The Rack: Stories Inspired by Vintage Horror Paperbacks edited by Tom Deady
Thomas E. Deady (September 2024)
Reviewed by Dave Simms
Who in their right minds (okay, readers of a certain age) hasn’t been excited to walk into a drug store or supermarket to find THE rack. That spinning metal beast of wonder that held so many amazing covers; some cheesy, some over the top, and others that make your head spin. It always signaled that fun times were on the way as we turned and swiveled and reached behind the book in front to find an even better book behind it. Many found it more exciting than heading to the Waldenbooks or Borders Books (different eras, but same good times). The thrill of discovering a frightening story with cool cover prompted so many of us to ride our bikes, walk, or drive on over on the day when we knew the manager would break open the new stock. Finding treasures behind that first book was even better, possibly hid by another horror fan to buy at a later time.
The Rack harkens back to those awesome times and editor Tom Deady absolutely killed it here. He brought together twenty fine writers here and there’s not a bad tale in the bunch. Of course, everyone will have favorites, especially based on whether they prefer quiet to humorous to gothic to gory — and The Rack has everything covered. As with all solid anthologies, I like to read through at least twice. Each time, I decided a different story is a favorite — until another reaches up and grabs me to remind me how good the story was.
Of course, that King guy is in here with “The Raft,” but there are stories even better than that one.
Automatic rereads include the stellar talents of Gwendolyn Kiste, Richard Chizmar, and Ron Malfi, but other superstars are rising. Those will be the focus here as the aforementioned three are almost incapable of writing a bad story.
Rebecca Rowland outright kills it with “Better By You, Better By Me,” (a nod to the controversial Judas Priest song) is stunning in its simplicity (or deception) of a man facing his demons. It reeks of The Twilight Zone, in all the best ways, and gave me a shudder, something not easy to do these days. Rowland is easily one of the best short story writers today.
Christa Carmen enters the fray with “Blood of My Blood,” a gothic tale that highlights her love of the subgenre, which she helped earn her a Stoker last year. The story could have been trite or tired in lesser hands but it harkens back to Poe or McCammon.
Mercedes Yardley’s “I Am A House Demanding To Be Haunted” is a masterpiece of haunted house literature. It whispers of Shirley Jackson and Peter Straub yet with a modern sensibility that entrances. The house entices the girl who lives inside in a way that makes utter sense. It almost makes living in such a house palatable. I’m sure some would love to.
Highly recommended reading, and not just for nostalgic reasons. We need the Rack back!
Actually, my local grocery STILL has a rack. Of course there’s not much there beyond romances and assaults of massive gothic angst, but whenever I’m in the grocery store I still give the rack a once-around spin.