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A review by billymac1962
The End in All Beginnings by John F.D. Taff
5.0
It was [a:Josh Malerman|7271073|Josh Malerman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1406934112p2/7271073.jpg] who recommended this book on the Booked. Podcast.
This collection of five novellas was, well, just terrific. I went into them knowing absolutely nothing about them other than Malerman highly recommending it. This is the way I go into most novels and stories. The surprising thing about this collection is that they weren't as horrific as I thought they'd be. Certainly the cover implies this. Sure, they're dark, but really the overlying theme will all of these stories is love and loss. Did I mention they're terrific stories?
A couple of them turned in such a way that reminded me of the old Gold Key horror comics I had as a kid, and that was a hoot. Most of these, though, is an author showcasing his skill through different genres and plotlines. Some themes were tried and true, and when I started one I thought, "Oh, another ______ story. I'm really not in the mood..." but he really makes it his own and draws out a very engaging and readable story. Every time.
This is similar in quality to that other giant of novella collection, one we all know and love as Uncle Steve, and like the master, Taff ends this with an afterword to explain his mind space while writing these. Great stuff.
Five stars. Great writer here!
This collection of five novellas was, well, just terrific. I went into them knowing absolutely nothing about them other than Malerman highly recommending it. This is the way I go into most novels and stories. The surprising thing about this collection is that they weren't as horrific as I thought they'd be. Certainly the cover implies this. Sure, they're dark, but really the overlying theme will all of these stories is love and loss. Did I mention they're terrific stories?
A couple of them turned in such a way that reminded me of the old Gold Key horror comics I had as a kid, and that was a hoot. Most of these, though, is an author showcasing his skill through different genres and plotlines. Some themes were tried and true, and when I started one I thought, "Oh, another ______ story. I'm really not in the mood..." but he really makes it his own and draws out a very engaging and readable story. Every time.
This is similar in quality to that other giant of novella collection, one we all know and love as Uncle Steve, and like the master, Taff ends this with an afterword to explain his mind space while writing these. Great stuff.
Five stars. Great writer here!