A Look at "Cold to the Touch" and Simon Strantzas

Simon Strantzas is not a very well known author of weird fiction right now, but that should soon be changing. Before the year is out, his second collection of short fiction entitled Cold to the Touch will hit the shelves and virtual book stands, bound by the skilled hands of Tartarus Press, providing aficionados of the weird the chance to examine his work. His first collection, Beneath the Surface, gained excellent reviews from fans of established "New Weird" leaders like Thomas Ligotti. Peers in the field of weird literature also responded favorably, as in this more notable review of his first collection by longtime spinner of strange strange stories, D.F. Lewis.

Despite reading a couple tales by Strantzas, I made the rare blunder of not buying Beneath the Surface before its limited print run was exhausted. As the years to come will likely prove, this was a serious mistake, but one I'll be making amends for by purchasing Stantzas' new collection as well as a copy of Beneath the Surface when it...surfaces.

His is a stark new voice in the black chambers of the weird underground that ought to make followers of Ligotti, Aickman, and Lovecraft bolt up and take notice. It's clear that Strantzas is a student of the rich atmosphere and the bizarre subtleties of the dark scribes mentioned. The author's insightful blog, featuring information about his own work as well as other weird artists, may be viewed here.

-Grim Blogger