Customer Reviews

September and Other Stories

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book based on the excellent reviews posted. Where do I start?
Introduction by author states this book evolved from a role-playing game and it shows.
Glaring spelling/grammar errors, which if the story is good is not a `make or break it' for me, but these were annoying.
The main story, STEPTEMBER, takes place in 1923. The author has 13 people getting on a plane and flying to Egypt. I don't think so. Lindbergh didn't cross the Atlantic till 1927, alone.
Authors who use names for their characters that all begin with the same letter of the alphabet should be shot. Dawson has triplets as her heroines in the first few stories: Natasha, Natalie & Nicolette. This wound up beyond annoying into the realm of "do I finish this book?"
The mother should be gagged.
The vampire comes out from left field, then he's gone-what's with that? Dropped story line, couldn't figure out where to go with it, what?
Our `heroes' kill a bunch of sleeping people and get a brief talking to and that's it? Why do the wrong people always get killed in these plots.
Way too many poems. Six of them.
Large print, spacing big. This book cost too much.
Interesting effort but lacks polish and it annoyed me.

September and Other Stories is an intelligent collection of horror stories that challenges the reader to think about what is happening. I particularly enjoyed the first three stories, as they were reminiscent of the classic horror of a Mary Shelley instead of the either blood soaked splat or daytime soap drivel that innundates the market today.

Dawson does a wonderful job capturing the feel of 1920's dark fiction. Her characters feel as if they belong in the era, and I became lost in the story as I worried for their safety. Dawson also does a nice job of breaking up the suspense with witty humor that actually helps move along the character development.

The other stories, set in the modern era, show an interesting range for the author. Bus 264 left me speechless. I just didn't expect the ending. A Daughter's Pride shows how powerful flash fiction can be with a story of a woman who seeks revenge against home invaders who attacked her parents. The ending is surprisingly touching, considering the subject matter. To Dine with a Demon has a peculiar theological overtone that might upset some Christian-minded readers, but Dawson's presentation is powerful and thought provoking. And the character of Hoshi, a second-generation Japanese American college student who is much more than she appears to be, is chilling in her matter-of-factness regarding the offer she puts on the table.

Overall, I was surprised by this collection. Fans of dark fiction will enjoy this book immensely.

Wow! It took me a reread to figure out what the deal was with Tabitha, but once I did I realized how great these stories were. The writer has a matter-of-fact approach that makes even the most bizarre circumstances seem perfectly normal in her stories. I particularly enjoyed the stories with Natasha. I spent the first two stories trying to decide if she was crazy or not and the third one wondering if it was everybody else that was nuts. It's nice to see stories that give the readers a little credit and don't feel like they have to spell everything out for you. A really good book.

My favorite story in this book was "To Dine With a Demon." In it, a writer makes a deal with a demon to help in the battle between heaven and hell. What's cool about the story is that it's not the traditional "sell you soul" scheme. There is a real philosophical debate going on that leaves you wondering "Who really are the bad guys and the good guys here?"

My favorite character in all the stories was probably Sven, the bodyguard on one of the main characters from the novella September. He spends most of the story thinking his charge is quite crazy and trying to protect her from the voices in her head, only to find out the voices are real.

I'm partial to flash fiction. I think too many writers drag on their stories to fill pages. Dawson has a very clear and concise style of writing that gets to the point and gives you a feeling of being there. You almost get the feeling that the narrator is sitting across the table from you, telling you the story. The work is very visual, with incredible descriptions that put you in the location without dragging on for ten pages. And Dawson is great with dialogue. She has a knack for capturing the subtle differences in language that makes each character unique.

I really enjoyed this book, particularly the first three stories about Natasha Collins. Natasha is a spoiled rich girl in the 1920's who teaching philosophy and religion at the local college. She also has the unique ability to see ghosts and communicate with them. Everyone in her family thinks she's crazy. You will too when you first start reading, but as the stories go on you realize what is really happening. They have a real Lovecraft feel to them.

The other stories are pretty good as well, and each story has it's own unique style. I think horror fans would enjoy this book. I know I did.

I've seen Julie Dawson with one of her novels before getting this collection, I am glad I got the collection because being a Mythos writer myself -- Dawson got the voice when it comes to writing the pulp horror style, and with a macabre imagination to boot.

Not many people can do the Cthulhu Mythos style and Julie shows she's rooted in both HPL and Stephen King. I read Badge of Honor on a site we were both published at, and after getting published there myself I thought it was time to pick up more of her work.

I hope she does a follow up to this collection or colaborate with other authors because this one is going to be a cult classic. The collection itself is one of those that you have to keep an eye on namely because she's got one of the more unique voices in the genre, and I am not just saying this because I appeared on a website with her last year.

I've heard of her for awhile now, just seen her pop up here and there on the web and now she's getting picked up by a magazine. You've seen what mass market had failed to produce, and now it's time to see what the self-published end of horror fiction has to offer. She's a damn good one, and deserves all the readers she can get.

There are a few stories I could actually picture Rod Serling playing the narrator or even Julie doing all the narration. Julie, if you decide rework one of the stories -- write yourself in there as the narrator. Great stuff, and if anyone who needs to pick up this book is Stephen King because this is coming from one of his diciples. You want to see one of King's diciples -- look no further because you found her in Dawson.

This is an author I actually asked to join me during Gothicfest 2005, and if she had any flyers she wants to send my way -- the offer is still on the table. I wouldn't mind colaborating with this writer because she's got a clear vision for horror. Keep up the good work Julie.