What happens when the zombie apocalypse turns out to be a zombie aberration?Three years have passed since the rising of the undead, and life has more or less returned to normal.Zombie encounters are now few and far between. The undead are more of a nuisance than a menace; they are less likely to sink their teeth into unsuspecting civilians than they are to be attacked by vigilantes and rabid lynch mobs.Laws have been passed for the zombies’ own protection, and they are safely and humanely quarantined from society.Dead Rite, an undead management and control firm, suddenly finds itself on the brink of bankruptcy. The zombie population is dwindling and the bills are piling up.So when a lucrative opportunity unexpectedly presents itself, it seems almost too good to be true.A tale of misfits, weirdos, outcasts, alcoholics, trust fund activists, dead-head hippies, sleazy politicians and psychotic hillbillies; all foot soldiers fighting in the war on horror. Views: 565
From the bestselling, award-winning author of “Conduit” and “The Boys Club” comes a collection of six short stories designed to illicit chills and keep you up at night. Shadows takes readers on a thrill ride through tales of hospital rooms and haunted houses, while battling everything from serial killers to spirits.
Shadows: A young women finds herself in the psych ward after a suicide attempt... and she's not alone.
Reflection: After an amazing photo session with a client, a photographer experiences strange phenomena.
Sold: A group of ghost hunters film a Halloween television special in the haunted home of a deceased serial killer.
Flawless: The "perfect" man gives a woman a green diamond that may just have a sinister design.
Cycle of Life: After the untimely death of her husband, Pearl Mackleburn decides to put his beloved cat to sleep.
The First Step (co-authored with bestselling author, Marisa Oldham): Following a terrifying ordeal, Adele has wrapped herself up in the comfort of her own home for the past four years. Can one man bring her the courage she needs to take the first step into a new world? Views: 565
Prolific screenwriter and genre novelist Richard Matheson has long maintained an interest in all matters relating to parapsychology, telepathy, ESP and other paranormal activity. His brief and elegantly printed new volume amounts to a lightly fictionalized history as well as quick, evocative episodes of paranormal activity from Greek antiquity all the way through renowned American psychic Edgar Cayce.
Most of the episodes in this book depict the famous seers, mediums and performers of the nineteenth-century, whose feats Matheson clearly admires. Margaret and Kate Fox, aged ten and seven, in 1848 convinced their parents and many other Americans that they were in touch with ghosts in a haunted house. (Matheson notes that the adult Margaret recanted, explaining how she herself produced the ghosts’ mysterious rapping noises: he believes the recantation fake, arranged by the sisters’ enemies.)
Civil War-era medium Nettie Colburn instructed President Lincoln to visit his troops; Matheson thinks she channeled the deceased statesman Daniel Webster. New England mediums "Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Piper" underwent elaborate tests in an effort to prove that their psychic connections were in fact genuine; William James, for one, was impressed. Harry Houdini used his great stage-magic to unmask a bevy of psychic frauds; Matheson describes some, then discusses what he believes are genuine paranormal experiences that are linked to Houdini.
Matheson’s afterword repeats his confident claims that the powers he describes are very real and he pleads for a serious study of them. Fans of parapsychology or of Matheson’s other works should enjoy this lively exploration of great topics that inform the genre and have become legendary. Views: 565
Mystery Thriller Horror Novel. In 1788 the infamous Thomas Olocher is finally caught and sentenced to death for a heinous string of violent murders in Dublin. Women would soon walk the streets again without fear. But on the night before his execution, Olocher takes his own life, unleashing an even darker monster to lurk the streets in his stead. Witnesses can hardly describe the large black creaMystery Thriller Horror Novel. In 1788 the infamous Thomas Olocher is finally caught and sentenced to death for a heinous string of violent murders in Dublin. Women would soon walk the streets again without fear. But on the night before his execution, Olocher takes his own life, unleashing an even darker monster to lurk the streets in his stead. Views: 565
A defrocked priest attends a school for exorcists and must contend with a re-animated corpse in this horror novel from the author of Sorrow's Edge. Jimmy Holiday, reluctant exorcist, is finally getting the help he needs from the higher-ups. The Order of Markers is sending him to the Vatican's exorcism school. Now, he'll receive the training he should have gotten at the beginning. One problem, someone wants to sabotage him. When his time at the school is cut short, Jimmy receives an interesting new case. It is the assignment that no one wants—a corpse has come back to life. And it isn't a zombie. Too bad nothing goes as expected. Armed with his usual bag of tricks, Jimmy thinks everything will eventually be all right. Well, that is until his betrayer turns out to be the person he trusts most.If you like Darcy Coates, Jack Ketchum, Robert R. McCammon, Willow Rose, and Joe Hill, you'll love this ghostly dark fantasy filled with... Views: 564
Arcanium's getting a little more twisted... After one too many demons leave her for other women, Valorie, the circus contortionist, is thinking about quitting Arcanium. It's not that she hates performing, but she's been in Arcanium for almost twenty years. She's bored, feeling neglected and rejected, and there's nothing keeping her there anymore. Until ex-lover Bell, the fortune teller and owner of Arcanium, gives her the fire-eater—bound and gagged—as a present and a bribe to convince her to stay. John—cursed into Arcanium and heavily scarred from fires gone out of control—turns out to be an adequate distraction. He's almost sweet, in spite of the bad person he used to be—a decent enough pet willing to work his way to redemption in Valorie's collar and under her command. Valorie's just not sure whether he's enough. Especially when her former fiancé from twenty years ago stumbles upon the circus and discovers... Views: 564
This is the first short story in 5 Perfect Days, the companion novella to 25 Perfect Days. It's 2039 and times are tough, the President has claimed the country needs controlling. Walt Jaworski, a dedicated Controlling Force Agent, is the man they call upon.From best-selling author Stephen England comes NIGHTSHADE, a new stand-alone short story in the Shadow Warriors series, predating the events of Pandora's Grave by several years."He wasn't supposed to be here. None of them were. That wasn't unusual--he'd spent well over ten years of his life going places he wasn't supposed to go, doing things he wasn't supposed to do. "CIA paramilitary operations officer Harry Nichols had brought his team to Ciudad del Este for a single purpose: eliminating Jean-Claude Manet, aka Ramzi bin Abdullah, the former head of al-Qaeda operations in Europe.It was supposed to be simple. But there's nothing simple about killing a man. Views: 564
"You shall never have a penny of my money. Leave me alone or I will shoot you dead!" 1924. After six months in Hollywood, young British widow Emma Blackstone has come to love her new employer, glamourous movie-star Kitty Flint – even if her late husband's sister is one of the worst actresses she's ever seen. Looking after Kitty and her three adorable Pekinese dogs isn't work Emma dreamed of, but Kitty rescued her when she was all alone in the world. Now, the worst thing academically-minded Emma has to worry about is the shocking historical inaccuracies of the films Kitty stars in. Until, that is, Rex Festraw – Kitty's first husband, to whom she may or may not still be married – turns up dead in her dressing room, a threatening letter seemingly from Kitty in his pocket. Emma's certain her flighty but kind-hearted sister-in-law has been framed. But who by? And why? From spiteful rivals to jealous boyfriends, the suspects are numerous. But as Emma... Views: 563
When the authorities discover they have missed a serial killer's murders for decades, do they relish the thought of putting away a killer or do they cover up their own ineptness? This short story explores that question with a surprising answer.The first shot shattered the home's rear window and storm glass, plowed a furrow along the man's scalp and buried itself in the opposite wall. The second, without any obstruction to slow its velocity, tore through the wall and ended up in the bathroom medicine chest, where it nested between a bottle of aspirin and a toothbrush. The tall, thin man crumpled to the floor, unconscious, cold November air pouring over him like a waterfall through the broken window. It was a few minutes into a new day, two days before Thanksgiving. Views: 563
Peter Straub has created a body of short stories and novellas establishes him as one of the best literary voices in the genres of horror and dark suspense. His list of accomplishments and awards is staggering: In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association, Life Achievement World Fantasy Award, Grand Master Award from World Horror, Living Legend Award from the International Horror Guild, he has won the Bram Stoker Award nine times, the World Fantasy Award three times, and one British Fantasy Award.He remains a living legend.Volume two features Peter's novellas. Included in this collection:Blue RoseThe Buffalo HunterMrs. GodBunny Is Good BreadMr. Clubb and Mr. CuffPork Pie HatA Special Place: the Heart of a Dark MatterThe Process (is a Process All Its Own) Views: 563
