Lost on the Darkside: Voices from the Edge of Horror

I am a big fan of the 'Darkside' collections, and this latest installment didn't disappoint me. Less aggressive and more chilling, these new tales take horror into its filmier dimensions, with a more unsettling and ethereal approach to the fear inside us. There are fewer tales than the other 'Darkside' offerings, but the stories are longer and chewier, a tooth-grindingly superior treat. You may find less gore, but there are some wonderful mind-bends to fill the bloody gap left in your palate. While this edition of the 'Darkside' collections does not mention the 'Hot Blood' series, you will still find some darkly erotic tales nestled inside. Here is the lineup: 'At The Circus Of The Dead' by Tony Richards 'This Body Of Death' by Maria Alexander 'The Blood Of Ink' by Joseph A. Ezzo 'Unblinking' by Ramsey Campbell 'The Dirty People' by David B. Silva 'Glyphotech' by Mark Samuels 'Spider Dream' by Michael Reaves 'Behind The Masque' by Jeffrey Thomas 'Last Stop' by John Pelan 'A Bottle Of Egyptian Night' by Jessica Amanda Salmonson 'Roadside Memorials' by Joseph Nassise 'Comforts Of Home' by Michael Laimo 'The Call Of Farther Shores' by David Niall Wilson 'Our World, How Fragile' by Paul Melniczek 'The Crawl' by Gerard Houarner First of all, I must admit that Jeffrey Thomas is one of my favorite writers, and with his story 'Behind The Masque' he brings a piece of his extraordinary world 'Punktown' to this collection, where cloning meets zombism. Ramsey Campbell's 'Unblinking' trots us down the path of insanity as a quiet professor succumbs to the stares of his strange neighbor. 'Last Stop' by John Pelan will take you on a hellish bus ride to the nightmare side of town. You will almost smell the incense of Jessica Amanda Salmonson's 'A Bottle Of Egyptian Night' as you take a languid tour through a magical dream reality, and Michael Laimo's 'Comforts Of Home' will give you cause to hug kitty close at night. Though I've only mentioned a few, each tale will leave you shivering with creeping dread, the type of horror that crawls up your spine in tingling shards rather than slapping you across the face. This 'Darkside' collection is the perfect book to have along for vacation, or to simply curl up with at night under low lights while a storm rages outside and the wind whistles its siren call around the eaves. Enjoy!

This is the fourth offering in John Pelan's Darkside anthology series, yet this one is just as strong as the previous books. 15 original stories showcase some of the best horror authors around. A full list of the stories follows ** At the Circus of the Dead by Tony Richards ** This Body of Death by Maria Alexander ** The Blood of Ink by Joseph A. Ezzo ** Unblinking by Ramsey Campbell ** The Dirty People by David B. Silva ** Glyphotech by Mark Samuels ** Spider Dreams by Michael Reaves ** Behind the Masque by Jeffrey Thomas ** Last Stop by John Pelan ** A Bottle of Egyptian Night by Jessica Amanda Salmonson ** Roadside Memorials by Joseph Nassise ** Comforts of Home by Michael Laimo ** The Call of Farther Shores by David Niall Wilson ** Our World, How Fragile by Paul Melniczek ** The Crawl by Gerard Houarner As with any anthology some stories far outshine others. At the Circus of the Dead, Glyphotech, and The Crawl are easily the best stories, far out stripping the others. Even the average stories in this volume aren't bad, and are worth reading. The stories also cover a broad range of horrors and phobia and this anthology is well worth checking out, whether you're a fan of short stories or of horror in general. Recommended.