Review of Midnight Under the Big Top Anthology by Brian James Freeman
A.E. Jackson Review Score: 4 / 5 Ravens
How was this review scored?
Brian James Freeman, accomplished Editor and formerly of Cemetery Dance Publications, can be trusted to deliver anthologies packed with thrilling tales of terror. Midnight Under the Big Top is fine fare filled with fright!
Act 1 throws back the curtain and ushers the reader into a macabre menagerie of mingled monsters. The stand-out story from this section has got to be ‘Night of the Tiger’ by Stephen King. The suspenseful tale delivered a very unexpected twist ending that readers won’t see coming. Always a true pleasure when that occurs.
Following a few more short stories, the Intermission begins with a selection of horror poetry. This was a first for me, I’ll admit. I quite liked the sideshow of freaks paraded past in the form of poems.
‘Apology to the Ape-Girl’ by Norman Prentiss is a touching poem and is reminiscent of so much that made sideshows incredible and captivating. Readers will be left with a bittersweet sentiment they’ll savor.
Then ‘Carnival of Ghosts’ by Marge Simon recalls well-loved imagery and moves the reader rapidly from their living experience to the uncanny ghost carnival nightmare. It reminds me of the old black & white movie of the same name.
‘The Murder of Great Pieter’ by David E. Cowen rounds out the sideshow as the Freaks get their revenge on a bully who is too proud to realize what was coming his way.
Midnight Under the Big Top features Stephen King, Joe Hill, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Neil Gaiman, Kelley Armstrong, Robert McCammon, Tananarive Due, Lisa Morton, Heather Graham, Richard Chizmar, Billy Chizmar, and many others... plus an all new novella by Josh Malerman. With a circus that packed, who wouldn’t want to attend?
Readers venture inside Midnight Under the Big Top, where their wide eyes and pounding hearts will discover the world's grandest tales of murder, madness, and magic set in and around the circus by renowned storytellers.
The book features the World's First-Ever Poetry Intermission, as was mentioned. And the grand finale, New York Times bestseller Bird Box author Josh Malerman introduces readers to Dandelion Andrews. This very unusual man hasn't seen daylight in three months - because he's digging a hole destined to become a most unusual carnival house of horrors ever!
Another notable work from the first act is ‘The Clown Witch’ by KA Opperman. Readers will actually be able to SEE the witch through Opperman’s words. They’ll feel the progress into strangeness - as they are called, like rats and children, by the Pied Piper’s song. The brief twist ending will leave most feeling creepy and spooked.
Act 2 opens with the short story classic ‘Buried Talents’ from a master of the supernatural, Richard Matheson. This slow burn short goes from normal carnival activity to uncanny experience after just a few repetitions which help establish the tale’s cadence. The scary and unexpected mysterious ending will leave readers shaken.
‘Mr. Bone’s Wild Ride’ by Billy Chizmar (son of Richard Chizmar) is a crazy, spooky, unhinged and oddly enjoyable missive. (Note too that Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, is also featured in Act I of the anthology!)
‘Count Zardov’ by Heather Graham parades the freaks across the page. But readers will do well to continue wondering who’s the real monster. Sadly, the ending felt rushed after such a great build-up.
The included novella, Dandy by Josh Malerman, was quite stunning. By the end, readers will realize that real bravery requires facing real fear. Claustrophobic, disorienting, and unnerving from the first spade of soil tossed over Dandy’s shoulder. Readers enter Susan’s deep point of view late in story as she enters the carnival and approaches the house of horrors. The fast-paced thrill ride is full of visceral horrors and shocks, leading to a superb twist ending that satisfies and delivers the author’s message loud and clear.
Brian James Freeman is an accomplished Editor, and former managing editor of Cemetery Dance Publications. He’s the publisher of Lonely Road Books, and is now the owner of Lividian Publications. In these positions he has published the works of Stephen King, William Peter Blatty, Dean Koontz, Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Gillian Flynn, Scott Smith, Frank Darabont, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan, Max Brooks, Michael Koryta, Justin Cronin, Joe R. Lansdale, Michael Slade, Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Stewart O’Nan, and many other acclaimed authors.
Brian James Freeman lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, their kids, a German Shorthaired Pointer, and an English Pointer.
Freeman sold his first short story when he was fourteen years old and his first novel when he was twenty-four. His novels, novellas, anthologies, short stories, essays, and interviews have been published by Grand Central Publishing, Random House, Cemetery Dance Publications, Borderlands Press, Book-of-the-Month Club, Leisure, and many others.
Read more from Brian James Freeman at https://brianjamesfreeman.com and find him on social media at Facebook(@BrianJamesFreeman), Twitter(@BrianFreeman), and Instagram(@brianjamesfreeman).