We Make Monsters Here by Richard Newby

 

In a country built on dreams, nightmares swell beneath the surface. Monsters face job insecurity in a new age. A group of former friends gather for one last game. A pizza delivery driver’s search for the ultimate high becomes an odyssey in body horror. Romance blossoms between a DJ and a woman who wants to be dinner. A soldier returns home from war but isn’t what he seems. The lessons learned at a family dinner have bloody consequences. History darkens the present as an underground boxing match leads a young woman to a path of destruction.

These stories and more sift through the pieces of 21st century American wreckage as the pursuit for identity and belonging take dark twists of fate. Discover what we’ve sown in this place we call home. Discover what happens when a society based on winning ultimately loses. Discover the truth, that above all else, We Make Monsters Here.

This dark collection of grim stories contain an eclectic mix of humor, horror, sci-fi and parable. Most of the monsters are of the human variety. While not every story was a big hit with me, the reason I ended up giving this book a 5 star rating was because the stories that I did love, were so crazy over the top good. The kind that make me wish somebody in Hollywood would pick up a book once in a while, and read a new author instead of rehashing sequels and remaking played out tired plots.

My favorites in this collection were A Dinner Date, in which a lonely young woman who is obsessed with a strange fetish thinks she has finally found the man who can fulfill her bizarre desire.

The Weed, which brought to mind two things from the 80s, a combination of Nancy Reagan telling me to just say no to drugs and Stephen King's comedic portrayal of Jordy in Creepshow, although the moral of the story delves deeper.

What I Learned About Ghosts off Route 64 shows that sometimes people are not haunted by ghosts, but by the actions of other people.

In Doughboy A man brings home a toy that can feed on and mirror the values he and his wife have passed on to their children.

War Mother is a heartbreaking reminder that the casualties of war don't just occur on the battlefield but continue long after the war has ended, and can spread to those who never fought.

The final story Black-Bone Pit was in my opinion the star of the show. It is a visceral tale that put me through a wringer of emotions. It is one of my favorite types of horror, full of small town secrets built on a dark history of evil. In the end, justice delayed does not always mean justice denied.

 5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy for review

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About the author

Richard Newby is an author and pop culture journalist covering film, television, comic books, and horror. His coverage has appeared at The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, and Fangoria. He resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and son, along with their cat and dog.

Twitter: @RICHARDLNEWBY