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Spontaneous Human Combustion

By Richard Thomas
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3.6 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 406 ratings, 144 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas is a gripping collection of short stories that explore the haunting and twisted elements of everyday life. Each story cleverly weaves a blend of the eerie and the ordinary, delving into themes of isolation, transformation, and the unexpected consequences of human actions. With a compelling narrative style, the book offers a thought-provoking journey into the dark corners of human experience.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5500

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This collection might intrigue you if you appreciate dark, thought-provoking fiction that delves into the complexities of human nature with a twist of the supernatural. It offers stories combining horror and emotion, making it ideal for those who enjoy a blend of unsettling mystery and deep character exploration.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From the award-winning author of Disintegration and Breaker comes a new collection of transgressive short stories that push the boundaries of maximalist writing. In a mesmerizing feat, Richard Thomas crosses genres between fantasy, science fiction, and horror to create this uniquely immersive experience.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A 2022 BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE

A TOR NIGHTFIRE MOST EXCITING HORROR BOOK OF 2022

"In range alone, Richard Thomas is boundless. He is Lovecraft. He is Bradbury. He is VanderMeer." - Chuck Palahniuk

With a Foreword by Brian Evenson

In this new collection, Richard Thomas has crafted fourteen stories that push the boundaries of dark fiction in an intoxicating, piercing blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Equally provocative and profound, each story is masterfully woven with transgressive themes that burrow beneath the skin.

  • A poker game yields a strange prize that haunts one man, his game of chance now turned into a life-or-death coin flip.
  • A set of twins find they have mysterious new powers when an asteroid crashes in a field near their house, and the decisions they make create an uneasy balance.
  • A fantasy world is filled with one man's desire to feel whole again, finally finding love, only to have the shocking truth of his life exposed in an appalling twist.
  • A father and son work slave labour in a brave new world run by aliens and mount a rebellion that may end up freeing them all.
  • A clown takes off his make-up in a gloomy basement to reveal something more horrifying under the white, tacky skin.

Powerful and haunting, Thomas' transportive collection dares you to examine what lies in the darkest, most twisted corners of human existence and not be transformed by what you find.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas receives high praise for its blend of horror and noir, with many reviewers highlighting its vivid, evocative storytelling and the emotional depth of its characters. Esteemed authors and critics commend its originality, gruesome yet captivating prose, while acknowledging its ability to resonate with fans of horror and dark fiction. The collection is described as both unsettling and engaging, leaving readers impressed by Thomas's exploration of the human condition.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781684427543

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Turner Publishing Company

Edition: New edition

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 215.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 248

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Richard Thomas

About the Author

Richard Thomas is the award-winning author of seven books—Disintegration and Breaker (Penguin Random House Alibi), Transubstantiate, Staring into the Abyss, Herniated Roots, Tribulations, and The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). His over 150 stories in print include The Best Horror of the Year (Volume Eleven), Cemetery Dance (twice), Behold!: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders (Bram Stoker winner), PANK, storySouth, Gargoyle, Weird Fiction Review, Midwestern Gothic, Shallow Creek, The Seven Deadliest, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Qualia Nous, Chiral Mad (numbers 2-4), PRISMS, Pantheon, and Shivers VI. He was also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller awards. In his spare time he is a columnist at Lit Reactor. He was the Editor-in-Chief at Dark House Press and Gamut Magazine, and lives in Mundelein, Illinois. For more information visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com or contact Paula Munier at Talcott Notch.

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