A 2008 Bram Stoker Award Finalist for "BEST ANTHOLOGY." Shroud Publishing has compiled 13+ of the eeriest and most terrifying works of short fiction into a classically-themed trade paperback titled "Beneath The Surface." "Beneath The Surface" represents the first in a series of limited edition anthologies intended for discerning horror readers. In this collection of stories, readers will be tantalized and thrilled by tales of supernatural beings, Gothic settings, shadowy creatures, and atmospheric haunts. "Beneath The Surface" will serve as the perfect companion to cold nights by the fire or snowed-in days off from work. "An anthology of old school tales containing stories which are, by turns, spooky, gripping, insightful, pulpish, and just downright fun. A first offering from Shroud Publishing that will hopefully be followed by plenty more in the same vein." --Tom Piccirilli, author of THE COLD SPOT and THE MIDNIGHT ROAD
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Also featuring Jake Burrows, and Angeline Hawkes. Timothy Deal is the editor and publisher of Shroud Publishing LLC, a Milton, NH publisher of dark speculative fiction. In 2007, Tim launched Shroud Magazine, the Journal of Dark Fiction and Art (a Black Quill nominee), which in 2008 was selected by Ingram Periodicals for North American retail distribution through the Barnes & Noble retail chain. He has edited three anthologies, two of which were simultaneously recommended for Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers' Association with BENEATH THE SURFACE ultimately garnering the nomination. Tim has authored more than 100 published stories, news pieces, features, and analysis in topics such as technology and business, entertainment, the arts, and film. He currently sits as the Publications head for the New England Horror Writers' executive committee. Prior to his career in writing and publishing, Tim was a police officer, paratrooper, and Army counterintelligence agent.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By M
Format:Paperback
...never, but as a fan of Lovecraft I admit I was initially drawn to the book by the fantastic cover art.
Thankfully this book is more than just a pretty face. Like Frankenstein's monster this little grimoire was cobbled together from different pieces and assembled nicely for your reading pleasure (13 different short stories, various authors).
I won't post any spoilers but if your tastes occasionally tilt towards the dark, the macabre, the spooky or the unknown then you will find some reading pleasure lurking in this book.
Upon finishing the book my interest was piqued, I checked the site listed on the back. (Shroud publishing)This was their first publication, quite impressive for first timers.
The site indicates that they do publish a magazine (I will be checking that out) and that there are plans for a second book to be published, with 13 more stories. No date listed for the next release but the cover looks great.
Thankfully this book is more than just a pretty face. Like Frankenstein's monster this little grimoire was cobbled together from different pieces and assembled nicely for your reading pleasure (13 different short stories, various authors).
I won't post any spoilers but if your tastes occasionally tilt towards the dark, the macabre, the spooky or the unknown then you will find some reading pleasure lurking in this book.
Upon finishing the book my interest was piqued, I checked the site listed on the back. (Shroud publishing)This was their first publication, quite impressive for first timers.
The site indicates that they do publish a magazine (I will be checking that out) and that there are plans for a second book to be published, with 13 more stories. No date listed for the next release but the cover looks great.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
FROM THE FUNKY WEREPIG
Where the hell did Tim Deal find these stories?
As an anthology lover, I am always eager to dive into a new variety pack of horror. And I usually know what to expect. The majority will be solid scary stories. There are always a couple that fall short. And if one-third of the tales knock you off your chair, you've gotten your money's worth.
But Deal did something I had never seen before. Every story in this collection is completely original. Meaning, I had no familiarity with any plot, what the `horror' was that fueled each tale nor how twisted each ending would be. There was not one stereotypical monster in BENEATH THE SURFACE. Instead I found nightmares about a magical desk drawer, a very hungry bed, and a trailer park with a horrifying dark secret.
Picture the Twilight Zone if Rod Serling huffed Lysol.
This anthology did something else I must applaud. While it did have the usual story or two I simply didn't care for, it delivered two others that not only were the highlights of the book but without a doubt two of the best short stories I've read this year. I usually hate singling out individual works in an anthology but these show the strength of Deal's eye for talent.
The first is about a man who never lived up to his father's expectations and a ghost train that appears deep in the woods of a random small town. Just when I expected the predictable ending, no, I found a beautiful story that broadened Shroud's perimeters for `horror'.
The second was so powerful I immediately told several writers I knew to find it. It's about a woman plucked by fate to save the world by an old witch. I don't want to say much more but when I hit the last paragraphs, I had to put the book down and walk away. It is probably the most accurate story of `human' horror I have ever read. Again, Shroud chose a tale that went far beyond the conventional definition.
However, I need to point out at this time one ugly fact. While Tim Deal is a fine editor and soon to be a driving force in horror publication, he is also a big liar. It says right on the cover...13 Shocking Tales of Terror. But there is a bonus story bringing the total to 14. Clearly this is a man who can not be trusted. Despite this, Deal and his publishing company Shroud will get my continued support.
BENEATH THE SURFACE is a must for any serious horror fan, if anything as a template on how the genre can still be completely original in its storytelling.
Where the hell did Tim Deal find these stories?
As an anthology lover, I am always eager to dive into a new variety pack of horror. And I usually know what to expect. The majority will be solid scary stories. There are always a couple that fall short. And if one-third of the tales knock you off your chair, you've gotten your money's worth.
But Deal did something I had never seen before. Every story in this collection is completely original. Meaning, I had no familiarity with any plot, what the `horror' was that fueled each tale nor how twisted each ending would be. There was not one stereotypical monster in BENEATH THE SURFACE. Instead I found nightmares about a magical desk drawer, a very hungry bed, and a trailer park with a horrifying dark secret.
Picture the Twilight Zone if Rod Serling huffed Lysol.
This anthology did something else I must applaud. While it did have the usual story or two I simply didn't care for, it delivered two others that not only were the highlights of the book but without a doubt two of the best short stories I've read this year. I usually hate singling out individual works in an anthology but these show the strength of Deal's eye for talent.
The first is about a man who never lived up to his father's expectations and a ghost train that appears deep in the woods of a random small town. Just when I expected the predictable ending, no, I found a beautiful story that broadened Shroud's perimeters for `horror'.
The second was so powerful I immediately told several writers I knew to find it. It's about a woman plucked by fate to save the world by an old witch. I don't want to say much more but when I hit the last paragraphs, I had to put the book down and walk away. It is probably the most accurate story of `human' horror I have ever read. Again, Shroud chose a tale that went far beyond the conventional definition.
However, I need to point out at this time one ugly fact. While Tim Deal is a fine editor and soon to be a driving force in horror publication, he is also a big liar. It says right on the cover...13 Shocking Tales of Terror. But there is a bonus story bringing the total to 14. Clearly this is a man who can not be trusted. Despite this, Deal and his publishing company Shroud will get my continued support.
BENEATH THE SURFACE is a must for any serious horror fan, if anything as a template on how the genre can still be completely original in its storytelling.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sometimes its REALLy hard to find a good ensemble of stories that really speaks to you. too often there are a few stories that a series has been written around, making you want to read - but only just. This is where things get good though; here you have a great cover that leads you to think that this could be a nice collection, and the cover doesn't lie.
Like many have said, they bought this on a whim, thinking it looked good, and they felt like the buy was justified. I bought this on a whim as well, thinking I was going to at least get something, but what I ended up with was a beautifully detailed collection of stories. Some were straight up darkness and some were roundabout piece that had something swirling in their interior. All had something worth taking in - I have to say that hasn't happened to me in quite some time.
I don't want to mess up anything about these stories and, too often, a little information about an alreadysshort tale does that. What I will say is this; you can look at sample pages of this if you need to, or just take the advice of someone who LOVEs tales from the deep and buy this on an impulse. Trust me, you'll thank everyone who suggested you do so later.
Like many have said, they bought this on a whim, thinking it looked good, and they felt like the buy was justified. I bought this on a whim as well, thinking I was going to at least get something, but what I ended up with was a beautifully detailed collection of stories. Some were straight up darkness and some were roundabout piece that had something swirling in their interior. All had something worth taking in - I have to say that hasn't happened to me in quite some time.
I don't want to mess up anything about these stories and, too often, a little information about an alreadysshort tale does that. What I will say is this; you can look at sample pages of this if you need to, or just take the advice of someone who LOVEs tales from the deep and buy this on an impulse. Trust me, you'll thank everyone who suggested you do so later.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
