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Ashley Franz Holzmann
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The Laws of Nature: A Collection of Short Stories of Horror, Anxiety, Tragedy and Loss Kindle Edition

by Ashley Franz Holzmann (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 73
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Discover that horror has more than one meaning, and how it often is just a footfall behind you in “Laws of Nature.” Coming from the mind of Ashley Franz Holzmann, this anthology is sure to provide you with equal parts terror, anxiety, nostalgia, and depravity as you explore a universe that is both horrific and, at points, familiar. Holzmann’s stories pull on your heartstrings and draw you into a world that will force you to acknowledge your fears, allow you to cuddle with them, and ultimately leave you feeling more human afterwards.
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  1. Print length
    168 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 13, 2014
  5. File size
    1465 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

There is a dark side to human nature that neither can be wished away nor completely mitigated. Ashley Holzmann details just several of these "Laws of Nature" before taking his readers on a journey through the bizarre, the terrifying, and, ultimately, the disturbingly real truths that underlie much of modern American life.

Ashley makes his debut into the horror genre with "The Stump," a story about an afternoon trot through the woods that quickly becomes a blood bath--and, much as it does for that story's creature, the scent of fear will only lure veteran horror readers further through the forest. A teenager's vanity will likely cause his town to be consumed by a roaming swarm of insects that burst forth from his acne-riddled skin in "White Heads;" entire populations vanish into the void of the Alaskan tundra in "Glass Houses;" and superiority takes the form of a murdering, sadistic woman in "Lady Macbeth."

But Ashley's best retellings focus less on gore and adrenaline and instead take human psychology as their medium, as demonstrated in "Plastic Glasses," where readers are brought into a world of disturbing personality and mental disorders. Ashley's work abounds with stories in this vein, stories which grab a hold of a common failing--such as marital friction in "Hush," or American male frustration in "Orpheus's Lot"--and take it to an extreme that is nevertheless not inconceivable for most people.

Coming from the mind of a man who has experienced more than his fair share of humanity, "The Laws of Nature" is, at its finest, a description of universal emotions of loss, nostalgia, anxiety, and soul-penetrating terror. Ashley's stories elicit empathy from his readers and draw them into worlds where they both acknowledge and cuddle with their fears and which leave them, ultimately, more human.

About the Author

Ashley Franz Holzmann was born in Okinawa, Japan and raised in a variety of countries while his parents served in the Air Force. He considered attending art school, but is instead a graduate of West Point, where he enjoyed intramural grappling and studying systems engineering and military history. He majored in sociology and is currently a captain in the Army. Ashley speaks Korean, enjoys backpacking, and is the cook in his family. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, two sons, and their two dogs.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00R0JFFK4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ As For Class; 1st edition (December 13, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1465 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 73

About the author

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Ashley Franz Holzmann

Ashley Franz Holzmann

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

A boy named Sue, named Ashley. Born of veterans in foreign lands and raised around the world, he now lives in North Carolina with his wife, three children and a Great Dane named Rhino.

Ashley enjoys writing in a variety of genres, from horror to military satire, science fiction, and non-fiction.

Visit 30press.com to learn more.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
73 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Not the usual easy read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
I read this book in almost one sitting many months ago. I intended to write a review right away, but instead loaned the book out and neglected to submit a review when I should have..... when it was fresh in my mind. Instead, I'm going to submit my review based on the stories which still stick in my mind months after having read them. Unfortunately, I haven't received the book back yet, so cannot tell you what the name of the stories were which so haunt me. The first story was about a truck driver who had the very unfortunate experience of being the large object which someone intent upon suicide chose to step in front of. A couple of stories deal with parenthood, and I felt the author's very profound and sensitive attachment to the subject. As a parent myself, they developed a kinship between me and the author because I believed "he got it". The author has a very expressive way of presenting internal, emotional conflict secondary to the events of the stories. Makes the reader think for themselves as to how the subjects of the stories might have felt, what might have been going on inside their heads, or how they might have been just a bit... or maybe a lot.... left of center in their psychological state. I very much enjoyed and highly recommend this book if you'd like a good read which entertains even as it disturbs your sense of security.
2 people found this helpful
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Auverus
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
An enjoyable collection of Creepypasta style stories from one of the writers featured on NoSleep.
One person found this helpful
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Aaron
5.0 out of 5 stars Would I recommend it? Yes
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Not quite sure the feelings I'm having after reading this book. The stories made me feel as though I was the one living them and afterwards I felt emotionally drained. I realized that I am not a person who thinks of the things that are in this story and because of that I am unsure how I would describe this to other readers. Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Would I read it again? Don't think so. The author is creative and insightful and understands exactly how to manipulate the reader. For the majority of these stories, I never saw it coming. I anticipated what I thought would happen but it never turned out the way. I suppose that's a good thing. So if you're looking for a book and stories to make you think, possibly keep you up at night then you've found the right author and the right book. I look forward to what this guy turns out next. I'll buy it, read it, recommend it, and never read it again. So...good luck.
7 people found this helpful
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LJS
2.0 out of 5 stars Not very good
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
Stories aren't great. Most are just about how horrible women are. Can tell this was self published.
One person found this helpful
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T. Bridgewater
5.0 out of 5 stars Unanticipated Enjoyment
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2015
Verified Purchase
I am not one who normally goes for horror, but was recommended this book by a friend. I was pleasantly surprised by what I had read. Each short story (from as little as 1 page to 10) was not overflowing with gore. Instead the author allowed situations and scenarios we have all experienced to become something more, he wrote about all the shadows we have believed to be monsters. Personally this made each story better than I had anticipated, I had braced for gore, I was unprepared for the subtlety the author displayed. I hope the author considers writing a full length novel, these stories have merely whet the appetite. If you enjoy your horror with with a dash of suspense and a dose of realism, I would absolutely recommend this anthology to you.
3 people found this helpful
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R. Eggert
5.0 out of 5 stars Unnatural Nature
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
Horror is my entertainment read and Holzmann's short stories are those quick fix thrills. The beauty of the short story is the ease of reading, but the richness of lasting imagery. I really enjoyed the author's commentaries gifting me with the insight to where the bogey man comes from in his life. I'm looking forward to his promise to develop some of these shorts into novels and give a place to disappear into over a weekend.
2 people found this helpful
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Greg at 2 Book Lovers Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Gave me the taste for more.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2015
For this review, I am going to have to take a step back and put myself in the shoes of an aspiring author. I’ve got some stories that I want to tell. I’ve put endless hours of time and thought into these stories. I want to know if I have it, that skill of an author to bring people into my world and make them feel what I feel. How should I do this? I’ll take these stories that I have and release them as a collection of short stories so that readers can get to know me as an author.

This really is a great idea. Ashley Franz Holzmann has put together a great collection of horror stories. He has demonstrated himself to be a very cerebral horror writer. I really got a sense of what I would get from a full length novel. And this is where I have my problem as a reader. Ashely Franz Holzmann is a very talented writer, he has the ability to create fantastic characters and create enthralling worlds. I just wanted more from them, a better connection to the characters and a fully developed story. To put it bluntly, the short stories were too damn short.

It’s great to see new, talented authors venturing into the publishing world, who are willing to push the limits and try something different. If you enjoy short horror stories, then The Laws of Nature would be perfect for you. But if you’re like me, I’ll be looking forward to a full length novel from Ashley Franz Holzmann, one that I can really sink my teeth into.

*3.5 Stars​
One person found this helpful
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Bobby
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read! If youre feeling skeptical
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
Amazing read! If youre feeling skeptical, believe me, so was I. But read "The Stump", the first short story in the book and you. WILL. BE. HOOKED! Its everything Dean Koontz wanted to say in a book, but couldn't. Its the kind of spooky where you wonder, "Is this guy serious?!" Who gave this guy permission to make me taste bile? The author lends more than my imagination can handle, and I cannot get enough of it. Great book!
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mayú Guillén
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro.
Reviewed in Mexico on December 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Excelente producto, apenas comencé a leerlo, la estética y tacto de la portada son muy bonitos, y por 18 pesos, ¿cómo dejarlo pasar?
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