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TOYBOX
Al Sarrantonio
Leisure Books
Mass Market PB
$6.99
ISBN 0843951745
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TOYBOX,
a compilation of short stories Sarrantonio wrote between 1982 and 1999,
is the kind of book that makes my job as a reviewer easy because it is,
without a doubt, one of the best collections I have ever read. Without
hesitation, I would rank it up there with Mort Castle's MOON
ON THE WATER, and Dennis Etchison's THE
DEATH ARTIST, as the gold standard for collections currently on the
shelves of your local Borders. Like Castle and Etchison, Sarrantonio brings
together a body of masterfully crafted pieces when taken as a whole is
greater than the sum of its parts. TOYBOX
succeeds in being more than just a collection; it is a terrifying glimpse
into the childhood fears that continue to haunt the psyches of even the
most rational of adults.
Woven together
by a narrative thread about a girl named Selene who is given a mysterious
gift, TOYBOX
offers up eighteen tales of childhood demons and terrors. In the hands
of a lesser talent, this many stories centering around children could
easily have become redundant and stale, but Sarrantonio is able to infuse
each story with a degree of freshness and intrigue that keeps the intensity
and quality of the collection consistently high. While all the stories
are top notch, my favorites were "The Man With Legs," "The
Electric Fat Boy," and "The Corn Dolly." Horrific in their
own unique way (if "The Man With Legs"
doesn't freak you out, you may be dead), these stories all deal
with the pain of loneliness and the desire for acceptance. Sarrantonio
is able to touch a powerful nerve by demonstrating that sometimes the
monsters in our lives are less frightening than the possibility of a life
devoid of companionship and love. Also notable for their sheer creepiness,
"Bogy," a story of a club initiation gone wrong, and "Father
Dear," one of the most twisted father and son tales I have ever read.
Al Sarrantonio's
TOYBOX
peels back the protective layers of childhood innocence and reveals the
boogiemen and demons that haunt us all. TOYBOX
is creepy, powerfully written, and a must read for anyone with even a
passing interest in horror.
This is one
TOYBOX
that definitely should be opened.
4 book wyrms.
This
review copyright 2004 E.C.McMullen Jr.
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