FREE Bonus Horror Stories
Not Found in the Book
• JOHN MORTONSON'S FUNERAL
By Ambrose Bierce
• THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO
By Edgar Allan Poe
• THE MASQUE OF THE
RED DEATH
By Edgar Allan Poe
• WHY YOU SHOULD READ
THE CLASSICS
Essay by Kurt S. Michaels
HORROR'S CLASSIC MASTERS: REMASTERED BY KURT S. MICHAELS
In a rare example of life imitating art, Horror’s Classic Masters: Remastered has taken a cue from Hollywood’s propensity for remaking classic movies, and has revised some of history’s greatest short horror stories for today’s audience.
Some of the greatest horror writers are represented, including Edgar Allan Poe (“The Black Cat”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”), Bram Stoker (“The Judge’s House”), Washington Irving (“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”), W.W. Jacobs (“The Monkey’s Paw”), and H.G. Wells (“Valley of the Spiders”).
Editor Kurt S. Michaels sees his work not as rewriting the greats, but as almost translating a foreign language. No changes have been made to these stories, other than in grammar and word choice, thereby maintaining the pacing, imagery, and characterization of the originals. However, by viewing these tales through a fresh pair of eyes, fans of the classics will discover nuances they had never noticed before, and new readers will have their own eyes opened to a wealth of classic horror tales.
Sample stories not found in the book can be read for free by clicking on the desired titles, including Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado and The Masque of the Red Death and John Mortonson’s Funeral by Ambrose Bierce. An essay entitled Why Read the Classics is also available here.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR HORROR’S CLASSIC MASTERS
"Kurt S. Michaels has translated these classics into modern English, and I must say he has done a good job of it. He wanted to make the stories more accessible to a modern generation, and I feel he's done just that. It was a good selection and left me wanting to see some of my old favourites done as well. As this was Volume I, I'd say that Strider Nolan will have more on the way. I certainly hope so."
– James R. Cain, Dark Animus, www.darkanimus.com
4 out of 5 stars! "If you're a fan of the classics, you won't be disappointed with what you find here: a somewhat streamlined -- but not watered down -- retelling of the originals. And if you're a new fan, looking to get in touch with the roots of the genre, this book will give you a crash course in some of the finest writers to grace the field."
– Horror-Web, www.horror-web.com
"Michaels has shown these tales in a refreshing light that had me enjoying them on a whole new level. His crisp clean writing flows beautifully over the page perfectly capturing even the smallest element of the classic stories. He even succeeds in capturing the underlying atmosphere that made them great. He writes these stories without sacrificing even the most insignificant details of the original plotline."
– Joe Kroeger, Horror World, www.horrorworld.org
In this collection of short stories we get a fresh perspective and a wonderful point of view that is understandable and even shall I dare to say, palatable? It’s really nice to see someone trying to turn what we’re supposed to like into something that we will end up liking. Give these stories a second chance, you just might find that you really do like the classics.
-- Frank Bascombe, Ain't It Cool News
CANNIBALS BY REX BOWMAN
In this fast-paced, gripping thriller, six teenagers aboard a pleasure cruise witness a murder. To hide his guilt, the killer sets them adrift on the open sea with no food or drinking water. The teens consider themselves lucky when they reach dry land, only to discover it is an island inhabited by two tribes of warring cannibals. With no means of escape, and both tribes viewing their arrival like a gift of food from the gods, the castaways must use all of their skills and knowledge to fight for their lives.
First-time author Rex Bowman is no stranger to excitement. A long-time journalist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bowman is a former member of U.S. military intelligence, and was one of 600 reporters worldwide who accompanied soldiers and Marines during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the battle for Baghdad in 2003.
The author has succeeded in filling his novel with a number of realistic characters and locales, and the fast-paced, smoothly flowing writing style will appeal to all readers. This is the kind of book that, once picked up, will be impossible to put down.
Not only is the book certain to please adults who are fans of the two hit television series Lost and Survivor, the book stars teenaged protagonists who will also appeal to younger readers. One can easily imagine the cast of any series on the new CW television network starring in a major motion picture adaptation of this novel. This is a rarity: a tale that is sure to satisfy readers of all ages.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR CANNIBALS
"I’d suggest this one for young adults with a few hours to kill. It’ll remind you of the friendships you had in school and how we shouldn’t always be so quick to judge a person's character on appearance only. [I]t was a frightening journey and this book is certainly one for a scare."
-- Natalie Cain, Dark Animus, www.darkanimus.com
"With characters that seem to live and breathe and rich description that transports you into the story, Cannibals is an excellent example of how to write a top of the line thriller. If you're in the mood for an exciting read that that will grab a hold of you until you reach the final page, I strongly recommend the shocking horror and thrilling action of Cannibals by Rex Bowman, an author who is sure to make a big splash in the thriller genre."
-- Joe Kroeger, Horror World, www.horrorworld.org
Cannibals is an unrelenting adventure that grips the reader from start to finish and begs the question: How long could you live on your wits?
-- Ronald J. Hansen, The Detroit News
Punch, punch, punch—Rex Bowman has adapted his fast-paced journalistic style to a story of constant action and self-aware fun. Castaway teenagers amid cannibals—each group packing villainy in their hearts and an undeniable hunger in their stomach—try to survive on a small Pacific island. This is a diverting debut.
-- Adam Bernstein, Washington Post
Rex Bowman knows how to tell a story in a way that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. His writing is a gripping, suspenseful journey into something adventurous. With descriptive detail that keeps the story moving, and rich elements of drama and fear, he weaves a tale like nothing you've ever read.
-- Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher Magazine