A world of horror, p.29
A World of Horror, page 29
There was light in the bothy, flickering: a candle.
Neil walked down the slope toward the bothy. He was cold now, and he could imagine that the fire would be lit and that his friends would be there again. He’d forgotten where he came from, and knew only that he had been trying to get here for a long time and had finally arrived. Through the window he saw his friends, Rhona and Michael. They looked well. They were laughing and drinking, and he felt that he should be with them, but when he tried the door, he found it was locked. He put his face to the window, and Rhona turned. Only she seemed to see him there. She shook her head slowly.
Neil turned away from the window. Around him, faceless figures took form on the mist and glided up the hill on the wind, and he followed them, because he did not know where else to go.
As he went, he looked back at the bothy. He could not see Michael now, but Rhona stood at the window. She smiled at him. It was a familiar smile.
It said: There are places you and I don’t go together.
DAVID MCGROARTY’s fiction has featured in the anthologies Rustblind and Siverbright, Sensorama, Caledonia Dreamin’ (Eibonvale Press), Astrologica (The Alchemy Press), Strange Tales V (Tartarus Press), Wordland 5 (The Exaggerated Press), and The Five Senses of Horror (Dark Moon Books). He is a Scottish writer of Hebridean and Irish descent, who grew up near Glasgow and now lives in Islington, London, with his partner and two children. He is a member of Clockhouse London Writers. David can be found online at www.davidmcgroarty.net.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO INSPIRED or supported this anthology, or who recognize the value of fostering diverse voices from around the world.
Indie publications are often a lonely and neurotic enterprise for creators, taking upon oneself all aspects of a book and hoping that the massive enterprise doesn’t fall off immediately into some void of audience indifference.
But for your interest and hopefully (by this point!) enjoyment, it’s all been worth it.
Particular thanks to:
Alessandro Manzetti for recommending to me Carla Negrini and Claudio Foti
Lauren Beukes for recommending to me Mohale Mashigo and Charlie Human
Max Booth III for recommending to me Ashlee Scheuerman
Michael Sebastian for recommending to me Thersa Matsuura
Simon Strantzas for recommending to me David Nickle
Thanks also to the Horror Writers Association, who have been an immense resource of technical information, guidance, and insight, especially my local friends in the Los Angeles chapter, who, monthly, vitalize me with awe and encouragement.
Enormous thanks to illustrator Steve Lines for his remarkable artwork.
And, lastly, thanks most of all to the authors included within for being a part of this project, and to you, dear reader, who I hope have found some meaning or delight reading this all!
EDITOR’S REQUEST
DEAR READER, FAN, OR SUPPORTER,
It’s a dreadful commentary that the worth of indie authors is measured by online 5-star reviews, but such is the state of current commerce.
Should you have enjoyed this book, gratitude is most appreciated by posting a brief and honest online review at Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, and/or a highly-visible blog.
With sincerest thanks,
Eric J. Guignard
Editor, A World of Horror
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
Hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste: Our impressions of the world are formed by our five senses, and so too are our fears, our imaginations, and our captivation in reading fiction stories that embrace these senses.
Whether hearing the song of infernal caverns, tasting the erotic kiss of treachery, or smelling the lush fragrance of a fiend, enclosed within this anthology are fifteen horror and dark fantasy tales that will quicken the beat of fear, sweeten the flavor of wonder, sharpen the spike of thrills, and otherwise brighten the marvel of storytelling that is found resonant!
Editor Eric J. Guignard and psychologist Jessica Bayliss, PhD also include companion discourse throughout, offering academic and literary insight as well as psychological commentary examining the physiology of our senses, why each of our senses are engaged by dark fiction stories, and how it all inspires writers to continually churn out ideas in uncommon and invigorating ways.
Featuring stunning interior illustrations by Nils Bross, and including fiction short stories by such world-renowned authors as John Farris, Ramsey Campbell, Poppy Z. Brite, Darrell Schweitzer, and Richard Christian Matheson, amongst others.
Intended for readers, writers, and students alike, explore THE FIVE SENSES OF HORROR!
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9988275-0-6
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
Death. Who has not considered their own mortality and wondered at what awaits, once our frail human shell expires? What occurs after the heart stops beating, after the last breath is drawn, after life as we know it terminates?
Does our spirit remain on Earth while the body rots? Do the remnants of our soul transcend to a celestial Heaven or sink to Hell’s torment? Can we choose our own afterlife? Can we die again in the hereafter? Are we given the opportunity to reincarnate and do it all over? Is life merely a cosmic joke or is it an experiment for something greater? Enclosed in this Bram Stoker-award winning anthology are thirty-four all-new dark and speculative fiction stories exploring the possibilities AFTER DEATH . . .
“Though the majority of the pieces come from the darker side of the genre, a solid minority are playful, clever, or full of wonder. This strong and well-themed anthology is sure to make readers contemplative even while it creates nightmares.”
—Publishers Weekly
“In Eric J. Guignard’s latest anthology he gathers some of the biggest and most talented authors on the planet to give us their take on this entertaining and perplexing subject matter . . . highly recommended.”
—Famous Monsters of Filmland
“An excellent collection of imaginative tales of what waits beyond the veil.”
—Amazing Stories Magazine
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9885569-2-8
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
In this anthology, DARK TALES OF LOST CIVILIZATIONS, you will unearth twenty-five previously unpublished horror and speculative fiction stories relating to aspects of civilizations that are crumbling, forgotten, rediscovered, or perhaps merely spoken about in great and fearful whispers.
What is it that lures explorers to distant lands where none have returned? Where is Genghis Khan buried? What happened to Atlantis? Who will displace mankind on Earth? What laments have the Witches of Oz? Answers to these mysteries and other tales are presented within this critically acclaimed anthology.
“The stories range from mildly disturbing to downright terrifying . . . Most are written in a conservative, suggestive style, relying on the reader’s own imagination to take the plunge from speculation to horror.”
—Monster Librarian Reviews
“Several of these stories made it on to my best of the year shortlist, and the book itself is now on the best anthologies of the year shortlist.”
—British Fantasy Society
“Almost any story in this anthology is worth the price of purchase. The entire collection is a delight.”
—Black Gate Magazine
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9834335-9-0
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
Exploring Dark Short Fiction #1:
A Primer to Steve Rasnic Tem
For over four decades, Steve Rasnic Tem has been an acclaimed author of horror, weird, and sentimental fiction. Hailed by Publishers Weekly as “A perfect balance between the bizarre and the straight-forward” and Library Journal as “One of the most distinctive voices in imaginative literature,” Steve Rasnic Tem has been read and cherished the world over for his affecting, genre-crossing tales.
Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to his work, the first in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the rich voice of Steve Rasnic Tem, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.
Included within these pages are:
Six short stories, one written exclusively for this book
Author interview
Complete bibliography
Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)
. . . and more!
Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Steve Rasnic Tem.
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9885569-2-8
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
Exploring Dark Short Fiction #2:
A Primer to Kaaron Warren
Australian author Kaaron Warren is widely recognized as one of the leading writers today of speculative and dark short fiction. She’s published four novels, multiple novellas, and well over one hundred heart-rending tales of horror, science fiction, and beautiful fantasy, and is the first author ever to simultaneously win all three of Australia’s top speculative fiction writing awards (Ditmar, Shadows, and Aurealis awards for The Grief Hole).
Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to her work, the second in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the distinct voice of Kaaron Warren, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.
Included within these pages are:
Six short stories, one written exclusively for this book
Author interview
Complete bibliography
Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)
. . . and more!
Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Kaaron Warren.
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9989383-0-1
ALSO FROM ERIC J. GUIGNARD AND DARK MOON BOOKS:
Exploring Dark Short Fiction #3:
A Primer to Nisi Shawl
Praised by both literary journals and leading fiction magazines, Nisi Shawl is celebrated as an author whose works are lyrical and philosophical, speculative and far-ranging; “ . . . broad in ambition and deep in accomplishment” (The Seattle Times). Besides nearly three decades of creating fantasy and science fiction, fairy tales, and indigenous stories, Nisi has also been lauded as editor, journalist, and proponent of feminism, African-American fiction, and other pedagogical issues of diversity.
Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to her work, the third in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the vibrant voice of Nisi Shawl, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.
Included within these pages are:
Six short stories, one written exclusively for this book
Author interview
Complete bibliography
Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)
. . . and more!
Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Nisi Shawl.
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-9989383-4-9
THE CRIME FILES OF KATY GREEN BY GENE O’NEILL:
Discover why readers have been applauding this stark, fast-paced noir series by multiple-award-winning author, Gene O’Neill, and follow the dark murder mysteries of Sacramento homicide detectives Katy Green and Johnny Cato, dubbed by the press as Sacramento’s “Green Hornet and Cato”!
Book #1: DOUBLE JACK (a novella)
400-pound serial killer Jack Malenko has discovered the perfect cover: He dresses as a CalTrans worker and preys on female motorists in distress in full sight of passing traffic. How fast can Katy Green and Johnny Cato track him down before he strikes again?
Book #2: SHADOW OF THE DARK ANGEL
Bullied misfit, Samuel Kubiak, is visited by a dark guardian angel who helps Samuel gain just vengeance. There hasn’t been a case yet Katy and Johnny haven’t solved, but now how can they track a psychopathic suspect that comes and goes in the shadows?
Book #3: DEATHFLASH
Billy Williams can see the soul as it departs the body, and is “commanded to do the Lord’s work,” which he does fanatically, slaying drug addicts in San Francisco . . . Katy and Johnny investigate the case as junkies die all around, for Billy has his own addiction: the rush of viewing the Deathflash.
Order your copy at www.darkmoonbooks.com or www.amazon.com
ABOUT EDITOR, ERIC J. GUIGNARD
ERIC J. GUIGNARD IS A writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), been a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize.
He has over 100 stories and non-fiction works appearing in publications such as Nightmare Magazine, Gamut, Black Static, Shock Totem, and Dark Discoveries Magazine. As editor, Eric’s published the anthologies Dark Tales of Lost Civilizations, After Death . . . , +Horror Library+ Volume 6, The Five Senses of Horror, and is soon to release Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror. Additionally he’s created an ongoing series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction, titled: Exploring Dark Short Fiction (Vol. 1: Steve Rasnic Tem; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford).
Read his novella Baggage of Eternal Night (JournalStone) and watch for forthcoming books, including the novel Crossbuck ’Bo and the short story collection, That Which Grows Wild: 16 Tales of Dark Fiction (Cemetery Dance).
Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, cats, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.
ABOUT ILLUSTRATOR, STEVE LINES
STEVE LINES IS A musician, artist, editor, and occasional writer, and runs Rainfall Records & Books with John B. Ford. He lives in England in darkest Wiltshire just a few miles from the Avebury stone circle and Silbury Hill. He has been illustrating books and magazines since the mid 70s and has worked for Centipede Press, Lindisfarne Press, Mythos Books, and Rainfall Books, amongst others. With John B. Ford he wrote The Night Eternal, a dark Arabian fantasy. He is active in several bands including, The Chaos Brothers, Stormclouds, The Doctor’s Pond, and The Ungrateful Dead. He is currently working on a new CD album titled Dali’s Brain: Dark Wings of Death, a collection of short stories with John B. Ford, and a Bruce Pennington autobiography/retrospective titled Cover Story.
Eric J. Guignard, A World of Horror
