Like the first, many stories reminded me of The Twilight Zone only many in this volume were more elaborate, edgier and darker. All the stories are horror, science fiction, mystery or paranormal based. Having read the first Endlands book and deeming it one of the best books I've ever read I knew I had to read this one and wow! Its just as good as the first! All the stories were very well written and you really get a great look into how each author writes. He wrote several of my favorites from the first Endlands.

My only real disappointment was that namesake Vincent Hobbes was not feature in this collection.

So - I'd say Hobbes End Publishing did a fantastic job with this second installment in The Endlands series. I can honestly say I enjoyed all but one of the stories, and I believe there are 22 in the collection. Finishing out my list of favorites would be The Diary by Endlands newcomer Deklan Green. Greene return from the first Endlands with several great stories. Craig Wessel, David Stubblefield and Patrick C. Dickson also wrote The Shiva Apparatus which left me wanting more. My personal 5-star favorites: Under the Scotch Broom by Allison M. And a couple that deserve less - so I've given it 4 stars because it is definitely worth the money and the time. There are several stories in this collection that deserve 5 stars. However, I think an anthology like this is one of the best ways to discover new writers. I much prefer to get very involved with my characters and that is hard to do in the short story format. I am not a huge fan of short stories in general. I find that is one of the best reasons for reading an anthology: I always discover authors new to me, and sometimes am reminded of former favourites I had overlooked. If they’re new to you, what a fine introduction to their writings this anthology will be. If you’re familiar with these authors, then you already know how good they can be.

These stories are not tossed-off, hurriedly-done entries they are well-thought-out, articulate, and the kind of reading that will not quickly say goodbye and go home rather, each lingers in the mind, sneaking into the reader’s thoughts to say, “hey, did you forget about me?” Literate, involving, riveting, and dramatic: the horror just rolls on, and with it, it brings some sci-fi, some mythology, some metaphysical but every single story is a treasure and deserves a wide readership. Can I borrow the trite statement “something for everyone”? This anthology of 16 stories goes that one better: I believe each story is for everyone.

The Endlands by Vincent Hobbes