Table of Contents
Infantophobia
Having A Bad Day
Empty Souls, Drowning
Dead Skin
Speckles
Up For Anything
Together Forever
The Darkest Hour
The City In The Rain
Dreaming Of A Black Christmas
Beach
plus - A Quiet Weekend Away
Story Notes
Publishing History
Story Notes
Publishing History
About the collection...
Originally published by Rainfall Books in December 2003, the collection was well received and picked up some nice reviews and, more importantly, sold out - which I was really pleased about.
It hasn't been available since 2004, though second hand copies do occasionally surface and often for much more than the original cost (I assume the higher priced ones command such a fee because they’re among the few that are unsigned).
This Tenth Anniversary edition, from PenMan Press, is a facsimile of the original Rainfall Books version, with the addition of an introduction and a bonus short story “A Quiet Weekend Away” (which originally appeared in Terror Tales 4). I have resisted the urge to update the stories - so Internet use isn’t widespread, mobile phones are basic and not at all smart and there aren’t many digital cameras - and I’ve also carried over the original artwork (if it ain’t broke…).
What others had to say at the time...
Mark West’s crisp economic style reels you straight in, and the horror hits you hard and quickly and refuses to lay off. He writes from the dark underside of our everyday human existence, calling on the sort of personal demons one could easily imagine lying in wait for any one of us. Tread here at your peril…”
- Paul Finch, author of “Stalkers” and “Sacrifice”
Mark West is an excellent, young writer. His compelling stories have a well-crafted, slowly-increasing sense of tension and dread, sometimes with a hint of creepy paranoia reminiscent of Phillip K. Dick mixed in, the endings always abrupt and chilling, like an unexpected splash in the face with ice water.
- Gene O’Neill, author of “The Burden Of Indigo” and “The Taste Of Tenderloin”
Mark West is a powerful and unique voice in horror literature. ‘Strange Tales’ is a chilling masterpiece of spine-tingling stories!
- T.M. Gray, author of “Feast Of Faust”
Mark West's Strange Tales are stronger, more gristly meat. His simple, unembellished style belies the often visceral subjects, imparting compassion and logic to a series of abnormal psychopaths and deranged souls. If you're at all squeamish, look away now...
- Simon Morden, author of “The Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy”
ebook built by Tim C. Taylor at Greyhart Press
Pick up the paperback version of the book from Lulu.com here
What others had to say at the time...
Mark West’s crisp economic style reels you straight in, and the horror hits you hard and quickly and refuses to lay off. He writes from the dark underside of our everyday human existence, calling on the sort of personal demons one could easily imagine lying in wait for any one of us. Tread here at your peril…”
- Paul Finch, author of “Stalkers” and “Sacrifice”
Mark West is an excellent, young writer. His compelling stories have a well-crafted, slowly-increasing sense of tension and dread, sometimes with a hint of creepy paranoia reminiscent of Phillip K. Dick mixed in, the endings always abrupt and chilling, like an unexpected splash in the face with ice water.
- Gene O’Neill, author of “The Burden Of Indigo” and “The Taste Of Tenderloin”
Mark West is a powerful and unique voice in horror literature. ‘Strange Tales’ is a chilling masterpiece of spine-tingling stories!
- T.M. Gray, author of “Feast Of Faust”
Mark West's Strange Tales are stronger, more gristly meat. His simple, unembellished style belies the often visceral subjects, imparting compassion and logic to a series of abnormal psychopaths and deranged souls. If you're at all squeamish, look away now...
- Simon Morden, author of “The Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy”
ebook built by Tim C. Taylor at Greyhart Press
Pick up the paperback version of the book from Lulu.com here
