THE STORY: “His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood”
Ever read Lovecraft’s “The Hound”? The story “His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood” by Poppy Z. Brite is homage and perfection of this weird tale about a pair of foppish ghouls who dig up a strange fetish and pay the price. Ornate genius from a splatterpunk master.
THE STORY: “The Ugly House”
Robert Westall’s “The Ugly House” has the eerie quality of M.R. James but with working-class panache. A toady locks horns with a warlock over a historical eyesore in a story packed with creepy taxidermy, phantom dogs, rat grease, and ghosts.
New edition available from Valancourt Press!
THE STORY: “Hide and Seek”
P. Djèlí Clark’s “Hide and Seek” is a masterwork that goes for the jugular with witch lore, a mazelike mansion, and scary pumpkins while also giving literary audiences a poignant rendering of addiction and childhood trauma. Fantastic craft.
THE STORY: “The Ash-Tree”
In M.R. James’ “The Ash-Tree,” an arborist witch curses Sir Matthew and his progeny after a questionable death. Spider caves, empty tombs, sentient topiaries and sudden deaths loom with James’ trademark brilliance.