Blood Lite II: Overbite [Paperback]

Another great anthology, this time from the Horror Writers Association. The theme for this anthology is dark humor, which is one of my favorites! Dark humor can make even a horrifying subject enjoyable, and some of these stories are so dark that they border on twisted!

Don't think there's a weak story in this collection, but some of them just aren't my taste. I can still appreciate them though, so think this is a great collection! My favorites are Dark Carbuncle by Kevin J Anderson and Janis Ian (a rock & roll singer's worst nightmare); Tails by John R Little (I always wanted a tail!); and A Wing and a Prayer by Sharyn McCrumb (college dean appoints an unusual dept chairman). And we get a great story featuring Hope and Karl from the wonderful Kelley Armstrong! While Clay and Elena are my favorites, Hope and Karl are pretty good too.

So if you want a taste of some darkly humorous tales, then I can highly recommend this collection! There's a little bit of everything in this anthology, so you're sure to find something you like!

Good, short stories in this anthology. Loved the Mythos stories. Not every story is vampires.

Well written & edited. Nice to have new fiction in a collection like this (31 stories), especially being introduced to authors (new to me, at least).

Blood Lite II: Overbite Edited by Kevin J Anderson

Reviewing anthologies is a tricky thing. Reviewing one that consists solely of writers from the HWA...well, it's not a problem unless you're a fledgling member wondering how unlikely it is that you come away without alienating somebody. Regular readers of my reviews have come to expect an honest appraisal of the tomes I peruse and wax expositorily about. In plain speak: I don't pull punches regardless if you are a friend or contributor to my own label. And I don't hold back praise just because I don't like you.
Front to back, Blood Lite II: Overbite, edited by Kevin J Anderson has something for everybody. There are names you will be familiar with and others that you will be glad you were introduced to in thei cornucopia of darkly humorous tales. Personally, I'd buy this book just because of the cover.

Dark Carbuncle by the editor, Kevin J Anderson and Janis Ian, while not a pure zombie story, is a chuckle-worthy tale that will make you feel sorry for your favorite rockstar/band.

Death and Taxes by Heather Graham (Not Rollergirl from Boogie Nights...stupid me, I checked.) was fun in an icky way.

Table for Two by Jeff Ryan was one of my top five favorites and not recommended reading if you're sipping a bowl of soup while thinking that it would be a good idea to get in some light reading during your lunch break.

Treatment by J.A. Konrath was my introduction to a writer I've read about, but never actually read. The highest compliment I can ever pay is that this makes me want to read more of his stuff. (And there's lots!)

Dead Clown Séance by Christopher Welch. Undead Clowns. What else is there to say?

The Day the Devil Swallowed a Heapin' Helpin' of Pride at the Beaulahville Gospel Jubilee by Scott Nicholson certainly wins longest title. Also, it was enjoyably snarky.

Piecemaker by Don D'Ammassa Smart. Clever. And you could hear the orchestra go" "Duh-duh-duh-DUHH" at the end.

Good Breeding by Lucien Soulban screamed with Monty Python humor and was my personal favorite.

Tails by John R. Little actually made me more sad than happy.

Dog Tired (of the Drama!) by L.A. Banks was a good story...not my fave...but certainly worthy.

A Sweet Girl for Todd by Mark Onspauch would have to be a close second if I was asked to chose a favorite.

Tastes Like Chicken by Jordan Summers is so much fun, I read it twice.

Presumptuous Beast Throws Sumptuous Feast by Mike Baron had me humming Ted Nugent songs which has nothing to do with the story.

Bad German by Edward Bryant was delightfully yucky.

The Halloween War by Brian J. Hatcher was a purely modern tale that had a clever end.

Oh, the Ho-Ho Horror by Joel A. Sutherland was another story that bordered more on sad but finished with a Hallmark card ending.

The Unfortunate Persistence of Harold Francis Beamish by Aaron Polson. I liked the story, but I think it was more dark, less humor.

Dick and Larry by D. L. Snell had me scratching my bald head until the end.

Son of...a Bitch! By Sam W. Anderson was fun, funny, and most deserving to be converted into an IFC short film.

Her Lucky Day by Allison Brennan was another one of the offerings heavy on hark but light on humor. Good...just not so much in the way of smile inducing.

A Wing and a Prayer by Sharyn McCrumb reminded me of Tales From the Crypt...and I loved Tales From the Crypt.

Barewolf by Daniel Pyle. This is worth a snicker...especially for the guys.

American Banshee by Eric James Stone. Again, good with the dark but I missed the humor...or didn't get it.

Epicurean by Amy Sterling Casil. Another Tales From the Crypt comment.

The Ghoul Next Door by Nancy Kilpatrick would make an ideal double-feature with the previous tale.

Daycare of the Damned by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. Okay, I won't say Tales From the Crypt here. How about Creepshow?

Season Tickets by Derek Clendening. All you non-sports types won't get it, but I totally love the ending.

The Close Shave by Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn had a charm to it that I couldn't resist.

Shaggy Dog Story by Steve Rasnic Tem was not one of my favorites, but it is still worth a read through.

Eight-Legged Vengence by Jeff Strand. This comedy of errors was an awesome set-up for the finale. I kept thinking of Trevor and Timmy doing this on a Whitest Kids We Know sketch.

Lucifer's Daughter by Kelly Armstrong was the horror equivalent of a Romantic comedy. Cue Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (the version from ten or fifteen years ago please.)

While uneven in what some might consider dark humor, all of the stories possess an obvious quality that makes this a good read from start to finish. If this is indicative of what this franchise has to offer, then it should be a regular addition to your library.