Sci-Fi & Scary

Death’s Realm is one of the best horror anthologies I’ve read. There was no story I hated, and several that I loved. I think that the editors did a fantastic job with not only the selection of the stories, but also their placement. Too many times it seems like all the best stuff is at the beginning and the end of one of these books, with middle being a unimaginative slog. I also felt like the pacing and tension of Death’s Realm stories were consistent throughout. My favorite stories were Omniscopic, Some Other Day, Mirrorworld, and To Touch the Dead. I knew going into Omniscopic that I was in for a treat, having read Devil’s Trill by Rhoads Brazos in the past. I was familiar with only a few other writers in the anthology besides him.

Overall, I’m very pleased with Death’s Realm, and would definitely recommend it for people wanting a well-edited, excellently curated anthology. The fact that this one just happens to come from a small press is just a bonus.

For specific thoughts and ratings on the individual stories, please see below.

Omniscopic by Rhoads Brazos – I was simultaneously intrigued, disgusted, curious, and horrified. Holy crap. If something like knowing those little mites you can’t see are burrowing into your follicles, then this is the type of story you don’t want to read. Because you’ll itch, shiver, and shudder in repulsion for some time afterward. Trust me on this. Gah. 5/5

Some Other Day by John F.D. Taff – I had no idea where this one was going. None! So when I finally did clue in, it was at the very end, and I definitely had a “Holy crap!”moment. Grief and belief can do amazing things. 5/5

Haunter by Hank Schwaeble – This was a well-written tale of insanity, but the dead baby card just doesn’t ever do it for me. 4/5

Burial Suit by John C. Foster – My least favorite so far, but still rife with atmosphere and imagery that burns itself across your brain. I liked the noir-ish feel, and was surprised by the ending! 4/5

Nine by Aaron Polson – The first story in the series that has done nothing for me. I even reread it, and it just leaves me completely blank. Wasn’t a bad read, just wasn’t a good one. 3/5

Penumbra by Jay Caselberg – More interesting than the last one, but unlike the first few, I knew immediately where this was going so there was no real surprise. Did like the small twist at the end, though. 4/5

Foxhole by JG Faherty – See notes on previous story. Same thing. 4/5

Drowning by Gregory L. Norris – I liked this this one. It went kind of where I was epecting, but not exactly. The atmosphere was fantastic. A solid read. 4/5

The Weight by Jane Brooks – I don’t know what I think about this.It’s very well-written, and definitely made me sympathize with the main character, but at the same time, something about it just puts me off a little bit. 3/5

Harder You Fall by Brian Fatah Steele – While there were some predictable elements to this, I still really liked it. I definitely didn’t see the twist on the monster coming. 4/5

Mirrorworld by Martin Rose – Holy crap! This was disturbing and fascinating and well written and well done! I loved that ending! 5/5

March Hays by Matthew Pegg – I didn’t like this one as much. I guess the “oh, look, he/she was really here the whole time!” just gets old quick. Well-written, but boring nonetheless. 3/5

High Art by Karen Runge and Simon Dewar – There was a line in this that bugged me. “Even her snores were sensual somehow”. Snoring is a sign of a narrowing or obstruction of some part of the airway while you’re breathing. It is not sensual. It’s a sign of a medical issue. That aside – this was a delightfully twisted little tale that almost made my gorge rise. 4/5

A Pirate’s Ransom by Jay O’SHea – Eh, it was okay. Nothing more to say. 3/5

To Touch the Dead by Paul Michael Anderson – This reminded me a bit of Chris Chesler’s The Kalbrandt Institute Archives. It’s well-told and imagined. I wanted to know more even as I was perfectly content with what I was given. 5/5

You Only Die Once by Stephen Graham Jones – Well, this, the final entry into the Death’s Realm Anthology, leaves me with a solid case of “What in the world did I just read?” Its disturbing and imaginative and I think I’ll probably read it again before I write up my official review, just to see if I missed something I should have caught. 4/5

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. It in no way influences my opinions.