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zraitor's review against another edition
4.0
This horror collection takes the device in the Lovecraft story From Beyond and looks at what the implications of that technology would be if it survived beyond that story...
From seeing the resonator be used as airport scanners, military weapons, health scams, and would be 'wizards', the idea is thoroughly explored. In many the weird creatures seen in the original story show up once more, but several take the idea further. The stories greatly vary in tone as well, ranging from dark comedy to cosmic horror and everything in between.
Most of them were pretty good, or at least fun if not. The constant body horror on display as you'd imagine with this theme was awesome. With so many authors the writing goes up and down according to tastes, and some of the stories I felt were just trying WAY too hard.
And of course, since it is a themed collection, I have to mention the idea got old and wore on me towards the end. So many of them use the main character having some sort of relation with Tillinghast, so they often have the same setup.
There were a lot of fun ideas in here, as well as some that were just annoying. It has the mixed bag thing going against it, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to one in the mood for something like this.
From seeing the resonator be used as airport scanners, military weapons, health scams, and would be 'wizards', the idea is thoroughly explored. In many the weird creatures seen in the original story show up once more, but several take the idea further. The stories greatly vary in tone as well, ranging from dark comedy to cosmic horror and everything in between.
Most of them were pretty good, or at least fun if not. The constant body horror on display as you'd imagine with this theme was awesome. With so many authors the writing goes up and down according to tastes, and some of the stories I felt were just trying WAY too hard.
And of course, since it is a themed collection, I have to mention the idea got old and wore on me towards the end. So many of them use the main character having some sort of relation with Tillinghast, so they often have the same setup.
There were a lot of fun ideas in here, as well as some that were just annoying. It has the mixed bag thing going against it, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to one in the mood for something like this.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
4.0
Stories based on one of Lovecraft's lesser stories, From Beyond, with pretty good results overall. My favorites were Edward Morris's "The Happiness Machine" and Christine Morgan's "Ninesight." YMMV.
jdhacker's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As much, if not more, inspired by "From Beyond" the much beloved cult horror film than by the Lovecraft story of the same name, "Resonator" is one of the overall most solid collections put together by Scott R. Jones and Martian Migraine Press I've yet read. There is not a shred of fat to be lost here.
Those familiar with Martian Migraine may know of the editor's fondness for playing with concepts and themes for their collections in ways other publisher might not, as well as for an openness to more sex and eros integrated into the stories than we might normally see in short literary horror. A collection based on the concepts and technology in the film "From Beyond" lend themselves perfectly to this mindset.
As is frequently the case with Martian Migraine, the collection opens with a reprinting of the Lovecraft story that inspired it all after a not to be skipped Introduction/analysis by Scott Jones. I won't do an exhaustive list/summary at this time, but let's hit a few high points. "The Wizard of OK" is not a only a standout in this collection, but ranks as one of my favorite pieces by genre favourite Scott Nicolay so far. "Machine Will Start When You Start" is a super fun piece by Matthew Bartlett, and is wildly divergent from his usual Leeds fair, something I think fans will really enjoy. "IPO", "Film Maudit", "Bug Zappers", and "Turbulence" all play in different ways with the idea of the Tillinghast technology getting out in a more widespread way into the world. As does Orrin Grey's, "Programmed To Receive", albeit in a more tragic and personal way. For lovers of cats and children, there's a particularly sad entry by the name of "Ninesight" not to be missed.
Those familiar with Martian Migraine may know of the editor's fondness for playing with concepts and themes for their collections in ways other publisher might not, as well as for an openness to more sex and eros integrated into the stories than we might normally see in short literary horror. A collection based on the concepts and technology in the film "From Beyond" lend themselves perfectly to this mindset.
As is frequently the case with Martian Migraine, the collection opens with a reprinting of the Lovecraft story that inspired it all after a not to be skipped Introduction/analysis by Scott Jones. I won't do an exhaustive list/summary at this time, but let's hit a few high points. "The Wizard of OK" is not a only a standout in this collection, but ranks as one of my favorite pieces by genre favourite Scott Nicolay so far. "Machine Will Start When You Start" is a super fun piece by Matthew Bartlett, and is wildly divergent from his usual Leeds fair, something I think fans will really enjoy. "IPO", "Film Maudit", "Bug Zappers", and "Turbulence" all play in different ways with the idea of the Tillinghast technology getting out in a more widespread way into the world. As does Orrin Grey's, "Programmed To Receive", albeit in a more tragic and personal way. For lovers of cats and children, there's a particularly sad entry by the name of "Ninesight" not to be missed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
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