Triplicity: The Terror Project Vol. 1 by Stacey Longo / Tony Tremblay / Rob Smales ~ 2016


Go ahead, pick a story - any story
You'll be glad you did



Authors: Stacey Longo / Tony Tremblay / Rob Smales
Publisher: Books & Boos Press
Publication: November 23, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-0-9979329-1-1
Language: English
Cover art and interior images: Ana Lucia
Cover photo: R. Smales
Author photographers: Friends of the horror world we all love



"This book was provided by Tony Tremblay in exchange for my honest review alongside my proffered thank-you for asking."



5 Stars




Brando and Bad Choices

Stacey Longo
As you pull your covers tighter around you to immerse yourself into three stories for a weekend warmth, Triplicity: The Terror Project opens with "Brando and Bad Choices"  -  an excellent view into Hell, and I'll tell you folks, hope sure does burn quite well there.

Here's a story of self-reflection ~

Stacey Longo describes a vision into a rude awakening for Stella Pendergrass.  A snobbish self-centered aunt to her nephews and a Miss Know-it-all to her sister.

Her sister Robin, asks for her to babysit for a while but Stella has other plans, so she scares the hell out of her nephews about the area where the kids want to go and play - of a kid who had died there (true story).  Hmph.

Well, Stella leaves, makes a few bad choices, and ends up in the afterlife where this place read like it could be the waiting room (not actually purgatory, nor Hell, nor anywhere else really, but the waiting room) a place where you must face some of your personal decisions you had made in the past before you go ... where?

She realizes that Gary Tucker, the one and the same she used to scare her nephews, was standing in front of her as real as can be.  But, you died Gary!??  Holy Shit!

No, you died Stella.  "What was the last thing you remember before waking up today?"  Gary asks.

Another Holy Shit!  Stella realizes.  But wait, is this heaven or hell?

Gary tells her to make a wish and whatever happens next should pretty much tell her.

One fabulous time with Marlon Brando.  Mr. Sex Icon himself.

The events Stella goes through are quite interesting to say the least - but what is really interesting is the could've/would've/should've's.  Make a wish here and maybe, just maybe, the details will count.  Ergo the saying - watch what you wish for -

Stella Pendergrass embarks on a journey of self-reflection and maybe a hope for some redemption here and there?  Maybe throw out some of her justifications on a few things?

Hell of a good read folks.  Hell of a good read.


 ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒

Steel


Tony Tremblay
Left me in a state of wonder, (another look at Hell, thank you Stacey) as I dove into Steel by Tony Tremblay.

When you add a bit of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy the blood in your body keeps pumping, wanting the suspense - so personally, I kept turning pages.

Imagine a world, an apocalyptic world filled only with a seeming handful of teens.

Here they scrounge for food and shelter from acid rain and are among some pretty cool sci-fi monsters that are immune to the rain - Bashers and spidlers who are scrounging around themselves.  And they just don't stop.

I rooted for the main character, Steel, and her katana, she has the moxie to be envied and a sex drive? that needs to be tamed.  This young lady takes control in this post-apocalyptic world of this band of teenagers, some quite younger and vies to stay strong.  Yet she does make a few bad choices from anger building inside her and the guilt that led her to a very grave situation.  Uh, 'situation' is putting it mildly.

The characters in this read had unique names tailored to each and Tony explains why.  Each had their gruesome deaths depicted and this is a visually good read.  Rock and Steel's relationship to each other was the fuel that kept me.  Had to see where their story went.  Folks, you'll love where it goes.

Tony Tremblay takes you from introducing the characters all dressed in the attire for your mind's vision and you travel with them in their endeavors to their own Armageddon ending in only a few pages.  Yep, he's got a flair for the short story ~ checkout my interview & review of his debut collection of nightmares ~ The Seeds of Nightmares  ~

The ending to this short tale, Steel, is twisted as Tony's mind.  I loved it.  Here you will be rooting for your own favorite character - good or bad, hell it's your choice.  Mine - what the hell is the bottom of this hell?  As Tony wraps these pages up to its ending, you'll see what else pops up that keeps going.

You'll put a smirk on your face and shake your head slowly a couple times.  Great read.


 ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒


The Christmas Spirit

Rob Smales
Loved how this tale opened up with this need to write, not warn her recipients, Sandra and Chloe of the email they were about to read, with full apologies.

In the email:

Beth's story begins before her twin sons, Mark and Jeff, 1st Christmas.  Beth and her husband Randy were scrapping by just like the lot of us, and since it was Christmas time, Beth decided to make handmade decorations.

Then the next morning, things turned into a complete mystery.  On her desk, next to the simply-made star she made for the top of the Christmas tree sat a beautiful intricate ornament that spelled out Noel.

She's thinking yesterday Randy himself had stated he couldn't possibly do such fine work.  Ahh, he's razzin' her.  Nope.

It just so happens they are convinced that someone is breaking into their house while they’re sleeping and visits the twins’ room - it appears.

Can anyone say, terror?

The ending to this - no wait a second folks ... let me let Mr. Smales throw in some of that Christmas Spirit this story needs to end this tale in Triplicity: The Terror Project


You'll love it  ~  One of these loves I have - each of these tales had their own tone and each voice weaved to a perfect weekend read





Triplicity: The Terror Project

 ✒ ✒ ✒


Folks, Triplicity: The Terror Project is no longer in print


  •  Amazon ~ Kindle $ 3.99 ~ Paperback $12.99 ~ USD
  •  Barnes & Noble ~ Paperback $12.99 ~ USD


✒ ✒ ✒

About the authors:


Stacey Longo


Connect with Stacey Longo






Stacey Longo was born and raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut.  After graduating from Penn State, she moved to Block Island, Rhode Island, where she established her writing career as a popular weekly humor columnist for the local newspaper.

Upon returning to Connecticut, she turned her pen to horror.   Her short stories have appeared in over 20 magazines and anthologies. She is the author of Secret Things: Twelve Tales to Terrify and Ordinary Boy, among others.


✒ ✒ ✒

Tony Tremblay




Tony Tremblay is the writer of numerous short stories that have been published in various horror anthologies, horror magazines, and webzines under his pen name, T T Zuma.

Tremblay has also worked as a reviewer of horror fiction for Cemetery Dance Magazine and Horror World.

In addition to his print work, Tremblay is the host of The Taco Society Presents, a cable T. V. show on G-TV based out of Goffstown, NH ( it can be viewed on YouTube ) that features discussions on horror as well as guest interviews with horror authors.

He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Paula.


✒ ✒ ✒

Rob Smales
Connect with Rob Smales




Lifelong reader, recently turned writer, my friends were surprised when I turned to writing horror.  They remember me reading a lot of Sci-Fi while growing up.  And I did.  But there was an awful lot of Fantasy, Crime, Mystery and, yes, Horror in the mix.

Though I do have a few non-horror stories in my head and fighting to get out (I started this ride writing a series of Sci-Fi shorts to read to my son at night), most of what I write about comes from the darker side of life.  And unlife.  I'm going to just keep sprinkling material onto the mulch pile in my mind and see what comes up.


 ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒

Reviewed by

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)