Technological horror is something I seek out, so a collection of dark web horror stories seemed right up my alley and while these focused less on the tech and more on what that tech allows people to do I was still thoroughly entertained throughout. There weren’t any weak stories but my favorites were definitely the last two in the collection “Delivery” and “Cure” because while all the stories had similar undercurrents of horror and thriller those also had more unique premises and tangible humor (though not exactly laugh out loud funny). All in all I’m glad I picked it up and would definitely recommend this collection.
Tales From The Dark Web
From the bestselling author of “Why I’m Afraid of the Dark” comes Five disturbing yet fascinating short stories that explore the darker side of the technological marvel that is the internet. Discover J.T. Withelder’s sophomore work, “Tales from the Dark Web” exploring the horrors and terror that can be found with just a few clicks of a mouse.
In “Burial”, a man’s bleak future becomes even worse when his only connection to the outside world is severed. As the lack of contact begins to fray his fragile mind, he struggles to save his sanity and his life while scrambling to find a way to restore the link.
Disheartened by the monotony of everyday life, “Cure” finds a young man suffering from a severe case of melancholy. Seeking help from a medical professional, he finds his doctor’s unprecedented methods unnerving yet extremely effective. Pushing boundaries finds a compelling antidote for the disease but how far is too far?
In “Delivery”, a driver working part-time for a food delivery app bites off more than he can chew when an order from the application takes him on a violent and horrifying journey testing both his humanity and his ability to make his delivery on time.
A compulsive gambler finds hope at a weekly support group, only to befriend a fellow addict who turns him on to internet gambling as a method to hide the truth from his family. Losing control, thanks to his online anonymity, he quickly finds out that money isn’t the only thing you can lose when you bet against the odds in “Gambler”.
Finally, “Smart” observes a college student struggling to grasp his studies. Seeking help on a popular search engine, he finds his answer in a pop-up advertisement that claims to grant higher cognitive functions and focus. Initially pleased with the product, he quickly discovers the terrible truth, the wonder drug not only changes the mind but the body as well.
Profound, frightening, and horribly grim, this collection of stories is sure to thrill the most steadfast of readers and will elicit a critical pause before clicking on the next link of a website or typing into a search bar.
About the Author
Justin Toby Withelder, or J.W. to his closest friends, was born, raised, and lives in rural Pennsylvania with the love of his life, Carrie, and his two children, Alex and Keira.
He has been writing both long and short stories as a hobby for many years in the science fiction, horror, and thriller genres. Pulling inspiration from his favorite authors, Stephen King and Michael Crichton, and television shows like “The Twilight Zone”, Justin prefers to focus on the terror of the unknown rather than an explainable creature or phenomenon.
He is an engineer by trade but prefers to spend his time outdoors whenever possible. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. He and his wife also enjoy visiting theme parks, specifically to ride roller coasters. They plan to travel the world to ride the biggest and fastest coasters.
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I’m an avid horror reader and I really enjoyed this book. Every story was captivating, unexpected, and suspenseful.