Lovably Dead

Lovably Dead
Lovably Dead eBook Cover, written by Lex Allen
Author(s)	Lex Allen
Publisher	Amazon Digital Services Smashwords
Publication date	November 15, 2011
Media type	eBook
Length	65 Pages
ISBN	9781310229824
ASIN	B0068QWSY6

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

Lovably Dead Reissue eBook Cover, written by Lex Allen

Lovably Dead is an anthology eBook written by Lex Allen. The work is a collection of this author's short stories about supernatural beings. In this work the story Doctor Gavin’s Patient has a Succubus character named Rory Morrigan.

Overview

• Title: Lovably Dead
• Author: Lex Allen
• Published By: Amazon Digital Services & Smashwords
• Length: 65 Pages
• Format: eBook
• ASIN: B0068QWSY6
• ISBN: 9781310229824
• Publishing Date: November 15, 2011

Plot Summary

• Peripheral Vision - Have you ever noticed a movement, just there, from the corner of your eye; but, when you turned to see it more clearly, it was gone? Most people have, and everyone shrugs it off as their mind playing tricks on them. There's nothing to worry about, nothing at all; or is there?

• Doctor Gavin’s Patient - Among horror story characters and villains there are creatures that excite the sensual senses. These evil beings are sexier than vampires, cleaner and smarter than zombies and more human than werewolves, for one thing. Aside from that, I don't think horror writers have given them the respect they deserve. (This work has a Succubus appearing as one of the characters)

• Reapers - One of my favorite, best remembered axioms states, "I don't know what I don't know." It kind of sums up the inexplicable; things that go bump in the night without apparent cause. People die and the examining doctors don't always know why; they won't admit it, but they really don't know. What happens to a dead person's soul? Is there really such a thing as a soul? Can it be bartered for, sold or stolen? Well, I don't know what I don't know, which makes this a possibility.

• Black Converse - Won inclusion into a horror anthology that was never published a couple years ago, so I could hardly exclude the story here. I can't recall the name of the story that triggered me to write this one, but it was long ago and far away; and, really, only one similar detail of that story comes through in this one. If you are a long time reader of horror stories, you might notice that one instance of similarity (at the very end).

• The Solution - I know exactly where the idea for this story came from…Stephen King's, "The Long Walk"; 'nough said.

• Lovably Dead - A writer friend made mention, a few months ago, of a publisher that was looking for unique zombie stories. She never got around to mentioning the publisher's name and address, though. No harm done - I didn't ask. I think you'll find this one to be refreshingly unique. It's a bit long in comparison to the others in this collection, but - hey, it's the title story!

Book Review

The following review was originally published by Tera on her Blog, A Succubi's Tale on July 31, 2016

As usual with anthologies, I will comment on the succubus work and then the collection as a whole, giving a rating for the succubus story and the work overall.

Doctor Gavin has a problem, actually two of them. One is in his mind, the other is sitting in front of him. One he can’t get rid of, the other… well, she doesn’t want to leave without getting a little piece of him, or more.

What I liked the most about this short story is how there’s a real focus on Rory, the succubus of the work, being seductive. There’s no horror, no blood, nothing that takes away from her being a seductress, being a succubus and using her abilities to ensnare. There aren’t any horns or tail, mind you, but there’s a really well told succubus character that has one thing on her mind.

Beyond Rory, the other character in the work, who I shan’t name or reveal much of, is really a lot of fun, all things considered, and I would have liked to know a lot more about them than was revealed.

The thing about this story which makes me wonder is everything that isn’t told, vaguely hinted at. Who is Rory exactly? What is her past? There’s not a lot of time spent in the telling of that as the work quickly moves from introduction to seduction. That’s not a bad thing, it is done really well and I enjoyed the turns of phrase and Rory’s ensnaring tone and teasing. I just really would have liked to know more about her.

I could well see a novel written around Rory, about what happens to her. I’d love to see that, I think it would be an amazing read. But I will have to settle for this little taste and tease.

Four our of five pitchforks.

The balance of the works in the collection are all written quite well and tell some varied and interesting stories too. But like my thoughts about Rory’s story, there’s a real feeling when all is said and done that there’s more to be told.

I will admit that really only Rory’s story held me, the other themes were interesting, but not what I was looking for. But that doesn’t matter because the works themselves are captivating in their own ways, in their characters and more.

If there is one single thing to be taken from this collection, it is that the author needs to take these little pieces and build upon them. There’s a lot that could be done with these concepts, ideas and more.

For the work as a whole, I’ll give it three and a half out of five pitchforks.

Really all of the stories in this anthology could be made into novels should the author put their mind to doing so. I will admit to being biased, but Rory’s past, her story, would be something quite interesting to know, even if things end in the way they did here.

External Links

• This work in Kindle Format at Amazon.com
• This work in Various Formats at Smashwords.com