(art by Nick Wanserski)

It has been a  wretched year politically, and not so hot when it comes to health, career, and the writing front. I didn’t get much out there, though I seem to be averaging about four stories a year–a pittance compared to what I see others doing. But those publications I made it into were of such quality I’m very pleased to have been a part of them. Quantity over quality. At least that’s what I keep telling myself!

I was typing up a list of names to thank, but it became too extensive and I fear I’d leave someone out. So suffice it to say those I have in mind are probably aware I have them in mind, and if not, life is that much more interesting with ambiguity. So a big thank you to those who made 2016 better than it had any right to be!

THE SECRET OF VENTRILOQUISM offers up nine nightmarish tales that touch upon body horror, philosophical terror, the mystery of puppets, and an accumulation of dread that at times threatens to become all consuming. Each tale is connected in what feels more like a shared nightmare than geographical shared-world, overlapping and referencing places and names and incidents, accentuating the sensation that the reader is being yanked down into a chasm of the author’s design. The whole effect is one of a sleeper unable to wake from encroaching nightmares. What an astonishingly exciting debut.

The limited edition hardback with gorgeous Dave Felton art is sold out, but the trade paperback can be pre-ordered from Dunhams Manor Press, and the volume should also be available via Amazon by the end of the month.

Contains:

Introduction by Matt Cardin

The Mindfulness of Horror Practice

Murmurs of a Voice Foreknown

The Indoor Swamp

Origami Dreams

20 Simple Steps to Ventriloquism

Infusorium

Organ Void

The Secret of Ventriloquism

Escape to Thin Mountain

I can’t possibly cover every title I read in 2016, even if I narrowed it down to my favorites. But what I can do is emphasize the books that I was not only captivated by, but those that deserve a much wider audience than someone as unknown as I am capable of gathering. But I have to do my small part…

Kristine Ong Muslim’s Age of Blight is a wonderful collection, full of brief, strange and poetic vignettes. The slim volume is separated by four sections: Animals, Children, Instead of Human, and the Age of Blight.

Animals, as the name implies, focuses on non-human creatures. With references to Harry Harlow’s infamous experiments (“The Wire Mother”), and the first creature to orbit Earth (“The Ghost of Laika Encounters a Satellite”), these give an idea of the atmosphere Muslim creates. And while these stories happen to be the two I found to be the most poignant, they all left a profound impression.

Children explores the world of childhood cruelty, fears and superstition. “The Playground” and “Dominic and Dominic” stayed with me fervently, though again, they all linger in various degrees.

Instead of Human includes a harrowing depiction of disease and entropy, “There’s No Relief as Wondrous as Seeing Yourself Intact,” highlighting Muslim’s uniquely skill in amalgamating philosophical concepts, science fiction, and emotional turmoil. This is merely one example I chose to convey how compelling the whole thing is, but I’ll move to the next.

The Age of Blight’s stories conclude by depicting an End of the World scenario by asteroid impact. I could ramble on and on, but I’ll conclude by saying that “The First Ocean” alone is such a powerful depiction of cosmic terror I’m not sure I can come up with anything comparable.

Every story here offers its own apocalyptic and grim view of humanity’s brutality, while remaining emotionally profound and haunting the reader long after finishing the book. Each tale works as its own, concise, potent thing, but the cumulative effect of the collection builds like a catalytic reaction. A brilliant collection.

I’ve been terribly derelict in posting about the recent authors I’ve enjoyed reading, so I hope to make some amends starting today. There’s been such a wealth of interesting fiction from the small presses lately it’s difficult to find the time to keep up. But Jonathan Raab’s The Lesser Swamp Gods of Little Dixie (Muzzleland Press) is well worth your time.

A loose sequel to The Hillbilly Moonshine Massacre that can be read independently without losing the reader, but definitely worth seeking out as well, it follows the continuing adventures of Sheriff Kotto, a conspiracy obsessed radio show host and dabbler in all things occult and eldritch. And by “all things,” I mean everything from malefic maize (you’ll understand later), to the fallout from a history drenched in racism.

Where to start? The Lesser Swamp Gods of Little Dixie is chock full o’ pulp strangeness delivered with self-aware wit that’s never condescending, but a tip o’ the hat to its influences. Raab writes crisp, sharp prose laced with a weirdness and humor that reminds me of Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard, injected with the convoluted conspiratorial rants from a long lost episode of X-Files, while In Search Of plays in the background.

But this is Raab’s  game through and through; there’s nothing even approaching pastiche or a slapdash imitation between these pages. It’s a unique ride, and the whole story is delivered with a sincere emotional core without any trace of a false, tongue-in-cheek attempt at being clever. This novel delivers genuine terror, humor, and a kind of joy in storytelling that sweeps the reader along.

Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we see of Sheriff Cecil Kotto.

As far as stories go, 2016 wasn’t my most productive year, but what it lacked in quantity it managed to more than surpass in quality publications. Alectryomancer and Other Weird Tales didn’t win any awards or garner widespread attention over the year, but it’s the avant-garde cult oddity that continues to challenge readers and draw in more of an audience 16-months in. But my story “Loveliness Like a Shadow” managed to make it into Year’s Best Weird Fiction vol. 3, so I consider that a gleaming trophy of an accomplishment. I am so very grateful to Simon Strantzas and Michael Kelly for the opportunity. It’s no secret I think Strantzas is one of the most important voices in horror fiction today, and while Kelly’s Undertow Publications is leagues ahead of other publishers, Kelly himself is also a vastly underrated author. Far too much talent up there in Canada these days.

Speaking of my collection, Justine Steele‘s positive review of it popped up on episode #28 of Scott Nicolay‘s Outer Dark podcast back on the 21st of January. The episode is not currently available, but I believe it will eventually be archived at This is Horror. If not, it was nice to hear the book spoken about favorably from Mr. Steele. Greatly appreciated.

The incomparable Des Lewis included Alectryomancer and Other Weird Tales in his Gestalt Real-Time Reviews. What an absolute honor and thrill. Better yet, he liked it! “Why have not got to this author before now? Now he’s got to me,” has to be one of my favorite quotes. Thank you Des.

Reviews for my collection were posted at Ginger Nuts of Horror, the Lovecraft eZine, and Southern Nights. I was also interviewed at the Lovecraft eZine (thank you Acep!), and contributed to the “What Does ‘Cosmic Horror’ Mean? Five Horror Writers Weigh In”. And of course several reviews this year at the usual places like Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you all.

“Phantom Airfields” appeared in Nightscript vol. 2 back in October. I’m a big C.M. Muller admirer–both his writing and publishing skills are exemplary. It was an absolute joy to be in this one with such an array of talented authors.

My story “Devil Gonna Catch You in the Corners” appeared in Strange Aeons Magazine, issue #20. It’s my tip of the hat to New England and the Pacific Northwest, the fiction of Jon Padgett, Daniel Mills, and Matthew Bartlett. I hope they’re not offended. I’m not sure how much of a readership it attracted, but I rather enjoyed writing it and hope to visit Oregon and its environs circa 18__ again. Thank you Kelly Young and Justin Steele!

And my story “Eternity Lie in its Radius” made it into the Lost Signals anthology last July. My contribution didn’t make a big splash, but it was a pleasure to be involved with Max Booth III and Lorie Michelle’s Perpetual Motion Machine publishing. Thank you both.

And in conclusion, thank you to everyone who read, commented, and offered support this year. Further thanks to those who continue to write their own wonderful, strange and captivating stories. I look forward to reading more of what you have to offer.