Only the Living Are Lost

Name: Only the Living Are Lost
Price: 20.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781614984214

✍️ Simon Strantzas

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$20.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Simon Strantzas delivers eleven weird tales fusing crime noir with supernatural dread.

Strantzas combines hard-boiled crime elements with supernatural fiction in this diverse collection. The narratives range from personal grief in domestic settings to vast desert landscapes. Each story uses weirdness to examine human connection and isolation. The inclusion of novellas allows for deeper exploration of noir themes within a horror context.

Key Themes

human relationships hard-boiled crime film noir traditions

Literary Context

The work sits within the tradition of contemporary weird fiction. It draws on film noir aesthetics and settings like Egypt. The collection reflects Strantzas's established reputation as a dynamic voice in this specific literary field.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Raymond Chandler · Algernon Blackwood · Thomas Ligotti

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Hippocampus Press 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781614984214

📝 Description: Only the Living Are Lost

Simon Strantzas is a Canadian writer recognized for his dynamic voice in contemporary weird fiction. His prose evokes both terror and wonder while grounding bizarre events in emotional resonance. This collection contains eleven long and short stories that showcase his wide array of motifs. The work explores the complexities of human relationships alongside terrifying monsters, presenting complex and brooding characters as ideal recipients for the strange. The book includes "In the Event of Death," which follows a man exploring his dead mother's house. "Circle of Blood" fuses a hard-boiled crime scenario with the weird. Four hikers discover something unsettling in a remote forest in "Antripuu." The expansive novella "Clay Pigeons" is set in Port Said, drawing upon film noir traditions to suggest horrors amidst the parched desert of Egypt. This volume suits readers who appreciate dark atmospheres and genre blending. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted supernatural tales or straightforward horror without literary depth. The stories rely on established traditions rather than new ones, offering a specific type of eerie experience.

💎 Our verdict on Only the Living Are Lost

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Strantzas demonstrates a dynamic voice in contemporary weird fiction, fusing crime elements with supernatural dread effectively. The collection excels in grounding bizarre events in emotional resonance, creating complex characters who serve as ideal recipients for the strange. From domestic grief to vast desert landscapes, the narratives maintain a consistent tone of brooding isolation. The inclusion of novellas allows for deeper exploration of noir themes within a horror context. This volume suits readers who appreciate dark atmospheres and genre blending, offering a specific type of eerie experience rather than straightforward horror.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the intersection of hard-boiled crime noir and supernatural dread will find this collection deeply rewarding. Strantzas grounds bizarre events in emotional resonance, making the terror feel personal and immediate. Those interested in exploring human isolation through dark atmospheres will benefit from the nuanced examination of grief and connection across diverse settings. The novellas offer sufficient depth for those who prefer slower, more brooding narratives over quick scares. It appeals to individuals seeking literary horror that respects established traditions while delivering unique, eerie experiences.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Strantzas demonstrates a dynamic voice in contemporary weird fiction, fusing crime elements with supernatural dread effectively. The collection excels in grounding bizarre events in emotional resonance, creating complex characters who serve as ideal recipients for the strange. From domestic grief to vast desert landscapes, the narratives maintain a consistent tone of brooding isolation. The inclusion of novellas allows for deeper exploration of noir themes within a horror context. This volume suits readers who appreciate dark atmospheres and genre blending, offering a specific type of eerie experience rather than straightforward horror.