Split Scream Vol 1: Book Review
Hello dear reader!
I have another double feature prepared for you, which is convenient because this book is, itself, a double feature.
It’s almost like I planned this intro.
Anyway, today I’ll be reviewing Split Scream Volume 1, published by Dread Stone Press and featuring tales by Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses. Then this Thursday, I’ll be dropping an panel interview I did with both authors and Dread Stone Press founder, Alex Ebenstein.
Onwards! (and don’t worry, I kept this review completely spoiler-free since the book isn’t out yet!)
The Authors (and Press Founder)
Carson Winter is an author, punker, and raw nerve. His work has been featured in Apex, Vastarien, and The No Sleep Podcast. Recently, he was proud to have his novelette, “I Am Not To Be Replaced,” in Bloodlines: Four Tales of Familial Fear. His novella Reunion Special is available now.
Scott J. Moses is the author of Non-Practicing Cultist and editor of What One Wouldn’t Do. A member of the Horror Writers Association, his work has appeared in various anthologies and journals. He is Japanese American and lives in Baltimore. His debut novella, Our Own Unique Affliction, is forthcoming from DarkLit Press in early 2023. Find him on his website or Twitter.
Alex Ebenstein is a maker of maps by day, writer of horror fiction by night. He lives with his family in Michigan. He has stories published by The Other Stories Podcast, Cemetery Gates Media, and others. He is also the founder of Dread Stone Press.
The Book
Dread Stone Press presents SPLIT SCREAM, a new Horror Novelette Double Feature. This is Volume One. Grab some popcorn, turn the lights low, and don’t be afraid to scream. — Dread Stone Press website
Split Scream Volume 1 contains two chilling novelettes by Carson Winter and Scott J. Moses and is set to drop September 27, 2022. Pre-orders are available now!
“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter:
It’s 1973. British-American thug Byron is tasked with finding the occultist Allosaurus D’Ambrosere, given only handwritten instructions and two hateful associates. Where they’re going, they’ll find blood red skies, obsidian towers, and a deep thirst for violence. But will they find the man who calls himself the Golden King? “The Guts of Myth” is Weird horror that snaps like hardboiled noir with vistas lifted straight from Beksinski. — Dread Stone Press website
“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses:
The world is a salt-ridden dystopia. Bharath, an exile given to hallucinations, is ordered to escort an emaciated mourner across the barren flats. The journey reveals the existence of a monster, evolved to live in the After among the remaining humans. But which is worse—the monster new to Bharath, or the humans who robbed him of his love? “The Mourner Across the Flames” is a grief-stricken tale of spiraling delusion held afloat by enduring love. — Dread Stone Press website
The Review
This duo of weird fiction was amazing! Let’s be real, novelettes are an under-appreciated length for stories and Ebenstein is a genius for thinking of starting this series of double features — he actually discusses the inspiration for this idea in our interview, so make sure to check that out! I won’t give it away here.
Though very different, both stories vibed well together so it didn’t feel jarring to move from the first to the second. Each is accompanied by a stunning illustration (by Marisa Bruno) and custom page break, which I appreciated! Let’s look at each story on its own, shall we? Again, I’ll be keeping this review spoiler-free, so read on without worry.
“The Guts of Myth” by Carson Winter: this novelette had the most hilariously named cultist I ever had the pleasure of reading about (if you want to know what it is, check out the interview!)! Set in the 70s, we follow bruiser Byron as he sets on a caper unlike any other. From the very first page, Winter grips the reader by the throat and immerses them in the dim, foggy streets of England to beyond — you won’t be expecting the end destination, I can promise you that. “The Guts of Myth” is equal parts weird as it is viscerally horrific. Exploring themes of otherness (Byron is English-American and feels out of place in both countries, as well as being gay in a time where it still wasn’t truly accepted), the tale is told in the melancholic voice of a man struggling to prove himself and can be surprisingly vulnerable at times. I really enjoyed watching this tale unfold. And the ending? Absolutely gut-wrenching. (Bahdumtsh)
“The Mourner Across the Flames” by Scott J. Moses: this novelette is as chilling as it is ominous and Moses makes sure to drown us in decadent despair. Simply put, “The Mourner Across the Flames” is an example of masterful world-building and lore incorporation. Moses explores themes of grief, guilt, and vengeance in a world unlike our own, where the land is brutal and rendered infertile by salt, and those still living are ruled by fear. The main character, Bharath, mourns the loss of his wife as he lives in exile in a tall tower, surrounded by salty wastelands. He is given a task: escort the Mourner or be killed. What follows is a surreal, unsettling journey across the salt, and the ending is brutally delicious.
Overall, this double feature of novelettes is a powerhouse duo of dark tales of masterful prose, delicious world-building, and authentic horror.
10/10
x PLM
p.s. don’t forget, my interview with the Split Scream Volume 1 drops this Thursday! Pre-order Split Scream here!
