The Weaponer by Eric S. Brown Review

by: Eric S. Brown
CosCom Entertainment
ISBN: 978-1926712703
Review by: Gina Desory
Review posted 12/30/2010

The Weaponer by Eric S. Brown is a story of Alan who lost his mother to the undead and his father shortly years after. Alan who is 'The Weaponer' tracks down these undead in a time period where western style of old and new modern technology come together. Through the aide of others and another bunch of strange creatures that come into the mix, Alan deals with his past and present struggles along with just trying to keep his head in tack.

Let's go with an old time western classic with this review: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

First let's start out with 'The Good.' In reading this story the characters, especially Alan who was the main, you got a sense of the 'western style' with their chatting back and forth and just overall demeanor. It was fun to read how the characters reacted to some undead taking apart one of their loved ones.

'The Bad.' Unfortunately, there were a few things that caught me off gaurd and made the story at times a stumble to read. Though the combination of having a western type story and modern technology is a good idea in itself and not one often done, at times in this story, it was hard to pinpoint a visual on when it took place. The confusion at times made the story seem to jump around.

Also, there was a flashback scene in the story that was hard to tell if it was a memory or if it was going on presently in the story while reading it. It wasn't until after reading it it was told it was a memory. That made for a confusing adventure.

'The Ugly.' The ugly part of this book? Well the undead of course and the other attackers. Both were described so well that I thought for a moment one was coming through the book at me. One thing about Eric S. Brown you can depend on is describing the monsters good in his book and this was no disappointment.

Overall even if you don't like a 'western' feel to your stories, you will most likely at least want to give this a go. Yes, if you are not aware there is a combination of different time period's technology, you may get confused, but stick with it. It's a good read and one worth trying out.

The Man of Shadows by Angel Zapata Review

by: Angel Zapata
Panic Press
ISBN: 978-446724705
Review by: Gina Desory
Review posted 12/26/2010

The Man of Shadows by Angel Zapata is a collection of 25 of her short Horror stories ranging from a tattoo that comes alive, a man afraid of trolls and a man who gets his what's coming to him from kidnapping children.

The stories by Zapata are not only disturbing, but makes you afraid to go to sleep at night. Each story has a range of description that leads you to ask yourself, 'is this really fiction?'

This is a wonderful collection of Horror shorts that one needs to keep along side such works as Stephen King on their shelves to come back to when those days seem boring and they need a little scare to shake themselves up.

Every Shallow Cut by Tom Piccirilli Review

by: Tom Piccirilli
ChiZine Publishing
ISBN: 978-1926851105
Review posted 12/22/2010

Every Shallow Cut describes a man in desperation. He has lost his house, lost his wife, never had children, though he regrets the child that was aborted and lost his way with his brother, who he finds a bit obnoxious. He's a writer with really no royalties and an agent who could care less. His only friend, a dog that goes with him everywhere and the local pawn owner who normally makes a good amount of money off things the man sells.

When reading this book there is a clear sense of loss and depression. You find yourself caught up in this man's world of just pure hopelessness. He doesn't care anymore what happens, at times he does try. Piccirilli really gives a sense of wanting to either kick this character in the rear to get him to do something or lend him a hand to move forward. You battle the heartaches, the turmoils, situations this character does or has with him. And at times you find yourself extremely depressed as well. The only problem I had was there didn't seem a solution to this man's many woes. Then again when so many problems occur at once is there really a solution?

Every Shallow Cut is not a light book to read. It really makes you think about what life would be if all was lost. It is not fluff or an upbeat book, but a story that needs to be told and certainly needs to be read.

As the Worm Turns by Brian Rosenberger

by: Brian Rosenberger
Blue Room Publishing
ISBN: 978-0984300631
Review by: Dana Bell
Review posted 12/20/2010


The first story from whence comes the title of the book is an accurate description of teen age life in high school, how friendships are made and the unusual professions of the friend’s father, the bully, the girl and finally, here’s how it all turned out.

‘Something Funny is going on’. Journal entries of a serial killer and how his mind works. Rather frightening and makes one hope that the BAU from ‘Criminal Minds’ is on the case.

‘Water’s Edge’ Never get too curious about a floating log.

‘GodTV’. A delightful tale about a not very nice man, Hollywood dreams and two demons who came knocking at his door. Echoes of ‘The Mummy’.

‘Rot and Roll’. You die and come back and maybe, your life will be better.

‘Dragon Skin’. Fun little fantasy piece tossed in amongst the horror stories, with a nasty twist at the end.

‘The Guests’. Halloween from another perspective.

‘Monster Burger’. Life in a small town. So true, so true!

‘Picnic in the Woods’. Where it starts is not where it ends. Where is does end – the reader isn’t expecting.

‘The Fisherman’. A familiar story, meaning, the reviewer has read it someplace else. The desire of catching the biggest fish, the secrets of bait and what championship fishers will do to win.

“The Angel and the ass’. Very ‘Miami Vice’ dealing with drug lords, undercover cops, and how no one actually wins.

‘Starting Over’. Another story read elsewhere. Unrequited love and what can come of it.

‘The Psychic’. . Twist is a bit too subtle and leaves the reader wondering ‘who’ the killer actually was. Read before too.

‘The Samaritian’. A dog, a man and a car. Not a good combination. Reviewer has read before.

‘Selling Sea Shells’. Rather frightening story based in a mythology not really familiar leaving the reader with an unsatisfied feeling.

‘The Better Mousetrap.’ Dr. Frankensmith I presume? (Read elsewhere as well.)

‘My Goth Prom Date’. Vampire on a date with a Goth. What could be more perfect?

‘Devil’s Advocate’. What you wish advice columnists would really say!

‘Shop Till you Drop’. Zombies. Who doesn’t like them? (Reviewer has read before.)

‘Hollyweird and Vine’. Hooker’s unhappy life, who she knew from the golden days and her wish.

‘The Audition’. Unfortunately, a very confusing story that didn’t seem to sew the idea together very well.

‘Bunnies’. Something awful happened to the world. The bunnies must be protected.

This collection of stories is told from the seamy side of life. The language is frank and often vulgar, but presented honestly. Sexual fantasy is played throughout from a male perspective and again, accurate and realistic. Recommended only for those not easily offended because the ideas in the tales are interesting, whether a new twist or a not so new one. Not suggested for those who don’t like the F*** word.

A Pint of Bloody Fiction:200 words to quench your bloody thirst anthology review

Edited by: Nandy Ekle and S.E. Cox
House of Horror
ISBN: 978-1446119468
Review posted 12/19/2010

A Pint of Bloody Fiction:200 words to quench your bloody thirst anthology has 42 flash fiction stories of horror, delight and just pure enjoyment. There are so many talented authors in this collection that one may be thrown off by the great book put together. But you can't miss reading this.

In this book we have Charlotte Emma Gledson with her story 'The Toy.' 'The Toy' describes how a sexual encounter can turn a bit more deadly. Ms. Gledson has always shown readers that she can dive into her stories and pull out the most strange, the most horrific feelings you can imagine and this story is no different.

Other stories such as 'Rorschach's Vampires' by Jason M. Tucker, shows a different side to vampires that thrills the reader even if they are not into vampire stories.

What this collection has is a pure horror feeling. Each page turned is another story where you may cringe, you may shiver and you probably will enjoy. The fact that the stories are 200 words a piece will not make you groan because it is too long, but give you a slight taste into the world of stories past, present and future.

Into the Dark by Patrick D' Orazio Review

by: Patrick D' Orazio
Library of the Living Dead
ISBN: 978-1456317102
Review posted 12/18/2010



Into the Dark is the second book of the Dark Trilogy by Patrick D' Orazio. The story starts with Jeff who we know from last time and his new found survivors from the walkers IE infected, George, Megan and a few others stopped in a van that barely works by other survivors. Their leader is someone by the name of Michael. After the confrontation is over, Michael leads Jeff's group back to where his community is staying. However, comfort is not the thing that occurs once Jeff and his band enters Micheal's little area. What comes about is a struggle of will, a struggle to live and a struggle to just go on.

When people hear the work sequel or trilogy, they think it won't be as good as the first movie or book they read. However, Into the Dark is better than the first book in the series Comes the Dark. We are learning more about Jeff the main character and what his limits are. We see more conflict with human nature and what it means to everyone to just survive.

D'Orazio grabs the reader and pulls them into this story with a large violent hook and your stuck, but what does happen is you don't mind being stuck, actually you love it.

If you love The Walking Dead you will love this book and please be aware you won't be able to live without it.

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King Review

by: Stephen King
Scribners Publishers
ISBN: 978-1439192566
Review by Jim Cherry
Review posted 12/6/2010

Stephen King is perhaps the greatest living writer of any genre working today. His “Hearts in Atlantis” was the best the book of short stories I'd read since Joyce's “Dubliners” and now “ Full Dark, No Stars” puts him in serious contention for being the being the Poe of our time.

“Full Dark, No Stars” is four stories with various levels of horror attached but each story is so very plausible the horror elements don't seem contrived or impossible. The first story “1922” is a very visceral story of murder and it's after effects. You can feel every ounce of creepiness the characters are experiencing. Some of the action may make you want to shrink away from the story but King's writing makes a reader a literary addict needing the next word, sentence, paragraph, hungry to see what happens next.

King wastes no elements in these stories, he explores every dark avenue of the story to it's fullest. “Big Driver” demonstrates this very ably. It's about a writer returning home from a book signing and is raped and left for dead after getting a flat tire. At first I thought King was going to get bogged down in every little detail of the aftermath, but it never happens, and King stays away from every cliche of the genre (whichever genre he may be writing in) but the action leads so naturally from one action to the next you think you're witnessing it unfold in real time.

King also reveals his mastery of the story not only does he show you what he wants you to see, but like any good magician he reveals things only when he's ready to reveal them, and when he does in “Fair Exchange” you realize the clue was in front of you all the time and King just moves the curtain aside ever so slightly to reveal what you only intuited was there.

Each story is loosely connected in theme that there's an unknown self in all of us that can push us over the edge into the unknown. King doubles up on this theme in his last story “A Good Marriage.” We see this from the point of view of a woman who discovers the darkest of secrets about her husband, and her reaction to it. It's a story that's going to make wives think twice about looking around their husband's workbench for spare batteries when the TV remote goes out.

I don't want to resort to the reviewers cliche of saying the author really keeps turning the pages, but in King's case it's an addictively true statement. Each story in “Full Dark, No Stars” is like enjoying a full and satisfying meal and you may want a little time to digest what you've read but you'll find yourself pulled back to find out what happens next.

Jim Cherry is the author of The Last Stage, www.jymsbooks.com