Walter Lazo

“Our free short stories are intended as a doorway to our more mature premium works. Their purpose is to showcase the author’s writing style and use of evocative imagery. Although these are his earlier works—he has gotten much better since—they serve as a nice introduction to his thematic concerns as well as to his belief that a story has to be believed in to be effective. Therefore, what he presents in these stories are situations and the reactions of characters within those situations.”

Walter Lazo was born in Cambridge, MA, and now lives in North Carolina. As a child he discovered his love of Weird Fiction and large, epic, heroic stories, as well as German and Greek mythology, devouring the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen King, the Grimm brothers, Bram Stoker, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Walter grew up reading the short stories of Richard Matheson, and later discovered the works of the great science fiction writers of the 20th century; namely, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov.

He enjoys writing horror and science fiction stories with an occasional martial arts story thrown in for good measure. He is currently obsessed with the short story form and hopes that it will make a comeback in popularity. As an adult he has tried to create his own mythos, writing about the Demon World and other creatures that torment men’s dreams.

He is a longtime fan of Stephen King and of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

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• Roses for Cassandra on June 07, 2012
  
  A very pleasant but underdeveloped story with a glaring deus ex machina.
  
• Aftermath: Found on June 07, 2012
  
  An interesting story, showing a lot of promise, that suffered somewhat from a lack of character development and description.
  
• The Silver Shore on June 07, 2012
  
  A beautifully written subjective odyssey with mystical, magical overtones.
  
• Special Delivery on June 10, 2012
  
  Very nice tension-filled story.
  
• Strange Strangers on June 14, 2012
  
  Funny, scary and a bit gory, a fun read.
  
• Blades of Hollow on June 15, 2012
  
  Magnificent visceral evocative story that very successfully uses the somewhat tricky second-person narrative mode.
  
• The Tale of Isis and Osiris on June 15, 2012
  
  Some structural problems and weak grammar somewhat mar what is a very good story.
  
• Purchasing Power on June 15, 2012
  
  Sharp prophetic vision of an all too possible future.
  
• Yuni on June 18, 2012
  
  Very weird story, seeming pointless at times, but nonetheless enjoyable for all that.
  
• Short and Stupid: Ten Somewhat Dark Short Stories for a Rainy Day on June 21, 2012
  
  An enjoyable collection of flash fiction, with the third and eighth stories approaching brilliance.
  
• Yesterday, I died (The Devil's Forge) on June 24, 2012
  
  Very well-written and thoughtful story that is both a haunting and evocative reflection on mortality.
  
• Terminator; Reborn on June 24, 2012
  
  What a fascinating angle! It's very short, however, and really needs to be worked into a longer story.
  
• The Duel on June 24, 2012
  
  The grammar in this story needs work as there are far too many run-on sentences. The story, however, was interesting and entertaining.
  
• Nightmare Beach on June 25, 2012
  
  Far too many commas are missing where they are clearly necessary; the story, however, is effective.
  
• Those characters In My Head on July 02, 2012
  
  An interesting take on writing. While I tend to see writing as a method for integrating experience, this author views it as separatist, almost escapist. Although I do not share this author's views on writing, it is always interesting to get another take on it.
  
• "Mommy, there's something under my bed." on July 11, 2012
  
  Nice set-up, build-up, and delivery. Well done.
  
• Sexy Teenage Vampires on July 14, 2012
  
  I read this based on a recommendation since the title did not appeal to me. I'm glad I did as these were surprisingly good stories.
  
• Dappled Harmony on Aug. 22, 2012
  
  Nice, like watching a scene from a movie, or being high and hallucinating.
  
• Dead! on Aug. 22, 2012
  
  Although I'm not a zombie lover, I really enjoyed this story. Clever, original, and unexpected, with a very well-developed character, this story left me wanting more, which is a good thing. Well done.
  
• Now Recruiting on Aug. 23, 2012
  
  Promising story that can easily be expanded into a much longer one. The main idea of this story, in fact, is so strong that it can even be stretched into a full-length novel.
  
• Peril At The Pop-up Library on Aug. 26, 2012
  
  Interesting story idea, but the grammar needs work. In general, the story is very choppy and would be much improved if the syntax were to flow more naturally--something that can be accomplished through the use of conjunctions and other connectors.
  
• That's All the Time We Have on Nov. 13, 2012
  
  This is such a beautiful and melancholy story, superbly written, and powerful in its empathy. For a moment it made me feel as if I were somebody else.
  
• Of Secrets, Letters, and Lions on Feb. 20, 2013
  
  An enjoyable read, which builds nicely and delivers a satisfying conclusion.
  
• Deeper Than Blood on March 10, 2013
  
  Impressive, moody, and atmospheric, with a nice and flowing style, tragic in parts, macabre in others, very satisfying, this is a richly imaginative and somewhat disturbing story. Brilliant.
  
• Twas The Night Before Christmas (When The Aliens Appeared) on March 10, 2013
  
  Silly and funny, and it put a smile on my face.
  
• A Fools Revenge on March 13, 2013
  
  Overall this is a very enjoyable and imaginative story. It would greatly benefit from a longer treatment, though.
  
• Zeus on March 16, 2013
  
  More of a scene than a story, a strange encounter, really. The writing is nice and the encounter works. Although it can easily be expanded into a longer story, I appreciate the beauty of flash fiction. This is a very good example of how to set mood and feel.
  
• Devotion on March 16, 2013
  
  This is a nicely written and melancholy story that needed just a little bit more exposition.
  
• Delightfully Twisted Tales: Fire, Fangs and Brimstone (Volume Two) on March 24, 2013
  
  Weird, nicely-written, and fascinating, this collection is different--told from the other side, so to speak--and very entertaining. Nicky Drayden is a magnificent writer, and in this collection the stories run the gamut from funny to bitter to wickedly amusing to slightly disturbing.
  
• Don't Let Her In on March 24, 2013
  
  A great example of what can be accomplished with the short story form. This is one of the moodiest, most atmospheric stories I've ever read. It is an amazing story with very evocative imagery, which manages to build tension with every page. Very satisfying.
  
• Horse-Flesh on April 03, 2013
  
  I found this story to be a very effective incident story, very similar to the rampant news stories I used to hear back in the 70s when I was a kid. It brought back some nice memories. Back then it seemed like just about everyone you met could tell you about some unexplained phenomena they had either encountered personally or had heard about. What I got from this story was reminiscent of that uncanny feeling of wonder and dread--which suggested that the world was perhaps larger and darker than our sheltered philosophies wished to allow--that in the very young tends to breed a sort of morbid curiosity, one that wishes to challenge the darkness because it does not yet understand what darkness is, what it can be. In short, I liked this story. It was very good.
  
• Kill on April 03, 2013
  
  Quite brilliant. Excellent character development and plot set up, followed by a very satisfying conclusion. Great story.
  
• Framed by a Phantom on April 03, 2013
  
  Not a bad story, but far too much telling and not enough showing. It just needed to be fleshed out a little more.
  
• A Divine Tale on April 06, 2013
  
  This one is a bit difficult to rate as it came off more as an outline to a story than a story in its own right. Still, it is very intriguing and full of nice visuals and ideas. It has great potential and can easily be fleshed out into a full novel.
  
• Reverend Rapist on April 06, 2013
  
  Reverend Rapist is a very daring, provocative, and bitter story. Although the subject matter can be seen as controversial, this story is well-written, with solid character development, good build-up and delivery, and nice pacing.
  
• The Empty Man on April 08, 2013
  
  I really like this poem. It's classy in its vulgar moments and very funny
  
• Right to Life? on April 08, 2013
  
  Nice writing, very daring, and thought provoking, this is a good and demanding story.
  
• Destined To Be Damned on April 08, 2013
  
  This is an expertly-written story, dealing with the themes of alienation and belonging, reminiscent of the pulp stories of the early 20th century. I found it to be both beautiful and melancholy.
  
• Breakfast In Paris on April 08, 2013
  
  A clear example of great writing. This brilliant little gem accomplishes more in a couple of pages than others do in full novels.
  
• The Sleeper With The Restless Eyes Who Sleeps Beneath A Sleeper on April 09, 2013
  
  Good, spooky, menacing and evocative poem, with just a twinge of sadness. It reminded me of Lovecraft's The Outsider.
  
• The Sign of the Fiddler Crab on April 09, 2013
  
  The Sign of the Fiddler Crab is a wonderful story, and James Hampton is an extraordinary writer. This story is a frightening vision of a very possible future where the government controls everything--including behavior--through regulations. The writing is magnificent and fluid, and the story itself is beautiful and deeply moving.
  
• Images on April 11, 2013
  
  Surreal, heartbreaking and hallucinogenic science fiction story. This is a very ambitious and mature story, and it is well-told.
  
• The Ghost Of A Chance on April 11, 2013
  
  This one is an ambitious and epic story, richly imaginative and moving. If anything, I wanted more. Also, great cover.
  
• Boom on April 16, 2013
  
  A nice engaging story with strong philosophical undertones.
  
• Ride The Wild Worm on April 16, 2013
  
  Michael Carter is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors here. His sentences are very fluid, which makes his prose a sheer delight to read, and his imagination, while retaining traditional elements, is refreshingly unique.
  
• dancer, zero on April 20, 2013
  
  The writing needs to be smoothed out as some sentences are clearly awkward. Overall, however, the story is quite intriguing.
  
• Mourning The Sun on April 20, 2013
  
  This strange, richly imaginative, melancholy tale is one of the better short stories I've read this year.
  
• Hunting Comp. on April 27, 2013
  
  If Gene Roddenberry and Philip K. Dick ever had a baby, it would be this story. Fascinating, very smart, and entertaining.
  
• The Place Of The Shoggoths on April 29, 2013
  
  I love poetry that has nothing to do with love. This one is a nice, creepy little gem meant more for those familiar with the Cthulhu myth. Still, it is very strong in its own right and may introduce newbies to the great works of H.P. Lovecraft.
  
• Earthborn - Emergence on April 29, 2013
  
  Great imagination somewhat marred by weak grammar and quite a few spelling errors. Still, an enjoyable story.
  
• The Unforgettable Names Of the Forgotten Gods on May 03, 2013
  
  Darse Yole? Maybe I misinterpreted this, but when I read it, I laughed so hard I'm pretty sure I broke a rib. This is the most irreverent, funny story I've read this year. As far as spelling and grammar errors, if you set out specifically to look for them, I'm sure you will find some. Personally, I'm a stickler for grammar; however, I do realize that the purpose of grammar is not rule-following but clarity and understanding. This is a four-star story--it is that funny. Here's a little something about grammar: even among the greatest writers of all time, you will sometimes find grammar and spelling errors. And these are people with expensive editors. I just finished reading a collection of Sir Isaiah Berlin's essays,for example, and on his essay on Tolstoy, on the third page, a paragraph repeats itself and periods are missing on the first two sentences. It happens. Further, there are some writers who deliberately disregard the rules. Friedrich Nietzsche, considered one of Germany's greatest prose writers, pretty much ignored every rule of punctuation; yet, he is of all philosophers the easiest to read. Why? He understood that writing is about meaning, about making yourself understood, about sharing a subjective experience with another human being. Sorry about the mini-rant; great story. By the way, "Gelly Larts?" Freaking awesome.
  
• A round Shiny Object on May 03, 2013
  
  Flash fiction, to be effective, has to hit you between the eyes like a sledge hammer. This piece did not do this for me. It did not really accomplish anything, really. I can't mark it too low, however, because the writing itself is quite good. Still, nothing that occurs within the story connects with the reader.
  
• Little Straggler on May 03, 2013
  
  This was a nice kid's story with meaning.
  
• Out of a Cloud on May 03, 2013
  
  This was very beautiful--would definitely like to hear the song.
  
• The Plague on May 03, 2013
  
  Nice poem, daring and provocative. David Attenborough would definitely agree with this poem.
  
• When the Family Gathers on May 10, 2013
  
  Another great story from James Hampton, and, as usual, the writing is very good. This one is a character study, with a bit of social commentary.
  
• Halloween's Perfect Storm on May 16, 2013
  
  Tongue-in-cheek, a bit derivative, but enjoyable.
  
• He Who Drinks From Lethe... on May 16, 2013
  
  First of all, love the title. It is very evocative. Now, on to the story. Good writing, intriguing premise, and interesting characters, this is a very good and enjoyable story.
  
• Gandalf on May 16, 2013
  
  Well-written and, much more importantly, enjoyable. Gory, too, which I like.
  
• Esther's House on May 16, 2013
  
  For my taste, this is one of Michael Carter's best stories, in that it's very subtle and builds up slowly, and then keeps piling on the tension, bringing it to a boiling point, finally catering off in a very thoughtful manner.
  
• First Mistakes - A Guide For Smashwords Fiction Writers on May 17, 2013
  
  This very useful tutorial is quite brilliant and spot-on.
  
• Frank The Friendly Ogre on May 17, 2013
  
  Very nice and sweet, and well-written.
  
• Ya Can't Catch A Kipper With A Spider on June 10, 2013
  
  For my taste, this is one of Mr. Strickland's strongest stories. It is, of course, very funny but, also, thrilling. It has some nice tense moments. The narrative style, though tricky--I thought the guy was from Jersey, at first--is very effective, and the protagonist, though an egomaniac, is strangely endearing.
  
• Blue on June 18, 2013
  
  This magnificent and provocative science fiction story clearly demonstrates that Mr. Carter cares about his craft. The writing is clear and distinct, and the ideas presented herein are both fascinating and coherent. More, and this is the most important thing in fiction, the story is very enjoyable.
  
• Turning Point on June 18, 2013
  
  Very effective and enticing. Left me wanting to know more of this person, who she was, and what led her to this point.
  
• Ming Learns the Praying Mantis Kung Fu Technique, Tang Lang Ch'uan on June 20, 2013
  
  This is a nice little story that can be greatly expanded upon. There is enough material in these few pages to fill an entire novel. In fact, this story works very nicely as an outline for a novel.
  
• Tiffany on July 09, 2013
  
  Melancholy and romantic, and very well-written, with evocative language. It is very impressive to see how much Mr.Blake accomplishes with so few words. This is a very satisfying and moving story.
  
• Super Fred and his Sidekick, Super Charlotte on July 09, 2013
  
  Very nice action story for kids.
  
• The End Of Time on July 09, 2013
  
  Not bad, and I really liked the way the story was executed. There were, however, some awkward elements, such as point of view shifts. Overall, though, good story, very entertaining.
  
• The Old Trucker on July 09, 2013
  
  This is more like a scene or the opening of a story more than a story in its own right.It doesn't really have an impact; however, the writing is very good, which makes it enjoyable, after all.
  
• The Purple Planet on July 09, 2013
  
  This one is a tough one for me to rate because I really like the premise, yet it feels underdeveloped. The imagination on display here is first-rate; the writing, however, needs to slow down. It's the old adage of show, don't tell. There's an awful lot of telling in this story. It needs to slow down and go into detail--What are the names of the gods? How do they look? Still, I really appreciate the imagination.
  
• The Sensitive on July 09, 2013
  
  I really like this story. The quality of the writing is very high, and the story itself is emotionally engaging, and beautiful in a sorrowful sort of way.
  
• The Steps At Silloth on July 15, 2013
  
  Dazzling and hypnotic. Michael Carter's control of language never ceases to impress me. Here, in this story, his sentences achieve a melodic quality; more, the story is very good, great even. It is reminiscent of Lovecraft in his more hallucinogenic moods. Also, at least for me, I found there to be a touch of Robert E. Howard--although the story is very different, it reminded me of Children of the Night. Great story.
  
• The Box on Aug. 11, 2013
  
  Brilliant and melancholy, with a rare sensibility and a "The Lost Generation" outlook, but without the despair.
  
• It's The End Of The Universe As We Know It [And I Feel Scared] on Aug. 13, 2013
  
  This one made my day and put a smile on my face. Sci-fi comedy has rarely been funnier.
  
• A Week And A Day In The Lives Of Two Angry Young Men on Oct. 01, 2013
  
  By the Glorious Beast, this story made my day. Funny and vicious at the same time, I couldn't help laughing, even when I knew I shouldn't--large wooden spoon, indeed!
  
• A Little Vampire Story on Nov. 07, 2013
  
  This is one of the most entertaining vampire stories I've read in a long time, creatively subverting the genre and mixing in humor with pathos. Magnificent and highly imaginative. Very groovy.
  
• Oblivious on Feb. 18, 2014
  
  Michael Carter has written a magnificent and macabre horror story, dealing with the themes of cruelty and viciousness. This one greatly appeals to my sensibilities. Mr. Carter's use of imagery to create mood and atmosphere is wonderful. This is good horror.
  
• The Long Slog Back on Nov. 30, 2014
  
  This is one of my favorite of Mr. Strickland's stories. While still containing his trademark humor, it is a much deeper work. The Long Slog Back contains a pair of characters that upon first encounter seem little more than dimwits; however, as the story progresses these characters gain in stature, so that by the end I actually cared about them. This is a very good horror/comedy. After finishing the story, though, I was left with a strange craving for a pint.
  
• Twas A Good Day To Die on Jan. 06, 2015
  
  This one caught me by surprise. It was different from the other stories I've read by Mr. Strickland. The story not only surprised me, however, it greatly impressed me. This is a really good short story and excellently written; more, I would say that this is the most mature of Mr. Strickland's stories that I've read.
  
• The Graveyard's Retribution on Feb. 24, 2015
  
  Recently, Jonathan Antony Strickland has been going into dark places, and I, for my part, greatly enjoy this. The synthesis of elements--mystery, horror, suspense--in this story really worked for me. I especially liked the backstories of some of the characters. This was a fun read.
  
• The Monster in the Mirror on Feb. 26, 2015
  
  Brilliant portrayal of life without the illusions. The writing, as usual, is very good. The story is both evocative and thought-provoking. Nicely done.
  
• The King of the Dumps on Dec. 28, 2015
  
  This is one of the funniest stories I've read all year. It made me spill my coffee. Great story that starts with a melancholy vibe and then switches beautifully into uproarious comedy. Really nice.
  
• My Idea For An Ideal Heaven on Aug. 18, 2016
  
  The best grumpy story I've ever read.