Greg Chapman (1)

It’s starts as a murder mystery and gradually deepens into a cosmic horror tale. It grabs the reader and hauls them across a dark and frightening abyss. One has the feeling, amidst rapidly page-turning, they are not so much making the choice to read, but rather being taken by the author’s ability to weave a compelling and terrifying narrative. It’s like not being able to close your eyes to a train wreck. Just as unsettling as the house, are the troubled inter-relations between show more characters. A theme of verbal/physical abuse in families and relationships occurs often. Such disorder in the character's lives is what enlivens their vulnerability to the evil that inhabits the Kemper House on Willow Street. If you really, really like haunted house stories you will love this one show less

Poor Gerald is not long for this world. Alone and lonely near the end of his days, his only visitors are the nurse who comes to check his vitals and a yearly terrifying specter of his past that makes itself known every Halloween. On this particular night, he has a new nurse, who asks too many questions, over stays her welcome, and invites Gerald's greatest fear to come on in.

When I read the description I thought it sounded familiar but it wasn't until a few pages in that I realized I had show more read this novella before. Such are the hazards of reading so many books you sometimes lose track of what you've read. I first enjoyed this story when it was previously published in the Halloween Carnival series of anthologies. It's a fun spooky story for Halloween or any time of year for those of us who enjoy ghost stories all year round. I love the new illustrations inside too that I didn't get to see the first time around. This is a great read for those who like to keep Halloween close every day of the year.


I received a complimentary copy for review. show less

Saunders has become one of my favorite authors, so having read X: A Collection of Horror, I was eager to get my hands on this second collection of short fiction. While X, the first, is steeped in creepy tones and dark characters, X2 is a little different. Most of the stories screw with the reader psychologically, as all good horror should, but some of them are poignant, touching even (like Treat Night) and there’s more humor to this collection, although it’s definitely not light, Three show more Stooges kind of humor. Now, I know feelings make some of you horror fans itchy, so I’ll put your fears to rest. Even the touch feely stuff is dark, and has the all-important “creep” factor in it, so it’s all good.

“Little Dead Girl” draws you in immediately with its dream-like tone, and Saunders only excels from there. “Handsome Jack” is among my favorites, mostly because of the dark humor and excellent dialogue. “Tiny Little Vampires” won a top spot from the first line, “Mosquitos are one of the vilest creatures on the planet.” Amen, man. Amen. It also wins because of the artful imagery Saunders creates following that first line. The chill I got reading this story is because I totally understand what happens next. (winky face)

However, my top pick in the whole collection is “Road Kill.” Everything about this story is perfection. Read it, and you’ll see.

Now, if only Mr. Saunders would write another novel… show less

I recently read The Noctuary by Greg Chapman which I think is my favorite of Greg's works. Simon Ryan is a lost soul and a troubled writer. Things are about to change for Simon because he has unknowingly conjured Meknok, an 8 foot tall dark muse from hell that has plans on using Simon to inspire mankind to a new age of darkness. Now everything that Simon writes comes true and he's not sure what is real or not.

As a test to see how good of a writer he really is, he goes to hell and meets the show more other dark muses and is given a chance to rewrite his disturbing and violent past. Everything has a price and things never turn out like you want them to, What Simon writes about may bring him more darkness and despair then he can handle.

The best part of The Noctuary was Simon, he is a character that is in constant conflict. He has become something that he doesn't want to be, but he is powerless to change it. This doesn't stop him from trying to change and that is what makes him a great character, you root for him even though you realize he doesn't have a chance. Towards the end there was a scene I loved where he is contemplating murdering someone and asks himself if he does this will he be like the person who ruined his life? I also liked the relationship between Simon and his sister, one scene in particular that I enjoyed was when their eyes meet for a second right before something tragic happens.

The way Simon writes in the story is beautifully done and had me thinking about the works of Edgar Allen Poe. I also loved the description of hell and hearing about the mythology behind the muses. Greg did a great job with atmosphere in this book and there were some truly terrifying moments in the story. The Noctuary has all the elements to making a perfect horror story. Its stories like this that remind me why horror is my favorite genre and this is a story that all horror fans will enjoy. show less