Earth vs The Lava Spiders

by Candace Nola

Tonight’s special features takes place on a quiet Friday night in the small coastal town of Pine Grove. Strange lights appear over Shasta Island and an explosion rocks the beachfront. Fireballs rain down from the sky as lava bubbles from the hidden volcano, unleashing a nightmare of hellfire and blood on the town.

Watch in horror as the Lava Spiders surge across the land, devouring every bit of hot human flesh in their midst! Who will survive the blood frenzy?!

Earth vs The Lava Spiders! One of three 1950’s B-movie style horror stories.

Be sure to check out Earth vs. The Nudist Camp Freaks by Judith Sonnet and Earth vs The Star Mummy by Lucas Mangum!

Genres: Horror

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2022

About the author

I am Candace Nola, and I am a multiple award-winning author, editor, and publisher. I write poetry, horror, dark fantasy, and extreme horror content. My books include Breach, Beyond the Breach, Hank Flynn, Bishop, Earth vs The Lava Spiders, The Unicorn Killer, Unmasked, The Vet, and Desperate Wishes.

I have short stories in The Baker’s Dozen anthology, Secondhand Creeps, American Cannibal, Just A Girl, The Horror Collection: Lost Edition & The Turquoise Edition, just to name a few.

Beyond the Breach, won the “Novel of the Year” and my Debut Novel, Breach, was nominated for “Debut Novel of the Year”, for the 2021 Horror Authors Guild awards. I am also the publisher and editor of the 2022 Splatterpunk Award Winning Anthology “Uncomfortably Dark Presents: The Baker’s Dozen.”

I am the creator of Uncomfortably Dark, which focuses primarily on promoting indie horror authors and small presses with weekly book reviews, interviews, and special features. Uncomfortably Dark Horror stands behind its mission to “bring you the best in horror, one uncomfortably dark page at a time.”

Find me on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and the website, UncomfortablyDark.com. Sign up for the Patreon for exclusive content, free stories, and more.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...

Itsy Bitsy Spider,
Went up the water spout,
Down came the...
Wait…what’s that?
Hey, Hound Dog, please go over there and have a look.
Is that…Goodness, gracious, Great Balls of Fire!
It’s time to Be-Bop-A-Lula,
To Shake, Rattle and Roll,
To Walk the Line…
And La Bamba?

Okay, I am out. I will just get my coat right now and ask you this:
Don’t be cruel.

50’s Horror movie fun for all the arachnophobes out there.

Although this story stands alone, it was a 10 day novella challenge – meaning you start writing day 1 and you publish an already edited story day 10 – with Lucas Mangum and Judith Sonnet.

4.5 STARS!

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth Vs the Lava Spiders was like stepping into the past. The small town of Pine Grove is about to be rocked by lava spiders. They are only after one thing and will unleash hell and leave nothing but death and destruction behind.

This was such a fun and fast-paced read. Panic and dread just run off the pages as Pine Grove and its residents are annihilated by lava spiders. Watching everything crumble was fascinating. Nola did a great job making this an enjoyable read. Definitely reminiscent of a B horror flick! I can’t wait to check out the others in this series.

"Blood pooled on the ground, shimmering red-black puddles that reflected the glowing eyes above them."

[DA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the old creature features!

A definite must read for those who like creature stories. I can fully envision this being part of a drive in double feature. The author took a nasty bug and amplified it's creepiness by a thousand. I love how fast paced it was.

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promotion in Shawn Burgess' newletter led me to Earth vs The Lava Spiders by Candace Nola on Story Origin.

Unrolled in my mind like a B movie.

UPDATE:

Hey all, we’re having a beach party…AND you’re invited. HA HA HA HA HA

No one is safe when the lava spiders come rolling through town in Earth vs Lava Spiders by Candace Nola. This was a super quick read and unfurled like film on a B movie reel. We start with a beach party, and any horror lover knows how bad that can end up., whether in the water or out. Blood and guts fly right out of the gate. You can run, but you can’t hide…from these guys. One touch, poof, up in flames.

Like a B movie, there is no depth and detail, but I got what I expected…and that is never a bad thing. With a little more…the rating may have been different, but that won’t stop me from grabbing more like Earth vs Lava Spiders by Candace Nola.

I thought it was funny that all the chapter headings were 1950s song titles.

[Todd Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can picture this as black and white Sunday Matinee!

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was a lot of fun. It played out like a black and white B-movie horror film. Something that would have played on Saturday afternoons Creature Double Feature. I could just see the over exaggerated screams of fright as the monsters slowly appeared on screen. It was quite gory and probably a few too many decapitations to be played on Saturday afternoon but this is something I could see Mystery Science Theater 3000 mocking and having a blast with.

[Christopher Besonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love B-movie monster flicks, this one is for you! I had a blast reading about the Lava Spiders and their crusade of chaos, I wish this was a movie too, maybe they will make it into one someday, it sure is deserving.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super short and fast read of lava spiders!!! Lots of body ripping and screaming.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth Vs The Lava Spiders is a volcanic blast to the past, an unapologetic throwback to the B movies of yesteryear featuring the kind of outlandish monsters the reader can immediately imagine being brought to life with questionable special effects. There is not a moment in EVtLS where Nola isn't completely aware of what she's churning out and she leans into the gore and wanton destruction, while also playing up the 1950s, both through dialogue and fun pop culture nods. Highly recommended for a fun afternoon read, and also part of a series of similarly themed stories penned by Judith Sonnet and Lucas Mangum.

[Erica Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the old B movies then you will love this as much as I did!! And watch out for the Lava Spiders!

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Earth vs The Lava Spiders by Candace Nola
Earth vs The Star Mummy by Lucas Mangum
Earth vs The Nudist Camp Freaks by Judith Sonnet
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

Something has fallen from the sky near Route 63. Unsettling and not of this world, Tommy and several friends decide to investigate. What they find is a discovery within the realm of unbelievability.

A force of nature spurs an onslaught of horrific flaming rocks and gore-coated spiders. As the bubbling lava explodes near populated sandy beaches, the hungry eight-limbed invaders skitter towards their next meal of fresh meat.

A spaceship lands near a nudist colony known as Camp Starshine. The cigar shaped craft quickly reveals a menacing spaceman that has a message for the inhabitants of Earth. Mankind’s existence is soon threatened by a battle between armies and hordes of nude corpses.

Authors Candace Nola, Lucas Mangum and Judith Sonnet have collaborated to produce a triple feature that defines the American movie going experience of the 1950’s. From Mangum’s Roswell vibe of hostile outer space mummies to Sonnet’s shambling otherworldly ghouls and let’s not forget Nola’s ravenous eight legged arachnids. These three separate novellas are terror-bent on wreaking havoc and destroying humankind as we know it.

But wait…there’s more! Also included are actual commercials from paid sponsors such as Lucas’s Man Gum…”the only gum to make you feel like a man.” Drive-in Intermission sing-along songs…”let’s all go to the lobby.” Breaking news bulletins that are bound to shock and terrify…”be sure to bring someone you like and hold their hand to feel safe!”

These back-to-back-to-back silver screen love letters to the 1950’s are concocted with a dash of The Day The Earth Stood Still, a sprinkle of Plan 9 From Outer Space and a pinch of Night Of The Living Dead. Together, this creeping horror recipe cooks up one heck of a trilogy of terror. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this hoping for something awesome along the lines of THEM!, The Deadly Mantis, or some of the other 1950s films that featured killer insects. I would even have settled for something cheesy along the lines of SyFy's Lavalantula. Sadly, I got none of those things. You don't even have a story here. You have a series of vignettes featuring attacking lava spiders. Most of the characters involved are killed off within the same chapter they're introduced in, so you really have nobody to root for. And the ending? It was like the author didn't know where else to go, so it was time to bring in the big guns to wrap it all up. And one of the two characters that did survive more than one chapter created such a distraction, every time his name was mentioned, I was pulled out of what passed for a story and started thinking of a different book and movie. The name? Jonas Taylor, and those who know, know. I would love to be able to recommend this one, but I can't. Better to pass over this one and keep looking if you're searching for 1950s B-movie fun.

[Joe Ortlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

B-movie fun at its best. I absolutely loved this story. Finished it in one sitting. It's a classic creature feature in book form. If you love classic monster horror flicks, this is a must read for you.

[Nick Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what you can never have enough of? Beheadings. There are a shit ton of beheadings in this book. What more could you ask for?

[Terry and dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure fun. A book that would make a great drive in movie if there ever was one. Creatures, lava, action, death and a lot of disposable characters. Well written and a fast, easy read.

[Cat Voleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed.

I'm very fortunate because this is the second sort of pulpy, cheesy horror book like this I've read recently, and I simply cannot get enough of them.

This felt like a Syfy original movie in the best way.

It was fast-paced, it was over the top, and the titular lava spiders were both unique and terrifying. It was a fun read, and my biggest complaint was that it was just over too soon.

[Echo Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Candace Nola read and OMG, how fun! I am a sucker for B-rated horror films and this story played out in my mind like it would on the screen. Bloody good fun! I am excited to add more of her work to my TBR! The ending seemed a tad bit too rushed, but all in all such a great read! Get it!

[Jeremy Crews · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARTH SHATTERING TERROR!!!

I’m a big fan of old black & white creature features, and this novella does very well to capture that vibe. I mean, c’mon, who doesn’t want giant spiders that shoot lava out of their bodies to destroy the world?
I also loved that the chapters were old rock n’ roll song names. If this book had a soundtrack, it would kick some serious ass.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild ride!

This is a fun read full of mayhem and gore! What a wild ride. Absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to read more from Candace Nola.

[Stephen Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this one absolutely sped along. A fun 50s B-Movie book that captured the aesthetic perfectly and reminded me of all those atomic creature features I use to watch. Great fun.

[Jeff Atam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Candace Nola book and it won't be my last. This was a great throwback to the 50's horror movies that I loved so much like The Blob and Them. A fun read and such a great title!

[Allison | crazypageturner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A volcanic eruption has done more than just shoot ash into the air. It has also expelled numerous horrible eight legged, lava spewing, carnivorous creatures upon the humans. With only one thought, to feed, these awful arachnids are out to ingest everything it can find.

Imagine if you blended spiders and lava together, then you’d get these abominations. They have erupted and are on the loose devouring everybody and everything in their path. Constantly chasing and piercing people, melting people, biting off heads and overall just eating everyone.

I was hooked from the very beginning and found the spiders super creative while also being terrifying. Nothing I would want to ever come across that’s for sure. It was fast paced, frightening and I was constantly wondering what exactly was going to take these things down because nothing seemed to work! An enticing creature feature I couldn’t put down!

[Andrés Menéndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth vs. the Lava Spiders is a fun book full of mayhem, blood, and fun that I finished in one sitting. It's a short read that tells of the pain and destruction brought by the lava spiders that came out of the islands' volcano, showing us how different people try to save themselves and stop the giant creatures ready to eat their heads! It succeeds in making the reader like every character and somehow hope for them to survive, even if we know it's almost impossible for them to do it. It's a short and bloody read that I really recommend

[K D Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen is not down for Billy’s moves. In a huff Billy drives her back to the beach.
But everything is far from normal when they make it back to the beach. Strange lights, rumbling earth.
A volcano erupts and it’s a race against time for the group. But what is borne from the lava is truly terrifying and as I always say… this is where this story really unfolds.
Nola creates hysteria and panic from the get go ramping up the dread factor with each page. This is an epic creature feature in a bite sized book. I loved it!

[J.E. Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shameless 1950's B-movie fun! There's not much plot to speak of, the characters don't stick around long enough to latch onto (hehehe) and there are some verb tense inconsistencies that made me stop and re-read portions, but the overall entertainment value is high.

I grew up with cheesy, black and white horror movies and The Twilight Zone, so to see the creatures get some head-gnashing and fire-breathing wins was a fantastic time!

[Ryan Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time with Earth vs the Lava Spiders. It's a series of vignettes written around the eruption of giant Lava Spiders into a small town, and Nola absolutely delivers on the gore in all it's goopy glory.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome read. I love arachnids stories. This book was just as good as Daniel Arenson Starship Freedom. The only difference is in Starship Freedom they were fighting the arachnids with starfleet warships and the spiders were not made of lava. I loved Candace Nola arachnids story.

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Fun!

Candace penned a blast with this one. EARTH VS THE LAVA SPIDERS is fast, full of panic, and filled with outlandish creatures. I'm looking forward to the other two in the series. Highly recommended!

[Jen Ramsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be b movie heaven, this short story takes you on a wild romp through a town, chomping and biting as it goes! Nobody lasts long enough to become a favourite character, and the wonderful descriptions of carnage are very imaginative. Brilliant little tale!

[Lucian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it. Fast and fun. Was cheering on Jonas. Needs a film adaptation.