The Monster Within
Bayonet Books Anthology Book 8
Bayonet Books
ISBN 9781960016065
ASIN B0C67KSPZK
This is the second of the Bayoney Books Anthologies I have read. Previously I read Storming Area 51 35 New Stories, and after reading that first one I picked up the remaining of the 9 currently available that I did not have yet. I love reading anthologies for a few reasons. In part to discover new authors, as I am always looking to add books to my ‘to be read pile’, secondarily I pick up anthologies because of contributors who are authors I already follow, and for this one I had picked it up based on Declan Finn’s contribution, and finally, in part because short form fiction is a very different art form than longer prose. It requires tighter writing, quicker character development, and a very different skill set.
Book two in this series as a whopping 800 pages, this one comes in at just 284. I did not know anything about this anthology when I picked it up, other than that Declan Finn had contributed a story. I had read all of his novels over the last year and am now working through all the anthologies he contributed to. This is the second such anthology. I have also picked up 2 of the more recent Bayonet Books Anthologies #7 Fire for Effect and #2 Storming Area 51 35 New Stories, because Finn had contributed, but I have now pick up all in this series and give them a read. The description of this volume states:
“The post-apocalypse is now...
How will you survive the calamity? Do you have the strength to unleash your inner beast to survive against the odds? We’ve got nine tales of characters doing just that, so dive in and take notes because there will be a test later! So buy a copy today, don’t get caught flat-footed when crap hits the fan!”
The stories in the collection are:
The Pendragon Brothers - J. R. Handley
Letters From a Dead Man - Declan Finn
The Lesser Evil - Michael Walley
A Shell of Humanity - Steve Diamond
Technopoeia - Matthew Olaranont
Courier - Nicholas Woode-Smith
Where the Dead Hunt - Robert Tillsley
Ash Wendigo - Nathan Pedde
“Where Have All The Flowers Gone” - A.M. Stevens
The contributors are:
A.M. Stevens
Matthew Olaranont
Michael Walley
Steve Diamond
Finn’s contribution is a reworking as a segment from the Last Survivors Series. A couple of the stories in the collection turned my stomach. Canabilism shows up in several pieces. And Most focus around a post-apocalyptic world. In some ways the stories in this collection could easily fit in the Deathlands Series by James Axler, I believe I read the first 15 or so as they were releasing late in High school and early university. Many of the stories in this collection brought those volumes to mind.
I really enjoyed Courier by Nicholas Woode-Smith, Ash Wendigo by Nathan Pedde and of course Letters From a Dead Man by Finn. Overall this was a good collection. Not something I would give to my 15 year old. Even though he was interested based on the cover. It is an interesting anthology. And Leaves me intrigued about what will be encountered in the other 7 in the series.
The stories in this collection are hard, gritty and often without compassion. Few of the stories have redeeming endings. But they will entertain, and make you think. For fans of true dystopian works, these stories will be of interest. I can recommend this collection for more mature audiences.
For all reviews of anthologies click here.
Bayonet Books Anthologies:
Contact This! A First Contact Anthology
From the Ashes
On Deadly Ground – A Heroic Last Stand
Deadly Enhancements
Slay Bells Ring – Operation Klaus
Zombies! Planet Zero
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