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Post Mortem Press the Early Years
Fear the Abyss
We stare into the abyss, hoping to learn, to understand. But the abyss is cold and uncaring.
Post Mortem Press presents twenty-two unique visions of the fear of the unknown.
Stories from authors nominated and awarded some of the most prestigious honors in genre fiction: Hugo, Nebula, Aurora, Bram Stoker�, and many others.
These writers understand fear.
Includes award-winning genre classics from masters of the unknown, Harlan Ellison® and Jack Ketchum.
Post Mortem Press presents twenty-two unique visions of the fear of the unknown.
Stories from authors nominated and awarded some of the most prestigious honors in genre fiction: Hugo, Nebula, Aurora, Bram Stoker�, and many others.
These writers understand fear.
Includes award-winning genre classics from masters of the unknown, Harlan Ellison® and Jack Ketchum.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2012
12 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 20, 2012
A while back Eric Beebe of Post Mortem Press solicited a story from me for an anthology he was planning. I wasn't given much to go on, only that the story was supposed to meld science fiction and horror. And of course, inclusion in the anthology was not guaranteed.
Naturally, I was thrilled to learn that my story "The American" was chosen. I was even more thrilled when I learned that the anthology would include stories from Jack Ketchum and the Legendary Harlan Ellison, as well as several other kick ass writers.
To share space with some of these folks is heady stuff, to share space with Harlan Ellison is the stuff of dreams.
If you don't know who Harlan Ellison is, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the man and his work. Harlan is a force of nature and the world is a far more interesting place for having him in it. The biographical film, "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" is a good place to start.
Fear the Abyss is as solid an anthology as you're likely to read and I'm proud as hell to be a part of it, so yeah, five stars here.
Naturally, I was thrilled to learn that my story "The American" was chosen. I was even more thrilled when I learned that the anthology would include stories from Jack Ketchum and the Legendary Harlan Ellison, as well as several other kick ass writers.
To share space with some of these folks is heady stuff, to share space with Harlan Ellison is the stuff of dreams.
If you don't know who Harlan Ellison is, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the man and his work. Harlan is a force of nature and the world is a far more interesting place for having him in it. The biographical film, "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" is a good place to start.
Fear the Abyss is as solid an anthology as you're likely to read and I'm proud as hell to be a part of it, so yeah, five stars here.
November 19, 2017
Well worth the $2.99 that this collection of short stories costs on the Nook. I was looking through Netflix and I saw that Event Horizon was on there. That got me thinking about how great a movie that was and how it was one of the few Science Fiction Horror movies that really pulled it off without it being incredibly corny and b-rated. Then I was thinking about how I have read some really great science fiction and some really great horror, especially short stories, but I'd rarely ever read anything that blended the two genres either. When I did my searching this was one of the first that I came across and seeing that Harlan Ellison was a major contributor was enough for me to be sold right there since he's one of my personal favorites. So, if you liked Event Horizon, like short stories science fiction or horror, or like Harlan Ellison, this is for you and this should be more than enough of a recommendation.
August 24, 2013
I met these guys, the Post Mortem Press guys, at Texas Frightmare Weekend last May I think. Anyways, I was at their booth and one of the dudes was like “Hey man, what kind of stuff do you like to read?�
So I told him Bizarro mostly and he kinda went into research mode thinking of a book I may be into. Then his eyes perked up and he goes “I bet you’d like this then.�
He was right! As with any anthology there were some duds, but for the most part all of these were above par. It’s also some pretty weird stuff.
Horror and Scifi can both be pretty surreal, so it makes sense that combining the two genres would activate the creative part of an author’s mind. Reaching outside the normal parameters of a story and adding in some total weirdness.
So if you’re into Bizarro, this translates pretty well. It did for me anyways.
So I told him Bizarro mostly and he kinda went into research mode thinking of a book I may be into. Then his eyes perked up and he goes “I bet you’d like this then.�
He was right! As with any anthology there were some duds, but for the most part all of these were above par. It’s also some pretty weird stuff.
Horror and Scifi can both be pretty surreal, so it makes sense that combining the two genres would activate the creative part of an author’s mind. Reaching outside the normal parameters of a story and adding in some total weirdness.
So if you’re into Bizarro, this translates pretty well. It did for me anyways.
June 5, 2013
I'll have a more detailed review of this and other books up soon. So for now you get this:
Another quite excellent collection by Post Mortem Press. I've enjoyed the three I've managed to acquire but noticed something in the previous two I read. The two 'headliners' of the those anthologies (Clive Barker and Joe Hill) had, imho, the weakest stories in those anthologies ('Torn Realities' and 'The Ghost IS the Machine' respectively). This is not the case here. While I enjoyed every story in the collection, it really is hard to top Ellison's 'Seeing'. That is an amazing short story that everyone should read (and it set me off down "Read everything Ellison has done" road).
Once again the brain trust at PMP has outdone themselves. This collection is worth the price for the Ellison and Ketchum alone, but you get so much more.
A more detailed review to come.
Another quite excellent collection by Post Mortem Press. I've enjoyed the three I've managed to acquire but noticed something in the previous two I read. The two 'headliners' of the those anthologies (Clive Barker and Joe Hill) had, imho, the weakest stories in those anthologies ('Torn Realities' and 'The Ghost IS the Machine' respectively). This is not the case here. While I enjoyed every story in the collection, it really is hard to top Ellison's 'Seeing'. That is an amazing short story that everyone should read (and it set me off down "Read everything Ellison has done" road).
Once again the brain trust at PMP has outdone themselves. This collection is worth the price for the Ellison and Ketchum alone, but you get so much more.
A more detailed review to come.
June 28, 2023
An excellent collection of SF/ stories.
I especially liked the final story What We Found by which echoes some of the themes of about our current ignorance being a blessing in a bleak and meaningless universe.
I liked Always Something There To Remind Me by . Andrew and the Better Mousetrap by KT Jayne was also quite good, as was Graphic Violence Equalizer by . There is scarcely a dud in this collection.
I especially liked the final story What We Found by which echoes some of the themes of about our current ignorance being a blessing in a bleak and meaningless universe.
I liked Always Something There To Remind Me by . Andrew and the Better Mousetrap by KT Jayne was also quite good, as was Graphic Violence Equalizer by . There is scarcely a dud in this collection.
February 20, 2017
Some stories I liked, some I didn't. Overall not my favorite anthology.
February 1, 2015
I enjoyed this book immensely. After having read it, I decided to read People of the Ethereal Realm by Robert Essig because his writing style grabbed on to me and didn't let go. Another story not to be missed is that of Jessica McHugh. She never disappoints! Brad Carter's harmonious mix of the present and the future gave me new appreciation for reality television and reminded me why I do not watch the this type of popularity contest.
Currently reading
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"The American" by S.C. Hayden - wc
"If Thine Eye Offend Thee" by Thomas Malafarina - wc
"Extraction" by Jessica McHugh - Harv is an alien spy disguised as a human that becomes addicted to vodka.
"The American" by S.C. Hayden - wc
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2013
Read my story. " Andrew and the Better Mousetrap" .
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