Short Story Review: 'H' by Stefan Bourque

Stefan Bourque's short story, 'H,' is available on his website, www.darkwriter.com as a free download. It can be downloaded for free here.

Welcome to a horror writer's playground. Welcome to 'H.'

Some people have found this story to be controversial or offensive. I find it to be neither. Dark? Yes. Twisted? Absolutely. Controversial? Maybe, but that's just because of the taboo subject matter. Offensive? No. Rather, 'H' is a very raw, up close and personal story about what happens to a man when his crush on an office coworker crosses over into obsession. The subject matter is serious, no doubt, but the story itself is not meant to be taken too seriously.

'H' is a story of pure, unadulterated, unbridled obsession, and what lengths a person is willing to go to fulfill that obsession. If you have ever read a newspaper headline about somebody doing something so ridiculous, so outlandish that you wondered aloud, "What on earth was that guy thinking?" then 'H' is the explanation and thought pattern that led up to the deed.

Written in first person, one cannot escape the powerful imagery that 'H' subjects its readers to. Its subject matter is very adult, and if it had to be given a rating, it would be X-rated. It is not for the faint of heart, for the squeamish, for the uptight or for the close-minded individual. In a way never seen before, Bourque opens up the male psyche for public viewing. Don't say you were not warned!

After reading 'H,' you may never look at your coworkers the same way again. While Bourque never implies that this is how all men think, he does imply that moderation in thought is key to moderation in deeds. When moderation gets thrown out the window and fantasy takes over, it can have disastrous consequences.