Winner of the British Fantasy Award "Best Novella" 2006!


The Mask Behind the Face by Stuart Young
(0-9538598-3-5; 80pp; £4.99 pbk)

Some people hide behind masks.
And some people don't even realise they're wearing one.

Craig Warner thought things were bad when he found out he suffered from a brain disease. But when the visions start his world really goes to hell.

Forced to journey into the twisted labyrinth of his own dying mind Craig confronts the warping of his psyche and the whole of reality. Haunted and paranoid, he struggles to find answers, always fearing that he will never discover the truth, just another mask behind the face.

Accompanying the title novella are three dark short stories, two of which were previously published to acclaim in the UK horror magazine Nasty Piece of Work, the third is new to this collection.

cover illustration and design by Ben Baldwin

"No one can accuse Stuart Young of avoiding the big issues - with insight and verve, he tackles head on the existence of God, the mystery of human consciousness and the transformative effects of psychedelic drugs. Recommended." Mark Chadbourn, author of Queen of Sinister

"Stuart Young deftly weaves a chilling, atmospheric tale, packed with sharp, biting prose, haunting imagery, and healthy doses of paranoia and wry humor. Don't make any plans for the weekend, because you'll read this in one sitting. Emotional, brilliant and scary as hell."
Brian Keene, author of City of the Dead

"... an undisputed talent... a very promising writer endowed with a chameleon-like
artistic nature." Mario Guslandi, www.horrorworld.org

“… a splendid novella skilfully rendered by Young… This is horror fiction as it should be: real, confrontational, yet simple, honest and intimate… you’d be a fool not to buy this.”
Gary McMahon, Whispers of Wickedness

"... intriguing and well told..."
David Howe, Shivers Magazine #119

"... [explores] human vulnerability and corruption in a new and extremely disturbing way... A stunning collection." Lesley Mazey, The Eternal Night

“[Mask] is an engaging and well written story, brimful of believable characters, intriguing concepts and a satisfying ambivalence about matters metaphysical … a very strong collection from a writer who shows real promise.” Peter Tennant, The Third Alternative #42

"It's wonderful. A great page-flipper and yet so much more: truly terrifying in its denouement, and that final line is a monster! Like William Hope Hodgson dragged into the latter-day: one of the best I've read in a long while." Gary Fry, Author of The Impelled & Other Head Trips

 

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