🩸 Horror Fiction

Fin and Tonic, Talon and Tombstone

✍️ David Moss
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$9.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of thirteen short stories mixing horror, sci-fi, and humor by David Moss.

Moss combines disparate elements into a single volume of speculative fiction. The work includes tales of genetic makeup, black masks, and ice princesses alongside more grounded settings like Ridge Road or the Old West. Each story operates independently, offering snapshots of supernatural encounters and scientific mishaps. The author utilizes previously published works to create a cohesive yet varied reading experience. Readers will encounter hellhounds, lycanthropes, and alien invasions within these pages. The tone shifts between suspenseful dread and lighthearted absurdity. This approach allows for a broad exploration of horror tropes without committing to a single subgenre. The collection stands as a diverse anthology rather than a unified narrative arc.

Key Themes
werewolf cures hellhounds in the West alien encounters
Literary Context

The stories reflect American regional influences, specifically mentioning Memphis and the Old West. The inclusion of Darrell Awards Jury nominations points to a Midsouth literary context. The mix of genres mirrors late twentieth-century trends in speculative fiction anthologies.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Harlan Ellison · Charles de Lint · Tananarive Due
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2019 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781706754671

📝 Description: Fin and Tonic, Talon and Tombstone

David Moss presents a collection of thirteen short stories that blend suspense, science fiction, and horror with occasional humor. The narratives span diverse settings and genres, ranging from an apothecary werewolf seeking a cure to hellhounds invading the Old West. Other tales feature physicians and biotechnology engineers gone wild, monsters in Memphis, and icy terror for Arctic explorers. The collection also includes a story about a pizza man and an alien meeting their match. The book is organized as a sequence of distinct narratives rather than a continuous plot. Moss draws on traditions of supernatural fiction and speculative horror to explore these varied scenarios. Some stories were previously published in magazines and anthologies, with one chosen for The Year's Best Fantastic Fiction and another nominated by the Darrell Awards Jury for Best Midsouth Short Story. The final teaser asks how horny toads, jugs, tight blue jeans, and weasleteasers fit together. This volume suits readers who enjoy eclectic mixes of horror and science fiction with a touch of wit. It may not appeal to those seeking serious literary horror or traditional gothic atmospheres without comedic elements. The inclusion of specific titles like Truth Is Stranger Than Fishin and Antidote for a Lycanthrope highlights the author's range in tackling both mundane and monstrous subjects.

💎 Our verdict on Fin and Tonic, Talon and Tombstone

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
David Moss delivers a vibrant anthology that defies strict genre classification by weaving together horror, sci-fi, and humor. The collection excels in its variety, offering distinct snapshots of supernatural and scientific anomalies across diverse settings. While it lacks a cohesive narrative arc, this independence allows each tale to stand on its own merits, exploring everything from genetic manipulation to hellhound invasions. The tone successfully balances suspenseful dread with absurdity, making it accessible and entertaining. It is best suited for readers who enjoy eclectic horror mixes and appreciate wit over traditional gothic atmosphere. Those seeking serious literary depth may find the humor distracting, but fans of speculative fiction will likely relish the imaginative range and playful engagement with classic monsters.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate a diverse array of horror subgenres will find this volume particularly engaging. It offers a break from singular thematic focus by presenting thirteen independent narratives that span from the Old West to Arctic explorations. Those seeking a blend of suspense, scientific mishaps, and lighthearted absurdity will enjoy the tonal shifts. The book is ideal for those who like eclectic mixes of horror and science fiction with wit. It avoids the density of serious literary horror, providing instead accessible snapshots of supernatural encounters. Fans of varied tropes, from werewolves to alien invasions, will appreciate the breadth without commitment to a unified plot.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

David Moss delivers a vibrant anthology that defies strict genre classification by weaving together horror, sci-fi, and humor. The collection excels in its variety, offering distinct snapshots of supernatural and scientific anomalies across diverse settings. While it lacks a cohesive narrative arc, this independence allows each tale to stand on its own merits, exploring everything from genetic manipulation to hellhound invasions. The tone successfully balances suspenseful dread with absurdity, making it accessible and entertaining. It is best suited for readers who enjoy eclectic horror mixes and appreciate wit over traditional gothic atmosphere. Those seeking serious literary depth may find the humor distracting, but fans of speculative fiction will likely relish the imaginative range and playful engagement with classic monsters.

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