Book Review : It was a Dark and Stormy Night (Pill Hill Press)

It was a Dark and Stormy Night is a collection of horror parodies, edited by Shane McKenie and released by Pill Hill Press in June 2011.

I would like to begin this review by saying that the book's cover is magnificent. The colorfully cartoonish wraparound art work perfectly portrays the book's general cliche-on-purpose theme, which I found both interesting and intriguing. As I began to turn the pages of this anthology, I found myself following a group of writers set loose with elementary school ruler stakes and sticks to wander through ancient Indian burial grounds and weird towns while surrounded by vampires, zombies, serial killers, bimbos, jocks, and Satan himself. I could almost hear the wrbling, synthesized soundtrack and smell the 1980s Aqua Net hairspray in the air.

The following passage was taken from the back cover of the book:

When it comes to cliches, the horror genre is stuffed so full the seams are breaking. What used to shock and horrify us now only induces disappointment and laughter. So, the only thing to do is embrace the comedy of it all. This collection will tickle your funny bone, then snap it in half and suck out the marrow. If you don't laugh, you're probably dead.

I enjoyed this book, was genuinely amused by several of the stories, and even found myself laughing out loud while reading a select few. There were some awkward moments nestled amid the pages, but the good definitely outweighs the bad when it omes to the 20 tales offered by It was a Dark and Stormy Night.

If you are a fan of (or are even familiar with) horror movies, then you'll understand why the characters in this collection investigate strange noises and weird houses in spite of the obvious danger lurking among the creepy shadows. IQs drop by several points when stoned teenagers run upstairs instead of outdoors and stop to ask for directions in desolate rural areas. Although some of the writers worked too strenuosuly to show their readers that their stories are spoofs, some even going as far as to point the fact out, many of the stories have taken subtle and very effective jabs at the horror genre.

Editing: Shane McKenzie did a commendable job compiling these stories for Pill Hill Press, although I would have preferred to read a more attention-grabbing story first. Very important if you want someone to continue reading the book.

Presentation: Excellent. Fantastic, eye-catching cover. Back cover blurb would definitely lead me to read It was a Dark and Stormy Night. Good quality paperback, although I would like to see it pressed in trade paperback size.

Price: High, but as expected from a POD book. Weighing quality and quantity against price, I would say the book is well worth your hard-earned money.

Recommend it? Yes, I would.

OVERALL RATING

                

4 out of 5 Flying Monkeys

It was a Dark and Stormy Night, Copyright June 2011 Pill Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-61706-084-7

To read specific story reviews, please click the title links to the right.