“It’s a rare writer indeed who can write a Lovecraftian story that’s simultaneously funny and unnerving.”
This vile tome collects thirteen blasphemous Lovecraftan tales of a certain scribe named Nick Mamatas. Warning: May contain shoggoths, martial arts, weirdness, Nyarlathotep, fish people from Innsmouth, and copious literary references. With an introduction by Orrin Grey and a bevy of disturbing alchemical illustrations by GMB Chomichuk. Side effects may include hallucinations and a steep descent into insanity.
Why We’re Excited About This Book: It’s safe to say that whatever Lovecraft’s strengths as a writer, his stories aren’t particularly full of belly laughs. And whilst the Mythos tropes might be easy to mock and use satirically, it’s a rare writer indeed who can write a Lovecraftian story that’s simultaneously funny and unnerving.
Step into the light, Nick Mamatas, with his new collection The Nickronomicon. In stories like ‘And Then, And Then, And Then…’ (available for free at Innsmouth Free Press) the deadpan humour and flat narrative voice are nothing like Lovecraft’s lurid prose, but there’s a definite menace underneath, which is all the more scary for not being overt. These stories will make you laugh, but more nervously than you might expect.
This Book Will Appeal To: readers looking for a genuine new take on the dusty old Cthulhu mythos.
The Nickronomicon is out now from Innsmouth Free Press.
“Stories are based on local folklore, myths and legends from all over Europe.”
Here be Monsters!
They lurk and crawl and fly in the shadows of our mind. We know them from ancient legends and tales whispered by the campfire. They hide under the dark bridge, in the deep woods or out on the great plains, in the drizzling rain forest or out on the foggy moor, beneath the surface, under your bed. They don’t sparkle or have any interest in us except to tear us apart. They are the monsters! Forgotten, unknown, misunderstood, overused, watered down. We adore them still. We want to give them a renaissance, to re-establish their dark reputation, to give them a comeback, let the world know of their real terror.
Why We’re Excited About This Book: If you never thought This Is Horror would recommend something that could be described as a coffee table book, think again. From Fox Spirit comes European Monsters, a self-described coffee table style book of stories, art and non-fiction about monsters from all over Europe. And this is merely the first part of a larger project, The Fox Spirit Books of Monsters series, which will include individual volumes from different continents, continuing with African Monsters in 2015…
European Monsters is edited by Jo Thomas & Margrét Helgadóttir and includes stories by Anne Michaud, Hannah Kate, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Aliya Whiteley, Joan De La Haye and Jasper Bark, among many others. The stories are based on local folklore, myths and legends from all over Europe and so are likely to include some beasts unknown to even the most well-read British horror lover. A unique concept, with some brilliant cover and interior art, this looks like it will be something special.
This Book Will Appeal To: readers who know The Daily Mail haven’t got the first clue about what’s really scary about Europe…
European Monsters is out now from Fox Spirit.
JAMES EVERINGTON