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The Quiet Boy
But there was no Goldilocks in his story. There were only the Wolfs, who lived together in a cave above a town. Big Wolf, Middle Wolf, and Little Wolf. Big Wolf was a brute. Little Wolf was timid. Middle Wolf was the peacemaker.
32 pages
First published January 28, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
November 1, 2021
SPOOKTOBER DAY THIRTY-ONE
welcome to my spooktober audio advent calendar, where, each day during the month of spooktober, i will be celebrating by listening to a free audio short from nightfire's Come Join Us by the Fire series, and you can join ME by following the links. let's all be scared together!
56 minutes
so many halloweeny feelings right now!
this was a great story to end my spooktober audio project: very creepy, very ambiguous, very much leaving me wanting more. i'm hoping that when i finally get around to watching antlers, which is what this story grew up to be, i will like it every bit as much as this story.
fun fact: nick antosca was one of the first people i interacted with here on goodreads that i didn't already know in the real world. 'twas a long time ago and he's all big time now and prolly doesn't remember me, but i 'attaboy!' him every time i see his name on my teevee screen.
anyway, happy october 31st! enjoy yer candy!
listen to it here:
https://play.google.com/books/listen?...
read it with your eyes here:
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
THE STORIES:
OCTOBER 1: 57 REASONS FOR THE SLATE QUARRY SUICIDES - SAM J. MILLER
OCTOBER 2: SOME BREAKABLE THINGS - CASSANDRA KHAW
OCTOBER 3: EMERGENCY LANDING - SEANAN MCGUIRE
OCTOBER 4: THE CHANGELING - SARAH LANGAN
OCTOBER 5: THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH, THE MADNESS OF MEN - BROOKE BOLANDER
OCTOBER 6: THE FIREPLACE - CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
OCTOBER 7: BONE - TADE THOMPSON
OCTOBER 8: IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING - MOLLY TANZER
OCTOBER 9: DREAM HOME - KAT HOWARD
OCTOBER 10: SPAWNING SEASON - NICHOLAS KAUFMANN
OCTOBER 11: THE GIRLS FROM THE HORROR MOVIE - GWENDOLYN KISTE
OCTOBER 12: IT WASHED UP - JOE R. LANSDALE
OCTOBER 13: BLACK NEUROLOGY - RICHARD KADREY
OCTOBER 14: WHEN THE ZOMBIES WIN - KARINA SUMNER-SMITH
OCTOBER 15: WASP & SNAKE - LIVIA LLEWELLYN
OCTOBER 16: THIS GUY - CHUCK WENDIG
OCTOBER 17: THE POND - PAUL TREMBLAY
OCTOBER 18: A LIFE THAT IS NOT MINE - KRISTI DEMEESTER
OCTOBER 19: GREENER PASTURES - MICHAEL WEHUNT
OCTOBER 20: THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL YOU - LUCY A. SNYDER
OCTOBER 21: COLD, SILENT, AND DARK - KARY ENGLISH
OCTOBER 22: WAS SHE WICKED? WAS SHE GOOD? - M. RICKERT
OCTOBER 23: THE DAYS OF FLAMING MOTORCYCLES - CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE
OCTOBER 24: FLAYED ED - RICHARD KADREY
OCTOBER 25: MAMA TULU - JESSICA GUESS
OCTOBER 26: THE VAULT OF THE SKY, THE FACE OF THE DEEP
OCTOBER 27: EL CHARRO - JOHN LANGAN
OCTOBER 28: STANDING WATER - CAITLIN R. KIERNAN
OCTOBER 29: MIDNIGHT CALLER - STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES
OCTOBER 30: TOOTH, TONGUE, AND CLAW - DAMIEN ANGELICA WALTERS
come to my blog!
welcome to my spooktober audio advent calendar, where, each day during the month of spooktober, i will be celebrating by listening to a free audio short from nightfire's Come Join Us by the Fire series, and you can join ME by following the links. let's all be scared together!
56 minutes
so many halloweeny feelings right now!
this was a great story to end my spooktober audio project: very creepy, very ambiguous, very much leaving me wanting more. i'm hoping that when i finally get around to watching antlers, which is what this story grew up to be, i will like it every bit as much as this story.
fun fact: nick antosca was one of the first people i interacted with here on goodreads that i didn't already know in the real world. 'twas a long time ago and he's all big time now and prolly doesn't remember me, but i 'attaboy!' him every time i see his name on my teevee screen.
anyway, happy october 31st! enjoy yer candy!
listen to it here:
https://play.google.com/books/listen?...
read it with your eyes here:
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
THE STORIES:
OCTOBER 1: 57 REASONS FOR THE SLATE QUARRY SUICIDES - SAM J. MILLER
OCTOBER 2: SOME BREAKABLE THINGS - CASSANDRA KHAW
OCTOBER 3: EMERGENCY LANDING - SEANAN MCGUIRE
OCTOBER 4: THE CHANGELING - SARAH LANGAN
OCTOBER 5: THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH, THE MADNESS OF MEN - BROOKE BOLANDER
OCTOBER 6: THE FIREPLACE - CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
OCTOBER 7: BONE - TADE THOMPSON
OCTOBER 8: IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING - MOLLY TANZER
OCTOBER 9: DREAM HOME - KAT HOWARD
OCTOBER 10: SPAWNING SEASON - NICHOLAS KAUFMANN
OCTOBER 11: THE GIRLS FROM THE HORROR MOVIE - GWENDOLYN KISTE
OCTOBER 12: IT WASHED UP - JOE R. LANSDALE
OCTOBER 13: BLACK NEUROLOGY - RICHARD KADREY
OCTOBER 14: WHEN THE ZOMBIES WIN - KARINA SUMNER-SMITH
OCTOBER 15: WASP & SNAKE - LIVIA LLEWELLYN
OCTOBER 16: THIS GUY - CHUCK WENDIG
OCTOBER 17: THE POND - PAUL TREMBLAY
OCTOBER 18: A LIFE THAT IS NOT MINE - KRISTI DEMEESTER
OCTOBER 19: GREENER PASTURES - MICHAEL WEHUNT
OCTOBER 20: THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL YOU - LUCY A. SNYDER
OCTOBER 21: COLD, SILENT, AND DARK - KARY ENGLISH
OCTOBER 22: WAS SHE WICKED? WAS SHE GOOD? - M. RICKERT
OCTOBER 23: THE DAYS OF FLAMING MOTORCYCLES - CATHERYNNE M. VALENTE
OCTOBER 24: FLAYED ED - RICHARD KADREY
OCTOBER 25: MAMA TULU - JESSICA GUESS
OCTOBER 26: THE VAULT OF THE SKY, THE FACE OF THE DEEP
OCTOBER 27: EL CHARRO - JOHN LANGAN
OCTOBER 28: STANDING WATER - CAITLIN R. KIERNAN
OCTOBER 29: MIDNIGHT CALLER - STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES
OCTOBER 30: TOOTH, TONGUE, AND CLAW - DAMIEN ANGELICA WALTERS
come to my blog! 
January 11, 2020
I was on YouTube watching horror trailers for upcoming movies and Antlers was one. It said it was based on The Quiet Boy. I decided to Google it to see if it was in a current horror anthology and lo and behold, it was published for free online ( https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet... ). So I read it immediately.
It’s a very well written piece. Engaging enough that I read straight through. If you’re a horror fan, check it out.
It’s a very well written piece. Engaging enough that I read straight through. If you’re a horror fan, check it out.
October 5, 2021
dude this was creepy!
it's about a boy in school who doesn't talk much and his teacher somehow figures maybe his father is abusive or something and then she decides to help him and goes to his house and basically, from that point, everything goes to hell!
i highly, highly recommend checking out the audiobook. it's amazing!!! it has all these creepy sounds that give you chills! it was awesome! one of the best audiobooks i've ever listened to.
i get that it's a short story but i wish there was more because i'd definitely read 50 more pages of this!
the audiobook: 5 stars!
the book: 3.5 stars!
edit: i forgot to mention, this gave me Supernatural vibes. you know, lucas being dean. todd being sam and frank being john.
it's about a boy in school who doesn't talk much and his teacher somehow figures maybe his father is abusive or something and then she decides to help him and goes to his house and basically, from that point, everything goes to hell!
i highly, highly recommend checking out the audiobook. it's amazing!!! it has all these creepy sounds that give you chills! it was awesome! one of the best audiobooks i've ever listened to.
i get that it's a short story but i wish there was more because i'd definitely read 50 more pages of this!
the audiobook: 5 stars!
the book: 3.5 stars!
edit: i forgot to mention, this gave me Supernatural vibes. you know, lucas being dean. todd being sam and frank being john.
January 27, 2020
I saw the trailer for Antlers (not a fan of the name change, The Quiet Boy is a better title imo) and did a google search on the short story it was based on. It was a great read, however I wish it was a bit longer. I found myself wanting to know more about the characters, especially the boy and his family.
Read for free: https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
Read for free: https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
April 27, 2022
4 stars
Amended on April 27, 2022 with link to the website.
The Quiet Boy is an extremely well written short tale of horror.
"Every day Middle Wolf went out and got fish for them all. But one day he came back and Big Wolf and Little Wolf had rabeez. And all they wanted to do was go to town and eat people."
The Quiet Boy can be found online at:
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
Amended on April 27, 2022 with link to the website.
The Quiet Boy is an extremely well written short tale of horror.
"Every day Middle Wolf went out and got fish for them all. But one day he came back and Big Wolf and Little Wolf had rabeez. And all they wanted to do was go to town and eat people."
The Quiet Boy can be found online at:
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
October 31, 2020
A nicely done horror story, and quite fun. But pretty conventional and somewhat rambling, compared with the more distinctive pieces in Antosca's excellent collection The Girlfriend Game.
Antosca's entry at isfdb.org is missing the entire collection, and most of the short stories. Odd.
I know Antosca has moved on to write and produce TV and films (like Channel Zero). Wish he still wrote fiction though! The collection and The Hangman's Ritual are both great.
Antosca's entry at isfdb.org is missing the entire collection, and most of the short stories. Odd.
I know Antosca has moved on to write and produce TV and films (like Channel Zero). Wish he still wrote fiction though! The collection and The Hangman's Ritual are both great.
September 25, 2021
FANTASTIC and creepy short story. If you have access to the audiobook, it’s even better. It’s a whole production with music and creepy sounds. The atmosphere in this story is on point! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
November 2, 2021
Una historia en verdad inquietante con escenas llenas de horror y sangre. Un deleite para los amantes del género y que te deja pensar. ¿Posesión/demonio o creatura?
Aquí les dejo mi opinión más amplia de esta historia:
https://youtu.be/5mv_Sq6_jCY
Aquí les dejo mi opinión más amplia de esta historia:
https://youtu.be/5mv_Sq6_jCY
February 4, 2020
This is a truly terrifying short story. I think my praises could drag on for longer than the story did. You should just read it for yourself - I read on Guernica.
Honestly, I can't recommend it enough.
I can't wait to see the film adaptation (Antlers) in April 2020!
Honestly, I can't recommend it enough.
I can't wait to see the film adaptation (Antlers) in April 2020!
January 26, 2023
This short story is the inspiration for which the movie 'Antlers' is based. Luckily the book is better than the movie by a country mile. Captured my imagination and totally had me engrossed.
Lucas is a quiet boy but soon enough you will discover why.
Lucas is a quiet boy but soon enough you will discover why.
October 7, 2021
This is terrifying. Just plain scary. Wow.
The movie, Antlers, is coming out soon and is based on this story.
Read it here.
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
The movie, Antlers, is coming out soon and is based on this story.
Read it here.
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
December 26, 2019
I got curious about this since I saw the trailer for the movie they based on this.
And I hecking loved this short story!
It's tense and feels pressuring, I also like the open ending!
Can't wait to see what they made out of this movie wise
And I hecking loved this short story!
It's tense and feels pressuring, I also like the open ending!
Can't wait to see what they made out of this movie wise
June 20, 2020
It's been a while since a read a horror story with a good flow and real-life language that does not overexplain itself. Good read.
November 22, 2020
I want my mommy 😰
June 27, 2022
Okay first off… ew
Second off… ew.
This is only the second audiobook experience that I’ve had, but it was probably a good one to do it with. The creepy ambiance music and screaming noises in the background just added to the yuck factors of this short horror.
I have a lot of questions, but it wasn’t a full length novel so I can look beyond that!
Looking forward to watching Antlers now, which was based off of this story!
Second off… ew.
This is only the second audiobook experience that I’ve had, but it was probably a good one to do it with. The creepy ambiance music and screaming noises in the background just added to the yuck factors of this short horror.
I have a lot of questions, but it wasn’t a full length novel so I can look beyond that!
Looking forward to watching Antlers now, which was based off of this story!
January 23, 2022
Loved it! I was going to write that I would like a longer book about the same story but the horror element is so common that I don’t know for how long can it be kept as a mystery and maybe that’s way this one was so effective. Quick paced, eerie and so good.
Want to read
December 31, 2021The premise of the recent horror film, Antlers, in short story form, available to read for free online. I'll be checking this out ASAP.
https://www.guernicamag.com/the-quiet...
October 26, 2021
This short story was chilling, and extremely creepy. A very imaginative piece of fiction that had me on the edge of my seat. I wished for a happier ending, but the ending I got was well-written, horrifying, and completely in line with the rest of the tale. So good!
November 5, 2021
review to come
November 9, 2022
This gave me chills!
January 22, 2023
Nicely done. A creepy short story about a secret kept by a student about his family.
March 5, 2022
A short horror story that’s hampered by it’s amateurish prose. At least it avoids all the cultural appropriation of it’s movie adaptation.
2.5 Stars
2.5 Stars
October 29, 2021
Lean and atmospheric short story, quite scary. Exactly the right length with a killer ending.
October 19, 2021
Read this in anticipation of the film Antlers. Genuinely atmospheric and creepy, and the tension keeps mounting to the chilling finale.
October 13, 2023
...and all they wanted to do was go to town and eat people...
What everything I like about this book?
- Atmosphere? Definitely. The book has given me goose bumps. While are you reading, I'm sure, you gonna have them too! I liked the mysterious way, how everythink was covered under secrets. I just liked it! However the book is tiny, the story is deep and meaningful.
- You'll read it quickly, but I don't reccomend to read it before you plan to go to the bed. You wouldn't sleep. I swear.
- The story has it's dynamic and I liked it. I liked the creepy vibe. And the enrding? Oh goooosh, like in the true horror story!
What everything I like about this book?
- Atmosphere? Definitely. The book has given me goose bumps. While are you reading, I'm sure, you gonna have them too! I liked the mysterious way, how everythink was covered under secrets. I just liked it! However the book is tiny, the story is deep and meaningful.
- You'll read it quickly, but I don't reccomend to read it before you plan to go to the bed. You wouldn't sleep. I swear.
- The story has it's dynamic and I liked it. I liked the creepy vibe. And the enrding? Oh goooosh, like in the true horror story!
December 30, 2019
Spooky, Stephen King-style story that is the basis for an upcoming movie.
July 29, 2020
It’s incredibly well written and leaves you wanting to know more about the lore of it but also you kinda don’t want to know more because maybe it’ll ruin it? Like the little breadcrumbs the author left are enough to satiate your appetite but you still kinda want dessert. I don’t want to spoil anything but I really enjoyed how it was a different take on monsters. Definitely recommend if you have 15 minutes to spare. You can read it online for free so you really have nothing to lose.
January 18, 2020
I liked it. Eagerly waiting for the movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews