New Fiction 2022 – September

The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete – “Tobias” ed. Richard Challoner (1752)

Tobias and Son keep the faith and are amply rewarded. But also don’t forget to pay back those debts.

The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete – “Judith” ed. Richard Challoner (1752)

Do not mess with Holofernes! Unless you’re a badass like Judith.

Dracula Daily – “September” by Bram Stoker & ed. Matt Kirkland (1897, 2021)

That Van Helsing sure takes his sweet time but I respect the dedication to the process. And now I see why everyone wants to make Mina Harker the star of her own thing because these fellas hog up way too much of the action.

A Less Perfect Union by William Leisner (2008)

Alternate universes is part and parcel for Star Trek, and this series of novellas seems to have arrived at a time when authors were keen to meld those universes and pepper in some “what if…” scenarios. I like that this one gives T’Pol a proper due.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020)

The whole thing, just all of it. What a read and especially good timing as I was just in one of those former silver towns that were built on the slave labor from local people. The house is so richly described that I can still walk through it when I close my eyes.

Weird Mysteries – “Robot Woman” by Basil Wolverton (1952)

There should always be a test case for obsession.

Goosebumps: The Game dev. WayForward (2015)

A shockingly good game based on the Goosebumps license. It captured a really mellow, spooky atmosphere and wasn’t interested in rushing the player along. Just the kind of game I’d hope to see and I’m glad we at least got a couple of these meaty adventure games in the series.

Goosebumps Dead of Night dev. Cosmic Forces (2020)

Some potential in the second level (see the aforementioned note on pacing), but the first and third levels drop the ball a bit. I don’t need FNAF scares in a video game based on children’s lit.

“The Dancing Pig” dir. Mr. Odeo (1907)

Not a horror story but the puppeteering on the costume is so good that it’s kinda scary.

Orphan dir. Jaume Collet-Serra (2009)

You wish you could be the person they deny you.

Orphan: First Kill dir. William Brent Bell (2022)

The complete absence of tension.

The Invitation dir. Jessica M. Thompson (2022)

A mild update.

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. dir. Adamma Ebo (2022)

A dollar earned is two dollars kept.

Medieval dir. Petr Jákl (2022)

Alone and destined to step over discarded bodies.

Barbarian dir. Zach Cregger (2022)

Stop and go, stop and go.

Pearl dir. Ti West (2022)

It begins where the chains are strongest.

See How They Run dir. Tom George (2022)

Find a clue and follow it to the beginning.

God’s Country dir. Julian Higgins (2022)

The only reasonable conclusion.

Confess, Fletch dir. Greg Mottola (2022)

Yes hello Lorenza Izzo.

The Woman King dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood (2022)

The story within the collapse.

Don’t Worry Darling dir. Olivia Wilde (2022)

A sudden halt.

The Silent Twins dir. Agnieszka Smoczyńska (2022)

Tragedy on every level.

Luckiest Girl Alive dir. Mike Barker (2022)

Someone has to win.