Release date: May 27, 2023
Subgenre: Horror collection
About Funhouse of Nightmares:
Step into a twisted realm where the lines between reality and the bizarre blur, and prepare to be captivated by "A Funhouse of Nightmares: Twisted Tales For Troubled Grown-ups."
In this macabre anthology, five tales transport you to surreal landscapes of the mind, where the strange, supernatural, and occult intertwine with a touch of humor and absurdity.
In "Static," a troubled young man discovers that the static on his radio holds prescient advice, leading him on a dark and unpredictable path. "Toad" introduces us to a lovely young woman possessed by the spirit of an Inca priest, as she plots to destroy her unfaithful spouse in a spine-chilling quest for vengeance.
Witness the fall and redemption of Beelzebub in "The Book of Fallen Angels," a haunting exploration of divine rebellion and the pursuit of redemption. Prepare for a poignant tale in "Tears For Topsy," where a circus clown makes a fateful exchange, sacrificing his soul for happiness in a world consumed by darkness.
Finally, embark on a mind-altering journey with "Mould," as a hallucinogenic truffle transports a young woman into a mesmerizing realm inhabited by anthropomorphized woodland creatures.
These stories weave together elements of the supernatural, occult, and the absurd, delivering a captivating experience that oscillates between unease and laughter. Described as modern Kafkaesque, "A Funhouse of Nightmares" promises to entertain, thrill, and leave you questioning the boundaries of reality. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the bizarre and delightful, where nothing is quite as it seems, nor should it be...Excerpt:
“Static”
Chapter 4
On the way to his hospital room, Tommy felt a stab of fear, an agonizing pain across his chest. He gasped for breath. One nurse caught him and helped him walk. Later, they said it was only indigestion and gave him medication, which seemed to help. Mrs. Metaxas stayed with him throughout that night as restless, disturbing sleep roiled his body.
At 5:00 a.m., Tommy awoke with a start. Dr. Pfeiffer stood above him, smiling. The darkness shrouded the doctor; swirling, alive, like dirty oil on a puddle. Tommy felt intensely cold and shivered uncontrollably.
“Mmrph!” His throat ached. It was so dry, his tongue felt swollen; he slipped back into unconsciousness.
The next day Dr. Pfeiffer visited during morning rounds, rousing Tommy from his dreams into a waking nightmare. Tommy told Pfeiffer the mysterious stabbing pains in his chest were growing stronger; the medication wasn’t working. The doctor purred like a cat, a German cat… toying with its food; and spoke to his mother.
“Mrs. Metaxas, I am afraid Tommy is becoming unwell. He needs much more than rest.” Pfeiffer absently pushed and pulled on the plunger of an un-needled, long syringe as he spoke.
“How long will he have to stay here, Doctor?” she asked, anxiously twirling a lock of dyed auburn hair around her fingers.
“Oh, a few weeks, I should think. We need a good deal more information regarding his condition, and regression therapy is the only way we can get it.”
“Re… re… regression?” stuttered Camille. “It’s… it’s… it’s not that I don't trust you, Doctor. But regression… going back to when he was a baby?”
Pfeiffer smiled with a knowing, condescending glint in his eyes. “Yes, Tommy has not been himself lately, and I think he needs to go back over the events leading up to this near-death experience. Tommy’s belief in his ‘gift’ is not an uncommon reaction to past misdeeds. And, in fact, regression is a healthy recapitulation of the events of his life. Why, I remember when I treated the famous Dresden Strangler back in the Fatherland. The murders were gruesome, his victim’s eyes were wide and unseeing as he strangled them.” Pfeiffer sighed. “So tragic. In the end, he couldn’t close his eyes either. He went blind, looking into the sun. Such a waste of life. I’m afraid unless we treat Tommy right now, this will get worse.”
“Dr. Pfeiffer…! Tommy had a near-death experience. He didn’t kill anyone, he’s not a murderer!” complained Camille.
“No, of course not,” the doctor purred, his smile returning. “Not in this lifetime at least, Mrs. Metaxas, not in this lifetime. But that’s why we do regression therapy… past life regression. Who knows what secrets lie hidden in Tommy’s genetic subconscious, in his other lives, and in his bloodline?” Pfeiffer beamed, perhaps picturing the bloody mayhem disseminated by Tommy’s forbears.
Tommy tried to ignore the idea. Didn’t want to think what it might mean. He leaned back into the pillows and stared at the rough white ceiling tiles, craving the caress of his beloved radio. The nurse put a needle in Tommy. He felt sick; not from the medication, but Pfeiffer’s attempt at a smile. Camille scrutinized the doctor, looking for a sign that he could be trusted to help her son.
“Tommy, I want you to do exactly what the doctor asks,” said Camille, coming to a decision. “Your well-being depends on it.” She sounded resigned. If her offspring might indeed have a black, murderous heart, what could she do about it? All she could do was deliver him into the arms of those who knew more than she did. She wept a little. The medication made her crying echo in Tommy’s ears, and then dissolve as the drugs pulled him under. During the night, Tommy woke. He pulled back the sheets, revealing sweat-soaked pajamas. His chest wasn't hurting anymore, and he was relieved to see that Pfeiffer was nowhere in sight.
Amazon
About Robert L. Appleton:
Robert L Appleton is an author of the supernatural, the absurd, and the occult. His stories weave strange webs, drawing the reader into intricate worlds that are hard to forget. There we meet characters at living extremes, teetering on the precipices of their own stories. Cartoonish, violent, comical, mysterious and gothic, Robert describes his art in terms of ‘painting moving pictures with words’. Caught in dilemmas that threaten to break them, or pushed across thresholds into other dimensions, his heroes and villains are in perpetual motion, tumbling through scenes crammed with wild details that display Robert’s irrepressible imagination.
Robert's journey into writing was anything but traditional. After embarking on an intensive three-month screenwriting course an experience that always provokes a wry smile he was proudly able to declare himself a 'supreme failure'. He realized he was unwilling to cede creative control to directors and producers who would gut his vision. This spurred him to commit to writing as his true passion.
The exhilarating process of world-building, then of embedding characters in these finely drawn, vertiginous realms, was not something that could be dismantled once it had been created. With a background in art and animation, Robert’s work is vibrant and visual, rich in detail that is, by turns, cute and fey, then shadowy and horrifying.
This combined relish for the visual and the textual is the hallmark of Robert's style. Hailing
from the culturally vibrant city of London, his training is as diverse as his birthplace. A BFA in fine art from Camberwell School of Art (UK) and then an MFA in animation and visual effects from the Academy of Art University (San Francisco) led to the unique blend of art and technology that continues to shape Robert's distinct storytelling style.
Each story is a fairground ride so disgustingly hilarious and ‘out there’ that you don’t want to get off. These are kinetic, imaginary moral worlds. As wild and off-the-rails as they are, there is always a journey toward the right choice, the heroic sacrifice, the defeat of evil. There is discipline amongst the chaos. But, as with many aspects of his writing, conventions are subverted; goodness doesn’t always win the day, heroes don’t always earn their reward.
Robert’s favorite authors include Carlos Castaneda, Raymond Chandler and Evelyn Waugh.
Robert's journey into writing was anything but traditional. After embarking on an intensive three-month screenwriting course an experience that always provokes a wry smile he was proudly able to declare himself a 'supreme failure'. He realized he was unwilling to cede creative control to directors and producers who would gut his vision. This spurred him to commit to writing as his true passion.
The exhilarating process of world-building, then of embedding characters in these finely drawn, vertiginous realms, was not something that could be dismantled once it had been created. With a background in art and animation, Robert’s work is vibrant and visual, rich in detail that is, by turns, cute and fey, then shadowy and horrifying.
This combined relish for the visual and the textual is the hallmark of Robert's style. Hailing
from the culturally vibrant city of London, his training is as diverse as his birthplace. A BFA in fine art from Camberwell School of Art (UK) and then an MFA in animation and visual effects from the Academy of Art University (San Francisco) led to the unique blend of art and technology that continues to shape Robert's distinct storytelling style.
Each story is a fairground ride so disgustingly hilarious and ‘out there’ that you don’t want to get off. These are kinetic, imaginary moral worlds. As wild and off-the-rails as they are, there is always a journey toward the right choice, the heroic sacrifice, the defeat of evil. There is discipline amongst the chaos. But, as with many aspects of his writing, conventions are subverted; goodness doesn’t always win the day, heroes don’t always earn their reward.
Robert’s favorite authors include Carlos Castaneda, Raymond Chandler and Evelyn Waugh.
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