The art of writing horror has always been a fascination to me. Not that writing in the "macabre" is all that different when writing in any other genre; the rudiments are the same. But to pen a brilliant piece of horror takes, in my opinion, a special gift. Maybe it is the ability to wander on the dark side of the psyche and feed on its need to be recognized or maybe it is nothing more than the innate ability to make us peer between our fingers at something we don't want to see, but can't help but look at. Drew Williams is just that kind of author. He calls to that part of us that will grimace with excitement as we shudder in disbelief, and I couldn't turn away--I was hooked on Art and Becoming from the beginning.

Brilliantly penned, each sentence and moment was spun in a mesmerizing web. I shadowed the characters like a presumptuous ghost, trying to run ahead with a knowing nod as I predicted future moments, but I was always wrong. The two protagonists, who occasionally seemed to swing into more "sinister" territory, were captivating and knowable. It was difficult not to become emotionally involved with the handsome Jeff French, or be suspicious of the eccentric Phil Luxor as they went about their grisly job of "corpse retrieval". The title Art and Becoming carries the plot like a flaming banner: clear . . . true--and leaves me hesitant to divulge more of the tale then that.

This short--all 45 pages of the Author's Cut--is just, plain, great writing, spun into intelligent tale. I could say something mundane like, if you enjoy Stephen King, or Koontz, you'll love Williams, but that would be an understatement. I guess it shows that I'm impressed.

Reviewed By Melanie Roget
© January 2005