Review: Shadow Regions anthology

Shadow Regions is a new anthology of dark fiction from Cavern Press. It presents the stories of ordinary people in ordinary settings who, willingly or unwillingly, confront the supernatural.

The strongest story in this anthology is "The Bus Ride", by John Shea. In fact the final piece included in Shadow Regions, it is the story of a middle class accountant who rides a bus through the poor quarter into the city for work. When a bedraggled, disabled man gestures to him from the sidewalk he becomes obsessed and the irrational fear that grows over the next few days is effectively conveyed. The conclusion avoids over-explanation, resulting in a satisfying story with a powerful psychological plot.

Another excellently written story is Mark Rigney's "Called on Account". A star small-town baseball pitcher dies in a suspicious accident and the consequences for his greatest fan - his father - are devastating. The characterisation is accomplished and able to be enjoyed to full effect through the rich point of view of the baseballer's geek brother.

"Passage", by Brian Rappatta, tells the tale of a recovering alcoholic who regains custody of his teenage son. It is essentially a ghost story but again strong characterisation makes this piece stand out. The gradual introduction of supernatural elements maintains believability and the macabre resolution brings the story to a very natural conclusion.

The resolution of Justin Gustainis's "damnation.com" is another example of restrained, mature writing; like Shea's piece it is more about psychological impact than ghouls and spooks. The protagonist, a college professor, finds a website that purports to allow him to sell his soul. Initially believing the site to be a prank, he explores it further, to the dark delight of the reader.

Shadow Regions contains many other commendable pieces. "Pulse", by Lynn Carney, is a dramatic Armageddon science fiction about a woman whose son wants to enlist in the military. Christopher Hawkins's "The Painfully Slow Seduction of Aldus Lamb" is written in a fable-like tone and, while relatively predictable, the gentle meander of this office romance still reads pleasantly. Another dreamy character disconnected from the real world is the strangely insightful rural neighbour in "Casting Stones", by Erik Tomblin. The little boy in A. C. Wise's "Under the Bed" is consumed by the childish fear implied by the title and, although the setting in the latter is almost too minimalist, the reader's insight into what is frightening the child creates consistent tension throughout. "Teapot in the Well", by Bonnie Mercure, is a successful blend of fairy tale and real life, while Barton Paul Levenson's "The Curse" is a rare foray into another culture.

Several stories that do detract from the rest of the selection should be mentioned. "Marcum's Teeth", by David Bell, suffers from inelegantly construction. The piece relies on didactic explanation of the characters' motivations and beliefs, probably as a result of the central importance of Jungian symbolism. The tone wavers between humour and eeriness, never entirely settling with either. Another story, Terri Fleming's "The Devil You Know", reads like a cheap teen horror flick. Narrated by an adolescent girl, it is peppered with strained descriptions of how unexpected or incredible the action seemed to the protagonist. After a gruesome and mysterious murder in her town the central character is compelled to revisit the scene of her friend's death alone, at night, and without weapons. The predictable attack occurs as required and the final revelation of who (or what) is responsible seems likewise borrowed from budget cinema. At times a story's fault is simply in poor quality writing, as in William D. Carl's "Three Days", where an ominous ooze leeches onto the floor "like a cancerous air mattress". Even veteran writer Gary A. Braunbeck is not at his best in Shadow Regions, with a confused story of desperate longing that almost resorts to an "it was all a dream" ending (the opening piece, "You Must Remember This").

Although the quality of the pieces varies, there is much in Shadow Regions for horror fans - particularly for those after a simple escapist read. The anthology is well presented, with crisp and evocative cover art from Pierre Bourgeault. It is scheduled for release in September and is now available on pre-sale from the Shadow Regions website and Shocklines.