Book Reviews and More: Monster In The Second Reel - Richard Paolinelli

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Monster In The Second Reel - Richard Paolinelli - Dreams Of The Storyteller Book 15

Monster In The Second Reel

Dreams Of The Storyteller Book 15

Richard Paolinelli

Tuscany Bay Books

ASIN B0FBFQMS6X

Monster In The Second Reel - Richard Paolinelli - Dreams Of The Storyteller Book 15

A few years ago I read 14 volumes in the Dreams of the Storyteller Series. I really enjoyed these short stories and novellas. And I was very excited when Paolinelli announced he was releasing two more tales in this series. This series is mainly comprised of stories that had appeared in Anthologies and are not published as stand along stories. My first encounter with Paolinelli’s work was in the Anthology; Cracked An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories edited by Bokerah Brumley, since then I have read work by Richard over 35 times. And I have greatly enjoyued his work across many genres, and a number of series.

Richard is not only an author but the driving force behind Tuscany Bay Books, I have read many volumes from the Bay by a number of authors and all have been well worth the read. This was one of several two short stories that dropped in the collection Dreams Of The Storyteller in 2025. There are now collection of 16 volumes in this collection, the first 2 date from 2014, 1 from 2022, and several in 2023, And now these 2 new ones in 2025.

The description of this story is:

“On a cold snowy night in a small North Dakota town in 1956, a man parks near the town's movie theater. He brings a special movie being "previewed across the country" to select audiences.

A small group of people happily take advantage of the free movie.

Only they will get much more than they bargained for once the second reel of the film begins rolling. Trapped inside the theater, at the mercy of a blood-thirsty, supernatural creature, only divine intervention can save them.

Or a mysterious man wearing the robes of a Jesuit priest who seems to appear out of the thin, cold, snowy night air....”

In the author’s forward Richard states:

“I feel like this one needs a bit of an explanation.

This short story started out as a potential entry into Kevin J. Anderson’s Movies, Monsters, and Mayhem anthology he put together a few years back. I had entered it and it made it through a few rounds of cuts.

But, alas, it did not make it through the final cut.

But, like any good monster in such stories, it refused to stay dead.

Enter Edward Willett. He’s been a guest on my podcast, and I on his. Every year, through his own imprint, Shadowpaw Press, he invites his guests for that year to submit a short story for his Shaper of Worlds series.

As I was a guest in Year 4, this story that you are about to read was submitted and accepted into Volume 4 of Ed’s series.

Now that well over a year has passed since that book released, I can now add this story to my Dreams of the Storytellers series. After reading this, you should grab a copy of In The Place Called Har-Magedon.

It’s the first, and so far only, time I’ve had a main character appear in two separate stories.

As for my I chose this man from history to be the main character? Well, let’s just say I believe that anyone can be redeemed, no matter how far they’ve fallen.

Even the most notorious traitor in history.

One last note, this story takes place in Steele, North Dakota. It was written a few years before I moved to the town for the second time in my life). At the time, I had no idea I was moving back here.

If you happen to drop by to visit the town, the rust-painted building that serves as a roller-skating rink used to be a bowling alley from 1960-2004.

But at this location, prior to 1960, there used to be a movie theater. It was quickly torn down and the bowling alley built on the site.

I’m not saying, I’m just saying…”

This is a dark and disturbing story, especially once we start putting all the pieces together. It is a chilling tale for mature readers. And having read both stories that contain this surprising character, I can only hope there will be more.

This is another great short story from Paolinelli’s masterful pen. It really took me by surprise and I had a pretty good idea who the surprise character was going to be. I can easily recommend this story for mature readers!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of all books from Tuscany Bay click here.

Books by Richard Paolinelli:

Maelstrom

When the Gods Fell

The Calling

The Last Lonely Trail

A Zombie Christmas Carol

The Woman Returns

Of All The Gin Joints In The Universe

…

Infinity Series: