C. J. Henderson (1) (1951–2014)

C. J. Henderson’s A Bright and Shining World purports to be science fiction as it was in the golden age of The Twilight Zone. Actually, the description says “… golden ago of the Twilight Zone.” And that hints at the one major flaw in this book—more on that later.

Most importantly, I think Henderson delivers on his promise to share stories that are remindful of Rod Serling’s classic TV show. Several of the 16 stories (there’s one poem, also) in this collection could have easily show more been adapted for The Twilight Zone. The book begins and ends with paranoia, and along the way journeys through horror, terror, savagery, fantasy, whimsy, and frequently humor, with plenty of twists and turns. Along with The Twilight Zone, some of the stories reminded me of Death Race 2000, The Good Place, and Star Trek. One story, Everything’s Better With Monkeys, would be right at home on The Orville.

I greatly enjoyed Henderson’s writing, which ranges from documentary-style to beautifully lyrical, depending on the needs of the story. His vivid descriptions bring his imaginative stories to life. The dialogue is clever, although the copious use of unexplained slang in Dawson Did It made the story hard for me to follow, as if I were reading a foreign language I knew nothing about. Other nits: The Big Thirteen has what I thought is an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, as if the author gave up … or perhaps that was the idea? I thought Thank God It’s Friday would’ve made a great story in 1998, but is outdated for a book published in 2024. And, while there’s a wide variety of human and non-human characters across all the stories, there’s very few female characters.

Most stories are prefaced by a short introduction and a quotation. They didn’t add much of anything to my enjoyment of the stories, plus the intros contained many errors. I think the book would be better off without them.

About the errors … several stories were marred by errors also, some quite glaring and distracting. Since the book’s editor is prominently mentioned, I place the blame for those errors on him, and thus I decided to deduct only one-half a point for them—which rounds up to 5.

Despite the nits and errors, I greatly enjoyed this book, and I believe other sci-fi lovers who appreciate stories in the style of The Twilight Zone will enjoy it also.

NOTE: This book is for Mature readers due to mature subject matter (suicide, sex, and graphic violence). show less

Uneven but undeniably fun, this collection leans into retro sci-fi vibes with a pulpy mix of paranoia, dark humor, and Twilight Zone weirdness. Some stories hit harder than others, but the mood is consistent: strange, moody, and a little unhinged.

Book 177 - C.J. Henderson - Kolchak and the Lost World

In the 1970s there was a short lived TV series called Kolchak : The Night Stalker…itself a precursor of the wonderful X Files series that ran in the 90s.

Carl Kolchak is a news reporter and during his TV stories he ran across…vampires…zombies…swamp monsters and more. This novel written in 2012 shows the longevity of the character…although the series ended over 45 years ago there is still a genuine love for the character.

In this show more story, which has been transposed to the present day, Kolchak is sent to South America to find a lost kingdom, the 72, a kingdom with riches and power to those who find it first. Two competing gangs are racing to the kingdom…one has an unwilling guide in Kolchak…who has entered the Dreamland and been guided by mountains…sentient ants…I kid you not…it is weird…it is all 70s colour scheme and garish characters…but it is also witty…and chock full of nostalgia.

For someone who first saw this series in the 90s when repeated on BBC2 this was an absolute joy. As ridiculous as I remembered but always played straight. Magnificent. show less

I love when a book can mix wisdom with humor and Everything’s Better with Monkeys does exactly that. C.J. Henderson takes a playful theme and turns it into something deeper: a reminder that joy, laughter, and perspective can transform how we experience life.

What stood out most to me was how the book makes you pause and see the lighter side of things. In a world where we carry heavy responsibilities, whether it’s family, work, or chasing big dreams, it’s easy to forget that fun is a show more form of medicine. The way Henderson ties life lessons into something as simple as monkeys makes the stories stick with you. show less