Customer Reviews

The Black Book of Horror (Bk. 1)

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I have been an avid Horror fan ever since I read "The Dunwich Horror", over 40 years ago. Horror and Dark Fantasy are still my favorite genres. Unfortunately, for every good short story or novel I read, there are 10 more that are real "dogs". This seems to be particularly true of many of the short story collections I have read, over the years. Too frequently, the storylines are clichéd-as-hell or they're really bad clones of Lovecraft...and in one particularly poor collection that I reviewed on [...] the writing was so poor and the editing even worse that the entire collection gave me the impression that it had been put together by a high-school group...a BAD high-school! So, every time I order a new collection...even ones that have been highly rated by others, I do so with great trepidation and gritted teeth!

Happily, "The Black Book of Horror", is a welcome exception to what I just described! While I won't waste your time by listing my favorite stories (why would you care?), I WILL say that there were no bad stories in this collection. There was one story that seemed a little weaker than the rest but all were well written, literate and contained fresh new twists within the plot. Beside some originality and the "creepy" factor I look for in a good Horror story, I, also, require that the writer is something of a "wordsmith", as well, and knows how to use the language in interesting ways to make characters, situations and scenery breathe and come to life. Proper syntax and spelling are a "must", as well, since a lack of either can be very distracting when I'm trying to get into the mood of the story.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best collections I have read in recent years and I hope that Mr. Black will choose to release "Volume II" and beyond. Obviously, he took a great deal of care in his selections and, just as obviously, a lot of "love" went into putting this book together.

Needless to say, I recommend this volume highly to all of those who enjoy intelligently written, literate Horror as much as I do.

And the cover art is as good as the contents! I'd find it hilarious if it turns out that Charles Black, himself, posed for the artist. It would certainly be fitting!

Please give us more, Mr. Black: more collections edited by you and more of your own stories, as well!

Horrified there are not more collections like this.

If you remember the old Pan Books of Horror and you liked them you will like this more. The reason: there are echoes of the old masters, (in fact there are some old masters, notabley David A. Riley with his chilling LOCK-IN - told with all the macabre inuendo of P.K. Dick.) - But also horror has moved in time, become more surreal and fuller in metaphor and image. At times these stories move with a Daliesque brush stroke, chilling, overlit and very scary.

Difficult to pick a favourite from this bunch. I might go for "Regina vs. Zoskia" which seems Ballardian in its style but more menacing. Gary Fry's creepy zombie-love tale "The Older Man" still gives me the shivers or perhaps "Cords" by Roger B. Pile...but it would be churlish to pick a best amongst so much good stuff.

If you like your nights dark, buy it.

I just finished the first volume of the "Black Book of Horror" and am extremely pleased. I can't remember the last time I came across an anthology with so many great stories in them. I would say that there were no stories in this collection that weren't good, but some really raised the bar. They nailed the element or eerie, creepy and scary. I can't wait to dive into volume 2 and I just got an e-mail saying there is a volume 5!!! I hope they maintained the element that they captured in the first one. I have read numerous horror anthologies and this one is top notch! You won't be disappointed.