"Something Haunts Us All" by four time Bram Stoker winner Brian A. Hopkins is the kind of short story collection that stands up and demands to be noticed. In an extremely quick one hundred pages, Brian tells seven stories, two of which were published here for the first time. The ultimate recognition of the quality of these stories is that each and every one of them have gone on to reprinted again and again since the original 1995 publication of "Something Haunts Us All".
Two of the stories are especially disturbing. The first one, "Night Bite", is about a man, a mosquito and Hell. Not just any hell either. No, this is a southern Hell with a banjo moment that makes "Deliverance" seem tame. The ending will keep 'em talking for years.
"The Night Was Kind to Loretta" shares a southern slant. The illustrations by Donald W. Schank really bring the stories to life, none more so than "The Night Was Kind to Loretta". Brutal, honest and raw - the permanent state of things in a Louisiana bayou and the trunk of a Chevy Camaro - both places where history repeats itself in the most revolting way.
Brian's mastery of dialogue and characterization shine through in "Something Haunts Us All". He adds rich details that pop the stories into different energy levels and states. He layers the language with meaning and depth that makes the stories fun to read again and again.
"Something Haunts Us All" is a fast read and worth the effort to find a copy of this limited edition gem.
Two of the stories are especially disturbing. The first one, "Night Bite", is about a man, a mosquito and Hell. Not just any hell either. No, this is a southern Hell with a banjo moment that makes "Deliverance" seem tame. The ending will keep 'em talking for years.
"The Night Was Kind to Loretta" shares a southern slant. The illustrations by Donald W. Schank really bring the stories to life, none more so than "The Night Was Kind to Loretta". Brutal, honest and raw - the permanent state of things in a Louisiana bayou and the trunk of a Chevy Camaro - both places where history repeats itself in the most revolting way.
Brian's mastery of dialogue and characterization shine through in "Something Haunts Us All". He adds rich details that pop the stories into different energy levels and states. He layers the language with meaning and depth that makes the stories fun to read again and again.
"Something Haunts Us All" is a fast read and worth the effort to find a copy of this limited edition gem.
The seven stories in "Something Haunts Us All" are:
1. "Scarecrow's Dream" -- fantasy; published in The Best of the Midwest's Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, Volume 2, Mar 93; reprinted in The Barrelhouse, Vol 2, No 1, Jun 93; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01.
2. "Gaffed" -- horror; published in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in White Knuckles, Vol One, Issue Eight, Sept 98 (available for $4 from POB 973, New Providence, NJ, 07974-0973); reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted at Count Gore's Creature Feature, Dec 02; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Nine.
3. "The Night Was Kind to Loretta" -- horror; published in The Tome, Issue #10, Nov 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted at Count Gore's Creature Feature in conjunction with an interview, Oct 00; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Six.
4. "Night Bite" -- horror; published simultaneously (kinda) in Eldritch Tales, Issue #30, May 95, and the collection, Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02.
5. "To Walk Among the Living" -- horror; published in The Midnight Zoo, Vol #2, Issue #2, Jun 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; translated to French and reprinted as "Je Marche Au Milieu Des Vivants" in Tenebres #9, Apr 00; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01; reprinted as "Je Marche Au Milieu Des Vivants" in 11 Minutes En Septembre, Spring 06.
6. "Thunder of the Water" -- horror; published in Aberations (sic), Issue #2, Feb 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02.
7. "And Though a Million Stars Were Shining" -- horror; published in After Hours, Issue #22, Apr 94; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Eight; translated to German and reprinted online by Storisende Verlag, July 2000; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01; reprinted at the Horror Authors Network, Jan 2002.
The histories of these stories hails from the bibliography link on Brian's webpage. (http://www.sff.net/people/brian_a_hopkins/)
Stop by and say "Hi!". He's always got something interesting going on over there.
1. "Scarecrow's Dream" -- fantasy; published in The Best of the Midwest's Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, Volume 2, Mar 93; reprinted in The Barrelhouse, Vol 2, No 1, Jun 93; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01.
2. "Gaffed" -- horror; published in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in White Knuckles, Vol One, Issue Eight, Sept 98 (available for $4 from POB 973, New Providence, NJ, 07974-0973); reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted at Count Gore's Creature Feature, Dec 02; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Nine.
3. "The Night Was Kind to Loretta" -- horror; published in The Tome, Issue #10, Nov 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; reprinted at Count Gore's Creature Feature in conjunction with an interview, Oct 00; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Six.
4. "Night Bite" -- horror; published simultaneously (kinda) in Eldritch Tales, Issue #30, May 95, and the collection, Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02.
5. "To Walk Among the Living" -- horror; published in The Midnight Zoo, Vol #2, Issue #2, Jun 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; translated to French and reprinted as "Je Marche Au Milieu Des Vivants" in Tenebres #9, Apr 00; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01; reprinted as "Je Marche Au Milieu Des Vivants" in 11 Minutes En Septembre, Spring 06.
6. "Thunder of the Water" -- horror; published in Aberations (sic), Issue #2, Feb 92; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02.
7. "And Though a Million Stars Were Shining" -- horror; published in After Hours, Issue #22, Apr 94; reprinted in Something Haunts Us All, 1995; reprinted in Flesh Wounds, Apr 99, Apr 02; received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Volume Eight; translated to German and reprinted online by Storisende Verlag, July 2000; reprinted in These I Know By Heart, Nov 01; reprinted at the Horror Authors Network, Jan 2002.
The histories of these stories hails from the bibliography link on Brian's webpage. (http://www.sff.net/people/brian_a_hopkins/)
Stop by and say "Hi!". He's always got something interesting going on over there.
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2 comments:
I remember you talking about the man and hell one... yeah I don't think that is something I will ever forget.
Glad to have you back!
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