Fantastic Tales Of Terror: History’s Darkest Secrets review, Tim Waggoner, Mercedes Yardley, Kevin J Anderson…

Reviewed by Paula Limbaugh

So what happens when you get a bunch of Fantastic authors writing Fantastic stories about some Fantastic characters/events that most of you are familiar with? Why… you get Fantastic Tales of Terror edited by Eugene Johnson. This Fantastic collection of stories releases just in time for Halloween and has something for everyone. There is, of course, the chilling tales of horror, you’ll also find the subtle tales of terror, some sci-fi horror, some delightfully weird tales, and who doesn’t welcome a bit of comedic horror. Check out the TOC, I’m sure there are a few authors you know…

• Introduction by Tony Todd
• “The Deep Delight of Blood” by Tim Waggoner
• “Unpretty Monster” by Mercedes Yardley
• “The Tell-Tale Mind” by Kevin J. Anderson
• “Topsy-Turvy” by Elizabeth Massie
• “Ray and the Martian” by Bev Vincent
• “The Girl with the Death Mask” by Stephanie M. Wytovich
• “On a Train Bound for Home” by Christopher Golden
• “The Custer Files” by Richard Chizmar
• “Red Moon” by Michael Paul Gonzalez
• “The Prince of Darkness and the Showgirl” by John Palisano  
• “The Secret Engravings” by Lisa Morton
• “Mutter” by Jess Landry
• “La Llorona” by Cullen Bunn
• “The London Encounter” by Vince Liaguno
• “Bubba Ho-Tep” by Joe R. Lansdale
• “Gorilla my Dreams” by Jonathan Maberry
• “Articles of Teleforce” by Michael Bailey
• “Sic Olim Tyrannis” by David Wellington
• “The Washingtonians” by Bentley Little
• “Scent of Flesh” by Jessica Marie Baumgartner
• “Rotoscoping Toodies” by Mort Castle
• “Lone Wolves” by Paul Moore
• “The Great Stone Face vs. the Gargoyles” by Jeff Strand
• “The Return of the Thin White Duke” by Neil Gaiman

With only 4 reprints the rest of the stories are all original to this collection, each with their own unique take on an alternate version of stories you thought you knew!

What if, Bela Lugosi not only played a vampire on stage he was one. Or, how about Edgar Allan Poe, where exactly did he get his ideas for his macabre tales? Then there’s the Titanic, imagine if you will, that it wasn’t an iceberg the unsinkable ship hit, oh no, it was something much more terrifying that brought the mighty ocean liner down. Oh, there are so many imaginative stories here, you just have to get this book! Luke Spooner also works his magic with his artwork that accompanies these tales of fantasy.

So, no tricks just plenty of treats! Pick up your copy HERE!!

5/5