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weaselweader's review
3.0
Good but not quite as “Canadian”
NORTHERN FRIGHTS 5 is the fifth installment in a now long-running series of anthologies of Canadian horror shorts by Canadian authors, both new and well-established. When I reviewed NORTHERN FRIGHTS 2, several years ago, I wrote:
“Great story-telling that builds on a uniquely Canadian understanding of our own character! Northern Frights 2 is a short, entertaining collection of stories that beautifully covers the entire spectrum of emotions that well written horror and dark fantasy can elicit. These stories are moody, thought-provoking, frightening, darkly humorous and just plain old creepy! To my pleasure, these Canadian stories were also written in that distinct, uniquely Canadian flavour with a quiet and unerringly accurate pride of place and setting.”
A review for NORTHERN FRIGHTS 5 might be almost the same … just less so! Not quite as creepy, not quite as moody and not quite as thought-provoking. Most notably that unique Canadian flavor and place setting panache is in particularly short supply in this volume. It’s good but it’s just not as good. Here’s hoping Mr Hutchison will find a way to pull up his Sorels for number 6.
Paul Weiss
NORTHERN FRIGHTS 5 is the fifth installment in a now long-running series of anthologies of Canadian horror shorts by Canadian authors, both new and well-established. When I reviewed NORTHERN FRIGHTS 2, several years ago, I wrote:
“Great story-telling that builds on a uniquely Canadian understanding of our own character! Northern Frights 2 is a short, entertaining collection of stories that beautifully covers the entire spectrum of emotions that well written horror and dark fantasy can elicit. These stories are moody, thought-provoking, frightening, darkly humorous and just plain old creepy! To my pleasure, these Canadian stories were also written in that distinct, uniquely Canadian flavour with a quiet and unerringly accurate pride of place and setting.”
A review for NORTHERN FRIGHTS 5 might be almost the same … just less so! Not quite as creepy, not quite as moody and not quite as thought-provoking. Most notably that unique Canadian flavor and place setting panache is in particularly short supply in this volume. It’s good but it’s just not as good. Here’s hoping Mr Hutchison will find a way to pull up his Sorels for number 6.
Paul Weiss
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