Book Review: Festive Fear

Tasmaniac Publications, 2009

Once in while, a reader of horror fiction is lucky enough to pick up a publication that truly taps into whatever horrifies that specific reader, be it spiders, ghosts, claustrophobic spaces, or any number of other things. In Festive Fear, a Christmas-themed Australian anthology of fourteen original tales, I've found my particular ultimate horror, which is - as occurs in many of the tales herein - bad things happening to children (and when better for this to happen than at Christmas). Days after reading this, the details of some of these stories are still playing unpleasantly upon my mind.

But then, isn't that what one wants from bloody good horror fiction..?

And if the mental image of a child's head bursting 'like a ripe plum' doesn't freeze your blood, don't worry; there are plenty of other horrors here. Something for everyone, I'd wager.

As in any anthology, there were some distinct highlights: Brett McBean's 'Christmas Lights' emotionally evokes the twin horrors of the unforgiving Australian bush and disappointment in life itself; Marty Young's 'Black Peter' reminds us that most modern myths have darker origins, while Felicity Dowker's 'The Bearded One' turns that same notion on its head, positing a world in which those dark myths are common knowledge - at least, to those who have suffered them before; in 'I'm Dreaming', Martin Livings once again proves himself an absolute master of understated nastiness; the protagonist of Josephine Pennicott's 'Mr. Gallows' Christmas Gift' drags the reader into a terrifyingly credible situation, made worse by the lack of explanation; and Steve Gerlach reminds us, in 'White Christmas', that the most terrifying monsters are those who hide behind our neighbours' faces - and who truly believe the evil they commit is right.

And a further nod: introductions to anthologies, of any genre, more often serve to let the editor 'have his/her say' than to truly add anything to the experience of reading the publication. Here, however, publisher Stephen Clark's brief introduction sets the tone for the tales to come perhaps more perfectly than any other intro I've ever read, giving us an insight into his own personal fears, and making an extremely good case as to why we should all be very, very afraid at Christmas.

My one criticism of Festive Fear is that the editing is occasionally sub-par, as is so often the case with small-press offerings. That said, the contents of this anthology more than make up for the occasional typo.

Buy this anthology. It's brilliant. Unfortunately, I believe it's also a limited edition, so you'll need to move quickly; hopefully, though, customer demand will lead to a reprint, as this is an anthology that all horror aficionados should - must - read.

And have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Review: The Serpent and the Rainbow

Wade Davis, Simon & Schuster, 1985

In 1982, ethnobiologist Wade Davis arrived in Haiti to investigate two documented cases of zombis - people who had reappeared in Haitian society years after they had been officially declared dead. Drawn into a netherworld of vodou rituals and celebration, Davis' investigations resulted in his placing the phenomenon of zombification in its proper context, as well as in his eventual realisation that the story of vodou - from its African origins to its contemporary practices - is the story of Haiti itself.

A long-time fan of the 1988 Wes Craven movie adaptation of Davis' book, I jumped at the chance to read this recent reissue of the original text, and - in doing so - discovered one of the most satisfying, absorbing, and occasionally disturbing books it has ever been my pleasure to read. As one might expect, a massive gulf separates the movie adaptation - with its main focus upon the supernatural elements of vodou culture - from the book, which, in addition to providing an extremely detailed picture of Haitian society in general, and stripping away many of the Western misconceptions of vodou, offers a wealth of fascinating information on toxicology, botany, modern world history, religion, occultism, and the psychology of death amongst various cultures, among other topics, and blends it all together with the central tale of Davis' search for the zombification agent, resulting in what amounts to a travel narrative-cum-tale of high adventure. This is a guide to Haiti as someone like Bill Bryson might have written it.

It's no exaggeration to say that The Serpent and the Rainbow has something for everyone. Davis' writing is engaging and easy to read, and this non-fiction narrative includes more twists, turns and atmosphere than many blockbuster novels I've read. A definite must-read for...well, anyone.

Review: Antichrist

Antichrist (2009) – Dir. Lars von Trier. Starring Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Set in four chapters as well as prologue and epilogue, this film is an intricate structure of disturbing imagery and diverse storytelling. Lars von Trier presents a confronting experience that holds no punches.

The film’s prologue almost plays like an advertisement for perfume, with sophisticated music set to amplify a tranquil mood, a married couple’s son dies in a horrible accident while the two are in the throes of passion in an adjacent room. Continuing with the next four chapters, the therapist husband decides to treat his wife’s grief himself by taking her to ‘Eden’, their solitude from society. Their cabin in the woods. It was here that the wife and child spent last summer together. A place of peace for the two, allowing time to heal. But once here, the questions start and the films themes emerge. What just did happen last summer at Eden? And what is emerging from this visit? Strange occurrences distract or perhaps give clues while disturbing imagery is crafted to convey a negative force emerging amongst the despair. Is evil inflicted from the nature of our environment or is it born from within the deepest corners of our souls? The nature of man.

But this is a fleeting if best description of the film. It is complex with plenty able to be dissected from the film’s synopsis, which may be one of the more interesting things about it. Wonderful performances, skillfully crafted tension, hauntingly beautiful music and exceptional cinematography transform this sometime graphically disturbing film into a feature that is open for audience interpretation. This, the true beauty of the piece.

Director Lars von Trier uses the screen as his canvas and it is beautifully painted. But as with all art, whether it is interesting or entertaining is up to each viewer’s perception.

Reviewed by Troy King

Review:Cthulhu Unbound Volume 2

Edited by John Sunseri & Thomas Brannan, Permuted Press, 2009

Rather than re-state large portions of my earlier review for the original Cthulhu Unbound anthology (which you can read here), I'll merely say that Sunseri and Brannan have done it again. CUV2 is a highly entertaining Lovecaftian anthology that for the most part successfully introduces Mythos elements to new fictional environments. Of course, it's hard to avoid the occasional familiar trope, such as Mythos-meets-Old-West or Lovcraftian Noir, but even the odd slightly cliched tale in this book was generally enjoyable.

Highlights for me included: 'The Tenants of Ladywell Manor' by William Meikle, which is a classic literature/Mythos mash-up in the vein of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies; 'Sleeping Monster Futures' by Brandon Alspaugh, which posits the idea that there's serious money to be made in Rl'yeh; 'The Long, Deep Dream' by Peter Clines, which takes the rather tired old idea of the Innsmouth Taint and gives it a singularly nasty twist; 'Stomach Acid' by David Conyers and Brian M. Sammons, which puts a modern, post X-Files spin on those Fungi from Yuggoth; 'What's a Few Tentacles Between Friends?' by Sheila Crosby, an unashamedly silly spoof in which a Shuggoth attempts to find employment; and 'Abomination With Rice' by Rhys Hughes, which...nope, can't even give you a clue without potentially giving the twist away. Suffice to say, it's extremely icky, yet satisfying.

It's no exaggeration to say that the Cthulhu Unbound anthologies have been largely responsible for re-igniting my enthusiasm for the Mythos subgenre, which lately had seemed dominated by tired old rewrites and rip-offs of classic Lovecraftian tales and tropes. I'll be looking forward to further volumes in this series.

News: Brimstone Press horror film special offer

Brimstone Press is running an amazing deal for lovers of horror. The next 15 Australian customers who order a Brimstone Press book through the publisher's website will receive FREE double passes to see two of the hottest horror films of the year: Paranormal Activity and Zombieland (value $64).

Now is the perfect chance to purchase a horror book as a Christmas gift for a loved one while enjoying two free nights at the movies. This special offer even applies to pre-orders of Brimstone's upcoming releases The Last Days of Kali Yuga and Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 4.

The offer ends on December 1 or if filled earlier. Full details are on the Brimstone Press website.

About the films:

Zombieland

Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss – but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is an AK-totin’, zombie-slayin’ badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

Website: www.zombieland.com.au

Paranormal Activity

Without a doubt, the scariest film in years ... Paranormal Activity is the real deal - this movie will have you shaking in your cinema seat. A young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep and the results are terrifying.

Website: www.paranormalactivity-movie.com.au

Both films will be in cinemas from December 3

Source: Brimstone Press

News: Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 4 available for pre-order

Angela Challis, editor of the Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror series of 'year's best' anthologies, has announced the line-up for Volume 4.

Stories selected are:

• "The Last Great House of Isla Tortuga" by Peter M. Ball
• "The Claws of Native Ghosts" by Lee Battersby
• "Pale Dark Soldier" by Deborah Biancotti
• "Heere Be Monsters" by John Birmingham
• "Teeth" by Stephen Dedman
• "Her Collection of Intimacy" by Paul Haines
• "A Guided Tour in the Kingdom of the Dead" by Richard Harland
• "Moments of Dying" by Robert Hood
• "Just Us" by Pete Kempshall
• "Painlessness" by Kirstyn McDermott
• "Smoking, Waiting For the Dawn" by Jason Nahrung
• "The Casting Out" by Miranda Siemienowicz

As with the previous books in the series, Volume 4 will feature a detailed summary of dark fiction in Australia and appendices of horror resources and award listings, making it an invaluable compendium for fans of the genre and authors alike.

ADFH Vol 4 will go on sale nationally in March 2010 but can be pre-ordered immediately from the Brimstone Press website.

Source: Brimstone Press

News: Australian Shadows Award reminder

The deadline for entering work into the Australian Shadows Award is drawing near (December 31). The Australian Shadows Award is coordinated by the Australian Horror Writers Association and is the peak award for horror fiction in Australia. Entry is open to Australians (and New Zealanders) who have had a work of dark fiction (horror, paranormal, or dark fantasy) published in 2009. Entry is free.

This year, the Australian Shadows Award has expanded into three categories: Short Fiction (for short stories), Long Fiction (for novels, novellas, and single-author collections), and Edited Publication (for anthologies). Full details on the award can be found here.

If you are eligible and have had a short story, collection, novella, or novel published this year, or you edited a horror-themed anthology or magazine issue, and you haven't yet entered your work into the Australian Shadows Award, please contact the Award Director Shane Jiraiya Cummings (australianshadows@australianhorror.com) before December 31 to arrange entry.

Source: AHWA

Bok Review: Zombie Blondes

Brian James, Macmillan, 2009

From the moment that Hannah Sanders - once again skipping from one town to the next with her deadbeat father - arrives in Maplecrest, she can sense there's something...off. Everything's just a litle too quiet, too well-ordered; the townsfolk just a litle too old-fashioned; the high school cheerleading team just a little too perfect. But Hannah desperately wants to fit in, regardless of what her new friend Lukas is trying to tell her. And if she doesn't watch her back, she's going to end up like the rest of the cheerleading squad: blonde and popular.

And dead.

Zombie Blondes is the latest in a growing list of zombie-related novels hitting the Young Adult market. Here, the zombies of the piece - sentient, life-sucking ghouls rather than shambling flesheaters - represent the dangers of conformity and insular lifestyle, and while there's very little originality in the plot - the book reading essentially like a 'junior' version of The Stepford Wives or Invasion of the Body Sntchers - the author nonetheless generates an unsettling atmosphere of growing unease, punctuated by moments of genuine fear. The novel is written in a style that most adults, as well as the intended teen audience, will find accessible, and is overall a worthwhile read, with a surprisingly mature and downbeat conclusion.

News: Andrew J. McKiernan's Black Friday giveaway

Illustrator and author Andrew J. McKiernan is running a Black Friday competition (announced yesterday), offering one of his readers a copy of Shards, the collection he illustrated.

To enter the competition, visit Andrew's LiveJournal, and in 100 words or less, explain your greatest fear.

The competitions ends on Monday (November 16).

News: Friday 13th performance of Theatre of Blood!

The first two performances were sold out and tickets are selling fast for the very special show tonight... Friday the 13th!

Here's a few things the critics are saying:

“If you’re looking for an excuse to dress up and indulge your more mischievous inclinations, like a laugh, a cheap thrill and a glass or two of good cheer, Friday nights in Newtown Theatre’s foyer promise to be something of a Sydney institution.” Brad Syke, Australian Stage

“It was an especially bloody and horrific evening, beginning just before the witching hour. A properly ghoulish night out... just be sure that whomever you go with, it’s someone you know… and trust.” Joan Beal, ArtsHub

THEATRE OF BLOOD
@ The Newtown Theatre
Cnr King & Bray Sts, Newtown
Bookings: www.newtowntheatre.com.au or 8507 3034

Theatre of Blood is rated R18+. Nobody under 18 will be admitted.
A doctor will be present at all performances.

Source: Steven Hopley, Director, Theatre of Blood

Review: Midnight Echo Issue 2

Midnight Echo is the official magazine of the Australian Horror Writer’s Association (AHWA). Issue number two was edited by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings.

In this issue, the editors aimed to include stories with an Australian feel. There is a mixture of both flash fiction and short stories, all of which flow together into a coherent whole. Three stories which were winners of the AHWA flash and short story competitions in 2007 and 2008 are also included.

There are several clear standout stories in this issue, the first of which is Shadow of Drought by Joanne Anderton. Firmly grounded in the Australian landscape, the reality of drought gives this story a particular impact and makes the creepy events occurring feel even more vivid. This one will stay with you, and haunt you the next time you leave the city.

The Message by Andrew J. McKiernan is the absolute standout in this issue. Again, a grounding in real life events gives this story real impact. There’s a real emotional hit to this one that will linger long after you’ve closed the magazine.

The Emancipated Dance is Felicity Dowker’s second appearance in Midnight Echo. Here, Dowker shows us a peek into a slipstream world, an undercurrent of feminism flowing beneath it. Her imagery has a great impact – even as some of it turns your stomach, you’ll find yourself compelled to read on.

In Tangled Roots Where Hearts Entwine by Kurt Newton veers more towards the surreal, twisting the world into something new and completely original. Haunting, and like the other best stories in this issue, will linger with the reader.

Challis and Cummings aimed for an Australian feel to this issue, and in that, they have succeeded. Midnight Echo continues to be a great showcase of dark fiction writers that is maintaining an extremely high standard.

Midnight Echo can be purchased from the AHWA in either electronic format or hard copy.

News: Midnight Echo #3

Midnight Echo 3 is about to be unleashed ...

Assembled by guest editor Stephen Studach and his talented crew, therein you will find:

• A slew of stories by an array of gifted wordsmiths.
• A devil's clawful of poetical works.
• A clutch of standalone dark and macabre art.
• A featured artist's gallery.
• An exclusive interview by Lucy Sussex with Barbara Baynton - her first since her death in 1929.
• The first Midnight Echo illustrated story.

Obtain your copy from November 17 at the Midnight Echo website (AHWA members receive a PDF version of the magazine free!).

Source: AHWA

Review: Assassin by Tom Cain

Sam Carver is an ex-assassin who did jobs for MI6. He's retired from the game now and advises others who are potential targets. However, an old enemy is setting Carver up by duplicating his modus operandi, first offing a people trafficker in Dubai and then arranging a 'car accident' for a shady financier in the U.S. The race is on as Carver tries to clear his name while on the run, get the woman he loves and stop the American president (an Obama-alike character) from being assassinated.


It's times like this when a reviewer is tempted to dig out all the old cliches - a thrill ride, non-stop action, a real page-turner. In this case, they're true. This book won't change your life or make you see the world in a different light. It will keep you entertained for the couple of hours it takes to rip through the story. Especially towards the end the chapters get quite short and it has a similar effect to a breathless friend trying to blurt out an exciting anecdote.

This is the third book in the Sam Carver series (though no prior knowledge is required to enjoy the story) and the actions scenes are handled slickly. There is a passing nod to the serious issue of people-trafficking, but the thrill of the chase is the thing here. Characterisation is adequate for this style of book and not allowed to get in the way of the plot. In short, Assassin does everything it says on the label. More Clive Cussler than John LeCarre. And sometimes that's enough.

Assassin is published in Australia by Bantam Press.

News: Vincent Lyce's Final Curtain

Vincent Lyce’s Final Curtain is horror-themed performance that features a mix of comedy, music, and murder served with a delicious dinner. Recently described as “Rocky Horror meets Carry-On”. Ex wives, illegitimate sons, and fans alike will gather to celebrate the illustrious career of Vincent Lyce.

Venue: Queen's Loft, Southbank (Melbourne).

Date: Saturday November 14.

Time 7.30pm (duration ~3 hours).

Bookings $80 (includes a three course dinner designed specifically for the evening).
Call Queens Loft on 9698 8011 (Advance bookings essential)

Full details at http://vincentlyce.com.

Source: Bare Elements Productions

News: Richard Harland's Advanced SF workshop

Award-winning horror and fantasy author Richard Harland (Worldshaker, The Black Crusade) is running a two-day Advanced Fantasy and Science Fiction workshop at the NSW Writers Centre in December.

The course develops the skills of speculative fiction writing to an advanced level and covers character arcs and creating characters in groups; point of view; first-person narrators; sequencing (the right events in the right order); twists and emotional reversals; pacing; using chapter and section breaks; interactive dialogue; ‘free indirect discourse’; naming; and effective style (especially for action scenes). Also, submitting short stories; presenting a novel-length MS; and gaining access to agents and publishers.

Date: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am – 4pm
Cost: NSW Writers Centre Members $195, Members’ Concession $165, Non-Members $250

Bookings: NSW Writers Centre.


Source: NSW Writers Centre

News: Ticonderoga Publications book sale

Western Australian independent SF press Ticonderoga Publications is having an online book sale. The sale runs until 8 November or until stock runs out.

Ticonderoga titles are on sale at 20-25% off the regular price, and free postage is offered (within Australia) for purchases totalling more than $100.

Titles on sale include the second edition of Stephen Dedman's dark collection The Lady of Situations, Magic Dirt, the best of Sean Williams, and the anthologies Fantastic Wonder Stories and The Workers' Paradise.

For details, visit www.indiebooksonline.com and click the 'Specials' link on the right.


Source: Ticonderoga Publications

News: Writers Boot Camp seeking horror scripts

Writers Boot Camp, a US company that trains screenwriters and television writers, has established monthly $5000 script development fellowships (one each for film and TV scripts), which are "monthly competitions designed to scout and support new writers." This month, Writers Boot Camp is accepting horror film and supernatural TV series projects.

Writers Boot Camp alumni have written or created 30 major movies and at least 100 television series, including Rounders, Blades of Glory, Freaky Friday, Wonderland, Mad Men, Entourage, The Office, Sex and the City, and Burn Notice.

Candidates need the following to apply for a fellowship:

• An original idea for a feature film or television series pilot.
• One scene (no more than three pages) conveying the entertaining potential of your idea.
• A short paragraph on your goals and completed online application with fee.
• A commitment of at least 10 hours per week for your creative and writing process through Online Professional Membership.

Fees to submit projects proposals are:

• US$54 Evaluation for Film or TV Project
• US$75 Evaluation for both Film and TV
• US$99 Evaluation for both Film and TV plus all three diversity/inspired categories.

The deadline is November 5 (tomorrow - US Western time zone), so if you have a horror script in development and wish to apply, visit www.writersbootcamp.com/Fellowship, or email Dana@writersbootcamp.com.

Source: Writers Boot Camp

News: World Fantasy Award Winners 2009

The 2009 World Fantasy Awards were presented at the World Fantasy Convention held in San Jose, California over the weekend. Two Australians were honoured with awards, Margo Lanagan in the category Best Novel (tied result), and Shaun Tan in the category of Best Artist.

World Fantasy Award Winners 2009

• Lifetime Achievement: Ellen Asher & Jane Yolen
• Best Novel (tie): The Shadow Year, Jeffrey Ford (Morrow) & Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin; Knopf)
• Best Novella: “If Angels Fight”, Richard Bowes (F&SF 2/08)
• Best Short Story: “26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss”, Kij Johnson (Asimov’s 7/08)
• Best Anthology: Paper Cities: An Anthology of Urban Fantasy, Ekaterina Sedia, ed. (Senses Five Press)
• Best Collection: The Drowned Life, Jeffrey Ford (HarperPerennial)
• Best Artist: Shaun Tan
• Special Award – Professional: Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant (for Small Beer Press and Big Mouth House)
• Special Award – Non-Professional: Michael Walsh (for Howard Waldrop collections from Old Earth Books)

The judges for 2009 were: Jenny Blackford, Peter Heck, Ellen Klages, Chris Roberson & Delia Sherman.

Source: www.worldfantasy2009.org

Review: Ba'al

Ba’al [aka Ba'al: the Storm God] (US/Canada-2008; dir. Paul Ziller)

Existing somewhere in the vast mid-range of cinematic quality, Ba'al is an entertaining B-film that aspires to originality (or maybe just deviation from the norm of low-budget genre films), even if in the end little is achieved beyond a fairly competent use of its meagre resources. A diverting mix of Indiana Jones-style archeological adventure fantasy, caper thriller and disaster flick, the direct-to-video monster movie at times feels like two films woven somewhat tenuously together -- though to be fair the script strives to divert our attention from the fact that the two character sets involved never meet, one group being confined to a meteorological command centre and only experiencing the larger events of the film via monitor screens.

In the primary plot thread a famous if unstable archeologist masterminds the theft of rare Sumarian scrolls that he plans to use to find and excavate four amulets. These artefacts are not only of great historical value but may hold the key to unleashing a terrible ancient power -- the power of the Storm God Ba'al, exiled from the world for millennia by his more beneficent father, El. Naturally the ethically unstable professor draws into his search a younger, better-looking and more heroic archeologist and a beautiful esoteric-language expert, who together give him the extra information he needs to bring his quest to fruition. With the discovery of each of the amulets, Ba'al gets more powerful, a revitalisation signaled by the sudden appearance of mega-storms that not only draw power from the Van Allen Belt but are sentient, every now and then (when dramatically useful) manifesting a savage face with glowing eyes -- the likeness of Ba'al himself.

There is a minor plotline involved here as the mad archeologist has implicated his younger comrade in the theft and resulting murder and the latter is being hunted by an investigating government agent. This thread doesn't come to much, but it's there to add suspense and variety for a while -- and it does this without much elaboration. It ends quickly when the Federal agent, who has captured the innocent protagonist, comes face-to-face with Ba'al and thereupon decides there may be more to events than he'd been led to believe.

In the second major plot thread a rogue (but spunky) meteorologist tries to convince her typically boneheaded military ex-superiors (why exactly is the military in charge of weather monitoring?) that the mega-storms appearing over various parts of the globe are of apocalyptic potential -- though they only believe her when a surveillance plane is destroyed and vast storms rip through various major cities. As the climax looms, separate mega-storms begin to join up and threaten to plunge the world into total annihilation.

With reasonable acting that only in some instances borders on caricature, Ba'al's narrative drive builds effectively, working an archeological mystery-solving scenario that is vaguely credible, at least in fantasy terms -- even if real archeologists rarely find themselves running around the world furiously digging up ancient relics while being chased by ancient deities. The military/meteorological disaster thread is rather less convincing, partially as a result of the limited budget. If Emmerich's climate-change blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow left you unconvinced politically, the minimalist political decision-making processes of Ba'al certainly aren't going to win you over. But that's the B-film world (whether big-budgeted or not) -- and it lets the plot zoom along with the appearance of an occasional CGI lightning strike, tornado or snarling cumulus deity.

The film does falter somewhat as it nears the end, the narrative threads becoming rather ragged and the solution to the protagonist's problems too easily dealt with. Yet as B-exploitation films go, Ba'al isn't bad at all, being both technically competent and relatively spectacular -- to be scorned if only multi-million dollar digital FX as seamless and detailed as those of Hellboy 2 will do, but more than tolerable for those willing to adjust their expectations according to realistic budgetary possibilities, script flaws notwithstanding.

Reviewed by Robert Hood

Review: Midnight Echo Issue 1

Review: Midnight Echo Issue One

Midnight Echo is the magazine of the Australian Horror Writer’s Association (AHWA). The inaugural issue is edited by Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond and features sixteen offerings of short fiction, several artworks and one interview.

This issue features an assortment of fiction, from longer length short stories to flash fiction and a poem. Also included is one of the most innovative interviews I’ve read (New Blood: Shell Game: An Encounter with Dave Hoskin by Steven Studach). The reader should also note amongst the fiction Drowning by Alice Godwin, which won the AHWA short story competition.

Overall, the quality of fiction in this issue is impressive, but there are several stories that clearly stand out from the others.

Stephen Dedman’s Broken Images is one of the pieces more grounded in the real world, its story set in New Orleans and revolving around voodoo. The grounding in reality gives this story real impact.

They Live Under the House by Felicity Dowker is a dark little story where the monsters are never revealed. While there is some predictability to the plot that detracts slightly, the hints at hidden darkness are more than enough to make this story stand out.

Honeytime by Brendan Duffy and Andrew Macrae is, perhaps, the most surreal piece in this issue. It reads like a fragment of a nightmare, with some truly disturbing and stomach-turning images that will linger in the reader’s mind long after the magazine has been closed.

Cactus by David Conyers is a story at once grounded in reality and yet completely surreal. One of the most original pieces in the magazine, it displays a mastery of imagery.

Paul Haines' Taniwha, Swim With Me is another story that hints at hidden darkness. Haines has a particular talent for cracking open the walls of reality just enough to show the darkness beyond.

Pale Dark Solider by Deborah Biancotti is another standout. Biancotti writes prose as though it was poetry, manipulating language and reality to create something truly creepy.

The final standout story is one of the shortest in the issue: Martin Livings' Piggies. Livings is a author who has the ability to use very few words and a few striking images to create something that will linger. Don’t eat while reading this one.

Overall, Midnight Echo issue one is a credit to the editors and the AHWA, collecting a group of very talented authors of dark fiction. It’s amazingly good value.

Midnight Echo can be purchased from the AWHA as a pdf or hard copy.

Book Review: Zombies for Zombies

David P. Murphy, Sourcebooks Inc., 2009

So you've been bitten by a zombie. Bummer. But there's no need to panic. Yes, your life will be undergoing a major transformation, but this doesn't have to be the end-all it once was when the Disaster first hit...

Following a recent unfortunate incident - widely reported - in which Australian horror writer Robert Hood was viciously mauled by zombies, I immediately rushed out to buy myself a copy of Zombies for Zombies, a publication that serves both as a motivational- and a 'life'-skills guide to those making the often painful and confusing transition from life to undeath; chiefly because Rob knows where I live, but also because this handy tome - completely coincidentally set out in the style of (and even visually resembling) the famed Dummies' Guide series - is the guide you want by your side when those weird brain-cravings start to hit.

Among the many aspects of zombie existence covered extensively in this publication are:

* How to dress for your new lifestyle.
* Fitness ideas for keeping you somewhat energetic.
* New skin-care regimes to help ward off that 'rotten flesh' look.
* How to overcome that damned zombie social stigma. And;
* Sex.

You'll also find a wealth of information that may, confusingly, appear at first to be little more than a vast mass of infomercial and product placement, but which is, in fact, Highly Useful Brand Information aimed exclusively at Undead Consumers. Honestly.

Any reviewer mistaking this guide for a work of fiction would no doubt comment upon the 'fact' that the author has managed to inject a genuine sense of unease into this publication, due largely to some deft world-building that goes well beyond the 'same old' established by previous 'apocalyptic' zombie fiction and cinema, as well as via increasingly-common and heavily-veiled 'suggestions', as one progresses through the guide, that all is not as sunny as one might believe in this 'fictional' world. Fortunately, of course, this book is non-fiction, so we can completely discount any comments by the author regarding 'communication failures' at an increasing number of Containment Facilities. Ha-ha-ha. Ahem. Nothing to see here.

Zombies for Zombies is a damn good read (and none of its myriad sponsors have paid me to say that), so run out and buy a copy while you can still run.

Must go. Doorbell. That'll be Rob...

News: Dymocks Southland Bestselling Horror Titles for October 2009

Dymocks Southland is a general bookshop in Cheltenham, Victoria, boasting an extensive range of genre stock. Below are listed the top 10 bestselling horror titles for October 2009.

1. Night Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko
2. Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters - Austen / Wilson
3. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – Austen / Grahame-Smith
4. House of Night (Complete Series) – PC & Kristen Cast
5. Vampire Academy (Complete Series) – Richelle Mead
6. Demons Not Included - Cheyenne McCray
7. Edgar Allen Poe (Collection)
8. Last Motel - Brett McBean
9. Vampire Diaries (Complete Series) - L. J. Smith
10. Evernight – Claudia Gray