Tag: Damaged Skull Reviewer

LOVE LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR BUT DISLIKE DISCRIMINATION AND FEELING EXCLUDED? THEN “BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY” FROM RAW DOG SCREAMING PRESS DELIVERS DIVERSE COSMIC HORROR AND WEIRD FICTION FOR THE MODERN WORLD

Leave a comment

BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY
Edited by Vaughn A. Jackson & Stephanie Pearre
July 10, 2024
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Greetings Horror Fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with a great new collection from Raw Dog Screaming Press. Lovecraftian horror is a cool mashup of fantasy, dream worlds, and elder gods that have existed since the beginning of time itself. H.P. Lovecraft and his contemporaries came up with some really unique story concepts, but their beauty was marred by the narrow white lens it was pushed through. People of color, working class folks, and women were not respected and treated as equals. Those that were physically or mentally disabled were usually portrayed as ignorant freaks. This was because the majority of publishers and writers were white males. Fortunately, Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is here to showcase a diverse cast of authors and put a new spin on weird fiction and cosmic horror. It’s a great step towards eliminating boundaries and giving readers a kaleidoscopic view of the weirdness that draws us into these types of stories. Speaking of great views, how about that awesome book cover by Lynne Hansen? I’m really becoming a fan! Let’s take a peek within at the horrors that await us…

In Effigies of Monstrous Things, Pedro Iniguez uses the too familiar backdrop of crummy apartments and low income living that Latin Americans are forced to endure in their quest to make it. At first it just seems like Mario is dealing with another cheese bag white slumlord in a janky neighborhood, but a trip into the vast basement of the ancient, mold-ridden apartment complex reveals something much bigger and more terrifying that wants more.

Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee tackles the general public’s lack of interest in taking mental health issues seriously. Everyone tells Dava that her tapping rituals are useless and a waste of time, making her feel small and stupid. They’re more concerned about how they feel uncomfortable and weirded out by her behavior. But as this short story reaches its conclusion, something appears on the horizon and the last thing it wants is to be stuck under the rug.

S.A. Cosby takes us out into the woods for 24 Points. It’s hunting season for a trio of men who arrive in the forest with the plan of harvesting the largest deer they can find to get their family through the cold winter ahead. But there’s a line between taking what you need and being greedy. Mother nature is the governess of those laws and when Uncle Ricky oversteps her boundaries, she requires a payment. If it is not forthcoming, the entire fabric of the cosmos opens wide to correct the wrongs. Great balance of the familiar and the terrifying with social commentary.

In Live Free or Die, Danny Brzozowski opens up the cute curtains of a small Connecticut (state motto: Live Free or Die) town to show the rot hidden inside. Many people consider the northeastern states to be safe territory for more liberal thinkers. Unfortunately, I can say from my own personal experiences in a small upstate New York town, that is not always the case. Don’t be doing different loud and proud there unless you want to meet a lot of scary people who masquerade as good ones. When a trans teacher gets fired from a school for teaching both sides of reality in a particularly privileged community, something horrible awakens beneath the hilly ground. Is it a savior or is it a killer? Seeking to make their escape, the teacher comes across a scene that reveals just how deep that evil runs in Briarbrook and prays that they won’t have to follow the latter part of the state motto.

Other great stories in this anthology include Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni, Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha, Six Underground by Vicky Velvet, and You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh. Every story inside Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is excellent. You won’t find any filler or pieces you can coast through, here! Like a flourless chocolate torte, this collection is super rich, delightfully dark, and very satisfying.  Raw Dog Screaming Press crushes that narrow white lens and hands readers a kaleidoscope to view cosmic horror and weird fiction with. Because when limits are removed, possibilities open wide, and that’s what it’s all about. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Beyond the Bounds of Infinity FIVE STARS! If you think that Lovecraft’s work is old and stuffy, this book is for you. Raw Dog Screaming Press brings weird fiction and cosmic horror into the present day and makes it relevant to readers right now.  

For more information about Raw Dog Screaming Press, please visit them at: www.RawDogScreaming.com

For more information about Pedro Iniguez, check out www.pedroiniguezauthor.com

To find out more about Amanda Headlee, go to: www.amandaheadlee.com

To follow Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer, please visit: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com Thanks!

About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

Until next time, be well, stay safe, and keep reading independent horror!

WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET YOURSELF A GIANT HELPING OF THE BEST HORROR WRITING WITH A COOL RETRO THEME? “THE RACK!”

Leave a comment

THE RACK: Stories Inspired by Vintage Horror Paperbacks
Edited by Tom Deady
9/3/2024
Greymore Publishing
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello Horror fiends, it’s your old pal Skull, with a seriously boss horror anthology put together by cool editor and all-around fine human being, Tom Deady! The Rack pays tribute to the thing that seduced many of us into reading and writing horror. We had a favorite located in a supermarket, drugstore, or newsstand that seemed to wait for us. Squeaking, wobbling, and jam packed with mass market paperbacks, The Rack drew us in with all the lurid covers and back cover hype. Seduced, we opened the books, started reading, and were hooked for life.

Tom Deady’s intention with this anthology is to bring us back to that special time in our lives when we fell in love with horror, and The Rack delivers. Not just a pale imitation, The Rack expands upon the foundations built by the likes of Richard Matheson, Anne Rice, and Stephen King, whose story The Raft is included in this awesome anthology alongside work by: Christa Carmen, Larry Hinkle, Philip Fracassi, Mercedes M. Yardley, and Richard Chizmar, just to name a few. Your old pal Skull also seriously loves that cover artwork by none other than Lynne Hansen and there is a great intro by Will Erickson of Paperbacks from Hell fame that kicks things off right. But enough of me rattling my bones, let’s take a peek inside!

Larry Hinkle takes us to a chemical wasteland in That Chemical Glow where survival seems to be coming to the unfit and their steadily growing number of teeth, while Errick Nunnally has us charging through Florida marshes after a creature that shouldn’t exist in The Keeper of Taswomet. Mercedes M. Yardley delivers ethereal, Shirley Jackson vibes with I Am a House Demanding To Be Haunted and Christa Carmen introduces us to a family with special traditions that will not be broken by an insecure groom who doesn’t get it in Blood Of My Blood. Philip Fracassi delivers a chilling thriller about a priest determined to set a house to rights despite terrible weather that would have kept most folks off the road. But good intentions or otherwise, he finds himself in a very bad spot because the Quinns already have The Visitor staying with them. Will a bible be enough protection?

For better or worse, I always run into one story in every anthology I read that hits me just right and becomes Skull’s favorite story. In The Rack that story is Mightier Than Bullets by Laurel Hightower. I didn’t know how much I needed to read this story until I read it. Many of us use Horror to escape the hard realities we all have to face, but Hightower takes on the real modern-day horror of school shootings with class and a wonderful understanding of children. Ms. Ballard is a kindergarten teacher who listens, and most importantly, lets young imaginations run free in search of a way to defend themselves in case of an attack. “Ballard’s Battalion” will take on the challenge, not just cower under their desks hoping and praying that the adults in charge will eventually fumble onto a solution. Why not annihilate out of control hatred with something even more powerful? Ms. Ballard isn’t some kind of redneck radical handing out guns and clubs to five-year-olds, that would just add to the problem. What she does is nurture something far more terrifying than an assault rifle, something most adults blocked out of their lives a long time ago. Many grown-ups feel that they’re superior to children and their silliness. The element of surprise has helped win many battles, but just wait ‘til you see the weapon little May comes up with! Be prepared that Mightier Than Bullets may cause you to cheer loudly and wake up your cats. It might even make you shed a few tears, as I did because it’s such a damn fine story.

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives The Rack a hearty 5 STAR RATING! I’d also like to apologize for not being as quick as I hoped with my review of this wonderful kickass anthology that I believe everyone should go out and buy a copy of immediately. What happened is that I got so caught up in The Rack my original drafts of the review were running into thousands of words. I wanted to share how every single story in here is a winner and how much fun it was to meet some of you online during the virtual release party and a great podcast. But I knew that nobody was going to read a 10-page book review and my wife helped by saying, “if nobody ever gets to see your review, then it really won’t matter what you think. Go get the damn thing done!” Good advice. So here we are with something that I hope whets your appetite for short horror stories that pay tribute to the past and show us that there is a lot to look forward to in the future. Now I must go, because The Rack is calling…

Want more information about Tom Deady? Then head on over to https://www.tomdeady.com/ or find him over on Facebook at https://facebook.com/tomdeady  

Interested in getting some awesome artwork or a cool cover for your upcoming release? Then get in touch with Lynne Hansen at www.LynneHansenArt.com

About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

Until next time, be well, stay safe, and keep reading independent horror!

“ERRANT ROOTS” BY SONORA TAYLOR SHOWS READERS JUST HOW DANGEROUS FAMILY TREES CAN BE!

Leave a comment

ERRANT ROOTS
Sonora Taylor
10/15/2024
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Greetings fellow Horror fiends, it’s your old pal Skull with a nifty new read from Raw Dog Screaming Press! Volume 6 in the Selected Papers from The Consortium For The Study of Anomalous Phenomena, ERRANT ROOTS, by one of my favorite Horror authors, Sonora Taylor,  packs a big punch. Behind that splendid cover by Lynne Hansen, this novella almost looks like a Victorian era handbook of etiquette, but readers will soon find out that the Croft family’s traditions are anything but polite.

When Dierdre Croft finds out that she and her boyfriend Tom are pregnant, she does what most women do: tell her mom. Harriet is pretty cool about it, avoiding the old school “living in sin” speech in favor of congratulating her daughter. Tom is a caring, standup guy who’s just as excited for the baby as Diedre is. But then, seemingly out of the blue, Harriet insists that they all go see the family that she left behind 24 years ago, to announce the upcoming child and have a gender reveal party.

Dierdre goes along with the plan to make her mother happy, even though she has the feeling that something is wrong about this sudden visit to people she doesn’t even know. Why drive out to the middle of nowhere when they could just as easily have a baby shower in a nice city restaurant? Tom also feels upset when his family is excluded from the proceedings. His discomfort only increases when all the residents of Grandma’s house are female and they don’t seem to like him very much.

Grandmother Yvonne is a regal looking woman, who is clearly not someone to mess with. Her eyes burn with madness as she reveals some of the secrets and rituals surrounding the Croft family tree which is in fact a huge Oak tree that all the women of the family must serve and maintain as per the book of rules and traditions drafted up by their great grandmother, Josephine. Dierdre shares many coincidental elements of her pregnancy with Josephine, Yvonne, and Harriet, including the age she’ll be giving birth. To the Croft family this means that Dierdre is the chosen one to continue something called The Daylight Branch which requires some rather gruesome traditions “for the strength of the line.”

But an isolated family that self-governs with no outside interference from the government or local law enforcement is not immune from jealousy, anger, and dark thoughts. Once things start going horribly wrong at the gender reveal party, it doesn’t take long for the sanity train to go screaming off the rails. As it picks up speed, surprises galore are revealed with every twist and turn. The way things turn out will shock both readers and the book’s characters, who thought they knew how the ceremonies went. But when you’re at the mercy of someone who claims to be doing what’s best for the family, hell can break loose at any time.

Whew! Great writing by Sonora Taylor and thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press for requesting a review of this awesome addition to the Selected Papers from The Consortium For The Study Of Anomalous Phenomena volumes. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Errant Roots 5 STARS*****! Once again, Taylor continues her tradition of bringing fine work into the world. Errant Roots is for anyone who’s ever dealt with a difficult or toxic family, especially those that do their dirty work in private, making you look bad when trying to expose them. No thanks to many of the agencies who are supposed to help, but don’t. Bringing a child into the world should be a wonderful, joyous occasion, not a one-way ticket to misery. Eden Royce contributes a solid and thought-provoking afterword that wraps things up nicely. For those with sensitivity concerns there is a list at the rear of the book for consultation before reading.

Sonora Taylor is an award-winning author of several books including Someone to Share My Nightmares, Seeing Things, and Little Paranoias. She also co-edited Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology with Nico Bell.This collection is one of my favorites because of its strong body positive theme. All the stories feature strong, sexy, and diverse plus-size people who are the heroes (not helpless targets or villains) and gives the bird to naysayers and shade throwers. To find out more about Sonora Taylor, visit her at: https://sonorataylor.com

Raw Dog Screaming Press is an independent publisher of horror stories and poetry with a solid focus on diversity in what they print and who writes it. They are a force for good in the world and care about the creatives they work with. Be sure to check them out at: www.rawdogscreaming.com   

 About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

Sonora Taylor

“THESE THINGS THAT WALK BEHIND ME” BY DAVID SURFACE HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM LETHE PRESS AND IT IS GREAT!

Leave a comment

THESE THINGS THAT WALK BEHIND ME
David Surface
10/1/2024
Lethe Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with a brand-new release from Lethe Press! These Things That Walk Behind Me by David Surface is packed with 14 speculative tales that will latch onto your brain and stick around long after you’ve finished reading. Or, if you’re at all like me, you’ll find yourself rereading this awesome collection again and again. The stories are really that good! Ready to take a walk on the wild side? Then let’s get to it.

Inside These Things That Walk Behind Me by David Surface you’ll find stories about things that shouldn’t exist, but they do. A fallen angel hidden in an airplane hangar that takes care of those who cannot help themselves, Angelmutter. A town whose boys disappear into a large network of caves that exist underneath them and a mother who knows more about it than she should, The Lost River Boys. How about construction company that builds unique structures that transport creatures from another realm into your hometown? Little Gods To Live In Them, is that story. We all watch those shows on TV about people suddenly disappearing only to show up thousands of miles away decades later. Give Me Back My Name shows us what it’s like to be that person and it isn’t at all pretty. Losing your mind is often viewed as losing touch with reality, but what if it actually shows us how life really is and why people act the way they do? These Things That Walk Behind Me gives us insight into that.

One of my favorite tales in this great mix is The Devil Will Be At The Door. You know that ghost story many of us hear at YMCA Camp, in Boy Scouts, or in the case of this story on the church school bus during a long ride home? It’s about a horribly haunted house in the middle of nowhere and ends with a jump scare scream. The details are usually filled in to fit the location, but it’s pretty much the same tale. Eventually we grow up and decide such terrifying things don’t exist. But what if they do, and you just haven’t found it yet? Or, worse, it’s out there looking for you? Oh, and if you’ve heard that story in your lifetime…There’s no getting away.

Another story I really dug was, When The Circus. Danny escapes from a small southern town and a meaningless life by going to New York City, a giant metropolis that never sleeps and you can get whatever you want 24 hours a day. But such a vast place is dark, dangerous, and ready to eat newbies alive. Danny needs a place, somewhere to take shelter, and he finds it in a ghost bar hidden under some scaffolding. There he meets Lenny, an old school tough New Yorker who holds court nightly teaching valuable lessons and telling stories. But a person can only hide so long in the middle of a hurricane. Events unfold in front of Danny that threaten to steal his sanity. His happiness has already fled. One night when Lenny starts telling everyone about a bizarre event that happened right on that particular night many years ago, Danny refuses to buy it. Back in the old days, the circus would come to Madison Square Garden and people lined 34th street at midnight to see the elephants walk from the train to the garden. But one year, things went horribly wrong, and the results were bad enough to drive a person mad. The Big Apple doesn’t let go of the scary things, it holds them tightly trapped in its dark bosom of night, then shows them to fragile minds like a demented flasher in a black raincoat. GOTCHA! Lenny says that the only way to avoid being sucked into the flames of Hell is to shelter in place. Danny says he’s full of shit and makes a break for it. Will he see what he’s looking for, or is it all just a hoax to scare newbies?

How The World Works, is another great story. Many people think the world is an efficient machine that can easily be explained by science or their particular brand of religion. Yet, every year, strange things happen that defy logical explanation. This story is a tale about secrets and friendship. The narrator’s friend, Mike, hasn’t had a very good life and isn’t exactly Mr. Manners. Still the narrator cares about him and is pleased to hear that he’s returned to town after a long absence. When he goes to visit Mike in his new place, it’s entirely rad, especially to a couple of teenage boys. Mike’s story is that he’s housesitting for a guy and has free run of the house. But what’s with all the freaked-out cats? More importantly, what’s that damn thing in the basement? Will Mike’s explanation clear things up or just make it worse? One thing is for certain, the piper must be paid. That’s just How The World Works.

If you’ve read this far, then you probably already know what your old pal Skull thinks of this book, but let me just put it into words: Wow, what an awesome collection of short horror stories! Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives These Things That Walk Behind Me a BIG 5 STARS! David Surface writes stories that stick with you and grow as time passes. It’s not excessively gory or easy to stick in one box, but his words lodge into your brain and blossom into images and feelings that hang on long after you put the book down. Or you’ll keep picking it up to savor again and again. These Things That Walk Behind Me will make it to the Wall of Fame eventually, but for now it follows me from room to room, and I can’t help reading just one more story. Bottom line: get this collection and enjoy the work of awesome storyteller, David Surface!

Thanks for visiting the Skullcave, if you enjoyed this review please consider subscribing and following us on social media to help more independent authors get more exposure and spread the word that Indy Horror Rocks! For more information about this book and other great titles from Lethe Press go to: www.lethepressbooks.com
For more information about David Surface and to sign up for his newsletter, Strange Little Stories, go to: www.davidsurface.net

About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

THE LETHE PRESS EDITION OF “H.P. LOVECRAFT’S COMMONPLACE BOOK” BRINGS HIS WEIRD COSMIC MAGIC TO LIFE WITH AWESOME ILLUSTRATIONS AND FANTASTIC PRESENTATION BY MICHAEL BUKOWSKI ALONG WITH A FEW COOL SURPRISES FROM LOVECRAFT HIMSELF!

Leave a comment

H.P. LOVECRAFT’S COMMONPLACE BOOK
Illustrated by Michael Bukowski
Lethe Press
8/3/2024
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello awesome readers, it’s your old pal Skull with a book that I’m honestly, kind of in love with: H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book recently released by the rather awesome Lethe Press! Serious Lovecraft fans may be familiar with this little volume of his collected thoughts and ideas, but I’m willing to bet you haven’t seen it looking like this edition that is wonderfully illustrated by Michael Bukowski. I mean, when I opened the package and this purple-skinned beauty slid out, I immediately sat down and gave it my full attention. Check out the cover pic and the Odd nocturnal ritual. Beasts dance & march to musick image! The book is like this ALL the way through!

As a writer myself, I enjoy books like this that give readers a peek behind the wizard’s curtain. They let readers see story ideas, what interested their favorite author, and maybe offer some memorable quotes. But, let’s be honest, most of those books are exceptionally dry, which means that only diehard fans are going to work their way through them. Bukowski’s art pulls you into the Lethe Press edition of H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book and makes you want to see what’s on the next page, and the next one after that. There’s a perfect balance between the illustrations and Lovecraft’s words that drives things forward nicely. Speaking of which, the font and colorful ink choice really make the words pop. I love that Lovecraft’s original introduction has been included and that he’d just like an “admirably neat typed copy” from R.H. Barlow, Esq. Also included is a nifty little piece of artwork by Lovecraft: a sketch showing a side profile of the mighty CTHULU for a possible future sculpture. How about that for coolness?

H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book from Lethe Press is a treasure trove of ideas, quotes, and notes about unique happenings and other writers. Lovecraft also included a cool reading list of weird fiction that he was collecting for an article. It contains familiar names like H.G. Wells and Algernon Blackwood and many others that I will be looking into. One of Lovecraft’s quotes that stood out to me was: “Life is more horrible than death.” While folks who read those insanely cheerful self-help books that spew paragraphs about what “super-duper great people” they are might disagree, they need to realize that these words came from a man who was plagued by nightmares, insomnia, and poor health for the majority of his life. Yes, that’s what fueled much of his work, but it wasn’t any picnic for Lovecraft who died early and only realized fame posthumously.

What does your old pal Skull think? I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone that Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates H.P. Lovecraft’s Commonplace Book, the Lethe Press edition illustrated by Michael Bukowski a cosmic 5 STARS! It is a wonderful volume that both celebrates its creator and the fantastic art of Michael Bukowski who also included a little Dungeons & Dragons magic in some of these illustrations. Bukowski also took time to edit out offensive material that Lovecraft unfortunately included in some of his work. It is a new day and one to celebrate our diversity, not be afraid of what we don’t understand.

For more information about Lethe Press or to purchase a copy of this book, please go to: www.lethepressbooks.com

For more information about Michael Bukowski, you can check out his detailed profile on the Lethe Press site or go right over to: www.lastchanceillustrations.wordpress.com
or visit: www.yog.blogsoth.blogspot.com

About the reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

VIRTUAL RELEASE PARTY FOR “THE RACK” WAS A TRUE SUCCESS!

Leave a comment

Hello horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with some cool news in the horror writing and reading community! I was lucky enough to be invited to the virtual release party for the new themed horror anthology, The Rack and a good time was had by all. Editor Tom Deady and Parasite Steve were the masters of ceremonies and many of the contributors spoke about their stories as well as the books that inspired them when they were spinning those creaky, squeaky wire racks at their local newsstands, drugstores, or libraries during the 1980’s. Stephen King and Ray Bradbury were frequently mentioned, but so were some less famous names. It was great to hear from the authors which included Christa Carmen, Tom Deady, Kristin Dearborn, Candace Nola, Errick Nunnally, Cynthia Pelayo, and Mercedes Yardley. While I’d love to go into serious detail about what each author had to say, this article would be very long and not ready for quite some time. The main takeaway is that The Rack is a richly diverse collection of stories both in contributing authors and the wide variety of their stories

Other features of the evening were the swag giveaway opportunities for non-authors to win nifty prizes like pens, journals, stickers, and even t-shirts with The Rack cover art on them. These mega-cool items were awarded to attendees who were able to name the author of The Rack story that Tom read aloud. The first person to do so won some great stuff! There was also a fun show and tell of favorite and unique books in the authors’ personal collections, featuring the funky, pulpy paperback covers of the 80’s along with a few books that never made it back to the library, presented by Errick Nunnally, that had a great story of their own. As the evening wound down, there were reading suggestions from many of the authors, and a discussion about who delivered and who just had nifty covers. We wrapped with a round up of what each contributing author was also doing. Overall, a great evening!

While your old pal Skull wasn’t an active participant, I truly enjoyed putting voices and faces to authors whose work I’ve read previously such Christa Carmen, Candace Nola, and Mercedes Yardley. I also dug meeting authors I wasn’t as familiar with, like Errick Nunnally. Can’t wait to read his story! Tom Deady is a very cool guy, and I’m cheered and inspired to know that he didn’t really get into writing horror until his 50’s because that’s where I am, working on making a comeback after mental health issues and disabilities crushed me like a bug in 2019. But this isn’t about me, it’s about a brand-new horror anthology with retro vibes that kicks ass. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer will be doing a review ASAP, but until then go get yourself a copy of THE RACK and start reading!

IN “A SCOUT IS BRAVE” WILL LUDWIGSEN AND LETHE PRESS TEAM UP TO BRING READERS A FANTASTIC TALE OF FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, AND FEAR THAT PICKS UP WHERE H.P. LOVECRAFT’S “A SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH” LEFT OFF

Leave a comment

A SCOUT IS BRAVE
Will Ludwigsen
July 1, 2024
Lethe Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello horror fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with a most excellent read to help you celebrate the recent birthday of H.P. Lovecraft. A Scout Is Brave by Will Ludwigsen ties in beautifully to Lovecraft’s novella A Shadow Over Innsmouth   and moves the action forward to 1963. The U.S. is in turmoil, with issues like the Vietnam war looming and events like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy stirring the pot, so it almost seems like a reprieve for the Castillo family when Dad is offered a job far away from Queens, NY. Not only that but the Innsmouth Oil Speculating Consortium is offering a hefty salary along with a rent-free house. Heck, they’re even paying moving expenses!

While that is pretty sweet for an out of work construction and demolition diver, it doesn’t take long for the Castillos to realize that Innsmouth, Massachusetts is one strange place. All the houses are boarded up, the population is tiny, and their leader is an eccentric preacher named Mr. Pritchett who keeps rattling on about “the deep ones” and “returning to glory.” Young Bud Castillo also finds out that everyone in town is elderly and there aren’t any other kids to play with. This is a major disappointment because he really wants to get a new Boy Scout troop going. Bud carries his handbook everywhere and strives to be the most all-American good guy that he can possibly be. Yeah, he has a temper sometimes, but so does his old man, who recently got fired from his job because the boss’ son left him in the Harlem River with no air to breathe.

Then, while walking around the dilapidated old town, Bud discovers a library. It’s all boarded up in front, so he goes around back hoping that there might be a way in. Just when he finds one, Aubrey Marsh practically drops right into his lap. While he’s small and a bit odd looking, Aubrey appears to be a real live boy. Things are looking up! With a couple more fellas, they’ll be able to put a Scout troop together in no time. Except that Aubrey is the only other kid in town. Still not daunted, Bud decides that they can still have their own sort of troop. Aubrey dives into the idea of becoming a boy scout with amazing enthusiasm and becomes solid friends with not only Bud, but his mother and dad, too. Sometimes he helps them understand the situation in Innsmouth. But others, he relies on them to help him with his quest for answers about what happened to the previous residents of the town.

Unfortunately, as Aubrey and Bud collect facts and start putting pieces of the puzzle together, the picture it reveals is an alarming one. Dad says that he doesn’t know exactly what the people of Innsmouth are doing with an oil drilling rig, but it certainly isn’t drilling for oil. Reverend Pritchett becomes even more animated as the work gets closer to completion, babbling about some kind of long-awaited reunion and eternal life. The townspeople follow suit, making things awkward. Then Mrs. Castillo gets kidnapped while Bud and his Dad are taken hostage. Suddenly the job is no longer a voluntary thing and Aubrey disappears. Will the Castillo family ever be reunited? Are the townspeople truly headed towards great glory, or something worse than death? Why is Mrs. Marsh such an excellent swimmer? And where the heck is Aubrey? As the novel rockets towards its explosive conclusion, all these questions and more will be answered! All you need to do is grab yourself a copy of A Scout Is Brave to get the scoop.  

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates A Scout Is Brave by Will Ludwigsen a BIG 5 STARS! Superbly written and perfectly connected to Lovecraft’s original concept of Innsmouth, it’s clear that Ludwigsen is very familiar with the Cthulu mythos. Like many good horror stories, A Scout Is Brave is also about accepting yourself and others for who they really are. Maybe you’re a Puerto Rican Jew from Queens, like Bud, or a half human-half amphibious creature from the sea who desperately wants to be a real boy. The best things in life are friends, because they’re the family we get to choose, or who chooses us. Too many blood families get hung up on stupid stuff like who a person should love, or what they’re career path is supposed to be, and the big icky one: religion. The truth is that no perfect race or life form exists in the universe. We all have flaws, but also a lot of good to offer others who can see past them. Worshipping a higher power is not always a good thing, especially when those powers are angry sea creatures that want to take over the world.

While A Scout Is Brave is listed as a YA read in some markets, this book is great for adults, too. Especially those of us who had a less than stellar childhood and were forced to move state to state after finally making a few friends. It is scary at times, but also full of love, and some really cool details that bring Innsmouth into the present day. It is also currently on sale at the Lethe Press’ website: www.lethepressbooks.com along with some other seriously boss titles. Your old pal Skull encourages you to pop on over there and take a look! While you’re checking out cool things, you might also enjoy visiting Will Ludwigsen’s page at: www.will-ludwigsen.com Thanks for visiting your old pal Skull and if you wouldn’t mind, give us a follow at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com

About the reviewer

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis