Great Assortment | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

WHEN THE CREATURES CALL by Clark Roberts is Volume 2 of Led By Beasts, a collection of short stories and essays influenced by the history of horror fiction. While the first installment featured children as the terrifying force behind the beasts, this time the beasts appear to be drawn by sacrifices: willing and unwilling.

I enjoyed reading every single story, and the essays offered some fantastic insight into Roberts creative mind. The last short, The Dog Creek Coven, is my favorite. I highly recommend this collection!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Fireside | AstraDaemon

LED BY BEASTS by Clark Roberts is an assortment of horrifying bits and pieces, many featuring children as the terrifying force behind the beasts:

THE BOY: great intro to the collection, followed by some thoughts on Stephen King

VENGEFUL FANGS: a son avenges his father

BUFFOONVILLE: a woman discovers a twisted secret about her husband

THE WITCH'S MUSHROOM: brothers craving the same thing, followed by some Bentley Little chit-chat

CARNY BOB: marital issues are made worse by dragging up the past

CRAFTMANSHIP FOR FOOD: one of the weirdest stories I've ever read

COSTUMES: this is one of the best stories I've ever read, followed by a confession about Peter Straub

A LIFETIME OF DEVILISH HAUNTS: a deep story, with a bittersweet ending

THE CHOSEN DEATHS OF THE FACELESS: somewhat confusing, and quite sad

SOMETIMES: very sick and twisted, followed by a few memories of Clive Barker

A REUNION ON ZONBI PRAYA: ocean creature wrecks a marriage

THE PATH TO LUST: like being sober at a party where everyone is wasted

LILITH: karma, followed by an experience with Laird Barron

THE DEVIL'S FINGERS: mourning and murder

THE VDOVA GODDESS: a devil and a goddess

THE WHOLE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS: this one would make a frightening movie

EPILOGUE: the boy who grew up with stories

All of the stories are intriguing, some are terrifying, some are heart-breaking...my favorite is COSTUMES. Roberts has definitely leveled up with his storytelling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Clark Roberts | INTERVIEW | AstraDaemon

In the movies or TV shows, horror authors are often portrayed as creepy-looking folks who lack social skills, get excited about murders, and have hidden rooms devoted to worshiping some ancient evil. In real life, horror authors are often the people you least suspect of having terrifying creatures roaming around in their heads, plotting another apocalypse scenario. They walk among us, baking bread, painting happy trees, knitting, etc., while listening to 1980s rock and drinking locally brewed beer.

CLARK ROBERTS is one of those authors hiding among us, looking as if he is preparing to film a fishing show for PBS. I stumbled upon his short stories randomly on Amazon, while searching for new terrors. After a few small conversations with Roberts, behind the scenes, I decided to bring him into the Lair for a proper introduction to readers...

---

How did you first get into writing, and why did you choose the horror genre?

Along with sports, reading was a big part of my childhood. My mom always made sure there were plenty of books on hand to pick up when I was a child. She encouraged me to read without limitation, and I think the most important thing is she let me read what I wanted. When I wanted Sports Illustrated, she purchased a subscription; when in middle school I carried around Clive Barker’s The Books of Blood she didn’t scream and wrestle it from my hands. Then, when my teachers called home to discuss some of the possibly alarming shit I’d written in class, she didn’t pull her hair out and scream. Instead, she bought me a word processor and said, “Have at it.” I don’t mention that to dog on those teachers, because really they were only doing their job and showing concern is not the same as censorship. Anyhow, Mom’s acceptance gifted me a lifelong love of reading and writing.

Then I remember my dad giving me his beat up copy of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s collaboration The Talisman. To this day I can still smell the pages from when I first cracked that book; I’d bet all book lovers know the familiar smell I’m talking about. I stared at the cover, and knew right then I wanted my own cover some day. Man, I love that book.

I owe a lot to my parents. They’ve always been good to me even at times when I was a prick in my twenties. I don’t thank them enough for the love and support they’ve given over the years. Not only that, but they’re also great grandparents.

Why do your stories always seem to involve children?

It’s funny, because I never recognized that connecting thread in many of them. It’s true all of the stories I’ve published as singles on Amazon up to this point do have children as major characters, but my collection Led By Beasts contains many stories devoid of children. I guess I’m not sure how to answer that other than mentioning kids are a part of everyday life for many of us.

I’ll say this, there are only a handful of stories I’ve written intentionally with a kid in mind. “The Whole World in Their Hands” which is published in Led By Beasts at its core is about my daughter, and I think it’s the best story I’ve written to date. “Fire Tires” which can be purchased as a single on Kindle is about my son, and I think it’s the most fun story I’ve written. My son is a pretty fun kid. “Costumes”...another story appearing in Led by Beasts is about both of those rascals. People look at me a little funny when they hear that, but I shrug and think “Ehhh… it’s a story.”

Are any of your stories based on a childhood experience or personal fears or are they just products of your imagination?

Not to date, but there is one in my mind that I haven’t yet written that my younger brother and a few of my childhood friends will recognize when I finally put the ink to paper. “Yellow Eyes” will be a dark story and it will essentially be about me, my brother, and the neighborhood kids I ran with and sometimes fought with.

Who or what influences your writing style?

Stephen King, Bentley Little, Laird Barron, Peter Straub, Clive Barker. I devoted a section of Led By Beasts to each of those horror Gods and explain the impact they had on particular stories. Led By Beasts Volume II will pay homage to Kealan Patrick Burke, Andy Rausch, Neil Gaimon, and Dennis Etchison.

Do people ever try to stereotype you when they find out you write horror stories?

Not that I’m aware of, but they do stereotype me because I’m Irish. Now excuse me while I go drink this fifth of whiskey and get angry.

Are you working on any new projects? Where can fans find out more about you and your creations?

To find more about me just friend me on Facebook or follow me at my Amazon page.

Currently I’m revising/editing a crop of stories for Led By Beasts Volume II. I have to wait for publishing rights to revert back to me on a handful of stories before I can collect them all into one volume, but it’s gonna be one helluva ride when I can publish that book. I’ve also started writing a sequel to my kid’s horror book Halloween Night on Monster Island. Part 2 is tentatively titled Independence Day on Monster Mountain.

There are also a couple projects I’m very excited about, VERY EXCITED, but right now don’t want to mention.

...pssst, alright I’ll let you guys in on my little secret but you have to promise not to say anything. Pinky promise? Alright, good. In my backyard shed I’ve built a time machine, and I’m planning to reverse all the negative effects man has had on our great Earth. Sounds nuts, right?

Haha! Just kidding. I haven’t stored a time machine in my shed. How crazy would that be?

It’s actually a nuclear warhead.

Thanks for stopping by the Lair! *pushes him out and locks the gate*

---

I encourage horror fans to check out this author's stories for themselves...Roberts has already shown quite a range within the genre.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Speed Demon

FIRE TIRES by Clark Roberts is one of my favorite stories by this author. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but the horror is still gut-wrenching. Kind of a mix of two Twilight Zone episodes: IT'S A GOOD LIFE and STOPOVER IN A QUIET TOWN.

However, this short also includes the sinister darkness I've come to expect from Roberts whenever he includes children among his characters. I hope the author continues with stories like this one. I also recommend BEST DAY OF SUMMER.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural or Imagined?

THE VISITOR by Clark Roberts is disappointing, nothing like what I've come to expect from the author. However, this one is older than the previous two I've read/reviewed, so it seems Roberts has improved his storytelling over time.

The ending isn't clear enough for me. Not sure if the story is supernatural or something imagined by the main character.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Van of Death

BEST DAY OF SUMMER: THE KEEPER by Clark Roberts is an extremely terrifying short story, especially if you're a parent. I couldn't stop screaming in my head, as Ollie struggled with his over-whelming fear. The author took stranger-danger to an insane level, and the ending has left me numb.

I'm definitely adding this one to my TOP 2020 list. I also recommend AN INCIDENT AT SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL by Roberts.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Teenagers Are Scary

AN INCIDENT AT SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL by Clark Roberts is a short story written in an unusual format, but the style only serves to increase the suspense and dread. Jeremiah is a terrifying character, especially when he discusses the specifics of the incident.

I would absolutely love a sequel to follow-up with the outcome of Jeremiah's plan for Jessica. Roberts has created a concept too damn interesting for a mere short story.

As always,
AstraDaemon