Scan barcode
theesotericcamel's review
4.0
A very impressive debut from Christopher Slatsky in the literary vein of Weird Fiction. There is noticeable influence from the modern masters like Thomas Ligotti, Michael Cisco, and Jeff Vandermeer. This is not to say that Slatsky is derivative. Far from it. The plots and themes evoked in his stories are indeed very original, and the conclusions to the stories were almost always unexpected (at least for me). It was also apparent to me from the details provided in the stories that Slatsky is either very erudite, or did a lot of research for his stories to make them more believable... I'm inclined to think it is actually a combination of both possibilities. Be warned though, do not go into this collection expecting monsters and eldritch horrors. Although these may be present in some of the stories, the horror of the collection is more cerebral and abstract. Even when creatures are present, such as in the stories "An Infestsation of Stars"or "A Plague of Naked Movie Stars" the horror lies beyond the creatures themselves and in what these creatures imply through their existence. My favourite stories were the ones where a mundane concept became something to fear. See for example "No One is Sleeping in this World" where the very architecture of an abandoned warehouse becomes something cosmic and living, or "Film Maudit" where a notorious and forbidden film becomes a source of dread. Both of these ideas have been treated by other writers before, but in Slatsky's hands they are given an existential and cerebral sheen. I would compare them to a David Cronenberg film, in that on the surface they seem like mere entertainment. However, by digging deeper in the story one discovers recondite opinions and observations of our every day life, albeit distorted and warped.
brian_garbage's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
smalefowles's review
3.0
I'm torn about rating this book, but I think I have to round down to three stars. There were some unique ideas here, and I just appreciated the variety of settings and sheer imagination. There was also some good writing, but I kept running into sentences that felt really clunky. It wasn't even the more excessive vocabulary moments, but just small irritations that kept catching at the edge of my mind.
The first story "Loveliness Like a Shadow" was a compelling weird tale about a lonely woman's growing confusion. "An Infestation of Stars" felt a little like being told about a story rather than reading a story, but I liked the story, if that makes sense. "No One Is Sleeping in This World" is obviously set in LA, and I enjoyed it too. Honestly, if I think back on the idea of each story, I want to give this book more stars, but I wanted to enjoy the sentences more.
I think it might be a first book, though, and given the originality, I'd definitely read another by this writer.
The first story "Loveliness Like a Shadow" was a compelling weird tale about a lonely woman's growing confusion. "An Infestation of Stars" felt a little like being told about a story rather than reading a story, but I liked the story, if that makes sense. "No One Is Sleeping in This World" is obviously set in LA, and I enjoyed it too. Honestly, if I think back on the idea of each story, I want to give this book more stars, but I wanted to enjoy the sentences more.
I think it might be a first book, though, and given the originality, I'd definitely read another by this writer.
electricbrain's review
3.0
TL;DR – very vivid, atmospheric, and carefully crafted but makes very little sense.
Also, I may just not like weird fiction.
Okay, I am confused about how to rate this book because it seems unfair to take a weird fiction book and demand it to make sense. And still, most of the time it felt like the stories had too much left out, they made too little sense still. They didn't manage to push the right buttons because I couldn't fathom what the hell had happened.
The author did a remarkable job researching different subjects and building the atmosphere. The writing is so good it makes me jealous. I am astonished by the variety of topics in these stories and how deeply they were researched. If I were reading about a desert, I felt like I was in one, if I was reading about a cockfight, I was there, almost smelling blood. It's so realistic!.. And the author really puts you in the mind of these people he's describing – an alcoholic man, dealing with the death of his sadistic father, a b-rate horror movies fan, trying to escape his petty life. It all felt so real – that's a talent.
And because of that, it felt even more disappointing that these stories just ended up in all sorts of weird and ambiguous ways. Maybe that's the beauty of the genre I am not appreciating. But then some of these stories really ended and made sense. And I was thankful for it. The others had too much left out and it ruined the experience. Many great opportunities to hit the character with the thing they hate/are afraid of/trying to escape and to make a huge point were missed.
If you don't mind reading an amazing story and then have a "so that was it?" feeling at the end of it, you are going to love this book.
Also, I may just not like weird fiction.
Okay, I am confused about how to rate this book because it seems unfair to take a weird fiction book and demand it to make sense. And still, most of the time it felt like the stories had too much left out, they made too little sense still. They didn't manage to push the right buttons because I couldn't fathom what the hell had happened.
The author did a remarkable job researching different subjects and building the atmosphere. The writing is so good it makes me jealous. I am astonished by the variety of topics in these stories and how deeply they were researched. If I were reading about a desert, I felt like I was in one, if I was reading about a cockfight, I was there, almost smelling blood. It's so realistic!.. And the author really puts you in the mind of these people he's describing – an alcoholic man, dealing with the death of his sadistic father, a b-rate horror movies fan, trying to escape his petty life. It all felt so real – that's a talent.
And because of that, it felt even more disappointing that these stories just ended up in all sorts of weird and ambiguous ways. Maybe that's the beauty of the genre I am not appreciating. But then some of these stories really ended and made sense. And I was thankful for it. The others had too much left out and it ruined the experience. Many great opportunities to hit the character with the thing they hate/are afraid of/trying to escape and to make a huge point were missed.
If you don't mind reading an amazing story and then have a "so that was it?" feeling at the end of it, you are going to love this book.
jetpackdracula's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death and Child abuse
Minor: Racism, Ableism, Death of parent, and Child abuse
wpsmith17's review
4.0
I'm new to this author but I've already picked up his next story collection. This was very good, very atmospheric, and very tense in a way that gave me visceral chills. Plus, he's just a very effective and smart horror writer combining philosophy, archaeology, and myth to bring the most out of a story. Definitely left me impressed.
My favorites were "No One is Sleeping in this World," "Making Snakes," "The Ocean is Eating Our Graves," "This Fragmented Body," "Tellurian Facade," "A Plague of Naked Movie Stars," and "Alectryomancer."
My favorites were "No One is Sleeping in this World," "Making Snakes," "The Ocean is Eating Our Graves," "This Fragmented Body," "Tellurian Facade," "A Plague of Naked Movie Stars," and "Alectryomancer."
aksel_dadswell's review
5.0
I was a Slatsky virgin until I read this collection, and now I'm in love. This has got to be one of the best collections of weird fiction (of ANY fiction) I've read, ever, let alone this year. There's such a wide variety of weirdnes and horror on display here I can't begin to encompass the terror and joy of experiencing Slatsky's perfectly calibrated words.
Okay, so, favourites. Really all thirteen of these stories are amazing, but a few stood out further than the others, left a burning impression in my brain with their wonderful, terrifying imagery.
"Corporautolysis" left me breathless with dread and practically dry-retching. It's a little reminiscent of Thomas Ligotti's work but it stands so well as its own entity with its increasing sense of unease, of reality sloughing away to reveal the squishy truth of the protagonist's workplace. And basically anything involving fungus and horror has me at fruiting bodies.
"No One is Sleeping in This World" is one of the creepiest, coolest, most original stories I've read. Its use of terror via the architecture and structure of cities, and the implications this has for the nature of reality and the universe, is nothing short of genius. I felt like I needed a scalding hot shower after reading this story, and that's about the highest compliments I can give a piece of writing.
Film Maudit is a beautiful, squelchy love letter to horror films and old cinemas, and bears what I suppose is now Slatsky's trademark of transforming the mundane into the deeply unpleasant.
Anyway, stop reading this sycophantic review and go find a copy of this collection, and don't stop reading it until you've finished. An incredible debut collection from a writer whose next work I'll be eagerly awaiting.
Okay, so, favourites. Really all thirteen of these stories are amazing, but a few stood out further than the others, left a burning impression in my brain with their wonderful, terrifying imagery.
"Corporautolysis" left me breathless with dread and practically dry-retching. It's a little reminiscent of Thomas Ligotti's work but it stands so well as its own entity with its increasing sense of unease, of reality sloughing away to reveal the squishy truth of the protagonist's workplace. And basically anything involving fungus and horror has me at fruiting bodies.
"No One is Sleeping in This World" is one of the creepiest, coolest, most original stories I've read. Its use of terror via the architecture and structure of cities, and the implications this has for the nature of reality and the universe, is nothing short of genius. I felt like I needed a scalding hot shower after reading this story, and that's about the highest compliments I can give a piece of writing.
Film Maudit is a beautiful, squelchy love letter to horror films and old cinemas, and bears what I suppose is now Slatsky's trademark of transforming the mundane into the deeply unpleasant.
Anyway, stop reading this sycophantic review and go find a copy of this collection, and don't stop reading it until you've finished. An incredible debut collection from a writer whose next work I'll be eagerly awaiting.
leopoldbloom's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
More...