I have a set theory about anthologies. They usually hold between a dozen, and two dozen stories, and my theory is that in any given anthology, I’m only likely to be impressed by about two stories. That isn’t to say that the rest of the book will be badly written, or that the stories are without value, but that — for me — anthologies are a tough sell. For one thing, most of them are themed. The theme itself deepens the author’s dilemma…one point of tension is removed by the fact that, unless he or she is very clever and crafty, readers already have an idea what the story will be about.

None of this has anything to do with this review. Five Strokes to Midnight scores a point right off the bat, because it’s not themed. This means that I was able to go into each story without preconceptions - despite the subheading in the table of contents. I also consider it a plus that there are multiple stories by each author, because no one hits one out of the park on every shot - but this way each author gets a chance to be memorable.

In Five Strokes to Midnight, editors Hank Schwaeble and Gary Braunbeck have gathered together the works of three other authors, along with their own , and put together what is as much a multi-author collection as it is an anthology.

The book is aesthetically beautiful. The cover art is attractive and provocative. The paper is good, high quality stock, and the layout is clean and makes none of the mistakes of some independent presses with odd fonts and irritating glitches. It reads well and is of high quality. Another point in its favor, right off the bat.

The introduction is written by Horror author Tim Lebbon, and the cover art is by Ashley Laurence.

First Up is one of my favorite modern authors, Tom Piccirilli with two tales, “Loss, and Bereavement”. Of the entire book, my favorite tale is Loss. What the author does in this story, as he does in so many of his novels and shorter works, is to drop you into a mindset that is skewed in subtle ways from the world we live in. The world his protagonist lives in is confined to a single building, but the characters involved are so diverse and odd that if you tried to tell what the story was about, people would look at you as if you are crazy. I’d suggest, instead, you hand it to them and make them read. They will not be disappointed. “Bereavement” is a very poignant look at the issue of loss, and will stick with you for a long time after reading.

Next up is veteran horror author Gary Braunbeck with a triple dose of his Cedar Hill Stories. His section, aptly titled “Hauntings,” is a montage of images and relationships, the dead and the living blending with surreal fluidity to give new perspective to old pains. His first entry, “Afterward, There Will Be a Hallway,” is my favorite - the relationships portrayed shift through layers that seem to paint the protagonist’s plight in clearer and clearer color until the ending. “The Queen of Talley’s Corner” is a treatise on dementia, and memory, and how we do - and do not - cope. The last of his stories, “Listening to Hendrix Sing ‘1983 … (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)’ ” - is also well told. For those who are fans of Cedar Hill, these three are likely to rise to the top of your favorites list.

Following Gary is current HWA President Deborah LeBlanc. The subtitle for her story is curses, and that is what she delivers. From the first tale, where you are reminded that you get what you pay for - and regardless, you always pay - this being “White Hot,” to her second tale, “Bottom Feeder,” another glimpse into a world of black magic hovering just beneath the surface of our own, LeBlanc delivers straightforward story-telling and holds no punches. Theses tales were a bit jarring after the subtly of the Braunbeck Cedar Hill Tales, but segue nicely into the next author, and editor of this collection, Mr. Hank Schwaeble.

These three tales, presented under the subtitle DEMONS, were my first taste of Schwaeble’s fiction. His first entry, “Midnight Bogey Blues,” was a bit predictable for me, and probably more extreme than my latter day tastes lean toward, but his second, “Bone Daddy,” shares the magic of Tom Piccirilli’s first tale. It takes you to a place that doesn’t exist and you are there…you have no problem with descriptions of things that never were, because he brings them to life. This is among the books strongest pieces. His last piece, “Gomorrah,” I think, may have taken on more than a short story can handle, though it reads smoothly. Overall, for a first look into a new author’s work, I’m ready and willing to tackle more, and considering the company Schwaeble is keeping in this volume, I’d say he stacks up quite nicely.

The book closes with three stories under the subtitle of Folklore, penned by author Christopher Golden. At first glance these seem a bit simplistic and formulaic, but there is more beneath the surface. They are exactly what they were intended to be, bits and pieces of created “folklore,” and you can feel the spirit of some of my favorite authors of all time running just beneath the surface, like Manly Wade Wellman. Haunted trains! How much better can it get than that?

I highly recommend this book. I’ve recommended it and several of the stories within for the Bram Stoker Award, and I hope that the book will get a wide audience and that Haunted Pelican Press goes on to produce more work of this quality.

To order this book, click on the book cover below. I am promoting this through The Horror Mall, where publishers Shane Ryan Staley and Larry Roberts of Delirium and Bloodletting Books publishing fame, have opened a shop for all things horror. I have an author’s forum there, as well, and if you are looking for collectible horror - that is the online store, and community, for you.

-DNW