Rating: 
Summary: over-rated?
Review: Considering the number of good reviews his short stories have gotten, I expected a lot more from this book. For the most part, the stories do not live up to the hype-- the writing was undistinguished, and many of the plots were too obvious or just left me scratching my head in bewilderment. Some of them rambled on aimlessly or dwelt too heavily on basic racial conflicts. Of the 22 stories in this collection, the only ones I really enjoyed were "Pop is Real Smart", "The Call", and "Other Advantages".
Rating:
Summary: over-rated?
Review: Considering the number of good reviews his short stories have gotten, I expected a lot more from this book. For the most part, the stories do not live up to the hype-- the writing was undistinguished, and many of the plots were too obvious or just left me scratching my head in bewilderment. Some of them rambled on aimlessly or dwelt too heavily on basic racial conflicts. Of the 22 stories in this collection, the only ones I really enjoyed were "Pop is Real Smart", "The Call", and "Other Advantages".
Rating: 
Summary: Kickass!
Review: I love each and every story in this collection! All of them sucked me in and I got to meet so many different people and go to so many different places! I'm fairly socially out of the loop so that's saying something. Mort Castle is definately one of the reasons if not the reason I decided to get into Horror Writing. And stuff like this reminds me of how great Mort Castle really is.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Author
Review: I've read many of Mort Castle's works for years. Each one either terrifies, touches or invokes some other powerful emotion in me. The man can create an image that is so real you can smell it. A credit to the horror genre - just wait for the chills and goosebumps.
Rating: 
Summary: has its ups, has its downs
Review: MOON ON THE WATER is like a meal with a delicious first course, while the rest is bland and tasteless. The collection starts off with some very good stories: a dying robber thinks of his father during his last moments; a delusional man spends half his waking hours in a fantasy world; a child's jealousy of his newborn brother grows; a man entertains a little girl who may or may not be his own. Most of them are short, and they have a satisfying bite to them.After these, the book takes a different track. There are a few gems buried in the remainder, but too much of it consists of confused, disconnected ramblings. Many of them, even the straightforward ones, simply left me shaking my head. In addition, a number of stories couldn't be classified as horror even under the broadest definition, though I wouldn't have minded if they'd been better. Overall, a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: About half-decent
Review: MOON ON THE WATER is like a meal with a delicious first course, while the rest is bland and tasteless. The collection starts off with some very good stories: a dying robber thinks of his father during his last moments; a delusional man spends half his waking hours in a fantasy world; a child's jealousy of his newborn brother grows; a man entertains a little girl who may or may not be his own. Most of them are short, and they have a satisfying bite to them. After these, the book takes a different track. There are a few gems buried in the remainder, but too much of it consists of confused, disconnected ramblings. Many of them, even the straightforward ones, simply left me shaking my head. In addition, a number of stories couldn't be classified as horror even under the broadest definition, though I wouldn't have minded if they'd been better. Overall, a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: has its ups, has its downs
Review: One story in this collection alone is worth the price of admission. "The Running Horse, the High White Sound" is one of the best stories I've come across in years. I won't spoil it for you, so you'll have to trust me. But it really got to me. On the other hand, there are stories that simply left me scratching my head wondering why they were even included in the book. You could skip "With Father, at the Zoo, then Home" and "FDR: A Love Story" and not even feel bad for doint it. But don't you dare skip "A Someday Movie". Buy it. I don't think you'll be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: A collection of tales laced with dark humor
Review: These aren't really "horror stories" per se, but tales laced with dark humor and subtle psychological horror. Castle is indeed a master of the short story; this being my first time having read him. He is adept at describing real life in everytown USA. "If you take my Hand, My son" is one of the better stories about a son thinking about his dead father in a coma and a terrifying conclusion. Kind of like G'n'R's hit song, "Coma." "Buckeye Jim in Egypt" is another tale that is awesome. It talks of our society, racism, and the story about a wandering man with supernatural powers. "Moon on the Water" is the title story and is an interesting read about jazz musicians who become entwined with a rich girl with an adrenaline rush-attitude. A good story. "Altenmoor, Where the Dogs Dance" is also an interesting read about a boy and his grandfather who know about the afterlife. A solid collection from a great writer!!!
Rating:
Summary: Short Stories ... Long Thoughts
Review: This is a book that you won't read in one sitting. The stories are short and the book is thin, but the writing in each story will grab you and hold on for a while. I read the first story, "If You Take My Hand, My Son," in a half hour. In ten short pages Mr. Castle made me care about this young man, brought tears to my ears and a shiver to my spine. There were moments I could almost hear the father's voice! I closed the book because I needed a moment to sit with the story. Each story has it's own personality and calls the reader into a different kind of relationship. I spent an enjoyable time with some heroin-shooting jazzmen, some thought-provoking time in Southern Illinois and several very disconcerting moments inside Henderson's head. This isn't just great horror writing, it's simply great storytelling! This is a book to own ... you're going to want to visit these stories several times. This is the first book by this author that I've read; it won't be the last!
Rating:
Summary: Moon
Review: This is a well written collection of short stories. There's very little supernatural content but the horror is firm. This writer's style is mainstream and as far as the writer's personal ability to write, I'd give him ten stars if possible. Though I found many of these stories very satisfying, I found the theme of some a bit thin. But five stars for style. Worth a read...........................
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