Michael F Simpson

In which I celebrate Halloween by discussing Gateway Horror, and why it is so vital.

In which I discuss Max Brooks's 'World War Z,' and how it goes above and beyond with its believable worldbuilding.

In which I discuss Octavia E. Butler's 'Kindred,' and how it subverts the time travel story into something even more evocative.

In which I discuss Thomas Ligotti's 'Teatro Grottesco,' and the ways it transforms surreal horror as a genre.

In which I discuss Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis,' and the ways it defines surreal horror as a genre.

In which I discuss Jeff Vandermeer's 'Southern Reach' series, and the brilliant ways it subverts the tropes of cosmic horror.

In which I discuss three common critiques of Cassandra Khaw's 'Nothing but Blackened Teeth,' and why I consider them strengths, not flaws.

In which I discuss John Martin Leahy's 'In Amundsen's Tent,' and explore why it scares me more than any other short story.

In which I celebrate Halloween by discussing vampires, how they evolved and became a worldwide literary obsession.

In which I discuss Fiona Barnett's 'The Dark Between the Trees,' and the ways it elevates the haunted forest subgenre.

In which I discuss Eli Wilde's 'Two Lumps of Sugar for Mr Anxiety' and the compelling way it represents mental health in adulthood.

In which I discuss Agustina Bazterrica's 'Tender is the Flesh,' and the high status it deserves.

In which I explore the relationship between story and presentation, and whether one is more important than the other.

In which I discuss Megan Hunter's 'The Harpy,' and how it uses presentation to cause emotional responses.

In which I discuss Patrick Ness's 'A Monster Calls,' and how it uses story to cause emotional responses.

In which I discuss Adrian Barnes's 'Nod,' and its uniquely psychological apocalypse.

In which I discuss Clive Barker's 'The Hellbound Heart,' and its unique and modern approach to Gothic horror.

In which I explore the sub-medium of short stories for the first time, and how Edgar Allan Poe perfected it.

In which I discuss Stephen King's 'The Shining,' and the benefits it draws from a longer page count.

In which I discuss John Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' going into great detail about its themes, as well as the value of a challenging book.