WARNING: THIS IS NOT JUST A BOOK This is a journey into the life of Death; a journey through this world and the next on the words of twenty one of the best horror writers around.
WARNING: THIS IS NOT JUST A BOOK This is a journey into the life of Death; a journey through this world and the next on the words of twenty one of the best horror writers around. Will you follow them to stare into the eyes of the Grim Reaper? Can you handle the true story of the birth of Death, or the minute details behind catching or escaping Death, becoming Death? Dying? These are not just stories but horrific experiences of pain and death: the deaths of lonely people, famous people, entire worlds, and the death of innocence and the pain of those left behind as they wait their turn, wondering what it will be like – no one is safe from the Reaper! FEAR THE REAPER includes stories by: Taylor Grant, Joe McKinney, Rick Hautala, Gary Fry, Ross Warren, Marty Young, Stephen Bacon, Dean M Drinkel, Richard Thomas, Sam Stone, Eric S Brown, Mark Sheldon, Steve Lockley, Robert S. Wilson, Jeremy C Shipp, Jeff Strand, Lawrence Santoro, E.C. McMullen Jr., Rena Mason, John Kenny and Gary A. Braunbeck. Includes a poem by Adam Lowe. Introduction by Gary McMahon. Artwork by Ben Baldwin and Will Jacques. Edited by Joe Mynhardt.
Professional Reviews
A COLLECTION OF HORROR SHORTS THAT WILL CHILL YOU TO THE BONE!
The Collection of short stories in Fear the Reaper takes a look at death, and presents the grim reaper in its numerous guises. We get the tale of how death or the reaper came into being, what it looks like when a vengeful serial killer strikes and the brutal, dirty death in the armed forces.
In a tale about the end of the world and the ultimate death of all mankind, the author creates a wonderful sense of menace. Self-sacrifice and over protectiveness play a big role in other stories. Unfortunately the reaper comes for all in the end, thus creating poignant scenes throughout
the book.
Most of the stories in this collection are pure horror and blood chillingly scary. Yet, each story provides comment on human nature and the human race in general. The reaper appears as a boy, a beast, a thing of shadow and the original black cloaked man with his sithe. A crow shows itself as a portent of death, and sometimes death is just there, without form or shape, to claim its victims.
Two boys, unnaturally preoccupied with death and suicide, meet the reaper.
"He landed flat on his back, opened his eyes, and saw that Death was no longer a boy. In all his Grim Reaper glory, he stood over Trent and looked down with those red crackled eyes. Death wore black tattered robes now that swayed above Trent with shadow images of people trapped inside trying to get out."
The question about whether we should try and bring people back from death is also addressed. A medical doctor is abducted by vampires and the man with nine lives finds out that:
"He wasn't comfortable in his current unprotected state; for the first time in centuries, death would be permanent."
From the last moments of a selfish man and the macabre reward of someone who is obsessed with his own health, to drug experiments and a cure that can destroy the human race, this anthology of tales about death has everything that the horror addict can dream of. I must warn however, that some of these stories contain extreme violence, crude language and descriptive sex and may not be suitable for younger or sensitive readers.
Most of the tales told in Fear the Reaper have a wonderful twist at the end that will leave you shocked, horrified and, now and then, delighted. A book that will chill you to the bone and have you switching on all the lights at night, Fear the Reaper should appeal to all readers of the horror and dark fantasy genre.
A Delicious blend of short stories
"Fear the Reaper by Joe Mynhardt is a delicious blend of short stories with one common thread running through them: they all include a close encounter with the old man himself, the Grim Reaper. Each author in this set was asked to produce a new, unique story involving such an encounter, and all of them came through admirably. Twenty-two new tales of distinctly different speculations regarding what may await you as you cross over from this life to…? It is commonly said there are only two things in this world that are certain: death and taxes. But even those are decidedly different. I wouldn’t advise it, but you can cheat on your taxes; you can never cheat death. Some of the key players in this stellar tribute to the late Rick Hautala have attempted to prove me wrong, but death always wins in the end.
Many great minds went into the production of this anthology. Some you have no doubt previously read, and already admire. Others may be unfamiliar to you, but once you’ve read these stories, you may be adding some new names of your list of favorite authors. A few of these authors have used a touch of humor to soften that ultimate blow. Others pull out all the stops, and do their best to scare you half to death… naturally. Mynhardt, as editor of this collection, has done a great service to these authors, as well as their readers. There are stories in Fear the Reaper that you will be repeating to your grandchildren around the campfire some warm summer’s eve. There are others you will go to great pains to forget. Fear the Reaper in its entirety is a sterling example of what can result when a superb editor invites some excellent, if unknown, authors to participate in a great tribute to a great man."
A perfect release
"The reaper is coming down the hallway, scythe in hand. Gloom surrounds him and you know why he’s here. Your time has come. Make peace with your god and accept the fact that despite what the Blue Oyster Cult tells us, there’s good reason to fear the reaper. Crystal Lake Publishing is known for releasing great horror and this new anthology, edited by the dark heart of Joe Mynhardt, is no exception. Though death (or the fear of it) is an integral part of any horror story, this collection takes it to another level by focusing on death him/herself. Starting with the poem Hecate by Adam Lowe, this is a dark journey that includes one possible origin of death, a look at the downside of immortality and an alternate idea of what might be the ultimate fate of mankind. There are many authors in this volume whose names were new to me but I was also delighted to find Joe C. McKinney in there, a writer whose works I have enjoyed in the past, and a story by the late Rick Hautala, a legendary author of horror whose name is synonymous with fear and the macabre. Many of these tales left me a bit bewildered upon finishing them but shortly thereafter a light would go off in my head and I would realize that the true power of the words had implanted themselves deeper into my brain than I was accustomed. This does not diminish in any way the cover art by Ben Baldwin that is sure to grab your eye and create a creeping dread in your heart. This book is a perfect release for the darkest time of the year."
The Butcher's Boy
- 2011 Readers Favorite Award Silver Medal Winner in Horror - Fiction
A Paranormal/Chiller by Michael Robb
Thirty-one years ago, Buxly the Butcher went to trial for killing h
The Butcher's Boy
- 2011 Readers Favorite Award Silver Medal Winner in Horror - Fiction
A Paranormal/Chiller by Michael Robb
Thirty-one years ago, Buxly the Butcher went to trial for killing h
