This collection of short stories from the author of 'The Ring' series begins with the tale that inspired the movie 'Honogurai mizu no soko kara' and the American remake 'Dark Water'.

For fans of the movies, it's interesting to see how the movies extend and, to a certain extent, cap off the original story. I found the original fiction a little lacking when compared with the development of the more complete movie tale.

As with all of Suzuki's fiction, the stories start slowly and build gradually, rewarding the patient reader, but some will definitely be disappointed by a puzzling lack of horror and supernatural elements. It is there, but not in the quantity you might expect from this author.

Overrall, a little bit hit-and-miss, but certainly worth a read. ( )

Reading this collection of short stories was like eating a bag of chips with the munchies... empty calories but tasted good. The stories were creepy, nightmarish... just downright scary... most of them anyway. All were linked by the element of water... and water, especially dark water and little kid ghosts and kid's shoes and abandoned boats... all that stuff scares me. But still, potato chips. And then I had a bad dream last night but the dream was about air and missing my flight... go figure. ( )

Dark Water, a collection of short stories, is a grouping of tales all centering around the theme of water. Koji Suzuki, author of THE RING, is known as the "Stephen King of Japan." I wouldn't go that far, but I agree that his stories were creepy and well-written. My enjoyment was marred at first because I kept envisioning the stereotypical Japanese horror movies, which I find to be over-rated.

Once I got past my own hang-ups in that regard, I really enjoyed each story in its own right. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for some subtle, unsettling stories reminiscent of old-fashioned scares. ( )

http://bookchronicle.wordpress.com/20... ( )

Wonderful short stories from this established horror writer. All dealing with "water" in some way. Some stories are brief creepers, others are touching sentiments, still more remind me of Jules Verne. Good read! ( )