David reviewed Unseaming by Mike Allen
Review of 'Unseaming' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Really well-written and amazingly creepy stories.
Paperback, 222 pages
Published Oct. 1, 2014 by Antimatter Press.
Unseaming
by Mike Allen
5 stars
(2 reviews)
Jim Rion reviewed Unseaming by Mike Allen
Review of 'Unseaming' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
An exceptionally creepy collection of cosmic and body horror.
I'd never heard of Mike Allen before, but I read a comment on Goodreads comparing him to other authors I like so I took a chance, and I'm glad I did.
This collection demonstrates a really strong, unique voice. Allen's stories hover somewhere near the border between Lovecraft and Cronenburg, where horror is rooted within our own bodies, our dreams, and the possibility that we ourselves could be the gateways to something vastly more dangerous. However, he takes what could be familiar tropes and twists them to fit his own ends.
The real standout stories to me are THE BLESSED DAYS, BUTTON BIN, and THE QUILTMAKER.
The first is the most explicitly Lovecraftian story, dealing with dreams as a gateway between worlds, but with a truly grotesque conceit: everyone, all over the world, stops dreaming and instead, wakes up covered in …
An exceptionally creepy collection of cosmic and body horror.
I'd never heard of Mike Allen before, but I read a comment on Goodreads comparing him to other authors I like so I took a chance, and I'm glad I did.
This collection demonstrates a really strong, unique voice. Allen's stories hover somewhere near the border between Lovecraft and Cronenburg, where horror is rooted within our own bodies, our dreams, and the possibility that we ourselves could be the gateways to something vastly more dangerous. However, he takes what could be familiar tropes and twists them to fit his own ends.
The real standout stories to me are THE BLESSED DAYS, BUTTON BIN, and THE QUILTMAKER.
The first is the most explicitly Lovecraftian story, dealing with dreams as a gateway between worlds, but with a truly grotesque conceit: everyone, all over the world, stops dreaming and instead, wakes up covered in blood.
The other two, BUTTON BIN, and THE QUILTMAKER, are linked stories about secrets, family, and the skin we live in. They are some of the most original stories I've read in years.
The collection is overall well-written, in a direct, clear style. It isn't excessively gory or violent.
I'll be looking for more from Mr. Allen for sure!