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Nightscript #2
Nightscript Volume 2
Alternate cover edition for 9781537472164
An annual anthology of strange and darksome tales by twenty-one of the finest contemporary scribes. Michael Griffin, Kristi DeMeester, Christopher Slatsky, J.T. Glover, Eric J. Guignard, Malcolm Devlin, Gwendolyn Kiste, Ralph Robert Moore, Christopher Ropes, Steve Rasnic Tem, Jason A. Wyckoff, Gordon White, Nina Shepardson, Kurt Fawver, Rowley Amato, Charles Wilkinson, H.V. Chao, Daniel Mills, Rebecca J. Allred, Matthew M. Bartlett, José Cruz.
An annual anthology of strange and darksome tales by twenty-one of the finest contemporary scribes. Michael Griffin, Kristi DeMeester, Christopher Slatsky, J.T. Glover, Eric J. Guignard, Malcolm Devlin, Gwendolyn Kiste, Ralph Robert Moore, Christopher Ropes, Steve Rasnic Tem, Jason A. Wyckoff, Gordon White, Nina Shepardson, Kurt Fawver, Rowley Amato, Charles Wilkinson, H.V. Chao, Daniel Mills, Rebecca J. Allred, Matthew M. Bartlett, José Cruz.
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2016
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About the author
C.M. Muller
57 books44 followersI live in St. Paul, Minnesota with my wife and two sons—and, of course, all those quaint and curious volumes of forgotten lore. I am related to the Norwegian writer Jonas Lie and draw much inspiration from that scrivener of old. My tales have appeared in Shadows & Tall Trees, Supernatural Tales, Vastarien, and a host of other venues. In addition to writing, I also edit and publish the annual journal Nightscript. My debut story collection, Hidden Folk, was released in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 22, 2017
Editor C.M. Muller has produced a second spectacular volume of "strange and darksome tales," longer and arguably even better than the first. As in the first volume, speculative fiction veterans share space with newer authors for an excellent blend of stories. Steve Rasnic Tem's deeply personal and achingly sad "Apartment B" is but one highlight of the 21 stories included here. Other favorites of mine include "Phantom Airfields" (Christopher Slatsky), "Reasons I Hate My Big Sister" (Gwendolyn Kiste), "Understairs" (Jason A Wyckoff), "A Silence of Starlings" (Kurt Fawver), "From the Fertile Dark" (Rebecca J. Allred), and "Pause for Laughter" (José Cruz). Looking back over the TOC, I'm realizing that there really aren't any stories that didn't work for me.
Also as before, Muller gives the book a clean and reader-friendly layout, attractive and elegant without being overly designed, and well past the usual standards for a small press book. Fortunately for us, Nightscript is intended to be an annual anthology. Plans for a Volume 3 have already been announced, and I am already eagerly awaiting it.
Also as before, Muller gives the book a clean and reader-friendly layout, attractive and elegant without being overly designed, and well past the usual standards for a small press book. Fortunately for us, Nightscript is intended to be an annual anthology. Plans for a Volume 3 have already been announced, and I am already eagerly awaiting it.
December 2, 2016
This anthology (as well as volume 1) has introduced to writers I would not likely encounter elsewhere. Volume 1 got me hooked on Daniel Mills, Kristi DeMeester, and Charles Wilkerson. This years volume turned me onto Jason Wyckoff. As with all anthologies, not every story is to my taste, but I'm eager to see who I will get turned onto in next year's volume 3.
Buy this anthology (both volumes) for someone who likes the weird.
Buy this anthology (both volumes) for someone who likes the weird.
November 25, 2016
Darkly refreshing...
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this second volume of Nightscript. I felt the content actually came in a step above the previous issue.
One of the biggest things that impressed me was the editor's choice in stories. This anthology, unlike many anthologies I've read, wasn't characterized by an overbearing presence of author favoritism--to the point of providing diminishing returns, in terms of story quality. Hence the word "refreshing," I applaud Mr. Muller's effort to present stories based entirely upon their merit. This seems to be the benchmark Nightscript has set for itself, and I hope it continues this way.
Of the stories, there was certainly a mixed bag, which I think holds to tradition for any good anthology, regardless of theme or genre. I appreciate an editor's choice to present a variety of literary styles within a volume, which Mr. Muller certainly did. Although I can't say I liked all of the stories in this anthology, I do like what the editor has done. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
The range in these stories ran from tenuously weird, to outright horror. In my opinion, I sometimes feel that the "weird" genre is often represented by stories that are either entirely plot-less and nonsensical; or meaningful to the said genre only at the very end. Nothing makes me want to spoon my eyeballs out more than when I read 29 pages of mindless, god-forsaken boredom, and then 1 page (the last page) of pure shock and awe. (So why do I keep doing it, you might ask?) Again, this is just my lousy opinion only, and please forgive my digression. But the point, is that Nightscript 2 contains this "mixed bag" of stories, a complete variety, which I find highly admirable--even if I don't like them all. (I am aware that just because I don't enjoy the urge to disengage my optical nerves, doesn't mean that others feel the same.) But for even the stories that I did not like--nay, HATED--they were admittedly very well written.
Ultimately, there were plenty of stories in this volume that I found highly entertaining, well worth the buy. And as an additional bonus, the presentation was truly satisfying--which seems to be another benchmark Mr. Muller has set for himself. The editing was borderline flawless, the book itself was aesthetically pleasing (it even smelled good), and the artwork was original. Combined, that's why I am forced (with gun to my head--someone please help me!) to give this anthology a 4 star review.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this second volume of Nightscript. I felt the content actually came in a step above the previous issue.
One of the biggest things that impressed me was the editor's choice in stories. This anthology, unlike many anthologies I've read, wasn't characterized by an overbearing presence of author favoritism--to the point of providing diminishing returns, in terms of story quality. Hence the word "refreshing," I applaud Mr. Muller's effort to present stories based entirely upon their merit. This seems to be the benchmark Nightscript has set for itself, and I hope it continues this way.
Of the stories, there was certainly a mixed bag, which I think holds to tradition for any good anthology, regardless of theme or genre. I appreciate an editor's choice to present a variety of literary styles within a volume, which Mr. Muller certainly did. Although I can't say I liked all of the stories in this anthology, I do like what the editor has done. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
The range in these stories ran from tenuously weird, to outright horror. In my opinion, I sometimes feel that the "weird" genre is often represented by stories that are either entirely plot-less and nonsensical; or meaningful to the said genre only at the very end. Nothing makes me want to spoon my eyeballs out more than when I read 29 pages of mindless, god-forsaken boredom, and then 1 page (the last page) of pure shock and awe. (So why do I keep doing it, you might ask?) Again, this is just my lousy opinion only, and please forgive my digression. But the point, is that Nightscript 2 contains this "mixed bag" of stories, a complete variety, which I find highly admirable--even if I don't like them all. (I am aware that just because I don't enjoy the urge to disengage my optical nerves, doesn't mean that others feel the same.) But for even the stories that I did not like--nay, HATED--they were admittedly very well written.
Ultimately, there were plenty of stories in this volume that I found highly entertaining, well worth the buy. And as an additional bonus, the presentation was truly satisfying--which seems to be another benchmark Mr. Muller has set for himself. The editing was borderline flawless, the book itself was aesthetically pleasing (it even smelled good), and the artwork was original. Combined, that's why I am forced (with gun to my head--someone please help me!) to give this anthology a 4 star review.
January 25, 2021
This mighty weird story ends a mighty weird book. Weirdness with truth at its heart. The color of the carnival clown.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
January 5, 2021
Great collection of really creepy subtle, horror.
April 8, 2018
Meant to write this review earlier, as this anthology book was a gem. Psychological dark and eerie fiction unlike most “standard fare” on the market. Some of my favorites were the stories by Steve Rasnic Tem (as always), Rebecca Allred, and Eric J. Guignard.
February 14, 2017
More delicious weird tales from a variety of authors. Some of whom gush strangeness from every pen stroke, others of whom simply speckle a drop or two into the fabric of the story, letting the drop (or two) slowly seep in.
Very much looking forward to October, when Volume 3 (which will contain a story of mine within its pages) is released.
Very much looking forward to October, when Volume 3 (which will contain a story of mine within its pages) is released.
August 27, 2017
I found the second volume of Nightscript a little weaker than the first, though this may be due to my own personal preference as the stories here trend more towards the weird than outright horror. My favorite stories in the collection were "As Summer's Mask Slips", "No Abiding Place on Earth", and "Pause for Laughter".
May 4, 2017
Excellent anthology of well written horror.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews