Since the release of his novel 'Giant Thief', described by one reviewer as "one of the finest débuts of 2012", David Tallerman has rapidly built a reputation for bucking all trends when it comes to the brevity of new authors. At a time when both readers and critics are crying out for wholly-unique classic horror stories that don't succumb to recycling of the same-old concepts, Tallerman is once again stepping up to the plate with gusto.
His new book of classic horror with modern sensibilities, 'The Sign in the Moonlight: And Other Stories', weaves together a series of horror stories that captivate the reader. Be warned - monsters, madmen, contortionists, and lost souls are waiting . . .
Synopsis: A doomed mountaineering expedition attempts the slopes of Kanchenjunga, following in the footsteps of notorious occultist Aleister Crowley. A young soldier witnesses omens of another, vaster conflict in the ravaged trenches of the Somme. Two children find their innocence tested and their friendship contorted by the ancient barrow upon the hill. A ghost who can't remember ekes out an interminable existence amidst the ashes of events that can never be forgotten. Contained within these pages are weird tales in the spirit of Lovecraft, Machen, Doyle and Wells, but shot through with a modern sensibility and a questioning of the old values. Here dwell ghosts and monsters, madmen and contortionists, lost souls and misunderstood geniuses.
"This isn't something I hastily cobbled together after the success of my first book," explains Tallerman. "This volume is a collection of stories that span almost a decade of my writing career. I've worked tirelessly to craft intense and engrossing tales that throw the horror and fantasy rulebook out the window, and now is the perfect time to bring them all together under one cover and release them to the world."
Continuing, "There really is something here for everyone, and I deliberately included stories that span a wide spectrum of the genre. As a special treat, I've also thrown in 'The War of the Rats'; a spectacular novelette that, aside from being a true labor of love for me, has never before made it under the public's spotlight. Enjoy!"
Adrian Tchaikovsky, who provided the book's introduction, comments, "There are stories here that could come straight out of the pulp journals of the 30s, others that have the mannered feel of Victoriana ... but all are presented with the intensity and focus that characterizes David's short fiction."
'The Sign in the Moonlight: And Other Stories' is available now at the Digital Fiction Pub: DigitalFictionPub.com
About the Author:
David Tallerman is the author of the novel Giant Thief - described by Fantasy Faction as "one of the finest débuts of 2012" - and its sequels Crown Thief and Prince Thief, all published through Angry Robot. He has also written the Markosia graphic novel Endangered Weapon B: Mechanimal Science, the Tor.com novella Patchwerk, and around a hundred short stories, comic and film scripts, poems, and countless reviews and articles. Many of these have been released in one form or another and others are forthcoming over the next few months.
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