26 June 2007

REPOST 3/28/2007 Reviews are good for more than just web page filler!

A lot of people seem to think that's all they're good for, but the truth is...it's a good way to network, to get word of mouth...to get the exposure. Example?


I was just informed that SpineTinglers in the UK will be featuring NOBODY: A Dark Fiction Anthology in their monthly subscriber/email letter that goes out to 65,000 members. Not too shabby. That's one heck of a lot of exposure for the price of a single review copy. And, the review is FAB!

Nobody - No Person; Not Anyone; No One


Have you ever considered the concept of nobody? Late at night, when you hear a knock on your door or you hear a creak on your floor boards… when you yell 'is anybody there?' What scares you more? The fact that someone could answer you, or the fact that nobody does?


The Essex Writers' & Artists' Guild have put together a collection of short stories based in and around the concept of nobody, and it is, by far, the best collection of short stories I have ever read. It is a diverse range of tales from authors of varying accomplishments. Practically every subgenre in dark fiction is covered – Sci-fi, crime thriller, vampire fiction and the list goes on. Usually when you read an anthology, you find that you really enjoy a few stories, but not all. On the contrary, every single story within this collection is fascinating, and sometimes spooky--a rare treat for anyone who loves either a good old-fashioned ghost story, or brilliant sci-fi stories warning of the dangers of technology.


Also, a lot of anthologies have similar stories, and after you have read a few, you almost do not have to read the rest of the book because they so formulaic. This is not he case with Nobody; each author has obviously been given free reign to use this concept however they want, which only adds to the brilliance of this entertaining and fascinating anthology (although at times, I do find the concept of nobody that links all of the stories is slightly tenuous, but this does not detract from the book). All stories are brilliantly written and fantastically entertaining.

This is an absolute must for Dark Fiction Fans, and Spinetinglers has the feeling that the writers in this anthology will certainly not be 'nobodies' for much longer.

Nolene Patricia Dougan for SpineTinglers

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