Vivisections

Rating:
Summary: The Horror Inside
Review: There is a thing these days when it comes to anthologies that gets on my nerves. It seems that they always have to have some sort of theme to link the stories together. That's why I was so pleased with William P. Simmons's Vivisections; this is one anthology that isn't about theme. It isn't about trying to link the stories together in a coherent way. It's about presenting great horror stories that touch the entire spectrum.

Here, you will find horror's top new voices (and some old ones) doing what they do best: scare us. The best stories in this one come from Scott Nicholson (Doomsday's Diary), Gary A. Braunbeck (Duty), Tim Lebbon (Unto Us) and Michael Laimo (The Rash). These are four of the best authors in the field right now, and their stories are not to be missed. See the pros at their very best.

But an anthology is also a great way to discover new talents, a thing Vivisections did quite well. Simon Wood's Warning Signs is a fun, holds-no-barrels story that delivers the goods. Ron J. Horsley's The Theater At The End Of The World is a nostalgic piece that is both dream and haunting. And Dean H. Wild's The Kid is a very affecting little story that is powerful on a psychological level.

It's rare to find an anthology where you can call all the stories good or great. There isn't a single bad story in this one; just a few stories that are a little less good compared to the amazing ones to be found in these pages.

Vivisection is the first of what will probably become one of horror's most celebrated anthologies. Don't let the first installment pass you by. There is a piece for every taste in this great anthology.