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    Dark Screams: Volume One
    Dark Screams: Volume One
    Dark Screams: Volume One
    Audiobook3 hours

    Dark Screams: Volume One

    Written by Stephen King, Kelley Armstrong, Bill Pronzini and

    Narrated by Luke Daniels

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    "Weeds" by Stephen King: When a meteorite lands on his property, Jordy Verrill envisions an easy payday. Unfortunately for Jordy, this is no ordinary rock-and the uncompromising force inside has found its first target.


    "The Price You Pay" by Kelley Armstrong: Never pay more than you owe. Sounds like easy advice to follow. But for Kara and her childhood friend Ingrid, some debts can never be repaid . . . especially those tendered in blood.


    "Magic Eyes" by Bill Pronzini: Edward James Tolliver has found a weary sort of asylum among the insane. He knows he's not one of them-but how can he tell anyone about the invaders without sounding that way?


    "Murder in Chains" by Simon Clark: Imagine awaking to find yourself in an underground vault, chained by the neck to a murderous lunatic, a grunting goliath who seems more animal than man.


    "The Watched" by Ramsey Campbell: Little Jimmy gets a glimpse of the cold truth when he finds out that it's not always what you see that can get you into trouble; it's who knows what you see.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateDec 23, 2014
    ISBN9781494578633
    Dark Screams: Volume One
    Author

    Stephen King

    Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. 

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    Reviews for Dark Screams

    4/5

    151 ratings25 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I really liked 3 of the 5 stories! I will certainly be checking out the other books in this series.
    • 5/5
      This collection was pretty amazing: well-written and also spectacularly read and acted by the audiobook narrators. I read a fair bit of horror and fantasy fiction and can be a bit jaded of short story compilations, especially the ones that have a large number of pieces. Perhaps it's because most of the time maybe half of them are good enough to be memorable. I think the fact that this was a smaller number of stories may be why it caught my eye. Though of course any book that has one of Stephen King's many gems is worth checking out. His inclusion, "Weeds" is a classic and even though I read it many years ago, it still holds up decades later.
      Kelley Armstrong's "The Price You Pay" is probably my absolute favorite of the bunch. The insights into abuse, guilt, codependency and control are just so well done. Any real description will spoil it so I will just say that it is in no way a predictable or cliché story! Most horror and thriller readers are hard to surprise but I think Armstrong does an amazing job at doing just that.
      All in all this is seriously a great set of fiction - totally worth the time to read and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, it's extremely entertaining.
    • 4/5
      A small but satisfying collection of dark tales by popular authors published by Random House's direct to ebook house, Hydra. All the stories are new to the book except for Stephen King who handed in an early previously unpublished piece.1. Weeds by Stephen King (1976) - This is a previously unpublished story by King but once reading the first sentence the constant reader recognises what we have. This is the original short story King adapted for the episode "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" in the movie Creepshow and adapted again into comic book format for the accompanying book. Virtually the same story as we know but this text version does make the familiar tale more scary than the campy version we are used to. I liked it! (4/5)2. The Price You Pay by Kelley Armstrong (2014) - This is an author I've only read a bit and have wanted to read more. Surprisingly, this isn't paranormal or even what I would call horror. It's an incredibly well told psychological thriller of a stalker and kidnapping with a twist ending that threw me off. I knew something was up but I picked the wrong person as the schemer. Loved it! (5/5)3. Magic Eyes by Bill Pronzini (2014) - An inmate in an asylum for the criminally insane is writing in a journal at the bequest of his "shrink". He starts off saying he's sane and did not kill his wife, but by the end, well, you can imagine. Fairly predictable though. Never heard of this author before. (3/5)4. Murder in Chains by Simon Clark (2014) - Incredibly intense. A man wakes up to find himself laying in the sewers with a padlock around his neck and a ten-foot chain attached to a sleeping hulk of a man he decides to call, Goliath. Very creepy! (5/5)5. The Watched by Ramsey Campbell - I didn't particularly like this one. A bit hard to describe without giving away the plot but a paranormal tale which failed to deliver. Predictable with a boring end. (2/5)
    • 4/5
      I have said it before but I'll say it again. Dark Screams has quickly become one of my favorite Horror Anthology series of all time. I was thrilled to be able to grab an advance copy of this most recent installment, and excited to see new stories by 2 of my favorite authors Bentley Little and Kealan Patrick Burke.

      "The Boy" by Bentley Little was brilliant. Once again Bentley Little is able to take an ordinary every day experience such as settling in to a new neighborhood, and turn it into something horrifying. Christine the happy house wife is pleased to meet her new neighbors and discover that they are also home during the day. They have lots in common and will be the best of friends. I wish I could say more without giving away too much. Suffice it to say this story was shocking and quite relevant to current attitudes and events.

      "The Palaver" by Kealan Patrick Burke also hit a high note for me. Poor Oscar has virtually no customers left in his failing barber shop. He spends more time sweeping up hair that isn't there than he does plying his trade. He doesn't want to retire. "It was his father's business and his grandfather's before him." As he is readying to close one day a stranger walks in, and tells him a story that will change everything.

      "Walpuski's Typewriter" by Frank Darabont was both humorous and gruesome. A struggling writer with unpaid bills and a broken typewriter makes the deal of a lifetime to get it repaired.

      These were my 3 favorites in the collection and I will leave at that so as not to avoid any spoilers.

      I would highly recommend this volume (along with all previous volumes) to any horror fan.



      I received an advance copy for review.
    • 4/5
      I received an ARC from Net Galley

      5 short horror stories. 4 of them are recent, one is from the 1970's. It seemed a little strange to include Stephen King's Weeds in this anthology. It was written so much longer ago than the other stories. But Weeds is still a great story and holds up well. I also very much enjoyed Magic Eyes. When the story abruptly ended, I was left wanting more. The story really grabbed hold of me, I was immersed in it so that it was a shock when it ended.

      The 3 remaining stories were also good. Not a bad story in the bunch. If you are looking for a quick read with some excellent horror writing, this is a good book to pick up.
    • 4/5
      Nice little collection with a good variety of tales.
    • 2/5
      Meh. An anthology of five previously published short stories.
      The formatting left something to be desired, too.
    • 3/5
      It got off to a great start with a Stephen King short story. but the other four stories were ok and I enjoyed them and they were interesting but needed some editing. I do plan to continue reading the series. Anthologies like this can be hit or miss, and the variety of authors gives a sampling of different styles and tastes, and the anticipation is fun.

      I got my copy from netgalley.com
    • 4/5
      'Dark Screams: Volume One' contains five horror tales from some very well known authors in the genre.I've really been in to horror anthologies lately so this collection was a must buy. I had it on my wish list to remind me to buy it soon, and I then noticed the price had dropped so I snapped it up! I have to say, for me this was worth getting for the Stephen King & Kelley Armstrong stories alone. I love the movie Creepshow and King's contribution to this anthology is the horror comedy 'Weeds', in which farmer Jordy Verrill deals with a meteor hitting his land. For me it was just like watching that story in the movie, it was just as creepy, weird and amusing. Kelley Armstrong writes excellent paranormal novels, but her story here was a suspenseful thriller with a few great twists, proving how versatile she is. I give both of these stories five star ratings.'Magic Eyes' was written in an engaging way but I guessed what was up with the narrator when the first clue was dropped which lessened the impact of the ending. Still, I really enjoyed this one and give it four stars.'Murder in Chains' had a lot of potential but I didn't understand what the ending was supposed to mean at all. I re-read the whole thing and still didn't get it. Because I felt like I was missing something major I give this story two stars. I liked the writing style but the story felt pointless to me.'The Watched' was a captivating read, with likeable characters I found it easy to sympathise with and worry about. The creep factor was good too. I give this story four stars.All in all this collection is well worth a read. In general I found these stories to be creepy rather than chilling, but I do read a lot of horror so the stories may be scarier to more casual readers of the genre. The stories are all very well written, as is to be expected by authors of this calibre, and I would recommend this book to fans of creepy/suspenseful horror.
    • 5/5
      This is a review of an ARC I received for the purpose of writing a review (my first!) This book collects five short stories by different authors, and here is my take on each:"Weeds" by Stephen King is a classic EC comics-type tale of one man's terrible encounter with something from beyond our world. Even being an early King story, his sense of character shows through, and this one character piece works well in not only setting up chills, but also in leaving the reader with a sense of compassion and sorrow for what befalls our hero. Adapted starring King himself for the original "Creepshow," this is nice little gem from King's early writings."The Price You Pay" by Kelley Armstrong delves into darker territory. Not being one to give things away by delving into the plot (I hate that, especially in short fiction) I will just say this is a story of someone who learns that the price to be paid for something may not always be what you were expecting. And even if you feel your life has hit its lowest point, you may find out things can get worse. Personally, my favorite in the collection."Magic Eyes" by Bill Pronzini presents us with one character's view of events, but leaves doubt as to how accurate what we are hearing about is. The disturbed nature of the protagonist helps in building tension throughout the story. I have only recently discovered this author, and found this story a good addition to those I have previously read."Murder in Chains" by Simon Clark is PURE Simon Clark. If you have never read him, I recommend his collection "Midnight Grindings." This story follows one of my favorite arcs, the tale of people who do not know each other meeting under almost unbearable circumstances and having to find a way to work together to save themselves. The imagery in this story is (for me) the most disturbing of the collection, and a great part of the reason I loved it. Suffice it to say that this story creeped me out more than anything else in the collection, and the ending sent chills down my spine."The Watched" by Ramsey Campbell I would also describe as purely typical of its author. Far more understated than the other four stories, it still manages to make one nervous to turn the page as a distinct sense of dread grows page after page. You won't want to walk the woods alone at night after reading this one.All in all, I enjoyed EVERY story in this book. If you are a fan of Cemetery Dance magazine or any of the anthologies they have produced you already know they are great at putting together a great mix of authors and genres in a single publication. "Dark Screams" certainly fits the bill in this case. No two stories are similar in theme or tone, yet each manages to make you slow down to try to figure out where you are being led. Check this collection out if you have any interest in the present of future of dark fiction. You're sure to find something to love.
    • 4/5
      Deliciously unnerving! This little book is perfect for small doses of terror written by some of the best names in the business. Recommended for anyone who loves short stories that lean towards the macabre and for horror fans looking for tasty bits from their favorite authors and from soon-to-be favorites.
    • 5/5
      Dark Screams Volume OneDark Screams awaits you at an unbelievable price for five ways to ensure a great scare. James Freeman and Richard Chizmar have come together to introduce us to a short but power-packed volume of escalating terror. Who better to start these five stories off than Stephen King? With a touch of The Tommyknockers, and a dash of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, King introduces us to Jordy in his short story Weeds. Jordy is a mentally challenged farmer who believes that the meteor in his backyard will soon become his cash cow. Unfortunately for Jordy, the green that he encounters is not a bankroll, but a intergalactic menace with a very wicked green thumb. Kelley Armstrong is our next author as we plunge deeper into the abyss of horror with her tale The Price You Pay. The two main characters give friendship a whole new dimension. It is often said that we can never escape our past, but when the past slithers and intertwines around Ingrid and Kara like a giant boa, they are willing to create their own little hell to escape incarceration. It seems you can really hurt the ones you love… or maybe even kill them, at least for Ingrid and Kara. Next up is Bill Pronzini with Magic Eyes. Edward, the main character in this short story, that is sure to catch your eye, is doing time for killing his wife. It seems Edward truly believes that the eyes are a window to one’s soul… or maybe a window to something much more threatening and other worldly. Join Pronzini as he takes us on a rollercoaster ride into the mind of a paranoid, unrelenting killer. Simon Clark invites us underground with Murder in Chains. Clark takes us to a hideaway that is reminiscent of Dante’s inferno. The true mastermind in this tale remains a mystery. John York, the main pawn in the snare of gore and torture is in for one hell of a ride. As John tries to be a knight in shining armor for a damsel in distress, he finds himself in a series of life menacing games. Clark shows us that games may not always have victors. Sometimes games are just for fun!Lastly on the list of grizzly delights, we meet Jimmy in The Watched. Ramsey Campbell shares new insights on what it might be like living with grandma. Jimmy is recruited to spy on his neighbors by a community policeman. Suspecting the worst about his neighbors and the intimidating policeman, Jimmy worries about his and his grandmother’s safety. Fear permeates this short story, and eases into the mind of the reader like a spider motionless in its web waiting for anticipated prey. Jimmy becomes a part of something more sinister that he could ever dream.Bravo! Freeman and Chizman of Cemetery Dance Publication. I’ll be shivering with fear and anticipation for Dark Screams Volume Two.
    • 5/5
      If you are a fan of horror, then you’ve got to get your hands on Dark Screams: Volume One. This delicious little anthology features short stories by Stephen King, Kelley Armstrong, Bill Pronzini, Simon Clark, and Ramsey Campbell. Your fearless editors are Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar. If you are at all familiar with Cemetery Dance Publications, then you know who they are.Dark Screams: Volume One is being published by Hydra, an imprint of Random House, and is available via eBook for just $2.99. Weeds, by Stephen King, was originally published back in 1976, so it’s nice to be able to step back in time and read this lost story. Weeds is a nice creepy story, just like you would imagine it would be. Jordy Verrill has a meteorite land on his property and he sees dollar signs. Unfortunately for Jordy, the meteorite doesn’t come with an instruction book (not that he’d be smart enough to read it if it had), and classic King craziness ensues.The Price You Pay by Kelley Armstrong will leave you feeling a little leery of your friends. This is a disturbing tale not to be missed. I don’t want to say more, because you just need to read it.And then we get to Magic Eyes by Bill Pronzini. This is a haunting tale that takes place in an asylum. I love the way Pronzini tells this dark tale that will make look a little closer into other people’s eyes.What would you do if you woke up in a strange place, chained by the neck to a brute of a man who seems to have no qualms about murdering others? Murder In Chains, by Simon Clark, creates this nightmarish scenario, and it’s not to be missed.The Watched by Ramsey Campbell will make you think twice about where you go, who you speak to, and what you wish for. Made all the more difficult when you are just twelve years old.These five stories are very well-written and entertaining, and I highly recommend Dark Screams: Volume One.
    • 4/5
      Rating and reviewing anthologies can be a challenge. Each author brings his/her own unique style. Some of the stories were absolute 5 stars, while others were easily forgettable. WEEDS by Stephen King is, of course, well written, but it also felt predictable. It leans into science fiction with a sprinkling of horror. This one was previously published way back in 1976. I don't know if King updated the story at all. It held my interest and was probably true horror back when it was originally written. Now, though, it becomes just another story that could easily get lost in a batch if not for King's name attached to it.THE PRICE YOU PAY by Kelley Armstrong is a thriller and one of my favorites here. This one has great twists and shatters all those expected stereotypes that come with the genre. Definitely a 5-star story for me.MAGIC EYES by Bill Pronzini is a psychological thriller, written as journal entries from a man who'd been institutionalized. I enjoyed the approach and Pronzini's writing style. This would be my second favorite of the bunch, worthy of a higher rating.MURDER IN CHAINS by Simon Clark is a thriller with nonstop action. While the action held my interest and the concept was interesting, I didn't feel this one closed well. In the end, the story made no sense. I didn't understand the point of it all.THE WATCHED by Ramsey Campbell is a mixture of psychological and paranormal suspense, and is written from a young boy's point of view. I didn't connect well to this one. The writing is fine, though perhaps the story would have been more suited to a longer piece. Each of these stories is short, with the entire anthology taking only a couple of hours to read. The two highlights for me were Kelley Armstrong's and Bill Pronzini's stories, well worth the time and investment.* I was provided with a review copy by Random House, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
    • 5/5
      Awesome book. This selection of stories played really well together. What a treat it was to get to read Weeds by Stephen King. I loved this book and can't wit for more.
    • 4/5
      Dark Screams: Volume One is an anthology of horror short stories selected by Richard Chizmar, the editor of Cemetary Dance Magazine. Contributing authors:Stephen KingKelly ArmstrongBill PronziniSimon ClarkRamsey CampbellOverall, I enjoyed it very much.If you're looking for something that will make you cringe and pray when you turn the light off at night, this isn't it. But don't let that stop you from picking up this fine collection. I will not rehash the plots of the stories, as many of the other reviewers have already done this. Rather, I will just supply my opinion.Of the five included stories, I would rate the middle three (Armstrong, Pronzini and Clark's) a cut above the first and last (King and Campbell's). I certainly enjoyed King's work, but in some respects it was predictable and reminded me of a Kafka work. Perhaps I just expected or hoped for more based on his name. That said, I hasten to add his story was first published almost 40 years ago. That could be the reason it seems well-written but trite.As for Campbell's work, I found it confusing and tangled. Judging by other reviews, it appears there are those who "get it" and those who don't. I am in the "don't" category. Sorry, Mr. Campbell.The ebook is definitely worth the price. It will entertain just about any horror fan. I look forward to the future anthologies.
    • 4/5
      WeedsWhen I first started reading this book, I didn't expect the King story to be the very first one. Since it is first, it certainly set the tone for the book and takes off with a blast!  King can take the most innocent object and turn it into something to be feared. This was my first time to read this story and parts of it made me very uneasy!  While this is a short story, it's very easy to connect with the main character and feel sympathy for his plight. I can't begin to imagine how horrible what he went through was...The Price You PayI've read a few enjoyable short stories by Armstrong before so I was looking forward to this one. It had a good twist on the plot but I didn't connect with some of the characters too well.  It is still very worthwhile reading!Magic EyesSet in a mental institution, this one maintained a creepy vibe throughout the whole story as we see the main character's thoughts and inner struggles as he writes in his private journal.  The tension (and horror) revs up continually as the story goes on until the end. Murder in ChainsThis is the first time I've ever read anything by Clark and I must read more of his work!  I can't say much without giving away the plot but the plight of the characters was riveting and the ending was perfect!The WatchedI found this story a little weird and it didn't resonate very well with me as I often struggled to find the point of some things that occurred in the story. Overall, this collection is well worth the price and is sure to provide enjoyment to anyone who picks it up and reads it. I certainly enjoyed finding two authors that were new to me through their wonderful stories. Recommended!
    • 4/5
      This is a compilation of short stories from Brian freeman and Richard chizmar. Volume one has stories by Stephen King, Kelley Armstrong,Bill Pronzini, Simon Clark and Ramsey Campbell. Weeds by Stephen King:I am a huge fan of Kings that being said; I was surprised that his story was not my favorite. King as always for me paints with words, reading this I found myself seeing the character emerge and become real in my imagination. The main character Jordy Verrill is portrayed as slow but not stupid by any means. King makes you laugh and feel empathy for the character. You can guess the out come of the story, but still it is a good read.The price you pay by Kelley Armstrong:First time reading her work, this was my favorite story of the book. Lots of twists and turns keeping you in suspense till the end. The story is about two friends and choices made and consequences paid. It is a must read.Magic eyes by Bill Pronzini:The story of the inner voice of a madman and his musings. Leaves you wondering if it was insanity or some thing more ominous really at work. A peek into paranoia and murder.Murder in chains by Simon Clark:A story of a grizzly game that never ends for some. A look into the deprived mind of unseen being, a puppet master if you will. Just when you think you have it figured out and can see the end it throws you back to the beginning. In the end you are left to puzzle what was really going on and left to your own musings.The watched by Ramsey Campbell:This story was by far my least favorite. When going back through the book I had actually forgot this story. It is a moral teaching story. The characters keep the same routine repeating with little plot until the predictable end. It tries to build to a ending climax that fails and leaves you are glad when it reaches its end.
    • 4/5
      Dark Screams collects five short stories by some of the most successful authors in the genre - but does it automatically guarantee a success? Let me see:Weeds (Stephen King)While I enjoyed the writing of this story the most, I missed some surprise element in the plot. Nice and straight, but at the same time a bit unremarkable. 3.5 stars.The Price You Pay (Kelley Armstrong)A very fast and creepy thriller which had me holding my breath. My only criticism is that it was too short, I would have preferred more details and a slower rising arc of suspense. Would have been better in novella format. 4 stars.Magic Eyes (Bill Pronzini)Disturbing but also kind of boring, this is my least favorite story in the collection. 2.5 starsMurder in Chains (Simon Clark)Loved the premise and action, but too many questions were left unanswered which left me unsatisfied. 3 starsThe Watched (Ramsey Campbell)Weird, strange, brilliant. My favorite story in the collection. 5 starsThere is no overall theme of the collection, which I found to be both a good (diversity) and bad thing (not sure what to expect). Not a must-have, but an entertaining way to fill some time.(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
    • 3/5
      This is a mediocre collection of five stories by very well known authors. If you skip it, you won't be missing that much. Other than, perhaps, the Campbell story, none of these deserves to come anywhere near showing up in a best-of anthology of any sort. But at 88 pages, you won't be wasting much of your time.THE WEEDS by Stephen King: Dumb guy discovers a meteorite on his property, and rather than getting the $25 he is hoping to sell it for, things go, well, let's just say not so well. This is the kind of story King could write in his sleep, and maybe he did. It's kind of fun, but nothing special. ** 1/2THE PRICE YOU PAY by Kelley Armstrong: A woman has to deal with the tragedies of her past and present in the form of her "best" friend. This is horrible to be sure, but certainly not a horror story in the traditional sense. It does stand out for having a bit of originality, however, and a somewhat unexpected ending. ***MAGIC EYES by Bill Pronzini: The pace picks up with this fast-moving tale narrated by an inmate in a home for the criminally insane who insists he isn't a murderer--at least not of his wife. Unfortunately, the ending is predictable and unoriginal. **MURDER IN CHAINS by Simon Clark: A man wakes up in an underground chamber--chained to a huge madman. Definitely original, but suffers from pretty awful dialogue and an indeterminate ending as if the author can't figure out what to do with his good idea. ** 1/2THE WATCHED by Ramsey Campbell: Campbell's story of a 12-year old boy involved with a mysterious policeman and the possibly criminal family next door is the best of the bunch because it builds and sustains its setting and atmosphere--something Campbell is a master at. This story isn't a classic either, but it is solid all the way through. *** 1/2
    • 4/5
      I had the opportunity to review Dark Screams before it was available to the general public. It was an entertaining eBook which I read while on a flight to Hawaii. I am not a professional book critic, so view this from the point of somebody that likes to read for entertainment.There are 5 short stories in Dark Screams. I enjoyed three of them and was entertained by the other two. The book came in eBook form. Weeds is a short story by Stephen King first published in Cavalier Magazine in 1976. Jordy Verrill has the fortune of having a meteor land on his farm wants to use it to pay off a debt. Nicely written and easy to follow.The Price you Pay by Kelley Armstrong was an intriguing story to read. It is a short story so character development is not over several chapters. They are developed enough to give you a good background for the story. Magic Eyes by Bill Pronzini relates the story of an innocent man accused of killing his wife. While in an institution he connects with several other inmates, only to find they could be harboring sinister intentions. Murder in Chains is by Simon Clarke. The chaos of the story is well managed and well described. I enjoyed reading it. Hopefully it never happens, but if it does you definitely have a road map for the first part of the journey, good luck with the second part.The Watched by Ramsey Campbell was difficult for me to read. I am not familiar with this writing style and found myself rereading sections of the story. The story itself followed a logical progression, and had some interesting characters. The apprehension and confusion of the young man is understandable, given the situation he is placed in.This was a good anthology with an introduction for me to a couple of new writers. I look forward to reading more of their work.
    • 4/5
      Five great authors and they do not disappoint. Each story represents each authors unique style for creeping out the reader. For some reason a few people thought King left the building. Not so. With His new novel Revival and this little gem called “Weeds”, he shows he’s still on top of his game. Ramsey Campbell’s “The Watched” is not his best work but he can write circles around most other horror writers even on an off day. It’s still a good unsettling read. Kelley Armstrong’s “The Price You Pay” is a great piece of original story telling. Disturbing, just the way we like it. “Magic Eyes” by Bill Pronzini is a wonderful telling of insanity and finally, for me the most remarkable story of all, is Simon Clark’s “Murder in Chains”. It’s horrific, fear inducing writing at its best. If you like your palms to sweat when reading horror, you’ll love this story. This is a tremendous short anthology and I’m really glad that Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar have titled this publication, Dark Screams: Volume One because that means there will be more to come.
    • 4/5
      This book is a collection of short stories from five big names in the horror field. While Armstrong and Pronzini are not on my must read list, they are immediately recognized by me for putting out good quality stories. Campbell and King have both been on my favorite authors list for ages. Clark is one of the newer additions to that favorite authors list but he's still solid in his placement there. There is no theme to this collection other than good stories. Unfortunately not all the stories are good ones. Since there are only five stories, I'll vary my usual approach of listing my favorites and give some comments on each one. In order of my least favorite to the best of the bunch."Weeds" by Stephen King - While the story might be consider long lost due to not being published in years, it should also be a familiar story to most Stephen King fans. It is essentially "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" from Creepshow where Jordy is played by Stephen King himself. Probably since the story was written in 1976, it is dated as you read it. And I don't just mean technology or anything like that; the story itself reads as being dated. It probably would have been fine within a collection of older stories but to me, it sticks out like a sore thumb as the worst of the bunch."Magic Eyes" by Bill Pronzini - What disappointed me the most about this story was the lost potential. A man is locked in an asylum and considered insane for the actions he took against his wife. We get a nice dive into his mental well-being, or not-so-well-being as the case may be. And then we get some nice lead ups to good horror. And then it just closed quickly. The ending was good with regards to it being a short-story and left a little bit of a chill but I felt that the little chill we got as a reward was not equal to the buildup we got."The Watched" by Ramsey Campbell - This story was a traditional ghost story with a modern remix to it. Not overly spooky but all the right ingredients were there. I think the only thing missing was a bit more of a connection to one of the characters. I just wasn't pulled in to it."The Price You Pay" by Kelley Armstrong - Another traditional story but this time a thriller with a modern twist instead of a ghost story. In addition to being able to connect to the main characters, this story pulled me in faster. I was quickly involved and part of the action. There were a few points that pulled me back out but nothing significant. And while I should have, I didn't see the twist at the end coming."Murder in Chains" by Simon Clark - Easily the best of the bunch. I was pulled in from the start and not let go the whole time. I was constantly part of the action. And I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. While I wanted the protagonist to make different choices, I found that I was making the same choices as he was. A frustration that kept me further involved. From this story it is easy to see why Simon Clark is on my must read list!
    • 4/5
      This is the first volume of a new small eBook anthology series edited by Richard T. Chizmar and Brian James Freeman. From this selection it seems that Dark Screams has the potential to be very good. I have a few caveats which I mention below but if the quality of writers, and their stories, continues to be of high caliber, future volumes may be highly anticipated.The first story, "Weeds" is a reprint of an old Stephen King tale that hasn't appeared in one of his collections and is probably best remembered as the opening sequence of the film Creepshow. It is a good example of King's "hick humor" and is a fun read, especially as a variation of Lovecraft's "The Colour Out of Space.""The Price of You Pay" is the first story by Kelley Armstrong that I have read. It is a nasty little piece at heart and very well written. Taking into consideration the "twist" (which I did see coming) at the end, Armstrong does play a little loose with how she describes the wife's ordeal and the wife's reactions. The story is quite powerful and very true to its title.Bill Pronzini's "Magic Eyes" is a well-written tale. This madman's therapeutic journal was a treat. Again the ending was no surprise, but Pronzini never fails.For a while I thought this eBook had a theme of possession but then came the last two tales.Until the end of "Murder in Chains" by Simon Clark, I expected the story to be the anthology winner with its breathless, breakneck pace, but its "living nightmare" conclusion was nothing but a head scratcher for me. Even though I liked much of the story telling, I much prefer to have a complete story rather than an extended vignette.I really like Ramsey Campbell and "The Watched", though not as powerful a tale as I hoped it would be, was a solid chiller. There are some fine atmospheric descriptions; the image of the wet swaths and smears along the building are evocative; the final scene is chilling; and a sense of dread permeates the tale.I received a free pre-release copy of this eBook for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I was lucky enough to get a copy of the forthcoming horror anthology Dark Screams: Volume One. It's a really good (short) collection. It's only got five stories, but they're all from fairly well known authors, and they're all good.The book starts off with its only reprint, "Weeds," by Stephen King. Even if, like me, you haven't read this story before, you still probably know it, because it was used in Creepshow as "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill." Even if you're familiar with the story from the film, it's still a great read.The second story is "The Price You Pay" by Kelley Armstrong. It seems to start off as a standard horror trope about two women who get kidnapped and tortured by a psychopath, but it quickly moves into a different direction. I think it might have been my favorite story in the collection.Story number three is "Magic Eyes," by Bill Pronzini. It's about a man in a mental hospital who claims he's not insane, he didn't murder his wife, and some sort of magic eyes are really responsible. Once again this story starts off seeming like a standard horror trope, but eventually proves to be something different.The fourth story is Simon Clark's "Murder in Chains," which is about a man who wakes up to find himself chained to a murderous lunatic. Wackiness ensues (and by wackiness, I mean lots of blood and gore).The final story is Ramsey Campbell's "The Watched," which is about a policeman who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he holds responsible for his daughter's death. Not surprisingly, there is a supernatural twist.This is a really good anthology, and since it's only available in ebook form, it's cheap, too.