Customer Reviews

Toybox

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't decide what I like better: horror novels or collections of horror short stories. Short stories usually read faster, and they often contain stronger shocks than a novel because the author has to deliver the goods within the space of a few pages. Novels are great because the reader often gets better character development and multiple plot threads. I guess I can keep reading both types of horror literature and quit worrying about which one of the two is superior, although after reading Al Sarrantonio's collection of horrific gems, entitled "Toybox," I am giddy about short stories right now. It is difficult to describe why I liked this collection so much, as there is little in the way of the type of gory violence I always look forward to with a horror book. Despite the absence of sauce, this book is well worth reading for literate fans of the horror genre. Apparently, Sarrantonio has written tons of novels and stories over the past two decades, but I am a little ashamed to admit that this is the first book of his I have stumbled over. The introduction by Joe Lansdale effusively praises Al Sarrantonio's work as some of the best the horror field has to offer.

The first thing I noticed about this author's stories was the intricate yet whimsical writing style. On more than one occasion, I felt as though Sarrantonio must have channeled Dr. Suess while he wrote his tales, not in a literal sense, but more in how the stories bounce along in a pithy, sing-song way. The fact that many of these stories use children as the main characters also reminded me of the author of "Green Eggs and Ham." Stories that fall into this category include "Pumpkin Head," a strange tale about an unpopular classmate with a horrible past, "The Corn Dolly," a haunting yarn about a young boy who finally attends the festival in the local village and learns a disturbing secret about his long gone father, and "Wish," a primer about being careful about what you wish for in life. A sizeable part of this collection deals with the hopes and dreams of the young, with yearnings that usually end with catastrophic consequences once they come true. Several of the stories are amazingly short, barely more than three or four pages, but Sarrantonio's adroit use of the English language makes these shorter than short tales as satisfying as a sprawling novel.

Towards the end of the book, a few stories took on a darker, more ominous tone. Although I found most of the stories in the book entertaining, I soon discovered I preferred these tales. "Children of Cain" is probably the best entry in this part of the book, an account of two boys who end up sharing a murderous passion with devastating results for those around them. Then there is "Richard's Head," about an introverted genius and the repercussions of a relationship gone sour. "Red Eve" is more of a science fiction/horror story about the futility of the human race to advance beyond its disastrous limitations. "Pigs" relates the adventures of Jan, a man living in communist Poland who must flee for his life when he learns the authorities are after him.

Sarrantonio's "Toybox" is definitely not your standard horror fare these days. Few authors in the genre achieve such amazing results with the English language, let alone write stories that possess a sort of wide-eyed innocence while at the same time delivering shocks. I wouldn't go so far as to say any of these stories actually scared me (I rarely find stories or novels that spook me these days), but they are decidedly different due to a lack of gore. In fact, most of the stories imply rather than show any carnage. That's not a bad thing, but if you like horror tales with lots and lots of gruesome descriptions, you may not have much fun with Al Sarrantonio.

I have been reading horror fiction for most of my life. I am a rabid Lovecraft fan, and have read hundreds of novels and short story collections. I consider myself discriminating, only reading the best in horror fiction -- the stuff that really scares the hell out of you and makes you fear the dark.

That being said, this is now my favorite short horror story collection. The unsettling feeling that these stories leave you with will linger for quite some time.

Here, then, are some of the best stories from TOYBOX:
"Pumpkin Head": a little girl at a Halloween party is not what she seems.
"The Man with Legs": A girl and her brother go on a bus trip and find more than they are looking for in a house that looks like a white spider.
"Roger's Head": a man's head begins to grow and doesn't stop as his two friends desperately try to save the world.
"Red Eve": Halloween in the far future when humans live on a glass shell in the sky above a burned out Earth. But vampires have survived.
"Boxes": the last story, which rounds out the book nicely as the cover closes.
But all the stories are good, these are just some of my favorites.

Al Sarrantonio is yet another master of the short story medium
I have come to appreciate of late. Thanks to Joe R. Lansdale(my very favorite short story writer!(and the introduction to this
collection) As a past reviewer stated perfectly I can't seem
to get enough short stories lately, but I do try and read novels
when I have time. They both are perfect ways to spend some time. Short stories can have so much impact, I've
found some great short story collections recently from the likes of Jack Ketchum, Peter Crowther, P.D Cacek, Neil Gaiman, Simon Clark, Ray Bradbury(the godfather of these stories), the dark masques, and darker masques series of late and of course my favorite, HIGH COTTON which I
believe is a must have from Joe R. Lansdale, for your short story
collection. TOY BOX has a great cover to wet the appetite for
this strange weirdness you are about to discover. Autumn is the perfect time of the year to sit back and
discover this gifted storyteller. There are so many talented writers out there to discover and stories to take you away. Enjoy this one!

As autumn approaches and the leaves turn color, as if the entire countryside has been set afire, take a trip to Orangefield where the biggest and brightest pumpkins grow turning the landscape a deep orange. Amidst the falling leaves and bonfire smoke strange things are happening ...

Al Sarrantonio is famous for his Orangefield series which begins with ORANGEFIELD and continues with ALL HALLOW'S, THE BABY, HALLOWEENLAND and HORRORWEEN. The town is also featured in the short story 'Hornets' that can be found within the pages of HORNETS AND OTHERS. His other stand alone novels include THE PUMPKIN BOY, CAMPBELL WOOD and OCTOBER.

TOYBOX contains 18 chilling tales of horror and an introduction by Joe R Lansdale. Stories include 'Pumpkin Head', 'The Spook Man', 'Red Eve', 'Wish', 'The Man With Legs', 'Bogy' and 'Father Dear'. There are vampires and other monsters, pain and loneliness, and demons that haunted us all during the nights of our childhood. The boogeyman we thought under our bed or perhaps in our closet is here within the pages of TOYBOX in a multitude of disguises.

This edition is published by Cemetery Dance and is one of only 52 signed and lettered copies worldwide. Accompanied by stunning cover-and interior artwork and housed in a custom-made traycase [or clamshell case] this is an ideal gift for the collector of Sarrantonio.

Halloween at your fingertips!

Matt Lee-Williams

Two of the stories in this volume were reprinted in Karl Wagner's Horror Best Of volumes, two years in a row, as the last stories in the book. That usually means they were the best. They're "Pumpkin Head" and "The Man With Legs," the first two stories in TOYBOX. The rest are just as good.

An incredible book. Easily one of the best horror collections of the past decade, with lyrical echoes of Ray Bradbury (there's a story, amazing and completely successful, that frames and runs through the book, like THE ILLUSTRATED MAN) as well as Dylan Thomas and other imagists. At times this stuff reads almost like poetry. The book is beautifully assembled, and some of the stories are achingly original and wonderful, as if they had a direct connection to childhood. Some of them are more than twenty years old, from such classic sources as the SHADOWS series, and it's amazing that this is the first time they've been collected. If you're a horror fan buy this, if you're a fan of imaginary literature of any kind buy it. You will not, I repeat will not be disappointed, and you will go back and read this book again. The best few bucks you'll spend in the field this year.

This is one of the better horror collections in a while. Just about all of the stories provide the requisite goosebumps of creepy tales. Ranks up there with some of King's/Bachman's collections. Be sure to check out the boy that runs on electricity. Great addition to any good horror collection.

These stories are the cream of the crop when it comes to atmospheric, seasonal, kick ass horror. Sarrantonio is in my top 5 authors, a list that includes Bradbury and King. His ability to set a scene or a mood in your mind is amazing. I could smell the stories if that makes sense which it probably doesnt but thats thething about writers like Al. They can take you on a journey through the written word and its a great escape from the HORROR of everyday life. Buy this book now!!!

As autumn approaches and the leaves turn color, as if the entire countryside has been set afire, take a trip to Orangefield where the biggest and brightest pumpkins grow turning the landscape a deep orange. Amidst the falling leaves and bonfire smoke strange things are happening ...

Al Sarrantonio is famous for his Orangefield series which begins with ORANGEFIELD and continues with ALL HALLOW'S, THE BABY, HALLOWEENLAND and HORRORWEEN. The town is also featured in the short story 'Hornets' that can be found within the pages of HORNETS AND OTHERS. His other stand alone novels include THE PUMPKIN BOY, CAMPBELL WOOD and OCTOBER.

TOYBOX contains 18 chilling tales of horror and an introduction by Joe R Lansdale. Stories include 'Pumpkin Head', 'The Spook Man', 'Red Eve', 'Wish', 'The Man With Legs', 'Bogy' and 'Father Dear'. There are vampires and other monsters, pain and loneliness, and demons that haunted us all during the nights of our childhood. The boogeyman we thought under our bed or perhaps in our closet is here within the pages of TOYBOX in a multitude of disguises.

This edition is published by Cemetery Dance and is one of only 52 signed and lettered copies worldwide. Accompanied by stunning cover-and interior artwork and housed in a custom-made traycase [or clamshell case] this is an ideal gift for the collector of Sarrantonio.

Halloween at your fingertips!