Long Term Damage is a collection of short stories by Billy Hanson. These stories follow characters who often find themselves in adverse situations with long-lasting ramifications. A man in Hell faces Satan without fear or remorse until Satan finds a new way to torture him. A powerful patriarch of an affluent family suddenly finds himself at the mercy of his two-year-old grandson's dangerous games. A young girl goes out into the woods with her little brother in search of a missing high school boy and encounters two dogs she used to know as puppies. A young woman aggravates an old lady while catching a cab ride in traffic, which leads her on a nightmarish journey of a lifetime. A man struggles with the choice to shave off his carefully cultivated beard, and for good reason.

Dark and twisted, Long Term Damage is a gripping collection of short stories that shed light on human behavior in catastrophic conditions. Drenched in horror, mystery, suspense, and intrigue, these tales explore the darker aspects of the human condition by putting the protagonists in extraordinary situations that have disastrous consequences. Author Billy Hanson has masterfully crafted these stories, and they hook you in from the get-go and keep you glued to the pages until the end. Despite the dark and foreboding narrative tone, some of these tales are also infused with a healthy dose of black comedy. You might find yourself laughing at some inopportune moments while reading. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology, and if you love unpredictable stories with mounting tension and horror, you will too!

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson is an anthology of dark, chilling stories that explore the sudden moments and long-buried decisions capable of shattering lives. Each tale delves into the unsettling side of human nature, whether it’s young siblings stumbling upon sudden horrors, a woman trapped in nightmarish traffic, or an aging criminal confronting his chequered past. Hanson's stories are filled with tension, fear, and emotional intensity, offering a blend of the terrifying and the poignant in equal measure. With elements of suspense and dark humor aplenty, this collection keeps readers on edge, contemplating the fragility of life and the weight of choices whilst giving them a good old-fashioned tingle down the spine too. This collection of seven meaty stories captures the unpredictability of life with tension that lingers long after each story ends. This is not the typical shock horror collection because of how deeply personal the characters feel, allowing their emotional and psychological reactions to dark situations to resonate with readers' own worst fears and anticipation of unknown disasters.

My personal favorite of the collection was ‘Puppies’, where the jarring violent imagery of the characters’ experiences was so unsettling, balanced against the younger characters and their innocence of the grim situation around them. I had my heart in my throat through the whole chain of horrifying events. Billy Hanson's vivid and often graphic descriptions are well-placed and never feel overused or gratuitous. These suitably shocking moments make his worlds terrifyingly real, immersing readers in each character’s nightmare while pushing the boundaries of fear and discomfort at just the right moments. I was also impressed by the variety in tone between different stories, offering sharp shifts of character that help readers settle into a new tale immediately, showcasing Hanson’s versatility in shifting emotional landscapes, but also consistently offering the confident tone of an author who knows what he’s doing. Overall, Long Term Damage is a must-read for horror story fans seeking something deep and accomplished that will linger long after reading.

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson is an anthology of original short stories that hinge on a common theme: how short-term, snap decisions can cause long-term problems. The stories range in length, tone, and tenor. In Fresh Hell, Curtis Booker faces a powerful entity after death, confronting painful memories of his violent past and the difficulties he endured in life, leading to a shocking conclusion when payment for his sins comes due. Meanwhile, The Burden follows Trip O'Leary, who has no choice but to juggle his demanding construction job and his passion for piano. As he comes to terms with disappointment after a not-great audition and a strained relationship with his father, Trip's future is thrown into doubt when a tragic accident irrevocably alters his path. All told, Hanson's stories lean into the connective tissue of the human experience, past and present.


Billy Hanson’s Long Term Damage is a fantastic collection of exceptional storytelling. Each is unique and creatively crafted, with surprisingly deep character development given the size of each read. My personal favorite is It’ll Grow Back, which takes readers through one man's internal struggle over shaving his beloved beard—a symbol of his identity. Stuck between his true personal attachment and the desire to please his girlfriend, it is another tale culminating in a shocking twist that hammers home the unforeseen consequences of seemingly simple decisions. Hanson does well in balancing horror with moments of introspection and dramatic turns. Overall, Long Term Damage is a masterclass in the art of irony, and one of the best suspense anthologies I've come across this year, leaving a lasting impact on readers long after the final page. Very highly recommended.

What we do with our lives boils down to the decisions we make as individuals. Sometimes, those decisions can push us to the zenith of our ambitions, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20, and that run of good fortune often turns out to be the exception and not the rule. A single uninformed decision becomes the first domino in a falling cascade of bad choices we wish we never made. Read along and discover how a man's final meeting with the Grim Reaper does not go the way both parties anticipated, an ill-timed taxi ride takes a rude young woman on the ride of her life, and a grandfather's inordinate ambition to make an honest man out of his grandchild almost costs him his life in Billy Hanson's Long Term Damage.

Long Term Damage is a collection of short stories about learning to appreciate the importance of every decision we make. Billy Hanson establishes solid origin stories for every character in this exciting anthology. The dialogue is easy to follow and, courtesy of his unique approach to storytelling in many instances, comes off as downright comedic despite its generally dark overtones. The author begins with a sequence of ordinary events, skillfully building the tension with a graduated pace until even something as fundamental as making the wrong turn on the street turns into a terrifying experience that will quickly pique the interest of horror and suspense fans. Hanson shows his mastery of the art of the scare with this one-of-a-kind anthology. I enjoyed reading Long Term Damage.

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson is a collection of stories that explore the darker side of humanity. From an encounter with the devil that doesn’t go the way you think it will to a grumpy, judgmental grandfather who got what he wanted most unexpectedly, the stories in this collection are interesting, and they always come with a twist. That was part of the running theme through each story, yet each one offered a different perspective on it that was oddly satisfying. Each story was well written and so descriptive that I felt as if I’d been thrown right into it with the characters. With a collection, of course, some will be better than others, but overall, each story was solidly written, intriguing, and engaging. I found Dolly disturbing and so entertaining that I would read it again, even knowing how it ends.

Long Term Damage offers a chance to look at the world in a different, albeit darker way. Author Billy Hanson has written a grim but incredibly creative and interesting collection of tales about human nature. While the darkness paints the picture, it is what lies just underneath that makes the stories so much fun. The lessons learned always pack an impactful punch that is simply unforgettable. Each story exists in a world of its own, and reading the entire collection at once made for compelling, if slightly uncomfortable, entertainment. It may seem full of darkness and bad things, but at the end of each tale, I found myself smiling because I enjoyed the ride so much.

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson is a well-written book that consists of seven compelling yet often intense stories. These stories explore the nightmares and dark experiences that stem from the consequences of past mistakes. In the first story, Curtis Booker, after a fall, finds himself in a strange place where nothing matters, surrounded by dark, rocky cliffs on both sides. A creature confronts him, tormenting him physically and unleashing flashes of pain, suffering, and fear that recall memories from his past life. In another story, Richard is disappointed by his grandson’s name, Connie, which he considers effeminate for the family business. As the story progresses, Richard suffers a stroke, and Connie grows increasingly brutal and violent as he is possessed by Dolly, a gift he receives from Richard. This book also contains five other stories that leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Reading these stories felt like seeing a movie in my imagination due to the vivid descriptions of the scenes. I love how the author handles suspense and flashbacks in a way that kept me connected to each story's initial context. This proves Billy to be a skilled and experienced writer. The writing is detailed, straightforward, and easy to comprehend. The stories are well-organized, well-paced, and engaging from start to finish. Although the stories were fictional, I loved that they captured some reality I could relate to. This collection features themes of pride, horror, fear, guilt, and more. I recommend Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson to anyone who enjoys suspense and horror.

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson features a fascinating compilation of seven short stories that begins with a confrontation with evil personified (Fresh Hell), followed by stories that include a most unusual doll (Dolly), growing up with puppies (Puppies), living with long-term guilt (The Burden), a taxi ride where time increases at exponential speed (Bad Traffic), to a hard-to-make decision (It'll Grow Back), and reliving experiences in a local roadside diner (Corner Booth). It concludes in a classic case of poetic justice. Author Billy Hanson has created a storytelling roller coaster that keeps you locked in to the very last page.

It's an exceptional writer who can take everyday events, set the stage with realistic, believable characters, locations, and situations, and then infuse them with extraordinary acts and events that merge psychological horror with real-life events, transforming them into the ethereal through heightened awareness, the imaginative blurring of reality, and/or emotional responses. That same exceptional writer can demonstrate how horror stories need not be brutally violent or graphic to create the kick that draws true horror fans to the genre. Another talent that only the most talented authors achieve is describing a scene with the characters involved, linking it perfectly with the previous and subsequent events without slowing down the all-important pace of the overall story plotlines. Billy Hanson possesses these talents in spades. As a reader who seldom finds a book that keeps me turning the pages in one sitting, Hanson hooked me at page one and released me only at the last word of the final story. I will certainly look forward to more from Billy Hanson in the future.

In Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson, when Curtis meets the devil, he is cool, calm, and collected, but then events somersault into a different paradigm. Richard is furious that his grandson is called Connie and upset when he is given a doll for his birthday. Replacing it with a masculine version with evil characteristics leads to a horrifying conclusion. Playing with cute puppies takes on a different encounter when they are grown and their owner dies. It’s a terrifying lesson for Lena and Walt as they fight for their lives. Trip O’Leary accepts his award from the Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his building empire. But wasn’t it his ambition to become a world-famous concert pianist? What happened is both brutal and shocking. To please Carla and appear worthy of her at an important event, her boyfriend shaves off his beard with disastrous consequences. When Chelsea rudely pushes an elderly woman out of the way as she grabs a New York cab, it is the last thing she should have done. The last story features a criminal on the run taking refuge in an all-night diner. His interactions with other customers pose the question: Is there more than one side to any one of us?

When you begin to read Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson, be prepared to be intrigued, horrified, and shocked. In this collection of seven short stories, the author highlights every human emotion. The author has chosen an excellent title. Decisions made by the leading characters are so unexpected and shocking. The conclusion to decisions made or forced on the leading characters illustrates retribution in its finest form. I loved the fast pace of all the tales, the climax build-up in each one, and the endings. Were they all deserved? Only you can judge, but I thoroughly enjoyed them and was surprised more than once. Human characteristics are highlighted, and even the unlikeable and disreputable characters crept into my heart. Recommended for those who enjoy horror stories with a twist. A good read, well worth five stars.

Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson is a collection of seven short horror stories that explore deep emotional and odd traumatic experiences people face. The first story, "Fresh Hell," is about Curtis Booker, a man who dies and wakes up in a dark, strange place where he meets the Devil, who tries to make him suffer for all the bad things he did. It then moves to the story "Dolly," where Richard, a rich man, is irritated by his grandson's name and attitude of playing with a doll. He wants his toddler grandson, Connie, to man up, so he exposes him to more masculine toys, which leads to a tragic event. Other stories like "The Burden," "Puppies," "Bad Traffic," "It'll Grow Back," and "Corner Booth" show shocking and emotional moments with themes of choice, pain, time shifts, and the consequences of one's past actions.

The writing style is raw, detailed, and full of tension. I love the story about Richard and his grandson Connie. It shows how toddlers can be and how family pressure, like Richard's focus on masculinity, can cause pain. Stories like "Fresh Hell" and "Bad Traffic" were very creepy, and the way the scenes were explained in detail made them even scarier. The story, "The Burden," hit me hard. It's all about giving up dreams for a brutal ritual that comes with good fortune. The way Hanson combined real-life situations with horror themes is fascinating. Long Term Damage by Billy Hanson shows how small choices can cause lasting harm. It is not for readers with fragile minds or who get scared easily. I recommend it to readers who love horror stories that show human struggles and the lasting impacts of choices.