--Greg F. Gifune, author, THE BLEEDING
SEASON, DEEP NIGHT,
DOMINION, and BLOOD IN ELECTRIC BLUE.
Simon says - "That sliver of shooting star
is something of a cosmic hint as to the plot but I've always
found meteors fascinating. Whenever I see that tell-tale
streak of fire in the sky I can't help but wonder what journey
the meteor has been on. Even in my dreams I imagine
finding a strike site of one of these amazing stars - but
I've still to find one. Tasmaniac, however, have found a way
of making my dream come true."
The lettered edition
(leather-bound and slip-cased), signed by Simon, Kealan and
Vince will come with their own authentic piece of
meteorite.
Review
If you’re a fan of
horror fiction then Simon Clark will need no introduction. If
you’re new to the scene, and his work, then all I need say is
that this prolific author has been delivering the disturbing
goods since his debut novel Nailed By The Heart in
1995, a zombie siege story set by the coast. But Clark has
also produced his fair share of shorter work and is well known
for short stories and novellas which run at a cracking pace
(The Dalek Factor and She Loves Monsters to
name but two).
Here we have another foray into these forms. The
titular novella revolves around a meteorite which crashed out
in the US wilderness near Prospect Hill back in the 1940s,
witnessed by a Native American with psychopathic tendencies.
Flash forward to the present day, and we join a bunch of young
meteorite hunters lead by the appropriately-named Stoner.
Seeking their fortune – as even the tiniest amount of
meteorite rock can contain diamonds – they dig up the big
rock, while the thunderous weather and flooding turns against
them. But the meteor contains a dangerous evil, connected with
that Native American, who’s now returned to the site. And as
the group become increasingly cut off they soon find
themselves battling for survival.
In a unique experiment, a companion story ‘The Calling’
(itself verging on novella length) will be published as part
of an e-package. In this we’re reintroduced to that Native
American myth, The Wendigo, as the spirit lays siege to an out
of the way military base known only as ‘Brass Ear’, now manned
and protected by civilians. As the weather this time grows
colder and colder, there’s definitely more than just a chill
in the air. The
package, which comes out the same day as the hard copy
novella, also contains the non-fiction article, ‘Make Me
Frightful’ (a personal piece by the author in which he
encourages other would-be horror authors with several expert
tips) plus a short video, ‘The Haunted Page’, shot by
Simon.
These stories examine the darkest depths of cosmic
terror in their own different ways, but they also bring it
down to a human (often violent) level. Highly recommended for
any devout horror devotee, the novella is available in
paperback or signed limited edition lettered hardback
(complete with your very own piece of meteor rock), introduced
by respected horror writer Kealan Patrick Burke.
-From Uk author and noted reviewer Paul
Kane.
