Ian Rogers (2) (1976–)

Full disclosure: I am a friend of Ian Rogers and we've both been published by the same publisher (Burning Effigy). That being said, I'm still going to be completely honest and forthright in my review.

Reading any short story collection is an interesting experience for a reader. Instead of getting a single, all-encompassing insight into the author, you're treated to several different facets which, to me, put that author into a better perspective.

In Every House Is Haunted, you can't look at show more this as though you're diving into a package of cookies. Instead, this is like attending a chili cook-off: yes, they're all chili (horror stories), but some are smooth, some are spicy, some aren't quite to your taste, and some you love. Ian Rogers, at his worst, is still a writer that entertains and challenges the reader. At his best, he's terrifying, and terrifyingly good.

In fact, at one point, I finished a story, turned to my wife and said, "I really hate Ian Rogers." When she asked why, I stated it was because he was such a great writer. His characters are real, they're believable. The dialogue is natural. The details he picks out are intriguingly perfect. But it's the man's sheer imagination that blows me away.

Reading the stories, you do get a sense that he has his certain tropes: worlds hidden behind doors, rifts, dimensions, phases. Characters that aren't quite in step with those around them. Shadowing agencies that study the weird. They all show up again and again, but in each iteration, they're new, they're different and they're fascinating.

There's some absolute standouts in this collection. Personally, I don't think he tops the first story in the collection, Aces. It simply defies expectations and kicks all kinds of ass. However, there's other gems scattered throughout Ian's House: The larger world hinted at in Cabin D, the simplicity of The Nanny, the wistful relationship in Leaves Brown, the fun of The House on Ashley Avenue, the absolute unflinching brutality of The Cat, the sparsity of Hunger, the slow build of The Inheritor, and, in this hardcover edition, The Secret Door that seemingly sums up so many of the previous stories.

This isn't a book to run through quickly. Take your time in each section of the house. Look at each area slowly and carefully. Rogers' writing will reward you for your time. show less

This just needs to be said: Felix Renn kicks ass.

I'd previously read about half of this book through the first three Felix Renn chapbooks published by Burning Effigy. Temporary Monsters was fun. Ash Angels was bleak. And Black Eyed Kids was scary as hell. There's one particular scene that scared the shit out of me, and there's really only a couple of times a story has done that to me. The only other time I believe I was as scared as I was with BEK was when Danny Torrance met the woman in show more Room 217 in The Shining.

So this time out, I got the excellent introduction by Mike Carey, a short story called My Body and the centrepiece of this collection, The Brick. Only Ian Rogers could make a brick a partner to a PI. And not only does he pull it off, he absolutely smokes it. I loved the longer form story format for this one, as it allowed Rogers to roll in additional characters and locales while building to an unforgettable climax with the monster of the piece, the Whyver, which is just brilliant.

If you haven't read anything by Rogers, then do yourself a favour and grab both SuperNOIRtual Tales from Burning Effigy Press and Every House Is Haunted from ChiZine. You won't be disappointed. show less

Winner of the ReLit Award for Best Short Fiction, Ian Roger’s debut is a corker, a paean to everything that scares us. Like the best of horror fiction, Rogers’ stories defy easy categorization. A jazz club may or may not be Hell, but is certainly not a place you want to visit. A loveable housecat proves adept at exterminating pests of all sizes. A campfire story takes an unusual turn. And in “Deleted Scenes” (my favourite in a collection rife with nominees), an actor finds himself show more employment by filming scenes never meant to be seen. Rogers has a way of tweaking even the most mundane idea and making it sparkle anew. Believe me, I’ll never look at a spider the same way again. Or ever again.

Find the full review at my website. show less

Another cool Ian Rogers novella. And oh so close to five stars. I loved the set up, loved the interplay between Dryden and Raisy, loved Dryden's gun.

Rogers is a great writer, which is important to note, because, quite honestly, in the hands of a lesser writer, this book would have been a hot mess. Instead, it's entertaining, and thought-provoking.

Unfortunately, it's also very obviously setting up more stories. Stories I hope we actually get to read, but it's this book's only downfall and the show more reason for the 4-star rating.

Rogers sets up a lot of interesting points. Who's this Marshall? What's with the dish? Hell, what's with the Groom kids? What's the relationship between Raisy and Dryden? What's with Dryden's gun?

For me, I felt this would have been better served by holding this story back until either a) a series of two or three could have been released, or; b) Rogers had made this into a novel instead.

So, the basis of my complaint here is, he grabbed me, piqued my interest, and then we're left to dangle, wondering if we'll ever see more of Dryden and Raisy. show less