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A review by liamunderwood
Thirteen Tales of Horror by T. Pines
3.0
Thirteen Tales of Horror marks a refreshing change of pace for Point Horror. This is the first Point Horror book that I've read (so far...) which isn't afraid to delve into the supernatural to provide the spooks. Admittedly the quality of the thirteen stories is all over the place, but in a compilation like this that's to be expected. Also, the opening few pages contain more than a handful of typos, which did cause some concern, but thankfully these mostly subside as the book progresses. I'll just whizz through each of the stories and provide some brief thoughts.
1. Collect Call - Part I (Christopher Pike)
Okay, the first part of this short story is all over the place. I think this short story probably has the most typos, which isn't a great way to open a book, and it also contains lines such as: 'Janice coughed. She had been smoking a cigarette earlier, but only because she thought Bobby would want to come over for a light. Her lungs were still virgin, along with the rest of her.' Which is honestly pure cringe. And yet this short story also contains such a wonderful graphic description of someone burning alive in a car that it has been permanently seared into my head since I very first read this book over 20 years ago.
Collect Call - Part II: The Black Walker (Christopher Pike)
The second part of this story appears right at the end of the book. It's an interesting choice to bookend this short story compilation with a two parter, but there isn't really a whole lot of consistency between the two parts. The latter half is wackier and veers into stranger territory, but it's also not particularly compelling and the resolution is extremely weak.
2. Lucinda (Lael Littke)
I like the setting to this short story, and how guilt plays into the narrative. But it all goes a little bit silly quite quickly.
3. The Guiccioli Miniature (Jay Bennett)
The shortest short story, and yet still somehow the worst. This feels totally out of place in this collection.
4. Blood Kiss (D.E. Athkins)
My first foray into vampires since starting this re-read of Point Horror! I'm hoping there's better vampire stories to come...
5. A Little Taste of Death (Patricia Windsor)
I kinda really loved the concept and set-up. The resolution was awful.
6. The Doll (Carol Ellis)
Another supernatural short story, and as far as spooky dolls go this is fairly standard. Ellis teases out the inevitable a little bit too long, which is an almost impressive feat for a short story.
7. House of Horrors (J.B. Stamper)
The setting easily lends itself to a spooky story, so it's a little disappointing that Stamper couldn't devise something better/less obvious. I mean, this is fine, but there's untapped potential.
8. Where the Deer Are (Caroline B. Cooney)
This short story is absolute nonsense. Comes very very close to being the worst.
9. The Spell (R.L. Stine)
After The Baby-Sitter, The Boyfriend, and Beach Party, I approached this short story with some trepidation. Stine has not exactly been knocking his Point Horror books out of the park so far. Much to my surprise, The Spell is one of the better short stories in this collection and features quite a brutal scene and an intriguing concept executed nicely.
10. Dedicated to the One I Love (Diane Hoh)
This short story is a great example of being careful what you wish for. Whilst I have been longing for Point Horror to meddle more in the supernatural, I don't think it was employed particularly well here. Nice concept, but let down slightly by some silliness.
11. Hacker (Sinclair Smith)
Despite featuring an almost laughable use of technology, I actually didn't mind this. There's a nice reveal towards the end and, if we put how technology is used to one side, I quite liked the concept.
12. Deathflash (A. Bates)
Ehh, this short story didn't really work for me. I didn't gel with the concept.
13. The Boy Next Door (Ellen Emerson White)
This came very close to being my favourite short story of the entire collection, but I could've done without the twist. Still, concept, set up, and execution (up until the reveal) were all solid.
Overall Thirteen Tales of Horror is a mixed bag. There's a couple of good short stories, a couple of stinkers, and then a fair amount of average.
3/5
Point Horror Ranked
1) Trick or Treat - 3.5/5
2) Teacher's Pet - 3.5/5
3) April Fools - 3.5/5
4) My Secret Admirer - 3.5/5
5) The Lifeguard - 3.5/5
6) Thirteen Tales of Horror - 3/5
7) Funhouse - 3/5
8) The Boyfriend - 2/5
9) The Baby-Sitter - 1.5/5
10) Beach Party - 1/5
1. Collect Call - Part I (Christopher Pike)
Okay, the first part of this short story is all over the place. I think this short story probably has the most typos, which isn't a great way to open a book, and it also contains lines such as: 'Janice coughed. She had been smoking a cigarette earlier, but only because she thought Bobby would want to come over for a light. Her lungs were still virgin, along with the rest of her.' Which is honestly pure cringe. And yet this short story also contains such a wonderful graphic description of someone burning alive in a car that it has been permanently seared into my head since I very first read this book over 20 years ago.
Collect Call - Part II: The Black Walker (Christopher Pike)
The second part of this story appears right at the end of the book. It's an interesting choice to bookend this short story compilation with a two parter, but there isn't really a whole lot of consistency between the two parts. The latter half is wackier and veers into stranger territory, but it's also not particularly compelling and the resolution is extremely weak.
2. Lucinda (Lael Littke)
I like the setting to this short story, and how guilt plays into the narrative. But it all goes a little bit silly quite quickly.
3. The Guiccioli Miniature (Jay Bennett)
The shortest short story, and yet still somehow the worst. This feels totally out of place in this collection.
4. Blood Kiss (D.E. Athkins)
My first foray into vampires since starting this re-read of Point Horror! I'm hoping there's better vampire stories to come...
5. A Little Taste of Death (Patricia Windsor)
I kinda really loved the concept and set-up. The resolution was awful.
6. The Doll (Carol Ellis)
Another supernatural short story, and as far as spooky dolls go this is fairly standard. Ellis teases out the inevitable a little bit too long, which is an almost impressive feat for a short story.
7. House of Horrors (J.B. Stamper)
The setting easily lends itself to a spooky story, so it's a little disappointing that Stamper couldn't devise something better/less obvious. I mean, this is fine, but there's untapped potential.
8. Where the Deer Are (Caroline B. Cooney)
This short story is absolute nonsense. Comes very very close to being the worst.
9. The Spell (R.L. Stine)
After The Baby-Sitter, The Boyfriend, and Beach Party, I approached this short story with some trepidation. Stine has not exactly been knocking his Point Horror books out of the park so far. Much to my surprise, The Spell is one of the better short stories in this collection and features quite a brutal scene and an intriguing concept executed nicely.
10. Dedicated to the One I Love (Diane Hoh)
This short story is a great example of being careful what you wish for. Whilst I have been longing for Point Horror to meddle more in the supernatural, I don't think it was employed particularly well here. Nice concept, but let down slightly by some silliness.
11. Hacker (Sinclair Smith)
Despite featuring an almost laughable use of technology, I actually didn't mind this. There's a nice reveal towards the end and, if we put how technology is used to one side, I quite liked the concept.
12. Deathflash (A. Bates)
Ehh, this short story didn't really work for me. I didn't gel with the concept.
13. The Boy Next Door (Ellen Emerson White)
This came very close to being my favourite short story of the entire collection, but I could've done without the twist. Still, concept, set up, and execution (up until the reveal) were all solid.
Overall Thirteen Tales of Horror is a mixed bag. There's a couple of good short stories, a couple of stinkers, and then a fair amount of average.
3/5
Point Horror Ranked
1) Trick or Treat - 3.5/5
2) Teacher's Pet - 3.5/5
3) April Fools - 3.5/5
4) My Secret Admirer - 3.5/5
5) The Lifeguard - 3.5/5
6) Thirteen Tales of Horror - 3/5
7) Funhouse - 3/5
8) The Boyfriend - 2/5
9) The Baby-Sitter - 1.5/5
10) Beach Party - 1/5