I was pretty excited to get an ARC of this brand-new book...
Unfortunately, none of the stories included are actually new - I'd read the bulk of the book before. This doesn't mean these aren't good stories... but if you're a fan of many of these authors, as I am, you've probably already read these.
Also, the cover is embarrassingly cheesy. Although, almost worth it, just for the "you are the spawn of Satan" glare I got from some disapproving elderly person on the subway, while reading it.
Still - it makes it look like paranormal erotica. It's not. It's a good, quality, fantasy/horror collection. Four stars, for the quality of the work.


“Medusa’s Child,” Kim Antieau
“Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes,” Lawrence Block
“Hymenoptera,” Michael Blumlein
“She’s Not There,” Pat Cadigan
“My Lady of the Hearth,” Storm Constantine
“Calypso in Berlin,” Elizabeth Hand
“Lady Madonna,” Nancy Holder
“In the Cold, Dark Time,” Joe R. Lansdale
“Nunc Dimittis,” Tanith Lee
“The Girl with Hungry Eyes,” Fritz Leiber
“Tallulah,” Charles de Lint
“The Snake Woman’s Lover,” Catherine Lundoff
“Land of the Lost,” Stewart O’Nan
“The Oval Portrait,” Edgar Allan Poe
“The Hound Lover,” Laura Resnick
“Barbara,” John Shirley
“An Apiary of White Bees,” Lee Thomas
“Close to You,” Steve Rasnic Tem
“The Light That Passes Through You,” Conrad Williams ( )

Although there were some good stories in here, overall the collection was kind of hum-drum. "Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes," by Lawrence Block and "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes" by Fritz Leiber, Jr. were the best. "She's Not There" by Pat Cadigan was probably the worst (I couldn't understand the story). ( )

Author: Joe R. Lansdale (Contributor)+ others
Published By: Prime Books
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Blog For: GMTA

Review:

Obession: In the Cold, Dark Time, by Joe R. Landale was quite some read that was indeed interesting. The story was from one of the Tales of Irresistible Desire. This is one of the 19 collections of well written storytellers....'dark obessions.' Some of these stories may even be considered some type of fantasy, horror, paranormal and even some anthologies.

Be ready for a well written read:

“Medusa’s Child,” Kim Antieau

“Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes,” Lawrence Block

“Hymenoptera,” Michael Blumlein

“She’s Not There,” Pat Cadigan

“My Lady of the Hearth,” Storm Constantine

“Calypso in Berlin,” Elizabeth Hand

“Lady Madonna,” Nancy Holder

“In the Cold, Dark Time,” Joe R. Lansdale

This author story was just a healing through one dying person... giving words of encouragement to another WWI soldier who was a patient. For he was needed to help care for the children. Later, he was able to help with kind words ...another patient (soldier) who was a pilot. He told the solder that he "would get out of my bed and go back to the front lines to help the refugee children, and after the war he would help those who remained."
.................................................................

"I think again of the old man and the life he gave me back
and the mercy he gives the children through me."

I found this a very touching story that I really enjoyed and I would recommend you pick up this read.

“Nunc Dimittis,” Tanith Lee

“The Girl with Hungry Eyes,” Fritz Leiber

“Tallulah,” Charles de Lint

“The Snake Woman’s Lover,” Catherine Lundoff

“Land of the Lost,” Stewart O’Nan

“The Oval Portrait,” Edgar Allan Poe

“The Hound Lover,” Laura Resnick

“Barbara,” John Shirley

“An Apiary of White Bees,” Lee Thomas

“Close to You,” Steve Rasnic Tem

“The Light That Passes Through You,” Conrad Williams

I did notice that a few of these stories I had already read but still they were good in this collection. Be ready for some "irrational extremes, involves us in dangerous liaisons and fatal attractions . . . obsession consumes. Enticing, compulsively readable tales from nineteen masterful storytellers."

If you are into "Sirens, demon lovers, femme fatales, and others compel our love, drawing us into realms of forbidden desire and uncontrollable passion" you have come to the right place to enjoy a good read. ( )