🩸 Horror Fiction

Chimaera and Other Stories

✍️ Steven Bruce
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$11.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A Gold Award-winning collection of short horror stories by Steven Bruce.

Steven Bruce delivers a volatile mix of surreal and realistic horror in this award-winning anthology. The Literary Titan Gold Book Award recognizes his ability to turn human weakness into living nightmares. Critics compare his dark genius to Stephen King and Clive Barker, highlighting the sleepless nights these tales induce. Bruce does not hold back, ensuring each story confronts the reader with regrettable truths. Stephanie J Bardy calls him creative and inventive, while Joe Clements notes his knack for splicing the surreal with the all-too-real. This collection is organized as a series of standalone narratives rather than a single plot. It appeals to fans of psychological terror and those who appreciate critical acclaim in horror fiction. The work avoids traditional comfort, offering instead a confrontational experience. Readers seeking gentle tales should look elsewhere. Bruce’s prose remains sharp and unyielding throughout the volume.

Key Themes
human weakness vengeance living nightmares
Literary Context

Published by 1987 Books in October 2024, this collection sits within the modern horror tradition. It draws on gothic and supernatural fiction styles. The work has received recognition from Literary Titan and World of Myth Magazine, placing it among critically acknowledged genre pieces.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Clive Barker · Surrealist Horror Anthologies · Psychological Terror Fiction
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 1987 Books 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781838088538

📝 Description: Chimaera and Other Stories

Steven Bruce’s Chimaera and Other Stories presents a collection of short horror narratives that transform human frailty and vengeance into tangible nightmares. The Literary Titan Gold Book Award winner weaves together surreal imagery with grounded reality to create confrontational tales. Karen Almeida notes the work recalls the dark genius of Stephen King or Clive Barker, while Stephanie J Bardy praises Bruce’s creative inventiveness. Joe Clements observes that the author splices the bizarre with the familiar in this volatile assortment. The book suits readers who enjoy visceral, psychological terror and those who appreciate award-winning short fiction. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted escapism or traditional ghost stories without underlying human conflict. Bruce qualifies his position through critical acclaim and a distinct voice that refuses to hold back on disturbing content. Each story acts as a portal to sleepless nights, ensuring the reader regrets opening them. This collection draws on gothic and supernatural traditions to explore the darker aspects of the human condition. The structure relies on individual vignettes rather than a continuous narrative, allowing for varied tones within the horror genre. Bruce uses his award-winning status to lend credibility to these unsettling explorations. The publisher, 1987 Books, released this volume in late 2024, continuing its focus on genre fiction. Readers looking for intense, short-form horror will find a compelling companion here.

💎 Our verdict on Chimaera and Other Stories

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Steven Bruce delivers a volatile mix of surreal and realistic horror in this award-winning anthology. Critics compare his dark genius to Stephen King and Clive Barker, highlighting the sleepless nights these tales induce. Bruce does not hold back, ensuring each story confronts the reader with regrettable truths. Stephanie J Bardy calls him creative and inventive, while Joe Clements notes his knack for splicing the surreal with the all-too-real. This collection is organized as a series of standalone narratives rather than a single plot. It appeals to fans of psychological terror and those who appreciate critical acclaim in horror fiction. The work avoids traditional comfort, offering instead a confrontational experience. Readers seeking gentle tales should look elsewhere. Bruce’s prose remains sharp and unyielding throughout the volume.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking visceral, psychological terror will find this collection deeply rewarding. It appeals to those who appreciate critical acclaim in horror fiction and enjoy confrontational experiences that refuse traditional comfort. Fans of surreal imagery blended with grounded reality will value the sharp, unyielding prose. The book suits individuals interested in exploring human frailty and vengeance through tangible nightmares. It is ideal for readers who do not fear disturbing content or regrettable truths. Those who enjoy award-winning short fiction and dark genius comparisons to established masters will find merit here. The collection offers varied tones within the horror genre, providing a volatile mix that challenges the reader rather than soothing them.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Steven Bruce delivers a volatile mix of surreal and realistic horror in this award-winning anthology. Critics compare his dark genius to Stephen King and Clive Barker, highlighting the sleepless nights these tales induce. Bruce does not hold back, ensuring each story confronts the reader with regrettable truths. Stephanie J Bardy calls him creative and inventive, while Joe Clements notes his knack for splicing the surreal with the all-too-real. This collection is organized as a series of standalone narratives rather than a single plot. It appeals to fans of psychological terror and those who appreciate critical acclaim in horror fiction. The work avoids traditional comfort, offering instead a confrontational experience. Readers seeking gentle tales should look elsewhere. Bruce’s prose remains sharp and unyielding throughout the volume.

✍️ More books by this author Steven Bruce

Euphoria and Other Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Steven Bruce
Euphoria and Other Stories
$11.99
86
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher 1987 Books

Euphoria and Other Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Steven Bruce
Euphoria and Other Stories
$11.99
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Euphoria and Other Stories ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Steven Bruce
Euphoria and Other Stories
$11.99
86
Read →
The Haunting of Hill House -16% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
7
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$9.99 $12.00
92
Read →
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Dracula (Masterpiece Library Edition)
$22.99
92
Read →
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works
$24.99
92
Read →
Frankenstein ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Frankenstein
$26.95
92
Read →
The Yellow Wallpaper ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wallpaper
$29.95
92
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist