Book Review: Gloom by Ricky Olson

This book definitely has an apt title: Gloom it is called and gloom is what you will get. Ricky

Olson has written 13 short stories filled with the mundane and oppressive horror of everyday

America, and it is not for the faint of heart. Sexual predators, budding serial killers, struggling

single parents, failing businesses, crumbling relationships and more line the pages of this

thin but dense book. Some stories have a little sprinkle of the paranormal, but for the most

part there’s no need; the real world is horrifying enough. Each story is delivered with a

caustic nihilism that rips from every word, evoking the darkness of the subject matter. If

these stories were filmed, they’d be filmed in deep shadow, the colours so drained you’d

almost think you were watching a black and white movie. I’d even go so far as to describe

them as modern noir.

It’s a hard to get book at times (at least as a physical copy), not always being available on

Amazon, and when it is there are plenty of people scrambling to buy it. That’s because Ricky

Olson’s ‘day job’ is as the guitarist for goth rock band Motionless In White, and their fans are

eager to support all the members on all their endeavours. Yes, I am a fan of the band, and

yes I admit I did buy the book mainly out of fan loyalty and curiosity. However, I am happy to

report that Ricky’s talents do extend beyond the musical. The book is definitely worth a read,

if you can get it – but be warned, it is not an uplifting read. As I said before, Gloom it is

called, and gloom is exactly what it delivers.