Darker Masques
by Ray Bradbury (Contributor), J. N. Williamson (Editor)
Masques (Collections and Selections — Omnibus 3-4)
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Compiling the hardcover horror collections Masques III and Masques IV, this volume contains nightmarish tales from the farthest reaches of twisted imaginations to the deepest, most intimate recesses of tortured minds. Such horror masters as Ray Bradbury, Graham Masterton, Dan Simmons, F. Paul Wilson, and others contribute. Original.Tags
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stezton First half of the series containing Masques 1 and Masques 2.
Member Reviews
Although the publication date says 2002, all of the stories had been originally published in Masques III & Masques IV in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Although many of the stories were dated (Berlin Wall, Reagan, the Cold War) this was still a pretty good collection.
I love anthologies of short horror fiction like this. Right up my alley.
I never seem to read them in order, though - so I'll just update this review from time to time as I go with my thoughts on each story in the order I read them.
PLEASE DON'T HURT ME - by F. PAUL WILSON
**** Four Stars
A very short little story but a lot of fun, that manages to defy expectations while simultaneously fulfilling them. To say more would spoil the tale. Reminiscent of some Joe R. Lansdale tales.
SPLATTER ME AN ANGEL - by JAMES KISNER
***1/2 Three and a half Stars
I've neve heard of James Kisner before, but I really enjoyed his writing style and unabashed wickedness. This story bordered on bizarro, and reminded me a bit of writings by Chuck Palahniuk. Not the show more best story ever written, but I enjoyed the ride and sense of giddy wrecklessness it evoked. Will definitely be checking out other works by this author.
DRIFTER - by ED GORMAN
**** Four Stars
Another fantastic story, very short, by a writer I've not read before. A drifter finds his way into a small town on halloween, but the local Sheriff wants him back on the road ASAP. A blond in a red VW Beetle has other plans for him though. Not groundbreaking, but well written and satisfying in its conclusion - no mean feat for a fourteen-page tale. I've already ordered an Ed Gorman collection from Amazon, looking forward to reading more from this writer. show less
I never seem to read them in order, though - so I'll just update this review from time to time as I go with my thoughts on each story in the order I read them.
PLEASE DON'T HURT ME - by F. PAUL WILSON
**** Four Stars
A very short little story but a lot of fun, that manages to defy expectations while simultaneously fulfilling them. To say more would spoil the tale. Reminiscent of some Joe R. Lansdale tales.
SPLATTER ME AN ANGEL - by JAMES KISNER
***1/2 Three and a half Stars
I've neve heard of James Kisner before, but I really enjoyed his writing style and unabashed wickedness. This story bordered on bizarro, and reminded me a bit of writings by Chuck Palahniuk. Not the show more best story ever written, but I enjoyed the ride and sense of giddy wrecklessness it evoked. Will definitely be checking out other works by this author.
DRIFTER - by ED GORMAN
**** Four Stars
Another fantastic story, very short, by a writer I've not read before. A drifter finds his way into a small town on halloween, but the local Sheriff wants him back on the road ASAP. A blond in a red VW Beetle has other plans for him though. Not groundbreaking, but well written and satisfying in its conclusion - no mean feat for a fourteen-page tale. I've already ordered an Ed Gorman collection from Amazon, looking forward to reading more from this writer. show less
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Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920. At the age of fifteen, he started submitting short stories to national magazines. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 600 stories, poems, essays, plays, films, television plays, radio, music, and comic books. His books include The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, The show more Illustrated Man, Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Bradbury Speaks. He won numerous awards for his works including a World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1977, the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. He wrote the screen play for John Huston's classic film adaptation of Moby Dick, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He adapted 65 of his stories for television's The Ray Bradbury Theater, and won an Emmy for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree. The film The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit was written by Ray Bradbury and was based on his story The Magic White Suit. He was the idea consultant and wrote the basic scenario for the United States pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair, as well as being an imagineer for Walt Disney Enterprises, where he designed the Spaceship Earth exhibition at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center. He died after a long illness on June 5, 2012 at the age of 91. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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