13 Tales

Name: 13 Tales
Price: 11.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780595323814

✍️ Richard McOmber

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$11.95

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Thirteen short horror stories by Richard McOmber covering monsters, ghosts, and dread.

McOmber’s anthology offers a varied selection of terrifying scenarios that challenge the characters’ sanity. The narratives range from external threats like planetary infestations to internal conflicts such as hatred consuming a woman. The author uses straightforward language to describe events that defy logic. This approach allows the horror to feel immediate and personal. The collection includes tales of bikers, lonely men, and frightened children. Each story operates independently, allowing the reader to experience different types of fear. The pacing is deliberate, focusing on the buildup of dread rather than action. This structure suits readers who prefer bite-sized scares. It does not suit those looking for a continuous narrative arc or deep character studies.

Key Themes

planetary monsters hatred consumption under bed monster

Literary Context

Published by iUniverse in 2004, this book sits within the tradition of independent horror anthologies. It reflects a period where small presses released focused collections of supernatural fiction for dedicated readers seeking niche genre content.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Stephen King

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 iUniverse 📅 2004 📖 130 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780595323814

📝 Description: 13 Tales

Richard McOmber presents a collection of thirteen short stories that explore the boundaries between human emotion and supernatural terror. The author draws upon classic horror traditions to craft narratives where the mundane collides with the monstrous. Each tale stands as a distinct vignette, ranging from cosmic dread to intimate psychological breakdowns. The book does not rely on complex plotting but rather on atmosphere and sudden shifts in reality. Readers will encounter a planet overrun by unimaginable dangers and an outlaw biker facing his final mistake. One story follows a lonely man who dismisses the supernatural for love, while another depicts a woman literally consumed by her own hatred. A small boy battles a monster under his bed, and other tales explore the weird and ghostly. McOmber organizes these works to maximize unease, using simple premises to build tension. The collection suits those who enjoy concise, atmospheric horror that prioritizes mood over character development. It may not appeal to readers seeking intricate plots or extended narratives. The stories remain grounded in their specific scenarios, offering a focused reading experience for fans of the genre.

💎 Our verdict on 13 Tales

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

McOmber’s anthology delivers a varied selection of terrifying scenarios that challenge sanity through both external threats and internal conflicts. The author employs straightforward language to describe illogical events, allowing horror to feel immediate. By focusing on the buildup of dread rather than action, the collection suits readers who prefer bite-sized scares over continuous narrative arcs. While it lacks deep character studies, the deliberate pacing effectively maximizes unease. This volume is best for fans of atmospheric horror who value mood and sudden shifts in reality over intricate plotting or extended narratives.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who prefer bite-sized scares and atmospheric tension over extended narratives will find this collection rewarding. McOmber’s straightforward language allows horror to feel immediate and personal, making the terror accessible without requiring deep character studies or intricate plots. The anthology offers a diverse range of fears, from cosmic dread to intimate psychological breakdowns, ensuring that each tale stands as a distinct vignette. Those who enjoy concise storytelling where mood prioritizes action will appreciate the deliberate pacing and focus on building unease through simple premises rather than complex plotting.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

McOmber’s anthology delivers a varied selection of terrifying scenarios that challenge sanity through both external threats and internal conflicts. The author employs straightforward language to describe illogical events, allowing horror to feel immediate. By focusing on the buildup of dread rather than action, the collection suits readers who prefer bite-sized scares over continuous narrative arcs. While it lacks deep character studies, the deliberate pacing effectively maximizes unease. This volume is best for fans of atmospheric horror who value mood and sudden shifts in reality over intricate plotting or extended narratives.