REVIEWING RC MATHESON'S ZOOPRAXIS
REVIEWING ZOOPRAXIS
A Collection by Richard Christian Matheson
Written by Richard Christian Matheson
Published by Gauntlet Press
Helping to bring us
closer to the heart of each tale is cover artist extraordinaire, Harry O’Morris.
Harry’s black and white designs provides a cohesive yet subtle visual
interpretation to kick off each story. As a bonus, the author includes a
personal anecdote coinciding with the origin of each tale. The additions of Harry’s artwork combined
with RC’s introductions tied in well with the overall experience of what this
collection clearly sought to do in the first place: to take your senses on a
journey along the rugged mental terrain of a true master of terror.
As with any literary
collection, mileage will always vary and while this collection is unlikely to
threaten that moniker, you’ll be hard pressed not to be impressed all the same
with each entry read. Even those which didn’t quite work for me were so well
written and from the heart they still managed to capture my imagination and
desire for more.
Reading through this
collection, it felt as though RC wasn’t so much writing to be read as he was
writing to explore the many facets of good and evil hiding beneath the surface
of a complex, fascinating mind. Even when the author’s narrative hints of hope
and goodness in the world he so flawlessly portrays, such underlying good is
overshadowed by layers of ‘what ifs’ and ‘why nots,’ all presented as only a
master of dark illusion can. Though some entries may come across as more musing
than standardized story by way of length and style, each entry helps complete
the spectrum of dark poetic to outright terror, in a language that’s as honest
as it is captivating.
The collection aptly
opens with How To Edit, a story disguised as an essay for minimalism. RC reels us
in with a velvet rope then forces our eyes wide open as he peels back the skin
of his narrator. We soon bear witness to a man so painfully aware of his own existence
and the exact space it fills that we can only wonder how far he must go before
his image of perfection can be achieved.
My personal favourite
of the bunch, Transfiguration (from 2011 The Best Horror of the Year Volume
3),
provides the haunting tale of an ice trucker whose destination proves to be
closer to himself than he could ever have envisioned, or feared. This one had a
distinct Twilight Zone-esque feel to it, complete with an ending which
resonated long after I’d read the last line. Another story, Slaves of Nowhere, offers
a story that’s perfectly poised to strike at the heart. Much like the cognac
drinking narrator of this dark gem, this one’s written to be savoured and
repeated. But don’t expect to enjoy the outcome. Definitely one of the heavier emotional
hitters in a collection where every piece is a fine contender. Stories like
Last Words and Infomercial! RC showcases his flare for the macabre while teaching us once again that not everything is as it seems no matter how eloquently dressed up it may be.
Impactful, point
blank and constantly daring, Zoopraxis provides a lasting adventure through RC
Matheson’s collection of his inner most thoughts and demons. Suffice to say I
can’t wait to see into which dark and fantastic world they take him - and us -
next.
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