have smiled a bit during the beginning paragraphs. The whole concept of deriving pleasure from literally being eaten was just buckets of fun. As the story built towards its climax I was ready, but then it sorta stretched into the normal fair like the first one. I tried to will this ending from not happening too but yeah. It happened. The lead up was great, the impending climax suspension was almost great. There was something about how the guy was stalling that made me think he either was faking it just to have sex with her or, well that’s it. It made me uneasy so the moment date two happened I was starting to shift from fun story to please don’t be what I think. There was one line that gave it entirely away and everything after that was like, smh and big sigh. It would’ve been more horrifying had that date gone horribly wrong and she did not enjoy it as much as she expected but death is finite after all. Or if the guy numbed her so she could never feel the release she yearned for when he killed her. Unfortunately, this one went the usual route also. However, it was definitely way fun to read so there’s that. I smiled way too much as she prepared all the side dishes and even had recipes ready. If you’re going to do it go hard, and she did.
The Weed
The best thing in this anthology. No lie. I loved this one. Loved it, and did I say loved it. The idea behind this one was so much fun to get into. The connection to the weed and how we become the choices we make. In this one, it was very well crafted. The ending, however, was odd. Like unless some saving was about to be had there was zero reason for the girlfriend to be there. She would be traumatised and as this is a short story there is no time to delve into that. She dumped him and readers would be more than okay with never seeing her again unless it actually served a purpose. Also, why would the killer want a witness anyway? The biggest issue was what does the villain get out of this. I got the impression he was supposed to be feeding off wasted potential, but he doesn’t seem to get more powerful. He lives in some sort of rundown apartment and his only real purpose is to dry petals and push out more of his supernatural weed. It was my favourite story, but it read more like it should’ve been a novella than a short story. With more of the villain’s POV the tale would’ve been like stupid-awesome. Somehow it being a short story took away from that. It’s still my favourite by far.
Bushido Virtue 35
This is where things get weird. Couldn’t make sense of this one. Read the ending the most out of all of them. Is everyone dead except for Steve? Is this entire thing all in the main character Mike’s head? In the end he sees them all looking at him with blood in their eyes but when I say end I mean end. Literally the last five paragraphs so it’s hard to make sense of how the murder, if there is indeed one, and the friends, and Steve all fit into it. It's also hard to figure out the parallel to the Samurai fight scene happening on the TV. It’s just everything seems normal. Friends sharing an apartment, a self-centred friend who seems to be the leader of the group and a board game that doesn’t have a single supernatural element I can find and then, murder happens and you can’t tell if Steve killed Mike, or if some supernatural force from the game has killed him, or if anything I just read really happened and it was all a set up to trap Mike’s soul in the apartment. And the very last sentence left me feeling... Huh? It didn’t really explain anything, and upon rereading the story it was still hard to see how that was the point without any actual evidence concerning the other friends and their living status in the apartment to confirm it. Are they alive, dead, held there by force? You don’t know any of this even at the end so it’s hard to see what the point of the last sentence is.
Conclusion:
Most, if not all of these stories are well written. The earlier ones are just so much fun to read. And the overall theme of the anthology stays true to form, mostly. But as the stories get more complex the message seemed to get a little grey, almost as if the stories were more about getting bigger and looking for some sort of deeper connection. However, without the page length for that possibly would’ve read better with a more limited and direct line to the end goal. It gets three stars because it’s well written and even though for me some stories seemed to try too hard and get a little lost, chances are most people won’t dig into it like that. They’ll love it all the same. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend reading regardless of any issues I had personally with it.
This review only contains three stories, the full review can be found here.
https://readingismydrug.com/2021/05/3...
A Dinner Date
This was definitely fun to read. I may have smiled a bit during the beginning paragraphs. The whole concept of deriving pleasure from literally being eaten was just buckets of fun. As the story built towards its climax I was ready, but then it sorta stretched into the normal fair like the first one. I tried to will this ending from not happening too but yeah. It happened. The lead up was great, the impending climax suspension was almost great. There was something about how the guy was stalling that made me think he either was faking it just to have sex with her or, well that’s it. It made me uneasy so the moment date two happened I was starting to shift from fun story to please don’t be what I think. There was one line that gave it entirely away and everything after that was like, smh and big sigh. It would’ve been more horrifying had that date gone horribly wrong and she did not enjoy it as much as she expected but death is finite after all. Or if the guy numbed her so she could never feel the release she yearned for when he killed her. Unfortunately, this one went the usual route also. However, it was definitely way fun to read so there’s that. I smiled way too much as she prepared all the side dishes and even had recipes ready. If you’re going to do it go hard, and she did.
The Weed
The best thing in this anthology. No lie. I loved this one. Loved it, and did I say loved it. The idea behind this one was so much fun to get into. The connection to the weed and how we become the choices we make. In this one, it was very well crafted. The ending, however, was odd. Like unless some saving was about to be had there was zero reason for the girlfriend to be there. She would be traumatised and as this is a short story there is no time to delve into that. She dumped him and readers would be more than okay with never seeing her again unless it actually served a purpose. Also, why would the killer want a witness anyway? The biggest issue was what does the villain get out of this. I got the impression he was supposed to be feeding off wasted potential, but he doesn’t seem to get more powerful. He lives in some sort of rundown apartment and his only real purpose is to dry petals and push out more of his supernatural weed. It was my favourite story, but it read more like it should’ve been a novella than a short story. With more of the villain’s POV the tale would’ve been like stupid-awesome. Somehow it being a short story took away from that. It’s still my favourite by far.
Bushido Virtue 35
This is where things get weird. Couldn’t make sense of this one. Read the ending the most out of all of them. Is everyone dead except for Steve? Is this entire thing all in the main character Mike’s head? In the end he sees them all looking at him with blood in their eyes but when I say end I mean end. Literally the last five paragraphs so it’s hard to make sense of how the murder, if there is indeed one, and the friends, and Steve all fit into it. It's also hard to figure out the parallel to the Samurai fight scene happening on the TV. It’s just everything seems normal. Friends sharing an apartment, a self-centred friend who seems to be the leader of the group and a board game that doesn’t have a single supernatural element I can find and then, murder happens and you can’t tell if Steve killed Mike, or if some supernatural force from the game has killed him, or if anything I just read really happened and it was all a set up to trap Mike’s soul in the apartment. And the very last sentence left me feeling... Huh? It didn’t really explain anything, and upon rereading the story it was still hard to see how that was the point without any actual evidence concerning the other friends and their living status in the apartment to confirm it. Are they alive, dead, held there by force? You don’t know any of this even at the end so it’s hard to see what the point of the last sentence is.
Conclusion:
Most, if not all of these stories are well written. The earlier ones are just so much fun to read. And the overall theme of the anthology stays true to form, mostly. But as the stories get more complex the message seemed to get a little grey, almost as if the stories were more about getting bigger and looking for some sort of deeper connection. However, without the page length for that possibly would’ve read better with a more limited and direct line to the end goal. It gets three stars because it’s well written and even though for me some stories seemed to try too hard and get a little lost, chances are most people won’t dig into it like that. They’ll love it all the same. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend reading regardless of any issues I had personally with it.
This review only contains three stories, the full review can be found here.
https://readingismydrug.com/2021/05/3...
May 5, 2023
I didn't love every story but there are a few I will think about for-e-ver, namely "A Dinner Date" (which is begging to be a rom-com) and "What I Learned about Ghosts off Route 64." Funny and creepy and totally haunting.
I thought the first story, "Monster Truck," was the least compelling so don't let it deter you if you decide to pick it up.
I thought the first story, "Monster Truck," was the least compelling so don't let it deter you if you decide to pick it up.
June 3, 2021
Hollywood Reporter correspondent and columnist, Richard Newby’s first collection of short stories, We Make Monsters Here, is full of verve and heart. The monsters in Here are not always the antagonists, Newby inverts traditional horror tropes and surprises throughout the collection which is paced like a Saturday matinee thanks to Newby’s crackling prose. Like Stephen King, and other great horror and sci-fi writers, Newby allows his stories to take on real-world problems, to a point, of course, this is a collection of horror tales after all, but what better way to explore humanity’s follies than through tales that are meant to scare, shock, and entertain?
The opening story, “Monster Truck” is Netflix ready for its own series concerning monsters and their professional woes. A satire, Newby aims his pen at the heart of American troubles, human monstrosities, human folly, and human evil, a thread Newby follows throughout the collection. Perhaps best exemplified in “The Weed” and “Soundstage Earth” where Newby addresses our interconnected world and the toxic distractions that come from living in it. In “The Weed” a drug dealer, “the man in the yellow raincoat”, sells designer weed that not only gets the user high but also turns the user into a grotesque weed plant that “the man in the yellow raincoat” harvests and sells; the previous victim’s lifeforce intermingling with the drug making it all the more potent. “The Weed” captures all the terror of active addiction while sacrificing none of the matinee horrors. “Soundstage Earth” showcases a world where all our direction comes from screens, however instead of being directed by corporations and our own tech addictions, humans are driven by alien life that has taken over the planet and made it their personal entertainment studio. Agency over one’s actions and bodies are yanked away from the protagonists stuck inside a loop.
The monsters and human characters of We Make Monsters Here are not always what they seem. One of the more interesting creatures is the world spider of “Madge, the World Spider, and One Last Drink” who gives sloppy drunk Rodney a new lease on life, albeit through a surreal ritual involving cards and mysterious tech wherein a future copy of Rodney appears, and Rodney must choose “who breaks.” In the anti-war story “Doughboy”, the character, Doughboy, a play on the World War I slang and a nod to the Pillsbury Doughboy, offers none of the comforts the Pillsbury doughboy can bring, despite Doughboy’s resemblance to the Pillsbury character, for the Doughboy absorbs and assumes life, his purpose for living manufactured in a character’s laboratory. Newby’s prose captures existential horror of being alive in a country that does not value life, though Newby doesn’t preach so much as he weaves narrative and commentary together. In Here, monsters show as much, if not more, compassion and humanity than the most human characters.
While most of the stories of Here are short, Newby’s not afraid of the longer tale. “Black Bone Pit” closes out the collection. In it, Traci Finiston battles Ben Mekkler, in the pit, which serves as a kind of fight club for the locals. The pit has a nasty history, one Traci plumbs as she stands up for herself and her father in the shitty small town she calls home. Newby accomplishes the scope of a novella in the tale, one which weaves together past and present trauma that spans centuries. “Black Bone Pit” is a perfect companion tale to the current crop of horror anthology shows such as Lovecraft Country, and Them, reminding readers that humanity is its own scourge, and the past is ever present.
In his short story collection debut, Richard Newby delights and thrills. Throughout We Make Monstes Here, Newby upends expectations and offers readers a fresh surreal landscape. Fans of weird fiction, horror, suspense and science fiction will find much to admire.
February 18, 2021
I received a copy for free via Book sirens and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
This sounded a promising collection but I'm afraid I really struggled with it. In fact I got half way through and almost gave up on it, but then came a story I enjoyed. Not so great was that I soon realised I'd actually read "What I learned about ghosts off route 64" already in an anthology.
It's a really good little story which encouraged me to keep reading and I did eventually finish the book.
The stories that came after were all ok but didn't do a huge amount for me.
I think horror is a tricky genre as we all have different opinions of what we consider horrific and so a writer is always going to be in the boat of "you can't please all of the people all of the time."
In fact I wouldn't strictly class "What I learned....." as horror, but for me it was by far the most skillfully crafted tale in the collection and I'd love more of the authors work to have the same tone. It's understated compared to all the others and for me works better as a result.
I believe this is a chronologically ordered selection of work as the writer has evolved his style with age and experience and that would make sense of the style changes.
The first half of the book features stories which seem unsophisticated and rather as though they're trying too hard. Some veer more towards the weird but all felt somehow self conscious and strangely claustrophobic and left me feeling depressed.
Those that come after "What I learned..." (trust me to favour the story with the longest title!) feel quite different and are more accomplished, have a clearer intent and are a smoother read as a result. By their very nature collections and anthologies always have stories we favour over others and I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will have totally the opposite opinion to me about these stories. However I can only rate it on my own experience and I only really enjoyed that one story, (yes the one with the long title!) Perhaps you should read this one and decide for yourself? You might enjoy it all, and if you do happen to agree with me, maybe it's worth reading for that one story right slap bang in the middle?
This sounded a promising collection but I'm afraid I really struggled with it. In fact I got half way through and almost gave up on it, but then came a story I enjoyed. Not so great was that I soon realised I'd actually read "What I learned about ghosts off route 64" already in an anthology.
It's a really good little story which encouraged me to keep reading and I did eventually finish the book.
The stories that came after were all ok but didn't do a huge amount for me.
I think horror is a tricky genre as we all have different opinions of what we consider horrific and so a writer is always going to be in the boat of "you can't please all of the people all of the time."
In fact I wouldn't strictly class "What I learned....." as horror, but for me it was by far the most skillfully crafted tale in the collection and I'd love more of the authors work to have the same tone. It's understated compared to all the others and for me works better as a result.
I believe this is a chronologically ordered selection of work as the writer has evolved his style with age and experience and that would make sense of the style changes.
The first half of the book features stories which seem unsophisticated and rather as though they're trying too hard. Some veer more towards the weird but all felt somehow self conscious and strangely claustrophobic and left me feeling depressed.
Those that come after "What I learned..." (trust me to favour the story with the longest title!) feel quite different and are more accomplished, have a clearer intent and are a smoother read as a result. By their very nature collections and anthologies always have stories we favour over others and I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will have totally the opposite opinion to me about these stories. However I can only rate it on my own experience and I only really enjoyed that one story, (yes the one with the long title!) Perhaps you should read this one and decide for yourself? You might enjoy it all, and if you do happen to agree with me, maybe it's worth reading for that one story right slap bang in the middle?
July 24, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought this was a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed the uniqueness of each of the stories and couldn't put it down once I started. This book was very well written And I thought the supernatural take on real life stories was really interesting. Creepy and enjoyable.
I thought this was a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed the uniqueness of each of the stories and couldn't put it down once I started. This book was very well written And I thought the supernatural take on real life stories was really interesting. Creepy and enjoyable.
December 25, 2021
how dare you be this talented? Just as with his film writing, his pen is a subtle knife here. Great stories packed with humor, commentary (without being obvious), and darkness without going for shock value. High recommend.
March 4, 2022
Spent the night packing bowls and reading this one. Promptly had a nightmare. Kudos to the author's refined sense of dread and his ability to vividly paint scenes without falling into the trap of overexplaining action.
December 12, 2021
I didn't know anything about this book so was surprised it was short stories. As with most I preferred some to others but all were very well written and executed well. Some really interesting stories with some different ideas, each having quite an impact, a real gem of a find. The vast majority of these stories left me wanting more, just what you want from a good short.
February 28, 2023
I've read Richard Newby a lot in Fangoria and loved his non-fiction writing! It's great to see he can write fiction too!
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