🩸 Horror Fiction

Obsession

✍️ Jason Shawn Alexander
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$33.28
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A framed collection of anonymous horror tales told by travelers in a cold refuge.

The narrative centers on a group of people trapped in a diminishing environment, using storytelling to combat fear and cold. Wine helps lower their anxiety as they share tales of the supernatural. Natalie acts as the scribe, recording these accounts in shorthand. The absence of author names adds an eerie layer to the text. This approach highlights the universality of fear rather than individual style. The structure relies on the mystery of who wrote each chapter. It creates a communal experience of dread among the characters and the reader.

Key Themes
supernatural fiction anonymous authors survival storytelling
Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of gothic horror where framing devices create distance between the reader and the tale. The use of shorthand recording adds a layer of realism to the supernatural events. It reflects a period where energy conservation and shared resources dictated social interaction during crises.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
M.R. James · Shirley Jackson · Edgar Allan Poe · The Canterbury Tales
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2013 📖 178 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781475175431

📝 Description: Obsession

Jason Shawn Alexander presents a collection of supernatural tales framed by a narrative of survival. The story begins with travelers seeking amusement to bolster flagging spirits in a cold, dimly lit environment. Lights are turned off to conserve energy for heat as the urgency of storytelling increases. Bottles of wine appear from a traveler's baggage, their consumption easing anxiety among the group. The tales themselves are organized into chapters, though the authors remain unknown and unrecorded. Natalie transcribes these stories using shorthand she learned during her early work as a corporate secretary. The text notes that even the sex of the original writers is lost to history, leaving readers to guess their identities. This structure creates a sense of mystery around the origins of the horror. The book suits readers who enjoy classic gothic traditions where atmosphere and framing devices drive the narrative. It appeals to those interested in short fiction collections presented through an epistolary or recorded lens. Readers seeking straightforward, single-author novels may find the anonymous contributors confusing. The lack of biographical detail forces attention onto the stories themselves rather than the writers' reputations.

💎 Our verdict on Obsession

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Alexander succeeds in crafting an immersive horror experience through its innovative framing device. By removing author names, the text forces attention onto the stories themselves, creating a communal sense of dread that resonates with readers. The structure is effective for those who enjoy short fiction presented through a recorded lens. However, readers seeking straightforward, single-author novels may find the anonymous contributors confusing or disjointed. The book excels in building atmosphere, using the cold refuge and diminishing resources to heighten tension. It suits fans of gothic traditions where mood drives the narrative. While it lacks biographical detail, this omission strengthens the universal appeal of the fear depicted. The shorthand transcription adds a layer of authenticity and intimacy to the accounts.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric tension over plot-driven narratives will find this book compelling. It appeals to those interested in how framing devices can enhance the horror genre by creating a sense of mystery and immediacy. The anonymous nature of the tales invites readers to project their own fears onto the text, making the experience deeply personal. Those who enjoy short fiction collections that rely on mood and setting rather than character development will appreciate this approach. It is ideal for fans of gothic traditions where the environment itself becomes a character. The use of wine and cold as narrative tools adds a visceral layer to the reading experience. Ultimately, it offers a unique perspective on how storytelling serves as a survival mechanism in dire circumstances.

⭐ 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

Alexander succeeds in crafting an immersive horror experience through its innovative framing device. By removing author names, the text forces attention onto the stories themselves, creating a communal sense of dread that resonates with readers. The structure is effective for those who enjoy short fiction presented through a recorded lens. However, readers seeking straightforward, single-author novels may find the anonymous contributors confusing or disjointed. The book excels in building atmosphere, using the cold refuge and diminishing resources to heighten tension. It suits fans of gothic traditions where mood drives the narrative. While it lacks biographical detail, this omission strengthens the universal appeal of the fear depicted. The shorthand transcription adds a layer of authenticity and intimacy to the accounts.

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