In these pages you’ll find the dark stars you grew up watching: Frankenstein, Dracula, Mr. Hyde, the Phantom, the Hunchback…all the silent ones and the first to find their voices are here, and they’re even presented in roughly the order in which they first appeared on a silver screen. The Haunted House of the ‘30s gives way to the Werewolf of the ‘40s, the Monsters of L.A. Creature of the ‘50s, and so on, all the way up to our favorite modern boogeyman, the Zombie.

In some of these stories, you’ll find an earthly incarnation of a famous namesake: Frankenstein is a patched-together, homeless vet, the Invisible Woman is so ordinary you’d never see her; but some of these familiar friends — Dracula, the Devil, or those seriously creepy Clowns — will be instantly recognizable.

Introduction
Frankenstein
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
The Phantom
The Hunchback
Dracula
The Bride
The Mummy
The Invisible Woman
The Mad Scientist
The Werewolf
The Haunted House
Cat People
The Creature
The Alien
Kaiju (Giant Monster)
The Devil
The Slasher
The Killer Clown
The Urban Legend
The Zombie
About the Stories

When I received “Monsters Of L.A.” by Lisa Morton from my good friends at Bad Moon Books I have to admit I felt like a kid at Christmas. I love Lisa’s work, she is one of my favorite authors.

In her latest book she tackles all of our favorite monsters with a twist. All the stories take place in her hometown of Los Angeles California. This is an outstanding short story collection that is sure to please anyone who loves the classic monsters, loves L.A. and loves superbly written short fiction.

As good as all the stories are what really brought everything together for me was at the end of the book where Lisa explains the inspiration for each story. It is nice to be able to read how Lisa came up with each idea for the stories and to be able to see how and why the stories came about.

There isn’t a bad story in the bunch though I can’t believe (spoiler alert) that Lisa killed off my favorite vampire of all time Dracula with a sparkly vampire. But I forgive you Lisa, as you and I both know that you cannot kill Dracula.

As is standard with all short story collections I did have a few favorites that really stood above the rest.

“Frankenstein” – A really sad and poignant twist on the Frankenstein mythos that tugs at the heart and soul.

“The Hunchback” – Based on a true story that happened in L.A. in February of 2008 and is an indictment on the intolerance that still is alive and well in modern society. She hits the nail on the head with this one and it really sickens me that this still goes on today.

“The Invisible Woman” – A telling tale of modern society and how we as a species have seemed to have lost that sense of community and caring. Reading this should be a wake up call to open your eyes to whats going on around you, be forever vigilant to one another and step in when someone needs a hand or some help.

“The Creature” – Just a fun monster tale that takes place at the La Brea Tar Pits.

“The Killer Clown” – I have always loved killer clowns and Lisa’s take on this is wonderful. Personally I am not scared of clowns but I know people who are as I am sure you do.

“The Urban Legend” – The longest story in the book and a beautiful tale of a local legend that unbeknownst to the general public is taking place right before their eyes. Some really great characters in this story.

“The Zombie” – Now what kind of “Monsters” collection would it be without a zombie tale. Lisa’s take on the zombie mythos is outstanding. You may never look at zombies the same way again…that is if they don’t eat your flesh first.

All in all, a must collection for those connoisseurs of short fiction and monsters.  Bad Moon Books did an absolutely wonderful job with this book, it is a beautiful edition.

Lisa continues to write superior short fiction that rivals any that is being published today and I give it my highest recommendation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction by Lisa Morton
Someone to Carve the Pumpkins by Kealan Patrick Burke
Carrion Man by Joseph Nassise
The Devil Came to Mamie’s on Hallowe’en by Lisa Morton
The Gunner’s Love Song by Joe McKinney
The October Girls by Scott Nicholson
Trick or Die by Rick Pickman
Thursday by Simon Janus
The Outlaws of Hill County by John Palisano
Bones Lie Quietly Now by Nate Kenyon
Coming Home by Maria Alexander
Almost Paradise by Jeremy Shipp
About the Contributors

When Lisa Morton says she is editing and releasing an anthology for Halloween, we in the horror realm take notice. Lisa has been called one of the foremost expert on all things Halloween in the world and I would have to agree with that summation.

Not only does she know Halloween inside and out, she is a hell of a writer and editor.

Her latest anthology “Halloween Spirits” does not disappoint. Some previously published and new tales populate this exceptional collection. It is a veritable collection of tales from some of the finest purveyors of horror fiction today.

I couldn’t find a weak tale in the bunch, they were all fantastic in my opinion, though I did have a couple favorites.

“Carrion Man” by Joseph Nassise was exceptional, in fact I wouldn’t mind if Mr. Nassise wrote a full length novel about the “Carrion Man”, I feel there is a lot there to explore.

But my favorite by far was “Coming Home” by Maria Alexander. You might not think that this story fits in a Halloween anthology but I would have to humbly disagree with you on that point. In fact, this just might be my favorite short story this year.

Since I know you all love Halloween, I fully expect you to use the link above to purchase Lisa Morton’s latest anthology, if you don’t….well I think I will just let you dwell on that.

“Halloween Spirits” receives my highest Halloween recommendation and has just been added to my annual Halloween to be read pile.

Edited by Bram Stoker Award winner Lisa Morton, Midnight Walk, the premiere anthology from Dark House Publishing, has combined the talents of authors emerging from a variety of professional backgrounds, resulting in an even greater melange of stories that intrigue, engage, and ultimately satisfy.

Venture into the past or future, or stay in the not-so-comfortable present with such stories as “The Measure of a Man,” “The Svancara Supper Society,” and “Inside Out”. If it’s a change of scenery you’re looking for, “Monsoon Devil” and “Diana and the Goong-Si” will take you places you’ve never imagined. If watching legends come to life is more to your liking, “The Bear Who Swallowed the Sky” and “The Guixi Sisters” will oblige. And, for the otherwordly, the in between, “Eddie G. at the Gates of Hell” and “Late Check-In” will take you there, but not necessarily bring you home.

Between the covers of Midnight Walk await a bounty of stories such as these and more from contributors that include Del Howison (Stoker Award Winner), Armand Constantine (nominee for the Gave Developers Choice Award for Best Writing), Joey O’Bryan (screenwriter of the Hong Kong action thriller Fulltime Killer), makeup effects artist Mike McCarty, journalist and stage actor Kelly Dunn, prize-winning filmmaker and author John Palisano, as well as cult horror movie actor (Army Of Darkness) and voice artist Richard Grove.

Come walk with us.

MONSOON DEVIL by Armand Constantine
THE TENNATRICK by John Palisano
THE GUIXI SISTERS by Jodi Kaplan Lester
SILVER NEEDLE by Richard Grove
THE MEASURE OF A MAN by George Willis
THE GRIEVING PROCESS by Mike McCarty
LATE CHECK-IN by Vince Churchill
INSIDE OUT by Lisa Majewski
DIANA AND THE GOONG-SI by Lisa Morton
ALLEY OOPS by Del Howison
THE MYSTERIOUS NAME by Kelly Dunn
EDDIE G. AT THE GATES OF HELL by R. B. Payne
THE BEAR WHO SWALLOWED THE SKY by Jason M. Light
THE SVANCARA SUPPER SOCIETY by Joey O’Bryan

The initial offering from new publisher Dark House Publishing is a diverse and eclectic mix of stories from a variety of authors with many different backgrounds. The book is well thought out and wonderfully put together. If this initial offering from Dark House is a sign of things to come from this new publisher, we horror fans have something to look forward to.

The authors use their varied backgrounds to great success in weaving tales that are sure to remain with you long after the lights have been turned off.

A few highlights from a few of my favorites;

The Measure of a Man is an absolutely fabulous coming of age tale that is sure to please all you zombie lovers.

Alley Oops tells the story of mugger who is just a “little” surprised when he looks down at the face of his latest victim.

Diana and the Goong-Si, my favorite of the book, (as everyone who knows me can tell you, vampires in all their guises are my favorite) is a tale of a woman traveling a great distance at great risk and  peril to try and find her missing husband. She arrives in a strange world and finds herself engaged in a battle with a local legend, a vampiric creature that is intent on fulfilling its unholy thirst for blood, but not in the way you think.  This is a great take on the vampire mythos that is fresh, scary and very well written.

The Svancara Supper Society takes a look at the future where man has pillaged this great planet and now must survive on synthesized food. A scientist experimenting outside the eyes of the governing body discovers a breakthrough that leads her and a select group on a culinary expedition that takes a decidedly wicked turn.

Silver Needle is an absolutely spine tingling Halloween tale about the local haunted house, and who doesn’t love haunted houses.

Late Check-In is another fine addition to the many classic ghost stories we all love.

Inside Out puts a wonderfully twisted spin on vanity and how we treat everyone we meet can come back to haunt us in ways we cannot imagine.

Those are just a few of the terrors that await you in this fabulous new anthology. If you love well written, spine tingling short stories, Midnight Walk is a must for your collection.

As with all anthologies some stories are stronger than others, but that my friends you’ll have to figure out on your own when you order it.

With that being said, I highly recommend Midnight Walk. We here at Famous Monsters wish Dark House Publishing the best in their new endevaour and much success in the future.