Throwback Thursday: Sasquatch and Zombies

LAST STAND IN A DEAD LAND by Eric S. Brown is a unique blend of folklore, science fiction and horror spun into an undead thriller. Whether you read Brown’s work for the gory action, the mix of monsters, or his sick humor, readers will be quite pleased to sink their teeth into this tale.

There’s so much controversy around the nature of the undead and possible outbreak scenarios, it’s easy to forget the other monsters lurking throughout our history, but Brown has created a brutal reminder: crap can always get worse during a zombie outbreak, especially if humans aren’t the top of the food chain in the first place.

I think this is the very first story I read by Eric S. Brown, making me an instant fan. Years later, stories such as HUNTERS has kept the author on my favorites list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Denial Is A Killer

BIGFOOT: ALASKA by Eric S. Brown begins with a hunting party getting slaughtered by some mysterious beasts. A search party goes missing soon after, so a third group decides to enter the danger zone to figure out what happened to the others. With the help of a local Native guide and a lifetime resident, they soon find themselves fighting creatures they thought were just folklore.

I'm amazed Brown hasn't run out of death scenes, but the author continues to keep readers guessing as he proceeds to massacre his characters, page after page. We can only hope 2020 will not include these monsters.

I also recommend PIRANHA by Brown, which offers a new twist on a familiar threat.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Blizzard of Blood

Deep in the arctic, a military transport crashes. The soldiers aboard find themselves stranded and battling the elements to survive. . . But something is out there in the snow, watching them. Soon, they will discover that some legends are real and there are worse ways to die than from the cold.

Crashed by Eric S Brown is a blizzard of blood. A change in command goes horribly wrong as a military group is drawn into a battle with an army of Yetis. Although the beginning is slow and the story is basically a tooth and nail slaughter, the author's trademark beast feast delivers quality winter warfare. The setting is chilling, and the action is thrilling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Island of the Damned

Roak Island was a quiet little place, a picturesque paradise, despite the dark legends of its past. It was the sort of place that Colonel Vaughn and his elite squad of operatives never would have imagined being deployed on. 

When all communications with the island are lost, he and his men find themselves sent in to discover what has happened there and why everyone on the island has suddenly gone silent.

They will soon discover that some legends are real.

Bigfoot Island by Eric S. Brown is a brutal novella about the ill-fated mission of a special ops team. Once again, Brown portrays the North American legend as a ferocious predator, nearly unstoppable. This might upset some cryptozoologists, but it makes for a fantastic horror-thriller. Especially with the cold disregard the author shows for his own characters.

I'm impressed with how many different stories Brown has written about this species, without seeming redundant. The mix of action and quiet moments cranks the suspense, until readers get an adrenaline rush just from reading. The ending is an unexpected gut-kick.

If you enjoy folklore mixed with terror, I recommend the stories of Eric S. Brown to all horror fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

When The Cold Does Bite

A military team is dispatched to locate the source of a strange radiation in Antarctica. They find far more than they bargained for and quickly become locked in a battle for survival with monsters straight out of legend.

Attack of the Yetis by Eric S. Brown is snow-covered carnage in the form of Yetis vs. soldiers. However, Brown creates his own version of this popular creature of legend, with a surprising mix of horror and science fiction. There is no joy to be found in these pages, only action and death...but the battle scenes are amazing.

I'm hoping Brown might consider writing a sequel to this novella, or maybe even a prequel. I have so many unanswered questions about these Yetis.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Good Day To Die

Canton was a quiet, little town in the middle of nowhere until the night the monsters came. The Sasquatch emerged from the woods surrounding the town to wage war upon its residents. Now only the local sheriff and a group of young geeks might have a chance at stopping the Sasquatch from drenching the streets of the town red with the blood of anyone unlucky enough to be in their path.

Day of the Sasquatch by Eric S. Brown is a brutal novella about the battle between townies and the legendary Bigfoot. The violence is graphic, the action is nerve-wracking and the outcome is devastating. Brown offers up just enough background on his characters to make each of them relatable or endearing in some way, then he splatters the pages with their brains and guts. Gotta love an author who doesn't show favor to any of his characters.

The POV rotates between the appearances and confrontations with the Sasquatch in different parts of town, revealing to readers just how screwed everyone really is. Knowing more than the various groups of people had me screaming bloody murder through most of the story. The ending is like a kick in the face, after crawling through an obstacle course full of corpses.

If you are a sensitive reader, move along because Eric S. Brown is here to remind everyone how traumatizing the horror genre can be.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Saturday Short: Meal Ticket

Meal Ticket by Kevin Millikin originally appeared in the Coscom Entertainment anthology, Bigfoot Terror Tales Vol. 2, Edited by AP Fuchs and Eric S. Brown. The story follows three hunters chasing down a wounded sasquatch. They thought this hunt would be an easy fortune, but they don't realize their prey has something worth fighting for.

I've read my share of stories in the Bigfoot subgenre, and this one simply failed to frighten me in any way. The action is fast-paced, but it just isn't enough.

As always,
AstraDaemon