Here are four recent books by friends, some purchased, some traded for, a combination of presses small, large, and far away.

David Herter’s October Dark part of Earthling Publication’s Halloween series. From Library Journal:

“In OCTOBER DARK, so-called movie magic is real, the special effects masters are its practitioners, and it’s the only thing protecting the world from unspeakable evil. Filled with nostalgia triggers for baby boomers and Gen Xers alike, with an original story and the liberally dropped names of a pantheon of horror moviemakers, OCTOBER DARK is a delight.”

Tabish Khair, The Thing About Thugs, Harper Collins-India. From India Times:

“Partly, perhaps, the world Khair creates seems so real because foggy Victorian London is so well entrenched in the imagination. However, much more is due to Khair’s own peculiar genius. He is a renowned poet, and like many poets before him, has a rare gift for prose. He can, in a few words, a brief alliterative phrase, conjure up a picture, inspire horror, pity, fear or love. He has also crafted a novel full of suspense where the various strands of mystery, human relationships and crime are expertly woven into one absorbing and fast-moving tale. This is a book that deserves to stand the test of time and join the other masterpieces of Victorian London.”

Brendan Connell, Unpleasant Tales, EibonVale Press. Blurb from Rhys Hughes:

“Every generation throws up a few genuine Masters of the Weird. There simply is no hyperbole in the statement that Brendan Connell is a member of this elite group right now, perhaps the most accomplished of them all. His work is very strange but always proceeds with rigorous logic and his use of language is original, concise and often startling, employing the alchemy of a ferocious intelligence to create dreamscapes that have the solidity and cruelty of stone and iron. The blend of profound melancholy, decadent atmosphere and abstruse erudition work beautifully and the magic of his prose gets under the skin of your soul and remains there forever.”

Darin Bradley, Noise, Bantam-Spectra. From the Bantam page:

“This haunting debut from a brilliant new voice is sure to be as captivating as it is controversial, a shocking look at the imminent collapse of American civilization—and what will succeed it.”

I’m looking forward to some reading…