Mortbury Press

Some reviews of The Fifth Black Book of Horror:

Mario Guslandi's review for Hellnotes.

Nathaniel Tapley of In the Gloaming on De Vermis Infestis

R. Pearce on Amazon.com

Two new reviews of The Black Book of Horror have appeared online. One at the Grim Rictus Reviews website and one by Jeremy Wells on Amazon.com.

First review of The Fourth Black Book of Horror appears at Dark Fiction Review.

Highlander's Review

Mario Guslandi for Horrorworld

The Black Book of Horror

Review by Tony Owens for Oz Horrorscope.

New review on Amazon.com.

Waterstone's review.

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"...an excellent anthology..." Mario Guslandi for The Harrow.

Coral King for The Thinking Man's Crumpet.

"A superior example of its type."

Guy Haley, Death Ray, issue 10

"...what we get are stories that the likes of Lovecraft and Poe, James and Benson would not have turned their noses up at..."

Peter Tennant, Case Notes, Black Static #2

The Black Book of Horror,  reviewed by Coral King

It is testament to Charles Black's integrity and experience that he has secured a veritable galaxy of small press stars to appear in The Black Book of Horror, his debut anthology, published by Mortbury Press.

For those who believe that the heyday of the horror anthology is passed, be prepared to be brought bang up to date with this tempting selection of terror, suitable for dipping into at will, or consuming wholesale.

The overall "feel" of the volume is decidedly nostalgic, comparing favourably in presentation with the old style classic anthologies, Pan and Fontana. However the content is as fresh and original as one could hope to expect from the cream of modern horror writers.

There are eighteen stories covering all aspects of the genre, tastefully laid out so as to provide the reader with ever changing emotional stimuli, ranging from the "ghostly" to the downright gory.

The collection opens with "Crows", a marvellously well crafted haunted house tale by Frank Nicholas. Atmospheric and suspenseful, the tension heightening by such seamless increments as to leave the reader positively breathless. A fantastic beginning.

Then for those who enjoy a laugh with their fright, "The Older Man", by Gary Fry, provides humourous spookiness in the form of a ghostly bedroom farce, relayed with aplomb in Mr Fry's uniquely stylish modern prose. The hilariously grotesque "Size Matters", by John L Probert, is guaranteed to make one laugh uproariously whilst simultaneously cringing with disgust.

Possibly the most gruesome tale in the collection is also distinctive for being the shortest. D F Lewis's "A Pie With Thick Gravy", packs so much horror into so small a story that the effect is truly stunning, transforming an everyday food item into...well, just don't read it at dinner.

Science fiction and horror are not always an easy blend, but in "The Sound of Muzak", by Sean Parker, the two are powerfully homogenised to produce a story with the wide, thought provoking expanses of classic SF, and the shockingly all-to-present fear engendered by an horrific mutating virus of unknown origin.

The editor has concluded with a little something of his own devising; a delight of a modern demon summoning tale, with a finishing twist of grand irony worthy of the Old Masters of classic horror fiction.

These tales, along with those written by well respected authors Gary McMahon, Mark Samuels, Paul Finch, and more, make up an absolute marvel of an anthology. It actually IS a must for all horror fans. It would be as well to keep an eye on Charles Black, and the folk at Mortbury Press, for if their next publication is of an equal quality, it will prove an equally top- notch read.