Customer Reviews

Dragonfly

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Brian Knight is a very good writer. No wonder I should get a very good read out of this book. Dragonfly pulls no punches. It has points to make, forces you to think, while at the same time is entertaining as hell. I've always been a horror fan but have grown tired of a lot of what is being released these days. Dragonfly is refreshing. A helpful reminder for why I love the genre in the first place. I look forward to seeing more from this man in the future.

after reading this book it makes me wonder about the type of person the author is. WOW... first he plunks those heart strings to grab you and hold on, then scares the bejeebers out of you... wow, this author is amazing. Expect great things to come from this author, is it any wonder his name falls between King and Koontz.... This guy is great and I expect him to be on the best sellers list with both of these guys.

Brian has a way of grabbing and holding your attention, even if you don't like horror fiction. I don't, but I liked Dragonfly. This is a composite of short stories, with enough theme and character variety to keep everything fresh and me looking forward to the next story. Some of the stories deal with hard issues, ie. child abuse, rape, violence against women. The issues aren't sugar-coated, or swept aside. I liked how he approached hard issues and how his characters dealt with them. Other stories are there just to scare you and make you wonder what goes on in the mind of a horror writer. Definitely worth a read if you're into horror.

Brian Knight writes stories that take place in an area I grew up in, which lends a certain visceral attachment for me. I suspect that this is how Stephen King readers from certain places in Maine feel.

However - I suspect that even if you're not from the Pacific Northwest, this collection will still have a lasting impact. Each story stands on its own, but most are subtly attached to each other in a wider fabric. Each story has a raw human element that leaves the reader simultaneously glad that it's over and aching for more. Knight's characters are real, and often deeply flawed in a way that deepens the horror of the ideas he's presenting.

I'd highly reccomend this collection to any horror afficinado, or anyone interested in taking a peek at the underbelly of the rural Pacific Northwest.

Dragonfly contains 13 lucky stories or unlucky depending on how you look at it. There are only 2 stories that I don't like, Baby Girl and Naked Hostility. Those 2 didn't really do anything for me. The rest though are gems. My top 5 are, God's Bug Zapper, Lost, Don't Toy With Me, Rain, and Dragonfly. God's Bug Zapper is just plain creepy. It's about a couple who visit a small town and get caught in a lightning storm unlike any other with horrible results. Lost is a haunting tale of a man obsessing over the loss of his murdered child and finally being committed. The ending is a jaw dropper. A must read. My next favorite is Don't Toy With Me. This one is remimiscent of early Stephen King. I believe this one won the Stoker award. It's downright creepy and hilarious. It's about a couple who visit a toy store to buy a present for their daughter and the wife picks a stuffed monkey against the husband's wishes. They get it home and the monkey takes on a life of it's own. So much so that it takes over the husband's life with dire consequences. A definite must read story. Lastly, are my absolute favorites in the book. Rain and Dragonfly. Dragonfly is a sequel to Rain. These stories are about love, loss, and revenge. Very haunting. Two of the best ghost stories I've ever read. I won't tell you what they're about it. I don't want to spoil anything for the reader. Both very highly recommended. Worth the price of the book alone. Other stories include Wunderland(wonderfully terrifying story), Muddy Waters, Sleeping With The Dogs, The Enigmatic Harold Blue, My Secret Lenore, and Nobody Loves Me. You can pick this book up cheap. Paperback is about $10 through Amazon. If you want the limited Delirium Books version expect to pay close to a hundred bucks. Great stuff! I give the book 4 and a half stars for great stories with haunting and chilling effects. I deducted a half star for the 2 stories I didn't like. Brian Knight is one of horror's brightest rising stars and his work shows it. He is not to be missed. If you get a chance pick up his other fiction as well. Such as Feral and Broken Angel. For right now, go pick up a copy of Dragonfly and read it. It is spectacular!