Epeolatry Book Review: The Solar Press Horror Anthology, Vol I, ed. Finnigan Houston & Nickol Houston
Disclosure:
Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.
Title: The Solar Press Horror Anthology, Vol I
Editors:Finnigan Houston & Nickol Houston
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Solar Press
Release Date: 2023
Synopsis: The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I
Seventeen tales of terror from seventeen of the genre’s strongest voices. From bleak cyberpunk dystopias and surreal sadistic hospitals, to evil insects, psychic viruses, and lustful ancient deities.
High concept, strange, and stylish, The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I is a collection of stories like none other.
The number of new horror anthologies is on the rise ( which is good) and, in addition to the usual suspects, so is the number of new or comparatively new authors ( which is also good).
The present anthology from Solar Press, supposedly the first of a new series, includes seventeen previously unpublished stories by as many authors. My digital ARC unfortunately doesn’t provide any information about the authors, who,incidentally, are all unknown to me.
Thus, my review will be totally unbiased…
Among the various tales featured in the book, I will briefly focus on the ones which to me are the more accomplished.
“Crash Cart” by Graham J Darling offers an ironic view of a rather questional approach to medical urgencies, while “ The Scissorman” by Mathew Gostelow is a disquieting, superb tale describing the paranormal events affecting a family of tourists vacationing in Venice.
“ Suffer Your Terrors” by Mike James Davis is an offbeat story revolving around the secret power of ants able to attack and destroy the human body.
Andrew Najberg contributes “ Devil’s Voice”, a poignant piece of fiction depicting the apocalyptic effects of a mysterious plague which makes survival a pointless goal.
The bizarre “ First Love” by Simon Clarke describes the very weird first sex experience of a young man, while the vivid “ Buying the Farm” by Ann O’Mara Heyward portrays a family living in an isolated,rundown farm and facing the problem of a violent father as well as of a terrible environment.
To me the best story in the volume is the outstanding “The Long Road” by Aedan Ferrara, a fascinating piece hard to define. The keys of a certain motel room play a pivotal role but the spellbinding narrative style makes the plot almost a secondary matter.
Get a copy and enjoy.
/5
Available from Solar Press.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Mario Guslandi was born in Milan, Italy, where he currently lives. A long time fan of dark fiction (especially short stories)he’s probably the only Italian who reviews horror and supernatural tales in English. Over the years his reviews have appeared in many genre sites such as Horrorworld, The British Fantasy Society, Hellnotes, Emerald City, SF Revu, Thirteen O’ Clock, etc.
