Interview: Douglas Wynne Talks Technology and Terror

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Douglas Wynne

Douglas Wynne wrote his first novel as a teen, but his creative path detoured through the music industry before returning to his literary calling. He now crafts dark fantasy that indulges the author’s curiosity in shadowy cults, conspiracies, and the occult, including his SPECTRA Files series (Red Equinox, Black January, Cthulhu Blues), The Devil of Echo Lake, and Steel Breeze, which pitted resilient characters against malevolent forces inciting catastrophe. Wynne’s work flourishes from a postmodern approach to eldritch tales, where elder gods and demons infiltrate the contemporary world and wreak havoc on twenty-first century life, often through song, a devilish way for the writer to remain connected to his musical roots.  Continue Reading

Review: Later by Stephen King

cover of Later by Stephen KingLater by Stephen King
Hard Case Crime (March 2021)
266 pages; $9.62 paperback; $9.99 e-book
Reviewed by Blu Gilliand

This is a horror story.

Yes, it’s a Hard Case Crime release, and yes, it has plenty of the necessary ingredients for a crime story. It has drug dealers and dirty cops and kidnapping and a serial bomber.

So yes, this is a crime story…but mostly it’s a horror story. A damn good one, I’m happy to say.

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Review: Devil’s Creek by Todd Keisling

cover of Devil's Creek by Todd KeislingDevil’s Creek by Todd Keisling
Silver Shamrock Publishing (June 2020)
404 pages; $15.99 paperback; $5.99 e-book
Reviewed by Kevin Lucia

Todd Keisling’s Devil’s Creek recently made it onto the Final Ballot for the Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel, and there’s good reason for that. It’s very likely the best thing I read in 2020, and also one of my favorite contemporary horror novels, period. Reviewers have compared it to Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, and while usually I might roll my eyes slightly at such a comparison, in this case it’s very apt. Continue Reading

Revelations: Shadows and Borderlands

Banner for Revelations, the column written by Kevin Lucia for Cemetery Dance

I’m only an armchair observer and by no means an expert, but it seems in the last six years the horror genre has witnessed a blossoming short story anthology market. And no offense to anyone, but I mean good markets offering quality stories and top-notch production values, not lots of people discovering the novelty of quick and easy self-publishing in order to issue sub-standard collections through Lulu or Createspace, which seemed very common about eight or nine years ago. (Again, I apologize for any snark; that’s just my opinion, only).Continue Reading

Review: His Own Devices by Douglas Wynne

cover of His Own Devices by Douglas WynneHis Own Devices by Douglas Wynne
Promethean (March 4, 2021)
246 pages; $4.99 Kindle
Reviewed by Chris Hallock

Generations before cyberspace was a practical application, the pioneers of weird fiction toiled in artificial worlds beset by shadowy cabals and god-like monstrosities. Imagine the possibilities open to Clark Ashton Smith or Algernon Blackwood had the tendrils of the internet penetrated early twentieth century life, offering another vast dimension for them to explore in their eldritch tales.Continue Reading

King of Crime Part III — Featured Review of LATER and what comes…later

Stephen King News From the Dead Zone

King of Crime: Part III — Featured Review of LATER and what comes…later

Today is publication day for Hard Case Crime’s third Stephen King novel, Later. Although King is generally thought of as a horror writer, he has written numerous crime short stories, novellas and novels, giving them a unique twist. In Part I of this three-part series, I looked at King’s earliest involvement with crime fiction. In Part II, I explored his more recent writings in the genre, including his previous two books with Hard Case Crime and the Mercedes series. Today, I review Later and look ahead to King’s next crime novel, Billy Summers.

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Review: Whitechapel Rhapsody by Alessandro Manzetti

cover of Whitechapel RhapsodyWhitechapel Rhapsody by Alessandro Manzetti
Independent Legions (October 2020)
85 pages; $10.90 paperback, $3.99 e-book
Reviewed by Anton Cancre

Alessandro Manzetti has quickly made a fairly large stamp on the genre. I remember hearing his name some a couple years ago, seeing something from him pop up here and there. Now, dude’s name is moving mountains. Whitechapel Rhapsody is a marvelous example of why.Continue Reading

Later by Stephen King: LAST CHANCE TO PREORDER OUR EXCLUSIVE SLIPCASE!

For those who missed the news, there is a brand new Stephen King novel on the way next month, and it sounds like another classic!

Later by Stephen King is an original novel about the secrets we keep buried and the cost of unearthing them. The son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. Yet Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine…”

In addition, we’re once again offering one of our acclaimed aftermarket slipcases for this new novel, in case you’d like to protect your copy for generations to come, but the ordering page will be taken down off the site later this week!

Later

Read more or place your order while our supplies last!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

King of Crime Part II — Hard Case Crime and Beyond

Stephen King News From the Dead Zone

King of Crime: Part II — Hard Case Crime and Beyond

Next week — on March 2nd, 2021 to be specific — Hard Case Crime will publish their third Stephen King novel, Later. Although King is generally thought of as a horror writer, he has written numerous crime short stories, novellas and novels, giving them a unique twist. In Part 1 of this three-part series, I looked at King’s earliest involvement with crime fiction. This week, I’ll explore his more recent writings in the genre, including his previous two books with Hard Case Crime and the Mercedes series. Then, on publication day, I’ll review Later and look ahead to King’s next crime novel, Billy Summers.

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From the Inner Mind to the Outer Limits by Joseph Stefano: New Signed Limited Edition Hardcover

We have a few copies left to offer of the new Limited Edition of From the Inner Mind to the Outer Limits by Joseph Stefano from Gauntlet Press, but these won’t last long!

About the Book:
Gauntlet presents Joseph Stefano’s scripts from the classic ABC television anthology series The Outer Limits. Stefano had a very distinct vision for an Outer Limits episode and these manuscripts will showcase these timeless tales from the writer’s perspective. All of the manuscripts included in this edition originated from the personal archives of Joseph Stefano. Featuring some of the greatest Gothic Science Fiction stories ever written, this edition will showcase the cherished legacy of this gifted writer. The numbered edition will be signed by Dominic Stefano, the son of Joseph Stefano, and editor Dave Rash.

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Read more and place your order while supplies last!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Review: Shiver by Junji Ito

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Shiver by Junji Ito
VIZ Media (December 2017)
400 pages; $22.99 hardcover, $15.99 ebook
Reviewed by Danica Davidson

Junji Ito is one of Japan’s top horror manga creators. His short story collection Shiver — which at almost 400 pages of length is longer than average for manga — gives a glimpses into what makes him so popular.Continue Reading

The Fade by James Cooper: Surprise New Release Shipping Soon!

Meet Philip: a young boy with a desire to self-destruct. His family thinks he’s a monster, but that’s okay. Monsters are usually destroyed in the final act, and Philip knows that’s exactly how he’ll end up. A pale corpse, rotting in the wind…

Hilary Bunce feels like a monster, too. His dysfunctional family is unbearable, turning him into a shadow of the man he really is, lost and afraid, with little awareness of the emerging horror he is about to confront.

The world isn’t designed for people like Philip and Hilary. That’s why they each like to visit the Fade, an empty landscape of desert and rolling hills that seems to float beyond existence itself, accessible to only a privileged few, where all the world’s misery and loneliness dissolves.

But the Fade is not as empty or as isolated as it appears. A tall, thin man named Pappy stalks the desert carrying a large burlap sack. His job is to clean up the Fade. He lives in a grey house on top of a hill, eternally watchful, forever alert. And he will do whatever it takes to rid his kingdom of disease…

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Read more and place your order to be among the first to read this incredible new novel!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Mother Horror’s Top Twenty Horror Books Written by Women

banner reads women in horror

February is Women in Horror Month. Officially. But unofficially, genre buffs read horror fiction all year. It’s not even something to consider or be super intentional about, but of course the focused, extra attention women get during WiHM is important.

Eventually, the Women in Horror Month movement will take off in a more expansive direction allowing people to promote WiHM whenever and however they desire. But for now, it’s important to join together and amplify women who write horror loudly and proudly with a unified voice this month.Continue Reading

On This, the Day of the Pig by Josh Malerman: Surprise Lettered Edition Available Now!

On This, the Day of the Pig
by Josh Malerman

Surprise Lettered Edition Available Now!

In case you missed the news, we’re pleased to tell you about the surprise Lettered Edition of Josh Malerman’s On This, the Day of the Pig that we’ve produced in collaboration with our friends at Earthling Publications!

Originally published in 2019 as a signed and numbered edition, Earthling Publications has produced this 26-copy traycased edition, and it is now FINISHED and ready to ship!

Earthling is handling all the order processing and shipping for this unique special edition, and you can order directly from them while supplies last. Please head over to their website for additional details about this special edition and to contact them if you’re interested in adding this beautiful collectible to your collection!

Lettered Edition

Read more and contact Earthling while the limited supplies last!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Review: Wicked Women: An Anthology by The New England Horror Writers

cover of Wicked Women showing a witch-like characterWicked Women: An Anthology by The New England Horror Writers edited by Trisha J. Wooldridge & Scott E. Goudsward
NEHW Press (November 2020)
242 pages; paperback $14.99; e-book $4.99
Reviewed by Dave Simms

February is Women in Horror Month, a time to celebrate those who have altered the dark landscape and pioneered the path forward into nightmares anew and fresh trails into the abyss. Note: this shouldn’t just be one month — it’s tough to highlight all of the new stars in the genre while looking back to those who paved the way.Continue Reading