Official Review: The Seer of Possibilities and Other Dist...
Posted: 25 Nov 2018, 13:02
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales" by Thomas O..]
4 out of 4 stars
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The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales by Thomas O. is a collection of six short stories, each one equally as chilling as the last. In the first story, Jack receives small instructions from an entity, known as the ‘Seer’ through the internet. When Jack completes each demand of the Seer, it sets off a chain of events which lead to horrible things happening to the people around him, but Jack always benefits in some way. In the second story, an old man helps shape the photography skills of a college student in the most sinister way possible. The third features an evil twist on Phantom Limb Syndrome. The fourth story is centered on the degradation of nature and family legacies. The fifth features a gruesome killer in outer space. The sixth story delves into a boy’s childhood and describes how his wishes are always wickedly fulfilled each year around Christmas by a malevolent, supernatural visitor.
Some horror writers include lengthy, gory descriptions of death, evil beasts, and destruction to evoke their readers’ emotions. Some stories are written in the first person, to immerse the reader fully in the horror story. Thomas O. hardly uses gory descriptions, and his stories are written from both first person and third person perspectives. What is impressive, however, is that each of his stories accomplishes what every horror story aims to do – engross the reader in unpredictable twists, frighten them, and ensure that the story remains in their mind for a while after the book has ended, which consequently whets their appetite for more. This is all accomplished without the typical gory or frightening descriptions. His stories do not take a direct approach to horror, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes of each plot, things that are only hinted at, things which do not seem to add up, and things that are left unsaid. These subtleties are embedded in the actions and dialogue of the characters themselves. They stimulate the imagination and ultimately bring each tale to life in the mind of the reader. I really appreciate how Thomas O. was able to incorporate these details into his stories.
The characters in this book are masterpieces, especially the villains. Most of them seemed harmless at the beginning of the story, but they seem to morph into the most twisted souls before your very eyes. One such example is Mr. Videre, an old man who collects fine art, photography, and literature. At first glance, he seems to be a charming, eccentric elder. As the story goes on, I realize he is a master manipulator, perhaps even the devil himself in human form, as he nurtures the natural talents of people in the most horrible way, takes their first piece of work for his collection, and assures them that their talents will bring fame and fortune. He reminds me of an evil version of Professor Slughorn from the Harry Potter series.
Thomas O. is truly skilled in the art of horror story writing. His six stories show the versatility of the genre. He incorporates different elements of horror, each of which will appeal to readers based on their individual fears. For example, there is the fear of wishing for something which can be granted in the worst way possible, the horror connected to the destruction of nature, the fear of criminals, as well as the horror associated with demonic beings - this was the case in 'The Phantom Arm of Sebastian Culpepper'.
There were no flaws in Thomas O’s writing, except for a few errors like typos, but these were negligible. I rate The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales 4 out of 4 stars for its imaginative plots, the excellent characterization, and for showcasing the versatility of the genre. I will recommend this book to young adult horror fans, and anyone who enjoys thrilling stories. However, readers who become frightened easily may not enjoy this book because certain elements of these tales have a way of clawing into the subconscious and remaining there, forcing the reader to think about them again and again.
******
The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales
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4 out of 4 stars
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The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales by Thomas O. is a collection of six short stories, each one equally as chilling as the last. In the first story, Jack receives small instructions from an entity, known as the ‘Seer’ through the internet. When Jack completes each demand of the Seer, it sets off a chain of events which lead to horrible things happening to the people around him, but Jack always benefits in some way. In the second story, an old man helps shape the photography skills of a college student in the most sinister way possible. The third features an evil twist on Phantom Limb Syndrome. The fourth story is centered on the degradation of nature and family legacies. The fifth features a gruesome killer in outer space. The sixth story delves into a boy’s childhood and describes how his wishes are always wickedly fulfilled each year around Christmas by a malevolent, supernatural visitor.
Some horror writers include lengthy, gory descriptions of death, evil beasts, and destruction to evoke their readers’ emotions. Some stories are written in the first person, to immerse the reader fully in the horror story. Thomas O. hardly uses gory descriptions, and his stories are written from both first person and third person perspectives. What is impressive, however, is that each of his stories accomplishes what every horror story aims to do – engross the reader in unpredictable twists, frighten them, and ensure that the story remains in their mind for a while after the book has ended, which consequently whets their appetite for more. This is all accomplished without the typical gory or frightening descriptions. His stories do not take a direct approach to horror, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes of each plot, things that are only hinted at, things which do not seem to add up, and things that are left unsaid. These subtleties are embedded in the actions and dialogue of the characters themselves. They stimulate the imagination and ultimately bring each tale to life in the mind of the reader. I really appreciate how Thomas O. was able to incorporate these details into his stories.
The characters in this book are masterpieces, especially the villains. Most of them seemed harmless at the beginning of the story, but they seem to morph into the most twisted souls before your very eyes. One such example is Mr. Videre, an old man who collects fine art, photography, and literature. At first glance, he seems to be a charming, eccentric elder. As the story goes on, I realize he is a master manipulator, perhaps even the devil himself in human form, as he nurtures the natural talents of people in the most horrible way, takes their first piece of work for his collection, and assures them that their talents will bring fame and fortune. He reminds me of an evil version of Professor Slughorn from the Harry Potter series.
Thomas O. is truly skilled in the art of horror story writing. His six stories show the versatility of the genre. He incorporates different elements of horror, each of which will appeal to readers based on their individual fears. For example, there is the fear of wishing for something which can be granted in the worst way possible, the horror connected to the destruction of nature, the fear of criminals, as well as the horror associated with demonic beings - this was the case in 'The Phantom Arm of Sebastian Culpepper'.
There were no flaws in Thomas O’s writing, except for a few errors like typos, but these were negligible. I rate The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales 4 out of 4 stars for its imaginative plots, the excellent characterization, and for showcasing the versatility of the genre. I will recommend this book to young adult horror fans, and anyone who enjoys thrilling stories. However, readers who become frightened easily may not enjoy this book because certain elements of these tales have a way of clawing into the subconscious and remaining there, forcing the reader to think about them again and again.
******
The Seer of Possibilities and Other Disturbing Tales
View: on Bookshelves
Like KristyKhem's review? Post a comment saying so!
