Behold the Void

This was my first introduction to Philip Fracassi's writing. These short Horror stories were very well written in the style of Stephen King with well developed characters and truly horrific imaginative ideas. Like Stephen King, Fracassi understands the world of children and young people in the stories where such characters are the main protagonists. Perhaps my favorites in this anthology are “Altar,” “The Baby Farmer,” “Mother,” “Fail-Safe,” and “Mandala.” Many of the characters, like most people, are flawed. Some have drinking problems, some have fallen into infidelity, some are careless or non-caring, some are susceptible or broken, but they could be you or someone you know living everyday lives until the “dark” reaches out and grabs them. In Fracassi's Horror universe monsters may not always be supernatural and both human and supernatural acts of horror may coexist within the parameters of the story. In most cases the final outcome is dire or left open to the reader's imagination, but Fracassi does allow for redemption in the final, nail-biting tale “Mandala.” A truly satisfying Horror anthology read.