Review: Undercroft Stories

Undercroft Stories
by
T H Davis
Available from the author by email request to:
horror.writer@yahoo.co.uk


In a nutshell: if you like short horror stories that are charged with atmosphere and urge you to turn the page to find out what happens next, then this is the book for you.

It's rare to find an anthology where all the stories are good.
TH Davis's Undercroft Stories is one of those rarities.
Every story is a winner.  I read this with a mixture of creeping unease and mounting excitement, hoping with the end of each great story, another was going to follow.  I was never disappointed.

As you read, it's as if Davis is standing next to you, his arm around your shoulder, walking you through the Undercroft, pointing out the people and places that populate it, thrilling to your reactions as the tales unfold.

After reading Black Lodge, you will never look at shadows again the same way.
In Unholy Rosary, an abandoned (and some say desecrated) convent becomes the stage for one man's descent into madness.
Oubliette serves up a chilling tale, full of claustrophobia and inevitability.
Pay the Ferryman is a harrowing take on the revenge from the grave story.
Once you've read Beneath the Water, you may think twice the next time you go to a secluded fishing spot.
Thy Will Be Done shows us what happens when we don't take something seriously, resulting in horrible consequences.
And finally, Prayer to Demugrah'keh illustrates what tampering with archaeological artifacts can cause.

Each story is atmospheric and finely crafted, with characters that, in such a short format, come to vivid life.
TH Davis is a master at crafting stories that scare and leave you breathless and wanting more.

This young author (he's only 24) has a long and prolific career ahead of him and needs a publisher sooner than later.I don't want to compare him to any one else out there, because it's apparent he has a voice all his own.
I cannot wait to see what he does with a fully fleshed out novel.

For more information on TH Davis, please visit:
http://www.myspace.com/davishorror
http://twitter.com/thdavishorror
http://www.facebook.com/pages/T-H-Davis/394482240658

Review: A Dozen Dark Dimensions

A Dozen Dark Dimensions by
TH Davis
Available via free download as a PDF on Lulu.com

In a nutshell: if you like quick, eerie short stories that are rich on atmosphere, this is a book for you.

First of all, I need to go on record here as saying one way literary horror has thrived since the 1980's is via the short story format.
It has been my experience over the years that more interesting horror often found expression that way, as opposed to the novel.
That and publishers decided it was easier to put together anthologies than take chances on brand new horror authors, preferring to stay with the sure things, i.e., Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice, and VC Andrews.

TH Davis has chosen the short story format to show off his writing skills and I have to say, he hits the mark most of the time.

Highlights are: It Brings A Nightmare, in which an aspiring guitar player brings home a new guitar which brings with it more than the promise of fame and fortune; Klever, Davis's tip o' the hat to Stephen King's IT - creepy as all get out; The Graves Unmarked, which finds a newly appointed cemetery keeper who becomes "cemetery proud" getting a little more to over see than he bargained for; and Blind Faith, finding an 18h birthday celebrant dealing with what is real and what isn't.

The last 4 stories of the collection are Davis's nod to Lovecraft.
This is dicey territory for writers, to try to come close to mastering Lovecraft's style. I'd have to say Davis uses Lovecraft's language, but doesn't quite capture Lovecraft's voice.
Of those 4 stories, Black House was the one I enjoyed the best - a paranormal investigator inspects a house for signs of activity and gets some all right.

As the title promises, these stories all have a very dark dimension to them - in fact the dark itself is a character in most of them.

TH Davis definitely has talent and I want to see where he goes from here.
Nearly all these short stories could easily find life as full blown novels if he were to flesh them out. He introduces characters to the extent that they are interesting enough to make you want to know a little more than the brief glimpse we are given.
Seeing as this is a free download off Lulu, you need to give it a go and get a taste of this up and coming author.

For more information on TH Davis, please go to his website:
http://www.myspace.com/undercroftstories

In the meantime...

Good evening constant reader.

I am finishing up reading TH Davis's collection of short stories, A Dozen Dark Dimensions.

In the meantime, I am putting the finishing touches on a feature I plan to launch soon, called 13 Questions. I come up with 13 questions to ask my authors to give you the reader a little insight into these individuals.

I hope this finds you all in good spirits this holiday season.