From Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-Five grisly horror tales are contained in this collection. In "Buried Alive," a newly made vampire unwittingly blunders from his coffin into the early morning sunlight only to disintegrate into a putrefying mass. An unhappy couple's obsession with having a baby results in a dangerous bargain with a doctor whose ministrations result in a horrifying birth and a creepy mother-child bond in "It's a Boy." "Freaked Out" features an unscrupulous circus owner whose plan to save his nearly defunct freak show spurs him to develop new "attractions." Inventive surgical techniques practiced on drunken derelicts are successful until one of the unfortunate subjects exacts a cruel if deserved revenge on his tormenter. In "The Dolls," an elderly woman's murder at the hands of her selfish gambler-nephew is avenged by her beloved and loyal doll collection. The tone of "The Potion" is lighter, as a witch strives to follow her best recipe as exactly as possible. The macabre drama of these stories is heightened by expressive reading which suggests just the right amount of suspense. Background music heightens the brooding mood, and the overall sound quality is excellent. This is especially true in "Buried Alive" where the story's musical accompaniment is provided by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Not for young listeners or those with queasy stomachs, these stories focus on humankind's worst failings: greed, obsession, cruelty, and ignorance. School and public libraries whose older listeners enjoy the horror genre will find this a popular selection.
Nancy L. Chu, Western Illinois University, Macomb Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
These self-described Bites Size Tales of Terror rediscover audio horror (both narrated and dramatized) with the benefit of a lavish, full orchestral score. There's quite a range of stories here: from demonic kids (The Quiet Child) and freaks (Freaked Out) to vampires (Buried Alive) and witches (The Potion). A progressive emphasis on camp horror and realized characters give Little Evil Things an increasingly polished style, not unlike Goosebumps. Nevertheless, writers Frank Macchia and Tracy London hardly skimp on the gore with some delicious bits. Yum. All the same, the series is more family-oriented than you might think, with an emphasis on tales that are short, jolting and fun. We declare Little Evil Things a perfect fit for camping trips, long drives or simply as a smart alternative to television. --Rue Morgue - October 1999
Watch out, Goosebumps! Little Evil Things, III continues the award-winning series of original horror stories set to contemporary music (performed by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra) and sound FX. Combining chills and humor, all the volumes (available on CD or cassette) are written and produced by Frank Macchia and Tracy London. --Fangoria - 1999
Grade 9 Up-Five grisly horror tales are contained in this collection. In "Buried Alive," a newly made vampire unwittingly blunders from his coffin into the early morning sunlight only to disintegrate into a putrefying mass. An unhappy couple's obsession with having a baby results in a dangerous bargain with a doctor whose ministrations result in a horrifying birth and a creepy mother-child bond in "It's a Boy." "Freaked Out" features an unscrupulous circus owner whose plan to save his nearly defunct freak show spurs him to develop new "attractions." Inventive surgical techniques practiced on drunken derelicts are successful until one of the unfortunate subjects exacts a cruel if deserved revenge on his tormenter. In "The Dolls," an elderly woman's murder at the hands of her selfish gambler-nephew is avenged by her beloved and loyal doll collection. The tone of "The Potion" is lighter, as a witch strives to follow her best recipe as exactly as possible. The macabre drama of these stories is heightened by expressive reading which suggests just the right amount of suspense. Background music heightens the brooding mood, and the overall sound quality is excellent. This is especially true in "Buried Alive" where the story's musical accompaniment is provided by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Not for young listeners or those with queasy stomachs, these stories focus on humankind's worst failings: greed, obsession, cruelty, and ignorance. School and public libraries whose older listeners enjoy the horror genre will find this a popular selection. Nancy L. Chu, Western Illinois University, Macomb Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --Library Journal 1999
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
