“A big film that has the luxury of a $150 million ad budget will certainly educate the public as to what the title means or what kind of film it is. But when you have no money and you’re at the video store or scrolling down the menu on iTunes or Apple TV, the title has to be understandable so …

“A disquiet hush clung to the medical clinic, as if in actuality it were a mortuary rather than a place of healing. Dr. Ratterman prowled the deserted hallway like an undertaker afraid of waking the dead entrusted to his care. The last patient had left. Both nurse and receptionist had gone home. Only the doctor and the demons that possessed …

Blood Society Author: Jeffery Thomas Publisher: Necro Publications Price: $17.99 It’s tempting to start off with a trite rant about how defanged and bloodless vampire stories have become, but Blood Society isn’t really about vampires. I don’t just mean in the sense that we never truly know what protagonist Dragna and his ilk are; the monsters simply are not the …

Abarat – Absolute Midnight – Author Clive Barker Here was the mystery of creation, played out on a field of dirt and desperation. Candy could see it, this mystery. It was happening all around her. Out of the common earth of living beings, fragile and afraid, came the extrodinary forms of the glyph beyond conceiving of any single mind. She …

Full disclosure: I submitted to this anthology and was rejected. On the other hand, my wife, who allows me access to all her soft and naughty bits, has a story on display within its pages. My hope is that the two cancel each other out and leave a relative sense of objectivity to my review. Just wanted to warn you. …

“I’m Scared,” she says. “You don’t think so, maybe, but I am. I’m scared a lot now, even when there’s no reason.” I tell her she’ll get over it with time. I say, “It’s all right.” Scared. I do not tell her, I understand. I do not say, I think maybe we all are. All the time. I bought the …

“Someone stole the world and packed it up in a briefcase.”  We all know how to deal with ghosts (salt, prayers, just move out of the friggin house already), vampires are old hat (stake, decap or wait til sunrise for the sparklies) and no matter what new permutation on zombies you may come up with, we have our plans ready …

As I write this, Horrorhound Cincinnati is going on about 5 miles from me. While some greats are there, like Sergio Stivaletti, Tom Di Zarn and Charles band are there, I am not. Why, you ask, would a dork of horror such as yourself miss such an illustrious gathering? Simply put, I spent all my money at Millenicon and I …

“I’m no Hero,” she repeated. “Real Heroes die young. Their too honest, too good. I can’t help playing dirty. That’s why I’m just a sidekick.” She shrugged. “At least I get to live.” -“Worthy”, M.E. Garber When someone decides to write about a sidekick, they’re deciding to write a different kind of story. It isn’t going to be about glory …

Have any of you heard that there might be some kind of glut in the zombie market? It’s like a plague has been released, infecting us all and overrunning the streets. As can be the problem in any flooded market, individuals damn well better have something to make them stand out if they are going to be worth dropping our …

INSTALLING LINUX ON A DEAD BADGER AND OTHER ODDITIES Written by Lucy A. Snyder Published by Creative Guy Publishing Publication Date: 2007 Format: B&W – 110 pages Price: $10.95 “LET’S FACE IT: any script kiddie with a pair of pliers can put a red hat on a Compaq, his mom’s toaster, or even the family dog. But nothing earns you …

Come the bright, unwavering light of dawn, H.G. and the VotD made for a damn fine and totally entertaining read that moved me in unexpected ways. I can't wait to find out what lies in store for our intrepid anti-hero once he washes the puke out of his hair.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the hero has become neutered in popular culture. There are too many sparkly vampires, self reflective, whiney turds and people besmirching the good name of pirate by gallivanting around, gesticulating dramatically, and generally acting like a drunken diva. Even the latest run of “superhero” movies are populated by men who are essentially worthless on their …

Long time staff book reviewer and he of the floppy man-breasts, Anton Cancre has two new stories that are currently available for your perusal and enjoyment. If nothing else, it stands as an opportunity to critique the critic, if he has talked a little sh*t about you in the past. “Beautiful Things”, a touching little tale of the straining relationship …

ROTTERS “My father spoke, and still I tried to listen, but my ears buzzed with the low hum of disease. He told me, and I tried to understand, that what we had done was something ancient and possibly noble, but also vilified and to be undertaken with the utmost solemnity; and that, most importantly, it was a craft passed down …