What Then of Horror?

Name: What Then of Horror?
Price: 21.56 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780557396566

✍️ Barry Eysman

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$21.56

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A fragmented literary collection exploring horror through surreal imagery and classic references.

This volume operates as a series of poetic and prose fragments rather than a linear narrative. It juxtaposes domestic dread with cosmic scale, moving from intimate feelings of love to the vastness of space travel for zombies. The author draws on established folklore by invoking Young Goodman Brown and the figure of Legend. The structure relies on vivid, disjointed scenes that invite comparison between human experience and monstrous existence. Readers seeking coherent plots may find the format challenging, while those interested in experimental horror prose will appreciate the dense imagery.

Key Themes

giant lizard witch vigil zombie spaceships

Literary Context

Published in 2010 by Lulu.com, this work sits within the tradition of independent literary publishing. It engages with classic American horror figures like Young Goodman Brown while incorporating modern surreal elements. The text reflects a postmodern approach to supernatural fiction, blending gothic tropes with abstract mathematical and visual concepts.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Algernon Blackwood · Nathaniel Hawthorne · Thomas Ligotti

☣️

Apocalyptic

🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2010 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780557396566

📝 Description: What Then of Horror?

Barry Eysman presents a collection of fragmented literary pieces in What Then of Horror. The text moves through varied imagery, shifting from concepts of horrific love to the visual detail of silver shimmering beyond a spider's web. It examines mathematical opera and the figure of an unknown poet. A narrative thread follows a young boy who lived on the moon before coming to Earth to kill a giant lizard named Legend. The work addresses the nature of senseless horror as chaos from the unknown. It references Young Goodman Brown attending another witch vigil and includes direct address to a tarantula. Snakes are described floating in a summer sun eye, while zombies seek spaceships to escape ruin. The text considers a moment in bas relief and a peculiar madhouse. It notes eyes blue as the sea and a small dance in November sun. The collection emphasizes layers and mixtures, asking readers to watch subjects play without giving anything away. Eysman argues that these entities, like humans, deserve their day.

💎 Our verdict on What Then of Horror?

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Eysman crafts a challenging yet rewarding collection that prioritizes atmosphere over narrative coherence. The text excels in its juxtaposition of intimate human emotions against vast, terrifying cosmic backgrounds, creating a sense of profound unease. By weaving references to classic tales like Young Goodman Brown with original surreal concepts, such as a boy from the moon killing a giant lizard, the author builds a rich tapestry of fear. This approach suits readers who enjoy decoding dense imagery and exploring the boundaries between folklore and modern psychological horror. The work is best appreciated by those willing to engage with its fragmented structure and vivid, often unsettling, visual details without expecting traditional resolution.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the disorienting power of surreal imagery and the deconstruction of traditional horror tropes will find value in this volume. It offers a dense, poetic exploration of domestic dread juxtaposed with cosmic scale, appealing to those who enjoy interpreting disjointed scenes rather than following linear plots. The book invites contemplation on the nature of senseless chaos and the monstrous existence, providing a unique lens through which to view human experience. Those interested in dark fantasy elements, such as zombies seeking escape or entities deserving their day, will appreciate the thematic depth. It is ideal for audiences who seek intellectual engagement with horror through vivid, non-linear prose.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Eysman crafts a challenging yet rewarding collection that prioritizes atmosphere over narrative coherence. The text excels in its juxtaposition of intimate human emotions against vast, terrifying cosmic backgrounds, creating a sense of profound unease. By weaving references to classic tales like Young Goodman Brown with original surreal concepts, such as a boy from the moon killing a giant lizard, the author builds a rich tapestry of fear. This approach suits readers who enjoy decoding dense imagery and exploring the boundaries between folklore and modern psychological horror. The work is best appreciated by those willing to engage with its fragmented structure and vivid, often unsettling, visual details without expecting traditional resolution.