Scream Queen And Other Tales of Menace
Acclaimed novelist and short story writer Gorman offers up 14 stories, originally published (with a few exceptions) in the early to mid-1990s. Ranging in genre from noir to thriller to horror to sf, these are beautifully crafted tales. Gorman’s characters behave consistently, but sometimes we don’t realize what kind of people they are until it’s too late. Many of the stories are narrated in the first person, and these feel almost like confessions. Some, like Angie (about a woman whose lover killed his wife so he could have Angie), have moments in which it feels like the author is channeling Jim Thompson; still others, Duty (a postapocalyptic chiller) and The Order of Things Unknown (a serial killer finds he’s unable to stop killing), have a sort of Stephen King flavor to them. Gorman is best known as a mystery writer, but his fans know he can handle pretty much any genre like an expert. This short story collection showcases his versatility and his skill at creating complex, compelling characters. --David Pitt