Blood Lite – A Collection of Horror Stories
Humourous Short Stories From Sci-fi to Horror to Urban Fantasy
Aug 2, 2009
Blood Lite, edited by bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson, bills itself as "a collection of nerve-jangling tales with a humorous bite," and many of its stories deliver on that in various ways. The stories range from light and funny, such as "The Ungrateful Dead" by Kelly Armstrong, to the twisted and bizarre, such as "Mr. Bear" by Joe R. Lansdale.
The Definition of a Genre
Some of the stories included in the collection tread or even cross the line of what might traditionally be considered horror. For example, "Day Off" by Jim Butcher, while a nice, upbeat way to end the anthology, is typical of the Dresden Files series as a whole; which is to say, urban fantasy which incorporates some elements of horror fiction from time to time, but isn't particularly horrific or frightening. Other stories lean more towards science fiction or the sort of paranormal chick lit that's become popular in recent years. Does this mean that the definition of horror fiction is broadening, or that true horror does not lend itself to humor as well as the stories in this anthology do?
Short Story or Novel Excerpt?
The problem with some of these stories is that they don't feel like self-contained works as short stories should. "Where Angels Fear to Tread" by Sherrilyn Kenyon, for example, feels more like the exposition in the first or second chapter to a novel, introducing the hero and how he becomes involved in the supernatural, than a story in its own right. Many of these writers, including Kenyon, are skilled novelists, but crafting a short story takes a very different set of skills. This might be dissatisfying to readers wanting a greater sense of closure to their stories.
Best Short Stories
Blood Lite does contain some exceptional short stories. "PR Problems" by Eric James Stone, a tale about a ghoul tired of being misrepresented by the media and misunderstood by the public, most skillfully straddles the line between humor and horror. "The Eldritch Pastiche from Beyond the Shadow of Horror," which follows an author addicted to writing terrible short stories about the Cthulu mythos, is a spot-on meta-commentary about writing itself as well as an excellent bit of humor. "Old School" by Mark Onspaugh is a very brief and darkly funny look at the dangers of not reading the instructions. And on the even darker side, "Mr. Bear" by Joe R. Lansdale is a bizarre and disturbing tale with a twist ending full of black humor.
Something for Everyone
With its many stories, Blood Lite has a little something to appeal to everyone, whether your preferences lean towards science fiction ("The Sound of Blunder" by J.A. Konrath and F. Paul Wilson), urban fantasy ("Day Off" by Jim Butcher), or more traditional horror stories about things that go bump in the night ("No Problem" by Don D'Ammassa). A good read, or just a good way to catch up on your favorite authors' other works.
(Pocket Books, 2008. 388 pages. ISBN: 978-1-4165-6783-7)
