Book Review: It Calls from the Sky: Terrifying Tales from Above

 

It Calls from the Sky: Terrifying Tales from Above

Edited by Alanna Robertson-Webb

 

Though I love the show Supernatural, stories by Neil Gaiman, the Odd Thomas novels by Dean Koontz, and have even written the odd horror story or two, I would not say that horror is my genre. I’m more a fan of urban fantasy and murder mysteries that don’t go too deeply into the gore.

However, I’ve been fascinated by the stories included in this book. I’m afraid the editor ran a little short on time because at least one story was sorely in need of punctuation and grammar editing. However, the story was engrossing enough that I enjoyed it anyway. Some of the stories are well-crafted but downright icky. Others are a little more science fiction with a touch of the horror.

This is a themed anthology as the foreword explains – “As humans we rely so much on what the sky provides; we trust in the sun and moon cycles to keep our plant life alive, and to keep the ocean tides at bay. We trust that the clouds will bring rain to nourish the land and our streams, and that storms will eventually pass. But what happens when the sky itself becomes our enemy?”

Or the danger approaches from the sky? Here we find alien invasions and angels that are no angels. Even rain carries horrors.

One of my favorite stories is Tenure by V.A. Vazquez which combines the good old-fashioned campfire stories of monsters with a Supernatural-esqe style of using knowledge of the old monsters, in this case a Penanggalan, to defeat them. Maybe. A thoroughly enjoyable story with good plotting and pacing, and excellent details. Beware things that smell of vinegar.

Thlush-a-lum by Rebecca Gomez Farrell offers an interesting story perspective starting from the fears of every child when things scratch at the windows. But then the story takes a unique turn, scary but lyrical and kind of lovely too.

Most of the stories end badly for the narrator or main characters. I mean, isn’t somebody supposed to survive? It was nice to have a protagonist win in Flying Home by Joel R. Hunt, at least temporarily.

Another of my favorite stories was Thorn in My Side by Chris Hewitt. A strong leading character with specialized knowledge of computer systems uses satellites and remote systems to get a good view of a sort of alien invasion. There are questions asked that aren’t thoroughly answered but they tantalize the mind and the satisfying story arc is achieved without a “happy ending.”

Storm Clouds by Sarah Jane Justice has a thoroughly unique feel and challenge set in a very short format. Lydia is trying to survive and, to do that, she must not be touched by the rain.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Faithless by M.A. Hoyler where a very unique monster is created through the melding of consciousnesses. A sad and well-wrought story that brings an historical perspective to a modern idea.

I can definitely recommend this collection.