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leootherland's reviews
160 reviews
Nightmare Sky: Stories of Astronomical Horror by Red Lagoe
5.0
I had the great joy of beta reading one of the stories in this book while a friend told me where they were submitting the piece. Given that, I have been following this publication through a lot of its stages. I waited for submissions to close, bounced up and down as my friend watched his email for an expected rejection, and got to shriek with him when it was the acceptance I expected all along he'd get. From there, I waited for edits to run their course formatting to get done. And when I could finally buy a copy of this my fingers went clicky, click, give me a book!!
And after all of that, I have to say this book was worth all that waiting and expecting. I started reading back in November and despite myself, had a hard time not just reading this book through in one sitting. I wanted to take my time and enjoy the experience and too has been worth the wait. I sat and read this book a couple stories at a time on my lunch breaks and let the horror and the tingles in my spine sink in while I digested each piece and they lingered in my mind. The book as a whole is a beautiful tapestry woven of art, prose, and poetry that explores our ancient fear of the dark and the night and all the things that might exist in those enigmatic, empty spaces. Having spent the first years of my childhood in a haunted house where all the things that went bump in the night liked to terrify, I don't scare easily these days, but this book left me pondering, shaking of shivers, and experiencing awe by turns.
As with every anthology, there were a few pieces that stood out to me and still linger in my mind all the way into December after finally finishing up my read. By order of appearance in the book, here are my favorites:
Infinite Focus. This tale of a ghost in the machine, or of living machine trying to understand its existence, was the most spine tingling and haunting piece I found in this book. The emptiness and yet ghostly sensation of a presence constantly there over your shoulder comes through in amazing ways in here.
Light Echoes. The idea of losing your sight, of not being able to see reality, in this way is chilling and utterly perfect.
The Ravenous Empyrean. When we look at the stars, do they look back? And what happens when they decide to devour the small observers? The unavoidable finiteness of life watching its end approach is so beautiful in here.
By The Hand of Sorayya. This one hardly felt like astronomical horror at all, and yet of all the stories contained in this book it lingers because of its shear humanness. By our own hands we paint our destinies.
Moth To A Flame. Insanity. Loneliness. The comfort of those who accept us as who we are. Fabulous.
Her Sisters, The Stars. We make our own prejudices and carry them with us even into the stars, but even in silence the oppressed do not lose memory. As a pagan who feels an affinity for Wicca, I felt this story deeply.
The One Who Rides The Comet. This one is terrifying and made my skin crawl in all the right ways, most of which had nothing to do with the cosmic and everything to do with the human. Those who are meant to love us willing to destroy us for their own twisted desires is all too human and all too real and this tale of choices is one I'll remember for a long time.
Into The Great Wide Open. Sometimes the simple search for understanding can lead to horror for those we don't mean to hurt.
Ya-Yai Makes the Baby Mobiles Spin. If something can be a mixture of horrible and soft, this story is it. To me it felt comforting, to others most likely not, but it is amazing in all cases.
The Rite of the Milk of the Stars. Sometimes the true horror is needing to live with the one you love but can't forgive. The tale will haunt you in all the right ways.
Star of San Luis. Some prophecies are not about salvation. And sometimes that's meant to be.
Gazing. I have a hard time with poetry, but many of the poems in this book resonated with me, and none more than this. What would we give up to view the magnificent?
In the Moment. Do you see the world through the lens of technology to the detriment of sight? Given how much of my own life I spend writing about other people who never existed and hunting for the like and share in the hope people will read what I write, this story hit home.
Don't Look Up. Beta read this story in its infancy and was haunted by it. Now everyone else can be haunted by it too.
Nox Invictus. We will always struggle against the unconquerable night, even to our last ashen moments of fire. This story brought the sting of tears to my eyes and was the perfect way to end this book.
Much love to all the authors and the amazing editor and artist who brought this book to life. It is an amazing ride.
And after all of that, I have to say this book was worth all that waiting and expecting. I started reading back in November and despite myself, had a hard time not just reading this book through in one sitting. I wanted to take my time and enjoy the experience and too has been worth the wait. I sat and read this book a couple stories at a time on my lunch breaks and let the horror and the tingles in my spine sink in while I digested each piece and they lingered in my mind. The book as a whole is a beautiful tapestry woven of art, prose, and poetry that explores our ancient fear of the dark and the night and all the things that might exist in those enigmatic, empty spaces. Having spent the first years of my childhood in a haunted house where all the things that went bump in the night liked to terrify, I don't scare easily these days, but this book left me pondering, shaking of shivers, and experiencing awe by turns.
As with every anthology, there were a few pieces that stood out to me and still linger in my mind all the way into December after finally finishing up my read. By order of appearance in the book, here are my favorites:
Infinite Focus. This tale of a ghost in the machine, or of living machine trying to understand its existence, was the most spine tingling and haunting piece I found in this book. The emptiness and yet ghostly sensation of a presence constantly there over your shoulder comes through in amazing ways in here.
Light Echoes. The idea of losing your sight, of not being able to see reality, in this way is chilling and utterly perfect.
The Ravenous Empyrean. When we look at the stars, do they look back? And what happens when they decide to devour the small observers? The unavoidable finiteness of life watching its end approach is so beautiful in here.
By The Hand of Sorayya. This one hardly felt like astronomical horror at all, and yet of all the stories contained in this book it lingers because of its shear humanness. By our own hands we paint our destinies.
Moth To A Flame. Insanity. Loneliness. The comfort of those who accept us as who we are. Fabulous.
Her Sisters, The Stars. We make our own prejudices and carry them with us even into the stars, but even in silence the oppressed do not lose memory. As a pagan who feels an affinity for Wicca, I felt this story deeply.
The One Who Rides The Comet. This one is terrifying and made my skin crawl in all the right ways, most of which had nothing to do with the cosmic and everything to do with the human. Those who are meant to love us willing to destroy us for their own twisted desires is all too human and all too real and this tale of choices is one I'll remember for a long time.
Into The Great Wide Open. Sometimes the simple search for understanding can lead to horror for those we don't mean to hurt.
Ya-Yai Makes the Baby Mobiles Spin. If something can be a mixture of horrible and soft, this story is it. To me it felt comforting, to others most likely not, but it is amazing in all cases.
The Rite of the Milk of the Stars. Sometimes the true horror is needing to live with the one you love but can't forgive. The tale will haunt you in all the right ways.
Star of San Luis. Some prophecies are not about salvation. And sometimes that's meant to be.
Gazing. I have a hard time with poetry, but many of the poems in this book resonated with me, and none more than this. What would we give up to view the magnificent?
In the Moment. Do you see the world through the lens of technology to the detriment of sight? Given how much of my own life I spend writing about other people who never existed and hunting for the like and share in the hope people will read what I write, this story hit home.
Don't Look Up. Beta read this story in its infancy and was haunted by it. Now everyone else can be haunted by it too.
Nox Invictus. We will always struggle against the unconquerable night, even to our last ashen moments of fire. This story brought the sting of tears to my eyes and was the perfect way to end this book.
Much love to all the authors and the amazing editor and artist who brought this book to life. It is an amazing ride.
The Librarian by Azlïn Auckburally, Zachary Rosenberg, Elizabeth Snow, C.L. Hart, Anya Markov, Waverly X. Night, Michael Teasdale, Storm Humbert, A.P. Hawkins, Henry Herz, Nathan Waddell, Kenzie Lappin, Indigo Emmerson, E.J. Delaney, Larry Ivkovich, Ana Sun, Leo Otherland, Katrina Middelburg, Sean Monaghan, Carter Lappin, Jane Doring, J.D. Harlock, D.G.P. Rector, Laurel Doud
5.0
It would be hard for me to express quite how much I love this book. I fell hard and fast for the concept as soon as Air and Nothingness started advertising the prospect of the book. Which... would be why as soon as it was announced the book was going to be a reality I got my spectacles and writing hat on and squinted at my computer screen until some words came out. (I was half asleep through everything I wrote for this, but it seems to have come out alright.) My excitement continued when my story was accepted to be in this lovely book, but I think waiting on reading all the other stories was my real joy. And it has been well worth the wait.
The Librarian is a gem, cover to cover. The artwork (on all of the covers) is stunning, and the stories weave a mottled, multicolored fabric that tells of the wanderings on one Librarian and their Satchel. Every story is unique and uniquely shows the style and imagination of its author, and yet each and every one comes back to the same place and interweaves so flawlessly with all the others it's hard to imagine we singular authors didn't know what the others were writing. The emotions between these covers range though joy and sadness, desperation and rejuvenation. All of them with their own grain of hope, even in the darkest of places and times. I am so pleased to be a part of this whole.
And, as has become my custom when reviewing anthologies, I have thoughts on a few of my favorites and why they resonated with me. In the order they appear in The Librarian, these are the stories I most remember:
The Unbroken Chain. I don't think there's a writer or artist anywhere who hasn't at some point run out of motivation or inspiration and desperately looked for more, wondering where the muse had gone and why they'd left. This first story in The Librarian was a glorious reminder our words, our art, reaches far beyond ourselves and what we see of it.
Rubble At Dawn. Few things bring tears to my eyes, but this one left the sting of them behind. In this time when some are experiencing the brutality of war first hand, how can we not weep for all that is being lost?
Old Haunts. A firm reminder we do not have to banish our ghost or forget our pain. Sometimes knowing them and growing with them is all we need and the surest way to live again.
Small Promises. This one is interesting for various reasons. The imagery the story presented me with left me caught up and confused for a short time but also nagged at me until I went back and read it all again and when I did the tapestry the author weaved with their words was amazing. A story in a story, in media res, and all of it done so effortlessly it leaves you wanting more, and knowing that more is there, just at the edges and out of reach. Incredibly well done.
The Anamatra. This one felt... different to me. Almost as if it wasn't as much a part of the rest of the whole as the rest, but that only made me love it all the more. The closeness and almost intimacy of the characters makes me wish there was more story, past and future for this. But I shall just have to be satisfied with what I have here in my hands.
Gods, I keep smiling every time I pick up the book to look through the table of contents so I don't miss anything.
Libbie and Dewey's Excellent Adventure. This on is just plain fun and it had bee from the beginning with its wit and allusion to... well lots of things. Go read it! You'll love it.
A Light Unmatched In All Depths. Another reminder what we do for the love of it will far out last us. It will reach on into the far future and though we may never fathom it, our efforts will shine like a light unmatched. Much love for this one.
The Art of Seeing. Knowledge is power, but the art of seeing the truth in that knowledge and using for the betterment of all.. well that is a greater power. This story was cute and had just the right taste of humor to go along with its seriousness. Highly recommend.
Dr. Strangefrog and The Doomsday Device. Ummm... How can I not mention this story?? Its the only comic in the book and I was snickering at the throw back to Dr. Strangelove in the title since the TOC for The Librarian was released. This little comic is funny and adorable and have I mentioned the Muppets Easter egg?? No, well you're going to have to find it on your own.
A Light In The Fair. Knowledge is power... and withholding it can be a means of controlling people and keeping them down. This story and a few others (Stolen History, Proof of Magic) stand as reminders knowledge is meant to be given and shared, a means of us all being better together.
The Arrival. Some of us are born with an insatiable hunger. Some for beauty, some for story, some for learning. For me, this story struck places in me that reminded me we have to at times be selfish, we have to pursue the joy and the bright beauty of life, even when people say those things are useless when pitted against needs and survival. But can we survive without beauty?
The Bar At The End of The World. *cough* Easter egg! *cough* Anyway, love the title and love the story. Full of glorious imagery and the reminder creating is its own joy. To write, to paint, to draw worlds into existence... the act of doing is in itself enough.
Rhyme Time. Gods, I laughed so hard with this one. Never, ever go up against a couple librarians and some toddlers, you will lose every time. (I am still laughing here, I'm sorry.) Bottom line, you'll love this story.
Right about here was where I remembered I'd actually written something for this book and, despite being pretty much asleep and squinty-eyed the whole way, I guess it worked... You'll have to read myself for your self (something, something, trees being haunted...), and I'm not joking. I literally got so caught up in this book when I found my own story I kind of stared at funny going, "What are you doing here??
Book Circulation. I had to include this one because it made me laugh. (Spiky bears!!) It's short and sweet and just a good time.
More Than Color. If asked if I had a favorite of favorite stories in here, it would probably be this one. The main character experiences some of the same stigmas attached to asexuality, but the story as a whole shows what it is to be anything other then what society deems "right and natural" and gives a glimpse of what it is to stand above that and say, "This is me and I am beautiful and I am worthy." This one took my breath away.
La Bibiotheque D'objets Quotidiens (The Library of Everyday Things). A perfect way to end this particular book because we never know quite what we have until we think it's gone.
In the end, The Librarian is well worth the read. I can't wait for others to love it as much as I do. Travel on, stay strong.
The Librarian is a gem, cover to cover. The artwork (on all of the covers) is stunning, and the stories weave a mottled, multicolored fabric that tells of the wanderings on one Librarian and their Satchel. Every story is unique and uniquely shows the style and imagination of its author, and yet each and every one comes back to the same place and interweaves so flawlessly with all the others it's hard to imagine we singular authors didn't know what the others were writing. The emotions between these covers range though joy and sadness, desperation and rejuvenation. All of them with their own grain of hope, even in the darkest of places and times. I am so pleased to be a part of this whole.
And, as has become my custom when reviewing anthologies, I have thoughts on a few of my favorites and why they resonated with me. In the order they appear in The Librarian, these are the stories I most remember:
The Unbroken Chain. I don't think there's a writer or artist anywhere who hasn't at some point run out of motivation or inspiration and desperately looked for more, wondering where the muse had gone and why they'd left. This first story in The Librarian was a glorious reminder our words, our art, reaches far beyond ourselves and what we see of it.
Rubble At Dawn. Few things bring tears to my eyes, but this one left the sting of them behind. In this time when some are experiencing the brutality of war first hand, how can we not weep for all that is being lost?
Old Haunts. A firm reminder we do not have to banish our ghost or forget our pain. Sometimes knowing them and growing with them is all we need and the surest way to live again.
Small Promises. This one is interesting for various reasons. The imagery the story presented me with left me caught up and confused for a short time but also nagged at me until I went back and read it all again and when I did the tapestry the author weaved with their words was amazing. A story in a story, in media res, and all of it done so effortlessly it leaves you wanting more, and knowing that more is there, just at the edges and out of reach. Incredibly well done.
The Anamatra. This one felt... different to me. Almost as if it wasn't as much a part of the rest of the whole as the rest, but that only made me love it all the more. The closeness and almost intimacy of the characters makes me wish there was more story, past and future for this. But I shall just have to be satisfied with what I have here in my hands.
Gods, I keep smiling every time I pick up the book to look through the table of contents so I don't miss anything.
Libbie and Dewey's Excellent Adventure. This on is just plain fun and it had bee from the beginning with its wit and allusion to... well lots of things. Go read it! You'll love it.
A Light Unmatched In All Depths. Another reminder what we do for the love of it will far out last us. It will reach on into the far future and though we may never fathom it, our efforts will shine like a light unmatched. Much love for this one.
The Art of Seeing. Knowledge is power, but the art of seeing the truth in that knowledge and using for the betterment of all.. well that is a greater power. This story was cute and had just the right taste of humor to go along with its seriousness. Highly recommend.
Dr. Strangefrog and The Doomsday Device. Ummm... How can I not mention this story?? Its the only comic in the book and I was snickering at the throw back to Dr. Strangelove in the title since the TOC for The Librarian was released. This little comic is funny and adorable and have I mentioned the Muppets Easter egg?? No, well you're going to have to find it on your own.
A Light In The Fair. Knowledge is power... and withholding it can be a means of controlling people and keeping them down. This story and a few others (Stolen History, Proof of Magic) stand as reminders knowledge is meant to be given and shared, a means of us all being better together.
The Arrival. Some of us are born with an insatiable hunger. Some for beauty, some for story, some for learning. For me, this story struck places in me that reminded me we have to at times be selfish, we have to pursue the joy and the bright beauty of life, even when people say those things are useless when pitted against needs and survival. But can we survive without beauty?
The Bar At The End of The World. *cough* Easter egg! *cough* Anyway, love the title and love the story. Full of glorious imagery and the reminder creating is its own joy. To write, to paint, to draw worlds into existence... the act of doing is in itself enough.
Rhyme Time. Gods, I laughed so hard with this one. Never, ever go up against a couple librarians and some toddlers, you will lose every time. (I am still laughing here, I'm sorry.) Bottom line, you'll love this story.
Right about here was where I remembered I'd actually written something for this book and, despite being pretty much asleep and squinty-eyed the whole way, I guess it worked... You'll have to read myself for your self (something, something, trees being haunted...), and I'm not joking. I literally got so caught up in this book when I found my own story I kind of stared at funny going, "What are you doing here??
Book Circulation. I had to include this one because it made me laugh. (Spiky bears!!) It's short and sweet and just a good time.
More Than Color. If asked if I had a favorite of favorite stories in here, it would probably be this one. The main character experiences some of the same stigmas attached to asexuality, but the story as a whole shows what it is to be anything other then what society deems "right and natural" and gives a glimpse of what it is to stand above that and say, "This is me and I am beautiful and I am worthy." This one took my breath away.
La Bibiotheque D'objets Quotidiens (The Library of Everyday Things). A perfect way to end this particular book because we never know quite what we have until we think it's gone.
In the end, The Librarian is well worth the read. I can't wait for others to love it as much as I do. Travel on, stay strong.
Soft Targets by Carson Winter
5.0
I'd wholly forgotten I was on Tenebrous Press's ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) list until on the 26 of last month a copy of Soft Targets showed up in my inbox. Considering I had been waiting for this one to come out, needless to say I was excited and threw all my other responsibilities to the wind to read.
I read the whole thing in a little less than two days.
Couldn't put it down and kept thinking about it when I couldn't read it.
This book, it haunts you. Grips you tight from the first moments and doesn't let go. Even now, several days after having read it and not gotten around to posting this review, the words of praise I have for Soft Targets just flow right off my fingertips. Generally, I write my reviews directly after reading a book because it is best to write when the emotion is fresh and still moving in your mind and heart. And yet with this one, with this book I can still find that emotions days late.
On the surface, Soft Targets is a bundle of content warnings, an exploration of the worst of what can happen when mental health deteriorates and spirals down into violence. But below that, on a deeper level where this story made me cry, there is the question of what would we do if we discovered some days were less real than others. If we could live without consequences, how would we live? These questions are not discussed on a higher level, but if we look at the worst of what we as humans are capable of, the question of our best is also brought to light, and the two twined together make this book an amazing read.
In all our days, our real and less real days, how will we live? And will we choose to live our best or our worst? I will be sitting back and pondering those questions while I wait until I can hold a paperback copy of this book in my hands.
I read the whole thing in a little less than two days.
Couldn't put it down and kept thinking about it when I couldn't read it.
This book, it haunts you. Grips you tight from the first moments and doesn't let go. Even now, several days after having read it and not gotten around to posting this review, the words of praise I have for Soft Targets just flow right off my fingertips. Generally, I write my reviews directly after reading a book because it is best to write when the emotion is fresh and still moving in your mind and heart. And yet with this one, with this book I can still find that emotions days late.
On the surface, Soft Targets is a bundle of content warnings, an exploration of the worst of what can happen when mental health deteriorates and spirals down into violence. But below that, on a deeper level where this story made me cry, there is the question of what would we do if we discovered some days were less real than others. If we could live without consequences, how would we live? These questions are not discussed on a higher level, but if we look at the worst of what we as humans are capable of, the question of our best is also brought to light, and the two twined together make this book an amazing read.
In all our days, our real and less real days, how will we live? And will we choose to live our best or our worst? I will be sitting back and pondering those questions while I wait until I can hold a paperback copy of this book in my hands.