Pre-Approved for Haunting - A Bouquet of Horror
I eagerly reached out to Patrick Barb when I saw the cover and read the synopsis of Pre-Approved for Haunting and was kindly rewarded with a digital ARC.
A bouquet of horror concepts, these stories ensure that something for everyone finds its way home. Patrick's writing is a sparkle from a malignant eye. A flash of trickery that weaves a web of solemn undertones in some stories, yet nods to slasher movies and classic tales in others.
My personal favorites were:
Casual - You ever seek out friends online because your hobby is so eclectic? This one tops them all.
The Crack in the Ceiling - A world where people become stars in the most disturbing way and how that affects the survivors. I interpreted it as a metaphor for our perception of reality and loss.
Return to Voodoo Village - This one read like a story that should be a whole book. Voodoo Village is a nightmare dreamscape seen through an opaque window, and I'd love to see what else it offers one day.
Melvin and the Murder Crayon - A commentary on weapons in today's schools that will kick you when you're down and force you to face a brutal, real topic.
The Giallo Kid in the Cataclysm's Campgrounds - This was kind of funny. An ode to slashers. It begs the question: what if it got WORSE than just Jason from Friday the 13th being an unstoppable killing machine?
Richard Thomas has a foreword that hits the nail on the head for this collection, "There are stories in here that will stay with me for a long time. And yet... I feel like Patrick's best work may still be ahead of him."
Ensure you get Patrick Barb on your radar and pick this up when it becomes available in September 2023.
