Assorted Malignancies by Dale W. Glaser
LVP Publishing (June 2023)
234 pages; $20 paperback; $5.99 e-book
Reviewed by Joshua Gage
Dale W. Glaser is a lifelong collector, re-teller and occasional inventor of fantasy tales. His lifelong love of written words has manifested as a devotion to the English language almost exclusively, which is probably just as well because if he were to master any of the dead tongues that conceal ancient mysteries and invoke malevolent forces, we’d all be in trouble. He currently lives in Virginia with his wife, their three children, and a rotating roster of pets. Six is a good estimate of how many animals cohabit with the family at any given time. His first book, Assorted Malignancies¸ was recently published and is available.
Glaser is certainly a unique storyteller, and uses interesting techniques to create his tales. For example, the story “The Demon Wrestler” is written in second person, almost as a series of instructions. The ending is clever and satisfying, but the way the story is told and the way the instructions are laid out to reveal just enough to keep the reader anxious is what really makes it a standout.
The other thing Glaser tends to be good at is the minimal. There are a handful of stories — “Swag,” “Mothers and Daughters” and others — that are only a page or so in length, some only a paragraph. These blips of microfiction tucked between longer works not only show off Glaser’s skills as a writer, but serve as fun palate cleansers between heavier stories —nnot in a way that comes across as silly or saccharine, but well within the spirit of the collection.
To be sure, Glaser isn’t relying solely on cleverness. There are plenty of traditional stories in this collection, like “Another Night at Paradise,” that tap into the darker things that people do. In this case, two hitmen for the mob are spending a night relaxing at a strip club when things begin to get odd. Glaser’s pacing is tight, and the story satisfying in its conclusion. This is what readers should expect from all the stories in this collection.
Assorted Malignancies is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a collection of short stories and occasional poetry from an author who has been making the rounds for a while. It’s a dark collection, one based in myth and fantasy, but there are plenty of weird and other stories as well. It is a miscellany of various horror stories, but they’re all really well written and engaging. Horror fans will not be disappointed by this collection, and will comfortably enjoy this entertaining grab bag of dark fiction.
