What are you currently reading?

[dannyboy121070]

In a quest to satisfy my mania to read nothing but short story collections, I started Kenzie Jennings' ALWAYS LISTEN TO HER HURT last night. Too soon to say if I like it or not, but I'm hoping all of the good things I've read about her work are true...I haven't had a good track record lately with new-to-me Horror writers.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Hailey Piper's," Cruel Angels Past Sundown", part of the Splatter Western series. I had mixed feelings about this one. There were elements that I enjoyed such as the religious aspect, which added a real weirdness to the plot, as well as some of the horror set pieces, but I also felt that there was something missing throughout the story. There was also a lot of repetitiveness with the main character's dialogue as well as a general unlikability to the character herself. Overall, I would give this one a C+.

Am now reading Kristopher Triana's "Pure Evil", a collection of his most extreme short stories. Buckling up my seatbelt for this one...

[brlesh]

Finished up Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson, which I thought was great. A 500 page story that had me invested in it from the first page until the last.

After Lost Man’s Lane I read the latest chapbook combo from Rapture Publishing.

The Servitor by Philip Fracassi and Axum by Tyler Jones.

I enjoyed both stories and the short followup stories that each author wrote for the other. Both stories had a very Indiana Jones feel to them and were a lot of fun.

Up next, probably finish American Cannibal, the anthology I started a couple of weeks ago.

B

[RonClinton]

Getting a little bored with the modern noir I'm reading, so will likely speed-read through the second half and start a new one. Thinking of plucking WE SPREAD by Iain Reid (author of I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS and FOE, the latter of which I haven't read) out of the TBR pile.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the SST LE of Stephen Graham Jones' "The Angel of Indian Lake". Man did I love this series! So many fun slasher references and troupes, and the character work is beyond top-notch. I know I'll remember the main character Jade forever. Sad to see the series end but can't wait to see what Jones does next as he has been on a real run of great books IMO.

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Hailey Piper's," Cruel Angels Past Sundown", part of the Splatter Western series.

[sholloman81]

I read it last year on a roundtrip air flight, and enjoyed it. I haven't read a lot of Carson / Koryta -- maybe three or four total, under both names, and this one was probably my favorite. I'm a bit lukewarm on his stuff -- of, again, what little I've read -- so that's not an especially high bar, I suppose, but I'd certainly recommend LOST MAN'S LANE without reservation. I thought the plotting was tight, the coming-of-age theme well handled, and the characters drawn nicely. It was enjoyable enough that it's made me take a second look at his others, too, like THE CHILL, etc...I haven't yet, but I'm pretty confident I will at some point soon.

I love Korta's stuff but was have been lukewarm on his stuff as Scott Carson until Lost Man's Lane.

[RonClinton]

Loved Los Man's Lane! Hope you enjoy it as well!

I read it last year on a roundtrip air flight, and enjoyed it. I haven't read a lot of Carson / Koryta -- maybe three or four total, under both names, and this one was probably my favorite. I'm a bit lukewarm on his stuff -- of, again, what little I've read -- so that's not an especially high bar, I suppose, but I'd certainly recommend LOST MAN'S LANE without reservation. I thought the plotting was tight, the coming-of-age theme well handled, and the characters drawn nicely. It was enjoyable enough that it's made me take a second look at his others, too, like THE CHILL, etc...I haven't yet, but I'm pretty confident I will at some point soon.

[sholloman81]

Finished up Mystery Walk, which seems to be one of the lesser talked about novels by Robert McCammon.

While not my favorite thing from McCammon, I liked Mystery Walk quite a bit. As usual with McCammon there was great character development and excellent story pacing. Upon completing the book, I’m a little surprised that this is a story that McCammon hasn’t gone back to.

My one complaint about the story is I thought the supernatural elements could have used a bit more exposition.

Up next, probably starting Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson.

B

Loved Los Man's Lane! Hope you enjoy it as well!

[dannyboy121070]

I decided to postpone my planned Bernard Taylor, as I was unwilling to stop reading short stories in favor of a novel, so I started Neil Gaiman's TRIGGER WARNING, which I'm enjoying very much.

[brlesh]

Finished up Mystery Walk, which seems to be one of the lesser talked about novels by Robert McCammon.

While not my favorite thing from McCammon, I liked Mystery Walk quite a bit. As usual with McCammon there was great character development and excellent story pacing. Upon completing the book, I’m a little surprised that this is a story that McCammon hasn’t gone back to.

My one complaint about the story is I thought the supernatural elements could have used a bit more exposition.

Up next, probably starting Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson.

B

[dannyboy121070]

I do have one. I really enjoyed SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART so don't want to diminish it, but of the Centipede trilogy, I dug THE GODSEND even more, and would recommend that one over SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART. I wasn't really too familiar with Taylor until the Centipede set, and have since collected all his earlier paperback originals, though I've only since read one or two of them, so can't speak very knowledgably about which of those earlier original titles might be better than THE GODSEND, but from my reading thus far I think THE GODSEND is top-tier Taylor. Of the Evil Kid niche, it's way up there, and I'd even put it above William March's seminal THE BAD SEED.

If THE GODSEND is his best work, I'll probably end up saving that for last. Thanks for the input!

[RonClinton]

I knew that YOU, for certain, would have read this book, lol. Thinking about starting Bernard Taylor's SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART next...any opinion on that one, Ron?

I do have one. I really enjoyed SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART so don't want to diminish it, but of the Centipede trilogy, I dug THE GODSEND even more, and would recommend that one over SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART. I wasn't really too familiar with Taylor until the Centipede set, and have since collected all his earlier paperback originals, though I've only since read one or two of them, so can't speak very knowledgably about which of those earlier original titles might be better than THE GODSEND, but from my reading thus far I think THE GODSEND is top-tier Taylor. Of the Evil Kid niche, it's way up there, and I'd even put it above William March's seminal THE BAD SEED.

[dannyboy121070]

Agreed, it's a wonderful collection, one that embraces its macabre leaning with gleeful delight. It's a surprisingly rewarding trade edition from TOR, too, with Wilson's art featured on each individual story. I spotlighted it on X five, six years ago, though was pleased to upgrade recently to a signed copy:

https://x.com/ron_clinton/status/123...648597504?s=20

I knew that YOU, for certain, would have read this book, lol. Thinking about starting Bernard Taylor's SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART next...any opinion on that one, Ron?

[RonClinton]

Just finished Gahan Wilson's THE CLEFT AND OTHER ODD STORIES. Man, I had a blast reading these stories! Probably the most enjoyable single-author collection I've read since R. Chetwynd Hayes' LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SUCK. Wilson shares Chetwynd-Hayes' warped sense of humor, and his ability to make the reader feel impending dread. Really bummed that this seems to be the only collection of Wilson's stories available. If you've never read Wilson's work, I can highly recommend giving this book a try.

Agreed, it's a wonderful collection, one that embraces its macabre leaning with gleeful delight. It's a surprisingly rewarding trade edition from TOR, too, with Wilson's art featured on each individual story. I spotlighted it on X five, six years ago, though was pleased to upgrade recently to a signed copy:

https://x.com/ron_clinton/status/123...648597504?s=20

[dannyboy121070]

Just finished Gahan Wilson's THE CLEFT AND OTHER ODD STORIES. Man, I had a blast reading these stories! Probably the most enjoyable single-author collection I've read since R. Chetwynd Hayes' LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SUCK. Wilson shares Chetwynd-Hayes' warped sense of humor, and his ability to make the reader feel impending dread. Really bummed that this seems to be the only collection of Wilson's stories available. If you've never read Wilson's work, I can highly recommend giving this book a try.