Monday, July 20, 2015

Great advice from Josh Malerman, Author of the Award Winning Novel "Bird Box."

It's okay (it's great) if your book doesn't follow the rules. I don't mean the rules of grammar or story arc. Break...

Posted by Josh Malerman on Monday, July 20, 2015

Friday, July 10, 2015

Book Review: In The Fishbowl, We Bleed by Jeremy C. Shipp

In the Fishbowl, We BleedIn the Fishbowl, We Bleed by Jeremy C. Shipp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jeremy C. Shipp has always been one of my favorite authors. I have read everything he has published and had the honor of attending one of his writing workshops. His imagination and story telling prowess is unmatched. When I saw the Facebook notification that "In The Fishbowl, We Bleed" was released, I snagged it right away. "...Fishbowl..." is a collection of nine short stories that show Shipp at the top of his game. every story is brilliant and terrifying. Shipp has found new ways to scare me that I didn't know were possible. I really couldn't pick a favorite out of this collection as each one is as good as the last. Here's a brief, spoiler free, synopsis of each story.

The Tubes - In a futuristic society the naked bodies of people proclaimed enemies of the state flow through transparent tubes as a reminder of what will happen to them if the do not obey the law.

Nubs - a man with a sinister doll collection has neglected his wife for so long that she takes drastic steps to become part of his life again.

Shade - an adulterous man is stalked by a mysterious shadow creature that can materialize anywhere at any time.

The Stills - Humans are catheterized as used as displays in the homes of the ultra-wealthy. At a dinner party, something goes very wrong and the results are terrifying and bloody.

Balloon Boy - I love Jeremy Shipp's Attic Clowns. In this take a boy seeks revenge on the bully who killed his tortoise with the help of an undead clown.

The Worm Men - In a world infested by mysterious worms, a woman hears the sins of people and in exchange receives free pest control. The surprise ending in this story is brilliant.

Feet – To call this tale disturbing is an understatement. It involves a stolen foot and two beings, Jester Blue and Jester Red, who are painted like court jester and kept in an attic. The story is told from the perspective of Jester Blue.

Masks – This story continues the story line from “Feet” but is told from the perspective of Jester Red and is even more terrifying. It’s like a fever dream that never stops.

Crawl – In the final story, a young woman in need of money to care for her brother is hired to behave human hamster for a depraved wealthy man.

Many themes repeat themselves through Shipp’s stories. He writes about the repression of the poor by the mega wealthy, about women who are neglected, and about innocent children forced to endure bullying and abuse. We are all just creatures in a fishbowl, controlled by cruel masters and then done away with when we become boring. Each of the stories is beautiful in its own disturbing way, and Jeremy C. Shipp has never been better.






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Monday, July 6, 2015

Book Review Depths by C.S. Burkhart

DepthsDepths by C.S. Burkhart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Depths" is a deeply disturbing trip through the mind of a person suffering from sleep deprivation, somnambulism, sleep paralysis, and night terrors. It is a horrifying vision of the real world blending into the nightmare world as the line between what is real and what is just a dream shatters. The story is even more terrifying as it is told in a rambling first person style that makes you feel you are locked in a small room with this person while to try to fill you in on what is happening to them as best they can.

"Depths" is startlingly original horror and will work its way into your subconscious and make you feel a little uneasy as you settle in for what you hope is a good night's sleep and not the soul crushing hell the book's main character goes through every time is falls asleep.




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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Book Review: The Poet's Song: Poetry from a troubled youth by Matthew Williams


It's not often I read book outside of the horror genre that is so good, I feel the need to blog about it. In its own way, this collection of poems could be considered horror as it expresses the horror of growing up black and gay in the ghettos of Philadelphia. It's amazing.

The Poet's song: Poetry from a troubled youthThe Poet's song: Poetry from a troubled youth by Matthew Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I will never say I understand what it means to be black in America. Yes, I grew up in a single parent home. Yes, I grew up poor, dirt poor. But I grew up in a dirt poor, single parent white neighborhood. I grew up on what was considered the "right" side of racial strife. I grew up where racial slurs were tossed without hesitation. If it had not been for the integration of schools where I learned that Black Americans laughed, cried, and bled exactly the same as I did, I would have turned out to be a horrible person just like the woman who raised me. I am thankful everyday for the freedom that turning your back on racism brings. I would never demean a Black American by telling them I understand their plight. Because I don't and I can't.

Reading "The Poets Song..." is a heartbreaking experience. Mr. Williams writes about not only growing up black in inner city Philadelphia (you know the part of town that was bombed by its own mayor in 1985 because of a black separatist group known as MOVE), but writes about what is was like to grow up gay AND black in inner city Philly. These are bleak poems coming from a place of pain that most people could not escape. While sad, painful, and angry, the poems also demonstrate the author's hope and determination to rise above and triumph over the odss that have been stacked against him.

Some of the poems are celebratory too. Like "New Love" dedicated to his newborn niece.

This is an amazing collection and deserves, no, demands your attention.




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