Review: Intuitive and Provocative
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2013
David Jester's Little Terrors is a thrilling and fascinating amalgamation of literary genres and intuitive storytelling. The natural flow and provocation of the works within suggest that Jester possesses not only a brilliant imagination, but is a true and talented wordsmith.While I would not label the collection as existing strictly or explicitly within the horror genre, I would agree that much of the content does appeal to elements and strategies commonly attributed to themes of horror. A few of the works, namely "When the Reaper Smiles," "Wipeout," and "The Sleepover," possess much more of that traditional edge of terror, foreboding, and a sadistic or sinister concluding twist that embodies what so many of us love most about the horror genre, some even showcasing a healthy dose of gore. Other stories in the collection, however, fall much more into the thriller/suspense genre, which is part of what makes this collection so wonderfully entertaining. The author writes just enough to raise the hairs on the neck and arms, before hanging readers on the edge of knowing, begging imaginations everywhere to fill in the blanks of whatever horrors or dread may lie ahead. One included work, "Little Man," accomplishes this effect especially well, being fairly short in length, but long enough to draw readers into what seems to be nothing more than the innocent curiosity of a sweet and endearing child, only to end swiftly on a note that strongly suggests otherwise.Included works, such as, "Cold" and "Last Words," play more to the psychological elements of more modern horror and suspense, expertly feeding readers the art of morbid mind-play, demented fantasy, and delusional fear. Other works, like, "Ante Up" and "The Polystyrene Man," play on a different element of fear and horror--that of the darker sides of human nature and misfortune. In both stories, the main characters are riddled with misfortune, tragedy, greed, self-loathing, and disdain. Both delve deeper into these darker depths in order to attain success, revenge, or fortune. It is the type of story that, while it doesn't terrify you, it certainly manages to filter the mind and the body with a growing sense of unease and discomfort.I found myself furiously flying through the individual works of Little Terrors as if I was trapped within the stories myself, and only the final page would set me free. These short works of creative fiction horror and suspense are addicting, to say the least, and one of the most riveting aspects of the collection is that of the actual writing style. The narratives as well as the portions of general description are so meticulous that it truly creates a three-dimensional reality for the reader, and the wording in the narrative is graceful and elegant, which is brilliantly cast in stark contrast to the often crass and profane speech and thought of many of the characters throughout. But for a few editing errors here and there, this collection is a true gem.Artfully decorated with touches of humor and masterfully doused in the author's intuitive insights into human nature and the concept of fear, Little Terrors is sure to thrill, shock, and stun, and will keep you coming back for more.