Tag Archives: Paul Walther

Hauntings edited by Ellen Datlow

Overview
Hauntings: Datlow, Ellen: 9781616960889: Amazon.com: Books

Title: Hauntings
Author: Ellen Datlow, Pat Cadigan, Dale Bailey, E. Michael Lewis, Lucius Shepard, David Morrell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Carroll, Terry Dowling, Paul Walther, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Connie Willis, Stephen Gallagher, Michael Marshall Smith, Richard Bowes, James P. Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Gemma Files, Kelly Link, Adam L.G. Nevill & Peter Straub
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, HorrorShort story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This is, as with all Ellen Datlow collections, seriously fun and enjoyable. The fact that this fantastic collection is full of seriously creepy stories made it that much more enjoyable. Mostly because it’s out of my usual genre of choice. Horror and ghost stories might not be quite my usual speed, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t love reading this collection!

Although I really enjoyed reading all of these short stories, I did find that this was not an anthology I should be reading late at night. Or when I was home alone. Whilst some of the stories were kind of mild and not too terrifying, some made it really difficult to sleep after turning the final page. Or just made it difficult to turn off the lights. Which is why this took me a little bit longer to read than I had anticipated.

Hauntings runs the gambit of horror and ghost stories, from horrible hauntings to stories that had a little bit more hope at the end. They made me feel all of the feelings, and I would most definitely read this collection again in the future.

<- The First Lunar HalloweenEenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie ->

Image source: Amazon

The Toll by Paul Walther

Overview
Hauntings: Datlow, Ellen: 9781616960889: Amazon.com: Books

Title: The Toll
Author: Paul Walther
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Thoughts

There is always something disgusting about a man twenty-odd years senior to a young woman hitting on her. It’s always uncomfortable and it’s always unwanted. At least, that’s my approach. And this short story just took it that little step further in the freaky, ick factor.

I figured from the very beginning that the female lead was likely to be the victim. In some way, shape or form. I mean, she’s a blonde lifeguard in the prime of life about to leave forever and start life anew. If that’s not the typical/expected victim, then who is? And, I was right. Not going to lie, I had kind of hoped that I would be wrong. But it was still an unsettling and intriguing story.

Like all of the short stories in Hauntings, this left me feeling kind of unsettled. And intrigued. And remembering not to read these stories late at night…

<- The FoolyThe Pennine Tower Restaurant ->

Image source: Amazon