 40 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 41 

case stephen jones: home is where the horror is  With more than a hundred books under told from the viewpoint of the child. This notes his belt, as writer and editor, renowned one was filled with small, subtle touches of anthologist Stephen Jones is one of the detail and unsettling imagery, with a hint peter tennant movers and shakers of the UK horror scene, that the fate of the man is related to the but for many people he’s principally known antipathy of the child. on books for his editorship of The Mammoth Book of ‘Norman Wisdom and the Angel of Death’ Best New Horror, which is now in its twenty by Christopher Fowler is a chilling portrait 40–47 first year of separating wheat from chaff, the of a serial killer obsessed with the comedian. stephen jones great from the merely good. Each word here is carefully chosen for best of best new horror* To mark the twentieth anniversary of the maximum effect, the tale gradually revealing best new horror 21* series Jones has edited THE MAMMOTH how truly disturbed this ostensibly harmless zombie apocalypse* BOOK OF THE BEST OF BEST NEW individual is and the terrible things that plus interview HORROR: TWO DECADES OF DARK he may have done. An advantage of this  FICTION (Robinson paperback, 746pp, volume’s size is the capacity to publish work 47–55 £9.99), selecting a favourite story from each at novella length, and the first of these is neil gaiman & al sarrantonio year of publication. And the mammoth ‘Mefisto in Onyx’, which has just the sort stories label is even more apposite than usual of prose pyrotechnics you’d expect from christopher golden for this doorstop of a book, with not just Harlan Ellison in his prime, the story of a zombie stories on offer but a wealth of supporting young man who can reach into the minds nancy kilpatrick material, including indexes to the series, of others and who uses that ability to find evolve reproduction covers and Jones’ illuminating out if a serial killer is guilty of his crimes, ian whates comments about the difficulties the only he has blundered into a trap. This is a the bitten word series has contended with, insights into superb story, with beautiful characterisation, charles black the publication backdrop and the horror crackling dialogue, vivid descriptions and Courtesy of Robinson five readers can win all three anthologies. To be entered into the draw email your name and postal the sixth black book of horror genre itself. This is more than simply an a full appreciation of who these people are address to [email protected] using STEPHEN JONES as your subject line. Closing date is November the 14th gary fry anthology: it is also a history lesson. and what such powers would mean to the where the heart is But the stories are the thing, and from user, a story with twist and counter twist that account of metamorphosis, a young woman There’s a sinister quality to the matter of fact considering the fiction a few words allyson bird & joel lane the opening pages the reader knows that he keep the reader constantly off balance. At a who has been raped transformed into a narrative here, the way in which so much is about the two sections that bookend this never again is in good hands. Jones has a keen sense of similar length, Terry Lamsley’s ‘The Break’ is giant moth that feeds on men. Elizabeth taken for granted by the priest in the church collection. At a hundred pages, Jones’ d.f. lewis what works in a story, developed over many a story in the vein of Aickman, as a boy and Hand’s prose, as ever, is a delight to read, and how easily the world forgets all about introductory essay ‘Horror in 2009’ is a null immortalis: nemonymous ten years in the business, and while individual his grandparents visit a seaside town where but what makes the story special is the Charlotte, an existential horror that places comprehensive overview of how the genre ellen datlow readers may disagree with certain of his strange things seem to be going on. The story characterisation, the wealth of emotion human concerns in thrall to some greater, has fared during the year, and I do mean the best horror of the year 2 choices (I personally didn’t think so highly builds superbly well, with new elements conveyed so that we identify with the inexplicable purpose. comprehensive. If you want to know what’s darkness of the Stephen King story that represents being introduced that move it ever further protagonist and feel for her, even though we These twelve stories and eight more that available, then this is the place to look. But 2008) you can be assured that the stories are away from the comfort and normality of the know that what she is doing is wrong. I haven’t discussed for reasons of space, Jones doesn’t simply list things, he expresses all going to be of the finest quality. English seaside, and the subtle intimations of There’s a Lovecraftian feel to ‘The together form a substantial and important opinions and offers insight into the general *win a copy! Leading off is the ironically titled ‘No a form of vampirism at the end. White Hands’ by Mark Samuels, with the volume, a landmark anthology that all lovers publishing situation. You may not agree Sharks in the Med’ by Brian Lumley, in The magnificent ‘Mr Clubb and Mr Cuff’ protagonist delving into the secrets of a of well written horror fiction will want to with him, but he’s earned the right to be which a young couple on holiday in Greece is one of the masterpieces of the anthology, a writer and unearthing a ghastly secret. This have on their shelves. If the genre needs a heard. I’m less gung ho for the eighty page run foul of a local who has a secret island to detailed and thoroughly absorbing account is classic horror written as the masters might flagship to lead it through the treacherous ‘Necrology’ compiled by Jones and Kim which he lures tourists. The foreign setting is of how a man gets drawn into the macabre have done, with a shudder at the end, and waters of modern publishing, then you Newman that closes the book. In principle, perfectly evoked and there’s a growing sense plans of two assassins for hire with an agenda far more hinted at than is actually revealed. couldn’t ask for a finer vessel than this. I think it’s great that these people get of unease as events unfold, with a ‘happy’ of their own. Author Peter Straub doesn’t set Lisa Tuttle’s ‘My Death’ is another wonderful THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF remembered and their achievements noted, ending of sorts, though I was bit wary of the a foot wrong here, with each detail building example of the storyteller’s art, its female BEST NEW HORROR #21 (Robinson even down to the lowliest spear carrier, ease with which the couple go off with the on top of the previous one, the protagonist’s narrator uncovering the past of a famous paperback, 512pp, £7.99) carries on where the and there’s often the shock of recognition, local, given that he is such a creepy character. whole life coming unravelled at the hands artist’s model and how it connects to a previous volume left off, with the nineteen learning the fate of an actor or writer who Michael Marshall Smith’s first published of the hired help, people who so casually barren island, and indeed to herself. Tuttle’s stories Jones considers to be the best of once meant a lot to you personally. But all story, ‘The Man Who Drew Cats’ is a tale inflict on him the things he had planned measured prose gives the characters time to 2009’s crop, and again quality is assured, the same it doesn’t make for an engaging of supernatural justice, in which the artist’s for others, and with subtle warning signs of develop and grow, lures us into their world though we will each have our own opinions read, is nothing more than a compendium ability to create extremely realistic work is what is to come embedded in the text. Tim and compels us to stay there, presenting an as to what should have been included. of obituaries no matter how the authors try put to ‘good’ use. It’s written with sensitivity Lebbon’s novella ‘White’ is almost as good, intoxicating meld of past and present, art Personally I much preferred Nicholas Royle’s to present it, exhaustive but also exhausting. and a genuine feel for the material, the real the story set in a snowbound future England and history, with each detail carefully slotted novella The Enigma of Departure to the story And some of the people mentioned seem thrust of the story being trapped in the where the inhabitants of an isolated country into place and setting the stage for the that represents him in this volume, and of of only marginal interest to horror fans. carefully interwoven relationships and the house learn that there is something out there reversals and revelations of the end. We’re the stories that I’ve seen from The British For example, why are we being told about dark hints of something much bigger going in the snow and it doesn’t mean them well. back in foreign climes for ‘The Church on Invasion I thought Tony Richards’ ‘Birchiam the death of the manager of The Bay City on in the background. We get more Brits Extremely cinematic, with a fully rounded the Island’ by Simon Kurt Unsworth, which Pier’ superior to the Ramsey Campbell tale Rollers? I know their music was bad, but to abroad in ‘The Same in Any Language’ by cast of characters and a wealth of incident, has an air of the early Clive Barker about selected by Jones, but putting aside such call it horror is stretching things. Ramsey Campbell, which sees a young boy, this moody and eventful story is crying out it, albeit without the violence. Charlotte quibbles these are all extremely good stories. Top and tailing the stories are two shorts the father and his female companion going for a Hollywood budget and is never less swims out to visit the eponymous church There’s more to the Mammoth Book by Canadian writer Michael Kelly. off on a trip to a leper colony, with the story than gripping. ‘Cleopatra Brimstone’ is an only to find that it has been waiting for her. though than the stories, and before ‘The Woods’ is a subtle story in which  42 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 43 

everything is suggestion, as a law officer set gradually alter, but with everything so of America even as he fucks Ann Darrow might have been built atop a plague pit.  questions an old man who lives alone in the understated you are just as confused as the and indulges in romantic and self-deluding A report by the officer in charge of police stephen jones interviewed forest about the disappearance of a child. character. fantasies of taking her away from it all. The guarding the site on certain strange events ‘Princess of the Night’ is a Halloween flash Of course horror doesn’t just happen story belongs to Darrow though, the woman that befell his men. The diary entries of a fiction in which a hit and run driver gets his on home territory. One of the highlights who loved the great ape, but it neatly young girl whose family are trying to protect much deserved comeuppance at spectral of the collection, ‘Mami Wata’ by Simon sidesteps the schmaltz and sentimentality her from what is going on outside, the lack hands. Engaging and exceptional examples Kurt Unsworth is the tale of an inspector of the Jackson reinvention, giving us the of knowledge only exacerbating her fears. of their type, these two act as appetiser and coming to find out why an African mine is back story of a woman who has suffered A doctor’s findings from an autopsy on one after dinner mint respectively for the feast of performing below par and getting drawn at the hands of men, used and abused in of the victims of the virus. The minutes fiction that is served up between them. into the clutches of a water demon and her personal and professional life. Volk’s of a ministerial meeting to address the ‘Throttle’ by Joe Hill and Stephen King is succubus of sorts. The sense of place in this prose captures perfectly the detachment of crisis. A blogger finds that a diet of zombie a tribute to Richard Matheson, with Duel story is richly portrayed, a culture ridden the character, the way in which she can no films isn’t necessarily the best preparation reinvented as the clash between a motorcycle with superstition and yet also knowing more longer care about anything, having suffered for surviving when the real thing hits. A gang and a lorry driver, and in microcosm than we enlightened westerners allow in our too long and too much. The story is a specialist in viruses writes in her journal photograph by Peter Coleborn between the gang leader and his wilful son. philosophies, with the mix of local legend tragedy that can end in only one way, and about attempts to save the Prince of Wales. Not to dismiss Hill’s contribution, but this is and timeless themes of horror fiction serving Volk doesn’t flinch. Beauty killed the beast, The Australian Intelligence Service takes typical King, with plenty of twists and turns each other well, and Unsworth’s grasp of his but beauty too must die. drastic steps to defend its borders. A of fortune, excellent characterisation and the characters and their motives assured. ‘Two Of course Jones doesn’t just pick and transcript of a radio broadcast reveals what good old boy style of writing he has made his Steps Along the Road’ by Terry Dowling choose the best work from other people’s happened in Mexico City. And so on and so own. Simplistic perhaps, but a compelling has an occult investigator visiting the Hotel books and magazines. He’s also an forth. All of human life (and un-life) is here story and with subtle undertones. If Dis somewhere in boondocks Vietnam at innovative editor in his own right, which in a cleverly wrought tapestry. ‘Throttle’ was action packed, then Barbara the request of the owner, who believes that brings us to ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! If I have a reservation it’s that the closing Roden’s ‘Out and Back’ relies on less obvious his daughter is really a ghost. Fraught with (Robinson paperback, 480pp, £7.99), sections don’t quite gel with what has gone effects, with mood predominant. Eminently menace, the story is a cunningly constructed though with this book editor is probably an before, introducing a note of humour into a creepy, it tells of what happens to a man piece in which modern scepticism wars understatement, as the cover attribution – work that until that point had been entirely obsessed with visiting dilapidated pleasure with age old belief, with the suggestion that ‘Created by Stephen Jones’ – will testify. This grim and doing so rather late in the day for I’ve seen you compare the role of the narratives within the guidelines that we parks and his long suffering significant things could go either way, and a strong isn’t so much a zombie themed anthology as readers to adjust their expectations. It felt editor to that of a film director, and in the had mutually agreed. The difficult part other when they discover an overgrown visualisation of the foreign setting. a mosaic novel, with Jones riding ramrod on slightly off kilter to me, but really that’s just case of a project like Zombie Apocalypse! came once everything was in, and I then park in a remote part of the country. There’s From Rosalie Parker we get another a team of writers, each allocated a particular a quibble. I can see that that analogy will hold true had to go through it all and ‘smooth out’ very much a Twilight Zone feel to this, with creepy little delight with ‘In the Garden’, in task, the creation of a piece of the jigsaw The names of the writers involved are even more than usual. Can you tell us a the bumps and integrate the dates, times, atmosphere building steadily and the final which the matter of fact narration about he is assembling. What makes the book revealed at the end of the book, so it is little bit about the logistics of organising settings, characters, etc. That took forever. fates of the two protagonists each chilling in gardening leads into a revelation of the even more interesting is that a plethora of possible to read through without knowing a ‘mosaic novel’ like this? Were there Thank goodness I was lucky enough to their own way, with far more left unsaid than terrible atrocity committed by the barking narrative devices are used – letters, emails, who contributed which section, and extra any surprises for you in how the project have a great desk editor and designer who is actually revealed. mad female protagonist. It’s the kind of story diary entries, blogs, song lyrics, official fun can be had trying to guess the ‘guilty’ panned out? worked as a team and made sure that I ‘Respects’ by Ramsey Campbell takes Saki did so well, but darker by several shades. memoranda and reports – with the result parties. There is an element of fit for To answer the last part of your question first didn’t screw up too much! as its starting point the leaving of flowers ‘The Nonesuch’ by Brian Lumley has a man that we get a sense of immediacy, of the purpose in Jones’ job allocations, with an – yes, there are always (or at least should I’ve done ‘mosaic’ books before – The at a spot where a young man was killed staying at a hotel where he doesn’t appear action unfolding as it happens, a fluid ex-copper tackling the police procedural be) surprises in how a project turns out, Mammoth Book of Dracula, the two while being chased by the police, and then to be particularly welcome and finding out situation. The nearest equivalent I can segment, a doctor handling the medical otherwise what is the point in doing it? I Innsmouth anthologies, Jo Fletcher’s elaborates on this through having an elderly what happened to the husband of the owner, think of is the Omnibucket assemblage stuff etc. Along the way we get little touches want to be surprised, otherwise I’d feel that Horror at Halloween (which, to continue woman accused of disrespect by the family the circumstances of his mysterious death. Brainchild, which used a variety of creators of detail that add another dimension to I was stagnating as an editor! with the movie analogy, I ‘produced’), but of the deceased. It’s an artful fusion of The story is largely an exercise in style, with and techniques to portray a zombie plague the story for those in the know, such as a But you’re correct – Zombie Apocalypse! Zombie Apocalypse! was definitely the most thoroughly modern concerns and situations Lumley’s rambling narration and dazzling and its aftermath, but remarkable as that reference to Romero’s Diary of the Dead was very much like being a director again, challenging (and also the most enjoyable!). with traditional supernatural tropes, with a dialogue making up for a certain paucity of volume was it lacked both the urgency and in the camcorder efforts of some young which is why I think it turned out to be so God knows what readers will make of it uniquely unsettling and nightmarish end. plot, and hints of some strange other world the cohesion of this book, the sense of many Americans and a wannabe writer by the cinematic. After being approached by the though. I’ve described it as my ‘Christopher Reggie Oliver develops an idea by M.R. that impinges on our own. hands telling one story. name of Will Halloway who may ring a bell publisher with the initial idea, I came up Nolan book’ – the timeline jumps back and James in ‘The Game of Bear’, the tale told These stories and eight others offer a In the near future a right wing coalition with Bradbury fans. Serious concerns are with the overall concept, broke it down into forth, we see characters and situations from by one man to another in a pastiche of the snapshot of the horror genre as the first government plans to stage a Festival of addressed as well – the perils of patriotism separate story ideas (I even supplied titles differing perspectives, and the narrative club story, and involving a child’s game decade of the new millennium draws to Britain as part and parcel of its patriot in tandem with right wing politics, the for each of them, some of which the authors is presented in various and often highly and a curious book, the two entwined in a a close, but before moving on I’d like to act, with excavations taking place at a shortcomings in modern policing, the retained and some they did not), then graphic ways that may initially take some terrible history. Oliver effortlessly draws the consider the story that I’d hope to see church built by occultist Thomas Moreby, surveillance society that has been one legacy assigned those stories to those writers who readers by surprise. Ultimately, however, I reader in, capturing perfectly the feel and representing 2009 when Jones starts putting an apprentice of Nicholas Hawksmoor, of the war on terror, our modern obsessions I thought were most suited to each section think it’s quite a fun book. And for me, it aesthetic sensibility of the kind of material together a second Best of the Best in twenty a name that will ring a bell with many with the cult of celebrity and reality TV. (either on a creative level, an experience was a welcome opportunity to attempt to do he is trying to emulate, making the story years’ time, ‘After the Ape’ by Black Static horror readers courtesy of Ackroyd’s novel These are all things that are there and level or a technical level). I must say that something different within the genre. his own, with the strong suggestion of far columnist Stephen Volk. This tale of what Hawksmoor. Moreby had rather unusual waiting for the reader to pick up on them, Michael Marshall Smith and Christopher more dreadful things hidden behind the happened to Ann Darrow after the death ideas on the preservation of life, and but equally the book can be enjoyed on Fowler – whose contributions kick off the Zombies seem to be the monster of the curtain of the narrative than are shown on of King Kong comes with echoes in its when the crypt of All Hallows is opened its own terms even if they all go over your book – did much to shape the all-important moment in horror circles. Do you have any its stage. Nicholas Royle’s ‘The Reunion’ is narrative of 9/11, another time when the something inimical to human life is released. head. They are just peripherals to a rip back story and mythology that fed into the thoughts on their current popularity? Is set in a hotel where time and space become Big Apple found itself under the cosh, and The story is told through a welter of rollicking tale of the zombie apocalypse other authors’ work. it simply a sign of the times, or perhaps a distorted much to the bewilderment of a foreshadowing of the horrors of fascism incidents and events. The lengthy email sent that is one of the most imaginative and Once the stories had been assigned – reaction against the neutering of vampires the protagonist, as his reality slowly shifts. that lay in wait for the world of 1933, seen by a suicidal man to his deceased mother, innovative iterations of our current and the authors had to work in specific by writers of paranormal romance? For the reader too there is a strong sense most obviously in the character of a lowly detailing steps that were taken to stop the obsession with everybody’s favourite brain styles: letters, memos, email, tweets, texts As I’ve said before, these things go in of dislocation, as the mundane events of hotel employee of Germanic background crypt being opened. Official correspondence munching monster, and kudos to Stephen or whatever – then they were pretty free cycles. Zombies – as with the other monster the story and the world in which they are who deplores the decadence and weakness of a scientist concerned that All Hallows Jones for making it happen. to come up with their own characters and stereotypes – are simply an enduring and  44 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 45 

iconic archetype that keeps popping up in to come back into print ten years after they books this year – there were just too many ‘positive discrimination’ into how I select That’s what the best writers do. is not a good thing. horror at regular intervals. These things were first published so that a whole new series and titles to include, given that I have the stories for my books – whether along And they do it because they have to, There’s a reason why the big publishers never really go away. Next it will be vampires generation of readers can discover those to work within a reasonable length. gender lines or the other groups outlined because they want to, because they can’t have submission guidelines, readers, editors, again. Or werewolves. Or Frankenstein. stories, those authors. Otherwise, I really above – unless the theme calls for it. All I’m imagine themselves doing anything else. No proofreaders, designers, publicity and These creations are so powerful, so resonant can’t see any reason for those books to exist Under representation of women in the interested in, and I believe the reader is too, matter how little they may earn doing it. marketing departments, etc. It’s a way of, within our psyche, that they keep coming in the first place. I always try to give 110% to horror genre has been a hot topic of is publishing the best fiction that I possibly And what is it they say? If you can’t do hopefully, ensuring that only the best work back for writers and film-makers to use in any project I am involved with. late, as witness the controversy over the can. it, then become a critic. As somebody gets through the submission process and new and, hopefully, exciting ways. BFS interview book In Conversation. Of course there are a lot of women writing who has worked in movies and television, what eventually comes out the other end is Last year I not only had a new zombie The success of the Twilight books and rise As an editor you’ve done your share in paranormal romances, but that’s because I know how difficult it is to get a project not only to the highest possible standard, but anthology out – The Dead That Walk – but of paranormal romance is probably the supporting the work of female writers the romance market has always been off the ground and make it work, and it also has a reasonable chance to be noticed in I also had a new hardcover edition of The most significant event in recent years for with titles like The Mammoth Book of dominated by female writers. And that’s angers me when I see a reviewer dismiss an already overcrowded marketplace. Mammoth Book of Zombies – a book that the horror genre. I’ve seen some purists Vampire Stories by Women, but all the probably because most of the readership something out of hand without any obvious This is not true with most small I originally did back in 1993! It’s just time try to put distance between horror and same, aside from paranormal romance, for those kinds of books are women, and so understanding of what went into creating it. presses. Of course you have imprints for zombies to be popular again – no doubt paranormal romance, but you continue to we’re a long way from gender parity the authors understand what their audience My argument in this year’s Best New like PS Publishing, Subterranean Press, fuelled by video games, movies and, of list PR titles in ‘the year in horror’ section (e.g. only two females made the cut in wants. But I don’t see any outcries over the Horror ‘editorial’ is that just because you Cemetery Dance Publications, Gauntlet course, the occasional best-seller. Publishers of each Mammoth Book of Best New the latest volume of Best New Horror). fact that few men write those kinds of books. have a blog or another forum to express Press, Bad Moon Books and several others, are not a very imaginative lot – they love to Horror. What sort of impact do you think Why do you think so few women writers It’s just the nature of the market. Sometimes your personal views, it doesn’t always mean who publish their books to the highest follow a trend if they think they can make the popularity of paranormal romance are drawn to horror fiction? Is it down you just have to live with that and move on. that you should. Just because someone standards – often better than the so-called money out of it. has had on the horror genre? Is it a good to the genre’s misogynistic reputation, ‘likes’ or ‘dislikes’ a work doesn’t make them ‘mainstream’. And you also have more However, what I am wary about is thing or a bad thing? as some commentators have theorised, At the end of your introduction to Best a critic. It just makes them opinionated. specialist imprints such as Tartarus and jumping on bandwagons – such as these In the long run, I don’t think that the current or something more fundamental in the New Horror 21, you talk about honesty And unless they can back those views up Ash-Tree, which do a marvellous job of historical romance/zombie mash-ups boom in so-called ‘paranormal romances’ female psyche? in criticism and the inability of some with knowledge or experience (as the best producing the kind of books that most big that are perceived as being popular at will have much impact on the horror genre. Or maybe, just maybe, there are not as creative people to deal with negative critics can), then I’m afraid their views publishers wouldn’t even consider. the moment. Like most of those vampire For a start, most of the people who write many women out there writing as good feedback in a mature way, something that are about as worthwhile as anybody else’s. But you also have way too many imprints paranormal romance titles you mentioned, and read that stuff are not really horror horror fiction as men? Now there’s a I’ve recently become concerned about Which is what makes most of the ‘reviews’ out there – especially in the print-on- they are totally disposable and, when that fans in the first place (possibly beyond the controversial answer for you! too. It seems there is an intolerance of on Amazon.com or IMDB completely demand area – that are cluttering up the particular publishing fad has passed (and occasional Stephen King or Dean Koontz Of course what happened with the BFS dissenting voices, when those are often worthless. Especially if, as with Amazon, market with inferior product that simply they always do), then the life of those books title). They are romance fans and, as I was interview book was inexcusable – but put the very voices we need to hear. Assuming they are posted anonymously. would not stand a chance in the commercial will also be over as well. And what’s the saying about zombies earlier, it just happens that down to the naïveté of the individual I’m not misstating your position, why do I’ve always said that I would rather field. Now I, possibly better than anyone, point of that? Sure, everybody makes a that vampire romances have been incredibly editor (and maybe the people who you think this is? Is it simply a by-blow of get a bad review from someone I respect understand that sometimes a book will quick buck and can maybe even claim to popular for the past few years. And yes, commissioned it), but don’t tar the whole political spin and reality TV culture where than a rave review from someone whose fall between the cracks – I came from the be a ‘New York Times Bestselling Author’ thanks to the Twilight books, werewolf genre with the ‘sexist’ brush. I simply do not everybody gets to be a star no matter how judgement I don’t. And I stick by that view. small press originally, and continue to (you can do that with a Star Trek or Buffy romances are getting up there in popularity buy it. untalented, or something more sinister work enthusiastically within it today. There the Vampire Slayer novelisation), but most as well. There are even zombie romances Obviously there are – and always have within our culture? In a 1997 interview with Paula Guran for will always be those titles which, for some of these books are basically worthless and (which seem just plain weird to me!). been – many fine female writers of horror I think you’re absolutely correct. These Dark Echoes you stated ‘I have the utmost reason or another, get overlooked or are not once that particular trend has been replaced But it won’t last. These things never fiction, and I sincerely believe that I have days many people think they deserve to be respect for the small presses’, but in a 2006 suitable for the mass-market, and these may by something else, then they will quickly be do. We’ve been there before, and we will done my part as an editor to support them heard. That they deserve to be famous. Or interview with Matt Cardin for Cemetery quite rightly end up being published by an forgotten. most probably be there again sometime. over the years. But I don’t assemble my successful. Or whatever it is they want out Dance you appear somewhat disillusioned independent imprint. But if those books I want to produce books that will last; Eventually this current fad will pass and be anthologies along gender lines (unless that’s of life. The only problem is that much of the – ‘The small presses continue to churn out and their authors are genuinely talented – that have a reason to exist beyond the replaced by Western romances, or railway part of the theme), just as I don’t choose the time they don’t want to put the work in to sub-standard books by supposedly “cult” and we’ve seen it with such writers as Kelly vagaries of market forces and editorial romances, or fallen angel romances (oh, stories based on ethnic, religious or political make that happen. They just think that they authors’. What’s your current feeling Link, Holly Phillips and Joe Hill, to name a whims. Sure, books need to be commercial, wait – we already have those). Once the considerations either. If you were to ask me can be a success by acting like one. This, about the state of the small presses? How few that immediately spring to mind – then and there’s nothing wrong with that if we ‘paranormal’ boom is over, most of the how many blacks, or Asians, or Hispanics, or unfortunately, is what the world is telling can they improve? they will quickly find their own place within want publishing to survive and flourish, but authors, readers and their publishers will Catholics, or Jews, or Muslims, or Fascists, them these days. Times change. Back when I did that the wider world of publishing. I can’t see the point of doing something just then follow the romance market, not the or Communists I have in my books, I most Writing and editing is a hard and often interview with Paula, there were a lot fewer I’m sorry to say it, but there’s an awful lot because everybody else is doing the same horror one. The majority of the books probably couldn’t tell you. Nor would I care. lonely profession. It takes time, it takes small presses in the genre than there are of crap being published out there every year thing at the moment. Chances are that by will disappear, never to be reprinted, and That’s not how I assemble my anthologies. research and, perhaps most of all, it takes a now. – because it is now so easy and cheap to do the time you get in on a trend it’s probably although a few authors may decide to I’m looking for the best stories, by the best great amount of commitment. And despite You can blame the mainstream publishers so – and just because you’ve self-published on the wane anyway (as Hollywood so often remain (at least partially) in the horror field, writers, and unless you are a serial killer or the stories that appear in the newspapers for that. Having created and then exploited your novel or collection does not make you discovers to its cost). So if I’m going to do most will move on to where the market a paedophile then the chances are that you every year about some unknown teenager the ‘boom and bust’ cycles, they quickly a ‘writer’, at least not in my eyes. a book – be it either editing an anthology, takes them. This is exactly what happened stand a good chance of making the cut – earning a million pounds or whatever for move on to something else once they have Once again, this goes back to your compiling someone’s collection or writing a with other ‘booms’. just so long as I think you can write and I their first horror novel (watch out for them bled a popular genre dry. Then it’s left to previous question and the matter of people non-fiction study – then I have to be able to The whole point of the Introduction in like your story. It’s as simple as that. – they turn up every spring), the harsh the small presses to pick up the pieces and craving instant fame and success. Just justify to myself (and of course the reader) each Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Are there fewer women writing horror truth is that very few people make a lot of keep the genre going until the next time because you’ve written something and why that book should exist in the first place. is to mark the trends in the genre in a than men? I couldn’t say, but most probably. money out of writing. At best, you may just the big publishing houses decide that it is published it, does not automatically make it If I can’t do that, then what’s the point of particular year. You can’t ignore the impact Is there a greater percentage of men writing about make a comfortable living as a mid- ‘commercial’ again. This goes back to what worthwhile. That said, it is still a wonderful even doing that book? God knows, there are that paranormal romances have had on the superior horror fiction? I couldn’t say for list author. But if you have the ambition, the I was saying about the revival of zombies experience for an editor when you discover enough pointless volumes out there already horror field in recent years, and these need certain but, my guess – based on my own work ethic, the imagination and, perhaps earlier. a story or author from the small press and cluttering up the bookshelves. to be noted in the general overview, just experiences over the past twenty years or so most importantly of all, the skill to become Unfortunately, the lack of mainstream can give them a wider audience in a project I want my books to endure beyond as much as those abysmal Twilight books – is again, probably. Therefore, as a result, a writer, then you have the opportunity to outlets, coupled with a remarkable drop in like, say, Best New Horror. their initial edition – I want them to go and films need to be covered. However, most anthologies (and possibly the genre in do something remarkable – to entertain, the cost of creating and producing short- into multiple printings, I want them to be having said that, for the first time I had to general) reflect this simple fact. to share knowledge, and to influence the run books in the past decade has led to an In that interview with Matt Cardin you translated into foreign editions, I want them significantly cut the listing for these types of I’m not going to introduce any kind of dreams and imagination of other people. explosion of independent presses. And this didn’t seem very optimistic about the  46 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 47 

future of books. Do you still feel the same their Kindle or iPad anytime soon. Huge changes have taken place in Because of the way their market works,  way, or have you seen any signs (e.g. the I realise that I might just be an old publishing over the course of the twenty Robinson only commission one volume and then what happened? popularity with the young of writers like fart about this, but I’d rather we tried years covered by The Best of the Best. As of Best New Horror at a time. That is how Rowling and Meyer) that give you cause to convince people – especially new regards horror, with the word being used it has always been – I never know if I’m The title comes from with a real sense of something strange and for hope? generations – to try picking up a book once again to market books (e.g. Adam doing another volume until I’ve delivered the introduction to macabre taking place, while at the same Sadly, not. I think everything points to again, rather than attempting to come up Nevill’s Apartment 16 and 15 Miles by Rob the previous one. The problem with that has STORIES (Headline time offering nothing that can’t be explained a world-wide decline in reading, and with all these alternatives to traditional Scott) are we on the cusp of a new uplift? been that, usually, they have not been giving hardback, 432pp, in mundane terms. For a third vampire books will be the biggest casualty of that methods of reading. I’m not stupid – of Are there reasons to be cheerful? Ignoring me the contract for the next year’s book £18.99), edited by tale (perhaps the literati haven’t heard how continuing trend. You only have to look course I can see a place for electronic the perils and pitfalls of publishing, in until around November – which invariably Neil Gaiman and Al passé vampires are), we get ‘Juvenal Nyx’ at recent statistics – such as one in five readers alongside paper books, but it aesthetic terms alone is the horror genre left me with just five or six months to put Sarrantonio, and for by Walter Mosley, with its eponymous hero children in the UK cannot write properly really does concern me that publishers and in a better state of health now than it was the entire volume together: that includes Gaiman it represents turned into a bloodsucker and making a after two years of school – to realise that retailers are hailing these gadgets as the when you began Best New Horror? reading all the submissions and compiling the crucial aspect of all life for himself until love comes along to we already have a major problem looming. future of reading. This is another area where I wouldn’t say that the genre is in a better all the editorial material, let alone dealing good storytelling – if complicate matters. It’s a dazzling display In London this year, 22% of pupils failed to the small presses may once again prove to state of health now than it was when we with the contracts. the reader is asking this question then the and one that never ceases to hold the reach the expected writing standard. You be the saviour of the genre. started Best New Horror – remember that Thankfully, my new editor at Robinson, writer has done his job. attention, with plenty of incident as Nyx don’t need to be a genius to understand that back then we were coming off the horror Duncan Proudfoot, has very quickly There’s an air of expectation about Stories. turns PI and has to track down a hell beast, our schools are failing the next generation In general terms, what is it about boom of the 1980s – but it definitely seems grasped some of these problems and started In a market climate where short stories are and an emotional context that preserves his of readers and authors. the British approach to horror that to me that there is a resurgence in horror putting systems in place to make things run reputedly anathema and horror fiction no essential humanity by connecting him to Suggestions by the current coalition differentiates it from that of, say, the again. smoother in future. As a result, I am already longer saleable, the appearance of such a the rest of us. Other famous monsters get a government that libraries should be closed Americans? What have our guys and gals You have to understand that I’ve seen well into work on next year’s volume, which substantial anthology from a major UK look in too, as with ‘The Stars Are Falling’ and moved to pubs or supermarkets are not got that theirs haven’t? these peaks and troughs happen a few should make the whole process less stressful publisher – a book in which genre favourites which reinvents Sommersby as the zombie helpful, either. We need to engage readers Most of my anthologies – especially the Best times now, and it’s very hard to get excited for everyone. It is a privilege to edit Best rub shoulders with ‘literary’ heavyweights story it was always yearning to be but never again – convince kids (and, I’m ashamed to New Horror series – are usually split fairly when you can pretty much predict what’s New Horror – I always remember that – and all of the fiction is grounded, if not in had the balls for until Joe R. Lansdale say, adults) that reading can be entertaining, equally between UK and American writers going to happen. However, as with the and so anything that helps improve the horror, then in the fantastical – can’t help dragged it kicking and screaming out of the informative, imaginative, emotive and, most (although it obviously varies from year to problems affecting the world’s economy, it’s anthology is welcomed by me. but seem portentous, and literary haruspices casket. There’s tenderness here, an exquisite of all, fun. year – as I said earlier, I don’t work to any a very fragile recovery at the moment – as As for other projects, there are always will no doubt pore over its innards in search sense of loss and a feeling for the emotions Unfortunately, you have such garbage pre-subscribed ‘quotas’). the recent troubles at Leisure Books ably too many to remember! Ulysses Press, the of signs of things to come. Mere reviewers of the characters, but then it all falls apart in as ‘reality’ TV, ‘social networking’ sites, There are truly wonderful writers working illustrate – and it could still quickly fizzle American imprint I did The Dead That however may content themselves with savage violence, a comment on war itself. unnecessary mobile phone conversations, in both countries (and, if you look in this out if publishers become over-confident or Walk for, has just published my angel saying if they like the book or not. Psychological horror also has a place. computer games, and all the other stuff year’s Best New Horror, also in Canada, greedy, and start throwing money around at anthology Visitants: Stories of Fallen Angels And there is much to like, or not, ‘Weights and Measures’ by Jodi Picoult out there that is designed to dampen Australia and New Zealand as well). I just anything they perceive to be ‘The Next Big & Heavenly Hosts, and we are currently between the covers, twenty seven stories in looks at a couple coping with grief after the creative impulse. As Aldous Huxley think that the American approach to horror Thing’ in horror. discussing a new supernatural anthology for all. Reasons of space dictate that, with this the death of their daughter, the story predicted almost eighty years ago, these can be very different to ours, which is what Still, it’s reassuring to see a revival 2011, with a twist on the theme that I don’t anthology and those that follow, I discuss firmly grounded in an understanding of mindless, numbing diversions are the you would expect given that they come of interest again in the old Pan Book of think has been done before. only a fraction of what’s on offer, and so their relationship and loss, describing “soma” of our current Brave New World. from a very different background. Horror Stories and mainstream publishers I have already delivered the second I shall content myself with itemising the in meticulous and compelling detail the Of course, this ties into your earlier American authors have that ‘can do’ supporting newer writers such as Adam huge collection of H.P. Lovecraft stories to best and the worst, the most representative unravelling of two lives. ‘Catch and Release’ questions regarding instant fame and the attitude that perhaps our more reserved Nevill and Tom Fletcher, so I’m optimistic Gollancz, which is the companion volume stories and those with a particular interest by Lawrence Block is the clever account worth of ‘paranormal romances’. They are British writers lack, but they often make that we could be looking at an upturn in the to their best-selling Necronomicon, and I’m because of an authorial connection with of a serial killer who is satisfied by the both part of a much wider social problem. up for it with more thoughtful approaches fortunes of the genre. working on two more Basil Copper projects Black Static: a sampling then, rather chase alone. Using fishing as a metaphor I used to believe that if people read to how they deal with the material. I also However, let’s not forget those individuals with PS Publishing, to complement the two- than anything more substantive. I shall it is a chilling monologue that, for all the something – anything – then that was better think that, in general, British authors have and publishers like Ramsey Campbell, Ellen volume collection Darkness, Mist & Shadow however, for the benefit of the completists, suggestion of passivity, eventually ends than reading nothing at all. These days I’m a wider grasp of the world and how to use Datlow, and PS Publishing and Cemetery that came out earlier this year. post Tables of Contents for all the books in terrible bloodshed, and is all the more not so sure that I still hold to that opinion. that knowledge, that understanding or Dance, who have kept the flag firmly flying Beyond that, Michael Marshall Smith reviewed in this issue on the Case Notes shocking because of the dummy that has I’m not convinced that most people experience, in their fiction. As anybody who for horror during the lean years. These are and I – under our Smith & Jones aegis – blog at ttapress.com during the month been sold to the reader. In ‘Land of the have the critical acumen to differentiate has visited America regularly, as I do, can the real heroes of the genre – the people continue to work on various script and of October, along with other anthology Lost’ by Stewart O’Nan a woman becomes between, say, Stephenie Meyer and William tell you, they can sometimes be somewhat who are always out there, toiling away in design projects, and if you add all that into focused material, so be sure to check it out. obsessed with finding the body of a killer’s Shakespeare (that is if they even know who isolationist in their outlook, and I just think the trenches, whether the genre is currently all the Introductions I’m asked to write, Opening the proceedings is ‘Blood’ by victim, digging up isolated spots late at Shakespeare was!). that our European sensibility sometimes perceived as ‘popular’ or not. the other book projects I’m continuously Roddy Doyle, a tale with strong echoes night. It’s displacement activity for dealing I’m not convinced that eBooks are the allows us to embrace a wider definition of Whatever the outcome, I don’t believe developing, not to mention the occasional of Romero’s Martin as the protagonist with the emotional turmoil that has swept answer, either. Publishers have got to find what we think of as constituting ‘horror’ that horror will ever return to the kind of convention I’m involved with, and you can develops a taste for blood which he indulges up her life, and there is a wonderful irony some new method to get their product out fiction. popularity it enjoyed three decades ago. see that I lead a pretty busy life. by biting the head off the neighbour’s in the last line of the story, with its reverse there, and I applaud any initiative they take I don’t think that America could have With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear But you know, it really is a wonderful life! chicken. The appetite is strongly conveyed, declaration of sanity. to expand their readership. But personally, given us Ramsey Campbell, or Joel Lane, or to me now that that period of prosperity Back when I was starting out in the early both in its perversity and the feeling that Urban fantasy plays a part. ‘Wildfire in I don’t want to read words on an electronic Alan Moore, or Nicholas Royle, or Robert was an anomaly – the genre will always be 1970s, I could never imagine that I would it is somehow entirely natural, nothing to Manhattan’ by Joanne Harris is a tale of tablet – no matter how sharp the resolution Shearman, to name just a few examples, considered a sub-culture of mainstream ever have published more than 100 books, be ashamed of, simply another fetish, with the old gods living inside human bodies, is. I love books – the physical variety that but by the same token, I don’t think that literature, but that does not mean that we or worked on Hollywood movies, or been the reaction of the character’s wife at the and how an evil force is killing them off. smells of print, and has a tactile cover, that the UK could have turned out Stephen need to allow it to become ghettoised. fortunate enough to win some major awards end adding a chilling coda. There’s a kind of Lighter in tone than many of the stories, is filled with illustrations, and pages you can King, Dennis Etchison, Charles L. Grant, for what is the best job in the world for me. I vampirism too in ‘Fossil-Figures’ by Joyce this is a concept that Harris has fun with turn, fondle or slip a bookmark between. Joe R. Lansdale or Karl Edward Wagner Have Robinson given you any sort of never forget that, and so long as it continues, Carol Oates, with one of twins feeding on and milks for all its worth, with twists and My bookshelves are filled with brightly- either. I’m just saying that we have different commitment about the future of Best New then I will always try to give something back the vitality of the other in the womb and turns of fortune, and a genuine feeling coloured spines and volumes that have a approaches to how we work within the Horror? Can we expect to see the series to the genre that I am happy to call home. after, the story following the unfolding for the numinous amid the everyday. history to them. I love collecting books, and genre, and that diversity can only be a carry on for the next few years? What lives of each, all leading up to the inevitable Michael Marshall Smith’s ‘Unbelief’ is an don’t see anyone keeping a signed edition on positive and healthy thing in the long run. other projects do you have in the pipeline? stephenjoneseditor.com moment of collision. It’s a fascinating tale, audacious practical joke of a story, with a  48 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 49 

hired assassin shadowing his target until history lesson, one which doesn’t really go working well. One of the highlights of the story is going until the final twist. ‘Mother of Miscreants’ puts a different level and intellectually. In ‘All You Can the moment to strike, after which we get anywhere in plot terms and yet has a feeling collection, ‘In the Dust’ by Tim Lebbon Delights of the living dead. ‘Among Us’ slant on the whole ‘interview’ thing, with Eat, All the Time’ by Claude Lalumière a the reveal. Written entirely deadpan, it of containment about it, and of course has the few survivors of a zombiefied by Aimee Bender is a social satire of sorts, a vampire writing her confessions so that woman falls under the spell of a vampire, sucks the reader in before pulling the rug reading Moorcock is always going to be fun, community quarantined from the outside several incidents intercut in such a way as others of her kind will realise their true one who seems to be protecting humans, out from under our feet. The immortals of as the guy seems incapable of bad writing world. It is, like much of Lebbon’s work, a to show that zombie and human behaviour potential instead of being swayed by the but she is tricked when he takes over her Jeffrey Ford’s ‘Polka Dots and Moonbeams’ or dull storytelling. Longest story in the singularly bleak tale, with a bad situation are often identical. The point is made with images of vampires in popular culture. It’s body. It’s a thoroughly engaging story, one seem frozen in a moment that perpetually book, Elizabeth Hand’s ‘The Maiden Flight getting even worse, but beautifully written wit and insight, and the story has grown a clever piece, with the showdown between where the writing fizzes and the character repeats, and their only wish is to find a way of McCauley’s Bellerophon’ is also one of and showing a keen sensitivity in describing on me since I read it, and I’m a lot more mother and one of her offspring put over of Jenny comes alive on the page, so that we to death and bring this all to an end. The the best, as three slackers come together to the emotional landscape of these trapped aware of Bender’s novel lurking in the TBR well. ‘Resonance’ by Mary E. Choo takes a care about what happens to her, even while prose and dialogue here is scintillating, a recreate a moment in aviation history for a people. pile. From James A. Moore we get the grim look at the vampire society, and how they knowing that it’s all destined to end in tears. perfect evocation of hedonistic lifestyles, friend dying of cancer. With some delicious Disappointments of the dead. I’m a ‘Kids and Their Toys’, in which a group of punish their own if vampire secrecy is ‘When I’m Armouring My Belly’ by Gemma with the reader fed clues until the characterisation and dialogue, it builds big fan of Brian Keene, but ‘The Wind boys take delight in tormenting a zombie, put at risk. The story is well written, with Files features a young man who whores underlying horror of the situation emerges perfectly to the moment of revelation, Cries Mary’ didn’t work for me. An odd and one of their number learns that you a heroine whose plight – wanting to help himself out to vampire clans, but eventually and the game in which these characters are where an outré event is sidelined in favour couple wonder if their relationship can either join the gang or become its victim. humans and keeping her family property they always reject him, until finally he engaged stands fully revealed. of more humanitarian needs. The story survive, when she becomes a zombie and Like Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door this – is one most of us will identify with, realises his true nature and becomes a High fantasy abounds. Neil Gaiman’s is shot through with mystery, but Hand he becomes a ghost, but the story doesn’t story offers a disturbing master class in our particularly given the whiff of corruption predator. The story is, at bottom, about a fable ‘The Truth is a Cave in the Black prefers to place compassion and human have much to offer beyond this polarity. capacity for cruelty and self-delusion. And coming off the vampires at the top of the submissive who makes the transition to Mountains’ is a slowly unfolding tale of feeling in the foreground. Last of all we The shortest story in the book, it’s more then there’s that final offering from Joe Hill, food chain. My only reservation is that master, and we manage to identify with Vic revenge delayed, with all the moment and have ‘The Devil on the Staircase’ by Joe idea than plot. ‘My Dolly’ by Derek Nikitas ‘Twittering from the Circus of the Dead’, the resolution all seems a bit pat, with the even as he is humiliated and suborned, the impact of a Greek tragedy. Easygoing at Hill, innovatively written in the form of a is another weak effort, with its hero saving with the story told in the form of twitter all-powerful overlords vanquished pretty grittiness and need coming off the page in first it soon becomes chilling, as things and staircase. A young man commits murder, one zombie girl at the cost of the lives of posts, something I thought of initially as a much ‘just like that’. Rebecca Bradley’s ‘The waves of raw emotion. people are revealed to be other than first but thanks to the help of the Devil’s son he several living men, no real rhyme or reason gimmick but which with hindsight works New Forty’ depicts the fate of a vampire ‘How Magnificent is the Universal Donor’ presented, and the truth is more terrible manages to escape the consequences of his to what goes on and the first half of the perfectly for the story Hill has to tell. A shunned by others of her kind because she by Jerome Stueart has a future in which than we could have envisaged. Michael actions and prosper. The story holds the story seeming very much like padding. young girl on a cross country trip with her was turned in old age, but who now finds vampires have come out of the shadows and Swanwick’s Cabellesque fantasy ‘Goblin attention all the way, with some excellent Dead but still kicking. ‘Delice’ by Holly family twitters to her friends when they that in the modern world age is not such a are helping humans with a deadly blood Lake’ explores the boundaries between touches of colour and detail, and in the end Newstein is a poignant tale of voodoo in old stop off at a circus where the performers big issue. It deftly takes a human situation disease, only they need the pure blood of fiction and reality, with an evocative it offers a denouement which holds terrible New Orleans, with a dead girl’s body being pretend to be zombies and the audience and shows how vampires might similarly be one man to aid them in their fight, and his account of a character who must choose implications for all of mankind, not just the taken over by a spirit to wreak vengeance become prey, only nobody is pretending. affected. partner attempts to rescue the guy before whether to live in one or the other. There’s story’s protagonist. It is the ideal note on on the girl’s killers. Time and setting are It’s a striking blend of redneck horror and The least interesting stories are those that he can be drained. While there’s some a lovely picaresque feel to the story as it which to end a substantial anthology and perfectly realised, with gore in the story teen angst, with some delicious imagery feel underdeveloped, of which there are superficiality to the writing, this ‘doctors unfolds, but Swanwick brings it home with one that speaks to the robust good health of offering us the pleasures of seeing bad lots and a tone just right for the material, and something like half a dozen. For example, wear scarlet’ story addresses universal a metafictional twist that undercuts so the short form in these challenging times. get their just desserts. Mike Carey’s ‘Second it provides the perfect end to a generally ‘Red Blues’ by Michael Skeet is a night in concerns, with the idea of sacrificing an much of what has gone before and poses Wind’ has a zombie financier taking steps strong collection. the life snapshot of a vampire jazz musician, individual for the greater good central. It the question of whether the very real Joe Hill also provides to preserve his existence after death, only to but has little to offer beyond the observation invites readers to take sides, and curiously potentials of the daily grind are preferable the last story in find that one of the living has the ability to Of course where that vampires are like musicians. Victoria enough I chose the opposite side to the to imaginary happiness. ZOMBIE: AN touch him. The subtext of the story seems there are zombies, Fisher’s ‘The Drinker’ is similarly slight, a characters. In the last story, Tanya Huff’s Disappointment is found in unexpected ANTHOLOGY OF to be that the protagonist has never really vampires won’t be man who is given a taste by a vampire, but ‘Quid Pro Quo’, the vampire partner of a places. Peter Straub’s ‘Mallon the Guru’ THE UNDEAD connected with other human beings until far behind, and we the story doesn’t really go anywhere or have human detective is coerced by a billionaire went right over my head; detailing a brief (Piatkus paperback, now, when being dead has made such a have two anthologies anything much to offer. Heather Clitheroe’s who wants her to change him. It’s a fast encounter between a disciple and the 500pp, £9.99) edited thing possible for him, but at the same time stuffed with stories ‘Come to Me’ is a tale of vampirism set in paced action adventure piece with likable master he yearns for, it was all a little too by Christopher he still manages to reject what is offered in a about bloodsuckers. Japan, with a woman lured into the forest characters and some engaging twists along enigmatic for its own good. The punning Golden, a house brick poignant end twist. EVOLVE: VAMPIRE by a predator, but foreign setting aside there the way to a gratifying finale, a light hearted title ‘Leif in the Wind’ sets the tone for of an anthology with Dignity in death. ‘Family Business’ by STORIES OF THE is little originality to the story. ‘Alia’s Angel’ but not lightweight end to a collection that Gene Wolfe’s story of astronauts who are nineteen stories which attempt to put a Jonathan Maberry is set in a future where NEW UNDEAD (Edge by Rhea Rose was all a bit too vague for me, adequately draws new blood from old skins. infected by an alien life form or may simply different spin on the subject of everybody’s zombies roam wild and the living exist in Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing set in an oblique world and with characters have gone mad due to the length of their favourite brain munching monster, and walled communities. The family business paperback, 283pp, $16.95) edited by Nancy whose motivations I could never quite get With seventeen ‘all mission. Either way it’s not a particularly generally succeed. of the title is killing zombies and Benny Kilpatrick contains twenty four stories by a hold on. new tales of vampiric gripping story, with ideas that have been Dawning of the living dead. The short wants to follow in the footsteps of his Canadian writers that aim to put a new This is a book however in which the good horror’, THE BITTEN dealt with before and more substantially. opening story by John Connolly puts a brother Tom, but first he must be educated spin on the vampire archetype, to provide outnumber the indifferent by a considerable WORD (Newcon Press For Wolfe this was very much a routine tale. different slant on the tale of ‘Lazarus’, with into what the job really entails. The longest a ‘twenty-first century vampire’. Despite margin, with a satisfying amount of stories paperback, 317pp, ‘Let the Past Begin’ by Jonathan Carroll is the man Jesus brought back from the dead story in the book, this offers a striking that tease, I would say that there’s nothing that put moral dilemmas at their centre. £9.99) edited by Ian all over place, a jigsaw puzzle story whose finding that nothing is quite how it should alternative to the usual zombie horror MO, radically different on offer here, but the ‘An Ember Amongst the Fallen’ by Colleen Whates has a more pieces don’t quite fit, ostensibly about the be and people won’t accept him. It captures where shooting them up is the be all and book does provide a lot of clever and Anderson is one of the highlights of the traditional feel about working out of a curse. Many of Carroll’s perfectly the plight of someone who is end all, instead positing the idea of allowing intriguing variations on a theme. collection. The story is set in a world of it, and one might even traits are recognisable in the text, but the dying but not dead, a living source of decay. the undead some dignity in their demise, ‘Chrysalis’ by Ronald Hore is the story of vampires, where humans are cattle and go so far as to identify narrative just doesn’t seem to be as focused Stephen R. Bissette’s ‘Copper’ is written following the logistics of the zombie plague. a vampire coming of age, a young teenager their masters discuss if they are capable a leaning towards the romanticised end as in his best fiction. from the viewpoint of a zombie, a war ‘Closure, Limited’ by Max Brooks is coming who thinks her parents are down on her of intelligent thought and feeling, and the of the vampire spectrum in some of these The book ends with a high three. veteran leading a gang of ex-soldiers who from a similar place to the Maberry, but and who is bullied at school, but who then worst crime is for a vampire to have sex stories. ‘Stories’ by Michael Moorcock reads like survive off the things society no longer has from an entirely different direction, with comes to the realisation that she has a great with one of the beasts. It’s a clever reversal Leading off is Simon Clark with a history of New Worlds and its times, any use for. I found the method of telling zombies altered to resemble loved ones of power. In a way the story celebrates the idea of traditional stereotypes, reminiscent in ‘Vampithecus’, a story with an Indiana with only the names changed to protect aggravating at first, but the story grew on those who then get to kill them. It’s a good of the outsider, the alienated adolescent, a way of Planet of the Apes, with a subtext Jones sensibility to it, at least initially as a the not so innocent. It’s a compelling and me, with the repetition and short sentences idea, and Brooks plays it close to his chest, whose fantasies of power and revenge are about racism and the story brutal enough zeppelin party of explorers unearth a cave completely absorbing character study come used to portray the zombie’s mental state so that you can’t really be sure where the given tangible form. Jennifer Greylyn’s in places to horrify, both on the visceral in which bodies are mysteriously preserved,  50 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 51 

and fall prey to the vampires they awaken is vampirised by Jon Courtenay Grimwood, John Llewellyn Probert with ‘Six of the Best’, a sour taste in the mouth. Simon Kurt an emotive counterpoint to what is going story struck me as rather drab and clichéd, (while entirely earthbound, the story also but he does it no favours. The writing is in which the producer of a Most Haunted Unsworth’s ‘Traffic Stream’ is pretty much on outside. albeit competently written, but then Finch put me very much in mind of Lifeforce). The competent, as you’d expect from JCG, but type TV show with a gory twist takes Pacman played for real, with ravenous ‘The Cuckoos of Bliss’ is typical Rhys served up a final twist which reinvented wide open spaces of the desert are brought otherwise the exercise seemed as pointless extraordinary steps to ensure the audience lorries chasing cars along an endless road. Hughes, with an unemployed man taking all that had gone before, showing things to vivid life, and the attendant sense of as most other ‘mash-ups’. get what they want. It’s a clever piece, well It’s decently written and an idea with some on the job of safety officer in Heaven and in a different light entirely. ‘Scale Hall’ by wonder felt by the archaeologists, the story ‘Those Damned Kids’ is the one written and with Probert resisting the slight potential, but the author’s decision rubber stamping the invasion of Swansea Simon Kurt Unsworth is set in Lancashire ending with a note of pathos as the main thoroughly modern story in the anthology, impulse to deliver a revenge from beyond to use the names of other writers for his by a host of giant babies. It’s a story that and another highlight, as the search for a protagonist prepares to be reunited with his and is typical of Gary McMahon’s the grave style ending. The longest story characters is a distraction that prompts brings to mind the work of Lem, the plot missing child leads a man to the discovery wife, but at a terrible cost to his humanity. oeuvre, delivering up a bleak and in the book and one of my favourites, R.B. misgivings about Unsworth’s motives and completely ludicrous, with Hughes testing of a gap between dimensions. It bears a There’s a similar old fashioned feel to repellent depiction of urban blight, with Russell’s ‘An Unconventional Exorcism’ is judgement. ‘Keeping Your Mouth Shut’ to destruction the laws of physics and passing resemblance to the Lane story on Chaz Brenchley’s ‘Hothouse Flowers’, as communities dying on their feet, and the a delightful black comedy in which Aunt by Mark Samuels is a story of two halves, logic, injecting shots of whimsy neat and one point, but Unsworth has more of a a gentleman of substance returns home hoodie clad teens who personify this decay, Imelda is nursed by a niece who claims to neither of which has much relation to an anything goes sense of invention. In plot and a sure grasp of his strong, central after many years abroad to find his family only to then turn the tables on reader and be in contact with the dead, only after her the other. In the first protagonist William ‘Summerhouse’ by Mike O’Driscoll a man character. The imagery is unsettling, while residence rented out to a vampire who renegades alike. There’s a grittiness to the death she comes back to haunt the young Powell decides that he wants to be a writer, returns to the Gower Peninsula of his youth the plight of a whole community as seen keeps his personal food supply of young language, an underlying awareness of social woman. There are some great characters though it’s only a pretext for a rant about and has a vision of the woman that he dated through the eyes of one man is well done, boys close to hand. It’s an engaging story, substrata and the very real horrors that give here, a witty writing style and a great twist the shoddy practises of self-publicists back then, confronting things about himself and the twist at the story’s end is pulled off one that draws the reader in, with Brenchley us all sleepless nights, the whole mulched at the end in the way in which the old lady that appears to have more to do with off that until now he has been able to ignore. with aplomb. A salesman breaks down on not setting a foot wrong, the time and place up in a welter of blood and tears, and with is exorcised. ‘The Doom’ by Paul Finch sees page events than the narrative in which it It’s a subtle ghost tale, rich in atmosphere the North York Moors in Gary Fry’s ‘The and characters all just right, and several an ending where only the monsters can a new age vicar inadvertently convincing a appears. With that out of the way Powell and with a subtext about the things we hide Welcoming’ only to be taken in by a family images that revolt thrown in for good offer hope. And ‘Coldrush’ by Kari Sperring frustrated rapist that it is okay to be himself, goes off in search of the film starlet who from and how they will always come back to who appear to have their own agenda. It’s a measure. Freda Warrington has fun with is the most futuristic piece, set in a reality with dire consequences. There are echoes shaped his sexuality, only to find that she is haunt us. A Birmingham crime baron looks jolly outing, with some nice turns of phrase, the tropes of the subgenre in ‘The Fall of the where a spacefaring insect civilisation falls of Dahl at his most vicious in this cleverly dead, setting us up for a snippet of revenge set to get away with murder when witnesses but nothing that won’t be familiar to horror House of Blackwater’, as an age old vampire prey to a vampiric black hole, though you constructed story, with a nasty sting in the from beyond the grave, though exactly start to die in Joel Lane’s ‘The Last Witness’, fans from countless similar outings. returns to torment the current residents can’t entirely dismiss the idea that all the tail and a subtext about the advantages of what is being avenged is unclear. The story but the man himself is also a witness. This ‘We Are the Doorway’ by Gary McMahon of his ancestral home, masquerading as a SF stuff is a ruse and actually Sperring is old style fire and brimstone preaching over has little to commend it, is just a series of was a strange story, gripping and filled with features a Sunderland man for whom guilt ghost, only to have the tables turned on writing about insects in their own terms. the more touchy feely approach. incidents strung together willy nilly, though compelling imagery, and yet at the end I over past failure has taken the form of a him. It’s vampire fiction as Oscar Wilde It’s the most original piece in the book, Gary Fry’s ‘Keeping It in the Family’ is it does provide a laugh for the anatomically came away from it with the suspicion that door on his chest, and he finds absolution might have written it, knowingly amused at though to my mind doesn’t quite fit with the an obliquely slanted tale of a writer who challenged with the closing image of ‘a things had all been a bit random. by joining up with a group of people its own audacity and playing jokes on the company it’s keeping. is taken by a monster while staying with shrivelled member confirmed to be that of Mark West’s ‘The City in the Rain’ is a similarly inflicted to form a ‘house’ gestalt. reader. Donna Scott takes the vampire back to its his family at Whitby, but then returns. the severed penis’. new rendition of an earlier story and has I liked the feel of arch weirdness that At the fabulist end of the scale we have Victorian roots with ‘Lord of the Lyceum’, The story has an assured build-up and a a cancerous Leicester absorbing people hung over the story, even though I had a Sarah Singleton’s beautifully written ‘A a story in which Bram Stoker has a role to genuinely unsettling atmosphere, reinforced WHERE THE into the brickwork of buildings to restore good idea where it was going to, but wish Winter’s Tale’, which tells of a vampire play and a vampire tackles Jack the Ripper. by subtle suggestions of some terrible HEART IS (Gray their health. The idea is an excellent one that McMahon had given us a bit more girl who arrives on a block of ice and her Filled with tiny touches of detail that help to transformation that may be taking place. Friar Press paperback, and West captures well both the emotions about the back story to his protagonist’s relationship with an infatuated artist, the bring the age to life, with some fascinating In ‘Spanish Suite’ by Craig Herbertson 221pp, £8.99) edited of his character, in mourning for his dead condition. Finally ‘Stamping Ground’ story shot through with a brooding feel characters and charged interplay, this a trainee confectionary salesman on a by Gary Fry contains wife, and the horror of what is happening by Carole Johnstone has a man followed of obsession and conveying a sense of was one of my favourites. Saucy Jack also European tour falls foul of a revenant. With nineteen stories, each to the victims of the city, with some garish by Glaswegian tramps, their presence decadence. In ‘Where the Vampires Live’ features in ‘Fool’s Gold’ by Sam Stone, a well a strong sense of place and an amiable set in the place where imagery. Stephen Bacon’s emotive ‘Last infecting his whole life, causing him to by Storm Constantine the main thrust of written tale that provides one of the most writing style this was a thoroughly engaging the author lives, and Summer’ has a man remembering the days lose his job and social standing, then at the story is in the relationship between original takes on vampires and the Ripper piece, and my only reservation is that the each accompanied of the miners’ strike, when he was a child the end becoming one of their number two sisters, and how this is changed by the that I can recall seeing. Finally in ‘Vanities’ nasty ending felt more like an afterthought by an afterword in and his father stood on the picket line, and inflicting the same fate on another. arrival in their house of a strange girl who by Gail Z. Martin two vampire thieves are than the destination to which the plot was which he or she explains the connection. while a serial killer preyed on innocent Johnstone writes well, winning our interest turns out to be part of a vampire family. part of an organisation that protects the driving. Reggie Oliver’s ‘Mr Pigsny’ is one It’s an intriguing idea, but I didn’t feel that children. He goes to check on what he has and holding it all the way as she puts her The artful writing, highly charged air of world from far greater evil. The story is of the highlights of the collection, as an it really worked: for most of the stories it suspected all along, that one of the victims characters through the paces demanded by eroticism and subtle characterisation kept a Machiavellian treat, with two parts rip academic with gangsters as in-laws finds out seemed to me that the location could easily was actually killed by his best friend. There’s the plot, the idea at the heart of the story me turning the pages, albeit there were roaring adventure to one part horror, and that there is something decidedly off about have been changed with nothing lost. There a terrible sense of poignancy and lost having novelty and the way in which it places where the story felt slightly forced. brings down the curtain on this production the man who was the deceased gang lord’s was seldom any sense that the setting was innocence, with Bacon managing the two is played out never less than convincing, ‘Taken at His Word’ by Tanith Lee has with considerable panache. ‘spiritual’ adviser. The story is beautifully intrinsic to the narrative, which is not to say strands perfectly, and bringing alive the with the story’s understated denouement failed writer and scholar Olvero unwittingly executed, with a real feel for the scenario that these are bad stories or this is a poor tensions and high feelings of that lost time. a particular pleasure. It was good note on unleashing a vampire on the city where THE SIXTH BLACK and the characters, and a chain of wholly collection. It’s just not quite what it says on ‘Winter’s End’ by Simon Bestwick is another which to end a solid anthology, one with he lives. The story is beautifully paced and BOOK OF HORROR inexplicable events that accrete to provide the tin. highlight, with a young man’s relationship more hits than misses. keeps its twists and turns out of sight of (Mortbury Press a genuinely unsettling frisson or two for The best story comes early on in the with the ideal girlfriend interrupted by the the reader until the appropriate moment of paperback, 198pp, the reader. Set in 1950s Derbyshire, Stephen book, Stephen Volk’s Bristol based (but demons from her past. My only quibble From the same revelation, playing games with the idea of £7) edited by Charles Bacon’s ‘Room Above the Shop’ is another could be anywhere really) ‘Easter’, which with the story is that the protagonist’s publisher we get fiction made flesh. Black is unashamedly winner, a disturbing tale of mannequins is a quintessentially British tale, as council policeman buddy seems a bit of a plot NEVER AGAIN (Gray Not everything worked for me. John retro, the latest in an and guilt coming home to roost. The workmen turn up to re-enact the crucifixion convenience, but other than that Bestwick Friar Press paperback, Kaiine’s ‘English Spoken’ had some lush anthology series that atmosphere is built with assurance and in front of a suburban dwelling, and the sucks the reader in with skill, his characters 292pp, £10) edited by imagery, but the tale of a Passenger in aims to recapture the the characters live and breathe, while man of the house takes the ‘victim’ cups of never less than believable and the emotions Allyson Bird and Joel search of something that remains just out feel of the old horror both period and setting have the ring of tea and chats with him about this and that. between them entirely credible. Lane, a book described of reach never quite grabbed me and I came tomes of yesteryear. It comes with fifteen authenticity about them. The whole thing seems wonderfully surreal, Paul Finch’s ‘The Daftie’ is set in Wigan as ‘an attempt to voice away from it with no feeling that the story stories from a selection of familiar (and not Several of the stories are weak, marred by Pythonesque even, with some delightful and has a young boy on a cross country the collective revulsion amounted to something more than the sum so) denizens of the UK small press scene. predictable elements or a lack of anywhere dialogue and a deadpan delivery, while the run getting off the beaten track and falling of writers in the weird of its parts. In ‘Wuthering Bites’ Brontë’s tale Opening the score is the ever reliable interesting to go, while a couple leave problems of the protagonist’s marriage offer foul of a mental home escapee. Initially the fiction genre against political attitudes that  52 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 53 

stifle compassion and deny our collective Tide’ looks at racism through the eyes of and matter of fact depiction of inhumanity. NULL IMMORTALIS: Bacon is a writer who is growing in stature ‘Love is the Drug’ by Andrew Hook steps human inheritance’, with contributors a young man, forced to ignore a boy of Gary McMahon’s ‘Methods of Confinement’ NEMONYMOUS (I’d say we were overdue a collection of into a world where emotions are sold by donating their work and all profits going to different colour to appease the prejudices of gives us the situation of a woman visiting TEN (Megazanthus his stories) and ‘The Toymaker of Bremen’ drug dealers, and a man is given love but it anti-fascist and racist organisations, such as his mates, slotting into the tale an incident her brother in prison, and showing how Press paperback, doesn’t disappoint. A young boy finds destroys the feeling he already has for his the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (google of wartime segregation and death that she also can become a prisoner of the 330pp, £11) edited by himself abandoned by his parents and falls wife and children. The story is cleverly told, Sophie Lancaster if you want an example of echoes down into the present day. Author situation. While engaging, this story was a Des Lewis is to be the into the care of an elderly man with a large with Tullis being interrogated by people who real life horror and heroism). Alison J. Littlewood tackles her themes little too oblique for my liking, the horror final volume in this family of children, but as the plot unfolds ostensibly want to help him, but underlying Reviewing charity anthologies is an with conviction, the characters never for once too understated. In a lighter vein, anthology series, which the boy comes to realise that something that is a subtext about our emotional states endeavour fraught with peril for the less than real, especially the protagonist Robert Shearman’s ‘Damned If You Don’t’ has made a virtue far more sinister is going on. Bacon hits and how fragile they are, often the result reviewer as nobody wants to be the bad with his hatred of the prevailing mindset is the story of Martin, who ends up in Hell out of doing things entirely the right note here, with the boy’s of conditioning and socialisation rather guy who rains on everyone’s parade, but but inability to go against the crowd. The sharing a cell with Hitler’s dog, and then differently. In previous volumes stories were feelings of estrangement and his happiness than the profound feelings we believe them fortunately the twenty three stories in this bullying is as shocking as it is senseless, when the dead are returned to Earth learns published independently of the authors’ at how he is treated put over well, but never to be. ‘The Scream’ by Tim Casson is an volume – eleven of them reprints – are of soliciting our sympathy for the victim exactly how Adolf got the way he was. bylines, but not this time around. Editor so well as to obscure the fact that something enigmatic story of kebabs and property a generally high standard, exceptional in while at the same time suggesting how his It’s a delightful tale, full of touches of sly Des Lewis still has some moves though. is very awry, all priming us for the final plot booms and busts, of strange illnesses and one or two cases, so that particular poison tormentors came to such a pass, the banality invention and a wry humour, all of which Each story includes a character called Tullis twist with its unsettling revelation. fractured relationships. Propping up the chalice gets taken from me. and hopelessness of lives that can only be underline the serious points the story has (the winner of a competition run in the Writing itself is central in some of the narrative is a metaphor in which the spread First up is ‘Feet of Clay’ by Nina Allan, validated through the infliction of pain on a to make. last volume) and is inspired by the phrase stories, as with ‘Apotheosis’ by D.P. Watt in of fast food outlets becomes emblematic of in which a Jewish family relive nightmares weaker party. ‘Machine’ by Carole Johnstone has a ‘null immortalis’. My impression is that which Tullis is the most successful writer the commodification of people and society, of the past against a modern background ‘Survivor’s Guilt’ by Rosanne Rabinowitz, theme park in which scenes from the Lewis puts a premium on lateral thinking in the world, though his nature seems to and the poison seeping into our lives. of growing racial tension, and with the which originally appeared in Black Static, Second World War are recreated by actors, and high concept over plot, which can be be more that of hive mind or collective Tullis in Gary Fry’s ‘Strings Attached’ is an possibility of a golem in the mix. As ever, provides a potted history of fascism in the only one night everything comes horribly something of a mixed blessing. There are than an actual individual. Another writer entrepreneur planning to open a fast food Allan writes with a keen pen, showing early days of the twentieth century through real for the owner. So far, so weird, but the stories among the twenty six in this book is drawn into the Tullis web as part of his outlet at a sedate seaside resort and against insight into the lives of her characters and the eyes of a female immortal (the vampire subtext here seems to be that fascism is that are the rival of nearly anything found own shot at immortality by proxy, the story the will of the residents, but the abandoned the plight in which they find themselves, word is never used, but there’s a strong latent in all of us, a machine that is driven in the other anthologies here, but also a cleverly playing with the themes of the ticket office chosen for his premises might overlapping past and present to the suggestion). Beautifully written, it draws the by our hurt and fear, needing only the right number that are slight, little more than brief book and the competition. Joel Lane’s ‘The not be the best of locations. Fry is adept at strengthening of both, with only the ending reader in, juxtaposing the personal situation stimulus to surface once more. Stephen word pictures, and some that don’t invite Drowned Market’ is perhaps a metaphor creating a sense of urban unease while never striking a weak note, one in which the and concerns of the narrator with those of Volk’s ‘After the Ape’ is simply brilliant, but the question ‘And then what happened?’ so for the end of publishing as we know it, revealing too much, with corrupt council author doesn’t quite seem to know how to society at large, celebrating the link between I already said that in my review of Stephen much as ‘What just happened?’ with hints of murder/suicide along the way officials, hostile locals and a ghostly spectre finish. ‘Volk’ by R.J. Krijnen-Kemp has a love and liberty, how the two reinforce each Jones’ Mammoth. Along with the Lansdale, Case in point, ‘Turn Again’ by William as an author and his manuscript undergo all helping in the measured unravelling surreal, Kafkaesque feel to it, with a couple other. Simon Kurt Unsworth’s ‘A Place for it’s the highlight of this anthology. ‘The Meikle, in which Tullis is an enigmatic changes until they disappear altogether, of his central character. With powerful given outsider status and feeling strangely Feeding’ takes a very ordinary situation, Death of Dreams’ by Thana Niveau takes stranger who comforts a grieving woman and the final image of the blank page writing and a narrative device that put me menaced by the shadowy official who lives that of a woman wanting to breast feed her on the tabloid press, with a future in which with talk of how nothing is ever lost and eclipsing reality itself. It seems churlish not in mind of Hawthorne’s House of the Seven upstairs, the constant threat of having life baby in a café, and then distorts it terribly, dreams can be captured and the details Zen. It’s engagingly written and at only four to mention the story by S.D. Tullis given Gables, Steve Rasnic Tem’s ‘The Green Dog’ and liberty snatched away, intercut with with the café’s clientele turning against the made public. A celebrity’s life is torn apart pages doesn’t outstay its welcome, and as his lynch pin status, but ‘The Return’ was chronicled the relationship between dog and the shocking demise of their cats. The story young mother. The story captures perfectly by tabloid revelations about what is going an appetiser for what follows works well not one of my favourites. After having man in the latter’s dying days, with identities is rich with imagery and echoes of Lynch’s the social intolerance and insistence on on in her subconscious, but the implications enough, but all the same I can’t muster up gone missing for nearly two years, a young seeming to merge, the naturalness of one Eraserhead, the whole shot through with an conformity that seems typical of fascism, go much further, with society itself much enthusiasm beyond a shrug. girl returns home but will not speak. The contrasting with the artificiality of the other, unsettling quality that seems omnipresent with a backlash and anger out of all endangered. The story spotlights the tabloid Let’s talk about some of the ones I can get story holds the attention, with a minutely their shared concerns. and yet gains power to unsettle from proportion to the supposed offence given sensibility, the need for sensationalism that enthusiastic about, and three stories stand detailed description of events unfolding and The last story in the anthology is also the its very vagueness. Lisa Tuttle’s ‘In the and the victim humiliated and abused while puts headlines above everything else, with out in particular. ‘Lucien’s Menagerie’ by responses to them, but the metamorphosis longest, Tim Nickels’ novella ‘Supermarine’ Arcade’ depicts a future in which coloured all the time being told how it’s for her own privacy thrown out of the window, and all David M. Fitzpatrick, a tale that has echoes of the final section, with hints of something which reads somewhat like Catch-22 if it people survive only in exhibitions for the good, and that she is being unreasonable in done in the public interest, with our consent of House on Haunted Hill in the plight of rotten in the family fold, doesn’t quite work, had been written by Michael Moorcock edification and entertainment of the white seeking to exercise the simple right to feed and connivance. a woman bequeathed her family mansion seems to be offering strangeness for its own and he’d used the family Cornelius for his masters, the story told through the eyes of her own child. ‘The Depths’ by Ramsey Campbell has by her wealthy ex, but only if she spends sake rather than as a means to reveal the dramatis personae. Mostly it was a fun mystified Eula Mae, who doesn’t understand Towering over everything else in the a writer finding that he must get horrid a night there, and dotted about the house truth of this situation. read, with some tasty prose, larger than life what has happened to her or why, with an book is ‘Night They Missed the Horror fantasies out of his mind and down onto are stuffed animals that are intended to Some of the shorter pieces work, usually characters and oblique invention, but at the undercurrent of savagery to the tale, seen Show’ by Joe R. Lansdale, one of the classics paper, else they will find an expression drive her over the edge into madness. It’s a those with a humorous side. Rachel end I didn’t have the feeling that the various in the offensive language and the sheer of the genre, a savage and brutal case study in the real world. As ever with Campbell, marvellous piece, full of incident and rich Kendall’s ‘Holesale’ takes a play on words episodes formed something greater than the mindlessness and brutality of what appears of racism, as two rednecks fall foul of the hints of something awry come thick in detail, with tongue in cheek dialogue and and fashions it into a slight but eminently sum of their parts, enjoyable as they were to have befallen a significant proportion of people even worse than they are. The whiff and fast, consensus reality slowly upset by a megalomaniac character who must surely enjoyable tale about a man who sells black in isolation. At the end of the story is the the human race. of the KKK runs through this story, and intrusions of the outré, and the possible have been inspired by Vincent Price at his holes for use as storage space, and how those legend nemonymous 2001–2010. It will be ‘Sense’ by Tony Richards shows a society even though thirty years old it retains the subtext that perhaps we have a personal most insidious, and easily my favourite of holes might be put to use. ‘Fire’ by Roy Gray missed. in which people who feel disenfranchised power to shock, so that the reader almost responsibility for the things we create. what’s on offer. Reggie Oliver’s ‘You Have gives us the meditations of a condemned turn to fascist politics, only to realise that wishes to look away as a terrible situation Last story in the book, Simon Bestwick’s Nothing to Fear’ provides a look into the man in the moments before he is killed by As I said in reference everyone who does not conform is in steadily gets worse, and we are deprived ‘Malachi’ is set in a totalitarian future lives of the upper classes, detailing the firing squad, a neat and clever piece with to Stephen Jones danger and the solutions offered are false. of any sense of closure, just the nullity of Britain, with a mixed race family wishing abusive relationship between an aristocratic a sting in the tail. Bob Lock knows how to above, when it comes In embryo it’s an illustration of Martin senseless death. to escape to another country, but only photographer and his model, and then how pander to the vanity of editors, with not to ‘year best’ volumes Niemoller’s famous observation that Steve Duffy’s story details the home life able to do so through the intervention of a the tables are turned on the man. A delight only Tullis but Lewis himself as a character reviewers are often culminates with ‘and then they came for of ‘The Torturer’, the routines and small Holocaust survivor. It’s an engaging story, to read from first word to last, the story is a in ‘Haven’t You Ever Wondered?’ and the little more than me’, with Richards exploring the theme exercises of power that sustain him, the but all the same runs along on familiar subtle supernatural piece in which a frisson whole Nemonymous project reified as a rubber stamps. What with a deft touch, showing at first the dreams that torment, all just an appendix and expected tracks, with the plight of the of fear runs through the narrative, but with matter of multiversal importance in a witty I won’t rubber stamp appeal of fascism and then the slow shift to the job he performs with such apparent characters touching the reader, but no real events always so off kilter that the reader and cheekily audacious story that delights are the typos in the until its ugly side is revealed. ‘In On the zeal, the story chilling in its implications surprises or anything insightful to offer. can feel free to ignore it completely. Stephen with its playfulness. ‘Summation 2009’  54 reviews case notes by peter tennant books reviews 55 

section of THE BEST HORROR OF THE Poe) I’d rate this the absolute best of what’s strange young woman who acts as crowbar inducing. And yet there is also the sense the zombies are really nothing much to YEAR VOLUME 2 (Night Shade Books on offer here. to lever apart the close knit group, turning that the victim feels somehow complicit worry about, and presiding over it all is the paperback, 308pp, $15.95) edited by Ellen ‘The Nimble Men’ by Glen Hirshberg them against each other. There’s a subtle in what is happening to him, that he acts scarlet goddess Kali. The vivid descriptions Datlow. With close to forty errors in thirty concerns a strange incident at an isolated undercurrent of menace here, the sense in such a way as to bring it about. Straub here, the ripe sense of place, are almost pages, there’s something seriously awry airport, with the crew of a plane perplexed of far more going on off the page than we solicits the reader’s sympathy but at the overpowering at times, while the subtext here. Names are misspelled (Jane Austen by incidents on the field. The beauty read on it, with some excellent imagery same time he raises questions about the about the thin line between living and dead is Austin, Stephenie Meyer is Myers, John and strength of the story lies in the fact to accompany the story and evocative nature of the abuse taking place and seems even more apposite nowadays. Langan is Lanagan, Steve Redwood is that nothing is stated: we simply get an descriptive writing. how it fits into the larger picture of the Elizabeth Hand’s ‘The Erl-King’ is a deal Redmond etc), commas are misplaced and existential sense of dread and the growing These stories and the eight I haven’t protagonist’s life. Pat Cadigan’s ‘The Power with the devil tale, deftly weaving together words appear to be missing, and we get such feeling of unease, even though nothing commented on provide a snapshot of the and the Passion’ combines two tropes of strands of fairy tales, Warhol’s Factory howlers as ‘low budge movies’ and ‘lessons actually happens to threaten the characters, horror genre and its current state of health, the horror genre, with a ruthless serial years, rock music and the lust for fame, all the impact’. I’ve read plenty of summations at least not until they step out of the which on the evidence presented seems to killer who gets to indulge himself by in a tale where two young girls are beguiled and introductions by Ellen Datlow over the plane. But even then group hallucination very robust indeed. murdering vampires at the government’s by the fallen rock star who lives next door. years and can’t recall ever seeing enough brought on by dread anticipation is an behest. It’s an intriguing idea, here given There’s a lush feel to this, an entirely natural typos for it to be an issue before, and option. ‘Wendigo’ by Micaela Morrissette DARKNESS: TWO a novel twist, and reading the story the story that has so much that is beautiful and fortunately the malaise hasn’t spread to the is an obliquely written piece, the story’s DECADES OF squirrelly nastiness of the character comes strange within its narrative, a miscellany rest of the book, but Night Shade obviously heroine getting drawn into the world of MODERN HORROR over well, the sense that this is really an of objects that delight as much as the need to take a hard look at whatever a secret group of cannibals, or worse, (Tachyon paperback, animal we are reading about, a predator story itself. Dennis Etchison’s ‘The Dog proofreading procedures they have in place. and consuming her own flesh. There are 470pp, $15.95) edited who allows others to live only because he Park’ looks at the brutalising effects of the There are seventeen stories in the elements of the story that feel fairy tale like by Ellen Datlow, is has no choice about it. There’s a similar Hollywood system, with dogs becoming anthology, and while I might quibble about crossed with a heady sense of decadence, a volume that has a feel to ‘The Phone Woman’ by Joe R. fashion accessories in the climb to the top some of the choices Datlow is experienced as if Angela Carter had written the script to similar agenda but Lansdale, in which a writer is drawn to the of the pile, and a man who has lost his dog enough and has sufficient critical acumen to Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, and underlying it different timescale to plight of a neighbourhood character who thrown into a suicidal funk. Obliquely not inflict any stories on us that don’t earn all awareness that the narrator, in love and the Jones Best of the keeps attempting suicide, finally helping written, the story suggests so much more NEVER AGAIN is an attempt to their place. For purposes of this review I in flight from her everyday life, may not be Best reviewed above. Darkness opens with a her to completion and realising that there than is conveyed, with subtle shifts of voice the collective revulsion of shall ignore those stories I’ve written about as reliable as we could wish. foreword by Stefan Dziemianowicz charting is something terrible in his own nature. emphasis and nuances that hint at a subtext writers in the weird fiction genre before (the Duffy, Langan, Barron etc) and ‘The Porches of My Ears’ by Norman changes in horror fiction during the period The story grabs the attention right from of emotional vacuity, of gladiatorial contests against political attitudes that stifle comment on some of the ones that are new Prentiss is a keenly felt tale of loss, with 1984 to 2005, and that’s followed by twenty the start, the reader identifying with the for the amusement of the hierarchy even. compassion and deny our collective to me. the man whose wife is dead from cancer five of the best stories published during protagonist, who is pissed off at first by this ‘Heat’ by Steve Rasnic Tem didn’t work for human inheritance. The imagination The opening story, Steve Eller’s ‘The End looking back to happier times and trying that period (none of which overlap with the disturbance to his routine, but then finds me. A rather wordy account of a woman is crucial to an understanding both of Everything’, is a grim account of a man’s to pin down the moment when it all Jones volume, so there’s a case for acquiring that something about it attracts him, so that fascinated by fire and ultimately immolating of human diversity and of common life in a world overrun by zombies, and went wrong, and finding that moment in both), providing an overview of the genre, in the end we are asked questions about our herself it never came alive until the closing ground. Weird fiction is often his own feelings of isolation given that he a chance encounter at the cinema. The its major players and the themes that have own culpability, if we too have this dark side scene. stigmatised as a reactionary and needs to kill others and they are nearly all strength of the story lies in the way in preoccupied them. in our natures. Ramsey Campbell’s ‘No Strings’ has a dead. It’s a keenly felt piece, one in which which ordinary events are reified, so that ‘Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament’ Any overview of horror fiction since man bewitched by a street musician who ignorant genre – we know better. The the subtle shades of emotion dominate. ‘Mrs what may be no more than simple rudeness is a fine example of how marvellous Clive the eighties has to take on board the lures him into a building where tramps hide anthology is published now by GRAY Midnight’ by Reggie Oliver is a traditionally is given a horrific, premonitory quality. Barker was in his prime, an account of a colossus that is Stephen King, but I’m not and in which he will become a sacrifice, FRIAR PRESS, and edited by Allyson slanted piece in the Jamesian vein, with a ‘Lonegan’s Luck’ by Stephen Graham woman with the power to transform living convinced that ‘Chattery Teeth’ serves the but as with the Tem the story seemed Bird and Joel Lane. celebrity who gets involved in the campaign Jones concerns a snake oil salesman who flesh and how she uses that talent, both for maestro well. The idea is a simple one – a rather slight, an assemblage of effects rather to save a dilapidated theatre learning moves from town to town poisoning the sex and murder. The writing is powerful driver is saved from a psycho hitchhiker than anything more substantial. In other It is a mixture of original stories and rather more than is good for him about inhabitants, only this time he gets the tables and provocative, with Barker eschewing by the chattery teeth he purchased at an company it might have stood out, but not reprints from Ramsey Campbell, a vaudevillian of yesteryear. The story is turned on him. Heavy on dialogue, it’s a moral judgements and easy targets in favour isolated store – but the story is too long here. ‘Stitch’ by Terry Dowling sees a young Lisa Tuttle and Joe R. Lansdale beautifully paced, the character’s obsession fast paced story with plenty of twists and of delving deep into personal obsessions, for its own good. All of King’s traits are woman confront her childhood fear of a amongst others. NEVER AGAIN taking root and signified by numerous turns and a gratifying final twist of the tale as his various characters seek out their in evidence, with an eminently readable sampler in her grandparents’ bathroom, is a non-profit initiative aimed at tiny touches of detail before the inevitable as the man’s mule comes into its own, with sordid destinies. One of the longer pieces, narrative couched in that ‘just us folks’ which is tied up with an incident of abuse, promoting awareness of these issues denouement. The influence of Ringu is my only complaint that there wasn’t enough ‘The Pear-Shaped Man’ by George R.R. tone he does so well, memorable characters only at the end she has her own agenda, obvious in ‘Each Thing I Show You is a Piece explanation for the title character’s actions. Martin is the superbly disturbing story of a and plenty of incident, but also the leaning rooted in horror. The story builds well among readers and writers of weird of My Death’ by Gemma Files and Stephen A maritime tale with a touch of Hodgson young woman moving into a new flat and to literary elephantiasis, the feeling that and even though it seems predictable with fiction. The editors, authors/artist J. Barringer, with film makers discovering about it, Carole Johnstone’s ‘Dead Loss’ has the man in the basement who she finds so we’re getting the economy size version hindsight the ending is shocking in its and publisher will receive no fees for what appears to be a suicide or murder tape a Scottish trawler and its crew running foul intimidating that his presence invades her of a story that really would have worked abruptness. Finally we have ‘My Father’s this work. Any profits made from and the transferral of a mystery figure to all of sea creatures. So much here seems to reality. This is a story of the type where much better at less length. ‘A Little Night Mask’ by Joe Hill, in which a trip away to an sales will be donated to Amnesty video, even television programmes. Written be rooted in the psyche of the fishermen, only the victim knows the truth of what is Music’ by Lucius Shepard has a music critic isolated holiday home becomes fraught with International, The Sophie Lancaster in a variety of forms, including interviews, with conflicts between them, that the idea happening with everyone else dismissing detailing his reaction to a zombie band, menace, and the sense of secrets revealing Foundation, and P.E.N. (International memorandum, correspondence etc, this is of monsters from the id presents itself, their fears as irrational, and Martin handles but this is only distraction activity from themselves as events from different times organisation to promote literature an intriguing story with a wealth of detail and though at the end Johnstone eschews this familiar device with skill and aplomb, his broken marriage and the wife who overlap. There’s dazzling imagery, a keen and human rights, encouraging and invention, and at its heart the fear of that possibility in favour of something weaving small notes of unease into his wants a separation. Beautifully written the sense of youthful angst, and the story has a translation and campaigning against what our modern communication media more concrete at a stretch it’s possible to narrative and making ordinary events seem story succeeds in cataloguing emotional strong end, with echoes of Oedipus in the political censorship). may be doing to us, both their ability to read this story as both creature feature and sinister simply through their juxtaposition. detachment, the failure to connect, that resolution. It’s a good note on which to end shock and also to insulate and deaden our psychological horror. Like ‘Wendigo’, ‘The Another highlight, ‘The Juniper Tree’ of both the zombies and the protagonist. this volume, and now all we need to ask is… emotions. Technically the most ambitious Lammas Worm’ by Nina Allan put me in by Peter Straub is a tale of childhood ‘Calcutta, Lord of Nerves’ is one of Poppy And then what happened? Available from the Gray Friar of the stories, with the exception of John mind of the work of Angela Carter, and abuse remembered in adulthood, the Z. Brite’s very best stories, a grim tale of Press website: grayfriarpress.com/ Langan’s marvellous ‘Technicolor’ (which I also of the film Freaks as the members of train of events sucking the reader in and zombies running rampant in the Indian city, Pete’s Case Notes Blog: ttapress. catalogue/neveragain.html considered when reviewing the anthology a travelling circus encounter and take in a the moment of ‘seduction’ truly squirm where the poor and the sick are so populous com/blackstatic/casenotesblog