Horror in the Eclipse
Book trailer, new releases, and other stuff from this universe
A total solar eclipse is the perfect time for disturbing horror. I know because Stephen King himself has insisted upon it. And by that, I mean he has two novels where a father molests his daughter during a solar eclipse (spoiler alert: Gerald’s Game and Dolores Claiborne). To be fair, those stories were originally to be part of a themed series called In the Path of the Eclipse, but that only serves to underline my point. A solar eclipse is an awe-inspiring occurrence, a rare moment of galactic beauty that reminds us of our cosmic insignificance even better than the complete works of H.P. Lovecraft can. Some people believe the alignment of the moon, sun, and stars influence our individual futures, but hey, some people believe the world is flat too. So much for what people believe in.
I certainly do not subscribe to astrology, crystals, moon water, and all the other voodoo that comes with them. Anything that requires faith due to a complete absence of evidence is simply not for me, nor is the blathering of those who try to convince me otherwise. But while I don’t see celestial phenomena as a deciding factor in our respective destinies, I still relish in the surrealist nature of such events, and the horror writer in me can’t help but tingle whenever they occur. Sunshine being interrupted by the moon is spellbinding. Darkness where light should be is foreboding.
Just because I don’t believe in magic doesn’t mean I don’t love it in fiction. Whether creating or absorbing them, I savor scary stories influenced by alchemy and a fear of the unknown. Even some of my earliest published works reflect this, such as my short stories “From the Storms, a Daughter” and “Skyscraper,” and my most celebrated work, Gone to See the River Man and its sequel Along the River of Flesh, exist in their own unnerving horror dimension.
I am the merciless god of the dark universes I create.
So what new terrors will be born on April 8th, 2024, when the solar eclipse sweeps over the United States and other parts of the world? I’m hoping the experience tickles the muse that crawls through the black labyrinth of my mind like some diabolical hobgoblin. But while whatever creative projects I concoct next Monday will take time to gain their full flesh, a new Kristopher Triana book is already prepared and sits cooling on the windowsill until this Friday, when it will be released just in time for the eclipse.
The Dark Embrace contains two brand new novellas of extreme horror romance. One is The Color of Blood by Mona Kabbani, author of The Bell Chime and Vanilla. The other is Because You’re Mine, which I wrote. You can read more about it in my previous newsletter.
This special hardback is signed by both authors and limited to just 100 copies. It comes with a collectible bookmark and some dark romance stickers. There is also a bloody syringe pen to go with Because You’re Mine (about a killer nurse and the demented organist she works for) and artist charms to go with The Color of Blood (about a violent painter and the mysterious woman he falls for).
Pre-orders begin this Friday, April 5th, at noon EST. This is a TRIANAHORROR exclusive and will not be sold anywhere else, not even at convention appearances. We expect these to sell out quickly, so mark your calendar and set your alarm, and bookmark my website:
I’m so lucky to have fans like you. Really, I mean that. If you’re reading this, know that it is greatly appreciated. I’m often tagged in book reviews on social media, with many readers producing cool photos and inventive videos. Recently I was a returning guest on The Dark Mind Podcast (stay tuned for the episode). The host, Vince Midgard, surprised me with an incredible fan trailer for my survival horror novel, The Old Lady. It perfectly captures the nature of the book. Whether you’ve read yet or not, you should check it out.
Currently reading: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. After discussing books that blew my mind in this TikTok video, I asked readers to recommend ones to me. This one stood out. It’s a much-celebrated novel that comes highly recommended by readers I trust, and so far, I’m digging its plot, which involves astrophysics and lost identity.
Currently watching: Lately I’ve revisited some quality film noir, including The Killing, a superb crime drama from Stanley Kubrick (director of The Shining, Dr. Strangelove, and A Clockwork Orange), and co-written with legendary crime novelist Jim Thompson (author of The Killer Inside Me, The Getaway, and the exceptional Pop. 1280). I highly recommend this to fans of early Tarantino. For a film made in the 1950s, it holds up extremely well while also offering modern audiences a unique look at this bygone era (nearly 70 years ago). The technique of following multiple characters as they pull off a heist, and having their out-of-sequence timelines overlap, is something fans of Pulp Fiction will surely appreciate, provided they don’t turn up their noses at black and white. And man… that ending! I literally gasped.
Other quality noirs I recently spent time with include the Robert Mitchum classics Farewell, My Lovely and The Friends of Eddie Coyle, and what must be my hundredth viewing of Angel Heart, a movie I credit as a huge inspiration. It too has aged well since its 1987 debut, and is a glowing example of successfully melding horror with another genre. Atmospheric, visually arresting, expertly acted, chillingly scored, and featuring the most shocking ending I’ve ever seen in a movie, this is a film horror fans shouldn’t sleep on. And you may not sleep so well after watching it.
Currently listening to: Angelo Badalamenti and Barry Adamson, which pair well with dark film noir and horror stories alike. Check out the score to Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me or the album Moss Side Story. Save the epic Bonnie Tyler tune for the day of the eclipse (turn around).
Until next time, keep reading and watching the skies, and try to be happy.
Your pal,
Kris
I've been watching some of the 100 best Noir films of all time lately and doing a review of each on my Patreon. The Killing was one of the better movies I've watched so far. My goal is to watch and review at least half of those on the list.