Strange Corridors

by Frank Chigas

Collected here are ten chilling tales from Frank Chigas, author of the acclaimed collection, The Damp Chamber and Other Bad Places.

Take a turn down any of these corridors . . . From here, one can view the horrible occupant of "The Other Flat." And evil is just around the next corner in "The Cloaking Glass." Every turn of the page uncovers a new chill for the reader: An idyllic hike in the Italian Alps leads to horror in "Mephisto's Clay," and "The Eavesdropper" gets more than she ever bargained for.

Dare to walk these corridors, each path revealing a new horror, a dark doorway into the uncanny, a view of nightmare vistas.

But tread carefully, dear reader, for each step taken will draw you further into the unknown

357 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sarah L. Covert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Mr. Chigas has thrilled and chilled me with his eloquent and passionate prose. It is writers like him that give me hope for genre recognition in the “literary” ranks. Frank Chigas skillfully crafts his stories in such a way that they reach inside the deep recesses of your mind and pull out your darkest hidden fears. He has certainly earned a very special place on the Covert bookshelves. We will be interviewing the enigmatic man behind the madness this week, be sure to check back — it is bound to be an interesting discussion.

Strange Corridors - Ten Tales of Horror, is another collection of terrifying tales and the second offering from Medusa Press. (You can get both books as a beautiful box set!) Each tantilizing tale sends shivers up your spine as you make your way through these dark corridors. As I noted in my last review of Mr. Chigas’s work, because of the nature of short stories I will not reveal too much in the way of details. I would not want to spoil the journey down this dark path for any of you, my dear fiends. Instead I will give highlights of two of my favorite stories (and trust me it was quite the challenge picking just two) and then my thoughts on the book overall.

The first horrific story (that gave me nightmares) was “The Eavesdropper”. This story is set in the early 20th century. It revolves around a woman named Margaret who has just lost her husband of 47 years. Margaret is a sensitive, or was when she was very young. She would talk to deceased relatives and pass on what they said to her family. But as she grew older, this gift dimmed. She thought it was lost forever until the passing of her husband. She wasn’t sure if the shock of her husband’s death was what brought it on, but this was unlike the gift she had as a child. There was something menacing about the voices she heard. As the corruption spreads and her sense of dread deepens, an old friend of her husband appears. Together they try to unravel the mystery and find the source of the dark visitor.

The next terrorific tale that filled me fright was called “The Other Flat”. This is the story of a troubled young man called Adam. He had lost his sister and for some time had been undergoing intensive therapy to handle the loss. Adam rented a flat, small and modest, but it had all he needed and was affordable. One day, when entertaining friends, someone glanced out the window and was given a fright. There was a terrifying and twisted face staring back at her, grimacing from across the courtyard. Adam saw nothing this visit, but each day after he saw the twisted figure staring back at him every time he looked out the window. At one point he even had his therapist come by and look – to verify it was not a hallucination. We follow Adam on his path to discover who the man is – and what he finds is more horrifying than he imagined.

Final Thoughts:
This book leads you down the darkest paths, the ones you fear to tread, mezmorized and frozen with fear… yet you walk them anyway and each corridor you take is more dreadful than the last. Frank Chigas is a master of the short story. He has a way of reaching the depths of your soul, touching on fears you did not even know you had. As I said in my last review, I strongly believe his name will be held with regard for many generations – like Poe and Lovecraft, he has a way of reaching our basis fear and writes with eloquence and prowess. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Horror, Strange Tales, or Paranormal stories – or anyone who simply enjoys intricately and well written short stories. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

For complete review with links please go to: http://sheneverslept.com/newsandrevie... )

[Monster]

Travel these strange corridors with Frank Chigas, masterful storyteller of the ghoulish and macabre. Each and every single tale will delight fans of the genre. As in his other work I reviewed, But First the Dark: Ten Tales of the Uncanny, these stories are set in the early twentieth century, a much more refined time as far as custom and etiquette, but no less frightening in the depths of depravity, human and inhuman.
There is a little something for everyone in this collection, from a twist on the vampiric in “The Eavesdropper” to vengeful hauntings in ”Fourmis Dans Les Paumes” and “The Other Flat”, to an abomination demanding worship and sacrifice in “The New Christ of Templewood”.
Chigas is an incredibly eloquent writer, able to tap into what is truly dark and unnerving. I personally have not come upon a modern writer who was able to elicit the same feelings I have when reading Lovecraft or Poe until I read Frank Chigas.
It is difficult to choose a favorite from this collection, but I believe “The Cloaking Glass” is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Old friends embark on a normal hunting trip, leading to a discovery that causes everything in their lives to take a horrible turn. Sometimes not knowing is better.
Highly recommended for libraries and personal libraries of genre fans who also appreciate the classics.
If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Frank Chigas' But First the Dark: Ten Tales of the Uncanny, also by Medusa Press.
Contains: Violence, some mild gore.
Reviewed by: Rhonda Walton