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reads_vicariously's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re a fan of the survival horror sub-genre then this book is definitely for you! But even if you’re just a fan of horror in general I guarantee you’ll find things you like here.
Editor Aric Sundquist (also owner of the publisher Dark Peninsula Press) writes in the introduction how he loved the glory days of survival horror video games and was wondering if the sub-genre would translate well to story form. Well, I’m happy to report it very much does!
There are twelve stories here, all fairly different in terms of plot and horrors (aliens, sentient robots, monsters, murderers, the apocalypse, etc). Honestly I don’t think I rated any story less than four stars, but here are some stand outs for me:
⭐️”Luminescence” by Scotty Milder (@scottypotty2317)
A few months into a sea monster apocalypse; beautifully descriptive, unnerving, and gory cosmic-type horror
⭐️”Puzzled Pieces, Locked-in Places” by Amelia Gorman
A woman trapped alone in a blizzard fights for survival against beings made of ice and light; terrifying in its imagery and incomprehensibility
⭐️”Rhapsody in Flesh” by Maggie Slater
A woman is trapped in the sleeping quarters of a space station while a ghastly, multi-limbed alien tries to get in; traces of The Thing
⭐️”Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J Guignard (@eric_j._guignard)
Three friends cross the wrong old lady in the remote nighttime woods; a fast-paced and vicious possession story
⭐️”The Artist and the Muse” by Jay Wilburn (@amongthezombies)
In a post-apocalyptic setting, a mysterious “artist” is leaving “gifts” for a woman in the form of horrifically mutilated (and often intertwined) human and animal bodies; like the most disturbing of Clive Barker tales, it’s a story so vividly unsettling you just have to read it yourself to fully understand
From looking at the number of reviews online I can tell this book is grossly underrated and unread by many, and I’m hoping this changes over time. Seriously, check it out! There are stories here that will haunt me for years to come
Editor Aric Sundquist (also owner of the publisher Dark Peninsula Press) writes in the introduction how he loved the glory days of survival horror video games and was wondering if the sub-genre would translate well to story form. Well, I’m happy to report it very much does!
There are twelve stories here, all fairly different in terms of plot and horrors (aliens, sentient robots, monsters, murderers, the apocalypse, etc). Honestly I don’t think I rated any story less than four stars, but here are some stand outs for me:
⭐️”Luminescence” by Scotty Milder (@scottypotty2317)
A few months into a sea monster apocalypse; beautifully descriptive, unnerving, and gory cosmic-type horror
⭐️”Puzzled Pieces, Locked-in Places” by Amelia Gorman
A woman trapped alone in a blizzard fights for survival against beings made of ice and light; terrifying in its imagery and incomprehensibility
⭐️”Rhapsody in Flesh” by Maggie Slater
A woman is trapped in the sleeping quarters of a space station while a ghastly, multi-limbed alien tries to get in; traces of The Thing
⭐️”Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J Guignard (@eric_j._guignard)
Three friends cross the wrong old lady in the remote nighttime woods; a fast-paced and vicious possession story
⭐️”The Artist and the Muse” by Jay Wilburn (@amongthezombies)
In a post-apocalyptic setting, a mysterious “artist” is leaving “gifts” for a woman in the form of horrifically mutilated (and often intertwined) human and animal bodies; like the most disturbing of Clive Barker tales, it’s a story so vividly unsettling you just have to read it yourself to fully understand
From looking at the number of reviews online I can tell this book is grossly underrated and unread by many, and I’m hoping this changes over time. Seriously, check it out! There are stories here that will haunt me for years to come
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Negative Space, from Dark Peninsula Press is an anthology of survival horror. What you ask, is survival horror? Well, it’s a term coined from ps1 era games such as resident evil. It’s about atmosphere, dread, scavenging supplies. Hoping to hell that last bullet takes down that creature.
If the video game inspiration doesn’t sell you, that’s fine. I’ve read the book, I can tell you the stories stand on their own. They embody what survival horror is about and make it their own on these pages. Hell, I’m sure you’ve read survival horror without realizing that’s what you read.
I really enjoyed this collection and there wasn’t much here in the way I could have done without. All of the stories did what they set out to do, and did it quite well. A few of my favorite here were
Luminescence by Scott Milder
The Collectors by Michelle Tang
It’s inside by S.R. Miller
Curiosity’s Child by Jude Reid
Midnight, off Arkansas River Trail by Eric J. Guignard
This is one of the better collections I’ve read this year. I had a good time with it. There are some good scares, good monsters and well done action sequences within the pages. I’m looking forward to seeing what Dark Peninsula does next.
If the video game inspiration doesn’t sell you, that’s fine. I’ve read the book, I can tell you the stories stand on their own. They embody what survival horror is about and make it their own on these pages. Hell, I’m sure you’ve read survival horror without realizing that’s what you read.
I really enjoyed this collection and there wasn’t much here in the way I could have done without. All of the stories did what they set out to do, and did it quite well. A few of my favorite here were
Luminescence by Scott Milder
The Collectors by Michelle Tang
It’s inside by S.R. Miller
Curiosity’s Child by Jude Reid
Midnight, off Arkansas River Trail by Eric J. Guignard
This is one of the better collections I’ve read this year. I had a good time with it. There are some good scares, good monsters and well done action sequences within the pages. I’m looking forward to seeing what Dark Peninsula does next.
readingvicariously's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re a fan of the survival horror sub-genre then this book is definitely for you! But even if you’re just a fan of horror in general I guarantee you’ll find things you like here.
Editor Aric Sundquist (also owner of the publisher Dark Peninsula Press) writes in the introduction how he loved the glory days of survival horror video games and was wondering if the sub-genre would translate well to story form. Well, I’m happy to report it very much does!
There are twelve stories here, all fairly different in terms of plot and horrors (aliens, sentient robots, monsters, murderers, the apocalypse, etc). Honestly I don’t think I rated any story less than four stars, but here are some stand outs for me:
⭐️”Luminescence” by Scotty Milder (@scottypotty2317)
A few months into a sea monster apocalypse; beautifully descriptive, unnerving, and gory cosmic-type horror
⭐️”Puzzled Pieces, Locked-in Places” by Amelia Gorman
A woman trapped alone in a blizzard fights for survival against beings made of ice and light; terrifying in its imagery and incomprehensibility
⭐️”Rhapsody in Flesh” by Maggie Slater
A woman is trapped in the sleeping quarters of a space station while a ghastly, multi-limbed alien tries to get in; traces of The Thing
⭐️”Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J Guignard (@eric_j._guignard)
Three friends cross the wrong old lady in the remote nighttime woods; a fast-paced and vicious possession story
⭐️”The Artist and the Muse” by Jay Wilburn (@amongthezombies)
In a post-apocalyptic setting, a mysterious “artist” is leaving “gifts” for a woman in the form of horrifically mutilated (and often intertwined) human and animal bodies; like the most disturbing of Clive Barker tales, it’s a story so vividly unsettling you just have to read it yourself to fully understand
From looking at the number of reviews online I can tell this book is grossly underrated and unread by many, and I’m hoping this changes over time. Seriously, check it out! There are stories here that will haunt me for years to come
Editor Aric Sundquist (also owner of the publisher Dark Peninsula Press) writes in the introduction how he loved the glory days of survival horror video games and was wondering if the sub-genre would translate well to story form. Well, I’m happy to report it very much does!
There are twelve stories here, all fairly different in terms of plot and horrors (aliens, sentient robots, monsters, murderers, the apocalypse, etc). Honestly I don’t think I rated any story less than four stars, but here are some stand outs for me:
⭐️”Luminescence” by Scotty Milder (@scottypotty2317)
A few months into a sea monster apocalypse; beautifully descriptive, unnerving, and gory cosmic-type horror
⭐️”Puzzled Pieces, Locked-in Places” by Amelia Gorman
A woman trapped alone in a blizzard fights for survival against beings made of ice and light; terrifying in its imagery and incomprehensibility
⭐️”Rhapsody in Flesh” by Maggie Slater
A woman is trapped in the sleeping quarters of a space station while a ghastly, multi-limbed alien tries to get in; traces of The Thing
⭐️”Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J Guignard (@eric_j._guignard)
Three friends cross the wrong old lady in the remote nighttime woods; a fast-paced and vicious possession story
⭐️”The Artist and the Muse” by Jay Wilburn (@amongthezombies)
In a post-apocalyptic setting, a mysterious “artist” is leaving “gifts” for a woman in the form of horrifically mutilated (and often intertwined) human and animal bodies; like the most disturbing of Clive Barker tales, it’s a story so vividly unsettling you just have to read it yourself to fully understand
From looking at the number of reviews online I can tell this book is grossly underrated and unread by many, and I’m hoping this changes over time. Seriously, check it out! There are stories here that will haunt me for years to come
ericarobyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Negative Space: An Anthology of Survival Horror edited by Aric Sundquist is a collection of twelve short tales that will make you extra grateful for the comforts and safety of home that surround you while you read through these terrifying worlds.
The organization of the tales within the collection itself was perfect. I loved that the introduction was pleasant and lighthearted and then first tale has a bit of morbid humor mixed with the darkness and terror to ease us into things. But take a breath there! After that, it’s just full blown terror.
Each story in Negative Space was absolutely horrific! I mean, just thinking about being in a survival situation is scary enough, but then add in the extra layers that appear here within these stories it just bonkers!
Per usual, here are my notes about each story included in this section:
Welcome to Survival Horror by Aric Sundquist
I love when forwards get personal! This one, written by Aric, gives readers a fun glimpse into his childhood, some history about the genre, then leaves us with this:
For the rest of you… here’s your one bullet. Let’s make a run for it. Welcome to survival horror.
Luminescence by Scotty Milder – Five Stars
In a world where the ocean is no longer safe, two men sit on a beach, watching a boat drift in. They’re expecting the worst, and sure enough, things start to go poorly for the people on the boat as the cuttlefish begin to attack.
I love water related horror so much! This story had such an awesome blend of violence and terror combined with the humor and lightheartedness of making the best of a bad situation. I loved how the two storylines jumped around so we got bits and pieces of what was going on and couple slowly work it all together.
The Collectors by Michelle Tang – Five Stars
When a woman wakes up with no memory of what happens of where she is, the scene is already tense. But just wait to see what’s actually going on here…
This story is terrifying! I kept having to tell myself to breathe while reading. The descriptions of these creatures is horrific. And being stuck alone, in the dark with these things? No thank you.
Puzzled Pieces, Lock-In Places by Amelia Gorman – Five Stars
A woman is offered a job where she will stay isolated in a cabin on an island in the middle of a lake in order to keep watch on a property. Unafraid of being alone, she is thrilled for the rest and relaxation. But as the snow falls and the wind picks up, she’s about to learn she’s not alone on the island.
This one started off so lighthearted! It sounded like a nice set up, but of course it was too good to be true. Once the action starts, it’s a sprint to the end!
It’s Inside by S. R. Miller – Five Stars
When a woman goes into an abandoned mine to try to figure out what happened to her brother, she finds his body along with a message that if she finds him, it’s probably too late…
I love tales set in mines! It’s already so claustrophobia inducing, but then add in the stress of these creatures?! Yikes!
Curiosity’s Child by Jude Reid – Four Stars
When a woman travels to visit a friend, there’s an accident. Luckily she walks away. As she goes deeper into the space station, she sees the robots carrying out various tasks. When she sees the trash compactors at work, she realizes that something is very wrong here.
This tale is so unsettling! I was so nervous at every turn, expecting the worst. Sometimes that was the case, sometimes it wasn’t. I could never have guessed with this one!
Rhapsody In Flesh Minor by Maggie Slater – Four Stars
Locked in a small room of a space station, this individual is being watched by a creature outside the walls. They need to get to another pod soon, but can they do it without the beast hearing?
This one was quick and so suspenseful!
Sacs by J. C. Martínez – Four Stars
Fleeing from one bad situation, this family runs right into the open doors of a haunted house. And of course, they’re about to learn why it’s rumored to be haunted.
This tale was very unsettling. Picturing the corpse they found gave me goosebumps. These poor people!
Black Tongue by Richard Beauchamp – Three Stars
Sent out to eliminate whoever or whatever was responsible for kidnapping local residents, this man only finds violence and terror out in the woods where he works to simply survive the cold. But then when he begins to find the remains, he knows that he and his dog are not alone out there.
Is there anything more chill-inducing than a horror tale set in the woods during the winter? As if the fear of freezing to death or getting snowed in to starve wasn’t bad enough, once the creatures come out, things really get out of hand.
The Whale Hunts by P. L. McMillan – Three Stars
A crew of inmates have been sent out on a boat to hunt at night. They’re hunting a whale that they believe is responsible for ruining part of the sea. They believe they are prepared to take the creature down, but will they succeed?
This story paints such a vivid picture! Just imagining the black waters lining up with the regular ocean was a stark contrast. Then add in the creature? Yikes!
Six Weeks by M. J. Mars – Five Stars
When a cryptid obsessed young woman says she doesn’t like what she’s seeing reported, she’s brushed aside. Soon after, our main character learns that he should have believed her. The area is taken over by strange creatures that are hunting them. When all his friends are killed, one young man has to find a way to deter the creatures so he can survive.
I loved this one so much! As the creatures were sensitive to sound it had a bit of a A Quiet Place/Bird Box vibe to it, but with other elements that made it unique. I was so nervous throughout and kept hoping for the best!
Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail by Eric J. Guignard – Five Stars
When three men driving in the middle of no where suddenly hit and old woman, they realize no one is around to witness the accident and immediately try to cover it up. But this woman isn’t down for the count just yet…
Oh my goodness! This one starts with such a stomach turning event! While this one jumps back and forth between the accident and the current situation, it was such a suspenseful and stressful read! Of course I loved it!
The Artist and the Muse by Jay Wilburn – Four Stars
PHEW this one will paint quite the picture in readers minds!
My Final Thoughts on Negative Space: An Anthology of Survival Horror
This is a must read for horror fans! These stories are all so unique, action-packed, and absolutely chilling. Go pick this one up today!
scifiandscary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Our full review will be live on Sci-Fi ^ Scary at 6:30 on 4/5.
An interesting collection aimed at those who loved the 90s/early 2000s survival horror games, NEGATIVE SPACE.
Our favorite stories were: The Collectors, It's Inside, and Curiosity's Child.
An interesting collection aimed at those who loved the 90s/early 2000s survival horror games, NEGATIVE SPACE.
Our favorite stories were: The Collectors, It's Inside, and Curiosity's Child.
findingmontauk1's review against another edition
4.0
Negative Space is an anthology of survival horror inspired by video games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Each story has drops you right in the middle of the horror as if you are a character waking up in one of these iconic games. However, you do not have to be a fan of these video games, or games at all, to enjoy or understand the stories in this anthology. Each story possesses its own gripping quality and haunting twist or morose ending. The stories presented here are solid and there is not one that I skimmed or wanted to DNF (you never know when it comes to anthologies or collections). These pages are loaded with suspense, action, monsters, foreboding, and straight up dark terror.
My favorites include "The Collectors," "It's Inside," "Rhapsody In Flesh Minor," and "The Whale Hunts."
Thanks to the editor/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
My favorites include "The Collectors," "It's Inside," "Rhapsody In Flesh Minor," and "The Whale Hunts."
Thanks to the editor/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Peninsula Press greets the indie horror scene with an anthology of survival horror. If, like me, you have a vague idea of what that could mean, but aren’t quite sure what you’re getting yourself into, editor Aric Sundquist pens a not-to-be-missed introduction on the subject. This introduction details how the main inspiration is taken from video games such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil, to name just a couple, the themes are present throughout the history of horror literature and film. For those still on the fence, I’ll paraphrase Sundquist. Survival horror usually focuses on the story’s protagonist in an unknown environment facing down an unfamiliar evil, typically making use of elements in their environment.
The isolation necessary for stories of survival horror to work is evident on the cover artwork, done by Mikio Murakami, and it really sets the tone for what you’re about to read. This anthology could’ve contained a myriad of stories that were so similar in tone or substance that the reader taps out a little ways in. Sundquist did a stellar job of curating the table of contents, giving the reader a variety of settings, monsters, types of protagonists, and even varying story lengths to keep the reader coming back for more.
Some stories work well, others didn’t ring the bell for me, so allow me to share some favorites I discovered in Negative Space:
“Luminescence” by Scotty Milder - Kudos to this one for two reasons. Allowing this story to bat leadoff assures the reader that this collection is going to contain the unexpected. Reason number two - I have never before, nor do I ever expect to again, read a story where the main antagonists are cuttlefish.
“The Collectors” by Michelle Tang - I’m not a big video game person, but I felt as though this story really captured the aesthetic the book was going for. It’s written in a way that feels like you’re trailing just behind the character as they advance down dark hallways, unsure of what might jump out at them from around the next corner.
“Black Tongue” by Richard Beauchamp - I’ve mentioned before that this anthology does a good job of splitting up familiar tropes. That being said, survival horror leaves itself open to a lot of zombie stories. This was my personal favorite in the bunch, incorporating elements of Native American lore and ritual magic.
“The Whale Hunts” by P.L. McMillan - I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect to like this one. Maybe it’s the distant future, sci-fi elements, but either way, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this cosmic version of Moby Dick.
“Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J. Guignard - I’m a sucker for that whole idea of some kind of entity jumping from body to body, so the characters are never entirely sure who to trust and who not to. Going the length of the story not sure if you’re going to have to turn on a friend, or have them turn on you is unsettling at best, and makes for great tension. Add Guignard’s dialogue to the mix, and I’m sold.
I’m loving the way Dark Peninsula seems to be putting their focus on quality themed anthologies, one at a time in order to produce the best possible product for horror readers. The next offering, though no release date is available yet, will be Violent Vixens: An Homage to Grindhouse Horror. The care that went into the packaging and contents and curation of Negative Space tells me this is a press whose anthologies will need a home on my shelf.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
The isolation necessary for stories of survival horror to work is evident on the cover artwork, done by Mikio Murakami, and it really sets the tone for what you’re about to read. This anthology could’ve contained a myriad of stories that were so similar in tone or substance that the reader taps out a little ways in. Sundquist did a stellar job of curating the table of contents, giving the reader a variety of settings, monsters, types of protagonists, and even varying story lengths to keep the reader coming back for more.
Some stories work well, others didn’t ring the bell for me, so allow me to share some favorites I discovered in Negative Space:
“Luminescence” by Scotty Milder - Kudos to this one for two reasons. Allowing this story to bat leadoff assures the reader that this collection is going to contain the unexpected. Reason number two - I have never before, nor do I ever expect to again, read a story where the main antagonists are cuttlefish.
“The Collectors” by Michelle Tang - I’m not a big video game person, but I felt as though this story really captured the aesthetic the book was going for. It’s written in a way that feels like you’re trailing just behind the character as they advance down dark hallways, unsure of what might jump out at them from around the next corner.
“Black Tongue” by Richard Beauchamp - I’ve mentioned before that this anthology does a good job of splitting up familiar tropes. That being said, survival horror leaves itself open to a lot of zombie stories. This was my personal favorite in the bunch, incorporating elements of Native American lore and ritual magic.
“The Whale Hunts” by P.L. McMillan - I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect to like this one. Maybe it’s the distant future, sci-fi elements, but either way, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this cosmic version of Moby Dick.
“Midnight, Off Arkansas River Trail” by Eric J. Guignard - I’m a sucker for that whole idea of some kind of entity jumping from body to body, so the characters are never entirely sure who to trust and who not to. Going the length of the story not sure if you’re going to have to turn on a friend, or have them turn on you is unsettling at best, and makes for great tension. Add Guignard’s dialogue to the mix, and I’m sold.
I’m loving the way Dark Peninsula seems to be putting their focus on quality themed anthologies, one at a time in order to produce the best possible product for horror readers. The next offering, though no release date is available yet, will be Violent Vixens: An Homage to Grindhouse Horror. The care that went into the packaging and contents and curation of Negative Space tells me this is a press whose anthologies will need a home on my shelf.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
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