Hell Fighters

by Bil Richardson

21st CENTURY LOVECRAFT

A terrifying evil wants to enter our world, and Dr. Max Heller and the Hell Fighters are the only ones who can stop it. Heller is a man of science but when he stumbles upon something that defies all logic, he must put aside his old ways of thinking and plunge into the unknown.

In the tradition of H.P. Lovecraft comes a tale of cosmic horror that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are things in the universe beyond our understanding, malevolent entities of immense power. Can Heller and a ragtag group of townspeople prevail against such beings? Find out in this gripping tale filled with horrors more frightening than any nightmare.

Genres: Horror

293 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2021

About the author

Bil Richardson – A Few Things You Might Want to Know

Most people want you to be just one thing, but unfortunately I’m not. I work in many genres, many media and many voices. I’m an award-winning filmmaker, an artist, playwright, poet and author. I do humor, horror, poetry, history and more. I create work that is serious, uplifting and explores important questions and I do things that are just pure entertainment. Some of the things I’ve done have been deep and thoughtful, and some just plain silly and fun. If there is a unifying thread, it is that I am a storyteller. And one of the main functions of stories is to aid us in making sense of the world. Stories help us deal with things we are frightened of - whether that’s a creature in the night or death. Stories also help us deal with the cares of life by understanding them or just being distracted from them. Our lives are varied and complex. At times we are happy or sad, challenged or victorious, high or low. So it is not surprising that the things we create should reflect that complexity and diversity. That’s how it is with me. Now if you want information on some of my specific accomplishments then just keep on a readin’.

As a filmmaker I’ve produced feature films, documentaries, commercials and TV series. I’ve appeared on numerous national TV shows including CBS This Morning, CBS Sunday Morning, American Pickers, Nat Geo’s Diggers, Discovery Networks’ Blood Feuds and America: Fact or Fiction and the Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum. My films have been used as teaching tools at such prestigious universities as UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon and Marquette, and are part of the U.S. Library of Congress holdings. I’ve been quoted in the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, London Times and hundreds of other newspapers. I’ve published fiction and non-fiction through Random House and other companies. I’ve been a featured speaker nationally and internationally. My work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and I’ve done covers for books, magazines, movies and graphic novels. I’ve even appeared onscreen in four internationally distributed feature films.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I think this book has a target audience. For anyone who enjoys concepts like Dr Who, Justice League Dark, and/or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, this is for you. I loved the style of writing and there is just a lot of talent displayed there. I could also tell just how much thought and enthusiasm went into the story. That, in itself, means a lot, when a reader can sense the amount of effort that an author put forth. I did find myself getting lost fairly often, as there is a ton going on simultaneously with a lot of different characters. And the story does jump around a bit, too, which further clouded the experience. After thoroughly reading the other reviews, I anticipated more creatures, which in my opinion, were lacking a bit here. There were still a bunch, but just not to the extent and presence that other reviewers put across. I feel like this concept just became overcomplicated, and I had to keep flipping back and forth, even rereading sections, to try to stay in tune with story. As you all know by now, I am a big fan of a simple cast of characters, a straightforward plot, and a story that is as easy to understand for the reader, as it is for the author. This just unfortunately exceeded those preferences, especially towards the later parts of the book. But the premise itself is a great idea, the writing is top notch, and I think that the target audience will really have fun with this one.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELL FIGHTERS is sheer delight for fans of Lovecraftiana! Cosmic Horrors abound, strumming on the very human emotions of greed, fear, awe, adventure, and the thirst for knowledge, throughout history and contemporary local culture (in and around fictional Arkham, Massachusetts and its signature institution, the esteemed Miskatonic University).


Near Arkham there is a swamp and forest that reeks of otherworldly evil. Intrepid academic adventurer Max Heller accepts a mid-year position as a replacement professor at Miskatonic University, and inadvertently discovers the terror of this locale, then falls in with a group calling themselves the Hell Fighters, determined to stop the area's ravages of humans and wildlife by preventing other dimensional incursion.


Cleverly written with wildly imaginative horrors, HELL FIGHTERS is horrific entertainment for Horror aficionados.

[Marc Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading Hell Fighters by Bil Richardson last night. I had started reading this book November 2nd which is 25 days ago, and it feels like it was a lot longer. I usually get through a book like this one fairly quickly but there was a lot going on in real life that put a damper on my reading. And I believe this has affected my enjoyment of this book.

I'm giving this one 3 1/2 stars out of 5 (topped up to 4) - only because there was a lot going on in this book - maybe too much. Unless you read this very quickly, you may find yourself confused, because the action (and there is a lot of it) is all over the place with many different characters. Believe me, I do like a lot of characters (War & Peace and the Game of Throne series are awesome), but I did find myself a few times wondering where who was doing what and when it was happening.?.?.

I do enjoy weird and this one is one weird journey, however I did find myself shaking my head more than once as it jumped a few sharks along the way. But hell, this is a fun read and maybe a bit adolescent (not sure if that's the right word) - as it reminded me of Weird comic books, Dr. Who, and Indiana Jones - and not really Lovecraft, 12 Monkeys, or Mad Max.

There is definitely a lot to like in Hell Fighters, but my advice is to read through it quickly.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell Fighters. This was a really fun book. Lots of odd creatures, and terror-inducing situations. Some really good gore and bizarre discoveries which led to some really great imagery. The characters were well done and the development of the plot with those character interactions was put together in a way that really kept me thinking about it after reading it. Cosmic horror can be so fun to read. It can just spin out of control, though, and can get away from the writer and the readers in turn. Bil Richardson did a really good job giving the story some room to move and then reigning it back in a touch.
If I could give it 4.5 stars I would. My only issue was in my interpretation of cosmic horror. I am not saying that it was written incorrectly, who am I to tell a writer that their vision is off. I am saying that for me, the idea of cosmic horror is an unyielding and pervasive adversarial force with world-ending size and reach that is incomprehensible to our human consciousness which lies just outside of our plane and always threatens to encroach and devour our reality and that there is nothing that can be done to stop it. It is an unrelenting and ever-present sense of doom and futility that makes this genre so interesting. I didn't get that last aspect from this story. There was a race against time, but not futility. I read a great book with a really well-written and laid out plot though. This had some semblance of Lovecraft Country in that regard.
I will be reading this again and telling my like-minded fellow readers of the fun to be had inside this book. And that is probably the best compliment I can ever give a story.

I was given this review copy for my unbiased opinion.

[Dollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author and BookSirens for allowing me to read this ARC free for an honest review. Max Heller is a college professor and adventurer who travels to Arkham, MA for a job at the local university. He meets and makes friends with the school’s custodian, Dud, who says he’ll show him an interesting place close by which Max can explore during school break. Within the first few pages, strange things start happening fast and they don’t stop happening throughout the book. After a series of bizarre occurrences, people find out things are happening to Max and he gets approached by a woman named Lydia, who issues an invitation for him to meet her in a secret place. They have a discussion and he thinks she's unhinged. She asks him to meet her again and she introduces him to the Hell Fighters Club. This small group knows something terrible is going on in their town, and some of them have suffered their own dreadful experiences, but really don’t know what they can do to stop it. And they are determined to stop it. Max doesn’t know what to do about it, either, but he can lead them to the exact place where evil has taken root. And lead them he does. This was Lovecraftian, yes, and it was also full of action with a group of diverse and colorful characters who were all very brave. I liked all of this group, especially Max and Lydia, and I thought Red was an absolute hoot! It was a quick read that really gets your heart pumping quickly at times. I thought the writing was good and very descriptive. I also liked when Max goes for a trip without ever taking a step. I enjoyed this story.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This book hits readers immediately with a punch! The author brilliantly alternates the pacing according to the atmosphere of each chapter, slowly introducing readers to the protagonist before unleashing all hell on him and forcing him into a shocking fight for his life. Honestly, some of the most compelling reads and even films/shows that have drawn me in over the years tend to be cosmic horror. From classic H.P. Lovecraft to Stephen King’s The Mist and even more modern tales like Stranger Things, the combination of exploring what lies just beyond our universe and the fight for hope and life in the face of overwhelming horror is so highly creative and vastly open for new stories, and this author has found the perfect take on this iconic storytelling device.

What really stood out to me was how much humanity the author was able to infuse into this cosmic horror adventure through such strong character development. A truly great horror story infuses the narrative with emotional storytelling through personal character growth, and the author did this brilliantly, especially with protagonist Max Heller and supporting characters like Lydia and the Hell Fighter Club. These personal and emotionally-driven character interactions not only opened up the mental and emotional journey they were on but also did a great job of bringing thought-provoking concepts and scientific theories such as other dimensions/universes into the conversation while delivering a chilling and haunting atmosphere.

The Verdict

A chilling, horrifying, and entertaining Lovecraftian-style horror thriller, author Bill Richardson’s “Hell Fighters: 21st Century Lovecraft” is a must-read horror story this fall season, and one of 2021’s best horror reads overall. Brilliant character development, shocking twists, and turns as the mythos of this haunting world is developed, and an open-ended finale that both closes a chapter in the character’s lives and leaves open the possibilities for more, this is a novel readers do not want to miss.

[bookhaven__ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell Fighters
By
Bil Richardson

My Review:
I love to read horror fiction. There are very few books that have the power to capture the reader's attention right from the first page. Hell Fighters by Bil Richardson is one such book. 

Dr Max Heller takes us to the dark, dangerous woods. He found out that there is something dangerous in the woods and people should know about it. He was invited to the Old Library by a woman. At the Old Library, he got to know about the Hell Fighters club. One of their team members, Zander, who was supposed to be in the meeting, has been missing for the past two days and the club team went in search of him. But there is a risk of their own lives if they get involved in something like this. 

Since the content of the story is dark, this book is only suitable for adult readers. Characters are written nicely. Storyline is unique. I haven't read much dark horror fiction but this one gripped my attention. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. Narration is smooth and strong. World building is amazing. I am definitely interested to read more of Bil's work.

My Rating: 5/5

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell Fighters written by the author Bil Richardson is a Young Adult Horror fiction. Main character of the story is Dr Max Heller. He took the decision to move to Arkham and was quite excited to start a new life there. He got a job at the Miskatonic University. Max's interaction with janitor Dud Jewel was more. When Heller asked Dud about something interesting to do in his break, Dud told him about the haunted woods outside of town. Max lost Dud due to an evil creature in that dark place.

Next time, Max visited the place with Alex Forman, a pilot. But dark in the woods, he lost Alex too. Max is determined to get justice and reveal what is there in the woods. With the help of Hell Fighters, will he be able to stop the evil?

This is a dark tale. It kept me on the edge while I was reading it. Cover photo of the book is well designed. I appreciate the writing style of Bil. I am glad to get my hands on this book. I am highly impressed by Bil's work and I like to recommend this book to horror fiction lovers. You can't miss to read this remarkable story.

[Brooks Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, fascinating read. Some of the scenes caused me to think of The Evil Dead movies from the 1980s. It’s got that kind of vibe. Lots of character head turning and looks of terror bordering on inquisitive confusion. That scene in The Return of the Living Dead where they open the door and the skeleton drag walks out is how this story made me feel. I chuckled in parts and sat horrified in others. I also have to add the book’s cover captivated me. It reminds me of artwork from vintage pulp mags featuring fantasy and science fiction. It’s hard to forget the face peering out from the cover.

[Heather Horror Hellion · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's full of so many gross things and the parts with the ticks. Oh the part with the ticks is so fun and so gross.

The story is fast paced and the characters are well written and likeable.

It reminded me If Lovecraft and Dan Brown had a child. It would be this book.

[Kailyn Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing decisions, dark secrets that should be unveiled - this is just a fascinating read. The author's language is comprehensible which made it a pleasant read. A fast paced and intriguing story with some paranormal and science fiction elements.

[Declan Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page-turner! I couldn't stop reading! Love those dark stories, full of twists where you don't know what to expect. Absolutely great characters, described fantastically by the author. Definitely recommend!

[Arthur Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horror thriller full of action and shocking twists. Well developed characters, fast paced and captivating read.

[Julio Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Forget everything that you define as normal before opening this book after you buy it.


The first words of the book are both gripping and shocking, and they grip us by the amount of shock they deliver, this, all, of course, in a pleasing way. We find the words of “THE ACOLYTE PRAYER” that dares to, at once, shake our thoughts of limitation and open our minds to the impossible possibilities that are nothing but possible, if that makes sense, and forces us readers to choose between believing the words and not believing in them. We, of course, choose the believing part, at least within the words of this book that is already teasing our minds and making us wonder and wander on what to expect. What a nice start by Bil.

We don’t wait much before the graphic horror begins, as we get into the haunted Miskatonic forest , where creatures of unimaginable proportions, shapes and with uncanny abilities show themselves.

You know when you see a movie and there’s that sensation that everything is going to workout GREAT, no matter what happens? Yeah, you won’t get any of that here, just pure terror, hopelessness and mysterious creatures, mysterious creatures that will send chills down your spine! GOOOOSSSSEBUMPSSSSSSS !!!! OMGGGGG!!!!! The imagery is STRONG and disproportionately horrid!! Oh my GOD! This book is NASTY! I love it, hahahahahahhaahahhaha.

Ok this is some great horror here. Oh god, this is not for the weak, at all. DAMN! Ew, ohhhhh, there are scenes that will cling to your mind and give you nightmares, oh good god, Bil knows how to make readers look away and contain vomits, god, this is graphic, oh man. Ew…

So what is this book about after all. This book is about a VERY, VERY, VERY strange forest and Dr. Heller. Heller, an ordinary man, with an unimpressive life, working as a professor to the University of Miskatonic, that dares to take a tour on the mysterious forest of that little and isolated town in search for a little wonder, and he finds more than just a little, he finds SO MUCH wonder that he has to run for his life the first time he is there.

We have Heller, the curious professor, trying to reveal the mysteries of this haunted place, but this forest is able to defend and protect itself from all that try, many times by eating everyone that tries to leave, not only that, but, there are entities that are coming to bring the end of times, “The Others”.

Bil Richardson has one of those narratives that just lifts one of the corners of your mouth and let’s it hang there for a while to only lift it again shortly after, while to story ranges from curious to comedic and mysterious, always picking your curiosity and challenging your mind with the possibilities, with sarcasm and corky humour. NICE!

The way Bil uses the natural elements to increase the terror, suspense and the anxiety that fill the scenes of the book are IMPRESSIVE! The use of the clouds, the night, the moon, the description of the buildings, trees, the floor and even the grasses, add up to each and every scene to build the image of something unholy and macabre on the mind of the reader, it is truly impressive. VERY, VERY Nice.

The book is freakish, to say the least, freakish, yet the is true beauty in it, and one of the reasons for the beauty of this book, is that there is a laser-intense focus on the Native American history, folklore and mysteries. It’s very nice to read a book focused on that instead of just your plain old and standard novel about what we already know and have read about a million times plus one. It IS nice to read a book focused on folklore, on culture, on ancient mysteries, traditions, churches and although it all might be fiction, the sense of curiosity towards these themes, and the respect for the lore behind Native Americans and old Amerindian civilizations it brings to readers, is something very cool. Nice touch in there by Bil.

Another thing that I found very cool about this book is that it doesn’t focus just on our main character. In fact, it doesn’t focus much on characters as they are apparently treated as means to tell the story. This is about the story itself, that evil place, the Maji Aki, and the many things, elements, surrounding it and its many mysteries, and this approach made this book very much interesting.

“The depths of depravity that humans could descend to knew no bounds. And the horrors they could inflict upon each other were legion. The lows they could reach were a bottomless pit, a well, a cesspool of soul-destroying immensity. “

This is some quality writing right here! You have action, horror, terror, suspense, humour, mysteries, plot twists, sorcery and most of what you can ask for, packed in a single book! This is great, a totally pleasing read that will touch every sense in your body, most of the times, in very unpleasant ways, and let me tell you that this book will “tick” you.

If you are a Horror fan, or like to get the “hibbie-gibbies”, do get this book now.

Pros:
Fluid narrative with a great pace and flow
VERY descriptive narration
The imagery of the scenes stick into your brain long after you stopped reading, that’s how impactful this book is
Great characters, very well constructed
Great action scenes, with LOTS of Science Fiction in here as well
Lovely side-stories
Lots of plot-twists
A great ending
A great start of a book
Unpleasant to the core. This book is NOT for the weak of stomach, believe me.
Great villains and description of evil things. This took evil to a whole new level, literally. Impressive.

Cons:
There’s a passage about possessing a woman that can be improved

Lesson from the book: “NEVER go to the woods without a flame-thrower”

Favourite Character: “Marlon”

Cover Score: 8.6/10
Book Score: 8.7/10

Original review @ - https://scribblesworth.wordpress.com/...

[D.W. Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me preface this review by saying Bil is a friend and I'm usually more critical of friends than complete strangers. It's the paradox wherein you try and be more objective with friends in order to avoid a sense of partiality. That being said, I loved this book and found it incredibly clever, engrossing and thought provoking.

Hell FIghters by Bil Richardson (1000 Nightmares, More Than Evil) is an intellectually clever take on Lovecraft that is engaging on several different levels. Max Heller, a university professor at Arkham University, is searching for some diversion and takes a trip into the swampy head lands outside of the city. Accompanied by a friend, what starts out as a pleasant outdoor excursion soon becomes a nightmare. Heller will come face to face with the death of several friends, alternative realities, cosmic entities of immense power, fanatical cults and, ultimately, himself. Going from crisis to crisis this book is a journey of discovery for Heller as he learns about his own inner strength while reevaluating the world he lives in and the strengths/weaknesses of those he comes in contact with. Ultimately, the mild mannered professor becomes a reluctant hero who will save our reality from a fate worse than death.

Richardson writing style is straight forward and direct, presenting the story as it presents itself instead of shoehorning it into overly complicated sub-plots supported by flimsy pillars of overwrought prose. The dialogue is very good but can seem somewhat leaden and formal at times. I found myself debating whether it was the writing style of the author or the formality of the characters themselves. Either way, those moments are few and far between and it is one of the few critiques I have of the book.

The story is engaging on a number of levels - intellectual, suspenseful and action packed - there is something here for everyone. Those who want impactful moments of dramatic action will find it here in spades, especially in the final third of the book. There are also moments of genuine suspense and horror as Heller and his companions research and ultimately confront the lurking horror that inhabits this book. Finally, there are genuine intellectual underpinnings in this book as Richardson builds his story on theoretical physics - playing with the idea of string theory and E8 while combining it with the Cthulhu mythos made famous by Lovecraft. Taken all together, these disparate elements coalesce into a thoroughly enjoyable book that had me late into the night when I knew I should be going to sleep.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of horror, Lovecraft or suspense. It's a book that deserves several reads and one I will enjoy for years to come.

[Readers Choice · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: Hell Fighters
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Bil Richardson

𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
"Hell Fighters: 21st Century Lovecraft" by Bil Richardson is a riveting tale that I like to suggest strongly to others. Max Heller's life changed forever with his decision to move to the small and isolated town of Arkham. Outside of the town, there are haunted woods that has secrets and people out there would do anything to keep the secret. One day, when Max went to the woods with the janitor Dud, an unfortunate encounter with an evil creature made Max to lost Dud forever. There is something dangerous in the woods that has killed Dud and Heller couldn't rest until he did something about it. Heller thought to observe the fields from air. So, he went to the woods by air with a capable pilot Alex. In the woods, Alex once saved Heller's life but Heller couldn't repay the same to Alex. A woman knocked at Heller's door to discuss about the woods at the head of the Miskatonic River. She warned him to stay away from the evil place as there are people who would do anything to protect it. Unveil the dark secrets yourself by reading this book. It's a well written story. Pace of the story is fast and I didn't feel bored anytime while reading it. Language used in the book is lucid so I was able to follow the story easily. Plot of the story is unique and interesting. It has both paranormal and science fiction elements. Don't miss to read it.

𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable Read!

Richardson pens a remarkable story in Hell Fighters. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were fun and thrown into a place that was not likely for them. It was a great story, and I loved reading it. I must say that when I first read the line "giant turtles," I laughed out loud, and then continued on, knowing that I'd be loving this story. Dud and Heller are on quite the journey, that they seem to be looking forward to whatever comes their way. I love this duo, and then the story changed. Something dramatic and unique happened, and I had to continue. This story was wonderful. Because, there were indeed giant turtles but so much more. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). It’s definitely un-put-downable! It is always an honor to read this author's stories. This author is a great storyteller. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. This story was very intriguing and unpredictable. Very impressive story telling. Hell Fighters is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clive Barker meets H.P. Lovecraft!

‘Hell Fighters’ explores the world of Lovecraft, from monsters in forests and deep underground to the dark realm of space. Max Heller becomes caught up quickly in the creatures living around Arkham, Mass., with the action keeping a speedy pace from chapter to chapter. And the creatures that emerge are varied and scary! If you like a lot of action and suspense and the menagerie of Lovecraft’s demons, keep reading! They come fast and furious and Max and his Hellfighters meet them head-on.

Richardson has penned a modern day Lovecraft tale which fans are going to love. The descriptions of the creatures themselves are alone worth the price of admission to this world, which is both well-known and new at once. Enter again into Lovecraft country, and you’ll want to escape with your sanity and your life – but you’ll demand to go back again and again!

Well done, Bil. Keep the creepy creatures coming!

[Linda Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ancient evil landed on earth many millions of years ago. Over time, humans discovered it and worshipped it as a god.

Dr Heller came to town to teach at the college. He sons discovered local history about a certain area of a forest is considered evil. He and his friends must find a way to stop more ancient evil aliens from invading the earth and bringing the human kind to extinction. While fighting the people who worship it as a god.

I my opinion, the book would be better if they talked about how the ancient evil came to this world at the beginning of the book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marceline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern take on Lovecraftian horror? Yes please!

The start of this, as I expected it would, started out slow. But the gradual buildup, the intense action and imperfect, but interesting characters made that slow start worth it. The writing is modern and not filled with walls of text paragraphs that constantly bore you or make it a chore to read- I love Lovecraft and other contemporary writers who added to the mythos as a whole, but some of them drone on and on, making it take longer to read, whereas this was a breeze.

Probably my favorite ARC that I've read in a while.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amazon Customer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepiness to the point of Cold Sweating: 🥶 Some scenes are really scary!! 😨 😳

I enjoyed the story a lot atleast 50 to 60% of it.

EASY TO UNDERSTAND: Throughout the book there is a use of very common vocabulary- just like Stephen King 🤴

Recommend for Cosmic Horror Fans who wants to read every single book under this genre 😀.