HellBound Books' Anthology of Science Fiction by Chris McAuley

HellBound Books' Anthology of Science Fiction Reviews

• 
  Candice Orick

  Hellbound Books Publishing knocked it out of the park again with their Anthology of Science Fiction. The range goes from cosmic “what the fuck” horror to space splatter. While the science fiction is ever present, the horror does not stop. Everyone will find something to suit their tastes.
  
  There were two stories that were real standouts to me. The first was Kingdom of the Worm by Richard Beauchamp. This gross out short story has two things I absolutely love: cults and parasites. Albeit with a cosmic twist, there were parts of the story that I had to reread because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
  
  The second story that really made me think was Mars Rover Seven by James H. Longmore. This did not have any giant gross out moments. Instead, it took the premise of AI gone rogue and put it in the most innocuous machine, with the most devastating impact. I loved how completely believable the AI was. Not a mustache twirling villain but a bored, lonely soul who doesn’t grasp the impact of their decisions on our vulnerable human bodies.
  
  I have read three books at present from Hellbound Books Publishing and I’m working on a fourth. Every book has been a delight in its own unique way and I look forward to consuming more of their art. I never thought I would say it, but this Anthology of Science Fiction even beats out Dracula’s Guests. I highly recommend Hellbound Books’ Anthology of Science Fiction to anyone who likes their scifi goopy and their horror cosmic.
  
• 
  Danni Bowen

  First and foremost thank you HellBound Books for giving me the ebook!
  
  The stories were altogether good. There was only one that I absolutely didn't care for. And a couple that have some issues with them. I will go more in-depth in my spoiler review about those.
  
  https://bugschaoticstacks.blogspot.co...
  
  There are 13 stories in this Anthology I'll give a quick preview of each with a star rating. With an overall feeling at the end.
  
  Dark Encounter - Soldier gets a ride home from an alien 3 stars
  And the Stars Do Dream - Ex-alien is able to capture dreams on video 4 stars
  Kingdom of the Worm - Soldiers take on a cult that worships parasitic worms 3 stars
  Infinity's Embrace - Space explorers go mad when an Eater of Worlds calls 2 stars
  Tall Tales on the Voyage Home - Captain tries to battle an alien and his crew 2 stars
  The Pianist's Contentment - Love and career can cost hands and legs 4 stars
  A Doe and A Buck - A hunter of sorts is taught how to hunt better 2 stars
  The Rose of Madness - A detective gets screwed around by the government 1 star (predictable and terrible)
  Doorways - Agoraphobe has to face down interdimensional beings 3 stars (cat death) (loses a whole star that way)
  Born Under the Unceasing Eye - Soldiers face down an Eldritch god 3 stars
  Mars Rover Seven - Rover Seven is lonely 5 stars
  The Thing Inside Woody - A possessed teen falls in love with his grandparents 5 stars
  Trauma: A CyperVerse Tale - Eva gets even 2.5 stars (we'll talk about this one)
  
  Altogether this is a solid 3 stars. As with most Anthologies, there will always be a few stinkers or ones that don't hit like others. If you like Sci-Fi mixed in w/ some horror elements give it a shot. I always say a 3 star is at least worth a read.
• 
  Joseph Hirsch

  Aside from an ill-suited entry by Joseph Hirsch—banned from all Hooters locations in the lower forty-eight states due to a series of unfortunate indiscretions—this is a decent collection. Science fiction and horror, more than other genres, invite pastiche and find themselves plagued by unoriginality. Even when the intent is true, though, there’s the problem that all the writers in the field are reading the same publications describing the newest cutting edge discoveries, leading to a glut of similarly-themed stories.
  Thankfully, we have a few genuinely original works here to offer surprises—or at least clever variations on old themes. The consensus among the already-available reviews is that Mars Rover Seven is the best of the bunch. I have to concur. Its novel blend of fears of sentient AI with the discovery of exobiology—along with its acknowledgment of sci-fi pop culture—makes it a true singleton in the collection. No spoilers, so let me just say that if you know what a graboid is, you’re going to enjoy this one. And even if you don’t, you’ll likely dig it.
  Other highlights include The Pianist’s Contentment, which, with its crippled but gifted narrator, reminded me of Philip Dick’s Deus Irae. The idea of a piano player who can attune himself to the harmony of the spheres and make it audible to human ears is an interesting idea. That he is missing his hands—and busking for an unappreciative public—turns the intriguing poignant, giving it the dramatic weight a lot of pulp SF lacks.
  The Rose of Madness seemed to chafe at the sensibilities of some readers, but I’m a sucker for the glib “Sam Spade in Space” tales. Or maybe “Mike Hammer” would be more apt, as this gumshoe is a bit more uncouth and unconventional. It reminded me a bit of Robert Asprin’s tales of intergalactic hijinks, or a lewder version of Sierra Online’s point and click Space Quest. Its kitschy levity somehow provided a reprieve from the more ponderous and self-serious stories that utilized all the “pushbutton,” words that SF scribe Bruce Sterling cautioned against using, like “stars” and “dreamers.” Don’t get me wrong: I like stars and dreams, just not in the same title.
  
• 
  Siobhain (whatyoutolkienabout)

  I was given a copy to review via Henry Roi PR for HellBound Books. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #AnthologyofScienceFiction #ChrisMcAuley #HenryRoiPR #HellBoundBooks #HorrorReview #BookReview
  
  What a collection this was! I have read a few of Hellbound Books offerings including their Dracula’s Guests collection of Vampire Stories so I was sure their venture into Science Fiction was going to be good. And I was not disappointed. This anthology compiled by Dr. Chris McAuley offers a bakers dozen of heart-pounding, mind-bending tales of science gone horribly awry, other, mysterious worlds and the unspeakable horrors they spawn and let me tell you it does not let you down on those promises.
  
  Unlike some anthologies I have to say there wasn’t really any story I disliked or wasn’t interested in. I do have to admit that Kingdom of the Worm by Richard Beauchamp was probably the one that made my skin crawl the most but in the best possible way. My favourites though were Mars Rover Seven by James H Longmore, The Thing Inside Woody by Joseph Hirsch and Trauma A CyberVerse Tale by Chris McAuley himself yet all of them were fantastic.
  
  Each author brought their own voice and vision to the genre of science fiction with a good sprinkling of horror and sometimes gore to boot. As a self proclaimed horror lover and sci-fi fan this collection ticked of all my boxes and some I didn’t even know I had. Definitely one to read at night, with lights out or low!