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A review by vdarcangelo
Ominous Realities: The Anthology of Dark Speculative Horrors by T. Fox Dunham, Sharon Lawson, Martin Rose, Bracken MacLeod, J. Daniel Stone, Allen Griffin, John F.D. Taff, Ewan C. Forbes, Ken Altabef, Paul Williams, Jonathan Balog, Gregory L. Norris, Alice Goldfuss, Edward Morris, Anthony Rivera, Hugh A.D. Spencer, Eric Del Carlo, William Meikle
4.0
http://ensuingchapters.com/2014/08/14/a-darker-shade-of-summer-fiction/
Once again, Grey Matter Press has delivered the anthology goods. Ominous Realities is the finest indie collection I’ve read in a while. These dystopian tales chill and unsettle, balancing skill, imagination and smarts.
Take “On the Threshold,” an eerie, Lovecraftian tale of science and madness from William Meikle. Last year, I read Meikle’s novel The Hole, and thought it was enjoyable but flawed. Here, Meikle is in control from the creepy opener in the lab to the grim finale. HPL would love this tale of science gone wrong.
Keeping up the intensity is “Doyoshota,” by Ken Altabef, a haunting intersection of conspiracy and cacophony that makes tinnitus sound like a Beethoven sonata.
Eric Del Carlo’s “We Are Hale, We Are Whole” is deserving of any “best-of” anthology, a smart, thoughtful piece of writing that should be a must-read for anyone attempting to world-build within the confines of a short story. It also takes a philosophical bent about quality of life, aging, health care and sacrifice.
An excellent collection from a hot new publisher. Also be sure to check out their Dark Visions II anthology.
Once again, Grey Matter Press has delivered the anthology goods. Ominous Realities is the finest indie collection I’ve read in a while. These dystopian tales chill and unsettle, balancing skill, imagination and smarts.
Take “On the Threshold,” an eerie, Lovecraftian tale of science and madness from William Meikle. Last year, I read Meikle’s novel The Hole, and thought it was enjoyable but flawed. Here, Meikle is in control from the creepy opener in the lab to the grim finale. HPL would love this tale of science gone wrong.
Keeping up the intensity is “Doyoshota,” by Ken Altabef, a haunting intersection of conspiracy and cacophony that makes tinnitus sound like a Beethoven sonata.
Eric Del Carlo’s “We Are Hale, We Are Whole” is deserving of any “best-of” anthology, a smart, thoughtful piece of writing that should be a must-read for anyone attempting to world-build within the confines of a short story. It also takes a philosophical bent about quality of life, aging, health care and sacrifice.
An excellent collection from a hot new publisher. Also be sure to check out their Dark Visions II anthology.