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Chiral Mad 4: An Anthology of Collaborations
The fourth volume in the critically-acclaimed Chiral Mad Series. 4 short stories, 4 novelettes, 4 novellas, and 4 graphic adaptations make up this mammoth book of wonders. But here's the catch: Every single story in this anthology is a collaboration. Bram Stoker Award winners Michael Bailey and Lucy A. Snyder even co-edited the anthology to bring you an incredibly diverse and entirely collaborative dark fiction experience. Includes a co-introduction by Gary A. Braunbeck and Janet Harriett!
So, once again, crack the spine, dig your claws deep into these pages, sit back, and enjoy a new kind of chirality.
So, once again, crack the spine, dig your claws deep into these pages, sit back, and enjoy a new kind of chirality.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
About the author
Michael Bailey
108 books62 followersMichael Bailey is a recipient of the Bram Stoker Award (and eight-time nominee), a multiple recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award, a four-time Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and a few dozen independent publishing accolades. He has authored numerous novels, novellas, novelettes, and fiction & poetry collections. Recent work includes Agatha’s Barn, a tie-in novella to Josh Malerman’s Carpenter’s Farm, a collaborative novella with Erinn L. Kemper called The Call of the Void, and Sifting the Ashes, a collaborative and lengthy poetry collection with Marge Simon. He runs the small press Written Backwards and has edited and published twelve anthologies, such as The Library of the Dead, the Chiral Mad series, and Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors. He lives in Costa Rica where he is rebuilding his life after surviving one of the most catastrophic wildfires in California history, which is explored in his memoir Seven Minutes.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 22, 2019
*Review originally posted on High Fever Books
This is fourth volume in the Chiral Mad Series. I haven’t read the previous three volumes but after reading this one, I’m convinced I must go back and remedy the situation! Made up of 4 short stories, 4 novelettes, 4 novellas, and 4 graphic adaptations there is quite literally, something for everyone. My interest was piqued after seeing the impressive contributor list of fine authors and artists. All of the different stories are a collaboration of two or more creatives. It is edited by Michael Bailey and Lucy A. Snyder (also a collaboration!)
Right out of the gate is the story, HOW WE BROKE written by Bracken MacLeod and Paul Michael Anderson: two of my favorite authors. This story is about grown siblings revisiting some painful memories from their past through a project that the sister is conducting through a series of polaroid pictures taken during a childhood vacation destination. The suspense was delicious--I hung on every word. A very compelling collaborative effort.
FADE TO NULL is Brian Keene's scalpel-edge sharp telling of the horrors of dementia both from the mind of the afflicted and from the experience of family members. Illustrated by Daniele Serra, a favorite artist of mine. What a treat! Very poignant, haunting and beautiful--the artwork is stunning.
Asperitas by Kristopher Triana and Chad Stroup was cosmic horror that builds a tremendous amount of tension and drama in a short about of time. I was impressed with the way these two authors worked together to manipulate my emotions.
Another stand out was GOLDEN SUN, a novella told in 4 different character's perspectives told by 4 of my most beloved authors, Kristi DeMeester, Michael Wehunt, Anjelica Damien Walters and Richard Thomas. The story was so engaging and thinking back on it now, the atmosphere and the feelings come rushing back instantly as if I had just finished it. I discussed the with Kristi and Michael because I was so excited about this theory that I had about each one of them writing different parts and they both agreed that's how they wrote it but I 100% guessed all of it wrong--so I'd be curious, if you know of these writers and their unique voices, to see if you could guess which ones wrote which part. Message me somewhere if you think you have it (because now I know).
All the stories told in a graphic novella format were delightful, especially the last one, with Jack Ketchum and Glenn Chadbourne--it had this old timey snake-oil, whiskey voice, western vibe to it that felt authentic and genuine--Ketchum’s calling card.
I definitely recommend this anthology to horror fans who like to try something new and experimental and who also appreciate or “fan out” over seeing their favorite people do collaborative work together. It’s something that makes me excitable so I’m sure others out there love it too.
This is fourth volume in the Chiral Mad Series. I haven’t read the previous three volumes but after reading this one, I’m convinced I must go back and remedy the situation! Made up of 4 short stories, 4 novelettes, 4 novellas, and 4 graphic adaptations there is quite literally, something for everyone. My interest was piqued after seeing the impressive contributor list of fine authors and artists. All of the different stories are a collaboration of two or more creatives. It is edited by Michael Bailey and Lucy A. Snyder (also a collaboration!)
Right out of the gate is the story, HOW WE BROKE written by Bracken MacLeod and Paul Michael Anderson: two of my favorite authors. This story is about grown siblings revisiting some painful memories from their past through a project that the sister is conducting through a series of polaroid pictures taken during a childhood vacation destination. The suspense was delicious--I hung on every word. A very compelling collaborative effort.
FADE TO NULL is Brian Keene's scalpel-edge sharp telling of the horrors of dementia both from the mind of the afflicted and from the experience of family members. Illustrated by Daniele Serra, a favorite artist of mine. What a treat! Very poignant, haunting and beautiful--the artwork is stunning.
Asperitas by Kristopher Triana and Chad Stroup was cosmic horror that builds a tremendous amount of tension and drama in a short about of time. I was impressed with the way these two authors worked together to manipulate my emotions.
Another stand out was GOLDEN SUN, a novella told in 4 different character's perspectives told by 4 of my most beloved authors, Kristi DeMeester, Michael Wehunt, Anjelica Damien Walters and Richard Thomas. The story was so engaging and thinking back on it now, the atmosphere and the feelings come rushing back instantly as if I had just finished it. I discussed the with Kristi and Michael because I was so excited about this theory that I had about each one of them writing different parts and they both agreed that's how they wrote it but I 100% guessed all of it wrong--so I'd be curious, if you know of these writers and their unique voices, to see if you could guess which ones wrote which part. Message me somewhere if you think you have it (because now I know).
All the stories told in a graphic novella format were delightful, especially the last one, with Jack Ketchum and Glenn Chadbourne--it had this old timey snake-oil, whiskey voice, western vibe to it that felt authentic and genuine--Ketchum’s calling card.
I definitely recommend this anthology to horror fans who like to try something new and experimental and who also appreciate or “fan out” over seeing their favorite people do collaborative work together. It’s something that makes me excitable so I’m sure others out there love it too.
January 22, 2019
Apparently I need more anthologies with collaborations because this book is one of my favorite anthologies I've read this year.
The premise is simple. 4 short stories, 4 novelettes, 4 novellas, and 4 graphic adaptations, all of which are collaborations between 2 or more writers. And wow, is the list of writers for this one amazing.
The anthology hits the ground running with the fantastic How We Broke by Bracken MacLeod and Paul Michael Anderson. I'm currently reading Anderson's collection Bones Are Made to Be Broken, and it's because of this story. I'm so hesitant to reveal anything because this anthology is so good and I think it's best to read the stories without knowing anything about them. But this one is haunting and heartbreaking. Family secrets can truly eat away at you.
The graphic adaptation by Brian Keene and Daniele Serra is just as much of a gut punch as the story that precedes it. This one is short but just as devastating. And the illustrations are fantastic.
Asperitas by Kristopher Triana and Chad Stroup has a little bit of science fiction mixed in with the horror, and I was glued to the pages as the story unfolded. This one will hit you right in the feels too. This is the third story in the book, and at this point I was convinced the entire anthology was just meant to destroy me.
Golden Sun is a crushing story of a family on vacation at the beach. Each section is written from the perspective of a different family member, and this collaboration is one of my favorites. Kristi DeMeester, Richard Thomas, Damien Angelica Walters, and Michael Wehunt each contribute one of the sections, and while I thought I had figured out who wrote each character, I found out I was totally off. This story is one that I'm still thinking about. I'll be doing something completely random and the little song from this story will pop into my head. This one is going to stay with me for a long time.
The Wreck of the Charles Dexter Ward by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear is such a unique take on the Lovecraft mythos and I absolutely adored it. Everything about this story is a delight for a Lovecraft fan. Every night I go to bed and secretly hope I'll find some cheshires curled up under my blankets.
Firedance a graphic adaptation by the late Jack Ketchum and illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne is so odd and absolutely enchanting. I love the illustrations for this one. They are so perfect for this story. It's like a modern day folktale gone mad.
And finally, In Her Flightless Wings, A Fire by Emily B. Cataneo and Gwendolyn Kiste is the perfect closing piece for this fantastic anthology of collaborations. Two sisters have a strange connection. One is a ballerina, the other a costume designer. When a man tries to control the sisters, at first they relent, knowing that to say no would be the end of their careers. But the sisters are eventually pushed too far.
You need this anthology. I'm so glad my friend Sadie told me to buy this one. She always knows exactly what I will love, and she's never, ever wrong.
The premise is simple. 4 short stories, 4 novelettes, 4 novellas, and 4 graphic adaptations, all of which are collaborations between 2 or more writers. And wow, is the list of writers for this one amazing.
The anthology hits the ground running with the fantastic How We Broke by Bracken MacLeod and Paul Michael Anderson. I'm currently reading Anderson's collection Bones Are Made to Be Broken, and it's because of this story. I'm so hesitant to reveal anything because this anthology is so good and I think it's best to read the stories without knowing anything about them. But this one is haunting and heartbreaking. Family secrets can truly eat away at you.
The graphic adaptation by Brian Keene and Daniele Serra is just as much of a gut punch as the story that precedes it. This one is short but just as devastating. And the illustrations are fantastic.
Asperitas by Kristopher Triana and Chad Stroup has a little bit of science fiction mixed in with the horror, and I was glued to the pages as the story unfolded. This one will hit you right in the feels too. This is the third story in the book, and at this point I was convinced the entire anthology was just meant to destroy me.
Golden Sun is a crushing story of a family on vacation at the beach. Each section is written from the perspective of a different family member, and this collaboration is one of my favorites. Kristi DeMeester, Richard Thomas, Damien Angelica Walters, and Michael Wehunt each contribute one of the sections, and while I thought I had figured out who wrote each character, I found out I was totally off. This story is one that I'm still thinking about. I'll be doing something completely random and the little song from this story will pop into my head. This one is going to stay with me for a long time.
The Wreck of the Charles Dexter Ward by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear is such a unique take on the Lovecraft mythos and I absolutely adored it. Everything about this story is a delight for a Lovecraft fan. Every night I go to bed and secretly hope I'll find some cheshires curled up under my blankets.
Firedance a graphic adaptation by the late Jack Ketchum and illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne is so odd and absolutely enchanting. I love the illustrations for this one. They are so perfect for this story. It's like a modern day folktale gone mad.
And finally, In Her Flightless Wings, A Fire by Emily B. Cataneo and Gwendolyn Kiste is the perfect closing piece for this fantastic anthology of collaborations. Two sisters have a strange connection. One is a ballerina, the other a costume designer. When a man tries to control the sisters, at first they relent, knowing that to say no would be the end of their careers. But the sisters are eventually pushed too far.
You need this anthology. I'm so glad my friend Sadie told me to buy this one. She always knows exactly what I will love, and she's never, ever wrong.
February 14, 2020
I'm intrigued by the concept of the anthology (collaborations), and have read excellent work from some of the authors. Hard to turn this down, despite my reservations about most anthologies.
I really like the brother/sister art project setup of MacLeod/Anderson's "How We Broke". But the exposition just seemed dragged out to me. Some of the brother/sister interactions are nicely executed, but I can't say I have much patience for soap operatic emoting, or a lot of dialog like:
There's also a fair amount of telegraphing, and I found the big reveal to be disappointing.
The first "graphic adaptation", Keene/Serra's "Fade to Null", is a fairly old-fashioned comic, with some nice texturing and backgrounds. I'm assuming the source artwork is analog, but the reproduction in the ebook is fairly low-resolution. Some of the layout is detailed enough that I zoomed in for a closer look; unfortunately now the low resolution really becomes a problem.
After Triana/Stroup's "Asperitas", I appreciate the first story for its relative restraint. I may be a heartless bastard, but this is tough:
Demeester/Thomas/Walters/Wehunt's "Golden Sun" is the kind of story I was hoping for in this anthology. Like the first story, three siblings (one absent) are involved, and also the parents. Each of the four sections is narrated by one of the family members. Small disturbing details and insight are layered onto the accounts of the same uncanny events. The story is probably a little long for its materials, but the unease and lack of closure at the end are quite effective.
I'm sure there are horror/sci-fi fans who enjoy pieces like Monette/Bear's "The Wreck of the Charles Dexter Ward", thickly slathered with Lovecraft-ian in-jokes and genre references (a character named Prof. Wandrei! a spaceship named Caitlin Kiernan! Mi-go! boojums! etc). But sometimes I'm just in an unappreciative mood, and my eyes were pretty exhausted from all the rolling.
I was hoping Cataneo/Kiste's "In Her Flightless Wings: A Fire" would be like their short stories, with open-ended narratives and creative language. But it's more like Kiste's short novels, a relatively straightforward historical fantasy genre piece, working with familiar tropes. Reasonably entertaining with a satisfying ending, but not the intoxicating cocktail I wanted.
I really like the brother/sister art project setup of MacLeod/Anderson's "How We Broke". But the exposition just seemed dragged out to me. Some of the brother/sister interactions are nicely executed, but I can't say I have much patience for soap operatic emoting, or a lot of dialog like:
Eric said, "We really are fucked."
There's also a fair amount of telegraphing, and I found the big reveal to be disappointing.
The first "graphic adaptation", Keene/Serra's "Fade to Null", is a fairly old-fashioned comic, with some nice texturing and backgrounds. I'm assuming the source artwork is analog, but the reproduction in the ebook is fairly low-resolution. Some of the layout is detailed enough that I zoomed in for a closer look; unfortunately now the low resolution really becomes a problem.
After Triana/Stroup's "Asperitas", I appreciate the first story for its relative restraint. I may be a heartless bastard, but this is tough:
The false deity was coming. Coming to feed again. Like a dog deprived of dinner, the creature in the clouds was insatiable.
Demeester/Thomas/Walters/Wehunt's "Golden Sun" is the kind of story I was hoping for in this anthology. Like the first story, three siblings (one absent) are involved, and also the parents. Each of the four sections is narrated by one of the family members. Small disturbing details and insight are layered onto the accounts of the same uncanny events. The story is probably a little long for its materials, but the unease and lack of closure at the end are quite effective.
I'm sure there are horror/sci-fi fans who enjoy pieces like Monette/Bear's "The Wreck of the Charles Dexter Ward", thickly slathered with Lovecraft-ian in-jokes and genre references (a character named Prof. Wandrei! a spaceship named Caitlin Kiernan! Mi-go! boojums! etc). But sometimes I'm just in an unappreciative mood, and my eyes were pretty exhausted from all the rolling.
I was hoping Cataneo/Kiste's "In Her Flightless Wings: A Fire" would be like their short stories, with open-ended narratives and creative language. But it's more like Kiste's short novels, a relatively straightforward historical fantasy genre piece, working with familiar tropes. Reasonably entertaining with a satisfying ending, but not the intoxicating cocktail I wanted.
September 2, 2022
Some very good stories, some were really boring... but maybe that's my problem (in some).... either way I will make a more long review in a couple of days
Well lets start... I had not that many expectations because I didn't knew that many authors... I knew Triana, Brian Keene, F Paul Wilson, Elizabeth Bear, Jake Ketchum ... the others I didn't read anything by them or knew anything at all.
We start with a great story by Bracken Macleod & Paul Michael Anderson - 5 stars. This tale focus on suspense, redemption & discovery
The second tale was a comic done by Brian Keene. quite short and ok.
We've got then asperitas is a cosmic tale mix with fatherly love. This one was done by Trianna & Stroup. Golden sun is a depressing tale of a family on vacations. Damn.
Sudden Sanctuary is the first comic tale that I really loved. Great twist of the end of the world.. I recently watch Tales of Walking Dead and there is there one tale very akin with this one.
Jake Ketchum tale (also in comic format) is very innovative and weird. Really enjoy it.
And finally Ghost Drawl is another cool story that made me think about it days after - not because of the tale itself which was nothing factor WOW but due to what I learn about Imagination.
Overall, it was nice collection, way better than End of the Line and a good way to learn more about new authors - unfortunately due all stories being colaborations you don't know which one did what...
Well lets start... I had not that many expectations because I didn't knew that many authors... I knew Triana, Brian Keene, F Paul Wilson, Elizabeth Bear, Jake Ketchum ... the others I didn't read anything by them or knew anything at all.
We start with a great story by Bracken Macleod & Paul Michael Anderson - 5 stars. This tale focus on suspense, redemption & discovery
The second tale was a comic done by Brian Keene. quite short and ok.
We've got then asperitas is a cosmic tale mix with fatherly love. This one was done by Trianna & Stroup. Golden sun is a depressing tale of a family on vacations. Damn.
Sudden Sanctuary is the first comic tale that I really loved. Great twist of the end of the world.. I recently watch Tales of Walking Dead and there is there one tale very akin with this one.
Jake Ketchum tale (also in comic format) is very innovative and weird. Really enjoy it.
And finally Ghost Drawl is another cool story that made me think about it days after - not because of the tale itself which was nothing factor WOW but due to what I learn about Imagination.
Overall, it was nice collection, way better than End of the Line and a good way to learn more about new authors - unfortunately due all stories being colaborations you don't know which one did what...
March 1, 2020
Once again: one month later I don’t remember anything about it
March 27, 2022
“Home and Hope Both Sound a Little Bit Like Hunger” by Seanan McGuire & Jennifer Brozek
Read
April 22, 2019(This review is for Seanan McGuire and Jennifer Brozek's "Home and Hope Both Sound a Little Bit Like 'Hunger.'")
So. This was different. I think I must need to read Lovecraft, but I seem to be encountering a lot of things that are apparently inspired by his work that are just leaving me confused and a little uneasy.
It was a little difficult to deal with the constant mention of *SPOILER* the killing of the pet cat. I'm never thrilled with animal deaths in stories and find them generally unnecessary.
I'm not familiar with Jennifer Brozek, so this story may be more her style, but otherwise, it seems to very much be trying to be something else. And it tries a little too hard, in my opinion.
So. This was different. I think I must need to read Lovecraft, but I seem to be encountering a lot of things that are apparently inspired by his work that are just leaving me confused and a little uneasy.
It was a little difficult to deal with the constant mention of *SPOILER* the killing of the pet cat. I'm never thrilled with animal deaths in stories and find them generally unnecessary.
I'm not familiar with Jennifer Brozek, so this story may be more her style, but otherwise, it seems to very much be trying to be something else. And it tries a little too hard, in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews