Slow Burn by Mike Allen
Mythic Delirium Books (July 16, 2024)
Reviewed by Joshua Gage
As Christina Sng writes in the introduction to this collection, “Mike Allen is synonymous with the mysterious and the macabre.” He’s been a Nebula, Shirley Jackson, and World Fantasy Award finalist. He’s won three Rhyslings from the Science Fiction Poetry Association. He’s edited a number of award-winning books and anthologies. It’s no surprise, therefore, that his newest collection, Slow Burn, is yet another incredible read by an incredible horror author and editor. This collection of horror and dark fantasy poetry and short fiction needs to be on the shelf of any horror reader.
What makes Slow Burn stand out among Mike Allen’s other work is the range of voices Allen is able to demonstrate throughout this collection. A lot of this comes through his various collaborative pieces, which are scattered throughout. Whether it’s composing flash fiction with Ian Watson or an experimental, three-voice performance piece with W. Gregory Stewart, Allen displays his talent for not just collaboration but also for matching the distinct voices of his collaborators. At no point in reading any of the joint pieces in this collection can one determine where one author stops and the other starts, which makes for a successful and seamless read.
That being said, Allen leaves plenty of room to showcase his own talents. Whether it’s writing longer poems like “The Strip Search” or shorter, tighter poems like “The Sacrifices,” Allen’s poetic talents are on full display here. Furthermore, his fiction is equally stellar, picking up where his last two collections (Unseaming and Aftermath of an Industrial Accident) left off. There are stories set in Allen’s nightmare worlds that cross over or prequel stories in other collections, so readers familiar with Allen’s other works will be more than comfortable. However, for readers who haven’t experienced Allen, there’s plenty here to entice you into exploring more. His stories are fresh and visceral, so horror readers are in for one hell of a ride!
Mike Allen is a master of horror, dark fantasy, and dark science fiction. His accolades and publishing credits are legion, and the poems and stories in Slow Burn prove, once again, that they are not without merit. This is a strikingly dark collection of short stories and poetry, written both in collaboration with some of the major players in horror as well as on their own, so readers don’t only get to sample Allen’s private nightmares, but those of his close friends. If you have read any Mike Allen, you already know that you will want to buy this book and have it on your shelf. If you haven’t read any Mike Allen, this is certainly a solid place to start your addiction, as any reader of horror will enjoy this collection immensely.
