Rec
Short horror stories all involving a mysterious book that drives anyone that reads it insane. This creepy poem arrives at some point in every chapter.
Along the shore theĀ cloudĀ waves break,
TheĀ twin sunsĀ sink behind theĀ lake,The shadows lengthen
In Carcosa.
Strange is the night whereĀ black starsĀ rise,
And strangeĀ moonsĀ circle through the skies
But stranger still is
LostĀ Carcosa.
Songs that theĀ HyadesĀ shall sing,Where flap the tatters ofĀ the King,
Must die unheard
in Dim Carcosa.
Song of my soul, my voice is dead;
Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed
Shall dry and die
in Lost Carcosa.
Somehow the brilliance is that every time you read the poem in the context of the short story, it's different and more hellishly unhinged.
Now you've read it too.... ;)
Jan 10, 2025
Related Recs
Rec
The Doll-Maker and Other Tales of Horror, Black Dahlia and White Rose: Stories, The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares. But my favorite which Iāve rec-ed before is Haunted: Tales of the Grotesque the titular story Haunted is so sick and twisted and I cry tears of fear every time I go back to read it (which I have multiple times). She has the most viscerally disturbing and discomfiting style and a unique ability to crawl under your skin, more so than any other horror author Iāve read and horror is not even typically her primary genre!!
Apr 20, 2024
Rec
šShort-form weird, my favorite kind, blending sc-fi, dark fantasy, horror, and Kafka. Evensonās stories are a treat, I start each with a twinge of dread, not knowing if itāll be one of the nastier ones or funnier ones or more poignant ones, sometimes itās all three
Good for fans of Barker and Ligotti
Good for fans of Barker and Ligotti
Aug 1, 2024
Rec
My favourite short stories tend to be creepy or magical. I think due to the necessary open-endedness of short stories, it lends itself most to mystery and magic.
Angela Carterās Bloody Chamber is a great classic creepy feminist story to start with. Carmen Maria Machadoās The Husband Stitch continued Carterās legacy Iām a HUGE Kelly Link fan, but her stuff is very strange so might not be for everyone, but my favourite of hers is probably The Specialistās hat or Skinderās Veil Shirley Jacksonās The Lottery is also a classic, and if you like creepy stories and want a good overview of writers in that genre, I recommend the collection āWhen Things Get Darkā, a collection inspired by the tone of Jacksonās work; it features Kelly link, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, and loads of contemporary short story writers. I discovered the story Tiptoe by Laird Barron through this and its possibly my favourite creepy short story, it sent full shivers down my spine in a way no other story had.
Angela Carterās Bloody Chamber is a great classic creepy feminist story to start with. Carmen Maria Machadoās The Husband Stitch continued Carterās legacy Iām a HUGE Kelly Link fan, but her stuff is very strange so might not be for everyone, but my favourite of hers is probably The Specialistās hat or Skinderās Veil Shirley Jacksonās The Lottery is also a classic, and if you like creepy stories and want a good overview of writers in that genre, I recommend the collection āWhen Things Get Darkā, a collection inspired by the tone of Jacksonās work; it features Kelly link, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, and loads of contemporary short story writers. I discovered the story Tiptoe by Laird Barron through this and its possibly my favourite creepy short story, it sent full shivers down my spine in a way no other story had.
Top Recs from @booksonbrooklyn
Rec
š¼PARASITE HELPS ME UNDERSTAND HOW TO WIN THE 'CLASS WAR'?
CASTLE IN THE SKY IS A GHIBLI THAT REMINDS ME ITS IMPORTANT TO TOUCH LOTS OF GRASS. AND THAT NOT ALL ROBOTS SUCK.
THE CAT RETURNS IS ALSO A GHIBLI - MY FIANCEE'S FAVORITE MOVIE. WHEN SHE WAS A KID SHE BELIEVED SHE WAS A CAT, AND WOULD MARRY A CAT. I'LL NEVER LIVE UP TO HER EXPECTATIONS...
VHS WAS THE FIRST TERRIFYING COMING ATTRACTIONS THAT I CAN REMEMBER IN THE DARK DARK OF THE MOVIE THEATER. RECENTLY WATCHED AND FACED MY FEARS. GOOD TWISTS AND TURNS.
Jan 10, 2025
Rec
Tix here: https://posh.vip/e/last-of-us-zombie-run
Have always thought themed runs were sick. Makes me feel like I'm in a video game.
I'm putting on this 3 mile run in NYC based on the Last of Us.
It's a zombie run - survive and win prizes.
Jun 12, 2025
Rec
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, aka the guy who wrote/directed the movie fightclub š¤«)
The book is about a bunch of random folks that respond to an ad in the paper about a luxurious writers retreat, where they'll be given the space and sunshine to write their 'great masterpiece.'
Except the peace and quiet is too much pressure, so they decide to wreck havoc and sabotage each other.
Most interestingly, the format of the book is broken into a main-story line, poems, and short-stories from each of the characters as you're introduced to their masterpiece.
It's total hell, totally funny, and gave me all of the unsettling vibes and undercurrents I get from watching White Lotus. Like a bomb is about to go off.
P.S. there is one short-story called 'guts' that is the most diabolically gross writing I've ever read. You can go find that for yourself on the web. (its the 3rd chapter of the book if you want to avoid it)
Jan 9, 2025