The Existential Loss: A Horror Compendium

The Existential Loss is a horror compendium containing five unrelated short stories covering each stage of the process of dealing with loss in a variety of ways. The subjects range from spatial horror through the spectrum to cosmic terror. Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. Stage 1. A priest finds his faith is put to the test when a cult rises to power claiming to have proof of the one true God. Father Ennis and his young ward Natalie head out to the cult's compound seeking answers in a crusade to win back lost souls to their ever decreasing flock. Stage 2. Survivors of a mysterious plague may have found their salvation. But the price they have to pay may not be worth it. Holed up in the ruined remains of a secure government building Sarah and her best friend try to overcome the hardships of coming back from an infected, almost undead state. Stage 3. A man faces an inner struggle when he discovers his soul may be on the line. With terrifying images of his past and cruel, torturous glimpses of what awaits him in Hell; Joshua tries to find solace and answers with the other residents of his worn-down building who have been experiencing the same bizarre premonitions. Stage 4. In the middle of the Atlantic a young woman finds her true life calling. Vicky has found love and a sense of meaning cleaning oil slicks on "The Jord" with her new Eco-Warrior friends. However deep below the waves things are stirring that could change her world view forever. Stage 5. A kid finds acceptance and comes to peace with who he is. A new job means new experiences for a shy and introverted kid. However when he gets lost in a maze with no rational logic to it he looks inwards for his answers.

About the Author

Dave Charlesworth is a horror author from Liverpool, England. Naturally his inspiration comes from fellow Liverpudlian Clive Barker. Barker's early SplatterPunk aesthetics were a driving factor in Charlesworth's growth as a writer. For the moment his work consists of short stories and novellas but as he grows more comfortable with the idea of writing full time his ambition has grown too and he's looking to move on to full length novels. In his spare time he's also an illustrator, amateur film maker and a seasoned drinker.

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