A Visit to the Catacombs
by J. Weintraub
"J. Weintraub is a connoisseur of the human soul
and the thousand shadows residing there."
~ Nicola Lombardi, author of The Gypsy Spiders and Other Tales of Italian Horror
in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited
This book is appropriate for teenagers 16 and older.
"Welcome to the catacombs of via Altamontivecchi, the grandest and one of the most ancient in the world. For those of you who have booked in advance, please step inside, I trust you have all signed the waiver as instructed? Good. The visit will of a long duration. Now, please hand over your tickets..."
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So we are introduced to our visit into this collection of dark, curious, and strange stories from the mind of J. Weintraub. Mr. Weintraub - author, dramatist, poet, and translator - has been writing and publishing speculative fiction for over forty years, and this collection offers the best of those efforts. You will find an eclectic mix of imaginative work, plunging us into the depths of our primal fears and intellectual curiosity to great effect.​
​An experiment in unnatural selection leads to an unusual method for extermination in "Roach."
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Adopting a feral cat changes a man's sanity in "Vixen."
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The Red River Canyon Mystery Tour is open, but Diane wants to peek into the exit to see if it looks interesting in "The Theater of Infinite Delight."
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Our interest, curiosity, and caution for intelligent species outside our galaxy are piqued in "Jenn's Gift."
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A pitiless voice from the dead-letter office haunts us in
"To David, on Death Row."​
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From supernatural to science fiction, from the psychological to the sarcastic, you will be led deeper and deeper into the dark and the unknown. If a particular story doesn't move you or provoke a shiver or an uncomfortable thought, you are sure to find those that do as you accompany Mr. Weintraub on his unrelenting descent into the catacombs.
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So please, stay with the group and avoid curious wanderings.
We want you to enjoy your visit!
About the Author
J. Weintraub's fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in many literary journals and reviews such as The New Criterion as well as in regional and specialty publications such as The Chicago Reader and Gastronomica. Many of his pieces have been anthologized, and he has received awards for fiction and creative nonfiction from the Illinois Arts Council, the Barrington Arts Council, and Holy Names University. He has been an Around-the-Coyote poet and a StoneSong poet and is a member of the Dramatists Guild with over fifty dramatic works produced throughout the United States and internationally. He has also translated numerous texts, including introducing international horror writers to the English language. He has a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Chicago.
More at jweintraub.weekly.com.
Praise for J. Weintraub
"J. Weintraub is a connoisseur of the human soul and the thousand shadows residing there. His stories - quiet, introspective, yet with sharp edges - dig to the bottom, reaching down to the nerves of readers and dragging them into a confrontation with the metaphysical twilight of heart and mind. Truly a storyteller at the highest level."
~ Nicola Lombardi,
author of The Gypsy Spiders and Other Tales of Italian Horror
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"This is such a beautiful, beautiful piece and I absolutely love it! The ending is profound in its abject simplicity and this will be a proud addition to our anthology!"
~ On "Jenn's Gift" from Jay Chakravarti,
editor of Cosmic Contact: Science Fiction & Fantasy
of First Contact Stories
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"The story ['A Visit to the Catacombs'] struck a chord with me with the themes of dark historic past, sects and worship, darkness, isolation... Thank you for this chilling story!"
~ Florin Stoehr