Greener Pastures

Michael Wehunt — 2017

In his striking debut collection, Greener Pastures, Michael Wehunt shows why he is a powerful new voice in horror and weird fiction. From the round-robin, found-footage nightmare of "October Film Haunt: Under the House" to the jazz-soaked "The Devil Under the Maison Blue," selected for both The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror and Year's Best Weird Fiction, these beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant stories speak of the unknown encroaching upon the familiar, the inscrutable power of grief and desire, and the thinness between all our layers. Where nature rubs against small towns, in mountains and woods and bedrooms, here is strangeness seen through a poet's eye. They say there are always greener pastures. These stories consider the cost of that promise.

Reviews

hannie@fin

Feb 23, 2024

i read this book because i had seen a shining recommendation for it. its a collection of short stories with most having a supernatural element to them.

the first few stories were strange, but i tried staying optimistic. however, i just... really didn't like it. not only were the stories not scary, but some relied a little too heavily on... Very, very uncomfortable sexual relations for the fear factor. any horror story that uses rape and incest is automatically cheapened for me, especially if it's done poorly.

however, i will say that the short story for which the book is named and another titled "october film haunt: under the house" were enjoyable! other stories had potential, but in the end tell flat for me.

overall i'd say the writing feels a little amateur and the horror is too strange or edgy to really be scary to me.

Stephan Happe@stephan

Jul 21, 2023