Palimpsest: A Collection of Contemporary Horror

by Caitlin Marceau

"One of the most exciting writers working today."Mark Nixon, Shadows at the The Podcast

From one of Canada’s hottest young talents comes this stellar collection of contemporary horror stories and poetry. Caitlin Marceau’s work ranges from the quietly unnerving to the deeply disturbing, taking in post-apocalyptic futures, supernatural forces, psychological terrors and deals with the devil. One thing’s for these stories will linger in your mind for long after you’ve read them.Praise for "Caitlin uses her stories and poetry to shred through the reader's nervous system while delicately shrouding each synapse with pure fear."-- Brutal Bookshelf"I was continuously blown away by the writing, the quality of the scares and the disturbing dark images conveyed by Marceau."-- Goodreads Reviewer"Palimpsest is one of those books that keeps the reader hooked throughout."-- Tomes and Tales"Marceau is a poet as well as a prose writer. She carries the lean, exacting nature of poetry into her prose there are no wasted words, and it’s clear that each sentence was carefully considered."-- Dreadfulesque"What a wonderful debut collection. I couldn't help but read the entire of Palimpsest in one evening."-- SJ WATERLITTLE BLACK BOOKINFECTEDCENTRE ICEHELENAC0NQUER0RFULL MOON RUNHIGHWAY 16MR. PERFECTWHITEOUTTHE MIDASHUNGER

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Horror Thriller, Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2022

About the author

Caitlin Marceau is a queer Canadian author and illustrator based in Montreal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association, and has spoken about genre literature at several Canadian conventions. Her work includes Femina, A Blackness Absolute, and her award-winning novella, This Is Where We Talk Things Out. Her second novella, I’m Having Regrets, and her debut novel, It Wasn’t Supposed To Go Like This, are set for publication in 2024. For more, visit CaitlinMarceau.ca or find her on social media.

Reviews

[Brutal Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I hate to admit it, mainstream horror just doesn't do it for me anymore. I used to be able to walk into a large chain bookstore, purchase the newest best seller with a horror label, and spend the next couple WEEKS slowly making progress until the anti-climatic ending finally showed its face. I went on like this for a while until discovering indie horror. Now, I can't stand the monotony of what society these days deems "scary". I crave the raw, the harsh, the paranoia. I consistently seek out the depravity that can be found in the most basic parts of our everyday lives. I truly long to be terrified in my reading. Luckily, Caitlin Marceau's debut collection "Palimpsest" provides all of these dark luxuries and more. Hailing all the way from Canada, Caitlin uses her stories and poetry to shred through the reader's nervous system while delicately shrouding each synapse with pure fear. "Palimpsest" exercises Caitlin's versatility with pieces ranging from the micro fears we only think about for a few seconds before sending them away with a head shake, to pieces that keep you up at night, wishing you could think about anything but the images the piece has created in your head. It won't stop there. Days later, when the thoughts start to fade, and you're on to reading something else, "Palimpsest" comes creeping in, eager to return to the home it's found in your nerves. In that way, Caitlin sets a petrifying standard. This is the kind of scared I want to be. I can absolutely say, this read has easily become a favorite, that I know I'll return to time and time again. It'll be a hard collection to top, but I'll be looking out for any future work from this insanely dynamic author. Caitlin, you officially have a disciple in me. Shout out to Ghost Orchid Press for making sure this disturbing perfection made it out into the world!

[Mark Tullius · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great collection of short stories. Favorite stories included Infected, Helena, Whiteout, and Hunger.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim on a book shopping trip awhile ago because the cover caught my eye and then it sat on my shelf awhile. I really wish I had read it sooner because the whole collection is bloody brilliant! And to top it off, not only is it by a Canadian author but by an author from the same city as me and I always love supporting local authors. Especially when they’re this good! I can’t even pick a favourite out of the collection because they’re just all fucking great. This is a new horror author to watch out for and I can’t wait to read more by them!

[April Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really one for reviews, but this is a stunning debut collection from a very talented author.
From the first story RUN which left me feeling like my heart had been crushed in a vice, to the eerily prescient INFECTION these are stories that will stay with you.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of these stories are terrifying and many of them are heartbreaking as well. Caitlin Marceau is a very talented writer. I am truly grateful that I get to read her stories.

[Marina Garrido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out the complete review at: https://www.hearusscream.com/reviews/...


Palimpsest is Marceau’s first collection, and it’s composed of one poem and 13 stories, most of which were previously published in anthologies and magazines. The writing flows seemingly in all stories, which are medium-paced and mostly center around the supernatural. The characters are well-developed and have distinct voices, so realistic that it crushed me every time one of them met a less-than-pleasant fate. In terms of themes, the author gravitates towards disease-centered apocalyptic scenarios (Infected and Helena), whiteout snowstorms (Whiteout and Hunger), and cults (Little Black Book and Centre Ice). Marceau also puts a new spin on two of the most classic monsters, the zombie (Helena) and the vampire (Highway 16). She was able to give these monsters a fresh take, which, considering their position as pillars of the horror genre, is no easy task.

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin Marceau’s Palimpsest now sits up on the top of the mountain as far as being one of my favorite collections of shorts. I have a weird love/hate relationship with collections, stories are either too short or too long. I hold the short stories of Matheson in my heart as the framework I enjoy the most. No preconceived word count, never stays too long or leaves too early. Every single story in Palimpsest hit that high mark for me in so many ways. Each story is unique in its own way; plot, character voices, perspectives, and writing style(even a werewolf poem which is an absolute banger!) Marceau’s writing voice is consistently strong no matter what perspective she is using, even in the rarely seen second person! Overall an absolute banger of a collection and I look forward to reading more of Caitlin’s work! K thx.

[Evelyn Freeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palimpsest is a fantastic collection of contemporary horror full of character-driven dread. Caitlin Marceau has a knack for giving high concept stories incredible depth with well-developed characters and examining horror's most beloved tropes from fresh angles. There were several stories that blew me away.

"Stuck" is about a woman who awakens to discover that she can't move. It's a story that shouldn't work. The protagonist spends the entire story unable to move or speak, without any agency, unable to work towards any goal, only able to learn of her predicament through the people interacting around her. Yet this story is magnificent. It examines ideas of self-awareness, introspection, and understanding our truths. Robbed of agency, the character is forced to reckon with herself and her choices. Simply superb.

"Infected" takes on the pandemic trope and features an infected woman living inside a government-run quarantine center. It's an exploration of marriage, love, and survival that will break your heart to little pieces. I loved the juxtaposition between the protagonist's marriage with that of another infected woman, as well as the dual timeline story telling.

"Helena" focuses on a mother who has become infected during a zombie apocalypse. Her newborn baby, though, is still human and must be delivered to the human safehouse before the mother caves to her zombie cravings. This was such an incredible, refreshing take on a trope that can often feel overdone. The tension in this piece was excellent. I was gripped and horrified at what would happen to this poor baby, whether the mother would surrender to her taste for flesh. And the ending was *chef's kiss.* This might have been my favorite story in the entire collection.

"Hunger" centers on an uncle and nephew who have become trapped in a whiteout blizzard while on a hunting trip. They're nearing starvation with no end in sight and are forced to flee their cabin in order to get help. But what's that howling in the woods? A wolf or a demon? I'm a sucker for winter-settings and stories of characters trying to survive nature. The ending was twisty, violent fun which I am always here for!

Overall, this is an excellent collection for any horror fan. Packed with fun tropes and great characters. Highly recommend!!!

[Heather Daughrity · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you read a lot of horror, sometimes the stories begin to run together. Then every once in awhile, along comes an author with such a unique style that you can't help but sit up and take notice. Caitlin Marceau is one of those authors.

Her collection, Palimpsest, includes all the things you'd expect in a grouping of horror stories: ghosts and zombies, demons and vampires. The thing that is most striking about Marceau's work, however, the thing that sets it apart, is how well she writes the internal feelings of her characters. Fear, despair, panic (so much panic), helplessness, hopelessness... Marceau's writing makes the reader feel as if they *are* the characters, as if they've been dropped unexpectedly into someone else's body and mind just in time to experience the worst moments of that character's life. This is the kind of reading that you do all in a rush, stumbling from one anxious sentence to the next, desperate to find out what happens to you (er...the character).

Some favorites of mine in this collection were:

"Run" - a lonely little boy finds a friend who will stay with him -- forever.

"Stuck" - a woman wakes up on a couch, unable to move. Is she dreaming? Paralyzed? Dead?!? The story takes us through each agonizing moment of her panic.

"Helena" - a mother, already infected with a zombie plague, still tries desperately to care for her infant daughter.

"Whiteout" - Maria and Joanne, having just moved to the country, experience their first true blizzard, and learn that the blinding whiteness can hide some very dark things.

This is definitely a collection worth checking out, an immersive horror experience that I highly recommend.

[S.J. Townend · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut collection. I couldn't help but read the entire of Palimpsest in one evening (at the expense of the laundry and the washing up and making the children's sandwiches for school the next day) because I didn't want to put it down. Proper page turner/'Kindle swiper' (?)

My favourites included INFECTED (which I have read before in Sanitorium but enjoyed again nonetheless), HELENA (which rang quite true in these pandemic times), HIGHWAY 16 (a spooky but fun take on a classic theme), and THE MIDAS, which has put me off ever wanting to explore the depths of the ocean in a tiny submarine for good.

Caitlin's tone is smooth and fluid and in each story, she easily creates both great characters and great plot, which is no easy feat.

Caitlin, I'd like to thank you so much for writing such encaptivating, vivid horror stories. (And my children would like to thank you because Mummy is not the best sandwich-maker and they got hot school dinners instead of a packed lunch yesterday.)

Caitlin Marceau is one to watch, for sure.

Support women in horror and buy it now!

(@SJTownend - Twitter)

[Renata · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a mixture of prose and poetry, Caitlin takes the reader across the Canadian wilderness, canals and bridges, frozen landscapes, and frosty tales that chill to the bone. The stories range from diseases of the mind and body, encounters with demons and ghosts, bullying and domestic violence, werewolves and shapeshifters, ice hockey and distance running. Caitlin's prowess as a writer illuminates every page of Palimpsest, with every story different and outstanding in its own way. You know her settings are local, but her stories have universal appeal.

Besides two pieces, the remaining stories and poetry have all been featured in other anthologies, magazines, and performed live over the years. I was thrilled that she put together this collection of some of her finest writing. Palimpsest is one of those books that keeps the reader hooked throughout. You want to spend more time in Caitlin's world, with its horrors and everything she offers the reader. Every single story warrants its own review. They're all so good! And the cover is stunning, too.

[DL Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back Cover:

From one of Canada’s hottest young talents comes this stellar collection of contemporary horror stories and poetry. Caitlin Marceau’s work ranges from the quietly unnerving to the deeply disturbing, taking in post-apocalyptic futures, supernatural forces, psychological terrors and deals with the devil. One thing’s for certain: these stories will linger in your mind for long after you’ve read them.

Review:

Run: about bullying, prey vs predator, getting shat on from all sides, a few ghosties too.

Stuck: a woman is immobile inside her own body, but her mind is active. Got an unpleasant insight into the machinations of funeral prep.

The Water: a good example of yet another reason, besides the copious amount of horror book warnings...

Visit uncomfortablydark.com for the complete Dark Rose review!

[Margin of Terror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. You know how every collection has some gems and then other stories that aren’t as solid or are just ok? This is not one of those collections. I was continuously blown away by the writing, the quality of thé scares and the disturbing dark images conveyed by Marceau. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her work.

[Alice Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first story of this collection before work one morning, and spent the rest of the day itching to get back and read the rest. There's a real range of short stories/poetry in this book, but they're all as captivating, horrifying and emotional as that first one which had me thinking about it all day. Loved it.

[Becca H · Rating 2 out of 5]

All in all I did enjoy the majority of the stories. The author is very good at portraying emotion and tone, however and I know this is very personal to me; I did not find most of these stories truly scary. I came into it hoping for bone chilling stories as promised but i feel like i didn’t get that.

[Jelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of stories that will haunt you for a long time.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent collection of horror stories. Marceau really knows how to create an atmosphere of fear.

[H.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Palimpsest, you’ll find children struggling against their environment, women trapped in changing bodies, and everyday people struggling against often insurmountable odds. Throughout the collection, there’s a strong sense of the past haunting the present (literally in some of the stories), and pervasive and lingering anxiety. Marceau’s characters learn too late that beneath the facade of the mundane there are shadows lurking. Be warned! These stories are dark.

Though only one of the pieces in this collection is a poem (“Full Moon Run”), Marceau is a poet as well as a prose writer. She carries the lean, exacting nature of poetry into her prose stories: there are no wasted words, and it’s clear that each sentence was carefully considered. Her concise writing moves each story fluidly forward, allowing Marceau to effectively world build and establish her characters without losing any momentum.

Marceau’s concise writing also contributes to a sense of claustrophobia that permeates the whole collection. In some stories, the claustrophobia is literal, as characters find themselves confined to cabins, their own bodies, biohazard camps, or the bottom of the ocean. In other stories, though, the claustrophobia persists even though characters aren’t obviously trapped by their settings. This is because the claustrophobia is generated by the characters’ circumstances: even if the protagonists appear to be free in these stories, the reader can feel the world closing in around them as the story flows towards its conclusion.

The best horror involves a shift in perspective that pulls the protagonist from a mundane place of safety to a liminal place where terrible things can happen, and Marceau achieves that in this collection. She builds a visceral sense of dread as her protagonists feel the world changing around them, hemming them in like flies trapped in a spider’s web.

In addition to generating tension and fear, Marceau makes you care about her characters by giving them clear motivations and aspirations. All of her protagonists feel like they could be real people, trapped in terrible circumstances. I was invested in the fates of the characters throughout this collection, especially in “Helena,” “Stuck,” and “Whiteout” (see more about those stories below). I think her choice to write in the present tense was a good one which helps make the plight of her characters more immediate to the reader. Despite the odds, her protagonists struggle, and the reader can’t help but hold out hope for them. After all, the fly sometimes escapes.

Overall, an excellent collection! I highly recommend it.

*

Below, I’ve highlighted a few of my favorite stories from the collection:

“Stuck” (originally published in Sanitarium Magazine no. 19, March 2014)

Overview: Shina wakes up one morning and realizes that although she’s aware of everything going on around her, she seems to be completely paralyzed and unable to communicate with anyone. What follows is a story brimming with dread and claustrophobia.

Quote: “Everything’s so quiet. I’m so quiet. I can’t feel my pulse, and my heart should be thumping against my ribcage in fear. My palms should be sweaty, and my chest should be heaving, but they’re not. I can’t feel my chest rising, or falling.”

*

“Helena”

Overview: For the unnamed narrator, being dead and feeling her body decay is frustrating. But her real dilemma is how to save her infant daughter, Helena, who is still alive, but won’t be for much longer. A heartbreaking take on the typical “zombie” story that puts the agonies and sacrifices of motherhood front and center.

Quote: “Technically her name is Helena, but since I died a few weeks ago, speech has become increasingly difficult. I managed the whole name for a little while, then I called her ’Lena, and now it’s down to the pitiful single-syllabled ’Na. And to be honest even that’s exhausting to say. It’s only a matter of time before I stop calling her something altogether and just start grunting at her.”

*

“Whiteout” (originally published in ABANDON: 13 Tales Of Impulse, Betrayal, Surrender & Withdrawal, October 2015)

Overview: Joanne and Maria have poured their savings into a rundown property which they hope to turn into a riding program and a life of domestic bliss. They just have to make it through their first winter. But when a terrible blizzard hits and Maria spots a figure watching them from outside, she starts to wonder if they’ll make it through the night. This story unfurls like a horror movie, and I don’t recommend reading it during a snowstorm.

Quote: “The figure is only a few feet from the glass and he watches as she gasps in pain, her ankle turning awkwardly underneath the weight of her body as she falls to the floor. She can’t help but notice that his black eyes stand out even in the swirling white all around him. He moves closer to the window and puts a hand on the glass, frost swirling out from his palm and snaking its way over the window.”

[Sihaiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 *

[Wisperlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories strike a perfect balance of horror and gentle, personal touches. Despite limited wordcount, Marceau manages to make you *care* about the characters before throwing them in the deep end. Highly recommend.