🐙 Cosmic Horror

Strange Frequencies: A Short Story Collection

✍️ Richard Clive
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$15.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Eleven chilling tales of self-made hell by Richard Clive

This collection examines how individuals construct their own damnation through guilt and regret. The narratives range from the psychological torment of a WWI pilot to the visceral horror faced by a mobster awaiting execution. Each story contributes to a broader examination of cosmic and supernatural dread. The author employs splatterpunk elements and ghostly imagery to create a lasting impression. The variety in style keeps the reading experience dynamic, moving between slow-burn tension and rapid action. This approach highlights Clive’s skill in handling diverse horror subgenres.

Key Themes
personal damnation guilt and regret cosmic horror
Literary Context

Published by Crystal Lake Publishing under Sinister Smile Press, this 2025 debut draws on Lovecraftian traditions and splatterpunk gore. It bridges classic cosmic horror with modern supernatural thrillers, reflecting a contemporary interest in visceral, psychological terror within the American market.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti
🐙
Cosmic Horror
🏛 Crystal Lake Publishing 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781964398518
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Strange Frequencies: A Short Story Collection

Richard Clive presents a collection of eleven distinct narratives that explore the construction of personal damnation. The stories feature a World War One fighter pilot haunted by guilt, a New York mobster counting down to execution, and an elderly man losing his mind in a nursing home. These characters confront their regrets as they build their own Hell brick by brick. The volume spans from Lovecraftian cosmic horror to fast-paced supernatural thrillers. Readers will encounter splatterpunk gore, ghostly revenants, and hellish monsters within these pages. Clive’s work is noted for its varied approach and compelling nature, with Mark Morris identifying him as a name to watch. This debut collection offers a chilling experience that lingers long after the final page. This book suits those who enjoy visceral horror and supernatural tension. It may not appeal to readers seeking gentle or non-violent fiction. The stories are organized to provide a mix of psychological dread and physical terror. Clive demonstrates his ability to craft twisted tales that vary in tone while maintaining a consistent theme of self-made suffering.

💎 Our verdict on Strange Frequencies: A Short Story Collection

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Richard Clive delivers a potent collection of eleven narratives that masterfully blend cosmic horror with psychological depth. The volume succeeds in its examination of self-made damnation, utilizing varied tones to keep the reading experience dynamic. From the haunting guilt of a WWI pilot to the visceral dread of a mobster, each story contributes to a broader theme of supernatural suffering. Clive’s skill in handling diverse subgenres is evident, moving seamlessly between ghostly revenants and hellish monsters. This debut work offers a compelling, lingering chill for fans of splatterpunk and cosmic terror. It is best suited for readers who desire intense, non-gentle fiction that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche through a lens of existential dread and physical horror.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking visceral horror and supernatural tension will find this collection deeply satisfying, particularly those who appreciate the exploration of psychological torment through a cosmic lens. Richard Clive’s work appeals to fans of diverse subgenres, offering a dynamic mix of slow-burn psychological dread and rapid-action supernatural thrillers. The book is ideal for audiences interested in the theme of self-made damnation, where characters confront their regrets and guilt to construct their own hell. It suits those who enjoy splatterpunk gore and ghostly imagery without shying away from intense, non-violent-free content. By examining how individuals build their own destruction, Clive provides a chilling experience that lingers, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts of twisted tales and dark fantasy.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Richard Clive delivers a potent collection of eleven narratives that masterfully blend cosmic horror with psychological depth. The volume succeeds in its examination of self-made damnation, utilizing varied tones to keep the reading experience dynamic. From the haunting guilt of a WWI pilot to the visceral dread of a mobster, each story contributes to a broader theme of supernatural suffering. Clive’s skill in handling diverse subgenres is evident, moving seamlessly between ghostly revenants and hellish monsters. This debut work offers a compelling, lingering chill for fans of splatterpunk and cosmic terror. It is best suited for readers who desire intense, non-gentle fiction that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche through a lens of existential dread and physical horror.

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