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EDGE and Tesseract are imprints of Hades Publications, Inc.

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives

edited by Justin Gustainis   PREVIOUS CATALOG PAGE   BOOK LIST   NEXT CATALOG PAGE 

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives edited by Justin Gustainis
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GENRE:
  Dark Fantasy
  Anthology
  Short Stories



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E-BOOK:
ISBN: 9781894817882
EPUB, MOBI
$5.99 US

Paperback:
ISBN: 9781894063487
Trade Paperback
5.5" X 8.5"
$14.95 US
$19.95 CDN
240 pages


BISAC:
  FIC009070
  FIC009040
  FIC003000

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives

Got Vampires? Ghosts? Monsters? We Can Help!

Your one-stop-shop for Urban Fantasy’s finest anthology of the supernatural. 14 sleuths are gathered together for the first time in all-original tales of unusual cases which require services that go far beyond mere deduction!

Featuring new stories by: Tanya Huff, C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, Simon R. Green, T. A. Pratt, Chris Marie Green, Lilith Saintcrow, Rachel Caine, Jackie Kessler, Carrie L. Vaughn, Julie Kenner, C. J. Henderson, Laura Anne Gilman, Justin Gustainis and Caitlin Kittredge

Meet the Detectives:

Demons may lurk, werewolves may prowl, vampires may ride the wind. These are things that go bump in the night, but we are the ones who bump back!


About the editor:

Justin Gustainis has been an Army officer, speechwriter and professional bodyguard. He is currently a college professor living in upstate New York. He is the author of The Hades Project, Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, Hard Spell and Sympathy for the Devil. He has also published a number of short stories, two of which won the Graverson Award for Horror in consecutive years. He is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. [MORE]


Praise:

"Urban fantasy has a special place in my heart, and the Occult Detective is perhaps the fundamental urban-fantasy archetype. An anthology of this kind is can serve two purposes: The first is to provide a taste of the genre to those that might otherwise be unfamiliar with it, and the second is to provide fans of the genre a chance to discover writers they may not have already come across.

It was well worth the read and I would recommend it wholeheartedly for any fan of the urban fantasy/occult detective genre; even more so if you are unfamiliar with the genre and would like a taste as to what it’s all about." — Nick Bronson

"Urban Fantasy readers will love this book, and it is a first-rate group of stories." — Paul Lappan, Reviewer

"For anyone who loves urban fantasy or anyone who wants a sampling by some of the hottest writers in this thriving field, this collection is a must. Filled with vivid, fantastic images and a wild array of memorable characters, these stories take readers into the hidden worlds that exist alongside our own." — Jeanne Cavelos, Director of the Odyssey Writing Workshop

"Like a diabolical box of chocolates, this collection of urban fantasy treats is all-dark, all-delicious, and all-dangerous. Longtime fans and new readers alike will devour every last page—and be left drooling for more." — Jeri Smith-Ready, award-winning author of SHADE and BRING ON THE NIGHT

"I am happy to announce that this anthology could actually be the best I have read, ever! Did you see the line up? A Demon Soccer Mom Hunting story was inside as well as one of my favourite Succubi, Jezebel! An amazing Carrie Vaughn story which I hope is the start of a new series because I would totally love to read more. The best Laura Anne Gilman story I think I have ever read and of course T.A. Pratt! How I have missed you!!! And not forgetting the wonderful editor of this collection, Justin Gustianis. It has been way too long since we saw Quincy and I can't wait for more. Worth buying!

Awesome author selection with stories bursting with paranormal goodness. There are some real treasures in this one and next to no duds." — amberkatze.blogspot

"We can all sleep better knowing that in this new century there is an intrepid band of detectives who hunt down the occult monsters - demons, werewolves, vampires,etc - that are out to get us. Justin Gustainis has assembled an entertaining group of fourteen stories where the bad guys/gals/things never stand a chance. Many of the authors - including Gustainis - will be familiar to readers and so will many of their characters. Besides visiting old friends in new situations this terrific volume is a great introduction to writers and series you may have missed." — Patricia's Vampire Notes

"This anthology is literally a paranormal fantasy sampler, containing bite-sized stories from a diversity of popular series. For readers looking for new series to discover, this is a perfect way to dip your toes in first before committing yourself to an entire sequence of novels." — Paul Goat Allen, Barnes And Noble Bookclubs.

"This week I have been reading an anthology of occult crime tales which Justin Gustainis, the editor, was kind enough to send me.

I am not usually a big fan of occult mysteries, although I only object strongly when a supernatural element is thrown in gratuitously (what I call the "ooh! spooky!" gambit). Bad, but not quite as bad, is the story where you only find out about the supernatural element at the end (and he was a GHOST!). Full disclosure: I wrote a story of that ilk once, but it was in another century, and beside, the magazine is dead.

In any case, no danger of that type of story in this book which promises in advance that each story will feature werewolves, demons, fairies or the like. These tales are all new but each also is part of a series of novels and/or stories by the authors.

I tend to like the tales best that play with the cliches and expectations of the mystery genre. For example, my favorite story is Simon R. Green's "The Spirit of the Thing," in which private eye John Taylor is drinking in a seedy bar when he meets a beautiful woman who wants to hire him. How many times have we read that scene? But here is how it plays in Green's world:

"You have to helo me. I've been murdered. I need you to find out who killed me."

Not every private eye gets hired by a ghost. But Taylor is not your average dick. He works in the Nightside, "the secret hidden heart of London, where it's always the darkest part of the night and the dawn never comes..." Am I the only reader who finds himself picturing Diagon Alley?

Taylor solves the crime without leaving the bar and the bad guy comes to a suitable noir and supernatural end. Other good stories in the book include "Dusted" by Laura Anne Gilman and "Under the Kill and Far Away" by Caitlin Kittredge.

If you like occult stories this book is worth picking up. And by the way, we will have a special feature at this site later in the week about another book of spooky tales." — lbcrimes.blogspot

"Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives will appeal to lovers of horror and fantasy, especially those who follow any of the series on which these tales are based. These stories might even whet readers' appetites to find the full length books that feature the stories' central characters. Monsters of many different stripes and scales lurk through the pages. The stories contain humor, murder and mayhem, some sexual content, and a sprinkling of four letter words. Well written, and with enough variety of characters and plots to keep fans amused in the dark hours." — C M Magazine, Volume XVII Number 30

"Along with providing his own novella, Justin Gustainis pulls together 13 of today’s most talented UF writers to produce a dark and gritty anthology dedicated to occult detectives. The stories features a range of UF cops, PIs and talented sleuths who are the answer to the immortal question, “Who you gonna call?” when things go wrong. What makes this anthology enticing is that it features many familiar faces from established series and pushes a couple of secondary characters into the forefront. A truly excellent collection.

SUMMARY: A sampling of the stories provided give readers further adventures featuring the worlds of Laura Anne Gilman’s Cosa Nostradamus, Simon R. Green’s Nightside, C. T. Adams & Cathy Clamp’s Sazi, Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London and Rachel Caine’s Outcast. It also features the exploits of Gustainis’ Quincy Morris, T.A. Pratt’s Marla Mason, Jackie Kessler’s Jezebel, Tanya Huff’s Tony Foster and Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet. There is plenty of down-and-dirty action as these detectives face threats of the most unusual kind, and handle them with their own inimitable styles." — Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times Magazine

"Tasty bites of dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives is a wonderful collection of urban fantasy short stories. This anthology takes us on numerous paranormal adventures with the intriguing, multifaceted perspective of fourteen hunters and their prey. I enjoyed the diversity of this anthology.

While these short stories all share a common thread, they are also each unique. Take a journey into the bowels of nightmare cities, roam the streets with weres and fae, or pull up a stool at your favorite watering hole. No matter where you turn there be monsters...and those who dare to fight them." — From The Shadows

"Are there really gnomes living in underground sewers? Do they steal and 'dust' little girls? Are there monsters masquerading as humans that kill unborn babies? Who do you contact when you've made a pact with the Devil? Fourteen short stories, edited by Justin Gustainis, explore the possibilities of all things supernatural and embraces the courage and resourcefulness of the occult detectives who protect the world and its inhabitants.

From Kate Conner's Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom to Pete Caldecott's Black London Series, stories of the bizarre, the incredulous and 'down right creepy' come to life in Those Who Fight Monsters. Be warned - it may keep you up past your bedtime.

Urban fantasy, which is the term for this type of storytelling, is relatively new but tales of monsters and monster hunters predate the famed Frankenstein and Dracula. There has always been an interest in the unknown and there have always been writers who scale the pinnacle of their imagination to create horrendous creatures that must be pitted against larger forces and superior intelligence. Gustainis, in this book has brought together fourteen, including himself, excellent storytellers.

I admit this is not normally a book I would read. If the use of raw language offends you, or you have a squeamish stomach you might want to give it a pass. But if you are up for something different - pick up a copy of Those Who Fight Monsters and get to know these incredible occult detectives." — Mystery And Me

"The line up is excellent and the stories are perfect little tastes to whet the appetite for the full series." — All Things Urban Fantasy

"Finished reading THOSE WHO FIGHT MONSTERS ed. by Justin Gustainis. A most enjoyable read. Some authors I'd read, some were new to me. A great way to sample several authors & find some new favorites." — Kay Martinez

"So anyone who visits Amberkatze's Book Blog on a regular basis will know that I rarely give anthologies a good review and usually moan about how I should stop torturing myself by reading them. Once again I took the bait. So many cool authors in one book. How could I resist? Would I get hurt again?

Well this time around I am happy to announce that this anthology could actually be the best I have read, ever! Did you see the line up? A Demon Soccer Mom Hunting story was inside as well as one of my favourite Succubi, Jezebel! An amazing Carrie Vaughn story which I hope is the start of a new series because I would totally love to read more. The best Laura Anne Gilman story I think I have ever read and of course T.A. Pratt! How I have missed you!!! And not forgetting the wonderful editor of this collection, Justin Gustianis. It has been way too long since we saw Quincy and I can't wait for more.

Worth buying! Awesome author selection with stories bursting with paranormal goodness. There are some real treasures in this one and next to no duds. Oh and to top it off the cover is pretty cool as well ;)." — amberkatze.blogspot


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