Dark Demons

Rating:
Summary: Worth a look!
Review: As Michael Arnzen accurately notes in his enthusiastic introduction, most of the stories in Dark Demons seem to be inspired by loss, whether it be the loss of a loved one, a loss of identity, or perhaps most disturbingly, a loss of humanity. Thus, it's appropriate that a story like "Something Profound" opens this collection. The tale of a son coming to terms with his father's painful and difficult legacy, it deals with the myriad emotions engendered by the death of a parent, and how parents influence the lives of their children in countless (and, in this case chilling) ways.

"Something Profound' is only one example of Newton's seeming preoccupation with loss. "Angels of Mercy, Angels of Grief" tells the tale of a husband who gets an unwelcome glimpse into the workings of existence after his wife is killed in a car accident. "Work of Art" addresses the sacrifices artists make for their craft. "The Pit" deals with surrendering to the whims of the masses, and "The Banana Man" focuses on loss of sanity.

Along with the sense of loss, each story includes an odd sense of inevitability, a pervasive feeling that things will end badly. This is particularly evident in tales like "Waves," "The Mothering Hole," "Puppies for Sale," and "In the Name of Love," stories that would likely provide Newton's psychologist adequate fodder for multiple sessions, the (Clive) Barkeresque "Better Red and Diamond Eyes," and "The Mole Trap" which will probably remind most readers of Stephen King's classic, "The Ledge."

A handful of misfires blemish this otherwise worthy collection, most notably the simple minded "Do They Bury Their Dead," the brief, dismissible "The Face," and the familiar and predictable "Secrets...Like Bones in Slippery Dirt," 'The Afghan," and "The Bleeding of Mary Cross. " Although their presence diminishes the collection's overall impact, their negative effect is minimal, as Newton is worth reading even when he's not at the top of his form. He shows a fine eye for detail, populating his stories with edgy characters forced to handle the dark curves life hurls at them. Dark Demons artfully takes readers on a long, strange trip into the corners of a demented universe-arrange a visit soon as possible.