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The Library of the Dead
The Library of the Dead is an anthology of literary fiction inspired by Chapel of the Chimes, a crematory and columbarium founded in 1909 in Oakland, California, and one of the area's most beautiful historic buildings. Thousands are entombed in golden books (urns) shelved from floor to ceiling in a glowing labyrinth of nearly countless rooms. The stories within The Library of the Dead represent a few of those golden books, and when opened, reveal the stories of those inside.
334 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2015
About the author
Michael Bailey
108 books61 followersMichael Bailey is a recipient of the Bram Stoker Award (and eight-time nominee), a multiple recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award, a four-time Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and a few dozen independent publishing accolades. He has authored numerous novels, novellas, novelettes, and fiction & poetry collections. Recent work includes Agatha’s Barn, a tie-in novella to Josh Malerman’s Carpenter’s Farm, a collaborative novella with Erinn L. Kemper called The Call of the Void, and Sifting the Ashes, a collaborative and lengthy poetry collection with Marge Simon. He runs the small press Written Backwards and has edited and published twelve anthologies, such as The Library of the Dead, the Chiral Mad series, and Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors. He lives in Costa Rica where he is rebuilding his life after surviving one of the most catastrophic wildfires in California history, which is explored in his memoir Seven Minutes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 5, 2017
The Library of the Dead is an anthology edited by Michael Bailey and containing one of the last stories written by the late JF Gonzalez. There are fifteen stories by various authors including Brian Keene, Kealan Patrick Burke, Michael McBride, Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon, Gary Braunbeck and an afterword remembrance by Mary Sangiovanni with an introduction by Norman Partridge. There is also some fantastically dark and elaborate artwork by Gak.
The Chapel of the Chimes or the Library of the Dead stands in Oakland, California and is for all intents and purposes a mausoleum. The many golden tome like cinerarium urns contain the entombed ashes of many different and fascinating people. Thousands of golden books each with a story to tell and of course, our authors tell only the scariest and most disturbing of tales from the darkness of night and the deepest most distressing of dreams.
We start off with the story of a killer looking for fame and a bystander with something to prove, visions of heroism. Those Who Shall Never Be Named by Yvonne Navarro starts the anthology on a resounding high note and finds our hero following the killer to Mountain View Cemetery. Both prepared for a fatal confrontation but unbeknownst to killer and hero their futures already decided when they stepped into the Library.
Other highlights include The Last Things To Go by Mary Sangiovanni & Brian Keene, a story about a woman in mourning, but have desire and delusion clouded her memory and driven her crazy. Kealan Patrick Burke also explores insanity in I'm Not There, the story of a man who can't see his own reflection and JF Gonzalez tells of a nightmarish stalker in I'm Getting Closer.
Michael McBride tells a tale from the Chapel of the Chimes itself and an old man's funeral, where deceit, murder and a lie that started many years ago are finally laid bare. In Night Soliloqoy, Sydney Leigh's story is of the love Freddy had for his wife Fern and the strange tragedy that laid her in the Chapel, of a beautiful Artley Flute that he bought for her and the screams.
These stories come from hope, they come from forgiveness, from redemption and loss, and there is a Chapel for them all. What the Library of The Dead shows is the astounding power and emotion that can be created from a short story and why horror is it's perfect medium, every story is perfect and I couldn't think of one that didn't touch me in some way. Right up to the beautiful remembrance afterword for Jesus Gonzalez and I recommend The Library of The Dead, not just just for it's beautiful stories but also for the wonderful illustrations. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.
A 4.5* Rating.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
The Chapel of the Chimes or the Library of the Dead stands in Oakland, California and is for all intents and purposes a mausoleum. The many golden tome like cinerarium urns contain the entombed ashes of many different and fascinating people. Thousands of golden books each with a story to tell and of course, our authors tell only the scariest and most disturbing of tales from the darkness of night and the deepest most distressing of dreams.
We start off with the story of a killer looking for fame and a bystander with something to prove, visions of heroism. Those Who Shall Never Be Named by Yvonne Navarro starts the anthology on a resounding high note and finds our hero following the killer to Mountain View Cemetery. Both prepared for a fatal confrontation but unbeknownst to killer and hero their futures already decided when they stepped into the Library.
Other highlights include The Last Things To Go by Mary Sangiovanni & Brian Keene, a story about a woman in mourning, but have desire and delusion clouded her memory and driven her crazy. Kealan Patrick Burke also explores insanity in I'm Not There, the story of a man who can't see his own reflection and JF Gonzalez tells of a nightmarish stalker in I'm Getting Closer.
Michael McBride tells a tale from the Chapel of the Chimes itself and an old man's funeral, where deceit, murder and a lie that started many years ago are finally laid bare. In Night Soliloqoy, Sydney Leigh's story is of the love Freddy had for his wife Fern and the strange tragedy that laid her in the Chapel, of a beautiful Artley Flute that he bought for her and the screams.
These stories come from hope, they come from forgiveness, from redemption and loss, and there is a Chapel for them all. What the Library of The Dead shows is the astounding power and emotion that can be created from a short story and why horror is it's perfect medium, every story is perfect and I couldn't think of one that didn't touch me in some way. Right up to the beautiful remembrance afterword for Jesus Gonzalez and I recommend The Library of The Dead, not just just for it's beautiful stories but also for the wonderful illustrations. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.
A 4.5* Rating.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
May 18, 2017
At times haunting, at times perverse, this was an incredibly solid collection from some top-notch talent. Kudos to the editors for the intricate way in which the stories were intertwined. Rather than a haphazard anthology of mismatched tales, it elevated this to a status uniquely its own. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
Want to read
August 7, 2015Edited by Michael Bailey
Illustrated by GAK
Introduction by Norman Parteidge
Contents
011 - introduction "Special Collections"
051 - "Those Who Shall Never Be Named" by Yvonne Navarro
065 - "The Last Things To Go" by Mary SanGiovanni & Brian Keene
077 - "A Raven In A Doves Nest" by Roberta Lannes
099 - "I'm Not There" by Kealan Patrick Burke
111 - "A Chimera's Tale" by Chris Mars
127 - "I'm Getting Closer" by J.F. Gonzalez
145 - "Reliving Through Better Chemistry" by Weston Ochse
161 - "Cthylla" by Lucy A. Snyder
181 - "Fault Lines" by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon
221 - "Jaded Winds" by Rena Mason
237 = "Tears Of The Dragon" by Michael McBride
259 - "Phantom On The Ice" by Erinn L. Kemper
275 - "Night Soliloquy" by Sydney Leigh
291 - "Broken Lady" by Gene O'Neill
309 - "Tales The Ashes Tell" by Gary A. Braunbeck
327 - Afterword by Mary SanGiovanni
Illustrated by GAK
Introduction by Norman Parteidge
Contents
011 - introduction "Special Collections"
051 - "Those Who Shall Never Be Named" by Yvonne Navarro
065 - "The Last Things To Go" by Mary SanGiovanni & Brian Keene
077 - "A Raven In A Doves Nest" by Roberta Lannes
099 - "I'm Not There" by Kealan Patrick Burke
111 - "A Chimera's Tale" by Chris Mars
127 - "I'm Getting Closer" by J.F. Gonzalez
145 - "Reliving Through Better Chemistry" by Weston Ochse
161 - "Cthylla" by Lucy A. Snyder
181 - "Fault Lines" by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon
221 - "Jaded Winds" by Rena Mason
237 = "Tears Of The Dragon" by Michael McBride
259 - "Phantom On The Ice" by Erinn L. Kemper
275 - "Night Soliloquy" by Sydney Leigh
291 - "Broken Lady" by Gene O'Neill
309 - "Tales The Ashes Tell" by Gary A. Braunbeck
327 - Afterword by Mary SanGiovanni
January 5, 2017
2.7
Keene and Bailey edited this collection of short stories which are united under the theme of a setting -- Oakland's Chapel of the Chimes -- a columbarium where the ashes of the deceased are interred in golden books shelved in "bookcases" behind glass:
Weird. But a rather cool idea, no? The Chapel of the Chimes literally embodies the idea that our lives are a story and should be remembered as such. And The Library of the Dead takes that idea and runs with it telling the life (and death) stories of (fictional) individuals connected by interludes where a Guardian/Librarian leads a narrator through the rooms of this "library". Taking down the books in series of three, the anthology unfolds little by little to the narrator and the reader.
The stories here are quite diverse, which can actually be anticipated in that the only linking theme is that our characters are interred in this columbarium. They run the gamut from two tales of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, to serial killers, to a Lovecraft-inspired tale, to the ordinary lives of average folks in the recent past -- and a lot in between. Almost all the tales have a supernatural element of one sort or another (exempting some of the tales of murder). This makes the anthology, for me at least, quite a mixed bag. Unlike some other reviewers I was not impressed with all the stories and I found the quality of writing quite mixed. There was nothing truly awfully written here, but I didn't find much that was super high quality either. The word that is coming to me as I type this is competent -- as in the writers are all competent, but no one seemed particularly brilliant or likely to be winning the Nobel Prize anytime soon (I know, I know, easy for me to say as a non-writer).
What I found most tedious about the anthology was actually the story of the Guardian and the narrator that was supposed to tie this anthology together. It was rather unsurprising and pretty cliche and read like a freshman's entry in her first creative writing course.
Nonetheless, there were some stories of note in between the Guardian blather:
The Last Things to Go by Mary SanGiovanni and Brian Keene was an affecting tale of loss and grief and how one eventually moves on. With some supernatural elements moving the whole thing along.
A Chimera's Tale by Chris Marrs gets a nod for a creative source idea: A supernatural figure -- half demon and half angel -- who is looking for it's other half.
I'm Getting Closer by J. F. Gonzalez was sort of trite: a supernatural killer with the ability to mess with technology stalks a young girl. It had a definite When a Stranger Calls vibe which was fun even if the story was pretty predictable.
Reliving Through Better Chemistry by Weston Ochse was a creative tale of boys who live the lives and deaths of others by sniffing their ashes. The story builds to reveal the ultimate effects of such interesting drug use.
Fault Lines by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon gets a mention not for the storytelling -- if the narrator talked one more time about how she needed to get home to her dying daughter I was going to throw the Kindle across the room -- but for an interesting premise: archeologists who discover Pandora's box.
Jaded Winds by Rena Mason moved right along -- a story about two Chinese business men -- one who is cooking up devious plots -- in San Francisco's Chinatown prior to the 1906 earthquake. What I liked most about this story was the incorporation of Chinese folklore and mythology.
Tears of the Dragon by Michael McBride moves back and forth in time -- between the horrors of a Japenese-led prisoner-of-war camp in Manchukuo during WWII and the present day. The story tells about the life of Dr. Sam Himura as told by himself in a video to his funeral guests.
Tales the Ashes Tell was probably the best story -- in terms of prose -- in this collection. An interesting meditation on the afterlife and how that intersects with the stories of our lives. Set in the Chapel of the Chimes and told by the building itself it is a somewhat horrifying, but ultimately rather charming, meditation on living. It goes into some weird places which sort of detracted from the story's theme, but overall it worked.
This anthology gets 2.75 instead of the usual 3 I give most anthologies (that author mix really tends to average out) because the writing wouldn't quite average out here and the interludes were not to my taste as mentioned above. However, competent it is and the setting/theme is marvelous.
Burn, Borrow, or Buy: Borrow (if your pile of books has dwindled and you just need to kill some time).
You can read this exact same thing on my blog! Read or Die
Keene and Bailey edited this collection of short stories which are united under the theme of a setting -- Oakland's Chapel of the Chimes -- a columbarium where the ashes of the deceased are interred in golden books shelved in "bookcases" behind glass:
Weird. But a rather cool idea, no? The Chapel of the Chimes literally embodies the idea that our lives are a story and should be remembered as such. And The Library of the Dead takes that idea and runs with it telling the life (and death) stories of (fictional) individuals connected by interludes where a Guardian/Librarian leads a narrator through the rooms of this "library". Taking down the books in series of three, the anthology unfolds little by little to the narrator and the reader.
The stories here are quite diverse, which can actually be anticipated in that the only linking theme is that our characters are interred in this columbarium. They run the gamut from two tales of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, to serial killers, to a Lovecraft-inspired tale, to the ordinary lives of average folks in the recent past -- and a lot in between. Almost all the tales have a supernatural element of one sort or another (exempting some of the tales of murder). This makes the anthology, for me at least, quite a mixed bag. Unlike some other reviewers I was not impressed with all the stories and I found the quality of writing quite mixed. There was nothing truly awfully written here, but I didn't find much that was super high quality either. The word that is coming to me as I type this is competent -- as in the writers are all competent, but no one seemed particularly brilliant or likely to be winning the Nobel Prize anytime soon (I know, I know, easy for me to say as a non-writer).
What I found most tedious about the anthology was actually the story of the Guardian and the narrator that was supposed to tie this anthology together. It was rather unsurprising and pretty cliche and read like a freshman's entry in her first creative writing course.
Nonetheless, there were some stories of note in between the Guardian blather:
The Last Things to Go by Mary SanGiovanni and Brian Keene was an affecting tale of loss and grief and how one eventually moves on. With some supernatural elements moving the whole thing along.
A Chimera's Tale by Chris Marrs gets a nod for a creative source idea: A supernatural figure -- half demon and half angel -- who is looking for it's other half.
I'm Getting Closer by J. F. Gonzalez was sort of trite: a supernatural killer with the ability to mess with technology stalks a young girl. It had a definite When a Stranger Calls vibe which was fun even if the story was pretty predictable.
Reliving Through Better Chemistry by Weston Ochse was a creative tale of boys who live the lives and deaths of others by sniffing their ashes. The story builds to reveal the ultimate effects of such interesting drug use.
Fault Lines by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon gets a mention not for the storytelling -- if the narrator talked one more time about how she needed to get home to her dying daughter I was going to throw the Kindle across the room -- but for an interesting premise: archeologists who discover Pandora's box.
Jaded Winds by Rena Mason moved right along -- a story about two Chinese business men -- one who is cooking up devious plots -- in San Francisco's Chinatown prior to the 1906 earthquake. What I liked most about this story was the incorporation of Chinese folklore and mythology.
Tears of the Dragon by Michael McBride moves back and forth in time -- between the horrors of a Japenese-led prisoner-of-war camp in Manchukuo during WWII and the present day. The story tells about the life of Dr. Sam Himura as told by himself in a video to his funeral guests.
Tales the Ashes Tell was probably the best story -- in terms of prose -- in this collection. An interesting meditation on the afterlife and how that intersects with the stories of our lives. Set in the Chapel of the Chimes and told by the building itself it is a somewhat horrifying, but ultimately rather charming, meditation on living. It goes into some weird places which sort of detracted from the story's theme, but overall it worked.
This anthology gets 2.75 instead of the usual 3 I give most anthologies (that author mix really tends to average out) because the writing wouldn't quite average out here and the interludes were not to my taste as mentioned above. However, competent it is and the setting/theme is marvelous.
Burn, Borrow, or Buy: Borrow (if your pile of books has dwindled and you just need to kill some time).
You can read this exact same thing on my blog! Read or Die
January 31, 2017
Well this was not quite what I expected, I was thinking this would just be a simple collection of short stories that use the Chapel of Chimes as a tie in. Instead this collection takes you on a journey through the Chapel, through the books and urns that fill its shelves and through the stories of its residents. Our guide is known only as the Librarian, a mysterious being of unknwon origin and power (and species for that matter) who leads you through each room, picking and choosing the best and worse of the tales stored in this Library of the Dead. Each story stands very much alone, each has its own characters, own feel and own message. But each still ties together, showing every aspect of the humanity that finds itself passing time within Chimes. This has such a superb feel of Gothic writing, it is everything that people are from horrifying to loving, murderous to mothering, this has it all and more. You will truely not want to leave.
June 19, 2016
There's a reason this anthology won a Stoker Award and I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to figure it out. But I'll give you a clue - it has everything to do with excellence in writing. There's simply not a bad story in here.
Tears of a Dragon by Michael McBride about Unit 731 unexpectedly made me cry. I was not prepared for that.
I'm Not There by Kealan Patrick Burke about a man whose reflection disappears could leave you wondering.
I'm Getting Closer by JF Gonzalez will leave you wondering about cell phone hackers...
Weston Ochse, Tim Lebbon, Christopher Golden, Gary Braunbeck...the names go on and on!
Now that the book is on on kindle, there's no reason to wait any longer. The Table of Contents is very good; you can jump to any story at any time.
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Highly recommended.
Tears of a Dragon by Michael McBride about Unit 731 unexpectedly made me cry. I was not prepared for that.
I'm Not There by Kealan Patrick Burke about a man whose reflection disappears could leave you wondering.
I'm Getting Closer by JF Gonzalez will leave you wondering about cell phone hackers...
Weston Ochse, Tim Lebbon, Christopher Golden, Gary Braunbeck...the names go on and on!
Now that the book is on on kindle, there's no reason to wait any longer. The Table of Contents is very good; you can jump to any story at any time.
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Highly recommended.
March 27, 2017
THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD ranks high among the best Horror Anthologies that I’ve read. Every story kept me engaged, and almost every one had surprises that were intriguing, fun, and logical within the environment created. In most story collections, there are often a fair percentage that aren’t of very high quality and are immediately forgettable filler. This often happens when the works of multiple writers are included. I think there were two or three in this Anthology that weren’t as strong as the best ones in the collection, but even those were still very good … and, in another collection, they would be listed as the shining stars. Yes, this was a most enjoyable read that never disappointed me.
Although the over-arching genre is Horror, there was also a dark and foreboding Beauty in many of them. There is very little dwelling on descriptions of the nauseating. Instead, the fear-inducing and the unpleasant are revealed to have sides that reveal a redemption of sorts. A fearsome, unnatural creature like The Librarian glides from place to place, gently selects “books” through sealed partitions, and shows a respect for the loved and the unlovable. There is even a Lovecraft-inspired creature in one of the stories. However, instead of being completely repellant, there is an elegance and poetry in its movements. I expected the Horror … the Beauty was a treat. (Oh, yes, there are also wonderful illustrations and compelling photographs.)
I mentioned “books.” Set in a Mausoleum that is designed to look like a Library, the cremains are stored in receptacles that are aligned in rows of enclosed shelves like books. Each “book” contains the story of the ashes occupying it. Each book has a title, but not all of them have “occupant” names because the deeds of some of those contained within were too foul. This is a Library version of Rod Serling’s NIGHT GALLERY, but with a more intriguing premise. The Librarian selects three “volumes” to illustrate each theme, and multiple themes are presented as we explore the Library. In fact, the Librarian provides the framework for all of the stories in this Anthology.
I am tempted to relate some details about my favorites, but I don’t want to take away any of the surprises even inadvertently. It is safe to say there isn’t a poor one in the group. What I will say is that I wanted access to more of the “books.” What other dark, exciting and fascinating stories are still waiting?
For the connoisseur of fine chills, I highly recommend this one.
Although the over-arching genre is Horror, there was also a dark and foreboding Beauty in many of them. There is very little dwelling on descriptions of the nauseating. Instead, the fear-inducing and the unpleasant are revealed to have sides that reveal a redemption of sorts. A fearsome, unnatural creature like The Librarian glides from place to place, gently selects “books” through sealed partitions, and shows a respect for the loved and the unlovable. There is even a Lovecraft-inspired creature in one of the stories. However, instead of being completely repellant, there is an elegance and poetry in its movements. I expected the Horror … the Beauty was a treat. (Oh, yes, there are also wonderful illustrations and compelling photographs.)
I mentioned “books.” Set in a Mausoleum that is designed to look like a Library, the cremains are stored in receptacles that are aligned in rows of enclosed shelves like books. Each “book” contains the story of the ashes occupying it. Each book has a title, but not all of them have “occupant” names because the deeds of some of those contained within were too foul. This is a Library version of Rod Serling’s NIGHT GALLERY, but with a more intriguing premise. The Librarian selects three “volumes” to illustrate each theme, and multiple themes are presented as we explore the Library. In fact, the Librarian provides the framework for all of the stories in this Anthology.
I am tempted to relate some details about my favorites, but I don’t want to take away any of the surprises even inadvertently. It is safe to say there isn’t a poor one in the group. What I will say is that I wanted access to more of the “books.” What other dark, exciting and fascinating stories are still waiting?
For the connoisseur of fine chills, I highly recommend this one.
July 6, 2018
It is uncommon for me to give five stars to a short story collection, and I'm pretty sure that this is the first multiple author anthology to get this rating from me. The Chapel of the Chimes, it is supposed, is a repository of the stories of those dead who are chosen or permitted to house their ashes in it. It is curated and protected by a Librarian and a Guardian, and it is a place of redemption. The stories vary from good to great. The only story I did not care for was Caitlin Kiernan's, and I always find her short fiction disappointing. Most readers would like her much better than I do. There is also one story that doesn't quite fit the theme, but it was a good story taken away from the context of the book as a whole. The writing of the framing story is maybe a little too melodramatic, but we can indulge that once in a while, can't we?
September 11, 2017
Short stories aren't usually my thing
The short story however I wish I had more chapters! The ending was unexpected and made me feel like I was reading a Stephen King short story so thank you
The short story however I wish I had more chapters! The ending was unexpected and made me feel like I was reading a Stephen King short story so thank you
December 26, 2017
Interesting in that it's based on a real mausoleum, The Chapel of the Chimes in California, and some of the stories reference it, as do all of the interludes tying the stories together, but none of them were great and the interludes were a bit silly.
November 15, 2015
I finished THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD anthology some time ago and had thought I'd already posted a review. Sadly, I was mistaken and I'm about to make amends.
The anthology's title refers to a real columbarium which is located somewhere in Northern California. Apparently, many of the cremains in this particular cemetery are housed in urns that resemble books -- a funerary style which was popular several decades ago but is no longer as common as it once was. Each story relates to the various deceased individuals, each of whose ashes is housed in one of these "books."
Editor Michael Bailey clearly has exquisite taste. It is very rare for all of the stories in an anthology to be of a universally fine quality. Yet, almost any one of the pieces in LIBRARY could have served as the keystone to a lesser work. They are not merely good; the majority of them are excellent. And two, in particular, are so amazing that, even among this august company, they stand out.
First,I'd like to mention Rena Mason's deeply moving "Jaded Winds". For those who are unfamiliar with her work, Mason can always be counted on to deliver the goods. In fact, she's won several Bram Stoker awards to date. "Jaded Winds" is perhaps my favorite of anything of hers that I have read. There is a subtext of strong emotion that runs through this piece, never quite emerging yet always present, that is deeply effective. Mason's tale of betrayal and selling out, of just rewards and divine retribution packs a wallop into a very few pages.
Second, I must admit that I am in envy of Michael McBride's talent in "Tears of the Dragon." This short story dealing with the crimes and regrets of a deceased Japanese doctor is, quite simply, one of the finest works of short fiction that I have EVER read. Nor is that hyperbole; if I tallied what I consider to be the best short stories up on the fingers of both hands, McBride's piece would be there... with still a few fingers to spare. Though it is subtle, this is a work of sheer brilliance and, even by itself, it is well worth reading the entire volume.
If there is one flaw in THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, it rests in Norman Partridge's introductory story which purports to tie all of the remaining tales together. While well written,and while certainly engaging, I found it a trifle confusing. The tone it sets for the remainder of the book struck me as a little off and, ultimately, I do not think it was entirely successful. My advice is to read it, enjoy it for what it is, and then set it aside mentally and proceed with the rest of the book.
I know this sounds corny and hackneyed but, if you read only ONE anthology this year, you'll do yourself a favor by picking THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD.
The anthology's title refers to a real columbarium which is located somewhere in Northern California. Apparently, many of the cremains in this particular cemetery are housed in urns that resemble books -- a funerary style which was popular several decades ago but is no longer as common as it once was. Each story relates to the various deceased individuals, each of whose ashes is housed in one of these "books."
Editor Michael Bailey clearly has exquisite taste. It is very rare for all of the stories in an anthology to be of a universally fine quality. Yet, almost any one of the pieces in LIBRARY could have served as the keystone to a lesser work. They are not merely good; the majority of them are excellent. And two, in particular, are so amazing that, even among this august company, they stand out.
First,I'd like to mention Rena Mason's deeply moving "Jaded Winds". For those who are unfamiliar with her work, Mason can always be counted on to deliver the goods. In fact, she's won several Bram Stoker awards to date. "Jaded Winds" is perhaps my favorite of anything of hers that I have read. There is a subtext of strong emotion that runs through this piece, never quite emerging yet always present, that is deeply effective. Mason's tale of betrayal and selling out, of just rewards and divine retribution packs a wallop into a very few pages.
Second, I must admit that I am in envy of Michael McBride's talent in "Tears of the Dragon." This short story dealing with the crimes and regrets of a deceased Japanese doctor is, quite simply, one of the finest works of short fiction that I have EVER read. Nor is that hyperbole; if I tallied what I consider to be the best short stories up on the fingers of both hands, McBride's piece would be there... with still a few fingers to spare. Though it is subtle, this is a work of sheer brilliance and, even by itself, it is well worth reading the entire volume.
If there is one flaw in THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, it rests in Norman Partridge's introductory story which purports to tie all of the remaining tales together. While well written,and while certainly engaging, I found it a trifle confusing. The tone it sets for the remainder of the book struck me as a little off and, ultimately, I do not think it was entirely successful. My advice is to read it, enjoy it for what it is, and then set it aside mentally and proceed with the rest of the book.
I know this sounds corny and hackneyed but, if you read only ONE anthology this year, you'll do yourself a favor by picking THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD.
May 27, 2015
Either I have to stop reading anthologies edited by Michael Bailey or he needs to hurry up and produce more.
Every anthology I have read edited by Bailey has some of the most gorgeously written stories in it. And I get seriously spoiled by the quality of written language in them — it’s difficult for me to find something to read next. Since I have finished THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, I haven’t been able to find something to pick up that grabs my attention in the same way.
THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD is another themed anthology published by Written Backwards, only this time the theme surrounds a mausoleum in California where fascinating people with fascinating stories are interred when they die. Each story represents a person whose ashes are entombed within the crypt.
My favorite stories were (in no particular order):
“The Last Things to Go” by Mary Sangiovanni & Brian Keene: A woman forgets events in her life as her keepsakes mysteriously vanish. Halfway through this one, I caught an idea of how it was going to end, but the execution of the story kept me riveted to my seat.
Kealan Patrick Burke’s “I’m Not There”: A man stops seeing his own reflection in the mirror. Not only do I consider Kealan a friend, but I loved this story. And the final image will stick in your head for days afterwards.
“I’m Getting Closer” by J.F. Gonzales: A young woman is afraid that she’s being stalked by a serial killer. This is a story that could have been handed down for generations as an urban legend. As a huge fan of such stories, it pushed all the right buttons for me and made me keep the lights on.
Michael McBride’s’s “Tears of the Dragon” surprised me and reminded me that sometimes things aren’t always as they seem. In a tale told from both the past and the present, we find out that a gentle and generous man isn’t exactly the person he told his friends and family he was.
Every story contained within these covers, virtual or paper, is a story to be savored and read carefully. The stories listed above are my favorites, but as a writer, every story has lessons for me on characterization, dialogue, and most importantly, the execution of a great idea.
Other stellar mentions are “Cythlla” by two-time 2015 Bram Stoker Winner Lucy A. Snyder, “Night Soliloquy” by Sydney Leigh (a tale of corruption by magic), and “Phantom on the Ice” by Erinn L. Kemper (what do you see out of the corner of your eye?).
Michael Bailey is currently working on CHIRAL MAD 3, another anthology that I will be first in line to pick up.
Every anthology I have read edited by Bailey has some of the most gorgeously written stories in it. And I get seriously spoiled by the quality of written language in them — it’s difficult for me to find something to read next. Since I have finished THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, I haven’t been able to find something to pick up that grabs my attention in the same way.
THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD is another themed anthology published by Written Backwards, only this time the theme surrounds a mausoleum in California where fascinating people with fascinating stories are interred when they die. Each story represents a person whose ashes are entombed within the crypt.
My favorite stories were (in no particular order):
“The Last Things to Go” by Mary Sangiovanni & Brian Keene: A woman forgets events in her life as her keepsakes mysteriously vanish. Halfway through this one, I caught an idea of how it was going to end, but the execution of the story kept me riveted to my seat.
Kealan Patrick Burke’s “I’m Not There”: A man stops seeing his own reflection in the mirror. Not only do I consider Kealan a friend, but I loved this story. And the final image will stick in your head for days afterwards.
“I’m Getting Closer” by J.F. Gonzales: A young woman is afraid that she’s being stalked by a serial killer. This is a story that could have been handed down for generations as an urban legend. As a huge fan of such stories, it pushed all the right buttons for me and made me keep the lights on.
Michael McBride’s’s “Tears of the Dragon” surprised me and reminded me that sometimes things aren’t always as they seem. In a tale told from both the past and the present, we find out that a gentle and generous man isn’t exactly the person he told his friends and family he was.
Every story contained within these covers, virtual or paper, is a story to be savored and read carefully. The stories listed above are my favorites, but as a writer, every story has lessons for me on characterization, dialogue, and most importantly, the execution of a great idea.
Other stellar mentions are “Cythlla” by two-time 2015 Bram Stoker Winner Lucy A. Snyder, “Night Soliloquy” by Sydney Leigh (a tale of corruption by magic), and “Phantom on the Ice” by Erinn L. Kemper (what do you see out of the corner of your eye?).
Michael Bailey is currently working on CHIRAL MAD 3, another anthology that I will be first in line to pick up.
June 3, 2019
I love the cover of this book, which shows the columbarium at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland. However, the stories themselves all focus on murder and weird gruesome mysterious obsessions of death and murder. Until I started reading this book, I didn't know that all the stories are in the genre of horror fiction. I had assumed they just used the theme of death in general and I can handle that. But horror is something different. Horror stories are horrible to me. I can find no joy or pleasure in either reading these or writing them. It all seems so repulsive and disgusting. It's like certain sexual kinks that others find pleasurable and I just don't get it. But I understand there are many things in this world that are beyond my comprehension and I accept that others just have a completely different experience in the world.
If you like horror fiction, you might like these stories. Two stories were actually not bad: Cthylla by Lucy Snyder and Tears of the Dragon by Michael McBride. They were not as gruesome as the others.
Writing about this makes me think about why I have such a strong negative reaction to horror stories. I suppose it's because I have so much experience with real-life horror that it's my way of having a boundary and being in control. If I can't control the real-life horror, at least I can have a firm NO to imaginary horror. Intellectually, I understand that people who are into imaginary horror probably also have control issues. A writer has control over what is written and the reader can decide what to read, how much at any one time, when to stop etc. I get that part of it. I just don't get how a sense of fun or emotional pleasure is associated with it. For me, there is nothing fun or pleasurable about horror, either real or imagined.
If you like horror fiction, you might like these stories. Two stories were actually not bad: Cthylla by Lucy Snyder and Tears of the Dragon by Michael McBride. They were not as gruesome as the others.
Writing about this makes me think about why I have such a strong negative reaction to horror stories. I suppose it's because I have so much experience with real-life horror that it's my way of having a boundary and being in control. If I can't control the real-life horror, at least I can have a firm NO to imaginary horror. Intellectually, I understand that people who are into imaginary horror probably also have control issues. A writer has control over what is written and the reader can decide what to read, how much at any one time, when to stop etc. I get that part of it. I just don't get how a sense of fun or emotional pleasure is associated with it. For me, there is nothing fun or pleasurable about horror, either real or imagined.
July 8, 2015
Excellent collection of stories, each emanating from ashes stored in book like urns in an Oakland Cemetery. The stories themselves range from a serial killer in Yvonne Navarro's Those Who Shall Never Be Named, to a talented musician with a special instrument in Sydney Leigh's Night Soliloquy. I enjoyed each and every story and urge everyone who enjoys a great tale to read this book.
September 17, 2017
I had a difficult time deciding what to rate Library of the Dead, but finally decided it was at least 4.5 stars to me. This book contains an amazing collection of short stories that are bound together with threads that unraveled from many different times, places and characters. These are often shocking and filled with horror but the ties that bind are supremely woven into an awesome tapestry. I absolutely love it and am in awe of all of the authors that contributed. I highly recommend it if you like a good horror story. Please note there is a small amount of sexual reference and some cursing.
September 7, 2017
Surprisingly I enjoyed this quite a bit. The layout of each short story being related to each other or at least to the Library of the Dead and the Cemetery it resides was a great idea that kept the flow of tales interesting. Definitely recommend.
April 5, 2019
I really like the concept of this anthology
I really like the concept of this anthology. None of the stories were bad but none were enough to put this into my favorite anthologies either.
I really like the concept of this anthology. None of the stories were bad but none were enough to put this into my favorite anthologies either.
January 2, 2017
modern day Edgar Allen Poe
every chapter in this book is a new story which works out well because you need a little recovery time between each one.
every chapter in this book is a new story which works out well because you need a little recovery time between each one.
June 10, 2017
Great Collection
Here you will find many great stories that will stay with you long after they have been read.
I highly recommend!!
Here you will find many great stories that will stay with you long after they have been read.
I highly recommend!!
October 4, 2017
Loved it!
This collection of short stories had me riveted and little scared. Fantastic writing that would give anyone the chills and possibly a nightmare or two
This collection of short stories had me riveted and little scared. Fantastic writing that would give anyone the chills and possibly a nightmare or two
May 10, 2024
Interesting enough to finish……
But not curious enough to read a sequel. Well written but not my cup of tea. For those who like short stories of the dead.
But not curious enough to read a sequel. Well written but not my cup of tea. For those who like short stories of the dead.
July 23, 2015
The Library of the Dead serves as a tribute anthology to the late and great J.F. Gonzalez. I was a new fan to J.F. Gonzalez's work and Dark World Cycle mythology, from what I have read I have enjoyed very much. It saddens me that I will never get to know J.F. Gonzalez the same way I was privileged to know his friend Brian Keene. The Library of the Dead also serves to present the last new release of J.F. Gonzalez's short work, alongside his other peers such as Yvonne Navarro. My favorite piece in this collection was The Last Things To Go by Mary SanGiovanni and Brian Keene. One of the reasons I enjoyed The Last Things To Go so much, is because the multiple interpretations and metaphors I was left with after finishing this piece. It's haunting and chilling, yet also bitter sweet and sad at the same time.
Ultimately The Last Things To Go is a story about a woman who is mourning the lost of a loved one. However she is suffering from a wicked case of short term memory loss or Alzheimer's disease. It's never really explained fully because we only catch glimpses of what the protagonist is going through. As she progresses through the story we find that it is both a blessing and curse to forget the loved one who she yearned for. On one hand she is able to move on to her new life, yet on the other hand she was never really able to process the loss in a healthy way. In some ways I was reminded of the film Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, because of the fact that memory loss was a way to escape heartbreak in this tale. It could be interpreted that the The Last Things To Go had a supernatural element to it, however when dealing with her absent memory we aren't ever entirely sure that the gaps in memory was the cause of her lost possessions.
This story does have a brief nod for Brian Keene's Labyrinth Mythology! We are treated to a brief mentioning of Planters from The Last Zombie, as well as Don Bloom from The Rise and Fall of Babylon. In conclusion I really enjoyed Mary SanGiovanni and Brian Keene's story together. I give The Last Things To Go and The Library of the Dead a perfect five out of five golden stars. I loved the afterward by Mary SanGiovanni and I found it very touching and heartfelt. I could sense their close bond, it made me miss J.F. Gonzalez very much. Any one who is a fan of horror can not go wrong with this book. It is both a wonderful tribute and serves to give you a taste of what the greatest minds in horror have to offer! Highly recommended from this fan!
Ultimately The Last Things To Go is a story about a woman who is mourning the lost of a loved one. However she is suffering from a wicked case of short term memory loss or Alzheimer's disease. It's never really explained fully because we only catch glimpses of what the protagonist is going through. As she progresses through the story we find that it is both a blessing and curse to forget the loved one who she yearned for. On one hand she is able to move on to her new life, yet on the other hand she was never really able to process the loss in a healthy way. In some ways I was reminded of the film Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, because of the fact that memory loss was a way to escape heartbreak in this tale. It could be interpreted that the The Last Things To Go had a supernatural element to it, however when dealing with her absent memory we aren't ever entirely sure that the gaps in memory was the cause of her lost possessions.
This story does have a brief nod for Brian Keene's Labyrinth Mythology! We are treated to a brief mentioning of Planters from The Last Zombie, as well as Don Bloom from The Rise and Fall of Babylon. In conclusion I really enjoyed Mary SanGiovanni and Brian Keene's story together. I give The Last Things To Go and The Library of the Dead a perfect five out of five golden stars. I loved the afterward by Mary SanGiovanni and I found it very touching and heartfelt. I could sense their close bond, it made me miss J.F. Gonzalez very much. Any one who is a fan of horror can not go wrong with this book. It is both a wonderful tribute and serves to give you a taste of what the greatest minds in horror have to offer! Highly recommended from this fan!
January 29, 2017
I finished this book over two weeks ago and am still thinking about it. Excellent writing, excellent story telling, and original, unexpected stories. However, the stories did not need the connecting chapters featuring the librarian.
February 10, 2017
The Library of the Dead is a clever anthology centered around a landmark called the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland California. The Chapel is a columbarium (a new word for me) which is a type of mausoleum designed to display funerary urns publicly. Only these urns are shaped like books. This is handy because (multiple choice) A. Everyone's life is a story waiting to be told B. I now know where I want to be interred C. It makes a really spooky setting or D. All of the above. The idea that these "books" can actually be read makes a neat framing device, maybe one of the cleverest I have ever come across, for the short stories in this anthology. Sadly though some of the stories are excellent, some are not. The quality is uneven not consistent so the book gets three stars.
June 19, 2016
*** Review Copy Purchased Online ***
The Chapel of the Chimes is a crematory and columbarium in Oakland, California in the United States. It is also the focus of all the stories collected in the anthology called Library of the Dead, edited by Michael Bailey. As I mentioned in my review of Chiral Mad 3, the illustrations in this tome are exquisite and did much to enhance the stories.
Throughout the anthology, there are interludes that divide sections of stories and while I think it can be a neat narrative technique to tie stories together, I could have done without them, but they were written very well.
As with all anthologies, not every story is a winner, but every story here was of an exceptionally high calibre and I would highly recommend horror readers to add Library of the Dead to their shelves.
The Chapel of the Chimes is a crematory and columbarium in Oakland, California in the United States. It is also the focus of all the stories collected in the anthology called Library of the Dead, edited by Michael Bailey. As I mentioned in my review of Chiral Mad 3, the illustrations in this tome are exquisite and did much to enhance the stories.
Throughout the anthology, there are interludes that divide sections of stories and while I think it can be a neat narrative technique to tie stories together, I could have done without them, but they were written very well.
As with all anthologies, not every story is a winner, but every story here was of an exceptionally high calibre and I would highly recommend horror readers to add Library of the Dead to their shelves.
January 8, 2017
Lovely
I thoroughly enjoyed this book both for its concept as well as execution. If you're a fan of twisty little things like tales from the crypt or twighlight zone, don't pass this one up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book both for its concept as well as execution. If you're a fan of twisty little things like tales from the crypt or twighlight zone, don't pass this one up.
January 8, 2017
Brilliant!
January 10, 2017
Ok
I found this book to be just ok... a lot of errors, but some stories were pretty good, others were too long and lost my interest.
I found this book to be just ok... a lot of errors, but some stories were pretty good, others were too long and lost my interest.
April 11, 2017
Edgar Lee Masters meets Stephen King on the streets of San Francisco.
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