Review: ‘Stephen King and Philosophy’ edited by Jacob Held

Stephen King and Philosophy edited by Jacob Held
Rowman & Littlefield (August 2016)
328 pages; $13.56 paperback; $9.99 e-book
Reviewed by Kevin Lucia

In a documentary filmed many years ago, bestselling author Peter Straub lamented the fact that, ever tongue-in-cheek and self-deprecating, Stephen King once referred to his own work as the equivalent of a “Big Mac and fries.” Straub considered it an unfortunate comparison which didn’t do King justice, that his work was far more substantial than mere intellectual junk food. Continue Reading

Review: We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone by Ronald Malfi

We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone by Ronald Malfi
JournalStone (November 2017)
299 pages; $29.95 hardcover; $16.67 paperback; $9.95 e-book
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington

We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone, the debut short story collection from Ronald Malfi, is a bit of a mixed bag. Although the twenty shorts included do make for an enjoyable read, I have to say I much prefer Malfi’s recent novels to the tales included here. Little Girls made my top ten list in 2015, The Night Parade did the same in 2016, and Bone White is my favorite read so far in 2017.Continue Reading

Revelations: Paul F. Olson

For the most part, this column travels in semi-chronological order, chronicling the writers I’ve discovered the last few years who’ve had an impact on me as a writer. I will, however, occasionally stray from this chronological path, simply because, well, I feel like it. This is one of those cases, as we discuss writer Paul F. Olson.Continue Reading

Review: Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire edited by Vince Liaguno

Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire edited by Vince Liaguno
Evil Jester Press (October 2017)
404 pages; $14.99 paperback; $4.99 e-book
Reviewed by Blu Gilliand

In his introduction, accomplished author and editor Vince Liaguno describes the theme of Unspeakable Horror 2: Abominations of Desire as “desire gone awry.” This theme winds through a strong slate of stories selected by Liaguno for his follow-up to the Bram Stoker Award-winning collection Unspeakable Horror (2008). As we often see in real life, these stories portray desire as a catalyst for more than pleasure; often, desire leads to unintended consequences, bad decisions, and terrible results.Continue Reading

Review: Teeth of the Sea by Tim Waggoner

Teeth of the Sea by Tim Waggoner
Severed Press (October 2017)
182 pages; $10.95 paperback; $4.99 e-book
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington

Teeth of the Sea begins from the point of view of some very large sea creatures and returns to that viewpoint periodically throughout, to great effect.

Most of the action takes place in and around the relatively new luxury resort, Elysium, far from anywhere, in the middle of the ocean. Ancient sea creatures return to the place where they’ve come every ten years or so to lay their eggs and they are terribly hungry.Continue Reading

Review: ‘Buffalo Soldier’ by Maurice Broaddus

Buffalo Soldier by Maurice Broaddus
Tor (April 2017)

144 pages, $9.57 paperback; $3.99 e-book
Reviewed by Anton Cancre

So, we’ve got Desmond Coke, right? He’s a former James Bondian spy (full of all the expected baddass, class and Dapper Dan style that goes with the title) who found out a little too much. There’s also this boy, Lij Tafari, stuck at the center of the “too much” I just mentioned. They strike off from their home to find a place where the boy can live a normal life in peace, without being the pawn of political figureheads.Continue Reading

The Summoning by Bentley Little: New Trade Paperback Edition Shipping In December!

We’re very pleased to report our new trade paperback edition of Bentley Little’s classic novel The Summoning will be published next month!

Darkness is descending on the small town of Rio Verde, Arizona. An evil older than time is rising from the desert, waiting for night to fall and a reign of terror to begin…

Brad Woods has performed a lot of autopsies, but never one like this. The body is purged of all blood.

Fear has made Sue Wing run from the darkened school and into night, a fear so powerful she can only name it using the Cantonese myths of her grandmother: Cup-hu-girngsi… the corspe who drinks blood.

Reporters like Rich Carter don’t believe in the supernatural, but all the signs are pointing to the same conclusion: a vampire is stalking the streets of Rio Verde.

No, Rich Carter doesn’t believe in such things. Not yet. But he will come to believe with a faith borne of horror after horror…

The Summoning

Read more or place your order on our website!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Follow Us On Instagram For Sneak Peeks and More!

Be sure to follow Cemetery Dance Publications, Richard Chizmar, and Brian James Freeman on Instagram if you’d like FREE “behind the scenes” access!

Right now, for example, the Cemetery Dance Publications account is posting exclusive interior artwork from our forthcoming special edition of Night Shift by Stephen King.

Be sure to follow all three accounts to see everything!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Review: ‘Black Bottle Man’ by Craig Russell

Black Bottle Man by Craig Russell
Great Plains Teen Fiction (February 2012)

176 pages, $9.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage

Black Bottle Man is a young-adult horror story based around the traditional “deal with the devil” plot. Russell, however, makes the plot seem fresh with his historical take. He also twists the traditional roles of the devil’s bargain into a unique novel which is sure to entertain audiences.Continue Reading

Review: ‘Cthulhu Blues: A SPECTRA Files Novel’ by Douglas Wynne

Cthulhu Blues: A SPECTRA Files Novel by Douglas Wynne
JournalStone (September 2017)
302 pages; $16.93 paperback; $4.95 e-book
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington

Cthulhu Blues is a fitting conclusion to the SPECTRA Files series which began in 2015 with Red Equinox and continued last year with Black January. I’m going to miss Becca Philips and Jason Brooks as they battle the cosmic horrors found in the Lovecraftian mythos. I’ll even miss Becca’s dog Django.Continue Reading

The Zombie Who Cried Human: A New Kind of Children’s Book by Brian James Freeman and Glenn Chadbourne!

We’re very pleased to report we’ll be publishing a value priced trade hardcover edition and a special signed & slipcased edition of The Zombie Who Cried Human by Brian James Freeman and Glenn Chadbourne, the first title in their new series of children’s books that take classic stories and retell them in a new way for kids and adults of all ages!

This beautiful oversized book will be printed in FULL COLOR and Entertainment Weekly has posted an exclusive “first look” at just a few of the interior paintings that you can see in this special image gallery.

Read more on our website and please reserve your copy while supplies last!

The Zombie Who Cried Human

Read more or place your order on our website!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Brian Keene’s History of Horror Fiction: Chapter One: Not the Man for the Job

Hi. My name is Brian Keene. You might remember me from my previous Cemetery Dance column, End of the Road. Or perhaps you know me from the many novels and comic books and short stories I’ve written—too many, if you ask some critics. Or maybe you know me from my popular podcast, The Horror Show with Brian Keene. Or, it’s possible you don’t know me at all—or know me only by reputation (and if it’s the latter, then don’t believe everything you read online). Regardless of how you ended up here, welcome to History of Horror Fiction, a new monthly column brought to you by Cemetery Dance.Continue Reading

Happy Halloween! Don’t Forget the HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL eBook Series!

Each volume in the Halloween Carnival series features five amazing authors presenting their very different styles of October chills and thrills — four short stories and at least one sizable novella per eBook!

Authors involved include Robert McCammon, Peter Straub, Kelley Armstrong, Glen Hirshberg, Lisa Morton, Al Sarrantonio, Ray Garton, and MANY others!

All five volumes can be downloaded NOW, so there’s no time to waste! Click on the covers below for ordering links for your favorite eBook stores!

Halloween Carnival One

Halloween Carnival Two

Halloween Carnival Three

Halloween Carnival Four

Halloween Carnival Five

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and enthusiasm!