“J.S. is leaving her footprints on a path blazed by luminaries such as M.R. James, Robert Aickman, Tanith Lee, Kelly Link, Charlotte Perkins Gillman, Jeff VanderMeer, Gustave Flaubert, Edgar Allan Poe, Daphne DuMaurier, Leonora Carrington and Charlotte Brontë, to name but a few.” —Angela Slatter, Award-winning author of Sourdough and Other Stories, Vigil, and Corpselight
A collection of twelve … Corpselight
A collection of twelve of J.S. Breukelaar’s darkest, finest stories with four new works, including the uncanny new novella “Ripples on a Blank Shore.” Introduction by award-winning author, Angela Slatter. Relish the Gothic strangeness of “Union Falls,” the alien horror of “Rogues Bay 3013,” the heartbreaking dystopia of “Glow,” the weird mythos of “Ava Rune,” and others. This collection from the author of American Monster and the internationally acclaimed and Aurealis Award finalist, Aletheia, announces a new and powerful voice in fantastical fiction.
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This collection covers a wide variety of horror/thriller tropes, including some I wouldn’t normally pick up, but they do have a couple of things in common. The writing is excellent and the author certainly has the short story/novella length read down to a fine art. Each story pulled me in quickly and held on tight. Regardless of the particular trope, each tale has a tone of disquiet, and they all make you think outside the box, way outside the box in some cases. This is not a book for those who need everything laid out and tied up in a neat little bow, but if you like stories that stretch the imagination sometimes to point of scratching your head in wonder, then I recommend giving this one a read. Some stories are more complicated than others, but each is thoroughly thought-provoking. I took my time with the book, reading one story every day or so to fully digest each crazy, twisted world the author has created.
Okay…first off, I must mention that Meerkat Press are my favorite publishers of weird fiction. They always get it right, so no matter which of their authors you choose, you know you’re in for something extraordinary.
Collision was no exception. My first read of Breukelaar’s did not disappoint. The first story, Union Falls, blew me away. The note I made at the end read, Amazing!!! And after that, I felt pretty much the same way about the rest of them. These stories should not be taken on face value. Dig beneath the surface and you will find hidden layers of meaning that encourage you to think more deeply, so much so that I can honestly say this is a collection I will re-read; a rare thing for me.
There were tender moments, poignant moments, darkly humorous moments, all delivered in such a bizarre fashion that I found myself in awe.
I highlighted so many passages, but will just quote a few. This is the opening of Fairy Tale…
“Spring came late that year. I had just finished planting the cherry tree in the yard when I heard the grind of a skateboard out on Route 90, the thuckathuck of tiny wheels up the driveway. I set the shovel down, wheeled around and there she was, the same girl who put a bullet in my spine in Kabul.” See what I mean? And from there, dear reader, the story goes from strength to strength.
And then there’s this description from the story War Wounds of the dead calf, delivered by two boys…
“Dicky and the dead calf were head-to-head and mouth-to-mouth, Dicky’s tongue extended in concentration, the calf’s lolling in death, its unformed eye fixed on Jack.” Powerful stuff! A definite favorite of mine.
Breukelaar should be crowned ‘Queen of metaphor’ and she should wear that crown with pride. For example, in Fairy Tale, her use of metaphor to exemplify the character’s acceptance of his condition and his determination to overcome adversity is incredibly effective.
All the stories have a dreamlike quality which feels both real and impossible at the same time.
Overall I rate this collection 4.5, purely because I’m not a sci-fi fan and some stories had a definite sci-fi bent. Having said that, I was surprised to read in the story notes (which I love, by the way) that the author finds sci-fi difficult to write. I would never have guessed from the writing, in fact her references to quantum mechanics in particular came across as intelligent and authentic. To me that’s a bonus point: a writer who is prepared to push herself out of her comfort zone.
So, to sum up… this collection offers one hell of an adrenaline-fueled ride, no caffeine required.