Another Book Review of Grants Pass

If you haven't seen it yet, here is where you'll find Chuck McKenzie's insightful review of Grant's Pass. I was lucky enough to gain an advanced copy to browse as well, but, alas, I am nowhere near the avid reader Sir Chuck is - hence he has beaten me to the punch.

Still, all opinions are valid and a second one on this anthology may convince you to rush out and buy it, for I believe this to be a worthwhile gathering of post-apocalyptic tales by some wonderfully talented writers.

The beginning is littered with news bulletins which become more ragged, punched, and confusing as you're urged to race through them. They come in different languages and lengths, and manage to convey a 'down the rabbit hole' type of sensation to lead the reader into a different world.

The majority of the stories were excellently done. Many contained vivid descriptions of faraway lands in the grip of terrifying fear. The authors painted landscapes and cityscapes torn apart by Mother Nature or by man's insanity as his mortality came nearer.

Many managed to pass the tension and fear of the characters palpably across to me. Out of the 17 stories presented 9 were told in chilling first person accounts, creating an almost 'Blair Witch Project' feeling about someone reporting the end of days in their little part of the world. I have a preferance for stories told in third (and I did enjoy those told this way in this anthology), but all of my personal favourites within this anthology came from the person on the spot.

My hat goes off to (in no particular order):

• Cherie Priest for 'Hells Bells' (yes, I'm a sucker for a story from a kids POV, particularly strange kids)


• Martin Livings for 'Acension'


• Seanan McGuire for 'Animal Husbandry' (Don't ever turn your back on a vet - ever!)


• Pete Kempshall for 'Rights of Passage'


• Jay Lake for 'Black Heart, White Mourning' (Crazy people will survive as well...)

While Chuck saw the overall sense of hope, and I think many did convey that - particularly the journal entries which bookended the anthology, many of the stories undermine that, and bring a bigger sense of reality to the whole thing. There's just so much more pain than hope when the world goes boom...

While I couldn't quite get pass the feeling with some of the stories that they were a distant cousin to Stephen King's The Stand, most had an originality in the premise and setting to more than compensate.

Well worth the read.