The Classic Monsters Series by Ye Olde Dragon Press starts with a classic monster and then twists the theme. This continues with The Invisible Files: Classic Monster Series #4. The twist must be a departure from the tried and true. For the Invisible Files anthology, The Invisible Man (or Woman) is the subject. Is the anthology about invisibility, a monster, or a combination of both?
The first story and the last are foundational on what the anthology is trying to achieve. Yet, they couldn’t be more different. In the initial entry named “Ghosts, Pizza, and other Comforts,” a girl is learning the ropes on her first job in a world with superheroes. This is a modest tale of friendship and acceptance with invisible shenanigans occurring to spice it up. In the last one, “The House of Hidden Faces (Or, The Invisible Landlord),” a cast-out group of people gather at a strange house with an invisible host. Being outside at night is dangerous, yet the owner of the house accepts them without charge, only work. This tale is larger in scale than all the others but just as personal.
In the middle of the book, we have two stories that highlight the magical whimsy of invisibility and its horror—a nice juxtaposition of the theme. In “To Unsee the Seen” by Michelle L. Levigne, the reader is treated to a taste of what invisibility hijinx a person may get up to in a fantasy world of animated armor and sentient breezes. In “The Experiment” by Deborah Cullins Smith, the narrative explores what happens if someone is tricked into becoming invisible, and the tragic consequences that may follow. “The Funeral Crashers” by Stoney M. Setzer continues the series in Sardis County where weird occurrences happen. Now, they have an invisible man legend. In “Justice Unseen,” Jordan Campbell explores a potential application of invisibility. And “Hidden in Plain Sight” by D. A. Randall puts a twist on what it means to be invisible (very creative).
Heartfelt stories exist here too. “The Invisible Boy” by Jessica A. Tanner explores how invisible we feel when we aren’t seen (more Ellison than Wells). “The First” by Rosemarie DiCristo and Pam Halter details a wild tale of family lost and regained. Very creative. And “Erwin” is cut from Alfred Hitchcock’s tapestry of suspense and shock—absorbing and hard to put down.
Returning to our question of is the anthology about invisibility, a monster, or a solid combination of both? Yes, yes, and definitely. The anthology is a combination of heart, horror, adventure, and—most importantly—relatable stories. You’ll want to turn invisible so you won’t be disturbed while reading this anthology.