Synopsis:
From waking fears to heart-breaking nightmares, this collection of short fiction is a glimpse into the terrors we face every day from the mind of Robert P. Ottone.
In “The Arborist,” a woman hears the mysterious call of the forest.
Five friends exploring an archipelago find themselves set upon by the island’s hungry inhabitants in “The Monitors.”
A young woman confronts the mystery of her infertility in “Kelly Watch the Stars.”
These works are joined by the title novella, Her Infernal Name, about the cruel intersection of desire and desperation, and many other stories crafted in the hopes of keeping you up at night.
Edition:
Paperback
Disclaimer:
I received a copy of Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares from the author in exchange for review consideration. This has no impact on the contents/outcome of my review.
Trigger Warnings:
- Infertility
- Sexual Assault (non-graphic)
- Bigotry
My Thoughts:
I had never read any of Robert Ottone’s work prior to receiving this book. Having gone in fresh, I can tell you I will definitely be seeking out his work in the future.
The Stories:
Her Infernal Name
A young teacher with insurmountable student loan debt and recently laid off from her teaching job finds work tutoring a frenetic young YouTube star.
The Monitor
A group of college kids island hopping in Southeast Asia find some strange tracks outside their campsite during the last leg of their trip. Now there’s something lurking in the jungle. An entertaining creature feature.
Elevator of the Dead
A man experiences the end of the world from inside an office building. I’m pretty sure this is every office worker’s worst nightmare.
Kelly, Watch the Stars
A woman deals with the ramifications of a prior alien abduction. This story also deals with issues of infertility in a way that I found to be both sensitive and sensible.
Full Understanding
A man who knows almost everything sets out to solve the only mystery left to him.
Green Gospel
The Earth finds a way to heal herself. You’ve just gotta love Eco Horror.
The Sugar Bowl
Life trapped inside a sugar bowl. This was a truly strange little story that I found myself enjoying very much.
Panels
A very odd man wants a solar panel set up in his home. This should be no big deal, but things are not what they seem in Mr. Kingston’s house.
Support
A support group exists for all the things that go bump in the night. This was another one that I didn’t think I was going to like at first, but ended up getting pretty into.
The Arborist
An arborist hears the forest calling to her.
You Can’t Walk it Back
A writer doing a reading of his work says something (we don’t know what) which angers a fan in the crowd, and he learns that what has been said cannot be unsaid. I think we can all relate to this particular fear.
The Nebulous They
Officer Blatty (I see what you did there) arrests a suspect in the case of the “Butcher of Manhattan” who despite defying his expectations for the killer, by all appearances is. But he’s fucking weird. And he keeps talking about when they arrive.
Apple Valley
This is pure Lovecraftian insanity. And I don’t mean because it’s Cosmic Horror (although it is). I mean this story is actually Lovecraftian.
Playing God
A man’s Sims game starts playing itself out in a really upsetting way. He suddenly finds that the line between game and reality are becoming blurred.
Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge
A cloud of gnats infests a school. Where did they come from? Why are they there? This is a pretty gnarly story, and among my favorites in this collection.
The World Whispers Madness
Another actually Lovecraftian tale. This one involving a massive, bizarre cephalopod and an aquarium called Adventures at Sea.
The Final Goodbye
A traffic ticket allows a man the chance to say a final goodbye to a loved one.
Miscellaneous Ephemera
After taking his girlfriend to meet his mother, Easton finds himself feeling terribly sick whenever he’s around her. The believability of most of this situation makes me so very, very sad.
About the Author:
Robert P. Ottone is an author, teacher, and cigar enthusiast from East Islip, NY. He delights in the creepy. He can be found online at www.SpookyHousePress.com, or on Instagram/Twitter (@RobertOttone). His collections Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares and People: A Horror Anthology about Love, Loss, Life & Things That Go Bump in the Night are available now wherever books are sold.
Rating:
An overall solid collection. Ottone definitely wears his love of cosmic horror and Lovecraft’s unknowable horrors on his sleeve. His stories are all well written, and they work well together in this collected format.
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares Robert P. Ottone Spooky House Press Published: July 23, 2020 ISBN: 9781734044539 Paperback, E-book 322 Pages Publisher's Website
