999- a feast of fear (999: New stories of horror and suspense - Al Sarrantonio)

Member Name: mohan

Product:	999: New stories of horror and suspense - Al Sarrantonio
Date:	22/08/00 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Solid anthology with the creme-de-la-creme of horror

Disadvantages: no new faces encouraged

It's been a while since I enjoyed a horror anthology this much. Like most other genres, short stories in horror are scarce. There are only two respectable anthologies each year- one is the 'Mammoth book of horror' edited by Stephen Jones and the other is one half of 'The Years best Fantasy and Horror' edited by Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling. both of these feature reprints from various magazines.

999- is different. It features new stories from well established horrormeisters. The editor Al Sarrantanio is to be congratulated for his splendid assembly of stories. As in any anthology there are some strong entries, some mediocre but few downright stinkers. But on balance, it proves to be a good collection.

My favourite pieces are the novella by William Peter Blatty ( of 'Exorcist' fame) called 'Elsewhere' -an extremly well written haunted house tale with Blatty's trademark humour; A rousing Stephen King tale' The Road virus hits north' which though not the master's best, still manages to stand miles ahead of many imitators in style and sheer edge-of-the-seat action; A brillant entry by underrated horror author Thomas Ligotti called 'The Shadow, the darkness' ; A poetic story of doom by Joyce Carol Oates; A really touching little nugget by Neil Gaiman called Keepsakes &..',
A great alternate horror story by Kim Newman called 'Americanski dead at Moscow Morgue'; and other well known names like PD Cacek, Eric Lustbader,F Paul Wilson, Tim Powers, Ramsey Campbell, Gene Wolfe, David Morrell... the list is impressive to say the least. I have to mention that bad mutha from Texas, Joe Lansdale who steals the show with his 'Mad Dog Summer'.

A real shivery, chill-running-down-your-spinal-cord collection. Well worth your hard earned money. I wont be surprised if some of these stories feature strongly in the annual horror awards.

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