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Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies
by Deborah SheldonA selection of the darkest Australian fiction. Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies taps into anxieties, painful memories, and nightmares. Here, your worst fears come true. Penned by established authors and fresh new voices, these stories range from the gothic and phantasmagorical, through the demonic and supernatural, to the dystopian and sci-fi. Prepare for a visceral, frightening read. Featuring work by: Geraldine Borella, Jack Dann, Rebecca De Visser, Jason Fischer, Rebecca Fraser, Gary Kemble, David Kuraria, Paul Mannering, Tracie McBride, Samantha Murray, Robyn O'Sullivan, Antoinette Rydyr, Deborah Sheldon, Charles Spiteri, H.K. Stubbs, Matt Tighe, J.M. Merryt, Kat Pekin, Mark Towse, Ash Tudor, Kaaron Warren, Janeen Webb, and Sean Williams.
Spawn 2: More Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies
Curated by Deborah Sheldon, this second volume follows the multi-award-winning and multi-award-nominated anthology of Australian dread, Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies.Spawn 2 interprets and reinterprets pregnancy, birth and babies in a myriad of unexpected ways that will frighten, shock, disgust, horrify, surprise, and move you.Penned by established authors and fresh new voices, these stories range from the folkloric and phantasmagorical, through sci-fi and cybernetics, to historical and the occult.Prepare for an intimate, anxious, eviscerating read.
The Spawn of Lilith
by Dana FredstiOut of the spotlight, in the darker corners of the studio backlots, Hollywood hides a remarkable secret. Actor or actress, set designer, electrician, best boy, or grip—in la-la land, it pays not to be human. Vampires, succubae, trolls, elementals, goblins—studios hire anyone and anything that can take direction, be discreet, and not eat the extras. (The less you know about your agent, the better.)Though only human, stuntwoman and struggling actress Lee Striga is a member of the legendary Katz Stunt Crew. They’re the best in the biz, in part because they can y, and boast superhuman strength.When Lee lands a job on the movie Pale Dreamer, however, not everyone is following the script. It’s up to her to gure out who—or what—is killing the cast and crew. Especially when Lee goes from stuntwoman to lead role... and the next target.
Spawn of the Winds: The Clock Of Dreams; Spawn Of The Winds
by Brian LumleyStolen from Earth by Ithaqua the Wind-Walker and transported to the alien world of Borea, a team of ERP-talented earthmen are faced with a terrible choice: join with the Thing That Walks on the Wind in his eternal war with Armandra and the People of the Plateau, and become his mindless slaces or side with Armandra and risk the perils of the Plateau - especially its Cavern of Madness!Such a choice might seem easy, for at least the People of the Plateau are human...but is Armandra herself human As Ithaqua's daughter, who can say which way her loyalties will turn when the chips are down and Ithaqua walks on the wind?
Speak For Me
by K. R. AlexanderFrom kid horror master K.R. Alexander, the story of a virtual friend that puts the fright into stage fright.Naomi is petrified of the talent show her school is putting on. She can't be out there alone in front of all those people... not without serious stage fright. How will she manage?The answer arrives in a mysterious box -- a ventriloquist's dummy that transforms Naomi from a shy girl into a natural performer. It all goes well... until Naomi starts to want the stage for herself. When the dummy strikes back it raises the question -- who's controlling who?
Speak of the Devil
by Gilbert HernandezThere's a peeping tom prowling the neighborhood. Eyewitness reports vary, but one thing is agreed upon: he wears a devil mask.This is the story of Val Castillo, a promising gymnast with a strange hobby. She is secretly the neighborhood peeping tom. At first she is alone in this, but when a male friend discovers her doings he joins her into a dark journey of spying and making discoveries about their neighbors that may have been better left alone. Especially secrets that threaten all involved. Like Val spying on her own father and stepmother in their bedroom. This snowballs into a journey darker than even the most cynical would care to endure.* Collects the six-issue miniseries.* Ranked as one of The Comics Journal's "Best of 2007"!
Speaking Of Monsters
by Caroline Joan S. Picart John Edgar BrowningDespite its apparently monolithic definition, 'teratology' (from the Greek word teras, meaning 'monster, ' and the Latin logy, which is derived from the Greek logia, meaning 'a speaking, discourse, treatise, doctrine, theory, science') seems infinitely malleable, flourishing in various rhetorical environments. Teratologies are more than a bestiary: a catalogue of 'freaks' designed to celebrate the 'normal. ' Rather, teratologies illustrate how humor, horror, fantasy and the 'real' cross-fertilize each other, resulting in the possibility of new worlds, ethics, and narratives, emerging. As a general anthology of teratologies, this book simply maps what, in many ways, has already been occurring across several fields, as it tracks the expansion of this term, creating lacunae that form connections across multiple interpretive communities. It is a cross section of how "monster narratives" intersect with "outsider" positions, from different perspectives - such as those of literary critics, film critics, criminologists, law professors, historians, philosophers - and looks into various strategies of destabilizing normative binaries.
Speaks the Nightbird: A Novel (The Matthew Corbett Novels #1)
by Robert McCammonMurder sparks witchcraft hysteria in this &“thoughtful&” and &“entertaining&” seventeenth-century historical mystery from a New York Times–bestselling author (Stephen King). It&’s 1699 in the coastal settlement of Fount Royal in the Carolinas when Rachel Howarth is sentenced to be hanged as a witch. She&’s been accused of murder, deviltry, and blasphemous sexual congress, and the beleaguered, God-fearing colonial village wants her dead. But Matthew Corbett, young clerk to the traveling magistrate summoned to Fount Royal to weigh the accusations, soon finds himself persuaded in favor of the beguiling young widow. Struck first by her beauty, Matthew believes Rachel to be too dignified, courageous, and intelligent for such obscene charges. The testimony against her is fanatical and unreliable. Clues to the crimes seem too convenient and contrived. A number of her accusers appear to gain by her execution. And, if Rachel is a witch, why hasn&’t she used her powers to fly away from the gaol on the wings of a nightbird? God and Satan are indeed at war. Something really is happening in the newly established settlement—of that Corbett is certain. As his investigation draws him into the darkness of a town gone mad, and deeper into its many secrets, Corbett realizes that time is running out for him, for Rachel, and for the hope that good could possibly win out over evil in Fount Royal. From the award-winning author of Boy&’s Life and Gone South, Speaks the Nightbird is an &“absorbing historical mystery&” (Publishers Weekly).
The Spear of Malice (War of the Archons 3)
by R.S. FordIn the third in the epic fantasy series, War of the Archons, the war of the gods continues to threaten all existence. Perfect for fans for Brandon Sanderson, Michael J. Sullivan and Brian Staveley.As its neighbours muster for war, the city state of Kantor clings desperately to neutrality. Suraan, the queen regent, is beset on all sides, her son Rahuul still too young to take the throne. As his elder sister and guardian, Adaali's only purpose is to protect Rahuul from would be usurpers. But dark forces are at play from within and without, and she must seek help from the most unlikely of places, or be consumed by the war of the gods that threatens to destroy the very fabric of her world.
A Special Place: The Heart of a Dark Matter
by Peter StraubA rumination on the nature of evil, the story centers on a boy, Keith Hayward, who is drawn by his nature to an irresistible fascination with death and the taking of life. His father's brother, the good-looking, suave Uncle Till--the infamous Ladykiller, who has led a shadowy career as a local celebrity--recognizes his nephew's innermost nature and gleefully tutors him in art of doing ill without getting caught. Even a cold-blooded sociopath must learn some lessons in survival, it seems, and Uncle Till is only happy to provide a tutorial.
A Special Place for Women
by Laura HankinSOON TO BE A TELEVISION SERIES&“One of the smartest, sharpest, and funniest books I&’ve read in years... Some books are meant to be devoured—this one does the devouring.&”—Emily Henry, author of Beach ReadOne of Summer 2021's Most Anticipated NovelsGood Morning America, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, E! Online, The New York Post, Bustle, Yahoo!, The Stripe, Popsugar, Medium, Lithub, The Nerd Daily, and more! It&’s a club like no other. Only the most important women receive an invitation. But one daring young reporter is about to infiltrate this female-run secret society, whose bewitching members are caught up in a dark and treacherous business. From the author of Happy and You Know It. For years, rumors have swirled about an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: Membership dues cost $1,000 a month. Last time Rihanna was in town, she stopped by and got her aura read. The women even handpicked the city's first female mayor. But no one knows for sure. That is, until journalist Jillian Beckley decides she's going to break into the club. With her career in freefall, Jillian needs a juicy scoop, and she has a personal interest in bringing these women down. But the deeper she gets into this new world—where billionaire "girlbosses" mingle with occult-obsessed Bohemians—the more Jillian learns that bad things happen to those who dare to question the club's motives or giggle at its outlandish rituals. The select group of women who populate the club may be far more powerful than she ever imagined. And far more dangerous too.
The Specimen
by Jaima Fixsen"An absorbing and expanding mystery... ripe for a bookclub discussion"— First Clue"Propulsive and lush, Fixsen weaves an exquisitely gothic tale." — Jess Armstrong, USA Today bestselling author of The Curse of Penryth HallWalk carefully, lest you become a part of Dr. Burnett's collection…1826. Isobel Tait finds herself, by chance, staring at a tiny human heart floating in a jar. It should be of little consequence; Dr. Burnett is renowned for his collection of oddities and medical specimens, and this, a juvenile heart with a damaged mitral valve, is not the strangest thing on display. Except that the condition is rare, and that Isobel's young son, who has been missing for months, suffered from the ailment. A phantom pulse beats in Isobel's ears. She knows something here isn't right.Missing persons cases are all too common in Edinburgh, where people simply vanish like mist. But Burnett is obsessed with his specimens – how far would he go to acquire a new one? Determined to investigate, Isobel joins his staff as the keeper of his collection. What she'll unearth, though, is far worse than any of her nightmares…Based on true crimes, The Specimen is a mesmerizing story about one woman's search for truth and vengeance in the darkest of places—where the deadliest secrets lie hidden in plain sight, on a freshly dusted shelf."The Specimen is a fantastic read! Tense, gripping and full of fabulous characters you grow to love or hate! I devoured it in two sittings." – Gareth Brown, bestselling author of The Book of Doors
Spectacle: A Novel (The Menagerie Series #2)
by Rachel VincentThere is no crueler cage than the confines of the human mind in this riveting sequel to Menagerie from the New York Times–bestselling author.When their coup of Metzger’s Menagerie is discovered, Delilah Marlow and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of “exotic wildlife.” Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle’s owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price.But Vandekamp’s closely guarded client list isn’t the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light.“Oh what a disturbingly dark, and haunting world Rachel Vincent has crafted! Spectacle is definitely not for the fainthearted. However, it is the characters who are the heart and soul of Spectacle. The world they live in is harsh and brutal but it is the strength, love, and loyalty we see emerging out of the darkness that makes Spectacle so significant. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the third book of the Menagerie series!” —Fresh Fiction“A bravura example of fantasy series-building.” —Publishers Weekly
The Specter From the Magician's Museum
by John Bellairs Brad Strickland Edward GoreyBased on John Bellairs' mystery-adventure series, this thrilling story will keep you on the edge of your seat!John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. And this installment by Brad Strickland is no exception! After Rose Rita Pottinger cuts her finger on an enchanted Egyptian scroll, Lewis must work together with his neighbor Florence and sorcerous uncle Jonathan to rescue Rose Rita from the tomb in which she's imprisoned.
The Specter From the Magician's Museum (Lewis Barnavelt #7)
by Edward Gorey John Bellairs Brad StricklandA single drop of blood, a creepy something, a mysterious sorceress--these are the elements that lure Rose Rita Pottinger and Lewis Barnavelt into their most spine-tingling adventure ever. Who would have guessed that the research for their talent show magic act would ensnare these misfit friends in a web of sorcery, vengeance, and spooky creatures from beyond the grave? In all their many perilous pursuits, this may be their most fright-filled ever!.
The Specter from the Magician's Museum (A Lewis Barnevelt Mystery)
by Brad StricklandCaught in a Web of Doom.. It all begins with a school talent show. Lewis and Rose Rita visit a magician's museum to do some research for their magic act. But when Rose Rita cuts her finger on an enchanted scroll, unsettling things begin to happen. Rose Rita becomes spellbound by a tomb in a sorcerer's graveyard. Soon Lewis realizes that his friend is caught in a literal web of evil magic from beyond the grave... and if he doesn't save her, he may never see her again.
Specters
by Jeff GelbAn unexplained drowning. A brutal murder at a dinner party. A kid's Halloween prank gone wrong. Paul and Johnny have been best friends since they were kids--hell, they've been best friends since their parents were kids--but now events seem to be tearing them apart.When the boys are involved in a tragic car accident, it seems likely that their friendship will be broken forever. Even Paul can see that Johnny's new friend Vic is a troublemaker, and Johnny's fascination with the axe murderer who's rampaging through town is creeping Paul out. At the same time, Paul's having dreams and visions of dead people. With Johnny distracted, Paul turns to the neighborhood witch for answers--but sometimes, you don't get the answer you were looking for...
Spectres from the Past: Slavery and the Politics of "History" in West African and African-American Literature (Routledge Research in American Literature and Culture)
by Portia OwusuSpectres from the Past: The "History" of Slavery in West African and African-American Narratives examines the merit of the claim that West African writers, in comparison to African-Americans authors, deliberately expunge the history of slavery from literary narratives. The book explores slavery in contemporary West African and African-American literature by looking at the politics of history and memory. It interrogates notions of History and memory by considering the possibility that shared traumas, such as West African and African-American experiences of slavery, can be remembered and historicised differently, according to critical factors such as socio-economic realities, cultural beliefs and familial traditions. At the heart of the book are compelling and new readings of slavery in six literary narratives that draws on cultural philosophies, musicology and linguistics to demonstrate diverse and unusual ways that Black writers in West Africa and North America write about slavery in literature.
Spell and Spindle
by Michelle Schusterman Kathrin HonestaDoll Bones meets Splendors and Glooms as a boy trades bodies with a wooden marionette.The Museum of Peculiar Arts holds many oddities--a mechanical heart, a diary bound in its owner's skin . . . and Penny, a child-size marionette who almost looks alive. Fog clouds Penny's memories from before the museum, but she catches glimpses here and there: a stage, deep red curtains, long-fingered hands gripping her strings.One day, a boy named Chance touches Penny's strings and hears her voice in his head. Penny can listen, and watch, and think?Now someone else is watching Penny and Chance--a man with a sharp face, a puppeteer who has the tools to change things. A string through a needle. A twist of a spindle. And suddenly Chance is trapped in Penny's marionette body, while Penny is free to run and dance. She knows that finding a way to switch back is the right thing to do. But this body feels so wonderful, so full of life! How can Penny ever return to her puppet shell?
Spell Bound: Book 12 in the Women of the Otherworld Series (Otherworld #12)
by Kelley Armstrong'Armstrong keeps the focus on hip, impulsive and likeable Savannah, building suspense with plenty of plot reversals and betrayals. Fans of the series won't want to miss what is clearly the first battle in an Otherworld war.' - Publishers Weekly'Armstrong is quite deft at making Savannah simultaneously formidable, sympathetic and real.... A quick and fun read.' - The Miami HeraldSavannah Levine is in danger. That's not usually a problem. But, caught in the grip of a disturbing and violent murder case, Savannah swore to give up her unique gifts if it would save an innocent young girl. Little did she know that someone - or something - was listening . . . Now she has no idea how to restore her powers, just when she needs them the most. In this compelling, fast-paced new thriller, Savannah has to face a host of deadly enemies bent on destroying not only her, but the very fabric of the supernatural world. As dark forces gather, Savannah isn't just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves . . .The kick-ass thriller with a magical twist - from bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.Books by Kelley Armstrong:Women of the Otherworld seriesBittenStolenDime Store MagicIndustrial MagicHauntedBrokenNo Humans InvolvedPersonal DemonLiving with the DeadFrost BittenWalking the WitchSpellboundThirteenNadia StaffordExit StrategyMade to be BrokenWild JusticeRocktonCity of the LostA Darkness AbsoluteThis Fallen PreyWatcher in the WoodsAlone in the WildDarkest PowersThe SummoningThe AwakeningThe ReckoningOtherworld TalesMen of the OtherworldTales of the OtherworldOtherworld NightsOtherworld SecretsOtherworld ChillsDarkness RisingThe GatheringThe CallingThe RisingCainsvilleOmensVisionsDeceptionsBetrayalsRituals
Spell Bound (The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge #1)
by Jacob Z. FloresThe Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge: Book OneMason Blackmoor just can't compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game. When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake's confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson--like turn him into a roach. And if he's lucky, maybe this time Mason won't be the one turned into an insect. Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason's suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder. If only Mason didn't find himself inexplicably spell bound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.
Spell Fall (The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge #4)
by Jacob Z. FloresThe Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge: Book FourLove and trust made them soul mates, but destiny might have other plans. Ever since Drake Carpenter fell in love with warlock Mason Blackmoor, his life has been one supernatural battle after another, but Drake doesn’t mind… much. To be with Mason and experience the magical connection they share, Drake would face entire hordes of vampyren, shifters, or fae—and he has. Luckily Drake is immune to magic, though no one can explain his natural ability to negate almost any enchantment. With Drake’s own family gone, Mason is all he has. So why is Drake experiencing disturbing dreams about Mason that terrify him? A new threat looms on the horizon, and a revelation about Drake’s identity and the true origin of his bond with Mason shatters everything Drake believes. If Drake, Mason, and all of magic are to survive the coming Spell Fall, the most destructive curse in sorcery, Drake must deal with the truth and fight his way back to Mason—because their enemies are gaining strength, and they intend to reach the boy Drake loves first.
Spell Hunter (Faery Rebels, Book #1)
by R. J. AndersonDeep inside the great Oak lies a dying faery realm, bursting with secrets instead of magic. Long ago the faeries mysteriously lost their magic. Robbed of their powers, they have become selfish and dull-witted. Now their numbers are dwindling and their very survival is at stake. Only one young faery--Knife--is determined to find out where her people's magic has gone and try to get it back. Unlike her sisters, Knife is fierce and independent. She's not afraid of anything--not the vicious crows, the strict Faery Queen, or the fascinating humans living nearby. But when Knife disobeys the Faery Queen and befriends a human named Paul, her quest becomes more dangerous than she realizes. Can Knife trust Paul to help, or has she brought the faeries even closer to the brink of destruction? Talented newcomer R. J. Anderson creates an extraordinary new fantasy world and weaves a gripping tale of lost magic, high adventure, and surprising friendship in which the fate of an entire realm rests on the shoulders of one brave faery rebel.
The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull (Johnny Dixon #3)
by John BellairsWhen Johnny and the Professor discover an old heirloom clock, the terror begins. The professor vanishes and Johnny is left to solve the mystery alone.