Mister October, Volume I – An Anthology in Memory of Rick Hautala, edited by Christopher Golden and published by JournalStone, is packed so full of stories that they had to split this into two volumes. And that’s not a bad thing, because as entertaining as the stories are in Volume I, that means more people will be buying Volume II. And the proceeds are being used to help the Hautala family in their time of need with Rick’s untimely passing.
This first volume is full of familiar writers to those who read horror and speculative fiction, such as Neil Gaiman, Graham Joyce, Chet Williamson, Richard Chizmar, Joe R. Lansdale, Gary Braunbeck, and F. Paul Wilson.
I particularly enjoyed reading Jonathan Maberry’s “Property Condemned-A Story of Pine Deep,” since I’ve read two of the three novels in that series. It helped put some perspective on the characters involved.
One of the strangest stories in this collection is “Playing the Huddys,” by John M. McIlveen. The incestuous Huddys are a family straight out of a Richard Laymon backwoods nightmare. Bizarre doesn’t adequately describe it.
Gary Braunbeck’s “After the Elephant Ballet” is a haunting tale that will definitely stick with you and keeps you turning the page to see just what this is about. Another interesting story comes from Hautala’s son, Mattie Hautala. “Never Back Again” will make you think twice about letting your children go beyond the borders of your backyard to play. As a matter of fact, maybe you better sit out there with them.
As a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, Joe R. Lansdale’s “Tight Little Stitches In a Dead Man’s Back” had me creeped out more than usual in his vision of a bleak future. This is definitely worth a read.
And if you are a fan of conspiracy theories, you simply have to get this collection just for F. Paul Wilson’s clever story, “The Year the Music Died.”
Oh, I also loved Gaiman’s story. And the one by Elizabeth Massie. And then there was that one by Craig Shaw Gardner too. Anyway, you get the picture. This is a fun ride, and Rick would be very pleased. Can’t wait to discover what Volume II holds.
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