Lobotomized

EXPERIMENT by Thomas Czernek is a short story about a doctor who attempts to fake a treatment for a mental patient. His controversial method has tragic results, so his colleague uses his own method in an attempt to fix the situation. The ending is horrific.

Some people never get the help they need...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Derailed

THE TRAIN by Daniel Kendall is an unusual short story, which I wish had been longer. The author has created a disturbing supernatural mystery, and I want to know more about the "shark" and what exactly happened to the train, as well as the missing passengers.

I think Kendall did a great job making this piece a very personal experience. As I read the story, I felt the anxiety of William and the others, as if I were stuck with them.

As always,
AstraDaemon

School's Out Forever

THE GUARD by Eric S. Brown is one of his most action-packed Bigfoot novellas. I love the different ways the townsfolk and the soldiers kill the monsters in this one, especially the efforts of Tim and Cato. While most characters aren't around long enough to reveal much of a personality, the survivors make an impression with the various ways they fight back.

If you enjoy this story, I recommend HUNTERS and RISE OF THE YETIS, both by Brown.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Damned & Discarded

HIS DEVIL by Erik Lynd is a flash fiction piece about a father who bails on his family for two years, then makes a violent entrance one night, with trouble on his heels. I'm vexed because the author never reveals what is really going on with the dad, and the ending is abrupt. Lynd missed an opportunity to write a longer, more horrific story.

BEING IT is a bonus short story about a businessman being sucked into a twisted game of tag. His sudden downward spiral is something readers will recognize as something most of us fear in real life: to be dismissed without so much as an afterthought.

While the two stories are definitely worth reading, most of the e-file is a sample promotion of another title by the author, which I could've done without. I do recommend DREAMS, IN THE PIT and PSYCHOPOMP by Erik Lynd.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Screamer

TRANSFER by Terry M. West is frightening...The Slender Man and Sinister mixed together to form one hell of a creepypasta...think curses which are passed along to people who should know better. When a strange video clip keeps showing up in their files, Howie and Nick should've shown more caution, but their fascination with the sick images soon becomes a deadly addiction.

This is the best West story I've read so far (another favorite is PUT ON A HAPPY FACE), and, even though it was released in December 2019, I'm putting this novella on my Top 2020 list.

Green used to be my favorite color, but I'm not so sure now...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sequel to The Last Hours

THE TURN OF MIDNIGHT by Minette Walters is just as good, if not better, than the first book. There is much more intrigue to be had, as Thaddeus attempts to pass himself off as My Lord of Athelstan, in order to buy another demesne. Unfortunately, he and Lady Anne made more than one enemy by isolating Develish, and they will soon find themselves in another deadly situation.

While this novel could function as a stand-alone, having read the first book, I enjoyed reading about the changes among the characters. No one is the same person they were before the plague, and the author uses the growth of their personalities and skills to weave quite a new future for the survivors of the pestilence. I especially love the relationships which have developed among certain characters, such as Eleanor and Robert, the five young men, and, of course, Lady Anne and Thaddeus. Even the people of Blandeforde made an impression.

I sincerely hope Walters will write one more book to include the fates of the demesnes, the return of the ships from Spain, and some proper closure for some of the personal storylines. I'm not ready to part ways with Develish.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sunday With Scribner: 86'd

FANTOS by Joshua Scribner really stands out from his other stories. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and I don't think I could have ever predicted the ending.

I love the mix of characters, and bringing the tribe and their beliefs into the story is a nice touch to the supernatural aspect.

I think this one would make a suspense-thriller film.

As always,
AstraDaemon