Tribulations

In the third short story collection by Richard Thomas, Tribulations, the stories cover a wide range of dark fiction--from fantasy, science fiction and horror, to magical realism, neo-noir, and transgressive fiction. The common thread that weaves these tragic tales together is suffering and sorrow, and the ways we emerge from such heartbreak stronger, more appreciative of what we have left--a spark of hope enough to guide us though the valley of death. Fireflies and wolves, ghosts and golems, tentacled beasts and demonic spirits--these psychological thrillers will hypnotize you as they slide the blade between your ribs, up close and personal, whispering in your ear as you gasp and pull them closer. Tribulations includes 25 short stories--including two that were long-listed for Best Horror of the Year. There are also five original full-page illustrations by Luke Spooner. "The stories Richard Thomas tells are dark rooms. Sometimes they are filled with terrors--ghosts and jealousies and strange beasts. Sometimes they are empty. And this might be the most terrifying thing of all. At times sharp and biting and other times dreamy and lyrical, Thomas is a powerful writer and Tribulations is a stellar collection."--Kristi DeMeester, author of Split Tongues"Tribulations is a dark fiction collection for all readers. No matter your preference: this book ducks, dives, and bounces between genres like an Olympic skier taking on a hillside of slalom. Rarely is reading a collection straight-through as eclectic (or purely enjoyable) an experience. If you're not already a fan of Thomas: prepare to be."--AdamCesare, author of Zero Lives Remaining

About the Author

Richard Thomas is the author of six books-Disintegration and Breaker (Random House Alibi), Transubstantiate (Otherworld Publications); two short story collections, Staring Into the Abyss (Kraken Press) and Herniated Roots (Snubnose Press); and one novella of The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). With over 100 stories published, his credits include Cemetery Dance, PANK, Gargoyle, Weird Fiction Review, Midwestern Gothic, Arcadia, storySouth, Qualia Nous, Chiral Mad 2 & 3, Gutted and Shivers VI. He has won contests at ChiZine and One Buck Horror, and has received five Pushcart Prize nominations to date. He is also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk and Dennis Widmyer. In his spare time, he is a columnist and teacher at LitReactor, an instructor at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and Editor-in-Chief at Dark House Press. His agent is Paula Munier at Talcott Notch. For more information, visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com.

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