This is truly an outstanding collection of horror short stories. Each story within this collection has the power to send shivers down your spine and keep you on the edge of your seat.

The authors have masterfully crafted tales that are filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. The vivid descriptions and engaging narratives draw you in and make you feel as if you are a part of the horror.

Whether you are a die-hard horror fan or just looking for a thrilling read, this collection is sure to satisfy. It is a must-have for anyone who enjoys being scared and entertained.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection of horror short stories to anyone. It earns a well-deserved 5/5 rating and is definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.

So, if you're ready to experience some hair-raising horror, pick up this collection and prepare to be scared out of your wits!

Edited 12.27.13 after the third read.

I began by jotting down notes on each story that I deemed to be above average, as you can observe below...

The initial story in this collection truly blew me away. It was uncannily similar to an episode of The Twilight Zone. The bees! 5*

Edited: It turns out that this actually WAS a Twilight Zone magazine story in 1986.

The second story, "Makeup", paid homage to the horror films of yesteryear, with numerous references to a previous Robert McCammon novel, They Thirst. 4*

"Nightcrawlers" - a weighty story about a Nam vet dosed with a chemical named Howdy Doody. 4*

Edited: This was adapted for the small screen by the new Twilight Zone show. You can watch the episode online at You Tube for free here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITl2BB...

Edited to add a few words about the story "Yellachile's Cage". This story is worthy enough to merit its own mention here. A prison story, somewhat reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption, with its message of hope.

Edited to add a few words about the story "Pin". Apparently, Pin was made into a short film by a student named Christian Frahme. This story was so disturbing that I couldn't bring myself to watch the film. In case you would like to after reading "Pin", here is a link to the film:

http://vimeo.com/19771743

"Night Calls the Green Falcon" had me in tears, as did the last novella Blue World.

...then I came to the realization that every story in this collection is above average. Well, all but one of these tales deeply resonated with me.

Robert McCammon will always be one of my favorite authors. Regardless of the subject matter, the power of his writing always manages to shine through.

A five, a couple of fours, and a handful of threes.

Night Calls the Green Falcon offers a truly fantastic and deeply touching exploration of the forgotten dreams that lie beneath the iconic Hollywood sign. When a retired serial actor embarks on a quest to solve the murder of his young neighbor, he, along with a small group of individuals who have fallen through the cracks of society, rediscovers the power of fantasy. In their search for the killer, they find themselves transformed.

Yellowjacket Summer is a creepy yet not overly long read. He’ll Come Knocking At Your Door, Doom city, and The Red House are creative 50s horror comic inspirations with a dark sense of humor. Blue World is a melancholy novella about a priest who falls in love with a porno actress who also happens to be a target of a serial killer. It starts off a bit strange and grungy but gradually evolves into something approaching beauty.

There are a few other works that are more like odd little gems. Pin is really just a very dark dramatic monologue, and Yellachile’s Cage has a decent concept but hasn't aged as well as some. McCammon’s prose remains strong throughout, and there is a greater variety of tones here than one might expect, ranging from the silly and spooky to the serious and bittersweet. Apparently, there is a Subterranean Press version that includes three additional stories.

This is truly one of the best collections out there.

It encompasses a wide range of items that are both unique and captivating.

Each piece in the collection has been carefully curated, showing great attention to detail and a discerning eye for quality.

Whether it's the rare antiques, the exquisite works of art, or the one-of-a-kind collectibles, there is something for everyone to admire and appreciate.

The collection not only showcases the beauty and craftsmanship of the items but also tells a story of their history and significance.

It is a testament to the passion and dedication of the collector who has spent years amassing this remarkable assemblage.

Visitors to the collection are sure to be impressed and inspired by the wealth of treasures on display.

It is a must-see for anyone with an interest in art, history, or simply beautiful things.

Overall, this collection is a true gem and a worthy addition to any list of the world's greatest collections.

Blue World by Robert McCammon

January 11 - January 15, 2015

Buddy read from Goodreads HR

Here we have a story that delves into the nightmare that an XXX-rated lifestyle can bring. A beautiful girl meets a tragic end when she is shot through the head while satisfying her killer. How creepy is that? Her friend, Debby, who is also involved in this lifestyle, is deeply upset and frightened. When she discovers what has happened, she turns to a priest and participates in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. However, in reality, she just wants to talk to someone she thought she could trust about it. But can she truly trust Fr. John? Is he really the loyal priest she believes him to be? Only time will tell.

Once again, Mr. McCammon does not disappoint this reader. The story is expertly written, with character development that is rich enough for three novels. The author takes us on a thrilling ride through the streets of San Francisco, as if on a ten-speed bicycle. We get a sense of the diverse neighborhoods that make up this city, both the good and the bad. We meet the friends and enemies of our two protagonists. We also learn about the secondary problems associated with the X-rated lifestyle and the temptations faced by a good and holy priest.

For me, this story is a profound study of God's love for all of us, regardless of how far we may have fallen into the depths of sin. God is always ready to forgive and forget the transgressions of those who have sinned, no matter the circumstances. Most importantly, God has the power to change the hardest of hearts and turn the worst of circumstances into something wonderfully courageous.

I highly recommend this book to any Christian who is open-minded and willing to see how God can work in our lives if we only allow it. One can also see in this book how sin can insidiously creep into someone's otherwise holy life, almost unnoticed until it is almost too late. In this novel, God works in mysterious ways. Maybe it's not exactly what McCammon intended, but it's certainly what I took away from the book.

FIVE brightly colored stars for this entertaining and uplifting book.

It is a must-read for those who are interested in exploring the themes of sin, redemption, and God's love.

The vivid descriptions and engaging characters make this story a truly captivating read.

Whether you are a devout Christian or simply someone who enjoys a good story, Blue World is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Great collection! However, one might wonder why the long story? The only real drawback I find with this otherwise enjoyable collection is the last story, "Blue World". In fact, it's more of a novella and thus doesn't fit well with the preceding 12 short stories. It disrupts the rhythm established by the previous tales and, while an interesting story in its own right, is completely out of context.

It tells the story of a priest, John Lancaster, who finds himself attracted to the blue movie phenomenon, Debra Rocks, and the moral dilemma that follows. At around 200 pages long, this story, although initially interesting and amusing, soon runs out of steam after the "will he or won't he" premise loses its appeal.

In contrast, "Night Calls the Green Falcon" is a work of pure magic! Creighton Flint, an old retired movie star, was in his prime the star of afternoon movies and, in particular, the black and white weekly adventure series. When his neighbour and friend is murdered, the old and somewhat weary Green Falcon is called back into action. He must don his outfit and hunt for The Fliptop Killer. The real genius of this story lies in the way Robert McCammon divides the action into chapters, each ending with a nail-biting, dastardly misadventure, much like the old black and white movies of yesteryear.

"Yellowjacket Summer" is not a story for those with a bee phobia. The author effectively uses both the desert heat and the fear of yellowjacket bees in this "stinger" of a story.

"Nightcrawlers" is a tale of murder and intrigue that takes place in Cheryl's diner and the mystery that unfolds with the arrival of a Vietnam veteran named Price. Nightmares, mental awareness, and the fear of the unknown are themes hidden within.

"He'll come knocking at your door" is a very clever tale in which Dan Burgess lives the ideal life with a beautiful wife and daughter. But when he is summoned to an urgent Halloween meeting with some town locals, he discovers that there is no such thing as a free ride. This is a wonderful story with spooky folk lore overtones.

Virgil Sykes and his odd family move into their newly painted "The Red House". What is the significance of the colour red? Why does it upset Bobby Deaken so much? How is Sykes able to work faster and smarter than all his colleagues? All will be revealed in this quirky, bubbly, and fun tale.

Overall, it's a great collection that would have been even better if "Blue World", the final story, had either been replaced or edited to better fit the collection.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Yellowjacket Summer" tells the story of a mother and her two kids who stop at a rural gas station. Little do they know, they will encounter problems far greater than the sweltering heat.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Makeup" follows a small-time thief who steals a dead horror star's makeup case. Soon enough, he discovers that the contents inside are much more than just ordinary makeup.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Doom City" centers around a man who wakes up one morning to find a skeleton in his bed where his wife had been the previous night.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Nightcrawlers" features a Vietnam veteran who comes looking for shelter from both the storm and the haunting nightmares of his past.

⭐⭐⭐ "Pin" presents the disturbing ravings of a madman.

⭐⭐⭐ "Yellachile's Cage" shows how a young man in prison finds hope within the confines of his imagination.

⭐⭐⭐ "I Scream Man" tells of a man who suffers from uncontrollable hallucinations.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "He'll Come Knocking at Your Door" reveals that the devil arrives on Halloween to trick-or-treat and collect what is owed to him.

"Chico"

"Night Calls the Green Falcon" is about a retired cinema superhero who takes up his cape once again to hunt down the murderer of a real-life prostitute.

"The Red House"

"Something Passed By" describes a world where water becomes combustible, concrete turns to quicksand, and people rapidly age or regress to infancy.

"Blue World" follows Father John Lancaster as he battles the temptations of the flesh and becomes a better priest while saving the life of a cocaine-snorting porn queen.

"Strange Candy"

"White"

"Children of the Bedtime Machine"

A truly fascinating collection awaits within the pages of this work, penned by perhaps my most beloved author. It presents a wonderful assortment of short stories that are sure to captivate any reader. I found myself thoroughly enjoying every single one of them. However, among the gems, my absolute favorites were "Nightcrawlers", "Night Cries the Blue Falcon", and "Doom City". The latter is a tale that has a distinct Twilight Zone-esque feel to it, which I found particularly enticing. In fact, it could be argued that all of the stories in this collection share a similar atmosphere and charm. McCammon has once again proven himself to be a master storyteller, never failing to deliver engaging and thought-provoking narratives.

Highly recommended for all lovers of short stories and those who appreciate great writing. This collection is sure to become a cherished addition to any bookshelf.

Yellowjacket Summer: 3⭐

This story begins as a typical backwoods horror tale. However, there's a unique twist when a sinister hillbilly kid discovers he has the psychic ability to control yellowjackets and make them do his bidding. While it wasn't a masterpiece, it was mildly enjoyable and kept me engaged for a while.
Makeup: 3⭐

A crook steals a makeup case from a famous horror movie actor, only to find out that the makeup has magical properties. Depending on how it's applied, it can transform the user into various monsters. This story was simply good, but not great. It had an interesting premise, but it could have been developed further.
Doom City: 2.5⭐

This apocalyptic story starts out decently, but then it ends with a dream-sequence type twist that we've all seen before. It felt a bit predictable and didn't really offer anything new or exciting. Meh.
Nightcrawlers: 3.5⭐

Finally, a story that I really liked. It's about an old war vet who walks into a diner one day, bringing some trouble with him. Without spoiling too much, let's just say that his PTSD and some events from the war make him a potential threat to others. This was an intriguing story with a dark and fitting ending.
Pin: 1.5⭐

I have no idea what this story is even about. It was short and confusing, and I just couldn't seem to get into it.
Yellachile's Cage: 2.5⭐

This story is about a prisoner who knows voodoo and passes his abilities along to another prisoner. It was okay, I guess, but it didn't really stand out to me.
I Scream Man: 1.5⭐

Like Pin, this is another very short story that left me scratching my head. It was a "wtf did I just read" kind of story, and it wasn't for me.
He'll Come Knocking At Your Door: 4⭐

This is the best story in the collection. It's about a father/husband who moves to a new town with his family and discovers that everything seems to be going too well. Life is perfect in this small town... until he finds out the reason for the constant good luck and the price that has to be paid for it. This was a very dark, creative, and even frightening story. I really enjoyed it, although I would have liked to see it a bit longer and more fleshed out.
Chico: 2.5⭐

This is a slice of life story about poverty and domestic violence. It was well written, but the story didn't really go anywhere. It felt a bit like a snapshot of someone's life rather than a complete story.
Night Calls the Green Falcon: 3.5⭐

This story was surprisingly enjoyable! It's about a washed-up superhero actor and stuntman who used to play the Green Falcon. After witnessing a crime committed by a serial killer, he decides to put on his old costume and become a vigilante again. This story was both suspenseful and quite funny, and it was one of my favorites from the book.
The Red House: 3.25⭐

This is a strange story that starts out as a slice of life/drama, but then incorporates some supernatural elements near the end. I enjoyed it, although I'm not entirely sure what to make of it.
Something Passed By: 2.25⭐

I'm already forgetting what this story is about. It was forgettable and didn't really leave much of an impression on me.
Blue World: 1.75⭐

This 200-page novella is about a priest who becomes obsessed with a porn star and stalks her. Eventually, they fall in love. There's also a weird subplot about a serial killer stalking women in the adult film industry, but it feels almost entirely inconsequential to the story. This one kind of sucked. It was too sleazy and explicit for my tastes, and I thought this was supposed to be a horror book, not a romance/erotica novel.
Overall, I can't say I'm too impressed with my first Robert McCammon outing. I'd give this book a 2.75/5 overall, with only 3 stories that I actually cared for. Eventually, I'll try some of his novels, but I fail to see the masterpiece that some people claim this short story collection to be.

Five out of five! Five out of five!

The face is tight and tears have been shed. This is a beautiful collection of horror short stories. The stellar stand-outs are "Pin", "Night Calls the Green Falcon", "Something Passed By", and of course, the titular story, "Blue World".

I didn't dislike a single one of these stories. However, there were definitely some that I could easily rank at the bottom.

Compare this to my still struggling to get through David J. Schow's "Seeing Red". I've been stuck on it for something close to two months.

Each story in this collection has its own unique charm and horror elements that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The writing is excellent, and the authors have done a great job of creating a sense of atmosphere and dread.

If you're a fan of horror short stories, then this collection is definitely worth checking out. You won't be disappointed!

This is an absolutely incredible collection of short stories that serves as the perfect introduction to an amazing author.

Each story has the power to transport you right into the middle of the action, making you feel as if you are right there with the characters.

While I wasn't too keen on the story titled Pin, every other story in this collection was truly superb.

My personal favorites were Yellachile’s Cage, Night Calls the Green Falcon, and Blue World.

The vivid descriptions, engaging plots, and well-developed characters in these stories made them an absolute joy to read.

I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone read this collection if they haven't already.

It's a literary gem that will leave you captivated and eager for more from this talented author.

This is my second favorite collection of short stories I’ve ever read.

After King’s untouchable classic anthology, Night Shift, experiencing these excellent tales was a pure joy from start to finish.

There are so many heavy hitters in here.

Blue World has everything I look for in a horror collection: intriguing premises, a large variety, an abundance of creative twists, and very satisfying endings!

My favorites include: Something Passed By, Nightcrawlers, Blue World, He’ll Come Knocking At Your Door, Makeup, Yellowjacket Summer and Doom City.

If you love short stories, this has to be on your short list of must-reads.

Make it a priority.

You won’t be disappointed.

McCammon kills it with Blue World.

Each story in this collection seems to have its own unique charm and ability to draw the reader in.

The variety of themes and settings keeps the reading experience fresh and exciting.

Whether it’s a supernatural encounter, a psychological thriller, or a mystery with a twist, McCammon has mastered the art of creating engaging short stories.

The characters are well-developed and the writing is vivid, making it easy to imagine oneself in the midst of the action.

Blue World is truly a standout collection that is sure to please fans of horror and short stories alike.