As the Sun Goes Down

In the short story format Tim Lebbon is so widely acclaimed for, this collection of some of his best stories proves his versatility in and around the horror/dark fantasy field. From the very first story "The Empty Room", Lebbons trademark cynicism and distrust of humanity comes into full swing. Like a number of the stories contained herein, it focuses on children and their potential for indifferent cruelty, as well being subjected to it. Consistently throughout the anthology there is a sense of continuity that belies the brevity of the stories. There is a real sense of emotion in such tales as "The Last Good Times" and "The Repulsion", that incinerate the shock schlock that stands between Lebbon and his path to recognition. By and large the strongest and longest story in the collection is "The Unfortunate", one that showcases the simultaneous blessings' and curses' delivered at the hands of fate. There is a few lesser stories as well, such as "Fell Swoop" and "The Beach", but nothing atrocious. Much more disturbing than Lebbon's content however, is something elusive that I can't adequately explain. There is a sense at times that Lebbon is trying too hard to please, and makes his writing come off contrived and unnatural. Although there is no way to know for certain, this may be because the length of the stories at times don't flesh out dialogue and character development as well as they should. Perhaps Lebbon moves at to brisk a pace as well, which helps to explain the plethora of typo's. More than likely though, it is a master touch that only time and practice can help mature, something writers such as Ramsey Campbell and Gary Braunbeck can attest to. At any rate, this 'elusive quality' is absent from the aforementioned top stories, so it surely does not reflect a lack of talent. *A final warning is in order for potential buyers: "The Unfortunate" which takes up 1/5 of this book, is also included on the mass paperback "Fears Unnamed", and thus may not be worth a second purchase for casual fans. Although both are worth your money, this anthology is the one to buy if only purchasing one.

Tim Lebbon's works sometimes take time to appreciate. If you've read "White and Other Tales of Ruin," you probably know just what I mean. He has a knack for adopting an oblique style that keeps you guessing just a little too much, but continues to work on you long after you've finished the story. This approach can make for a frustrating read regardless of the potential future reward. However, "As the Sun Goes Down" is an unusually strong collection, carefully written and spare. Bookended by two excellent stories of childhood amorality and subsequent guilt, the stories contained within primarily deal with the innerspace of the human psyche, the dilemmas of life and how we choose to deal with them, and how our choices sometimes lead us to places we would rather not go. These stories do not need monsters (except for the excellent "King of the Dead," whose monsters are of the most unsettling variety) to entertain. Instead, Lebbon turns the focus inward, seeking out the hidden shadows within ourselves. This is a much more effective type of horror, in my opinion. How much can you really trust yourself and your loved ones? 4 stars for more typos than should be acceptable, even from a small press, and for a couple of stories which foray into Lebbon's oblique mode. Otherwise, excellent collection.

Don't bother with the utterly ridiculous,shallow and biased PW review. ATSGD is a superb collection written in a a clear yet literary style by brit author Tim Lebbon.Lebbon's moving,poignant and scary short stories sounds like a mix of Stephen King,Ray Bradbury and a dash of Clive Barker;he is a very skilled writer with a special talent for caracterization. Simply one of the best collections of the last ten years. If you like well crafted dark stories with a mainstream sensibility you can't go wrong with this. 1 * Introduction 5 * The Empty Room ================= ***** 17 * Life Within =================== ****1/2 31 * The Butterfly ================= ***1/2 45 * Endangered Species in C Minor = ****1/2 59 * Dust ========================== **** 71 * Fell Swoop ==================== **** 87 * Recent Wounds ================= ***** 101 * The Repulsion ================ ***** 113 * Unto Us ====================== **1/2 127 * The Last Good Times ========== **** 141 * King of the Dead ============= **** 159 * Recipe for Disaster ========== ***1/2 167 * The Beach ==================== ****1/2 170 * Reconstructing Amy =========== ****1/2 183 * The Unfortunate ============== ***1/2 239 * Bomber's Moon ================

Tim Lebbon brings a refreshing new dimension to the horror short story genre. Having read over 700 horror tomes I'm very hard to impress but I was bowled over by this collection. Each story will pluck a string in your heart and mind and start a vibration that will either chill, amaze or simply give you cause to wonder. Tim's writing style can't be compared to other horror authors due to the uniqueness of his phrasing, subject matter and superb characterizations. I'm truly immersed in reading while absorbing the terrible wonderfulness of this treasure trove of tales. If you're a true fan of the horoor genre don't cheat yourself out of reading an author who was born to write horror. I've LOVED all his books.

Having read most of Tim Lebbon's work to date, I have had the pleasure of witnessing his writing develop both in confidence and maturity. With this collection Lebbon clearly demonstrates how he has completely conquered the short story as a medium.As The Sun Goes Down presents a tableau of stories each very distinct in content and form, yet inextricably linked in disturbing the reader and challenging their accepted values. Not one tale is wasted in Lebbon's determination to subvert our perceptions of love, life, nature, beauty and the innocence of childhood. His use of language and narrative form is unrelenting, each vying to create images from words that incessantly chip away at our confidence in the so-called `truths' of existence.Lebbon is a horror writer we are told, but to consider the genre before the work would be to deny that which is most effective in these tales. The genre is used to explore wholly universal themes, a methodology that makes his stories impossible to pigeon-hole and an important reading experience for a much wider audience. You will miss out if you think this collection is only for the horror reader. If you want to understand the narrative strength of the short story whatever its content, it is clearly exhibited here. Trust me, I rarely read horror myself.