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| Alex Hamilton's BEAM OF MALICE, his first collection of macabre stories, was first published in 1966. It includes his most famous short story, THE ATTIC EXPRESS, which appeared in one edition of the Pan Book of Horror Stories series. This is a classic collection of tales of unease. Ramsey Campbell called Alex Hamilton "...one of the absolute masters of the sunlit nightmare." There's no way I would argue with that! This is essential reading for anyone interested in horror. Available here. |
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| This was a big surprise for me. The Fiction Desk regularly publishes anthologies, and NEW GHOST STORIES was their first one featuring supernatural fiction. These are subtle, perceptive tales of ghostly happenings in the traditional sense. There are some powerful stories here, all of them beautifully written and highly polished. AT GLENN DALE by Julia Patt, CHALKLANDS by Richard Smyth and OLD GHOSTS by Ann Wahlman stood out for me, but most of the 12 here are well worth a read. An excellent anthology. Available here. |
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| I loved the late Joel Lane's collection THE EARTH WIRE and DO NOT PASS GO is every bit as good, albeit brief at just five stories. However, there is as much relentlessly downbeat intrigue in those five tales as any reader could wish for. Described as "crime stories", nonetheless these are tales of fear, displacement and oblivion, all set in the Black Country. Available here. |
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| This has been one of my finds of the year: OUTSTACK by Gary Couzens is a fascinating collecion of strange stories, taking the reader to weird and uncomfortable places. These are multi-layered, complex tales which deal impressively with displacement and loss. The sense of place that Couzens is able to create is impressive. Review soon. Available here. |
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| Daniel Mills has created a powerful collection of hauntingly strange tales, simultaneously harking back to the past and creating something quite new. The stories which comprise THE LORD CAME AT TWILIGHT are intensely unsettling and satisfying to read. They are thought-provoking and at times frightening. Don't miss this elegantly written collection. Review soon. Available here. |
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| Great to see such a successful annual anthology out there. NIGHTSCRIPT is edited by C.M. Muller, and this edition includes some really strong stories by some of the best writers around: Daniel Mills, Kirsty Logan, David Surface, Jason A. Wyckoff, John Claude Smith... This book is packed with compelling tales. Not to be missed. Available here. |
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| Charles Beaumont was most famous for his Twilight Zone scripts: THE HUNGER AND OTHER STORIES shows that he did short stories very well indeed. His writing style is not perhaps for everyone, but he had a useful range, taking in horror, fantasy and wry humour. There are some classic tales here: THE VANISHING AMERICAN, OPEN HOUSE, THE CUSTOMERS... a wonderful collection. Available here. |
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| What can I say about the enduring appeal of SUPERNATURAL TALES? This doyen of the genre goes from strength to strength and the 30th edition is no exception. David Longhorn and Stephen Cashmore do a great job in their tireless production of such a valuable publication. Available here. |
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| Confession time... I saw the film SECONDS many years back, but it was only recently that I realised it had been adapted from the novel by David Ely. The good news is that this book is every bit as good as the film. Ely's writing style is pleasantly formal and I'm pleased to say he does not waste a word. I don't often read anything but short stories, but I'm pleased I made an exception in this case. Unfortunately, the book's cover does not do it justice at all. Available here. |
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