If you like your fiction original and quirky, chances are this anthology will tickle your fancy. The stories are all similar in tone and theme, taking inspiration from urban legends, conspiracy theories, and television shows such as The Twilight Zone. They explore modern phenomena like TV, smartphones, breakfast cereal, and corporations. The writing and editing is relatively good (although I don't know why Americans insist on using the present simple when the past perfect is required), and every tale in this anthology succeeds in creating an appropriately eerie atmosphere. In several cases, plot loses out to strangeness, but some of the contributors managed to tick all the boxes; strangeness, atmosphere, quality prose, and engaging storyline. "The Dead Wait" uses TV and phones as a means of getting the protagonist to think about his past relationships with other people; perhaps rather ironically. "Black-Eyed Children, Blue-Eyed Child" held my attention until the end, which was predictable but nonetheless apt. It is reminiscent of "The Midwich Cuckoos". "The Projectionist" was the most captivating of the tales with its admirably described setting and main character. The conclusion was a bit of a let-down though and didn't really fit the build-up. My favourite was definitely "Night Dog". This romp of a tale about a big bad corporation is poignant, comic, fantastical, and disturbing. To sum up, a fairly decent walk through a strange dimension.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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19 March, 2016:
Finished reading
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19 March, 2016:
Reviewed
