Superb collection of truly original stories

These are some of the freshest and most astonishing short stories I have read in my 40+ years. They defy categorization, as most contain elements of fantasy, horror, surrealism, and mystery; but all are rooted in a tradition of emotional realism. Many critics have pointed out that these stories would be just as effective with the fantastical elements removed, which is totally true and totally misses the point; because it is the very element of the fantastical and uncanny that sets these stories in a category of their own and makes reading then such a joy. These are amazing tales that will live in your mind long after you have finished them. I strongly encourage everyone to give this collection (as well as Ballingrud's excellent new collection "Wounds") a try. You will not be disappointed.

4 people found this helpful

Simply Brilliant

I had the opportunity to meet Nathan in November of 2019 and have him as a guest on my podcast in April of 2020. In between those times, I read his newest collection, Wounds: Six Stories from the Border of Hell, and fell in love with not only the terror that oozed from the pages but the way the stories themselves take hold of your psyche and settle in the back of your mind for the days and weeks to come.

North American Lake Monsters was an obvious choice to pick up and let me tell you, it not only builds on the deep, unsettling darkness I experienced in Wounds, but heaps on layers of sadness and lost hope mixed with supernatural creatures that are just beyond the periphery. If this doesn't seal him as one of the finest short story writers ever, what more could you ask for?

This collection is simply brilliant and not for the faint of heart. These stories carry a weight that will crush you if you aren't careful.

1 person found this helpful

Interesting

Some of the stories were hard to follow and I was a bit lost if they were psychological or physically happening. Sometimes I fell a little out of interest. It was pretty eerie though. With that being said, the narrator practically brings every character to life with his acting, barely a dull moment while he reads, his accent is really good too!

1 person found this helpful

Great writing - lots of pain

I begin listen around 11:30 and finished the third story by about 2:00 a.m. The writing is great; the narration is great. (Nathan has a thing for all kinds of light, stars, luminosity, as you will see). But, man, these are characters in pain. I love the stories, but they're painful, and I don't expect to listen to three in a row again.

1 person found this helpful

Fantastic

great writing and tone. these stories stick with you. not so much gore but something deeper. solid

1 person found this helpful

it just feels unfinished

many of the stories stop at points that I suppose are meant to feel mysterious, but they just feel lazy and unresolved. Also some of the dialogue is hard to follow the way its written when read aloud. The narrator did the best he could.

Dark and Potent

Pretty fantastic throughout, with ambiguously dark tales that leave you pondering for hours afterwards.

The best short story collection I’ve read thus far

Nathan Ballingrud has achieved something spectacular with this book. “North American Lake Monsters” just might be the best story collection I’ve read/listened to thus far. Although I haven’t read an abundance of short story collections, I get the strong feeling that few authors will be able to surpass, let alone match, the tact and beauty with which Ballingrud tackles pitch black subject matter.
This author’s capacity for vivid, unique, and well paced storytelling, is absolutely mind boggling to me. He seems to have an endless arsenal of harrowing and gorgeous metaphors, which make the plot lines move more efficiently rather than bogging them down. His style of writing feels like a cross between that of Kealan Patrick Burke and Stephen King. The actual story arcs themselves are extremely well thought out, and consistently manage to claw into your emotions. If you go into this expecting traditional horror tropes and payoffs though, you will be disappointed.
These stories primarily focus on characters who evolve as a result of the dark or supernatural events that take place in their lives. Nathan Ballingrud treats the horror in these plots as a darkness that simply exist in our world, as opposed to something that goes beyond human comprehension. These are slice of life stories which will burrow themselves deep into your heart and mind.
While I adored all the tales in this collection, the standout stories for me would have to be “The Monsters of Heaven,” Wild Acre,” and “The Good Husband.” The wide range of emotions I experienced while reading/listening to these stories took me by surprise. I definitely knew I was in for something special though, once I got 5 minutes into the very first tale. “The Crevasse,” a story which was a collaborative effort featuring Dale Bailey, is the most unrelentingly horrifying one in the whole collection. It has a tone of dread that continuously gets amplified until the brilliant climax.
Overall, this book is not only easy to recommend, but also one I feel should be essential reading material in literary circles, or for any horror fan that wants a completely original experience. This collection is a masterpiece, and I cannot wait to read Ballingrud’s next book, “Wounds.” It should also be noted that Travis Young’s narration is outstanding, and really fits the mood of these stories perfectly.

Excellent performance of riveting and tragic horror tales

Any of these stories would be gold if only for the tragic circumstances and actions of their protagonists, and THEN the horror sets in. Ballingrud’s prose rings poetic in the vein of Cormac McCarthy. These are heartbreaking stories illuminated by horror. Travis Young’s strong Georgia accent lends credence to the socially and morally impoverished characters. Ignore the handful of audio hiccups where the sound is momentarily louder on a re-recorded sentence. The performance of these riveting stories will command your attention.

Great potential. Uneven quality.

First and last are good. Stories in between seem a little sophomoric. I don't think they made the right choice of narrator. His homespun accident did not suit some of the stories. Sometimes it felt like I was listening to a narration by comedian, Ron White., and it would take me out of the story.