Terror Tales Of The Mediterranean edited by Paul Finch (book review).
After exploring ‘Terror Tales’ set in various regions of Britain, including Cornwall, North-West England, the Home Counties, the Scottish Lowlands, and the West Country, the series ventures abroad with ‘Terror Tales Of The Mediterranean.’ As usual, the collection intersperses essays on real regional myths among predominantly fictional stories. With the richness of Greek gods, titans, and monsters, the Mediterranean is a sea ripe with folklore. However, my focus here will be on the short stories.
‘The Catacomb’ by Peter Shilston is a straightforward tale about a tourist experiencing a shock. The protagonist, Mr. Pearsall, is described as ‘a quiet, solitary, middle-aged man of vaguely scholarly appearance,’ reminiscent of a Lovecraftian hero. His adventure in a remote Sicilian church, drawing more on Christ than Cthulhu, is endearing, and the detached narrative style lends the story an old-fashioned quality.
Maxim Jakubowski’s ‘On Our Way To The Shore’ is set aboard a trendy modern cruise ship, now accessible to a wider audience beyond the upper classes. This well-crafted mermaid tale doesn’t hold many surprises but concludes with an ending that might make men wince.
Steve Duffy’s ‘The Lovers’ stands out for its protagonist, Corbin, a cold-hearted assassin akin to Frederick Forsythe’s Jackal. Set in a Turkish bath in Marseille, Corbin’s journey through a labyrinth is vividly depicted. Childhood memories add depth to the villainous character.
Reggie Oliver’s ‘This Haunted Heaven’ is another highlight. Fifty years after his first visit, John returns to Skliros as a university don, recalling events from his first archaeological dig and an encounter with a strange hippie colony. Oliver’s narrative is colorful, with a theme that is unsettlingly horrifying.
‘The Quiet Woman’ by Sean Hogan, by contrast, is a tale centered on women’s issues, particularly emotional abuse and bullying by men. The story, presumably written by a male author, often reads like something from a women’s magazine, weaving together various threads into an impactful ending.
Jasper Bark’s ‘The Teeth Of The Hesperides’ employs the classic horror trope of a doomed protagonist’s manuscript. Botanist Sarah Mágissa seeks to rediscover and study a carnivorous plant discovered by her great uncle. The story is rooted in a complex legend, with a suitably gruesome outcome.
Paul Finch’s ‘Reign Of Hell’ combines historical fiction and ancient legend, featuring two brothers, one an archaeologist and the other a loyal officer in the Greek army and disciple of Mussolini. The story skillfully intertwines older evils with the horrors of fascism.
Simon Clark’s ‘Gerassimos Flamotas: A Day In The Life’ is disturbingly effective horror. The protagonist, a heavily indebted Greek farmer with a daughter with learning difficulties, faces a morally challenging offer from a wealthy man. The story is unsettling, making it a successful piece of horror fiction.
‘Terror Tales Of The Mediterranean’ is a valuable addition to the series, and the expansion to a global scope promises many more volumes. Yet, there are still parts of Britain to explore, other directions to take, and Wales to consider. Hopefully, Mr. Finch will find time for more editing.
The real myths included in the book reminded me of my favorite joke. Two women were looking into a dress shop. The first lady pointed at the window and said to the other, “There’s the one I’d get.” Suddenly, a cyclops emerged and killed her.
Eamonn Murphy
December 2023
(pub: Telos Publishing, 2023. 335 page small enlarged paperback. Price: £12.99 (UK), $15.79 (US). ISBN: 978-1-84583-227-8).
check out website: https://telos.co.uk/shop/horror-dark-fantasy-and-science-fiction/dark-endeavours/terror-tales-of-the-mediterranean/
