Richard Thomas’ Spontaneous Human Compostion: Regret and Repentance
Richard Thomas, who was the editor of Burnt Tongues, before I began the collection Spontaneous Human Combustion, was a horror writer. Many stories contain a science fiction or fantasy element.
The first story, “Repent,” clearly demonstrates these themes of forgiveness, regret, and repentance. These themes of regret, repentance and forgiveness are clearly established in the first story, appropriately titled “Repent.”
Graysen, a white-collar worker, believes he has committed terrible transgressions. “Requital” continues the theme. Graysen is accompanied by a strange little girl in this surreal, creepy tale. She torments him and fears he will be punished.
My favorite story is “Nodus Tollens”. It is full of suspense, horror, and suspense.
“Ring of Fire,” the longest and most interesting story in the book, is about Mark, a scientist who studies the minerals found in frozen tundra. Rebecca is his colleague. He falls for her. His mind begins to change in unexpected ways.
Even stories that don’t explicitly address regret or repentance have an inkling of the past. It seems Bob would not be able to reflect on his past. Instead, he was consumed by a deep need to consume.
“Undone” begins in the middle sentence. It is about two people trying to escape from something horrible that is following them.
The collection Spontaneous Human Combustion is filled with horror stories and great prose. It is then that they will have to face a terrible realization.
