Customer Reviews

Strange Stars & Alien Shadows: The Dark Fiction of Ann K. Schwader

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"Ankh" Schwader writes incredibly good short fiction. I have really enjoyed her poetry in the past, but until now was unaware that her prose writing was this good. Her use of language is efficient and yet very suggestive.

The stories in this book are mostly cthulhu-esque, although some lean more toward sci-fi. However, all are excellent and original reading. (A brief word by Robert M. Price about Ann Schwader's writing and place in the mythos is included, which is a good endorsement in my opinion)

My favorite was "twenty-mile", which begins a series of short stories about Cassie Barrett, the reluctant inheritor of a cattle ranch with a buried secret...a secret that comes out periodically to do unspeakable things to local cattle. Of course, things get ugly when the local cattle run out. Incidentally, the second story about Cassie, "Experiencing the other" is also included in this anthology.

Contents:

The Tulu Jar
Balancing
In the Airlock
Body of Work
Scrawler
Fade Away
Twenty Mile
Experiencing the Other
Home Visitor
Old Glass
The Gazing-Globe
Mail Order Bride
If He Calls
The Matthias Critical Method
Tattered Souls
Meeting Mr. Marmalade
Objects from the Gilman-Waite Collection
The Prince of Perfect
Lost Stars

I also really liked the interior art - black and white art by Steve Lines opens each piece. A nice added touch.

This is one of my two favorite Cthulhu Mythos reads this year. I highly recommend it.