A book a day: Christian Wallis: With Teeth

After a few months, after knowing that Wallis had a published anthology, I decided to buy it to check if the author was able to maintain that level in other fictions. And, having read the thirteen stories compiled in With teethI can assure you that it is.

These thirteen stories exhibit “Creepypasteros” features in their invoice, premises and horrific imagery, to those who give an unusual creativity and quality. For example, in “Annedale” interesting occult rituals are mentioned, but they are not allowed to dominate the argument. In “The Bunker” some ruins are explored, but the protagonist has solid reasons to do so despite his instinct to flee from that place. In “A Private Exhibition” there are photorealist works of art, but such detail makes sense for the plot.

In addition, these thirteen stories are satisfactorily eclectic. Although they all have a love for the supernatural and share an distressing and hopeless tone, they present situations and topics of the most varied.

Analyzolus one by one:

In “Annedale”, the caretaker of an abandoned building unravels information about the place, the innumerable horrors that it contains and the people it attracts. Abounds in interesting ideas and closes with a very cunning twist.

In “The Bunker”, a man looking for his dog enters the bunker underground in which a family of seven disappeared. I impeccably build the atmosphere and tension.

In “Pretend Play”, a woman’s husband wants to be treated as a small child. The best of volume by far. It is one of the stories that make up the binomial that made me known to Wallis, presented here without his sequel. Although the change of perspective of this sequel gives the set of interest, its omission in this anthology does not bother the least, because the original story is very powerful by itself.

In “A Private Exhibition”, a dancer attracts the attention of a powerful entity. Their premise and development are, together with those of “Pretend Play”, of the most original of the volume. Without a doubt, it is told among my favorite stories.

In “Pompilidae”, a single in love with her neighbor is unable to perceive the disturbing details that surround her. This story stands out for its humor (the comic tone, almost non -existent in the rest of the volume, permeates its pages), somewhat caricaturesco but undoubtedly sympathetic and refreshing.

In “Zolg”, an egg -shaped creature torments an unfortunate family. Extremely twisted from the beginning, during the outcome it is exceeded even more.

Both in the world of “My Eldrich Friends” and in “The Hunt” and “A Better Place” there are agencies dedicated to containing and hiding the supernatural. In the first of these three stories, for example, we follow the steps of someone dedicated to imprisoning “Eldritch Abominations and Ancient Gods.” In the second, on the other hand, two jerky hunters called “Mimic”, which seem to be evolving over time. And in the third, to the caregiver of human children who, given their age, do not know how to properly handle their powers. Perhaps my favorite of this group is “The Hunt”, for its crazy imagery, but I admit that everyone works very well and have disturbing implications, because worlds are full of dreadful horrors against which men are always at a clear disadvantage.

In “The Derelict”, a group of friends runs into an abandoned ship. The construction of certain chilling scenes is magnificent.

Little more to add. With Teeth It is a feast of supernatural horror, full of dreadful creatures, extremely cruel destinations for its victims and perfectly constructed tension scenes.

All the stories that contain have seemed very worthy. The best, in my opinion, are “Annedale”, “Pretend Play” and “A Private Exhibition”, given their creativity. Then there are more conventional gender exercises compared, but equally achieved, such as “The Bunker”, “The Temple in the Lake” or “The Derelict” (also, although to a lesser extent, “The Dealer” and “The Workshop”) . In “My Eldrich Friends” or “The Hunt” we are presented with such suggestive worlds that they would give to write whole novels. In “Zolg” or “A Better Place”, deliciously twisted concepts are explored. And “Pompilidae” shows a sympathic humor.

As I said before, the pieces of this anthology follow the stereotypical patterns of the “Creepypastas”, but manage to refine that type of literature. First, because they deliver formats, premises and creative monsters. Also because they are more subtle than inhabitants, they do not depend so much on the truculence of their scenes or a blow of effect during climax, and give their protagonists of a certain psychological depth.

The other pull of friendly ears that would make the anthology of Wallis is due to its demericant edition. Let’s start with the book as an object. He would never have acquired it because of his soulless cover, not to be persuaded in advance thanks to the quality of “My Wife has Taken Our Roleplaying Too Far”. And is that the illustration that the cover of With Teeth It exhibits, clearly performed with artificial intelligence, it is quite shabby. And of the typography chosen for the title we do not speak better. The books of the book itself are also cheap, but that, although frustrating, is understandable, taking into account that the copy prints and distributes Amazon.