A Year in the Borderlands

By: Kevin Candela

Narrated by: Gary Bennett

A seven percent grasp of the infinite. The universe may be limitless, but our senses are not. Just as the human eye sees but a small percentage of the cosmic wave spectrum, in the same way, most of us are only able to perceive a similar sliver of what we brazenly term “reality”, even with the use of all five of our scientifically acknowledged senses.

Shift that frequency a touch, nudge your perspective just a little off its center, and you, too, may enter the realm of the surreal: a place that in truth may be as near to you at the moment as the blind spot at your back...the shadowy underside of your desk...that strip of woods at the rear of your property that harbors dark terrors after sunset - hideous and unbelievable “figments of your imagination” that watch and giggle as you study them from your backyard with chilling toes while fighting the primal urge to bolt back to the perceived safety of your home.

Inspired by Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Night Gallery, Tales from the Crypt, and plain old-fashioned campfire stories, this month-by-month account of people-supernatural relations spans its own sci-fi/fantasy/horror/comedy spectrum, touring the weird side of the cosmos while leaving the passengers comfy and unscathed in their listening chairs. Or at least that’s what the brochure says. Might want to make sure that chair is sturdy.

©2016, 2018 Kevin Candela (P)2019 Kevin Candela

unique

very special and very very interesting book it was so well written and so well developed as a story that you can't ignore that book it was mesmerizing in its own way a very very good book
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

A Nice Surprise

I really enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. As with all collections, there were one or two that were just OK, but the rest were great.

I also enjoyed the performance quite a bit. Gary Bennett has an excellent voice and does a very good job here.

This review copy audio book was given to me in return for my honest opinion. I would highly recommend it.

Sci fi Mix

This one is a mix of horror, science fiction, with a little humor thrown in for good measure. Some stories were really good, and kept me interested and glued to my earbuds. Others made me want to hit the fast forward button. In an anthology such as this, however, it's to be expected. You can't like everything, right? Anyway, each story has some kind of twist, an homage to the Twilight Zone. Every single one has some kind of angle that you'll never see coming. In the tale about the mermaids, it changes the whole focus of the story. In others, such as the Ether Bunny, it creates a shock ending that leaves you wishing the story went a little bit longer. Some stories would benefit from being fleshed out as full novels. The narration by Gary Bennett is as always very good. The Imp story seemed a little slow in the pacing to me, but no major complaints. I'd recommend this one to anyone that likes Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, or even any stories by O. Henry. Just don't assume you know how the stories are going to turn out. I received this title free at my request, and have left this review voluntarily.

Worth the credit for sure

I really enjoyed this book. The stories were engaging and the narrator does a good job. I also like several of the authors he claims inspiration from during the introduction. Definitely give it a go in my opinion!

Well done

A great collection of stories involved a mix of horror, fantasy and sci-fi. I’d definitely check this out again.

Just flat out amazing

Full disclosure, I've known Kevin since maybe 2018. Well, I read his stories. I didn't get to know him personally for another year or two after that. He was always a cool cat who had a real love for sci-fi and horror. We used to joke we were brothers beyond blood, as in from another mother. I was always in awe of his writing skill.

This is one hell of a collection of some of his best works. I'd like to think that some of his better stuff came out just prior to his passing; I know I thought it did, but these stories, one and all, are deeply personal tales if you step back from the source material and see what is actually written. He should have worked with Rod Serling, but he'd have made Serling look bad.

Bennett has pipes that work, as well as that singing fella with the same last name, Tony. You know who I'm talking about, and I don't think there could have been anyone better to do the narration. As I listened, I kept thinking that Kevin Couldn't have done any better if he read his stories himself.

Get this collection. You'll be glad you did.

A wonderful collection of short stories!

I usually look for very long books to listen to, but this was a very nice change. I enjoyed the format and presentation very much. You could easily listen to them all at once, or one by one. Great for short commutes or jogs etc. The stories are a blend of horror and science fiction. All very well done and narrated nicely. If you love the old masters, Poe, King, Asimov, you will enjoy these.


I have been given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Excellent collection

This is a wonderful collection of Twilight Zone style tales that will thoroughly entertain you.

A Year

This collection of stories vary in the type,but all are fun and interesting.Imp is still my favorite,though I have read it before. Gary Bennett is a very good narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

Clever, imaginative, unusual

This clever group of short and novella length stories run the gamut from fantasy to horror, from the Cthulhu mythology to science fiction. All are imaginative with a unique, sometimes slightly twisted, perspective. With the superb narration of Gary Bennett, a worthwhile listen.