The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Tenth Annual Collection
from St. Martin's Griffin
The 10th volume of this excellent annual anthology series not only collects 39 stories and 4 poems in these overlapping genres, but reports on the year's best in books, movies, and other media. The horror and dark fantasy tales are by Jay Russell (family ghost), Angela Carter (fairy tale ghost), Edward Bryant (aliens), Robert Silverberg (dark goddess), Yxta Maya Murray (Southwestern folklore ghost), Thomas Ligotti (secret society), Graham Masterton (macabre recipe book), Douglas Clegg (anguished love), Stephen Dedman (child lamia who knew Lewis Carroll), Terry Lamsley (monster "pet"), Isobelle Carmody (phoenix), Delia Sherman (witches and wolves), Lisa Russ Spaar (Rapunzel), Neil Gaiman (queen bee), Philip Graham (oppressive angel), Terry Dowling (monomania), Dennis Etchison (L.A. paranoia), Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg (ravaging bears), A. R. Morlan (rock 'n' roll sleaze), Michael Marshall Smith (entrapping relationship), and Ron Hansen (magic realism). All the dark tales are high quality, and a few are among the best in the series so far.
Brighten to Incandescence: 17 Stories
by Michael Bishop
from Golden Gryphon Press
Seventeen of writer Michael Bishop's favorite stories were handpicked from his previously uncollected works to create this compelling collection, providing an excellent overview of a career that includes award-winning science fiction, horror, fantasy, satire, space opera, and mystery. In "A Tapestry of Little Murders," a murderer attempts to escape along a literal road to self-destruction. A medical missionary, tortured by government thugs, reveals her dying wish in "With a Little Help from Her Friends." In "The Procedure," an operation to remove a tumorous growth will hopefully excise from the patient's mind and body all tendencies toward faith and superstition. From futuristic mystery and Vietnam-era dark fantasy to theological speculation on Christ's death, a variety of lyrical voices speak through these haunting stories. An essay by the author divulges the genesis of each story.
Strange Attraction
by Lisa Snellings
from Bereshith Pub
Based on the kinetic sculptures of Lisa Snellings, STRANGE ATTRACTION is a carnival ride of dark fantasy and horror. These 24 tales and poems explore the night-side of the looming Ferris wheel and its many inhabitants. But things aren't always what they seem on this ride and surprises await all who stand in line, waiting to experience the wheel for themselves. The ride is open. Admit one. The signed limited edition includes a section of art plates of the artist's interpretations of the stories that interpreted her sculpture. STRANGE ATTRACTION surely contains wheels within wheels.
13 Horrors - A Devil's Dozen Stories Celebrating 13 Years of the World Horror Convention
by Michael Bishop
from KaCSFFS Press
The Trade Paperback version of the limited press run for the World Horror Convention hosted in Kansas City. 13 original horror tales with a Forward by Joe R. Lansdale, Introduction by Brian A. Hopkins, the stories are by 13 World Horror Convention Bram Stoker Winners. This book had a limited press run and distribution and is hard to find.
*OP Dantes Disciples (Tr)
DARK REGIONS / HORROR MAGAZINE: ISSUE #13 SUMMER [1999] ISSUE [A JOURNAL OF FANTASY, HORROR & SCIENCE FICTION]
The Creature On The Couch
An Atlanta psychologist agrees to counsel an 8-foot masked recluse who lives and works in a warehouse just outside of town--the morose giant is suspected as the source of nocturnal howlings recently reported in the area. With each secret therapy session, the good doctor is more certainly convinced his patient is indeed the revived, wretched offspring of Victor Frankenstein.
Seven Deadly Sins
by Michael Bishop
from Checkmate Publishing
How far would you go to achieve ultimate power and have your every dream fulfilled? Would you steal for it? Would you torture for it? Would you kill for it?
For Ramond Jamison, these questions are all too real. In a world where he is surrounded by love and goodness, a darker path has revealed itself to him. A path that offers his every fantasy. A path that bestows his every want, and asks for only one thing in return... His SOUL.
The lives he touches along the way will forever be changed. Each victim feels their own unique and distinct pain. A torment that not only causes them great suffering, but affects all those around them.
The road that leads Ramond to his every desire is not paved with godl, but instead is formed with the blood and tears of all those who stand in his way. It's a road of destruction and death, and in the end the one he hurts the most may just be HIMSELF.
When playing Devil's advocate is a way of life, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, IT JUST MAY GET YOU.
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