 John Langan returns with eight new tales of horror The author notes in his informative endnotes that the theme of betrayal that threads through his latest anthology was purely coincidental and a surprise discovery he made whilst mulling over potential future releases. Although the stories are not connected betrayal does indeed dominate “Sefira and Other Betrayals” bubbling and permeating throughout the stories like a cancer waiting to strike. Spread over 350 pages, there were only eight stories included with Sefira opening proceedings at 120 pages and At Home in the House of the Devil concluding the collection at just over forty pages. These were the only two inclusions which had not been previously published in magazines ranging from “Black Wings” to “Shadows Edge”. Coincidently, the two new stories were probably my favourites of the bunch. Occupying the literary end of the horror spectrum, there was much to admire and enjoy in this anthology, from complex narratives to the slow deliberate build-up of atmosphere. However, on a personal level, when I read short stories I do enjoy a good scare or an unpleasant twist ending and this collection came up short in those departments. There was many stylishly well-crafted stories, but a few lacked the magic ingredient (or bite) to make them outstanding. Stories which are truly striking linker long in the memory and most of these are already fading from memory. Langan writes his short fiction in a similar style to his novels, so if you were a fan of the much lauded “Fisherman” you’ll probably enjoy this anthology. Sefira was the closest in structure to “The Fisherman” with a narrative set over two time period which are relatively close together, both featuring a woman called Lisa. In the first she is chasing after someone (or something) after realising her husband Gary has been cheating on her. The second narrative deals with the circumstances in how the infidelity came around. This was an engaging novella, with lovely pacing, revealing its secrets deliciously slowly with a great pay-off. Cheating on your spouse is one thing, but make sure they’re human first and ask yourself whether you’re willing to stump up the price they charge. Lisa, however, is not a woman to be messed with and you’ll have fun as she hunts down Sefira. Don’t mess with a woman scorned! At Home in the House of the Devil closes the anthology in some style and they say every man meets the Devil once before he dies. This is the story of a young man who strays away from his Christian upbringing whilst studying at university and after finding a new girlfriend, Sonya, tries heroin for the first time with her. She likes it way too much and spirals into addiction, whilst the Devil lurks around the corner, with this story deals with guilt as much as betrayal. The Devil, indeed, can manifest himself in many ways and lapsed Christians are easy pickings for Old Nick. When you read single author anthologies the reader can pick up stylistic similarities which would probably go unnoticed if they were read episodically in their original magazine source. In Paris, in the Mouth of Kronos and The Third Always Beside You were two of the most obvious examples. In the former a dodgy couple, possibly agents, are hired to track down a target, not realising they are pawns in a bigger game, and in the latter two adult siblings realise there is a third person in their parent’s marriage which nobody ever speaks about, but whose presence is always felt. Although the plots are completely different, the supernatural reveal in the final both stories was done in a very similar fashion and with no major surprises. Bloom was one of my favourites, a couple find a cooler on side of the road whilst driving home and are unsure what to do with it, or what might be inside it? It was a quirky read and I enjoyed the journey and the direction the story took. The three other inclusions did not make a huge impression. However, it was nice to read a story set in my homeland of Scotland in Renfrew’s Course, and The Unbearable Proximity of Mr. Dunn’s Balloons was in its own way quite striking and Bor Urus features weird reality bending storms and a man with complex personal problems. None of the three truly grabbed me though. Recently I’ve read and reviewed a number of single anthologies and in comparison to Alexander Zelenyj and JR Hamantaschen “Sefira and Other Betrayals” was solid but unspectacular. It’s undoubtedly personal taste, I like to be shocked, surprised, disgusted and left shaking my head at bizarre or unfathomable endings. I enjoy being forced to reread an ending asking myself “what the f-happened there?” I also love starting a new short story, the completely unpredictable Zelenyj or Hamantaschen are good examples, in the knowledge that I have no idea where it is going to take me and even if they write a few misfires it’s a risk worth taking. On the other hand, this John Langan collection was a very safe and solid anthology which I’m sure his many admirers will enjoy, as it’s more of the same. 3/5 SEFIRA AND OTHER BETRAYALS BY JOHN LANGAN  "This book is a treasure trove for lovers of literary horror fiction."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) From the award-winning writer of The Fisherman comes a new collection of stories. A pair of disgraced soldiers seek revenge on the man who taught them how to torture. A young lawyer learns the history of the secret that warped her parents’ marriage. A writer arrives at a mansion overlooking the Hudson River to write about the strange paper balloons floating through its grounds. A couple walks a path that shows them their past, present, and terrible future. A woman and her husband discover a cooler on the side of the road whose contents are decidedly unearthly. A man driving cross country has a late-night encounter with a figure claiming to be the Devil. And in the short novel that gives the collection its title, a woman chases a monster in a race against time.   Comments are closed.
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