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Haunted: Dark Delicacies III
In this third distinguished collection of twenty-one superb, sublimely dark tales written especially for this volume, today's acknowledged masters of horror fiction offer readers a truly twisted taste of terror.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 4, 2018
I started these short stories years ago. I’m not really sure why I put it down, although the story I was halfway through reading wasn’t the greatest so it may have put me off. I enjoy this series as I have never seen them duplicate a story like some of the other books do in their short story novels. The range of ideas on the theme of “haunted” was great - ghosts, the undead - is varied enough to remain entertaining.
Read
October 22, 2019I thought this would be a good read for October, but many of the stories just aren’t that good, and none of them are particularly creepy or scary. I only scanned the last third, so I’ll call this a DNF.
October 5, 2009
Dark Delicacies III: Haunted is a hard book for me to review. It was very well done technically, but I did not enjoy as many of the stories as I hoped I would. Fundamentally, this is because I don't really care for type of horror showcased in a good number of these stories. In fact, I felt a mild sense of frustration as I read these stories, digging deep to find how the concept of 'haunted' applied to some of the tales. I think that afterword by Mr. Howison probably should have been at the beginning of this book. In this afterward, called "One Last Bother," Mr. Howison goes into the rational for choosing the stories in Haunted. He implies that meaning for haunted as applied to this stories is the concept of an event staying on your mind, or memories or visions coming back to 'seek vengeance.' In light of this interpretation, I supposed I can give some slack and accept that this could apply loosely to some of the stories.
My lack of enjoyment relates to the fact that many of the commonly used tropes of modern horror do not appeal to me. In fact some of these stories hit my two of my top three no-no's when it comes to horror: 1)serial killer aka human monsters, and 2)cannibalism. I liked to formally add 'body horror' to that list. I really dislike stories with mutilation of the body, whether it's self-inflicted or done by someone else. I can't even say which is worse for me.
I dislike stories about psychopathic killers wreaking havoc on their victims. Yes, this is horror. However, it's not the kind of horror I prefer. I also don't care for stories with mentally ill people performing horrible acts on their person. This is a type of 'body horror,' which gives me the creeps. And last but not least, cannibalism is one of the aspects of horror guaranteed to make me more disgusted than afraid.
There were some very creative stories in this volume, in fact, most of the stories were well-written and creative. But few of them were enjoyable to read. You may ask how one can enjoy reading horror. Well I enjoy getting a thrill, the suspense of wondering what is going to happen next. Holding my breath and hoping that the hero makes it out alive. Reading about supernatural occurences that take me outside of my everyday norm. That is great fun for me. The above. Not Fun!
So these are the stories I liked (without giving too much away):
Mist on the Bayou by Heather Graham
--Great story, although there were some pacing issues.
A Haunting by John Connolly
--Not scary, just sad. But beautiful.
A Nasty Way to Go by Ardath Mayhar
--A traditional ghost story, just the way I like them.
The Flinch by Michael Boatman
--Insanely entertaining and horrific at the same time. I want to read more of his stories.
Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance by Del James
--Very interesting look at a woman being stalked
The Wandering Unholy by Victor Salva
--Just deserts comes to mind.
Man with a Canvas Bag by Gary A. Braunbeck
--Very sad, but compelling twist on a ghost story
The Architecture of Snow by David Morrell
--Takes a while for the resolution, but a must read for those who are interested in publishing and the literary fiction world.
The other stories weren't to my taste or I didn't like the way things unfolded. Be warned because some of these stories are quite disturbing. Not to the degree that I skipped parts, but not for a sensitive reader.
I can't say I wasted my money. The fact that I finished this volume in about 48 hours speaks for itself. The writers are all very talented and do know horror. Unfortunately some of them pushed my unhappy horror buttons, so I guess it's more me than them. So if you don't have as stringent tastes for your horror, I imagine you will have a lot of fun with these stories.
My lack of enjoyment relates to the fact that many of the commonly used tropes of modern horror do not appeal to me. In fact some of these stories hit my two of my top three no-no's when it comes to horror: 1)serial killer aka human monsters, and 2)cannibalism. I liked to formally add 'body horror' to that list. I really dislike stories with mutilation of the body, whether it's self-inflicted or done by someone else. I can't even say which is worse for me.
I dislike stories about psychopathic killers wreaking havoc on their victims. Yes, this is horror. However, it's not the kind of horror I prefer. I also don't care for stories with mentally ill people performing horrible acts on their person. This is a type of 'body horror,' which gives me the creeps. And last but not least, cannibalism is one of the aspects of horror guaranteed to make me more disgusted than afraid.
There were some very creative stories in this volume, in fact, most of the stories were well-written and creative. But few of them were enjoyable to read. You may ask how one can enjoy reading horror. Well I enjoy getting a thrill, the suspense of wondering what is going to happen next. Holding my breath and hoping that the hero makes it out alive. Reading about supernatural occurences that take me outside of my everyday norm. That is great fun for me. The above. Not Fun!
So these are the stories I liked (without giving too much away):
Mist on the Bayou by Heather Graham
--Great story, although there were some pacing issues.
A Haunting by John Connolly
--Not scary, just sad. But beautiful.
A Nasty Way to Go by Ardath Mayhar
--A traditional ghost story, just the way I like them.
The Flinch by Michael Boatman
--Insanely entertaining and horrific at the same time. I want to read more of his stories.
Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance by Del James
--Very interesting look at a woman being stalked
The Wandering Unholy by Victor Salva
--Just deserts comes to mind.
Man with a Canvas Bag by Gary A. Braunbeck
--Very sad, but compelling twist on a ghost story
The Architecture of Snow by David Morrell
--Takes a while for the resolution, but a must read for those who are interested in publishing and the literary fiction world.
The other stories weren't to my taste or I didn't like the way things unfolded. Be warned because some of these stories are quite disturbing. Not to the degree that I skipped parts, but not for a sensitive reader.
I can't say I wasted my money. The fact that I finished this volume in about 48 hours speaks for itself. The writers are all very talented and do know horror. Unfortunately some of them pushed my unhappy horror buttons, so I guess it's more me than them. So if you don't have as stringent tastes for your horror, I imagine you will have a lot of fun with these stories.
December 31, 2021
Another excellent collection of short stories. Del has compiled a nice choice of stories. While "haunted" is a generic enough theme that it could apply to many stories, it fit all these stories very nicely. Ghosts and haunted houses and memories. Things that leave an impact on a person's soul and their thoughts. The two stories that really stood out to me were the ones by Little and Braunbeck. Both for different reasons but each will haunt me. Below are my favorites from the book.
"Mist on the Bayou" by Heather Graham - A ghost helps save a girl from being murdered at a haunted house.
"A Nasty Way to Go" by Ardath Mayhar - A constable investigates the sightings of a ghost.
"A Slow Haunting" by John R. Little - A viscious tale of revenge that goes on for years. It sits in my mind long after I finished the story.
"Man with a Canvas Bag" by Gary A. Braunbeck - A sad story of ghosts and remembering and missed opportunities.
"Fetch" by Chuck Palahniuk - The story of a haunted tennis ball.
"Mist on the Bayou" by Heather Graham - A ghost helps save a girl from being murdered at a haunted house.
"A Nasty Way to Go" by Ardath Mayhar - A constable investigates the sightings of a ghost.
"A Slow Haunting" by John R. Little - A viscious tale of revenge that goes on for years. It sits in my mind long after I finished the story.
"Man with a Canvas Bag" by Gary A. Braunbeck - A sad story of ghosts and remembering and missed opportunities.
"Fetch" by Chuck Palahniuk - The story of a haunted tennis ball.
August 6, 2011
This was a delightfully horrible book! I really must get my hands on the first two volumes of "Dark Delicacies," because this one was very enjoyable. It is a book of short stories, edited by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb. It has quite a few stories in it, and I must say, I love the genre of short stories, especially of the horror variety. Some highlights...
"Children of the Vortex" by Simon Clark, features a supposedly abandoned Nazi genetic experiment. Only, it's not so abandoned, as the small group of people assigned to investigate find out. There are some extremely disturbing images in this one.
"Mist On the Bayou" by Heather Graham, feathers a unique haunted house setting, which, on this particular night, features a scene that is much more real than it was supposed to be.
"In the Mix" by Eric Red, features a rap music producer who has a very special way of making his records popular.
"How To Edit" by Richard Christian Matheson, is a brief, "instructional" essay on editing stories. By a writer who just might be a little mad. And decides that he doesn't need various body parts to be a successful writer.
"Resurrection Man" by Axelle Carolyn, features a surgeon/anatomy teacher who does not believe in the afterlife, and believes that corpses should be surrendered to him (as well as other scientists) for study, not wasted by being buried and/or cremated. As he tries to get his hands on one particular corpse, he is in for a gruesome surprise.
"A Haunting" by John Connolly, is about a couple who loved each other for many years. The wife dies and he goes to a hotel room where they used to stay, to reminisce. Then he sees a ghost. Or does he? Or is he the ghost?
"Church Services" by Kevin J. Anderson, is about a young man and his young wife. They are traveling "evangelists" of sorts, but with a special artifact. A jar that imprisons demons. At the end, she has a special gift for him...she is pregnant.
"Starlets and Spaceboys" by Joseph V. Hartlaub, is a bizarre tale about a young girl, a rock star, and some very special pills that make you hear music in your head.
"A Nasty Way to God" by Ardath Mayhar, tells of domestic violence and eventual justice involving a septic tank. It lives up to its title.
"The Flinch" by Michael Boatman seems to be about some gangster types with some unique talents.
"Tyler's Third Act" by Mick Garris is about a script writer whose life fell apart after the writer's strike in 2008. He decides upon a unique way to get notoriety and go out with a "bang," while ensuring that his mother, who is housed in a nursing home, will be well taken care of. It doesn't end quite the way he expects it to, though.
"Though Thy Lips Are Pale" by Maria Alexander, is about the youngest of several sisters, the last to be married off. She is being taken, or at least she is led to believe, to meet her new husband. It seems, though, that she has been deceived, and is merely bait. But for what?
"The Slow Haunting" by John R. Little, tells of a pair of twins, one of which died at an early age, and has haunted the other for years. Turns out, he has a grudge.
"Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance" by Del James, features a girl who is being stalked by a man that loves her. Turns out he has loved her for a VERY long time.
"The Wandering Unholy" by Victor Salva, deals with some Nazi soldiers and some nuns. Oh, and a necromancer. Guess who wins?
"Man with a Canvas Bag" by Gary A. Braunbeck, is a delightful story about a young boy who, sadly, witnesses the accidental death of a good friend who is a Down's syndrome child. And a "visitor" who seems to be invisible to the rest of the world.
"Fetch" by Chuck Palahniuk, features a very strange tennis ball, a jar of old coins, and a desperate old woman.
"The Architect of Snow" by David Morrell, is a most charming tale about a man who is an editor for a book publisher, his eventual meeting of an author whom he has loved for many years, and a strange, unsolicited manuscript that has no return address.
The last thing in the book is a poem by Clive Barker, called "And So with Cries." It's very weird.
And there you have it. If you like the horror genre, especially that of the "haunted" nature, you will simply love this book.
"Children of the Vortex" by Simon Clark, features a supposedly abandoned Nazi genetic experiment. Only, it's not so abandoned, as the small group of people assigned to investigate find out. There are some extremely disturbing images in this one.
"Mist On the Bayou" by Heather Graham, feathers a unique haunted house setting, which, on this particular night, features a scene that is much more real than it was supposed to be.
"In the Mix" by Eric Red, features a rap music producer who has a very special way of making his records popular.
"How To Edit" by Richard Christian Matheson, is a brief, "instructional" essay on editing stories. By a writer who just might be a little mad. And decides that he doesn't need various body parts to be a successful writer.
"Resurrection Man" by Axelle Carolyn, features a surgeon/anatomy teacher who does not believe in the afterlife, and believes that corpses should be surrendered to him (as well as other scientists) for study, not wasted by being buried and/or cremated. As he tries to get his hands on one particular corpse, he is in for a gruesome surprise.
"A Haunting" by John Connolly, is about a couple who loved each other for many years. The wife dies and he goes to a hotel room where they used to stay, to reminisce. Then he sees a ghost. Or does he? Or is he the ghost?
"Church Services" by Kevin J. Anderson, is about a young man and his young wife. They are traveling "evangelists" of sorts, but with a special artifact. A jar that imprisons demons. At the end, she has a special gift for him...she is pregnant.
"Starlets and Spaceboys" by Joseph V. Hartlaub, is a bizarre tale about a young girl, a rock star, and some very special pills that make you hear music in your head.
"A Nasty Way to God" by Ardath Mayhar, tells of domestic violence and eventual justice involving a septic tank. It lives up to its title.
"The Flinch" by Michael Boatman seems to be about some gangster types with some unique talents.
"Tyler's Third Act" by Mick Garris is about a script writer whose life fell apart after the writer's strike in 2008. He decides upon a unique way to get notoriety and go out with a "bang," while ensuring that his mother, who is housed in a nursing home, will be well taken care of. It doesn't end quite the way he expects it to, though.
"Though Thy Lips Are Pale" by Maria Alexander, is about the youngest of several sisters, the last to be married off. She is being taken, or at least she is led to believe, to meet her new husband. It seems, though, that she has been deceived, and is merely bait. But for what?
"The Slow Haunting" by John R. Little, tells of a pair of twins, one of which died at an early age, and has haunted the other for years. Turns out, he has a grudge.
"Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance" by Del James, features a girl who is being stalked by a man that loves her. Turns out he has loved her for a VERY long time.
"The Wandering Unholy" by Victor Salva, deals with some Nazi soldiers and some nuns. Oh, and a necromancer. Guess who wins?
"Man with a Canvas Bag" by Gary A. Braunbeck, is a delightful story about a young boy who, sadly, witnesses the accidental death of a good friend who is a Down's syndrome child. And a "visitor" who seems to be invisible to the rest of the world.
"Fetch" by Chuck Palahniuk, features a very strange tennis ball, a jar of old coins, and a desperate old woman.
"The Architect of Snow" by David Morrell, is a most charming tale about a man who is an editor for a book publisher, his eventual meeting of an author whom he has loved for many years, and a strange, unsolicited manuscript that has no return address.
The last thing in the book is a poem by Clive Barker, called "And So with Cries." It's very weird.
And there you have it. If you like the horror genre, especially that of the "haunted" nature, you will simply love this book.
February 7, 2019
The third book in the Dark Delicacies trilogy is the best of the lot, with nary a boring dud in sight. I definitely enjoyed most of the tales, and as advertised, it's a touch above many anthologies of its own kind. The stories don't all subscribe to the Haunted theme, but I'm not going to be persnicketty about that. I'm just curious why Howison didn't curate more horror compilations - I would have definitely bought any additional books to this series if the first three were an indication of the frights to come.
The good tales are evenly scattered in the book, so no part dragged at all. That said, as with the previous two offerings, the editor saved the very best for last, and it was a stunner. On another note, the presentation of the book compares most favorably with its predecessor, having a nicer font, illustrated table of contents, more generous margins, etc.
Among my favorites are:
How to Edit by Richard Christian Matheson - minimalism gone horribly, gorily wrong.
A Haunting by John Connolly -
Lovers reunited in a hotel
But one is dead - will this end well?
A Nasty Way to Go by Ardath Mayhar - atmospheric ghost story about domestic abuse (with the male as the aggrieved party) in 40's Texas.
Tyler's Third Act by Mick Garris - a man on the down and out finds love amidst his livestreamed self-amputation.
The Slow Haunting by John R. Little - a man continues to live with the ghost of his dead twin who died in an accident. Surely nothing will go wrong here.
Food of the Gods by Simon R. Green - the ultimate epicure discovers that it's not really the food that's the most delicious part of a meal.
The Wandering Unholy by Victor Salva - Nazi soldiers travel to an isolated abbey to demand the services of a necromancer, by force if necessary . . .
The Architecture of Snow by David Morrell - in the series' swan song, a struggling editor and a tragic writer are entwined in a melancholically idyllic dance of desperation and redemption.
This is a solid 8/10 for me, or 4 haunting, blood-chilling stars.
The good tales are evenly scattered in the book, so no part dragged at all. That said, as with the previous two offerings, the editor saved the very best for last, and it was a stunner. On another note, the presentation of the book compares most favorably with its predecessor, having a nicer font, illustrated table of contents, more generous margins, etc.
Among my favorites are:
How to Edit by Richard Christian Matheson - minimalism gone horribly, gorily wrong.
A Haunting by John Connolly -
Lovers reunited in a hotel
But one is dead - will this end well?
A Nasty Way to Go by Ardath Mayhar - atmospheric ghost story about domestic abuse (with the male as the aggrieved party) in 40's Texas.
Tyler's Third Act by Mick Garris - a man on the down and out finds love amidst his livestreamed self-amputation.
The Slow Haunting by John R. Little - a man continues to live with the ghost of his dead twin who died in an accident. Surely nothing will go wrong here.
Food of the Gods by Simon R. Green - the ultimate epicure discovers that it's not really the food that's the most delicious part of a meal.
The Wandering Unholy by Victor Salva - Nazi soldiers travel to an isolated abbey to demand the services of a necromancer, by force if necessary . . .
The Architecture of Snow by David Morrell - in the series' swan song, a struggling editor and a tragic writer are entwined in a melancholically idyllic dance of desperation and redemption.
This is a solid 8/10 for me, or 4 haunting, blood-chilling stars.
May 11, 2016
A pretty decent collection of stories that are all some variation on the theme "haunted". A good many actual ghosts ranging from the loving to the terrifying with a couple of silly ones thrown in for good measure, as well as less literal takes on the theme. Chuck Palahniuk's contribution manages to include his delightful absurdity without much of the ridiculous grandiosity that too often accompanies it. Clive Barker ends the volume with a brief poem that I truly liked. Maria Alexander's tale of a young girl in Medieval France will stay with me for a while.
I was ... disappointed to see a story by Victor Salva in the collection. It's not that I don't think child molesters who have served their sentences shouldn't be allowed to make a living, but I sure would prefer it if it was out of the public eye. What makes my feelings even more complicated is the fact that I liked the story, a mix of two of my favorite genres: religious horror and (with some shame) Nazi horror.
On the flip side, Eric Red has written a couple of my favorite movies, but I found his story problematic. It wasn't simply that it was about rap, but his choice to tell a story about how members of the black community feel about the subject felt like a particularly negative form of appropriation.
Overall, enough solid stories that I feel it was worth my money
I was ... disappointed to see a story by Victor Salva in the collection. It's not that I don't think child molesters who have served their sentences shouldn't be allowed to make a living, but I sure would prefer it if it was out of the public eye. What makes my feelings even more complicated is the fact that I liked the story, a mix of two of my favorite genres: religious horror and (with some shame) Nazi horror.
On the flip side, Eric Red has written a couple of my favorite movies, but I found his story problematic. It wasn't simply that it was about rap, but his choice to tell a story about how members of the black community feel about the subject felt like a particularly negative form of appropriation.
Overall, enough solid stories that I feel it was worth my money
Read
May 20, 2011What a delicious read! My personal favorites: Tyler's Third Act by Mick Garris (Oh Mick... You succeeded in creeping me out and almost making me lose my lunch. Literally, as I was on my lunch break at work while reading this story.) Man With A Canvas Bag by Gary A Braunbeck (One of my worst nightmares. I seriously may not sleep tonight.) A Haunting by John Connolly (Romantic and eerie... Loved it) And Last but not least The Architecture of Snow by David Morrell (Can't really explain it, I just loved it!) Mist on the Bayou had the potential to be so great and for the most part it was! The whole time I was reading it I was thinking "Why didn't I think of this?? This is brilliant!" And then... Needless to say I would have ended the story differently had I been the genius mind behind this story. All in all, every story in Dark Delicacies III: Haunted were just scrumptious! Recommended reading for sure...if you have a strong stomach! :)
Read
April 14, 2011Good collection. I actually bought it for the Palahniuk story "Fetch", which disappointed me. Not at all like his novels. None of that trademark Palahniuk stuff that makes you say, "Wow, I can't believe I just read that..." I thoroughly enjoyed "How to Edit" by Richard Christian Matheson. Very original and creative. The Heather Graham story was good, but unoriginal. "The Slow Haunting" was very creepy, and almost disturbing. "Tyler's Third Act" was very insightful of the media industry, and what consumers find "entertaining" in the age of reality television, blogging, Skype and the Internet. Others are forgettable, but those were the stories that stuck out in my mind. I know I will never forget "How to Edit."
January 17, 2015
Quite the array of horrifying stories that will make tingles run up and down your spine and/or wonder if these stories could really happen somewhere.
August 13, 2015
I haven't read or heard of some of these writers before now...But I will be sure to dive into some more reads by them!
September 25, 2022
I read this cover to cover. Found some gems. I've read several horror anthologies. This one was good. It had a more pulp feel, though the stand-outs for me weren't pulp at all. They were:
1. "Though Thy Lips Are Pale" (Maria Alexander): dark fantasy, beautifully written
2. "Tyler's Third Act" (Mick Garris): unsettling premise, has a bit of a gross-out factor, a bit longer but nice and tense
3. "Church Services" (Kevin J. Anderson): based around demonic possession and a mysterious ancient relic, a brooding story
4. "The Slow Haunting" (John R. Little): written in a more colloquial style, eerie but funny at times, and a nice twist
Pretty good anthology overall. I like when there's a nice variety
1. "Though Thy Lips Are Pale" (Maria Alexander): dark fantasy, beautifully written
2. "Tyler's Third Act" (Mick Garris): unsettling premise, has a bit of a gross-out factor, a bit longer but nice and tense
3. "Church Services" (Kevin J. Anderson): based around demonic possession and a mysterious ancient relic, a brooding story
4. "The Slow Haunting" (John R. Little): written in a more colloquial style, eerie but funny at times, and a nice twist
Pretty good anthology overall. I like when there's a nice variety
November 17, 2023
Various (Editors: Howison, Del and Jeff Gelb) - Haunted: Dark Delicacies III
Third, and so far final collection of modern horror under the "Dark Delicacies" title.
All current writers, nice assortment of traditional and edgy.
More hits than misses, and most yarns are well crafted and engaging.
Worth picking up if in bargain shelf.
Disposable. Read it, leave it.
Third, and so far final collection of modern horror under the "Dark Delicacies" title.
All current writers, nice assortment of traditional and edgy.
More hits than misses, and most yarns are well crafted and engaging.
Worth picking up if in bargain shelf.
Disposable. Read it, leave it.
March 18, 2015
I'm glad I read this book. It told me a lot about my preference in horror stories. I'm not really a blood and guts kind of reader. However, the story "In the Mix," which included such details, was great. I enjoyed the writing, skimmed the ick and focused on plot and characters.
I thought "How to Edit" was clever. "A Haunting" proved that horror can be many things, including a bittersweet love story. "Tyler's Third Act" held my interest with a memorable plot and good writing, but I can't say I liked it. "The Slow Haunting" surprised me as did "Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance." I didn't get the point of "Man with a Canvas Bag" and I have to say, I prefer my stories to have a point. That's why I didn't like "The Flinch." It was just mean and nasty. "Though Thy Lips Are Pale" was memorable. I kept thinking about it long after I'd read it.
There were a few other stories I liked and some I didn't think were great. But the last story, "The Architect of Snow," was wonderful and as far as I'm concerned, topped all the others. The author, David Morrell, is the author of "First Blood." I am now a fan and will definitely read more of his work.
I thought "How to Edit" was clever. "A Haunting" proved that horror can be many things, including a bittersweet love story. "Tyler's Third Act" held my interest with a memorable plot and good writing, but I can't say I liked it. "The Slow Haunting" surprised me as did "Do Sunflowers Have a Fragrance." I didn't get the point of "Man with a Canvas Bag" and I have to say, I prefer my stories to have a point. That's why I didn't like "The Flinch." It was just mean and nasty. "Though Thy Lips Are Pale" was memorable. I kept thinking about it long after I'd read it.
There were a few other stories I liked and some I didn't think were great. But the last story, "The Architect of Snow," was wonderful and as far as I'm concerned, topped all the others. The author, David Morrell, is the author of "First Blood." I am now a fan and will definitely read more of his work.
Currently reading
July 25, 2025"The Wandering Unholy" by Victor Salva - A Nazi officer and his men are attacked by zombie soldiers in the snow so he forces a nun to take them to the necromancer he believes responsible. This turns out to be the founder of the abbey, a two hundred year old massive obese woman with telekinetic powers. Forced by her powers to retreat the soldiers think they see reinforcements beyond the gate but they are just more thrall zombies who turn their weapons on the officer and his men. After they are cut down they rise and join the zombie army.
"The Slow Haunting" by John R. Little - Nine-year old Tim loses his twin brother Dennis in a gun accident but his ghost remains with Tim until he becomes a man. What Tim doesn't know is that Dennis resents him for pulling the trigger and can effect the physical world. Dennis waits until Tim has identical twin daughters and nine years later strangles one of them and frames Tim.
"Do Sunflowers Have A Fragrance?" by Del James - Chloe is a vampire preparing to decapitate Dieter, another vampire, to keep him from calling her.
"The Slow Haunting" by John R. Little - Nine-year old Tim loses his twin brother Dennis in a gun accident but his ghost remains with Tim until he becomes a man. What Tim doesn't know is that Dennis resents him for pulling the trigger and can effect the physical world. Dennis waits until Tim has identical twin daughters and nine years later strangles one of them and frames Tim.
"Do Sunflowers Have A Fragrance?" by Del James - Chloe is a vampire preparing to decapitate Dieter, another vampire, to keep him from calling her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2012
I finally managed to finish this anthology. Out of the 21-ish stories, there were only a few gems that managed to capture and hold my attention. "Though Thy Lips Are Pale" by Maria Alexander introduced a macabre perspective on unicorn folklore. John R. Little's "The Slow Haunting" gave an interesting twist to the lasting bond between twins, even after death. The zombie Nazis in "The Wandering Unholy" were fun, and who doesn't love a good zombie Nazi tale? "The Architecture of Snow" isn't all that supernatural, but makes the people working in the book publishing industry look like mindless clones -- that's pretty scary & truthful in my opinion. And Clive Barker's short poem "And So with Cries" was a breath of fresh air after reading mostly crap. Don't buy this anthology unless you really want to read the stories mentioned.
January 23, 2016
This volume of "horror" stories really disappointed me. I know that its theme doesn't necessarily suggest "scary," but this is a Dark Delicacies book! Held in the horror anthology section of bookstores. Was that expectation I had too much?
The only stories I could find myself liking were Connolly's "A Haunting," Little's "The Slow Haunting," Braunbeck's "Man with a Canvas Bag," and Barker's "And So with Cries." Only Barker's earned five stars. The other three earned maybe three and a halfs or fours. But none of them punched me in the gut like the stories in the first two volumes did. Most of them were really well written - I read this book very fast - but ultimately, the stories just weren't that great or memorable. Mediocre. And I really wanted to like this book...hopefully the next volume is better.
The only stories I could find myself liking were Connolly's "A Haunting," Little's "The Slow Haunting," Braunbeck's "Man with a Canvas Bag," and Barker's "And So with Cries." Only Barker's earned five stars. The other three earned maybe three and a halfs or fours. But none of them punched me in the gut like the stories in the first two volumes did. Most of them were really well written - I read this book very fast - but ultimately, the stories just weren't that great or memorable. Mediocre. And I really wanted to like this book...hopefully the next volume is better.
September 13, 2011
Already enjoying the first story in the book. Was macabre and dark but always remained human. Remains in the mind long after reading. I can not wait to continue reading and I would definitely say that the title is well devised. This story is still haunting me with the thought that if it can be imagined, that it can be real.
The stories don't disappoint. They approach the issue of haunting (and what it is to be haunted) from many different perspectives and many of them stay with you. Having slipped into this anthology, I am thinking of picking up the other two that were published prior.
The stories don't disappoint. They approach the issue of haunting (and what it is to be haunted) from many different perspectives and many of them stay with you. Having slipped into this anthology, I am thinking of picking up the other two that were published prior.
May 22, 2012
Like any anthology, Dark Delicacies III has the good and the bad, moreson the good, though. While the topic is hauntings the authors contained within are not pigeonholed to the standard haunted house as the term haunting certainly can mean more than your typical old dark house. Some stories will stick with you - haunting the reader long after the final word - while some are as forgettable as that wisp of etheral matter caught out of the corner of your eye.
April 25, 2011
Great collection of quality short horror fiction by some prominent names in the field. Some highlights include How To Edit by Richard Christian Matheson, A Nasty Way To Go by Ardath Mayhar, Tyler's Third Act by Mick Garris, The Slow Haunting by John R. Little, Man With A Canvas Bag by Gary A. Braunbeck, and The Architecture Of Snow by David Morrell.
February 2, 2013
This third in a wonderful collection of short stories by the masters of horror, selected by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb is an absolute must read for the lover of the macabre. As always, there is not a dud in the whole bunch. Every single story is chock full of delightful things that go bump in the night. Most enjoyable.
January 19, 2011
Bought this only because of the Palahniuk story, Fetch. I was disappointed there, but pleasantly surprised with others. David Morrell's story, The Architecture of Snow, was fantastic. The editor writes a short note at the end about the word haunt that I enjoyed, as well. Good collection overall.
June 10, 2011
Really well written and a great selection of stories but I had to put it down a few times and walk away. Just a bit to gruesome for me.
June 30, 2011
Had to pick and choose stories, some were not worth the read - too vulgar and several are rather sexual in nature, but like a recipe book there are a few good ones.
May 22, 2013
These stories seemed mediocre to me but this may have been due to my high expectations.
February 16, 2014
So far I have read seven of the twenty stories. I've enjoyed each of them, and really appreciate that each ha a different take on the "Haunted" theme.
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December 3, 2013Eric (Durdaller) Red is a contributor
April 22, 2017
Some of the stories were awesome, others were kind of "is this it?" moments. But the good ones are very good!
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