Death Drives a Semi was an unexpected pleasure to read. The 25th anniversary re-release of this short story anthology was genius. Not only did it introduce me to a talented author, but it will undoubtedly usher in a legion of new fans for Van Belkom.
Reading good horror is like finding a real diamond as your cereal box prize. This book is a REAL prize! Initially, I thought the introduction by Robert J. Sawyer to be akin to an obituary ( fitting for a horror book introduction) and a tad superlative, to compare Van Belkom to the likes of Stephen King… really?? But after reading this book, I can honestly say the language used by Sawyer was neither inordinate nor excessive, it was accurate!
This book started with a banger! “The Rug” introduced an unexpected villain whose accomplice was an innocuous home décor item. This story presented a protagonist that was relatable and whose actions were understandable. “The Rug” examined the consequences when things are ignored for too long or ‘swept under the rug’. It also explored desperation and the fear that it breeds and how it transforms the individual. After reading this story, I realized that I was indeed in for a fun time, and so will you.
Van Belkom’s mastery at descriptive language, figures of speech, character building, the seamless weaving of themes throughout each story and his veritable understanding of the human psyche were evident in each story. It is this said understanding that elevated his characters and by extension the horror factor. I especially liked the inclusion of stories that were written earlier in his career.
Death Drives a Semi, the story whose title was used as the book’s moniker was well paced and reminiscent of an episode of The Twilight Zone. The premise of one’s encounter with death and attempting to evade death while driving home one night was compelling. I rooted for the protagonist, Don, in his encounter with death and was pleased with conclusion. Given the number of road fatalities that occur every year, I completely related to this story’s premise and its relatability.
One of the advantages of this re-release is the addition of the author’s note at the end of each short story. These short paragraphs give the reader a look behind the curtain… what inspired this story and why was this point of view used? Did Van Belkom like this story? Did he believe in it? How long did it take to be published? These short paragraphs and in one case, a short essay linked to the story, “And Injustice to all” at times swayed my initial assessment of it. These notes were value-added gems that enhanced the tome and the reader’s experience with it.
Being a fan of vampires, I really appreciated Van Belkom’s take on them with the story Lip-O-Suction. I had never thought of vampires as anything other than blood hungry, elegant beings. I completely buy into the glorification of vampires. This story gave me a whole new perspective, and Van Belkom’s note helped to cement that. If you love vampires, this will place them in an entirely new light.
Van Belkom has also provided stories for zombie lovers; “But Somebody’s Got To Do It” and “Roadkill” will satisfy the taste of the readers that love the undead.
Werewolves are the big bads in the stories; “Mark of the Beast” and “No Kids Allowed”, which both take places in my top ten stories of this book.
“The Cold” explored themes around commercialism and animal exploitation, “Afterlife” dealt with the ramifications of domestic violence, while “To Be More Like Them” focused on bullying. “Ice Bridge” was a thrilling look at taking chances and is the perfect companion piece for “Death Drives a Semi”. “Rat Food”, the only collaborative story, was the grossest while being unexpected and heartbreaking. “Baseball Memories” spoke to the fears of losing one’s mind, in one of the most unique premises I’ve encountered so far in literature! The story “The Piano Player Has No Fingers” fulfilled my love for thrilling crime mysteries. My absolute favourite stories were “Mother and Child” and “Family Ties”. They both spoke of a parent’s love and were devastating in their conclusions.
Admittedly, reading Death Drives a Semi reminded me much of Stephen King’s “The Night Shift”, one of the few horror short story anthologies I’ve read. I am more familiar with the Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, Creepshow and Tales from the Darkside and Tales from the Crypt, all of which would do justice to any of these stories. While I can’t make a comparison, I truly believe that Van Belkom more than accomplished his goal of producing a work akin to Bradbury’s. That said, Death Drives a Semi shouldn’t be compared as that would diminish just what a work of art it is. This book was a gift! It has ascended to one of my must-read books for every spooky season, which gets longer each year…
This book is compelling, fun and gives you perfectly complete bite-sized scares with each story. One of the best introductions to an author! If you are unfamiliar with Van Belkom, this book is a comprehensive exploration of his work. If you are already one of his fans, this re-release will be synonymous with winning the golden ticket with its added stories and the priceless author’s notes.
After reading this book, there can be no doubt that Van Belkom is a writer that loves his work and that love emanated from the pages. To you, whether a longtime fan or first reader, and anyone who picks up this book, I say, to quote Robert J. Sawyer –
“Buckle up! You’re in for a hell of a ride!”
Pros:
- Author’s notes with each story
- Variety of horror sub-genres explored
- Each story is succinct and complete
- Descriptions are superlative
- Variety of ‘horror – inducing’ themes explored
Cons:
- A couple stories are derivative and predictable
- A couple typos, missing words and formatting issues towards the end
Favourite Character:
- N/A for this format
Favourite Stories:
- Mother and Child
- Family Ties
- The Rug
- The Piano Player has no fingers
- Rat Food
Scribble's Worth 
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