Great book. A must read!

In this, the latest in the long running "Hell" series from Janet Morris, you are treated to a variety of wonderful tales of torment featuring some of history's most nefarious characters. However, this novel isn't just a gore fest (although of that there is plenty), but a meditation on torment and the human condition. All of the contributing authors take the time to provide nuggets of wisdom as well as social commentary in their efforts. It's also entertaining how this series of stories created by separate individuals also seems to have a arcing theme which provides a serendipitous level of meaning to the whole collection. This is a book that you'll be reading again and again.

The Wager by Janet and Chris Morris--This is a delightfully scathing criticism of modern warfare written in a Homeric style that only underscores the lack of honor and softness of the modern battle monger. The image of privileged, arrogant souls willfully driving themselves to ruin as a result of their own hubris and blindness is almost as heartbreaking as it is mildly amusing. The tone of this story is especially artful as it could have drifted easily into satire and become a mockery of the very point it was trying to make. Too heavy handed and the audience would drift away, but too light and the message is lost. Janet and Chris Morris do a wonderful job of navigating these opposing forces and the result is entertainment that packs a thoughtful punch.

The Cure by Chris Morris is so wide sweeping and boldly lyrical that it must be read aloud to be truly appreciated. I enjoyed the images of the struggling poets Milton, Shakespeare and Marlowe as they wrestled with the prospect of oblivion, all under the ominous, ever present shadow of Satan spreading his demonic wings. Satan offers nothing more than the illusion of salvation, delighting as the hungry souls lurch for the false reward even while fundamentally understanding they're doomed to suffer another trick. Satan is again set at a perfect note in this tale, declarative of how the human weakness will manifest, confident and secure, yet mysterious, at least, until the whole tale is completed.

Grim by Andrew P. Weston--With a story like Grim it's easy to see why Andrew P. Weston is one of the fastest rising authors in the Perseid stable. A first person account of an errand of the grim reaper himself, Grim is a fast paced noir effort that reminded me of the Clyde section in "Sin City." Weston does an excellent job maintaining the forward action while filling in the back story. This is a very satisfying tale that leaves you wanting more.

The Right Man for the Job by Deborah Koren is a story about the continuing adventures of Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp in Hell. A new plague in hell sets the stage for a thoughtful meditation on the concept of torment. In this case, that torment is felt by a doctor who kills everyone he attempts to cure. The Bat Masterson/Wyatt Earp tale felt like a continuation from the story within the last Hell volume, and it's nice to see these chapters line up as a kind of book within a series.

In Memory by Nancy Asire a host of rodents has brought plague to Hellview estates, home of Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, Atilla the Hun, and others. When plague threatens to take the life of Napoleons consort Marie, only the unexpected arrival of field medic Dominique-Jean Larrey can provide a spark of hope.

What Price Oblivion? by R. E. Hinkle begins with a brutal murder and continues to escalate in pace and tension. When Charles Baggs suffers a fleeting moment of pity, he can expect to be dealt with harshly in Hell. There is quite a bit of nuance in this well-crafted tale that ends on a cruel punishment that comes in the form of an unexpected regeneration by the infamous Undertaker.

In the Shadowlands by Dr. Richard Groller. This is a complex tale that finds Zeno and Edison working on a time-perterbation detection network to probe the nature of infinity in Hell. Houdini also makes an appearance, even taking the time to perform a bit of slight of hand with the ferryman of Charon himself.

Let Us Kill the Spirit of Gravity by Matthew Kirshenblatt. Nietsche works up enough courage to go and visit Lilith for some carnal reprieve, but gets more than he bargains for when he utters a name that penetrates to a soft spot on the queen of the demonesses. Before the story is over, a hydra will be called upon and Nietsche will be tamed.

Pavlovian Slip by Bill Snider. Pavlov and Freud have a series of dialogues while intermittently pausing to watch Pavlov's trained house zombie devour unwanted guests. This tale is especially satisfying, and Pavlov is gifted a great closing line.

Hell on a Technicality by Joe Bonadonna shows Victor Frankenstein's brain residing in the body of the monster he created. Likewise the brain of the monster, Adam, resides in Victor's human body. As Frankenstein lances boils on the face of Chicago gangster Johnny Fortune, the two damned souls muse on whether or not the man-made monster, Adam, is in hell by mistake. Other historical figures get involved in the question such as Quasimodo and Aristotle who debate whether the soul resides in the head or the heart.

Convalescence by Michael H. Hanson features Calamity Jane in a retirement home populated by damned souls that tormented the elderly. Plague abounds, and catches up with Jane in the end.

Hell Noon by Paul Freeman features Doc Holiday and once again Calamity Jane. They are stuck in a gambler's hell at a table that also features Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Doc is cursed by the fact that he always wins, which steals the danger of gambling and the joy of victory. However, in Doc's final gambit of the tale, the odds come crashing down.

The Judas Book by Jack William Finley features Frank Nitti and Elliot Ness. The two of them go to visit Dr. Walter Freeman, a lobotomist with spikes protruding from his eyes. Freeman has a plan for escaping Hell based on the belief that damned souls only endure torment because they themselves believe they deserve it. The escape plan, however, turns out to be the greatest of deceptions, with Judas himself as an overseer.

Writer's Block by Janet and Chris Morris features Shakespeare and Marlowe sharing a moment of clarity in the eternal battle against Satan. Shakespeare's power is such that he is afforded a certain relative comfort in damnation, and this story ends on a hopeful note that is a fitting finale to this collection.

Also included is an excerpt from Andrew P. Weston's upcoming novel.

Doctor's in Hell is a tremendous collection of tales that will horrify, delight, and make you pause and reflect. You might even discover some writers whose other works you will wish to explore. Highly recommended.

Great read! Thrills and chills galore. It's not my normal type of read. Only because I simply am not interested in reading shorts, anthologies, or novella's. This book caught my eye with the cover and title. And reading the description... I went for it. It didn't let me down. *Note: I was given the cop for an honest review. Thank you!!! 👍😀