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RATING: |
Publisher: Delirium Books |
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Houarner's greatest strength is, hands down, his versatility of idea and style. In this collection, we experience the grand, almost poetic (albeit occasionally obfuscated) tales for which the author is often lauded, the ones that sweep off the pages in a lush beauty…and trail blood in their wake. But along with those finely-crafted stories, we are also given the simpler, razor-honed hardboiled suspense of "Those Who Cast Shadows" as well as short ruminations on religion, art, mysticism, the 9/11 attack, automobiles, fish, and more. Naturally, the old horror standards of pain and loss are also in abundance, but this collection has a more playful resonance, a wider breadth of ideas and stylistic forms, than some of his earlier collections, and it's all the stronger for it.
Gerard Houarner is rapidly shaping up to be one of the finest horror authors
in print today through such divergent works as THE BEAST THAT WAS MAX, PAINFREAK
and others. This comprehensive limited edition from Delirium Books showcases
more than 400 pages of short stories and novellas, with eleven being original
to the collection. In addition, Houarner provides his readers with an insightful
introduction to each story, adding to the feeling that this collection is truly
something special for both author and reader alike.
