MAPPING THE INTERIOR by Stephen Graham Jones begins with a great hook: the main character sees his father's spirit crossing from one room to another. However, when he quickly reveals he's a sleepwalker, I began questioning how reliable the narrator really is. The build-up is slow, which doesn't usually work for me, but Jones lures his readers in with a tragic backstory and complicated family relationships.
Jones walks the reader down a trail of memories, holds back a branch to reveal a key detail, and he lets go just as the reader moves in for a closer look. When he reveals the true horror, the reader is sent flying backwards with terror and pain. I lost all hope for a happy ending when the 12 year old takes abeating from a naked man.
While not the most frightening story I've read by Jones, this is still high-quality storytelling. I also recommend the short story, THE NIGHT CYCLIST, by SGJ: a spectacular twist on a classic horror theme.
As always,
AstraDaemon
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