Horror Books

I'm a firm believer that good poetry teaches children a great deal. Not only about the subject at hand, but about the lyric nature of our language and good bit about spelling and sentence construction as well.

Thus we all welcome David Costello's brilliant book, "Here They Come!" Not only is the poetry good, but the topic is fun and treated with great humor. Text follows so you can judge yourself. {my Amazon 'Look Inside' feature would load any pages and I can't tell if it's a problem on my side or theirs.}

Here comes our chance for a Halloween fright,
For this is the place every Halloween night
Where the scariest creatures are known to appear,
And that's why the party is here every year:
Where the path in the woods takes a bend and a turn,
Round a circle of stones where a fire can burn
And light up the scene by the old hollow tree.
It's an excellent place for a party to be.

Five Stars. Not in the least scary. Good artwork that appeals to children. The poetry is first rate. The plot involves two little `creatures' whose mother has told them that they are in for a good party and an ultimate scare. A scare that is not from what your children might expect.

Mr. Costello's debut work is beautifully illustrated and the story is witty. Although it is written for small children, my nine year old son enjoys reading it to my 4 year old daughter. The book is also being used in his fourth grade poetry class. I highly recommend it!

My 2 year old received this beautiful book last Halloween and even now in April he regularly requests that we read it before bedtime. How can I refuse? Mr. Costello's lyrical gift is matched only by his brilliant illustrations. We look forward to more high quality children's books from this talented author.

Incredible art work. Beautiful and fun! Great story for every halloween... a new tradition. Wicked sense of humor.

"She says that a scare lets you know you're alive." Great introduction to all the creatures that go boom in the night and exist on Halloween with exquisite creative illustrations and cute rhymes. "Gremlins come waddling followed by trolls, an ogre comes strolling with cinnamon rolls." Funny unexpected twist in the last few pages of the story will make you laugh. Possibly the greatest Halloween book I've ever had the joy of reading. David Costello's first children's book is a smash!

Horrible Harry in Room 2B is one of the most hilarious books I've ever read. It is addicting and doesn't stop making you laugh. It is a book for all ages from 7 to 10. One of the parts that I thought was very good was when Harry makes stub people out of broken pencils. When he makes 24 of them he going to invade the class room
The book is very different and they aren't very long so you can read a lot of them like I did. My favorite one so far was Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise. I think you should read it during Christmas
I think if you have a good sense of humor you should try one of these books out Your probably end up reading them all like me.

This book is so funny I'm going to cry!! This book is the best book you could ever get! You will love it! In the hilarious story, there are five funny people. There names are Harry, Mary, Song Lee, Cindy and Doug. Harry does such mischievous things! I would recommend this book to younger kids who love funny books! You will have to buy this book or I will buy it for myself!!
by, Adrian

I think this book is cool. This is the best book I ever read. It is the best book I have ever read because Harry is very realistic. And Harry likes cookies and so do I. And Harry is horrible but he is still very cool. ~Gaby~

I'm wrting about Horrible Harry in Room 2B. Horrible Harry is very horrible because he plays tricks on girls and he even made Sidney say "I like girls" or he was going to tickle him. My favorite chapter was Horrible Harry and the Stub People and Halloween. In his costume he slithers. Can you guess what he is? I really liked Horrible Harry in Room 2B. I thought that Horrible Harry was too horrible. I would tell a lot of people to read Horrible Harry in Room 2B. I liked the book a lot! Would you want to read Horrible Harry in Room 2B?

Horriable Harry in Room 2B is my favorite book. Not only is it a book that i have grown up with, it is also an interesting and enjoyable book to just sit down and read. From the funny stiches he gets himself involved into, and the "double revenge" that he puts upon Sidney, this book has always made me giggle. If you arn't sure if an older kid would like it, let me tell you this, im 16 and Horriable Harry in Room 2B is DEFINTALY my FAVORITE book!

I read the book 20 years ago and searched long and hard to find my own 1896 copy. I'm looking forward to having a copy I can read that I don't have to be so careful with. This book is very funny. The people in the book are folks you haven't thought of in years (and some you may have to look up to compleat your education). I recogmend this book be required reading for any body under 50 (I'm in my 40s).

I haven't read this version, only the original 1896 copy that I happened to pick up at a book sale because I liked the title. John Kendrick Bangs has become one of my favorite authors now. I recomend this book to everyone. It is witty and actually itelligent humor. I would say find the original though, it's usually cheaper than the $...for this copy.

Take a dash of fanatasy , a few dead (?) historical and literary figures, add a dash of whimsey, philosophy that is firmly tongue in cheek and mix with a fine sense of wit. The results are J.K. Bangs "A Houseboat on the Styx". It make take a bit to find this book (which should never be out of print!!) but it is well worth the search.

No book more wonderfully captures the wimsey and foibles of mankind, while providing a perspective on historical thought like this book. Delightfull conversations in which P.T. Barnum berates Noah for not saving the more interesting animals, in which Shakespeare and Bacon argue about which of them really wrote Hamlet (and Hamlet responds) are just some of the delightful by-play of this romp in a Gentleman's Club in Hades.

I ran across an 1896 copy of this book in a nearby used book store and snatched it up. A lover of Greek mythology, anything with Styx in the title had to be worthwhile. To my delight, Greek mythology was bombarded with some of the most delightful historical and literary characters ever known, thrown into delicious turmoil. Where else could Napoleon throw a pool cue at Shakespeare. A must have for any reader.

Being an avid reader of R.L. Stine's young adult novels, I can safely say that I Saw You That Night! is my absolute favorite.

Lee is the new guy in Roxie's beachtown, fitting all the connotations: tall, dark, handsome, and with a mysterious past. Roxie and her friend Ursula instantly fall for him. Ursula, being blonde and ultra-competitive, makes a bet with Roxie: whoever dates Lee and gets ahold of his Sharks baseball cap first will win fifty bucks. Roxie is desperate to finally win a bet against her friend; she sneaks into Lee's house at night and attempts to steal his baseball cap. Not only does Roxie fail to find the cap, but she also hears a girl and a boy fighting (both verbally and physically) in the house.

A few days later, a girl is found dead in a plastic trash bag near the beach. Roxie knows she was the girl at Lee's house, and Lee is the killer...

Meanwhile, Lee successfully befriends Roxie, and Roxie feels herself succumbing to his charms... and his innocence...? Or is he the guilty murderer?

Complications ensue. (Don't they always?) :)

I love how R.L. Stine often sets his stories at the beach. It's always fun in the sun when it comes to the beach, right? What could possibly go wrong among the suntan, sunglasses, flattering bathing suit, and a cute lifeguard/surfer dude? But in these cases, R.L. Stine manages to mastermind horrors in the most unsuspecting locations.

For all you scare lovers you have to read this book. It's a real thriller. Lee is always poping up all over the place and Roxie is getting a little scared, and that night she will never forget what she herd.

Because I have read loads of R.L. Stine books I kinda know how to figure out the killer in his books. When I read this book (which I finished in two hours) I almost instantly knew who the killer was (the killer is always the one who is NOT the obvious one at all and the one you get to read the most little of) so I was like, ok it is this person now let's read on if I am right. But hey near the end I saw I was right but then suddenly this big twist came along and I was wrong! the killer was someone else. The killer surprised me. I thought this book was really well written and keeps you pageturning. It is a lot better then call waiting. read it.

WOW! This book is very cool. Just when you think you know who is doing the crimes, a crucial piece of evidence could be found and your thought is completly different. The way R.L. Sine writes his books is superb. If you are interested in reading this book, take it from me, READ IT!!!!! If you enjoy this book, read Hit and Run also.

Man! that was a good book! I Saw You that Nigh: what a great title! The Author of the book is R.L. Stine and he know, how to write great suspense. He keeps you waiting and waiting to find out what happened, but you never know what he is talking about because he know how to write suspense.
One of the beliefs that I had is that the girl`s boyfriend was the killer. The reason for that was because another boy she liked told her that her boyfriend was the killer and I believed it as well.
The second belief I had was that she might of died because the guy on the boat kept backing into her with the boat until he could not see her head above the water.
A third belief of mine was that her boyfriend was dead because the boy on the boat stabbed him in the throat because he was trying to help his girlfriend out. I think that it was a good part of the book, also.
My final belief was that the book was over because the girl had said looks like I won, Then as I read, the girl had got a phone call and it said I saw you that night.

Some of the things that surprised me in this book is that the innocent one is always the one that is the killer. The guy in the story is always popping up everywhere. No one even knew it was him. I was thinking it, but I could not really find out until I knew all the facts about the person and where he came from.
R.L Stine seems to be the only book I read now-a- days. That`s actually amazing! I spend all my extra time reading and being myself. R.L. Stine made me realize that reading is fun and it teaches you things as you go.
Another thing that was unbelievable is the way he sets he stories up. He goes past present then back to past. It`s like having day dreams. He made sure no one knew what he was talking about until the very end and that`s what all writers should do, but they donýt always do that.
One thing that surprised me was the way his descriptive words were used in this book. He described each scene. I could imagine myself there. He is a very good writer and I wish I was as good as he is.

... My true opinion is that this is a good piece because the author is a good suspense writer. He keeps you guessing on what is going to happen until you believe that you are right and until you are down with story. If he had a choice I bet he would keep you going until he wanted to end the story. I think everyone should read at least one of his books. Either thought they might not like these kind of books, I think they are great, and I hope the author keeps writing stories like this one. I am a person that loves to read. I have read almost all of his books. I hope to be able to get some of his books to. Everyone thinks I am crazy about those books but if you really like to read them what is the harm of reading them. Well I hope you all will read this book it really is a good book. I also hope all of you read other stories of R.L. Stine but if you donýt you are missing out on great books!

Immortal reads like a horror driven fantasy novel. D.E. Davidson has creatively created a world parallel to ours and in it are creatures that will give readers nightmares. The linking of souls from one world to the next, and to those existing in the same worlds, is a hard-hitting theme. Immortal may have the flavor of Stephen King and Peter Straub's The Talisman, sure, but the story, the setting, the fearful links to anything even remotely possible, is all original.

Some one is brutally killing people in the city park and at an adult living home. An autopsy reveals that deadly spider venom is being used. Jeremy Wheeler, who on a morning walk, is confronted by a gnome-like creature, is informed that he is a dangerous link between the existing worlds and an array of beings from the parallel universe each want him for their own selfish reasons.

Everyone cannot see the nomadic, brilliant blue portals that allow beings from both worlds to cross back and forth. They are only visible to a limited few, like to Wheeler and to young Mark Scott, who is trapped in the opposite world with his mother.

With fast-paced, compact scenes and dialog that moves the story in at a constant high-speed pace, makes Immortal the kind of book that is difficult to put down. After reading it, the images, and perhaps the nightmares, linger. Davidson has written a tightly plotted horror novel that deserves some attention. I will be looking for more work by this talented writer.


--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Third Ring, Tenth House & Mind Play

Big in scope -- in the way that Stephen King's Dark Tower Series is big -- this fast paced, dark fantasy, quest is sure to please fantasy and light science fiction readers. The characters are memorable and the scenes vivid. I think this book would make a wonderful movie.

Immortal is smooth flowing, fast paced, suspenseful and entertaining with well defined characters who I wanted to continue to read about. The novel has a compelling quality to it that drew me in, and I found it hard to put it down once I started reading it. Reality and the supernatural are meshed with precision and grace. It's a must read for dark fantasy readers.

Immortal is smooth flowing, fast paced, suspenseful and entertaining with well defined characters who I wanted to continue to read about. The novel has a compelling quality to it that drew me in, and I found it hard to put it down once I started reading it. Reality and the supernatural are meshed with precision and grace. It's a must read for dark fantasy readers.

IMMORTAL: A Linking of Souls is an intricate, thoroughly ambitious trip into that ever-changing labyrinth of life, afterlife and pre-life experienced by all people -- whether they're cognizant of the journey or not. Fast-paced, yet erudite, this novel successfully stradddles the boundaries of horror and metaphysical science fiction, with a strong emphasis on behavioral ethics and the role fate plays in all of our lives. The use of descriptive detail and characterization throughout is excellent. While it isn't your average horror novel, it should satisfy fans of King, Straub and Koontz, as well as intrigue fans of cross-genre works. A. R. Morlan, 711 Miner Ave. East, Ladysmith, WI 54848-1942

I love this series Immortal Image is the forth in Jayes image vampire series - Her hero Revlin Scott is an English and being from England myself I loved her use of some of our slang terms, well written.. Who's next I wonder.
If you have yet to read Jayes series here is the list so far
Double Image - AfterImage - Shadow Image and this one Immortal Image. Excellent and they are keepers.

I love this series Immortal Image is the forth in Jayes image vampire series - Her hero Revlin Scott is an English and being from England myself I loved her use of some are slang terms well written.. Who's next I wonder.
If you have yet to read Jayes series here is the list so far
Double Image - AfterImage - Shadow Image and this one Immortal Image. Excellent and they are keepers.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A dangerous and illegal organization of vampires, `la société rouge,' is taking hold in Baton Rouge, defying the governing authority of vampires in the States. The leader, Vangeline, is extremely powerful, permitting her followers to run around creating aberrations - half human/half vampire creatures - controlled exclusively by their creator.

Revelin (Rev) Scott, l'enforcier, resistant to the feminine wiles, is chosen to go undercover and infiltrate Vangeline's lair to eliminate her. The last two sent never returned, assumed to have been sent to their True Deaths. Rev swears not to fail, reiterating his oft-used motto "No one goes Scott-free."

Rev's partner, is human, Denice (Deni) Geron, whose brother was an aberration until he disappeared. Deni is reluctant, hating vampires because of her brother's fate, and is convinced she will die during this mission. At first she is repulsed by Rev, her feelings changing as she gets to know him. Heaven forbid could she actually be falling for the enemy? As Rev is lured into la société, and doomed to failure, his only hope is the enticing Deni, and their unlikely allies.

Immortal Image was a fascinating entrée into the world of Ms. Roycraft. The characters are compelling and seductive, grabbing hold from page one, captivating readers through to the end. The plot thickens throughout, keeping one waiting breathlessly for whatever is next. Plot twists are thrown in, enhancing the story and adding to the suspense.

Ms. Roycraft knows just when to ease up and when to tighten her hold. She uses the right detail in painting the landscape of her world, giving a clear picture, so reader can visualize what is happening. This book leaves one eager for more, wanting to rush out and find more from this vampire world. Immortal Image won't disappoint.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2003. All rights reserved.

The Directorate is the organization that decides the rules and regulations for vampire behavior. If a vampire disobeys them he can be sanctioned with the ultimate punishment of the True Death. Revelin Scott is the chief enforcer of the Directorate and his latest assignment sends him to Baton Rouge. A group of rogue vampires are flaunting the rules by creating aberrations, humans forced to take vampire blood and become slaves to the vampire they drink from.

Revelin must destroy all the vampires and he is forced to accept the help of the mortal woman Deni Geron whose brother was killed by the rogues. When they arrive at their destination, Revelin, with the help of Deni, is able to infiltrate the group, but he finds he is unable to kill the head of the group. Again, he must depend on Deni to help him but if she fails, they will both die.

Revelin Scott was chosen for this job for his supposed immunity to the charms of mortal women yet it is Deni's love for him that will be his salvation. Their co-dependence in the work arena spills over into their personal lives forming a bond that is necessary for the story line to work. IMMORTAL IMAGE is a delightfully refreshing vampire romance that will satisfy any one interested in the nosferatu.

Harriet Klausner

"Madam, no one goes Scott-free!"

Truer words were never spoken. IMMORTAL IMAGE in the fourth book in Jaye Roycraft's new and wonderfully engaging "Image" series. Set in the dark underworld of the Directorate--a ruling body of powerful vampires who monitor all supernatural activity in the world and delve out justice when needed or required to keep the denizens of the night in line--this is the story of Revelin Scott, the new l' enforcier for the Undead, a coveted position he inherited from Alek Dragovich (last seen in AFTERIMAGE) who retired his position to Scott after becoming enamored with a human and staging his own death in order to achieve true peace in his life.

Revelin Scott isn't your typical vampire. No opera capes and fluently accented voice is his to wield. Revelin doesn't drip with seductive power or attack people without reason. Revelin likes shag hairdos and outfits that would make mortal eyes bleed. Revelin likes in-your-face, one-on-one action in every situation. Rev is the James Bond of the Undead, a soldier and secret agent enamored more with his job than with any female. Yet it is his oh-so-unconventional nature which makes Rev so endearing. Revelin is bitter, laid-back, a tough-hearted warrior who likes nothing better than doing things his way and getting them done with "no fuss, no muss" (tm). Revelin is also (theoretically) immune to feminine charms. So when Nikolena, Directress of the Directorate, saddles him with an assignment to disassemble a new and dangerous societe which is threatening the uneasy balance between humans and vampires, he takes such a responsibility to heart in his typical Type-B-personality stride. He knows what he has to do and he knows how to get it done. But when said assignment comes complete with a human female tagalong, Denise Geron, who's brother has been a recent victim of the societe, a very bad feeling takes hold of Rev, and the new enforcier begins to regret this new assignment of Nikilena's. After all, the last thing Rev wants is to be saddled with a skirt--and a human one at that.

But Deni herself has no love for vampires. It is vampires who were responsible for her brother's death. It is vampires she wants held accountable. And now she must work with one, as infuriating and reckless as Rev can sometimes be. Together they assume new identities and infiltrate the club scene of sultry and dangerous New Orleans where the societe is rumored to be collecting sufficient power to bring the Directorate to its knees--Rev as a new revolutionary and Deni as his human slave. But the "image" they are projecting in order to bring them into the presence of the societe leader, an aberration and Voodoo high priestess by the name of Vangeline, begins to slowly overwhelm them both. Very soon, they are not entirely certain if their put-on visage of cross-seduction is only a play for the eyes of the enemies or the real thing. Suddenly Revelin Scott discovers, much to his personal disdain, that he isn't quite the icy-hearted, soulless monster he thinks, perhaps wishes, he is. And Deni, despite her desire for revenge, is powerless against the societe and Vangeline; she needs Revelin's help. Rev needs her--in more ways than one.

Rev and Deni's dawning understanding of the parts they play and the masks they wear--by their will and by the will of others--slowly begins to bridge the gap between light and dark, truth and lies, and the human and the vampiric. But can a human ever learn to trust and understand a creature of the dark? And more to the point, can a man ever truly understand a woman?

Jaye Roycraft has emerged as a more than worthy successor to the vampiric works of Linda Lael Miller, Christine Feehan and Shannon Drake. She has crafted a smart and sexy thriller that combines many genres in one: romance, horror, espionage and adventure. Her characters are engaging and her historical facts well-researched and intricately woven into the fabric of her storytelling. Her vampire society is complex and peopled with creatures of many layers and a seemingly infinite amount of "images". One of IMMORTAL IMAGE's most prominent strengths lies in its ability to satisfy readers of many different persuasions. Whether it be vampiric romance, old-fashioned woman-in-danger, or cutting-edge thriller, there is something for everyone offered here. Cutting edge vampiric romance has never been so dangerous. And one thing is for certain: once you've delved into IMMORTAL IMAGE, you won't be able to come away entirely "Scott-free."

Karen Koehler,
Author of Slayer, Slayer: Black Miracles, and Scarabus

I particularly like "Bethany's Wood" by Paul Finch, "Stilled Life" by Pat Cadigan, and "An Apiary of White Bees" by Lee Thomas. Oh, that stories like these have made it into YBFH 2008. I read the Datlow-chosen stories in YBFH 2007 right after reading Inferno and was disappointed; the story by Oates, in particular, seemed misplaced: I'm a fan of the bizarre, and this one seemed pointlessly grotesque instead. But Inferno is everything I look for in modern horror! I think it's Ellen's best book so far.

Inferno is the kind of anthology a reader waits and hopes for. It's filled with disturbing tales from some of the best horror/dark fantasy authors, and these tales leave chilling, lasting impressions. The deepest impression on me came from P.D. Cacek's "The Keeper." Simple, heartbreaking, and powerful. Ellen Datlow has compiled another incredible collection here. She's the best editor in the field. Highly recommended!

In Stephen King's Danse Macabre, King compared Ramsey Campbell's prose to a low level acid trip. I was thinking of that description many times throughout this anthology, were most of the stories take place in this world but something's not right. NOt just the horror portion of the stories but everything about these characters and their world is off-kilter in some way or fashion.

Take for example "Riding Bitch" by K.W. Jeter where the protagonist is a loser biker who takes corpses to the funeral home to pick up extra money. By this time we've all seen the tropes from the tough biker to the seedy bar, but add in a dead girlfriend who won't quite stay dead or is dead but he hears it - you can never tell - and it's a story that won't let you go.

Similarly "Monsters of Heaven" being reminiscent of Marquez's "Man with Wings" (sic?) doesn't just let the characters get by with ignoring the angels. Even as they are embroiled in a lost child tragedy, they still have time to do some truly horrific things to each other and finally an innocent.

Not all of the stories work, but the stories that don't work for me are the ones that appear to be trying too hard like Laird Barron's "THe Forest" or Lee Thomas's "An Apiary of WHite Bees." They are strange but I never get the sense of being taken along for a ride. More like I'm being told about someone's acid trip laden vacation.

Ultimately these stories are disturbing because human beings are disturbing. Vampires, werewolves and ghosts have nothing on Basra militias or Serbian death squads. These stories reflect the evil that humans do to each other on a constant basis and they are much more powerful for that.

This is the entire starred Publishers Weekly review:

Inferno Edited by Ellen Datlow. Tor, $25.95 (384p) ISBN 978-0-7653-1558-8
Datlow (The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror) makes a solid claim to being the premiere horror editor of her generation with this state-of-the-art anthology of 20 new stories by some of horror fiction's best and brightest. Several outstanding selections feature imperiled children and explore the horrific potential of childhood fears, among them Glen Hirshberg's "The Janus Tree," which gives a creepy supernatural spin to a poignant memoir of adolescent angst and alienation, and Stephen Gallagher's "Misadventure," in which a young man's near-death experience as a child endows him as an adult with consoling insight into the afterlife. The compilation's variety of approaches and moods is exemplary, ranging from the natural supernaturalism of Laird Barron's cosmic horror tale "The Forest," to the unsettling psychological horror of Lucius Shepard's "The Ease with Which We Freed the Beast"; the metaphysical terrors of Conrad Williams's "Perhaps the Last"; and the slapstick grotesquerie of K.W. Jeter's black comedy "Riding Bitch." If this book can be taken as a gauge of the vitality of imagination in contemporary horror fiction, then the genre is very healthy indeed.
(Dec.)
And chosen by PW as one of the best sf/f titles of the year.

I recently finished reading INFERNO, edited by Ellen Datlow, and must remark that this 2007 original horror anthology is one of the best to come down the pike in a long time. Comprising an assortment of dark themes, INFERNO offers readers an outstanding variety of twenty tales ranging from psychological and ghostly to monstrous and downright weird, if whimsical, the latter in reference to Jeffrey Ford's "The Bedroom Light," a conundrum of creepy and whimsical that left me chuckling while goose flesh crept up and down my arms. Clever.

The following is a list of my favorite stories, in order of the toc:

"The Forest" by Laird Barron: old acquaintances are revisited while the Old Ones feed.
"The Monsters of Heaven" by Nathan Ballingrud: a disturbing tale of loss, grief, and sacrifice. (This one was hard for me to shake off, haunted me for days.)
""Lives" by John Grant: the-cat-with-nine-lives meets a nasty demise, with uncomfortable implications.
"Ghorla" by Mark Samuels: repulsive retribution for the careless.
"An Apiary of White Bees" by Lee Thomas: oh, just let me say that the visceral-rating is high in this tale of bizarre horror.
"Stilled Life" by Pat Cadigan: a disturbing riff on the Pygmalion theme in reverse.

Finishing out this excellent anthology are "Riding Bitch" by K. W. Jeter--a tale of ghostly disaffection in Las Vegas; "Misadventure" by Stephen Gallagher--an engrossing tale of "haunts"; "Inelastic Collisions" by Elizabeth Bear--beware of the singles-bar in this one; "The Uninvited" by Christopher Fowler--a tale of unsavory reminiscence that made my spine creep with recollection; "13 O'Clock" by Mike O'Driscoll--a tragic and inescapable haunting; "Face" by Joyce Carol Oates--an ambiguous curse with psychological underpinnings; "The Keeper" by P. D. Cacek--a disturbing reminder that we must never forget; "Bethany's Wood" by Paul Finch--a tale about the very last person on earth who should go mad; "The Ease with Which We Freed the Beast" by Lucius Shepard--fantastic and gruesome delusions therein, this tale is a "must read" for the horror story die-hard; "Hushabye" by Simon Bestwick--on the track of someone or something feeding on innocence; "Perhaps the Last" by Conrad Williams--while a killer stalks the city, a mall guard obsesses about an unavailable woman; "The Janus Tree" by Glen Hirshberg--a disturbing coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of a decaying Montana mining town; "The Bedroom Light" by Jeffrey Ford--ghosts and a strange birthing that for some reason had me thinking of the cult film classic "Eraserhead" (I shiver); and last but not least, "The Suits at Auderlene" by Terry Dowling--a tale about arcane armor and generational revenge.

Ellen Datlow dedicated this book to the late and great Charles L. Grant.

Need I say more?

Highly recommended reading!


JLR

Each of the stories in this book have you asking yourself "What if?" You are left with a feeling of horror and wonder after each and every piece. Each one is more believable than the last. Though you tell yourself that you don't believe and that it's all just fiction, you are constantly looking over your shoulder to see if just maybe you are wrong. Paul Campbell's world is so believable that after reading this book you may just find yourself questioning the very things you thought you've been sure of your entire life.

An excellent book by an up and coming new artist. The stories were exciting with horror features and even a funny hilarious horror story,Flush, which I loved. The way Paul Campbell describes his characters, you can actually visualize them and the images stay with you. The way he describes the smells and the gruesome ways some of his characters are tortured is sickening and makes you grateful you are not them. He has a great way of telling horror stories that make you think and not forget what you read easily. I look forward to reading his next book.

Review of "Inside The Insane And Other Pieces Of Horror"
By
Paul Campbell

Paul Campbell has definitely captured the horrors that fill all our minds in his novel "Inside The Insane And Other Pieces Of Horror" and these are not images that will be easily forgotten.
Bizarre endings, as well as beginnings, create a chilling foundation for the many tales that fill this unique novel.
Beginning with the books name sake, "Inside The Insane" readers will be enthralled by the raw horror of the images created in this book. This story dares to question who in fact are the insane in our society, and who may be the sane members. It begins with a doctor that is determined to find the reason behind the killing spree of one Billy Bean. What makes this serial killer so enticing to the doctor is the fact that he killed seventy-three people at the young age of five. This is just the beginning of the shocking facts that this story unravels, and each journey that Doctor Van Hoesenburgh takes is more disturbing than the next. The doctor is obviously obsessed with the make up of his patients mind, and soon finds himself deeper into the inner chambers of the boy's psychic than he had ever imagined.
Before your head stops spinning from the many vivid details of this horrifying story, you will be thrust into the next. Like a roller coaster ride the journey will continue, and you're in for the ride of your life.
Many times while reading this book, I wanted to turn away from the pages and the often sick images I found there. However, I couldn't pull myself away, no matter how much I wanted to. I was compelled, and even driven, to move on to the next mind boggling story.
I must admit that, despite or perhaps because of, the often gruesome details that each story held, I was amazed at the quality of writing I found. I've actually never been much of a fan of horror stories. I felt that mostly that were just a combination of scary details and a lot of gore. However, in the case of this novel, I was pleasing surprised.
Campbell brought to life his characters and scenes in amazing clarity. He was able to make sense out of the "insane" world he created, and build a solid plot and believable characters. Even when I found out that the main characters were in fact maggots, I do mean literally, there was a quaint realism about them.
Ultimately, I must applaud the talents of this brilliant author and admit that I genuinely enjoyed his work. I also must say that I now look at the genre of horror in a much different light, and will certainly be looking for more of his talented work.
Besides, who's to say that you can't add a little spine chilling horror to your reading list of fine literature. I certainly did, and it was an enlightening experience.

Reviewed by T.A. Von Reiman, of the Writer's Nook and Reader's Corner

I have read several of Paul Campbell's work, he has had quite a few published online, and he is one good writer. I've read some of the stories in the book, and plan on getting my copy. Here is a man who will be a big name one day; I highly recommend this to anyone who likes to read.
Chris Bartholomew

Paul Campbell has a deliciously warped mind. His compilation of horror, titled "Inside the Insane," reads like the Twilight Zone with an edge.

The title story, "Inside the Insane," begins with the premise that insanity is a point of view. It starts, "How do we know that the insane aren't really the sane and the sane aren't really the insane? That answer is easy. There are more people we call sane and majority always rules. So those of us on the outside of rubber rooms must then be the sane right?"

The above is just one example of the originality of Campbell's work. He sees things from outside the box, a must for horror writers.

Probably Campbell's best work in this book is his flash fiction. The stories "Death of a Raindrop" and "I am the Knife" are positively brilliant. For the longer stories, "Tin Boy" is my personal favorite.

Campbell writes in a style that, on the surface, sometimes appears to be grammatically incorrect. However, that is because he writes in the style of "urban modern," as though he were telling his stories out loud, in person. His style of writing is conversational and unique.

The cover art is superb, with two skulls merged together to appear as though it were one skull moving. The cover art is an attention-getter and is very well done.

I am going to close this review by saying: if you are looking for original horror done in an unusual style, then this book is for you.

I was one of the lucky people who got to read this story before it came to print and it was a joy to do so.the story is a great fun read for anyone fast moving ride for the mind.

One of Highland Press' rising stars, R.R. Smythe writes an eerie morality tale. Set in turn-of-the-century Scotland four teens Callum, Erlidih, Finlay, and Skye must save their parents and the town from an unworldly attack. Strange, sentient trees creep from the closets to entwine sleepers in gnarled hardwood caskets. "Stand," "See," "Choose" and "Remember." Carved on the closet doors, those words are the only clues to the mystery. Will the four solve the riddle and wake the sleepers?

R.R. Smythe intertwines ancient lore with classic values to craft her story. Though written for young adults, Into the Woods has as much appeal for adult audiences as it does teens. You'll want to read it. Her book trailer is particularly compelling. [...]

Reviewed by: Laurel Bradley, Author of A Wish in Time

R.R.Smythe's young adult story, Into The Woods, reads like a fairy tale; familiar in so far as evil and good are portrayed, lessons are learned, yet new because the author has spun a wonderful new cautionary tale. The setting is Scotland, 1860. A known country, yet far enough back in time that one can easily imagine the events of the story taking place.

A strange sleep overtakes some of the towns people, followed by tree roots slowly enveloping the sleeping bodies as they slumber in their beds. Four friends face the horror of either their mother or father slowly slipping away, covered by roots and flowers. They feel powerless until they realize if they solve the puzzle presented, then their parents and other towns folk might awaken.

Although events takes place in 1860, the challenges teens faced then, as in school bullies, adults that don't understand them, will resonate with readers today. There are valuable lessons to be learned, or relearned as the case may be. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly to adults as well as any young adults of your acquaintance. I do hope there is a sequel, too!

One look at the beautiful but eerie trees with eyes on the book cover tells you that you're in for quite a ride, and the author certainly doesn't disappoint! Callum McClure's mother is in a deep sleep, imprisoned on her bed by vines. She's dying and he doesn't know what to do to help, but he suspects some magic is in the air.

Ellsbeth McClure only appears to be asleep. Actually, she's in a nightmare, escaping from trees, sharks, all manner of spooking things that want to eat her. She's hurt, bleeding, and starving. If only she can hang on until Callum finds the answer to her plight.

Into the Woods is a fairytale, really, because it has a strong message wrapped in a riveting, wonderful story. If you like mystery, thrills, adventure, magic, and romance, you'll find it in this wonderful Young Adult novel. I highly recommend this book to readers of any age. You won't be sorry you bought it!

Having liked this author's previous book "A Circle of Crows" A Circle of Crowsunder the Brynn Chapman name, I truly expected to appreciate another facet of her talent. She obviously adores fantasy, such as Lord of the Rings, J.K. Rowling and M. Night Shyamalan, yet she brings her own special talent into her tales. These writers have brought her to love the beauty of the tale and to write outside of the box, yet where Shyamalan stories often leave the reader unfulfilled -- a lot of promise only to end with a big let down--Smythe delivers.

The story is original, mesmerising with Callum having to face believing in things outside of the ordinary to save his mother and others. It's a wonderful dark original tale, imaginative, with strong characters, a solid premise and enough atmosphere to please people who loved The Village and for Harry fan's looking for another author to glom onto.

It's a great book for the whole family, marking the launch of this writer's YA facet with a grand style.

Highly recommended.

I thought this book was hilarious I read it to my mother while she was sick and she also enjoyed it thoroughly too. I also loved reading Howie's Writing Journal. He's just so funny about all the writing. He also uses so many adjectives generally to describe himself which is so funny when his friend reads it. He always tells him he uses too many adjectives about a certain character. If you enjoy short reads that are funny I think you will enjoy this book thoroughly I would recommend this to anyone. this is a great book and the in book author is so funny its hard put this book down after you start it. I also recommend all the Bunnicula books James Howe also wrote those and all his books are so intense, but so funny at the same time. This was a great book I also read some of the other books in this series and they are just about as funny.

My son was so excited when he was given this book to add to his 'Bunnicula' collection. It has turned out to be a great book, like the others in the series.

Would you ever want to go under a bed to get a potion? Well, It Came From
Beneath the Bed by James Howe is full of mystery. This story is about a dog who wants
to become a writer just like his uncle. Delilah helps Howe save the world from a large
stuffed-animal bear from eating the city. I liked this book a lot. It was good because it was funny and interesting. I don't really have a favorite part because the whole book is
good. Read more to find out.

Would you ever like to visit Asteroid # 6 in space? Tales of the House of Bunnicula Mind Swappers from Asteroid # 6 by James Howe is a good book to read. A dog gets it's mind switched with a squirrel from asteroid #6! Delilah the dog gets sent to asteroid #6 in space. I like this book because it has a lot of cool characters in it and it is really funny. The moral is you should always help your friends when they are in danger. Read more to find out about Tales of the house of Bunnicula mind swappers from Asteroid # 6!

I enjoyed this book even though I did not read the other books in the series. Bunnicula is about a boy who wants to rule the world. He made a potion and spilt it on his stuffed Koala Bear named Pudgykins.The potion made Pudgykins grow really, really big. He was eating everything. After he ate one thing he grew one foot taller. At the end of the book they put him on a boat and brought him to to an Island where people dump trash. People were trying to figure out what to do with him. But they just left him on the Island. I like this book very much.