I'm a big fan of anthologies like "Holiday of the Dead." I love their innate flexibility. My preference is to skip about when reading a collection of stories. I like being free of the "front to back" confines of a novel. In that respect, an anthology is a bit like a tin of chocolates. You never know what you'll taste next.
The freedom offered by an anthology extends to this review. As of this writing, I have not completed reading "Holiday." I will and soon, but that is of no consequence. The portions I've read to date deserve an immediate review, and I'll provide additional nuggets later. So think of this as something of a primer.
"Holiday of the Dead" is a series of zombie stories with a vacation theme. And to date, I love the morsels I've devoured.
I started "Holiday" with authors who are relatively new to the game. I have to say, I am amazed by the consistency offered by the likes of R.M. Cochran, R. Phillip Roberts, and Shawn M. Riddle. Short story writers should be applauded for being able to tell coherent stories in in such a concise format. But these writers deserve something more, a standing ovation, because their stories are so darn good.
In "In the End," Richard M. Cochran spins a celebratory July tale that somehow pulls off being both witty and gritty. That is no small task. Cochran's descriptions are visceral, his action scenes punishing, and his dialogue full of punch. It is a sharp, smart read that snaps, crackles, and pops...and I mean like a wildfire, not a cereal. A warning: don't read this when you're alone!
R R Phillip Roberts' take on Christmas ("The Day I Discovered the Truth About the Man in the Red Suit") sets a new dysfunctional bar. Like the best zombie stories, the monsters take a backseat. The story centers on those lucky (or unlucky) enough to live in an apocalyptical landscape. The author is a gifted storyteller. He craftily sets up the pins. Then he doesn't just knock them down... he explodes them.
And then there's "The Four of July" by Shawn Riddle. It's a discovery story about friends coming to grips with the end of the world. Not only does Riddle resolve to solve the fast/slow debate, he does so while painting a canvas the size of a movie screen. This thing is cinematic, all the more so for his intense use of present tense.
Like its zombie antagonists, I've had a taste of "Holiday"...and I want more!
