REVIEWS
CRITICISM AND ACCOLADES
SCIENCEFICTION.COM
Freaks Anon
"Darst works his magic in horror once again, this time expanding into the realm of superheroes in an exciting mash-up that fans of both comic books and the paranormal are sure to enjoy!"
Stuart Conover
FEARSHOP.COM, HORROR PODCAST
Freaks Anon
"I had so much fun reading Freaks Anon. Being a huge Alan Moore fan, I’m always hoping to read something intelligent when it comes to superheroes. I crave material like that…and with its great writing and believable characters, Freaks Anon nails it. It’s a fanboy’s dream. I once read that you should only keep the books you will read again, and I’ve tried to live by that. I will definitely keep this book."
- Frank Hrin
RICHARD HAWKINS
Freaks Anon
"As with Dead Things, Matt Darst has created another sublime world. Freaks Anon is a dark, weird fairy tale of monsters and heroes. Excellent."
Author of The Last Plague and The Last Outpost
CONFESSIONS OF A REVIEWER
Freaks Anon
"Free flowing. Perfectly paced from start to finish. Imaginative. Exhilarating. Thrilling. Fun. Scary in parts. Freaks Anon really has it all. One of the most wonderful rides I have had in reading a book in a long, long time."
- Nev Murray, Confessions of a Reviewer
SHOCK TOTEM PUBLICATIONS
Freaks Anon
"From the long and rich history of the villains to the honest and realistic depiction of the heroes, Freaks Anon is a fun and splendid adventure with splashes of horror/sci-fi and action/adventure. It is well written and whip smart."
- John Boden, Author of Jedi Summer with the Magnetic Kid
ASTRADAEMON.BLOGSPOT.COM
Insurance, a Short Story
"The story is a blend of science fiction and crime drama, and well-done at that. Every bit of this time travel journey came with a surprise, avoiding the typical clichés and plot devices. Usually, I have trouble following the timelines of stories in this sub-genre (no pun intended), but Darst does an excellent job of connecting the dots for the reader to travel along."
Ursula K. Raphael, Book Blogger
2012 FINALIST
Dead Things
eFestival of Words for Best Horror Fiction
JOE MCKINNEY
Dead Things
“Matt Darst is a truly original talent. His quick pacing, encyclopedic grasp of literature and history, and spellbinding mix of social commentary and jaw-dropping action make Dead Things a first-rate triumph. With a dash of Bradbury, hints of Huxley and Orwell, and heavy dollops of smart pop culture, Darst is taking the zombie novel in a really cool new direction, and you’re going to love every page of it. Hang on, if you can, because this guy has written a future history that will rattle every nerve you’ve got.”
Author of Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead and recipient of
multiple Bram Stoker Awards
DAVID MOODY
Dead Things
“A first-class zombie story which takes place in a beautifully realized post-apocalyptic world. In many ways a spiritual cousin to Matheson’s classic I am Legend, this is a fantastic and surprising horror tale. Highly recommended.”
Author of Them or Us, Autumn, and Trust
BUYZOMBIE.COM
Dead Things
“A fabulous debut novel. Darst excels in creating a unique vision of the aftermath of America after the dead begin to rise. The characters are well written, and I found myself getting emotionally invested. Darst took special care with this book, and it absolutely shows. The zombie action is used with razor sharp efficiency. This is a great read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
Chip Fehd
IAIN MCKINNON
Dead Things
“Matthew Darst is a writer who shares my Romero-esque love of zombies. Ever true to the vision of the zombie holocaust brought to us by Night of the Living Dead, Darst brings the collapse of civilization up to date. Darst brings us a startling real glimpse of the cause of the zombie contagion.”
Author of Domain of the Dead and Remains of the Dead
THE DEEPENING WORLD OF FICTION
Dead Things
“Matt Darst…writes masterfully in the genre and fine art of zombie horror, and Dead Things is the zombie novel for the rest of us. You know…the readers who do not really ‘get’ the deep dark obsession with the ghouls? Well, even if you have a subtle disdain for anything flesh-eating, do yourself a favor and pick up Dead Things. It— in a word — is brilliant. The plotline is perfect, the characters flawless and the solution is so simple that it is entirely plausible. Even zombie-purists cannot help but enjoy this book that takes the reader off the beaten path of zombification. A fresh twist creates an a-ha moment that the horror reader is sure to appreciate.”
Sylvia Cochran
SHOCKTOTEM.COM
Dead Things
“Darst uses a number of nifty maneuvers to keep this a fresh offering. The dialogue is smart and witty. The science behind the story is very well thought out. Integral to the plot are zombies; however, it is more than a zombie novel. It’s a novel about human beings, a novel where the monsters we become are far more frightening than the things shambling from the graves to gnaw on our flesh. A well-written, smartly entertaining debut.”
John Boden