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Dark Screams Lib/E: Volume Five
Mick Garris, J. Kenner, Kealan Patrick Burke, Del James, and Bentley Little pry open a sarcophagus of horror and dread in Dark Screams: Volume Five, from Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar of the esteemed Cemetery Dance Publications.
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris
It was supposed to be the night of his life: a celebration of his one hit slasher flick. But the price of admission is higher than this has-been filmmaker ever could have imagined.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner
When he was seven, Will Underwood’s nanny told him she had the Sight. Years later, a broken heart sends him to New Orleans . . . but it’s fate that leads him to Madame Darkling’s Voodoo Emporium.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke
Although she was mute long before the affair that nearly wrecked their marriage, her silence has tortured her husband ever since. Now he will seek out what he has lost—or be driven mad by remorse.
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James
Arnold loves his ’68 Camaro almost as much as he loves his wife, and he’s willing to do anything to protect them both—especially after hearing strange noises coming from his garage.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little
A real-estate agent is drawn into a children’s playhouse behind an abandoned property she’s trying to sell—and finds herself strangely reluctant to leave.
Praise for the Dark Screams series
“A wicked treat [featuring] some of the genre’s best . . . Dark Screams: Volume One is a strong start to what looks to be an outstanding series.”—Hellnotes
“The editors have set themselves a high bar to meet in future volumes. . . . It’s going to be a solid series.”—Adventures Fantastic
“Dark Screams: Volume Two [is] a worthwhile read and a great entry to this series. If this upward trend in quality continues, we are sure to see amazing things in the volumes to come.”—LitReactor
“Five fun-to-read stories by top-notch horror scribes. How can you lose? The answer: you can’t.”—Atomic Fangirl
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris
It was supposed to be the night of his life: a celebration of his one hit slasher flick. But the price of admission is higher than this has-been filmmaker ever could have imagined.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner
When he was seven, Will Underwood’s nanny told him she had the Sight. Years later, a broken heart sends him to New Orleans . . . but it’s fate that leads him to Madame Darkling’s Voodoo Emporium.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke
Although she was mute long before the affair that nearly wrecked their marriage, her silence has tortured her husband ever since. Now he will seek out what he has lost—or be driven mad by remorse.
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James
Arnold loves his ’68 Camaro almost as much as he loves his wife, and he’s willing to do anything to protect them both—especially after hearing strange noises coming from his garage.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little
A real-estate agent is drawn into a children’s playhouse behind an abandoned property she’s trying to sell—and finds herself strangely reluctant to leave.
Praise for the Dark Screams series
“A wicked treat [featuring] some of the genre’s best . . . Dark Screams: Volume One is a strong start to what looks to be an outstanding series.”—Hellnotes
“The editors have set themselves a high bar to meet in future volumes. . . . It’s going to be a solid series.”—Adventures Fantastic
“Dark Screams: Volume Two [is] a worthwhile read and a great entry to this series. If this upward trend in quality continues, we are sure to see amazing things in the volumes to come.”—LitReactor
“Five fun-to-read stories by top-notch horror scribes. How can you lose? The answer: you can’t.”—Atomic Fangirl
Audio CD
First published October 6, 2015
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About the author
Mick Garris
43 books57 followersMick Garris is a producer, director, screenwriter and novelist specializing in the horror genre. He has had his hand in dozens of films and television shows, published several works of fiction, and is perhaps best known for his long and fruitful association with author Stephen King.
Garris was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He began making home movies at the age of 12 and started working as a freelance film and music journalist while still in his teens. An avid musician, he was the lead singer of the band Horsefeathers until its demise in 1977.
Garris’ first job in the film industry was doing publicity for Avco-Embassy Pictures, where he produced “behind the scenes” documentaries for numerous genre films. This led to a stint as the host of THE FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL, a TV talk show airing on L.A.’s legendary Z Channel, in which Garris interviewed many high-profile actors and filmmakers.
His big break came when he was hired by Steven Spielberg to serve as a writer and story editor on AMAZING STORIES (1985). Spielberg asked Mick to direct an episode based on one of this stories, and he has been writing, producing, and directing ever since. This led to more work as a director on FREDDY’S NIGHTMARES (1988) and TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1989), and as the co-creator of SHE-WOLF OF LONDON (1990-91). During this period, Garris also co-wrote the screenplays for *BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED (1987), THE FLY II (1989) and HOCUS POCUS (1993).
His first feature film as a director was CRITTERS 2 (1988), followed by PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (1990). In 1992, Garris began his association with Stephen King when he was selected to direct the author’s original screenplay for SLEEPWALKERS. Pleased with the results, King chose Garris to helm the epic mini-series based his novel, THE STAND (1994), which went on to become one of history’s most highly-rated television shows.
Garris and King followed up with a three-part TV adaptation of THE SHINING in 1997. Garris went on to direct QUICKSILVER HIGHWAY (1997), based on two stories by King and Clive Barker, VIRTUAL OBSESSION (1998), THE JUDGE (2001) and LOST IN OZ (2002). He and Stephen King reunited for RIDING THE BULLET (2004) and DESPERATION (2006).
In 2005, Garris created the Showtime anthology series MASTERS OF HORROR (2005-06), which featured contributions by him and other leading filmmakers specializing in the horror genre, including John Carpenter, Joe Dante and John Landis. A spinoff anthology series followed: FEAR ITSELF (2008-09).
In 2011, Garris published his first novel: Development Hell. This was preceded by the short story collection, A Life in Cinema (2002), and followed by the novellas Snow Shadows (2013) and Tyler’s Third Act (2013). His new novel, Salome, and another novella, Ugly, will be released in 2014.
Garris returned to his roots as the Creator and Host of POST MORTEM (2010-11), a genre-themed talk show airing on FearNetHD. Recently, he produced and directed another mini-series adaptation of a Stephen King novel, BAG OF BONES (2011), and served as Executive Producer of the feature film UNBROKEN (2014), directed by Angelina Jolie.
He has directed episodes of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and its spinoff, RAVENSWOOD, and WITCHES OF EAST END, and currently has several series and features in development.
www.facebook.com/mick.garris
Garris was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He began making home movies at the age of 12 and started working as a freelance film and music journalist while still in his teens. An avid musician, he was the lead singer of the band Horsefeathers until its demise in 1977.
Garris’ first job in the film industry was doing publicity for Avco-Embassy Pictures, where he produced “behind the scenes” documentaries for numerous genre films. This led to a stint as the host of THE FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL, a TV talk show airing on L.A.’s legendary Z Channel, in which Garris interviewed many high-profile actors and filmmakers.
His big break came when he was hired by Steven Spielberg to serve as a writer and story editor on AMAZING STORIES (1985). Spielberg asked Mick to direct an episode based on one of this stories, and he has been writing, producing, and directing ever since. This led to more work as a director on FREDDY’S NIGHTMARES (1988) and TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1989), and as the co-creator of SHE-WOLF OF LONDON (1990-91). During this period, Garris also co-wrote the screenplays for *BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED (1987), THE FLY II (1989) and HOCUS POCUS (1993).
His first feature film as a director was CRITTERS 2 (1988), followed by PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (1990). In 1992, Garris began his association with Stephen King when he was selected to direct the author’s original screenplay for SLEEPWALKERS. Pleased with the results, King chose Garris to helm the epic mini-series based his novel, THE STAND (1994), which went on to become one of history’s most highly-rated television shows.
Garris and King followed up with a three-part TV adaptation of THE SHINING in 1997. Garris went on to direct QUICKSILVER HIGHWAY (1997), based on two stories by King and Clive Barker, VIRTUAL OBSESSION (1998), THE JUDGE (2001) and LOST IN OZ (2002). He and Stephen King reunited for RIDING THE BULLET (2004) and DESPERATION (2006).
In 2005, Garris created the Showtime anthology series MASTERS OF HORROR (2005-06), which featured contributions by him and other leading filmmakers specializing in the horror genre, including John Carpenter, Joe Dante and John Landis. A spinoff anthology series followed: FEAR ITSELF (2008-09).
In 2011, Garris published his first novel: Development Hell. This was preceded by the short story collection, A Life in Cinema (2002), and followed by the novellas Snow Shadows (2013) and Tyler’s Third Act (2013). His new novel, Salome, and another novella, Ugly, will be released in 2014.
Garris returned to his roots as the Creator and Host of POST MORTEM (2010-11), a genre-themed talk show airing on FearNetHD. Recently, he produced and directed another mini-series adaptation of a Stephen King novel, BAG OF BONES (2011), and served as Executive Producer of the feature film UNBROKEN (2014), directed by Angelina Jolie.
He has directed episodes of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and its spinoff, RAVENSWOOD, and WITCHES OF EAST END, and currently has several series and features in development.
www.facebook.com/mick.garris
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 5, 2015
3.5 stars!
Yet another collection is coming out via the Dark Screams format, which combines authors both known and unknown, perhaps in an effort to get those unknowns some exposure. In my experience, most of the Dark Screams volumes have been good and this one was no exception. I'll do a quick rundown of each story here:
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris. I thought this one started off well enough, but then something went awry. This tale had a Clive Barker vibe to it, and probably would have made a great Twilight Zone episode. From what I understand, Mick Garris used to produce the show Masters of Horror. This story would've worked well there too. 3*
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke. I love Kealan Patrick Burke. Lurve. Him. But I'm sad to say this tale didn't quite work for me. It was dense and dark, and I usually love that, but in this case, I felt like I was plodding through. A KPB tale that doesn't quite work for me still rates 3.5*, so it's all good.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James. I'm an American Muscle Car loving gal, so when a story comes my way about a BADASS 68 Camaro SS with a 396 under the hood? I'm IN. The car was great but I found the story to be unoriginal. 3*
The One and Only by J. Kenner. I'd not heard of this author before reading this story but I looked her up when I was done. It seems that this type of ghost/horror/voodoo story is not really her thing, but I think she should make it so, because this story ROCKED. 4*
The Playhouse by Bentley Little. I haven't read any Bentley Little stories in a while and this one makes me think I need to return to his catalog and knock a few more of his books off my TBR. This story is about a playhouse. A cool little playhouse with an Easy Bake Oven and fresh mud. But something weird is going on in there...perhaps you should pop on in and bake a mudpie? 5*
So, my math combines these ratings and comes out with a 3.7-so 3.5 stars it is. These Dark Screams volumes are always so interesting, even if all the stories don't work for the reader. You can discover new authors and rediscover old ones, and that's always a good thing in my book.
Recommended for fans of short story collections!
*A free e-ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
Yet another collection is coming out via the Dark Screams format, which combines authors both known and unknown, perhaps in an effort to get those unknowns some exposure. In my experience, most of the Dark Screams volumes have been good and this one was no exception. I'll do a quick rundown of each story here:
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris. I thought this one started off well enough, but then something went awry. This tale had a Clive Barker vibe to it, and probably would have made a great Twilight Zone episode. From what I understand, Mick Garris used to produce the show Masters of Horror. This story would've worked well there too. 3*
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke. I love Kealan Patrick Burke. Lurve. Him. But I'm sad to say this tale didn't quite work for me. It was dense and dark, and I usually love that, but in this case, I felt like I was plodding through. A KPB tale that doesn't quite work for me still rates 3.5*, so it's all good.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James. I'm an American Muscle Car loving gal, so when a story comes my way about a BADASS 68 Camaro SS with a 396 under the hood? I'm IN. The car was great but I found the story to be unoriginal. 3*
The One and Only by J. Kenner. I'd not heard of this author before reading this story but I looked her up when I was done. It seems that this type of ghost/horror/voodoo story is not really her thing, but I think she should make it so, because this story ROCKED. 4*
The Playhouse by Bentley Little. I haven't read any Bentley Little stories in a while and this one makes me think I need to return to his catalog and knock a few more of his books off my TBR. This story is about a playhouse. A cool little playhouse with an Easy Bake Oven and fresh mud. But something weird is going on in there...perhaps you should pop on in and bake a mudpie? 5*
So, my math combines these ratings and comes out with a 3.7-so 3.5 stars it is. These Dark Screams volumes are always so interesting, even if all the stories don't work for the reader. You can discover new authors and rediscover old ones, and that's always a good thing in my book.
Recommended for fans of short story collections!
*A free e-ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
June 19, 2015
I was given an ARC copy of this book by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have read the other 4 in this series and have really enjoyed 4 out of 5. This is one of the good ones. Over all rating: 4 stars
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris
Horror has its share of cautionary tales. The Monkey’s Paw comes immediately to mind. Not very many reach this level of cringeworthiness, however. Actually I found it so over the top to be amusing and I doubt that it is to be taken seriously. 3 1/2 stars.
The One and Only by J. Kenner
Classic ghost story format that was predictable for me from the outset. 3 stars.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke
Ok, now we are talking. KPB is a literary horror writer. Other than the Hammerish “Master of the Moors” you won’t find the usual horror suspects romping around in his stories, tearing up the scenery. The focus of his stories and novels is the human heart and the monsters often wear our faces. The Land of Sunshine is atmospheric and lush, full of symbolism and each word and scene is thought out and deliberately selected. A story to enjoy once for the language, then to read again to admire what is going on below the surface. 5 stars.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
Another story in the classic style. I can picture this one in Creepy or Eerie magazine. I mean that as a compliment. The story felt familiar to me in a good way, and didn’t veer of into unpredictable plot lines, but I still enjoyed it as a classic story done well. 4 stars
The Playhouse by Bentley Little
I had high hopes for this story because I am a big fan, like tons of other people, of Bentley Little. I wasn’t disappointed. I loved this story. Warped reality and time shifting converge but in the end it is the delightful characters that make this story special. Made the “Twilight Zone” portion of my brain very happy indeed. I would love to see an anthology composed of twilight zone type stories by famous modern authors and I would not be surprised if this one wasn’t one of the best of the bunch. 5 stars.
I have read the other 4 in this series and have really enjoyed 4 out of 5. This is one of the good ones. Over all rating: 4 stars
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris
Horror has its share of cautionary tales. The Monkey’s Paw comes immediately to mind. Not very many reach this level of cringeworthiness, however. Actually I found it so over the top to be amusing and I doubt that it is to be taken seriously. 3 1/2 stars.
The One and Only by J. Kenner
Classic ghost story format that was predictable for me from the outset. 3 stars.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke
Ok, now we are talking. KPB is a literary horror writer. Other than the Hammerish “Master of the Moors” you won’t find the usual horror suspects romping around in his stories, tearing up the scenery. The focus of his stories and novels is the human heart and the monsters often wear our faces. The Land of Sunshine is atmospheric and lush, full of symbolism and each word and scene is thought out and deliberately selected. A story to enjoy once for the language, then to read again to admire what is going on below the surface. 5 stars.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
Another story in the classic style. I can picture this one in Creepy or Eerie magazine. I mean that as a compliment. The story felt familiar to me in a good way, and didn’t veer of into unpredictable plot lines, but I still enjoyed it as a classic story done well. 4 stars
The Playhouse by Bentley Little
I had high hopes for this story because I am a big fan, like tons of other people, of Bentley Little. I wasn’t disappointed. I loved this story. Warped reality and time shifting converge but in the end it is the delightful characters that make this story special. Made the “Twilight Zone” portion of my brain very happy indeed. I would love to see an anthology composed of twilight zone type stories by famous modern authors and I would not be surprised if this one wasn’t one of the best of the bunch. 5 stars.
July 15, 2015
3.5 + stars.
I've read all five of the Dark Screams Volumes so far, and only one really disappointed me. I'm happy to say this was not that one. Once more, we have some established authors mixed in with some lesser known ones; each story unique in its own way, and not linked by any common theme.
--"Everything You've Always Wanted", by Mick Garris: This story started out well (if a bit predictable), but began to get a little too "overdone" about 2/3 of the way in. As this story took up about half of the volume, it could be just a case of the story being strung along longer than it needed to be to get the point across. 2.5 stars.
--"The Land of Sunshine", by Kealan Patrick Burke. I usually LOVE this author's stories, but this particular tale about a man searching for something that he "lost" in his marriage just didn't captivate me as much as his tales usually do. 3 stars.
--"Mechanical Gratitude", by Del James. A man named Arnold loves both his vintage car and his wife, to the extent that he would do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Although similar in theme to many other tales, I really enjoyed the way this one was done, and the "surprises" along the way. 4 stars.
--"The One and Only", by J. Kenner. Luke remembers his old nanny's words about how she "had the sight", and predicted that he would end up in New Orleans forever. As his father was head of a large company in Texas, Luke never thought her prophesy would come true. A series of events leads up to his going on a "fun visit" there with two of his friends, and he finds the answers to more than he ever wanted to know..... This story may have been somewhat predictable overall, but the way the author wrote it made it completely new. The anticipation as to what would happen next rose steadily, and the final scene was one I can still picture. My favorite of the bunch! 5 stars.
--"The Playhouse", by Bently Little. A realtor takes on a foreclosed house to sell, and finds a quaint little playhouse in the back yard. A playhouse that may be much more than it seems. 3.5 stars.
Overall average a little over 3.5, rounded up.
Recommended!
*I received a copy of this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I've read all five of the Dark Screams Volumes so far, and only one really disappointed me. I'm happy to say this was not that one. Once more, we have some established authors mixed in with some lesser known ones; each story unique in its own way, and not linked by any common theme.
--"Everything You've Always Wanted", by Mick Garris: This story started out well (if a bit predictable), but began to get a little too "overdone" about 2/3 of the way in. As this story took up about half of the volume, it could be just a case of the story being strung along longer than it needed to be to get the point across. 2.5 stars.
--"The Land of Sunshine", by Kealan Patrick Burke. I usually LOVE this author's stories, but this particular tale about a man searching for something that he "lost" in his marriage just didn't captivate me as much as his tales usually do. 3 stars.
--"Mechanical Gratitude", by Del James. A man named Arnold loves both his vintage car and his wife, to the extent that he would do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Although similar in theme to many other tales, I really enjoyed the way this one was done, and the "surprises" along the way. 4 stars.
--"The One and Only", by J. Kenner. Luke remembers his old nanny's words about how she "had the sight", and predicted that he would end up in New Orleans forever. As his father was head of a large company in Texas, Luke never thought her prophesy would come true. A series of events leads up to his going on a "fun visit" there with two of his friends, and he finds the answers to more than he ever wanted to know..... This story may have been somewhat predictable overall, but the way the author wrote it made it completely new. The anticipation as to what would happen next rose steadily, and the final scene was one I can still picture. My favorite of the bunch! 5 stars.
--"The Playhouse", by Bently Little. A realtor takes on a foreclosed house to sell, and finds a quaint little playhouse in the back yard. A playhouse that may be much more than it seems. 3.5 stars.
Overall average a little over 3.5, rounded up.
Recommended!
*I received a copy of this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
August 14, 2015
3.5 stars.
I really like Dark Screams because it gives me a chance to read short stories from authors I'm not familiar with. In this collection I didn't like the story that I expected to and I loved the story that I didn't.
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris: The name says its all. He got what he wanted but the price he pays is way more than he bargained for. This one had a strong start but was a little drawn out and repetitive for me. Nice little nasty ending though.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner: You can't fight fate. No really.... you can't. This one didn't hit home for me.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke: I loves me some KPB. A melancholy story of loss and regret that one man is not willing to live with. Not my favorite story but well written and I did quite enjoy the ending.
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James: Some men can't live without their wives...or their car. They say that you can't take it with you when you die. That's what they say... Well done.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little: My absolute favorite from this collection. Matel has nothing on the playhouse. When a real estate agent finds herself more drawn to the playhouse out back than the house she is trying to sell in front, things start to get a little blurry. I had not read Bentley Little before and will absolutely be reading more.
I really hope that Dark Screams continues their collections. Although I don't like every story, I have found some winners, and find myself looking forward to them.
I really like Dark Screams because it gives me a chance to read short stories from authors I'm not familiar with. In this collection I didn't like the story that I expected to and I loved the story that I didn't.
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris: The name says its all. He got what he wanted but the price he pays is way more than he bargained for. This one had a strong start but was a little drawn out and repetitive for me. Nice little nasty ending though.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner: You can't fight fate. No really.... you can't. This one didn't hit home for me.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke: I loves me some KPB. A melancholy story of loss and regret that one man is not willing to live with. Not my favorite story but well written and I did quite enjoy the ending.
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James: Some men can't live without their wives...or their car. They say that you can't take it with you when you die. That's what they say... Well done.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little: My absolute favorite from this collection. Matel has nothing on the playhouse. When a real estate agent finds herself more drawn to the playhouse out back than the house she is trying to sell in front, things start to get a little blurry. I had not read Bentley Little before and will absolutely be reading more.
I really hope that Dark Screams continues their collections. Although I don't like every story, I have found some winners, and find myself looking forward to them.
July 23, 2018
Genre: Horror
This book is a unique collection of five short horror stories, the latest in the Dark Screams series.
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris ***
Film maker Jack Tarrington is lured to a MonsterThon in Indianapolis to recapture the glory days for a 25 year old cult classic horror film. This dark, graphic tale is written in a Twilight Zone genre with a "be careful what you ask for" ending. Jack pays the ultimate price.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner ***
Classic New Orleans Gothic ghost story with a touch of voodoo.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Kealan Patrick Burke ***
A melancholy story of loss, regret and failing marriage with a touching ending. My least favorite of the selections.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James ****
1968 Camaro SS haunted car story with an unexpected twist at the end!
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little *****
This spooky story was my favorite one of the collection. A realtor agrees to sell a foreclosed house. Lois is drawn to a little playhouse in the backyard. A strange feeling came over her as she entered. Lois soon finds that time goes by faster outside than it does inside the playhouse and she is reluctant to leave.
I recommend this collection for anyone who likes horror stories.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley, the publisher and author in exchange for a fair review.
This book is a unique collection of five short horror stories, the latest in the Dark Screams series.
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris ***
Film maker Jack Tarrington is lured to a MonsterThon in Indianapolis to recapture the glory days for a 25 year old cult classic horror film. This dark, graphic tale is written in a Twilight Zone genre with a "be careful what you ask for" ending. Jack pays the ultimate price.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner ***
Classic New Orleans Gothic ghost story with a touch of voodoo.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Kealan Patrick Burke ***
A melancholy story of loss, regret and failing marriage with a touching ending. My least favorite of the selections.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James ****
1968 Camaro SS haunted car story with an unexpected twist at the end!
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little *****
This spooky story was my favorite one of the collection. A realtor agrees to sell a foreclosed house. Lois is drawn to a little playhouse in the backyard. A strange feeling came over her as she entered. Lois soon finds that time goes by faster outside than it does inside the playhouse and she is reluctant to leave.
I recommend this collection for anyone who likes horror stories.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley, the publisher and author in exchange for a fair review.
October 26, 2015
This fifth and, until things change, final volume in the Dark Screams series goes right into the trippy territory with Mick Garris "Everything You've Always Wanted." Trippy and gory, as we see a director who was a one hit wonder in the horror film biz lured to a horror convention for a last taste of adoration from his cultish fans. The story felt kind of humdrum at first, but it ups the creepy factor page by page, especially when our protagonist crosses paths with an alluring young woman who loves his work and the two head back to his hotel room. Hoo boy, this one is not for the weak-stomached, but regardless of the gore, the story of this guy's fleeting last grasp of fame packs a punch.
Bentley Little had an offering too, with "The Playhouse," which kind of baffled me a bit with the subtext, but the visuals it conjured up as the story progressed had me captivated the whole time. I dig a story that has a neat little way to play with time and this one had it, as a realtor stuck with a new property to sell finds herself enamored by the little playhouse in the backyard, where each time she steps into it time goes faster outside than in, and her desire to return to it becomes stronger with each visit.
Kealan Patrick Burke and J. Kenner had shorter tales in this anthology, with "The Land of Sunshine" and "The One and Only," respectively. Each one painted a good picture with the backdrops and the mood in each, but there was something in each story that I just kept butting my head against. I think it came down to not really connecting with the forlorn husband in Burke's or the carousing college kid in Kenner's.
The story that will probably wind up being my favorite of the bunch when I look back on this book later on is "Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James. It might have been the bit of nostalgia over those old muscle cars of yesteryear, or the vague callback to haunted car tales like Christine, or maybe the straight-forward storytelling that had a bang-up finish. Whatever it was exactly, it starts with a man killing his neighbor's dirtbag son one night after the fella breaks into their garage to take his Camaro for a joyride. From there it felt like it was pulling you one way, but you find out you were headed someplace else entirely. Very rewarding reading experience, I thought.
All in all, another solid outing from the Dark Screams gang. It's a mixed bag, so there is a little of everything for all kinds of horror readers, whether they want the visceral style of an early Clive Barker, or the disorienting style of a Rod Serling tale. You're no doubt gonna find something to like in this anthology series.
Bentley Little had an offering too, with "The Playhouse," which kind of baffled me a bit with the subtext, but the visuals it conjured up as the story progressed had me captivated the whole time. I dig a story that has a neat little way to play with time and this one had it, as a realtor stuck with a new property to sell finds herself enamored by the little playhouse in the backyard, where each time she steps into it time goes faster outside than in, and her desire to return to it becomes stronger with each visit.
Kealan Patrick Burke and J. Kenner had shorter tales in this anthology, with "The Land of Sunshine" and "The One and Only," respectively. Each one painted a good picture with the backdrops and the mood in each, but there was something in each story that I just kept butting my head against. I think it came down to not really connecting with the forlorn husband in Burke's or the carousing college kid in Kenner's.
The story that will probably wind up being my favorite of the bunch when I look back on this book later on is "Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James. It might have been the bit of nostalgia over those old muscle cars of yesteryear, or the vague callback to haunted car tales like Christine, or maybe the straight-forward storytelling that had a bang-up finish. Whatever it was exactly, it starts with a man killing his neighbor's dirtbag son one night after the fella breaks into their garage to take his Camaro for a joyride. From there it felt like it was pulling you one way, but you find out you were headed someplace else entirely. Very rewarding reading experience, I thought.
All in all, another solid outing from the Dark Screams gang. It's a mixed bag, so there is a little of everything for all kinds of horror readers, whether they want the visceral style of an early Clive Barker, or the disorienting style of a Rod Serling tale. You're no doubt gonna find something to like in this anthology series.
June 23, 2015
Another entertaining installment from Dark Screams. Dark Screams 5 is an eclectic mix of writing styles and short horror tales and this one has a “Masters of Horror” TV show vibe to it. I wonder if that is coincidence since Mick Garris produced the show. Hmmm. Ok, maybe I am reading into it a little bit. Nonetheless, a good mix of dark tales.
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris
A big price to pay for a one night stand at a horror convention. Ouch.
3.5 Stars.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke
A man with a gnawing absence wandering the streets. Searching.
4 Stars.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
Arnold Rinaldi loves his 1968 Camaro SS with a 396 engine.
3 Stars.
The One and Only by J. Kenner
Luke and his friends go on Summer Blow-out Pussy Patrol.
3 Stars.
The Playhouse by Bentley Little
Lois showing a house with a playhouse in back. A very interesting playhouse.
5 Stars.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and this is it.
Everything You’ve Always Wanted by Mick Garris
A big price to pay for a one night stand at a horror convention. Ouch.
3.5 Stars.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke
A man with a gnawing absence wandering the streets. Searching.
4 Stars.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
Arnold Rinaldi loves his 1968 Camaro SS with a 396 engine.
3 Stars.
The One and Only by J. Kenner
Luke and his friends go on Summer Blow-out Pussy Patrol.
3 Stars.
The Playhouse by Bentley Little
Lois showing a house with a playhouse in back. A very interesting playhouse.
5 Stars.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and this is it.
October 10, 2015
Since the first volume came out in December of 2014, the Dark Screams e-collections of short horror fiction have earned a reputation as one of the best new series in the genre. (It doesn't hurt that they're competitively-priced bargains, though not having print editions does create a barrier for non-electronic readers.) It's an understandable achievement given the editorial pedigree---Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar of the excellent specialty publisher Cemetery Dance Publications, who have the industry connections to snag stories from some of the best horror writers in the business. The series is now on its fifth volume and shows no sign of slowing down.
"Everything You've Always Wanted" starts things off, a tale about one-hit-wonder of a film director. After making one indie horror film that became a minor cult classic, his big-budget career flopped, leaving him behind his rent and no motivation. That's when he's invited to be the guest of honor at MonsterThon, a horror convention that dominates the Indianapolis convention center. It's the spark that could re-ignite his passion, could kick-start his failed career. Meeting his fans in the build-up to a 25th anniversary celebration of his work is everything he's always wanted. But these things tend to come with a price, and that taste of glory may be more than he wanted to pay...
Author Mick Garris is no stranger to the silver screen, having earned his chops as a filmmaker and screenwriter for various Stephen King adaptations and creating the Showtime series Masters of Horror, giving the story the ring of authenticity. This story would have been the perfect fit for a Masters of Horror episode. As a written story, it starts off well but begins to drag 2/3rds of the way through, becoming a bit too repetitive and over-the-top. As both the opening salvo in the collection and the story that takes up over half (53%) of the volume, it needs to pack a lot of punch. While it's still a story worth reading, a little tightening up to remove the repetition would have made it into a knockout.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner is a classic ghost story set in modern New Orleans, with the scion of a Texas oil baron heading to the Big Easy with his friends, hoping to score some chicks and get over a bad breakup. But there's shades of fate in his past, like his nanny's "second-sight" prophecy that he'll stay in New Orleans forever. The story's very predictable, but well-written enough that I didn't care; Kenner's prose has plenty of atmosphere and makes this ghost trope her own thanks to a bit of voodoo flair.
Kealan Patrick Burke's melancholy "The Land of Sunshine" sees a man struggling in a failed marriage; he's trapped by his guilt after cheating on his mute wife (it's implied), who then attempted suicide (it's also implied). That's a lot of interesting psychological baggage to unpack. For a story packed with fantastic atmosphere and deep symbolism, I'm surprised it didn't grab me; maybe I need to read it again and look for the dense story's deeper meaning, or just get lost in the lush prose, I wasn't entirely captivated. It does make me want to look into Burke's other works.
Del James' entry, "The One and Only," is a haunted car story. It's a story about how love develops across a relationship, and those relationships themselves: one man's adoration for his '68 Camaro SS (with a big-block 396), and that same man's love for his wife, with many important moments in their lives taking place in that Camaro. Car stories tend to be predictable, following the same set of tropes, and while this one did feel very familiar it was both touching and full of some neat surprises. It's the perfect kind of short-story, strong with some nice twists.
The editors saved the best for last, though, with Bentley Little's "The Playhouse." When a realtor heads out to look at the foreclosed house she's selling, she finds herself drawn to the little playhouse in the backyard. When she's away, all she can think about is how she needs to get back to the playhouse. And when she's in the playhouse, losing track of time takes on a whole new meaning. This would have been great as a Twilight Zone episode, with childlike nostalgia blurring into grim unease. An odd and haunting tale, the effortless prose drew me in and the surreal horror of the playhouse sold me.
Dark Screams Volume 5 builds on the success of previous volumes, with the editors picking top-notch horror stories from old pros and new stars alike. I've said it before, but collections are a tough beast to manage, since not every story will necessarily work for every reader. It can also be tough when the collection isn't linked thematically, but I've always found that "horror" is enough of a theme to hold a collection together. With this volume, I found all of the stories worth reading, and several of them were downright excellent (Little's, Kenner's, and James'). It's a short collection of only five stories, but it's also priced in impulse-buy territory at $2.99---less than it costs to buy a latte or stream a rental flick. Horror fans should not hesitate to pick this up.
"Everything You've Always Wanted" starts things off, a tale about one-hit-wonder of a film director. After making one indie horror film that became a minor cult classic, his big-budget career flopped, leaving him behind his rent and no motivation. That's when he's invited to be the guest of honor at MonsterThon, a horror convention that dominates the Indianapolis convention center. It's the spark that could re-ignite his passion, could kick-start his failed career. Meeting his fans in the build-up to a 25th anniversary celebration of his work is everything he's always wanted. But these things tend to come with a price, and that taste of glory may be more than he wanted to pay...
Author Mick Garris is no stranger to the silver screen, having earned his chops as a filmmaker and screenwriter for various Stephen King adaptations and creating the Showtime series Masters of Horror, giving the story the ring of authenticity. This story would have been the perfect fit for a Masters of Horror episode. As a written story, it starts off well but begins to drag 2/3rds of the way through, becoming a bit too repetitive and over-the-top. As both the opening salvo in the collection and the story that takes up over half (53%) of the volume, it needs to pack a lot of punch. While it's still a story worth reading, a little tightening up to remove the repetition would have made it into a knockout.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner is a classic ghost story set in modern New Orleans, with the scion of a Texas oil baron heading to the Big Easy with his friends, hoping to score some chicks and get over a bad breakup. But there's shades of fate in his past, like his nanny's "second-sight" prophecy that he'll stay in New Orleans forever. The story's very predictable, but well-written enough that I didn't care; Kenner's prose has plenty of atmosphere and makes this ghost trope her own thanks to a bit of voodoo flair.
Kealan Patrick Burke's melancholy "The Land of Sunshine" sees a man struggling in a failed marriage; he's trapped by his guilt after cheating on his mute wife (it's implied), who then attempted suicide (it's also implied). That's a lot of interesting psychological baggage to unpack. For a story packed with fantastic atmosphere and deep symbolism, I'm surprised it didn't grab me; maybe I need to read it again and look for the dense story's deeper meaning, or just get lost in the lush prose, I wasn't entirely captivated. It does make me want to look into Burke's other works.
Del James' entry, "The One and Only," is a haunted car story. It's a story about how love develops across a relationship, and those relationships themselves: one man's adoration for his '68 Camaro SS (with a big-block 396), and that same man's love for his wife, with many important moments in their lives taking place in that Camaro. Car stories tend to be predictable, following the same set of tropes, and while this one did feel very familiar it was both touching and full of some neat surprises. It's the perfect kind of short-story, strong with some nice twists.
The editors saved the best for last, though, with Bentley Little's "The Playhouse." When a realtor heads out to look at the foreclosed house she's selling, she finds herself drawn to the little playhouse in the backyard. When she's away, all she can think about is how she needs to get back to the playhouse. And when she's in the playhouse, losing track of time takes on a whole new meaning. This would have been great as a Twilight Zone episode, with childlike nostalgia blurring into grim unease. An odd and haunting tale, the effortless prose drew me in and the surreal horror of the playhouse sold me.
Dark Screams Volume 5 builds on the success of previous volumes, with the editors picking top-notch horror stories from old pros and new stars alike. I've said it before, but collections are a tough beast to manage, since not every story will necessarily work for every reader. It can also be tough when the collection isn't linked thematically, but I've always found that "horror" is enough of a theme to hold a collection together. With this volume, I found all of the stories worth reading, and several of them were downright excellent (Little's, Kenner's, and James'). It's a short collection of only five stories, but it's also priced in impulse-buy territory at $2.99---less than it costs to buy a latte or stream a rental flick. Horror fans should not hesitate to pick this up.
July 5, 2015
Everything You’ve Always Wanted (Mick Garris)
The first half was very entertaining, but then it started getting downhill. At the end it was neither fish nor flesh - too absurd to be either earnest or humorous. Definitely not my cup of tea. 2 stars.
The Land of Sunshine (Kealan Patrick Burke)
Dark and very dense - not just each sentence, but each word carried a world full of meaning. The shortest story of the collection in physical length, but like a fan it unfolds to reveal a large canvas full of images and impressions. 3 stars.
Mechanical Gratitude (Del James)
Simple and straight - perfect short story with a nice twist at the end. 4 stars.
The One and Only (J. Kenner)
From the beginning, this one oozed gothic ghost story atmosphere. Well done. 3 stars.
The Playhouse (Bentley Little)
This story tells how something strange and otherworldly can hide between the facade of something completely innocent looking. Expertly and seemingly effortlessly written - my favorite story in this collection, and I'm glad it was last in row. 5 stars.
Not as a good as the last DS collection, but still a worthwhile collection.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
January 16, 2016
Random House is batting 1000 with Dark Screams Volume 5. All I can say to start is WOW! Every story is brand spanking shiny new. Can't complain about that!
Sandwiched between your heavy hitters Kealan Patrick Burke and Bentley Little, we have the yummy fillings to try out, so let's talk.
Mick Garris brought us EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED. This story took up just over half the kindle space, it was quite a long short story. He was very descriptive, something I always appreciate. I did wonder what it was all for, but , trust me when the horror comes, it comes on strong. Even if I did giggle. Sorry. It was horrifying and I'm really glad it happened to this guy.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan (y'all know KPB, right? good.) This guy is married to a woman who is mute. And before I reveal too much, please remember that it the words between the lines that matter here...
Del James wrote MECHANICAL GRATITUDE. This starts out as a story about a guy and his '68 Camaro. Turns into good murder/horror story.
About this time I'm noticing a 'guy' pattern. Ok, let's continue.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J Kenner is a story about a group of guys (yeah!) on the loose in New Orleans after one is rejected by his girlfriend. They go to a fortuneteller prior to hitting a bar and the rejected one hears and sees something interesting...
Batting clean-up with THE PLAYHOUSE is Bentley Little. This not nearly long enough vignette told of a Realtor who while checking out a new listing discovers a very special playhouse in the backyard.
I think that this is the best so far in the Dark Screams series. You can't go wrong with Kealan and Bentley - ever, and I found three new authors to check out today.
Random House/Hydra gave me an electronic copy so that I could read and review this book. They plan to publish DS5 in October 2015.
Sandwiched between your heavy hitters Kealan Patrick Burke and Bentley Little, we have the yummy fillings to try out, so let's talk.
Mick Garris brought us EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED. This story took up just over half the kindle space, it was quite a long short story. He was very descriptive, something I always appreciate. I did wonder what it was all for, but , trust me when the horror comes, it comes on strong. Even if I did giggle. Sorry. It was horrifying and I'm really glad it happened to this guy.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan (y'all know KPB, right? good.) This guy is married to a woman who is mute. And before I reveal too much, please remember that it the words between the lines that matter here...
Del James wrote MECHANICAL GRATITUDE. This starts out as a story about a guy and his '68 Camaro. Turns into good murder/horror story.
About this time I'm noticing a 'guy' pattern. Ok, let's continue.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J Kenner is a story about a group of guys (yeah!) on the loose in New Orleans after one is rejected by his girlfriend. They go to a fortuneteller prior to hitting a bar and the rejected one hears and sees something interesting...
Batting clean-up with THE PLAYHOUSE is Bentley Little. This not nearly long enough vignette told of a Realtor who while checking out a new listing discovers a very special playhouse in the backyard.
I think that this is the best so far in the Dark Screams series. You can't go wrong with Kealan and Bentley - ever, and I found three new authors to check out today.
Random House/Hydra gave me an electronic copy so that I could read and review this book. They plan to publish DS5 in October 2015.
September 11, 2015
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Out of the five stories in this book, the only ones that appealed to me were the last two. I was really hoping for some good old fashioned scary stories, and I found what I was looking for the most in J. Kenner's The One and Only.
Imagine my surprise when I saw J. Kenner's name on the author list of those who contributed to this book. I have read her steamy romances before, but never anything having to do with the paranormal, and since her story was, by far, my favorite one...I'm thinking she ought to pen some more supernatural-related tales.
Kenner's story took place in one of my favorite cities for a book setting, New Orleans. There was some name dropping going on, as in Marie Laveau, the Voodoo queen. With a little bit of Bourbon Street and St. Louis cemetery, you have a wonderful short story just in time for Halloween.
I also liked Bentley Little's The Playhouse. I could just see this one being introduced by the Cryptkeeper on Tales from the Crypt. I was quite the speed reader when it came to this story because I was so fascinated by it. Until the end, that is. Oh, I was still fascinated, but he left the story on a major cliffhanger, and the bad part about it is, there is no continuation of the story so that the situation can be remedied! So thank you, Mr. Little, for trying to inspire some creativity by leaving me to use my imagination to finish the story, but I would have much rather seen it through your eyes!
Still, I would recommend this book, even if you only read the last two stories. However, just because the first three were not my cup of tea, doesn't mean they won't be yours. So, go ahead, give it a try!
Out of the five stories in this book, the only ones that appealed to me were the last two. I was really hoping for some good old fashioned scary stories, and I found what I was looking for the most in J. Kenner's The One and Only.
Imagine my surprise when I saw J. Kenner's name on the author list of those who contributed to this book. I have read her steamy romances before, but never anything having to do with the paranormal, and since her story was, by far, my favorite one...I'm thinking she ought to pen some more supernatural-related tales.
Kenner's story took place in one of my favorite cities for a book setting, New Orleans. There was some name dropping going on, as in Marie Laveau, the Voodoo queen. With a little bit of Bourbon Street and St. Louis cemetery, you have a wonderful short story just in time for Halloween.
I also liked Bentley Little's The Playhouse. I could just see this one being introduced by the Cryptkeeper on Tales from the Crypt. I was quite the speed reader when it came to this story because I was so fascinated by it. Until the end, that is. Oh, I was still fascinated, but he left the story on a major cliffhanger, and the bad part about it is, there is no continuation of the story so that the situation can be remedied! So thank you, Mr. Little, for trying to inspire some creativity by leaving me to use my imagination to finish the story, but I would have much rather seen it through your eyes!
Still, I would recommend this book, even if you only read the last two stories. However, just because the first three were not my cup of tea, doesn't mean they won't be yours. So, go ahead, give it a try!
February 17, 2016
Another home run for lovers of short stories involving the odd, the unusual, and a bit of the dark side. Great authors with great imaginations make this a fun, fast read that will take you places you didn't know existed.
Looking forward to the next volumn!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
October 15, 2015
DARK SCREAMS: VOLUME FIVE is a novella length collection of horrific stories with the unified themes of love, loss, and pain by some of the most talented authors in horror, some of them new to me and some of them pretty much household brand names.
Following are the synopses of each story followed by my thoughts. The synopses are taken from the Amazon product page:
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris
It was supposed to be the night of his life: a celebration of his one hit slasher flick. But the price of admission is higher than this has-been filmmaker ever could have imagined.
~ This is a creepy little piece of body horror that left certain parts of my anatomy itching with empathy. It's a fun, enjoyable story by a talented author and--though I felt like it could have gained some impact had it been shorter--it's still a good read and worthy of your time.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner
When he was seven, Will Underwood’s nanny told him she had the Sight. Years later, a broken heart sends him to New Orleans . . . but it’s fate that leads him to Madame Darkling’s Voodoo Emporium.
~ J. Kenner is one of the pen names used by the versatile and skilled author Julie Kenner. THE ONE AND ONLY is the first short story I've read by Kenner, but it certainly won't be the last. One of the shorter stories in the book, it's also one of my favorites, containing beautifully scripted prose and a horrific shocker of an ending.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke
Although she was mute long before the affair that nearly wrecked their marriage, her silence has tortured her husband ever since. Now he will seek out what he has lost—or be driven mad by remorse.
~ Kealan Patrick Burke is one of the best authors working today and one of my favorites. THE LAND OF SUNSHINE showcases Kealan's ability to reel you in with moody, surreal descriptions and a sense of impending disaster around every corner. It's a heart-breaker of a story and my favorite of the collection
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James
Arnold loves his ’68 Camaro almost as much as he loves his wife, and he’s willing to do anything to protect them both—especially after hearing strange noises coming from his garage.
~To me, this is the least horrific story of the collection, fitting better into the category of dark, speculative fiction. It's a quirky little story about a couple's love for each other and their car and the lengths they'll go to protect it. The story has a delightful twist of an ending and is a welcome and worthy entry in this collection.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little
A real-estate agent is drawn into a children’s playhouse behind an abandoned property she’s trying to sell—and finds herself strangely reluctant to leave.
~ The story of a playhouse on a foreclosed property and the realtor who is strangely attracted to it. This is a creepy tale stamped with Bentley's trademark ability to take something mundane and make it terrifying. Little is a legend in the field of horror and THE PLAYHOUSE demonstrates why. One of my three favorites in the book.
As with the other entries in the DARK SCREAMS series of books, this fifth volume a top notch collection of delightful terrors. A perfect read for the Halloween season.
Following are the synopses of each story followed by my thoughts. The synopses are taken from the Amazon product page:
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED by Mick Garris
It was supposed to be the night of his life: a celebration of his one hit slasher flick. But the price of admission is higher than this has-been filmmaker ever could have imagined.
~ This is a creepy little piece of body horror that left certain parts of my anatomy itching with empathy. It's a fun, enjoyable story by a talented author and--though I felt like it could have gained some impact had it been shorter--it's still a good read and worthy of your time.
THE ONE AND ONLY by J. Kenner
When he was seven, Will Underwood’s nanny told him she had the Sight. Years later, a broken heart sends him to New Orleans . . . but it’s fate that leads him to Madame Darkling’s Voodoo Emporium.
~ J. Kenner is one of the pen names used by the versatile and skilled author Julie Kenner. THE ONE AND ONLY is the first short story I've read by Kenner, but it certainly won't be the last. One of the shorter stories in the book, it's also one of my favorites, containing beautifully scripted prose and a horrific shocker of an ending.
THE LAND OF SUNSHINE by Kealan Patrick Burke
Although she was mute long before the affair that nearly wrecked their marriage, her silence has tortured her husband ever since. Now he will seek out what he has lost—or be driven mad by remorse.
~ Kealan Patrick Burke is one of the best authors working today and one of my favorites. THE LAND OF SUNSHINE showcases Kealan's ability to reel you in with moody, surreal descriptions and a sense of impending disaster around every corner. It's a heart-breaker of a story and my favorite of the collection
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE by Del James
Arnold loves his ’68 Camaro almost as much as he loves his wife, and he’s willing to do anything to protect them both—especially after hearing strange noises coming from his garage.
~To me, this is the least horrific story of the collection, fitting better into the category of dark, speculative fiction. It's a quirky little story about a couple's love for each other and their car and the lengths they'll go to protect it. The story has a delightful twist of an ending and is a welcome and worthy entry in this collection.
THE PLAYHOUSE by Bentley Little
A real-estate agent is drawn into a children’s playhouse behind an abandoned property she’s trying to sell—and finds herself strangely reluctant to leave.
~ The story of a playhouse on a foreclosed property and the realtor who is strangely attracted to it. This is a creepy tale stamped with Bentley's trademark ability to take something mundane and make it terrifying. Little is a legend in the field of horror and THE PLAYHOUSE demonstrates why. One of my three favorites in the book.
As with the other entries in the DARK SCREAMS series of books, this fifth volume a top notch collection of delightful terrors. A perfect read for the Halloween season.
February 28, 2016
Dark Screams: Volume Five, from Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar with Mick Garris, J. Kenner, Kealan Patrick Burke, Del James, and Bentley Little bring horror to life. This is a five star anthology of stories that kept my attention.
Included in this frightening volume:
Everything You've Always Wanted by Mick Garris was a truly horrible story. He's being feted for the anniversary of the one film he made. He's in a hotel suite in Indianapolis. He showers & looks in the mirror at his naked body. "That stomach: How & when did it grow like this? It was like some kind of flesh luggage."
Later he meets the former star of a different older movie. "This creature was obviously female, as she had enormous round breasts climbing out of a scanty silk-and-sequin peekaboo gown that revealed more than anyone would want to see of her. Her arms crinkled like crepe-paper gift wrap when they bent, at odds with the smooth immobile skin of her face & breasts....She was quite monstrously sexualized in her presentation, but about as desirable as a camel in a skirt."
The One & Only by J. Kenner was a haunting tale that took place in New Orleans, a voodoo capital. "But when he looked at her--when he got lost in the hot ice of her eyes--he knew that she was right. That she was his future, his past, his present."
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke had a mute wife & a troubled husband tortured by her silence. ..."though it had never bothered him before, her muteness now more than ever seemed like an infirmity destined to compound the inevitability of their dissolution."
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James will do anything to protect his '68 Camaro & does just that. "It took corners like a shark cruising on asphalt."
The Playhouse by Bentley Little was a haunting little tale about a real estate agent who makes life changes by visiting a playhouse on a property she's listing. "Wait a minute, she thought. Mud? Lois frowned. The property had been foreclosed on close to two months ago. It was summer. The mixture of dirt & water should have long since dried out."
I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Hydra & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy of this book. It did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Screams-Fi...
Included in this frightening volume:
Everything You've Always Wanted by Mick Garris was a truly horrible story. He's being feted for the anniversary of the one film he made. He's in a hotel suite in Indianapolis. He showers & looks in the mirror at his naked body. "That stomach: How & when did it grow like this? It was like some kind of flesh luggage."
Later he meets the former star of a different older movie. "This creature was obviously female, as she had enormous round breasts climbing out of a scanty silk-and-sequin peekaboo gown that revealed more than anyone would want to see of her. Her arms crinkled like crepe-paper gift wrap when they bent, at odds with the smooth immobile skin of her face & breasts....She was quite monstrously sexualized in her presentation, but about as desirable as a camel in a skirt."
The One & Only by J. Kenner was a haunting tale that took place in New Orleans, a voodoo capital. "But when he looked at her--when he got lost in the hot ice of her eyes--he knew that she was right. That she was his future, his past, his present."
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke had a mute wife & a troubled husband tortured by her silence. ..."though it had never bothered him before, her muteness now more than ever seemed like an infirmity destined to compound the inevitability of their dissolution."
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James will do anything to protect his '68 Camaro & does just that. "It took corners like a shark cruising on asphalt."
The Playhouse by Bentley Little was a haunting little tale about a real estate agent who makes life changes by visiting a playhouse on a property she's listing. "Wait a minute, she thought. Mud? Lois frowned. The property had been foreclosed on close to two months ago. It was summer. The mixture of dirt & water should have long since dried out."
I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Hydra & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy of this book. It did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Screams-Fi...
October 11, 2015
I've read all the books in this series and found this latest offering the most disappointing. All the stories included are originals for the book, or at least the copyright doesn't say any different. The crowning glory of this series has been the inclusion of at least one (sometimes two) old reprints by classic authors such as King, Straub or Barker. This book fails to carry the scope of the previous four books by including five authors I've never heard of and not one of them stood out as must read author to me. Though the stories improved starting with the worst and saving best for last. I'm hoping the next book will return to its previous format and include a proven successful reprint as a feature story.
1. Everything You've Always Wanted by Mick Garris - Hmmm ... I'm not really sure what to make of this. It's gory, dark, very sexual. Not something that particularly entertained me but kept me reading. The climax was unexpected, a bit silly and ultimately disappointing. (2/5)
2. The Land of Sunshine by Keelan Patrick Burke - Huh? (1/5)
3. Mechanical Gratitude by Del James - A man's love for his '68 Camaro and his wife, married the same year. The story has a bit of a "Christine" feel to it, but it's the wife who does the ultimate deed to protect man and car. Pretty good until the weird ending which kind of ruined it for me. (3/5)
4. The One and Only by J. Kenner - A creepy little ghost story. Southern gothic with just a touch of voodoo to add to the atmosphere. By far the best story in the book. (4/5)
5. The Playhouse by Bentley Little - A wonderful story to end the collection with, I found this even better than the last. A disturbing tale which never really lets you in on the secret. Is the playhouse haunted? Have the inhabitants died? Entered another dimension? The strange events keep you guessing, but one fact is clear, a couple of real estate agents are playing with (or being played by) time itself. Spooky. (5/5)
1. Everything You've Always Wanted by Mick Garris - Hmmm ... I'm not really sure what to make of this. It's gory, dark, very sexual. Not something that particularly entertained me but kept me reading. The climax was unexpected, a bit silly and ultimately disappointing. (2/5)
2. The Land of Sunshine by Keelan Patrick Burke - Huh? (1/5)
3. Mechanical Gratitude by Del James - A man's love for his '68 Camaro and his wife, married the same year. The story has a bit of a "Christine" feel to it, but it's the wife who does the ultimate deed to protect man and car. Pretty good until the weird ending which kind of ruined it for me. (3/5)
4. The One and Only by J. Kenner - A creepy little ghost story. Southern gothic with just a touch of voodoo to add to the atmosphere. By far the best story in the book. (4/5)
5. The Playhouse by Bentley Little - A wonderful story to end the collection with, I found this even better than the last. A disturbing tale which never really lets you in on the secret. Is the playhouse haunted? Have the inhabitants died? Entered another dimension? The strange events keep you guessing, but one fact is clear, a couple of real estate agents are playing with (or being played by) time itself. Spooky. (5/5)
June 21, 2015
Again kudos to the editors for collecting these tales. I also received this collection from NetGalley for review. I enjoyed the whole collection. These tales will leave you reading in one shot. Never a dull moment. Haunting ,atmospheric(which I enjoy in tales of horror and supernatural), grab you by the hairs of you neck. I would love for these tales to be bound together in a special edition anthology.On my wish list.
August 25, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
The Dark Screams book series is more like a mini-magazine than a book, but it capitalizes on the ebook buyer looking for something quick and inexpensive. This fifth volume in the series does a nice job of pumping up the horror and keeping the reader entertained.
This volume contains the following five stories:
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris. This has a sense of the classic horror story - lots of anticipation and cringing.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Patrick Burke. This is precisely what I look for in a good horror story. Beautiful language that sucks you in, with plenty of symbolism, and a horror that you can't tear away from because you recognize the longing.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James. This was my least favorite of the group. While it, too, had a sense of classic horror (fear and terror rather than violence and splatter), the draw of a hot car just has never worked for me and I feel I've read enough horror and sci-fi car stories that I just don't need any more.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner. College boys looking to get laid at the end of summer. Need I say more?
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little. This one made me pause and actually really think about what I was reading ... not something I typically expect with a short horror story. But the intricacies here really made it worth the read. I liked this one a lot.
I really like this series because it offers just enough to make you feel as though you got your money's worth, but even if you don't like two of the stories, it doesn't feel like a waste. The series also ends to put a classic, better-known author in each volume along with some relative new-comers, and I like the opportunity to discover a 'new' writer. In this particular volume, while I recognize the name of Bentley Little, I can't say that I've ever read anything by him or any of the other authors here, so this was a complete surprise for me, and one which I enjoyed.
Looking for a good book? Dark Screams Volume 5 is a terrific, thin volume of five horror stories that should appeal to fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
The Dark Screams book series is more like a mini-magazine than a book, but it capitalizes on the ebook buyer looking for something quick and inexpensive. This fifth volume in the series does a nice job of pumping up the horror and keeping the reader entertained.
This volume contains the following five stories:
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris. This has a sense of the classic horror story - lots of anticipation and cringing.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Patrick Burke. This is precisely what I look for in a good horror story. Beautiful language that sucks you in, with plenty of symbolism, and a horror that you can't tear away from because you recognize the longing.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James. This was my least favorite of the group. While it, too, had a sense of classic horror (fear and terror rather than violence and splatter), the draw of a hot car just has never worked for me and I feel I've read enough horror and sci-fi car stories that I just don't need any more.
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner. College boys looking to get laid at the end of summer. Need I say more?
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little. This one made me pause and actually really think about what I was reading ... not something I typically expect with a short horror story. But the intricacies here really made it worth the read. I liked this one a lot.
I really like this series because it offers just enough to make you feel as though you got your money's worth, but even if you don't like two of the stories, it doesn't feel like a waste. The series also ends to put a classic, better-known author in each volume along with some relative new-comers, and I like the opportunity to discover a 'new' writer. In this particular volume, while I recognize the name of Bentley Little, I can't say that I've ever read anything by him or any of the other authors here, so this was a complete surprise for me, and one which I enjoyed.
Looking for a good book? Dark Screams Volume 5 is a terrific, thin volume of five horror stories that should appeal to fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2019
Everything You've Always Wanted by Mick Garris
The first story made me chuckle a few times. Talking about his crotch all the time is something I am not used to from most Americans and to be honest after a while it became amusing and I loved the story.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke A Very familiar name.I think I've read other short stories written by him.
This story however was just not for me. I just did not get into it at all. Vague.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
This is a typical standard horror short story in my opinion. Short and good. Not great but good and he has written better ones.
The One and Only by J Kenner
I liked this one. It felt that it was not as short as some. I am getting tired and can't find words to describe except good, not good, nice and blablabla.
But it was good.
The Playhouse by Bentley Little Yes another intriguing story so all in all I did not like 1 story. 4 out of 5 then!
The first story made me chuckle a few times. Talking about his crotch all the time is something I am not used to from most Americans and to be honest after a while it became amusing and I loved the story.
The Land of Sunshine by Kealan Patrick Burke A Very familiar name.I think I've read other short stories written by him.
This story however was just not for me. I just did not get into it at all. Vague.
Mechanical Gratitude by Del James
This is a typical standard horror short story in my opinion. Short and good. Not great but good and he has written better ones.
The One and Only by J Kenner
I liked this one. It felt that it was not as short as some. I am getting tired and can't find words to describe except good, not good, nice and blablabla.
But it was good.
The Playhouse by Bentley Little Yes another intriguing story so all in all I did not like 1 story. 4 out of 5 then!
September 6, 2021
Five tales make up this collection. I really enjoyed Mick Farris' story. There was lot of humor and reveals from inside the business. Bentley Little never fails to disappoint, another effectively creepy tale. The other 3 were enjoyable but not memorable. Recommended.
August 4, 2017
Kinda weird, kinda creepy, I needed more of the last story in the book!
December 24, 2017
Only one story in this mess was even remotely good.
May 1, 2019
Everything You’ve Always Wanted - Mick Garris - 3.5*
The Land of Sunshine - Kealan Patrick Burke - 3*
Mechanical Gratitude - Del James - 2*
The One and Only - J. Kenner - 2*
The Playhouse - Bentley Little - 3*
The Land of Sunshine - Kealan Patrick Burke - 3*
Mechanical Gratitude - Del James - 2*
The One and Only - J. Kenner - 2*
The Playhouse - Bentley Little - 3*
April 17, 2020
All the shorts in this volume were weird in their own way & just enough good to make one keep reading.
January 30, 2021
This collection was hit and miss for me. I picked this one up since one of the stories was written by one of my favorites Kealan Patrick Burke and his story was probably my favorite.
June 10, 2025
1.5 ⭐️
October 6, 2015
Creepy material. DARK SCREAMS: VOLUME FIVE, really freaked me out. The
stories were so surreal, that just reading them, was enough to give me nightmares. The more I read, and as the evening twilight began to creep in like a thick fog, even though I couldn’t put the book down, and the images from each story stayed with me like words, with movement, stuck in a book, I kept reading. Different things scare different people. What might scare one person, may not scare another. It’s the way you look at things. Certain images may not appear the same to
everyone. Some look for the logic, while others may not see that image the same way. It might appear more scary. It isn’t the sneak upon you, “BOO” type of thing, but the mind may be playing a trick on you and make you wonder about that image, whether it could be real or not. These are the type of stories that make you think and wonder.
Take for instance, story one, EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED, by
Mick Garris didn’t seem so scary at first, but as Jack began to get everything he always wanted, suddenly things began to change. The dark shadows came into the picture, and that was when the story turned into unfavorable gloom for him. Will Jack make it out uninjured?
Our next story, THE LAND OF SUNSHINE, by Kealan Patrick Burke will make
you think twice about what you might lose and try every way in the world to get it back. Was it guilt that led this forlorn person to try and detect what he had lost, or had something sinister sneaked into his life and stole something sacred from him? Had something gone awry in his marriage? He had to go exploring and identify that missing object so dear to him. Was it in the land of sunshine, or in the land of dark and gloom? He had to find out. He walked into the black reaches of the night. Was he in the real world, or had he walked through an unseen door into a scary dismal domain? Will he make it back out alive, or had he been dealt the shadowy hand of death?
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE, by Del James is a little different when it comes to
scary. Arnold Rinaldi loved his car. This tall, well built, blue-eyed Californian didn’t want anyone to touch or drive his car. To him, it would be like someone touching his wife, and he wanted to be the only one behind the wheel. Well, something happened one night that would change all that. Who or what came for his car? Will this cause Arnold’s luck to change, or will Arnold be caught up in his own trap, through love?
THE ONE AND ONLY, by J. Kinner, a remarkable author, will grab you by the
boot-heal and not let go. This nightmarish tale of horror concerns Will Underwood, and his childhood baby-sitter, Aimee Dufresne. Will Underwood was not satisfied with what he had. He wanted the taste of the good life. But will he have to pay the consequences for what he was about to do? Even though Aimee had warned him over and over again, the darkness beckoned him to New Orleans. Will he go and seek this darkness, or heed Aimee’s warning? He did not believe her as a child, why would he believe her now?
THE PLAYHOUSE, by Bentley Little, a wonderful horror author, will leave you wondering, why did this happen? A foreclosure on a house, and Lois was there to make sure that she got the best photos to bring the house up to market
standards. While there Lois happened upon a playhouse out back, so she casually walked inside. Suddenly a strange feeling came over her. She left, fast. Something strange is going on with that playhouse, and Lois is about to find out what it is. Will she be able to walk away a second time? Five deliciously scary stories.
stories were so surreal, that just reading them, was enough to give me nightmares. The more I read, and as the evening twilight began to creep in like a thick fog, even though I couldn’t put the book down, and the images from each story stayed with me like words, with movement, stuck in a book, I kept reading. Different things scare different people. What might scare one person, may not scare another. It’s the way you look at things. Certain images may not appear the same to
everyone. Some look for the logic, while others may not see that image the same way. It might appear more scary. It isn’t the sneak upon you, “BOO” type of thing, but the mind may be playing a trick on you and make you wonder about that image, whether it could be real or not. These are the type of stories that make you think and wonder.
Take for instance, story one, EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED, by
Mick Garris didn’t seem so scary at first, but as Jack began to get everything he always wanted, suddenly things began to change. The dark shadows came into the picture, and that was when the story turned into unfavorable gloom for him. Will Jack make it out uninjured?
Our next story, THE LAND OF SUNSHINE, by Kealan Patrick Burke will make
you think twice about what you might lose and try every way in the world to get it back. Was it guilt that led this forlorn person to try and detect what he had lost, or had something sinister sneaked into his life and stole something sacred from him? Had something gone awry in his marriage? He had to go exploring and identify that missing object so dear to him. Was it in the land of sunshine, or in the land of dark and gloom? He had to find out. He walked into the black reaches of the night. Was he in the real world, or had he walked through an unseen door into a scary dismal domain? Will he make it back out alive, or had he been dealt the shadowy hand of death?
MECHANICAL GRATITUDE, by Del James is a little different when it comes to
scary. Arnold Rinaldi loved his car. This tall, well built, blue-eyed Californian didn’t want anyone to touch or drive his car. To him, it would be like someone touching his wife, and he wanted to be the only one behind the wheel. Well, something happened one night that would change all that. Who or what came for his car? Will this cause Arnold’s luck to change, or will Arnold be caught up in his own trap, through love?
THE ONE AND ONLY, by J. Kinner, a remarkable author, will grab you by the
boot-heal and not let go. This nightmarish tale of horror concerns Will Underwood, and his childhood baby-sitter, Aimee Dufresne. Will Underwood was not satisfied with what he had. He wanted the taste of the good life. But will he have to pay the consequences for what he was about to do? Even though Aimee had warned him over and over again, the darkness beckoned him to New Orleans. Will he go and seek this darkness, or heed Aimee’s warning? He did not believe her as a child, why would he believe her now?
THE PLAYHOUSE, by Bentley Little, a wonderful horror author, will leave you wondering, why did this happen? A foreclosure on a house, and Lois was there to make sure that she got the best photos to bring the house up to market
standards. While there Lois happened upon a playhouse out back, so she casually walked inside. Suddenly a strange feeling came over her. She left, fast. Something strange is going on with that playhouse, and Lois is about to find out what it is. Will she be able to walk away a second time? Five deliciously scary stories.
June 24, 2015
I was given a free download of the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. See my reviews for Volumes 1 - 4 also on this sight. This is the fifth of five volumes published by Cemetery Dance in this series. Like the others, it contains five stories by five authors. My review is as follows:
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris. I have mixed feelings about this story, as I do not get into graphic descriptions of sex, which this story contains. That being said, the story is a good read, which is perfect since it takes up nearly 50 percent of the entire volume. Jack Tarrington is a one-hit-wonder director, having had success with his horror film "Taxed" 25 years earlier. While attending a MonsterThon convention in Indianapolis (and reliving past glories as guest of honor) he meets a sultry stranger who turns his life into something out of a horror film. The characters, setting, and plot are great, I could just do without all the sex. But that is a personal preference, and it is important to the plot.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Kealan Patrick Burke. After leaving his bed for a late night walk, the narrator is denied entry to his favorite bar, even though he can see figures inside it. During the course of his wanderings, he reflects on his marriage, and sees references to the land of sunshine. Really a hard story to write about as (to me) it almost seemed stream-of-consciousness. The best way for me to judge anything I read is by how I feel when I am done. I am pleased to say it left me satisfied.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James is actually a softer story for this author. If you were lucky enough to read his collection "The Language of Fear" then you know he pulls no punches. This story tells of a man's love for his car and his wife, his wife's love for him, and the secret they share. I loved the character development as the story progressed, and Del James does a great job in a short story of putting us into this couple's relationship. And, as with some of my favorite short fiction, the last line is a true winner!
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner tells of Will Underwood and his trip to New Orleans to get over a bad breakup. On the streets, he repeatedly views an intriguing woman, but also ghostly figures. When they finally meet, he is confused to find she knows his name. As he follows her further, he comes to realize just who she is, and what this encounter means to his future.
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little is my favorite in the collection. I have previously read novels by him, and was surprised to find this story to be quite toned for him, much as my experience with Del James's contribution. Realtor Lois finds a dilapidated playhouse in the backyard of a house she is listing, and begins experiencing losses of time after entering it. Even as problems arise from these losses, she feels drawn back to the playhouse. The atmosphere of this story is perfect for a Twilight Zone episode, which is high praise at that is my favorite series of all time. Without going "over the top" as he does in most of his novels, Bentley Little has created a great ending to the final volume of the Dark Screams series.
I enjoyed every volume in this series. Not all the stories are equally great, but the overall scope and tone of the 25 stories comprising the five volumes is very in tune with what I expect from Cemetery Dance Publications, and I leave the last book entirely satisfied and loving each volume.
"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris. I have mixed feelings about this story, as I do not get into graphic descriptions of sex, which this story contains. That being said, the story is a good read, which is perfect since it takes up nearly 50 percent of the entire volume. Jack Tarrington is a one-hit-wonder director, having had success with his horror film "Taxed" 25 years earlier. While attending a MonsterThon convention in Indianapolis (and reliving past glories as guest of honor) he meets a sultry stranger who turns his life into something out of a horror film. The characters, setting, and plot are great, I could just do without all the sex. But that is a personal preference, and it is important to the plot.
"The Land of Sunshine" by Kealan Patrick Burke. After leaving his bed for a late night walk, the narrator is denied entry to his favorite bar, even though he can see figures inside it. During the course of his wanderings, he reflects on his marriage, and sees references to the land of sunshine. Really a hard story to write about as (to me) it almost seemed stream-of-consciousness. The best way for me to judge anything I read is by how I feel when I am done. I am pleased to say it left me satisfied.
"Mechanical Gratitude" by Del James is actually a softer story for this author. If you were lucky enough to read his collection "The Language of Fear" then you know he pulls no punches. This story tells of a man's love for his car and his wife, his wife's love for him, and the secret they share. I loved the character development as the story progressed, and Del James does a great job in a short story of putting us into this couple's relationship. And, as with some of my favorite short fiction, the last line is a true winner!
"The One and Only" by J. Kenner tells of Will Underwood and his trip to New Orleans to get over a bad breakup. On the streets, he repeatedly views an intriguing woman, but also ghostly figures. When they finally meet, he is confused to find she knows his name. As he follows her further, he comes to realize just who she is, and what this encounter means to his future.
"The Playhouse" by Bentley Little is my favorite in the collection. I have previously read novels by him, and was surprised to find this story to be quite toned for him, much as my experience with Del James's contribution. Realtor Lois finds a dilapidated playhouse in the backyard of a house she is listing, and begins experiencing losses of time after entering it. Even as problems arise from these losses, she feels drawn back to the playhouse. The atmosphere of this story is perfect for a Twilight Zone episode, which is high praise at that is my favorite series of all time. Without going "over the top" as he does in most of his novels, Bentley Little has created a great ending to the final volume of the Dark Screams series.
I enjoyed every volume in this series. Not all the stories are equally great, but the overall scope and tone of the 25 stories comprising the five volumes is very in tune with what I expect from Cemetery Dance Publications, and I leave the last book entirely satisfied and loving each volume.
October 6, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
Each story was different in its own way so I think everyone may enjoy either all five stories or maybe just one or two.
Everything you've always wanted: This was a bit longer than the other stories in this book, and it had a good vibe to it. You have a filmmaker who it made it big with his homemade film, which then made it to the big screen. After a while things died down, but when he is invited to a convention he finds that he has a crowd who loves his movie. But then one night while there he gets more than he bargained for. I can say this book was a bit freaky and weird, I felt kind of bad for Jack and his nether regions. I gave this book a 4 for the creativity within the story.
The One and Only: I love anything to do with New Orleans why I have no clue especially since I have never been there. I think with all the voodoo surrounding the city it just makes it magical. This is a ghost story is what I gather. You have Will who growing up had a nanny who had the 'sight'. She always told him he would end up in New Orleans though he didn't believe her he didn't realize he really would but not in the way he predicate. I enjoyed this story so it gets a 4 wine glass rating.
The Land of Sunshine: I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. You have a wife who has gone silent and the husband is searching for something for himself and to get his wife back. It seemed like it was suppose to be a dark book by the description towards the end. "At some point in the night, his wife's fingers found the edges of the gaping cavity in his chest." I didn't really get that feel. So this was a 2 rating as I just liked that description.
Mechanical Gratitude: When I started reading this book I starting thinking of the movie Christine you know where the car kills, but this was so not like that movie. Arnold loves his car and his wife more than anything. When someone breaks into their garage to take the car for a spin the victim gets more than he bargains for, Arnold and his wife harbor a secret that no one will ever know about, but when Arnold dies what happens to his car and his wife? The reason I word that way as I was expecting something way different then the ending I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
The PlayHouse: I don't even know where to start on this one. It seemed to take off pretty good, you have this realtor who is going to make sure a house is ready to sell. But when she notices the backyard and a playhouse in the back she isn't too happy that the landscapers didn't finish the job. What happens when she enters this playhouse though? It seems that she loses track of time but not in a good way. I saw this story having potential and even though it was short I wanted more backstory on this playhouse. Was she the first victim? Why in the heck was her husband not too concern for her? I gave this story a 4 rating.
Each story was different in its own way so I think everyone may enjoy either all five stories or maybe just one or two.
Everything you've always wanted: This was a bit longer than the other stories in this book, and it had a good vibe to it. You have a filmmaker who it made it big with his homemade film, which then made it to the big screen. After a while things died down, but when he is invited to a convention he finds that he has a crowd who loves his movie. But then one night while there he gets more than he bargained for. I can say this book was a bit freaky and weird, I felt kind of bad for Jack and his nether regions. I gave this book a 4 for the creativity within the story.
The One and Only: I love anything to do with New Orleans why I have no clue especially since I have never been there. I think with all the voodoo surrounding the city it just makes it magical. This is a ghost story is what I gather. You have Will who growing up had a nanny who had the 'sight'. She always told him he would end up in New Orleans though he didn't believe her he didn't realize he really would but not in the way he predicate. I enjoyed this story so it gets a 4 wine glass rating.
The Land of Sunshine: I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. You have a wife who has gone silent and the husband is searching for something for himself and to get his wife back. It seemed like it was suppose to be a dark book by the description towards the end. "At some point in the night, his wife's fingers found the edges of the gaping cavity in his chest." I didn't really get that feel. So this was a 2 rating as I just liked that description.
Mechanical Gratitude: When I started reading this book I starting thinking of the movie Christine you know where the car kills, but this was so not like that movie. Arnold loves his car and his wife more than anything. When someone breaks into their garage to take the car for a spin the victim gets more than he bargains for, Arnold and his wife harbor a secret that no one will ever know about, but when Arnold dies what happens to his car and his wife? The reason I word that way as I was expecting something way different then the ending I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
The PlayHouse: I don't even know where to start on this one. It seemed to take off pretty good, you have this realtor who is going to make sure a house is ready to sell. But when she notices the backyard and a playhouse in the back she isn't too happy that the landscapers didn't finish the job. What happens when she enters this playhouse though? It seems that she loses track of time but not in a good way. I saw this story having potential and even though it was short I wanted more backstory on this playhouse. Was she the first victim? Why in the heck was her husband not too concern for her? I gave this story a 4 rating.
November 9, 2015
Editors Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar do a great job of bringing talented authors together, and offering up anthologies that are truly worth reading. Generally speaking, I am not a fan of the short story form. This is the fifth DARK SCREAMS book packed with well written, unique tales in the horror genre. That's another thing that bugs me. Fiction gets separated into the various genres purportedly to make it easier for people to find the literature they like to read. It is unfortunate that folks run screaming from the horror genre and thus never get to read the fine prose written by these folks.
Everything You’ve Always Wanted By Mick Garris
==============================================
Mick Garris is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and writer in the horror genre that has been recognized in the field several times. In "Everything You've Always Wanted," he explores the psyche of a filmmaker with one real success in his low-budget indie film, and a second not-so-successful second studio backed endeavor.
Jack Tarrington is guest of honor at a horror convention in Indianapolis. It is the 25th anniversary of his one success. He has been living off that success for a long time. Now he is being recognized, given accolades by his fans. He gets to bask in the limelight of this adulation but does he really want it all?
This is an excellent study in human nature with a perfect depiction of the serious FanCon.
The Land Of Sunshine By Kealan Patrick Burke
============================================
Folks out there that "don't read horror" are missing out on some beautiful writing. Sometimes I just want to stick a piece in front of them without letting them see the title or the author and then telling them to just read. Genre fiction bias robs the masses who consume only mainstream, New York Times Best Seller List books of some of the richest experiences literature has to offer.
Mechanical Gratitude By Del James
=================================
Here we have a fast paced overview of a pretty lucky, if otherwise ordinary life. Then there is the car, described in terms that any American will appreciate. You know the old saying... 'take care of your car and it will take care of you.'
The One and Only By J. Kenner
=============================
New Orleans is one of my favorite places, and I've only been there once for a long weekend. I am drawn to anything written with New Orleans as its setting. Imagine that New Orleans is your life's destination. You have no choice but to go to the city of the Cafe du Monde, Jackson Square, and Saint Louis Cemetery. Is it Voodoo magic, fate or a combination of the two?
The Playhouse By Bentley Little
===============================
What is your first thought when reading the title of this tale? The theater where the local amateur drama society puts on a show every year might come to mind. That's where I went and found myself wondering just when the 'playhouse' was going to make its appearance. Silly me!
Everything You’ve Always Wanted By Mick Garris
==============================================
Mick Garris is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and writer in the horror genre that has been recognized in the field several times. In "Everything You've Always Wanted," he explores the psyche of a filmmaker with one real success in his low-budget indie film, and a second not-so-successful second studio backed endeavor.
Jack Tarrington is guest of honor at a horror convention in Indianapolis. It is the 25th anniversary of his one success. He has been living off that success for a long time. Now he is being recognized, given accolades by his fans. He gets to bask in the limelight of this adulation but does he really want it all?
This is an excellent study in human nature with a perfect depiction of the serious FanCon.
The Land Of Sunshine By Kealan Patrick Burke
============================================
Folks out there that "don't read horror" are missing out on some beautiful writing. Sometimes I just want to stick a piece in front of them without letting them see the title or the author and then telling them to just read. Genre fiction bias robs the masses who consume only mainstream, New York Times Best Seller List books of some of the richest experiences literature has to offer.
Mechanical Gratitude By Del James
=================================
Here we have a fast paced overview of a pretty lucky, if otherwise ordinary life. Then there is the car, described in terms that any American will appreciate. You know the old saying... 'take care of your car and it will take care of you.'
The One and Only By J. Kenner
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New Orleans is one of my favorite places, and I've only been there once for a long weekend. I am drawn to anything written with New Orleans as its setting. Imagine that New Orleans is your life's destination. You have no choice but to go to the city of the Cafe du Monde, Jackson Square, and Saint Louis Cemetery. Is it Voodoo magic, fate or a combination of the two?
The Playhouse By Bentley Little
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What is your first thought when reading the title of this tale? The theater where the local amateur drama society puts on a show every year might come to mind. That's where I went and found myself wondering just when the 'playhouse' was going to make its appearance. Silly me!
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