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A review by camerontrost
The 15th Pan Book of Horror Stories by Harry Turner, Roger Dunkley, David Case, Herbert van Thal, Sally Franklin, Maggie Webb, Charles Thornton, Conrad Hill, John Keefauver, Alex White, Morag Greer
3.0
2.5 stars.
This is by no means an exceptional horror anthology, but four of the tales deserve a special mention. David Case's ‘Among the Wolves’ investigated evolution, humanity, and ethics. Although the latter part of the tale didn't live up to the engaging scenario presented at the beginning, it left me curious about this writer, whose work I hadn't previously encountered. Harry Turner's ‘Fingers’ is a short tale of psychological terror, like 'Among the Wolves', it asks us to consider the fine line between man and beast. Morag Greer's ‘The Gates Were Locked’ could have been an amazing ghost story. The Scottish castle setting, and the detail she provides, is absolutely perfect. However, the conclusion is both predictable and unconvincing. Conrad Hill's ‘Wally’ is a bizarre body horror story. I'm not quite sure what to think of it, but it's yucky and memorable. All in all, this anthology just claws its way into the three-star range for me.
This is by no means an exceptional horror anthology, but four of the tales deserve a special mention. David Case's ‘Among the Wolves’ investigated evolution, humanity, and ethics. Although the latter part of the tale didn't live up to the engaging scenario presented at the beginning, it left me curious about this writer, whose work I hadn't previously encountered. Harry Turner's ‘Fingers’ is a short tale of psychological terror, like 'Among the Wolves', it asks us to consider the fine line between man and beast. Morag Greer's ‘The Gates Were Locked’ could have been an amazing ghost story. The Scottish castle setting, and the detail she provides, is absolutely perfect. However, the conclusion is both predictable and unconvincing. Conrad Hill's ‘Wally’ is a bizarre body horror story. I'm not quite sure what to think of it, but it's yucky and memorable. All in all, this anthology just claws its way into the three-star range for me.