Customer Reviews

BADASS HORROR

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dybbuk Press doesn't suffer from the Sophomore slump with its second anthology, Badass Horror. Following in the entertaining, if rather uneven, footsteps of its Freshman effort, Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre, Badass is a solid collection of tales set in the noir side of nightmare. The best stories are Pool Sharks, featuring a game of pool that turns into a battle for survival, Hardboiled Stiff, wherein a zombified private detective solves his own murder, and All the Pretty Girls, about a very special wreck of a car hidden in the desert. Less effective, but still making for worthwhile reading, are the stories Moving Pictures, where a tough guy does battle with a tougher tattoo, and The Essences, about an insurance fraud investigator who finds the very essence of humanity, and wishes he hadn't. Badass isn't bad at all, it's quite good, in fact. Recommended.

Ok. First off, I'm biased. I published this book. I paid the writers. I will make money if you buy it (hopefully enough to pay the writers some royalties). I'm sure you will find more critical reviews above and below this one. However, I did not edit the book and I didn't pick out or write any of the stories. The editors sold me on the book after they had done most of the work.

What originally sold me on the anthology was Gerard Brennan's "Pool Sharks" - a story about a night playing pool that turns violent. Brennan has an ability to pack a lot of action into very few words. It reminded me of the scaled down, back-to-the-basics, let's kill the 5 hour guitar solo once and for all aesthetic of 70s punk. Brennan doesn't waste time on meaningless characterization or cliche atmosphere. He says what he has to say and moves on and the overall effect is extremely powerful.

To carry the punk metaphor further, Michael Boatman's "Bloodbath at Landsdale Towers" (love the reference) is the British "spit on the audience and poop on stage" punk. It's raw and offensive and Boatman has a great enthusiasm in making up descriptions like "as angry as a Republican with a snake up his..."

After reading these two stories, I agreed to publish the book. I was not disappointed when Chris and Mike gave me the finished product. To sum up the rest of the pieces - Garry Kilworth's story is funny. Michael Hemmingson's zombie detective novella is one of the most original zombie stories I've read in a long time. I'm always impressed with Ronald Damien Malfi's writing style (or envious). Gord Rollo's story is a great tough guy piece in the Breslin style and Davin Ireland's story is extremely thought-provoking.

So yeah. Buy it. I need to eat.

The second book from Tim Lieder's Dybbuk Press, the follow-up to the solid anthology edited by Lieder, Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre, is another anthology of horror stories (more or less) edited by Michael Stone and Christopher J. Hall. Gerard Brennan starts off the volume with "Pool Sharks," a story where metaphor meets extreme violence when Northern Ireland meets the south in a game of pool to the death. Brennan's tale reeks of authenticity (I get the feeling he's spent a good deal of time in pool halls) and moves quickly, up until its ending, where it turns philosophical and trite and just about loses all the punch it brought in the beginning. Endings are notoriously hard, but this one was too soft.

Next up is Garry Kilworth's "The Stray," an is-it-or-isn't-it, what-am-I-supposed-to-be-thinking kind of tale about a fellow named Tom who hangs around a brothel. To say much more would give the point away, but it's kind of a one-joke piece anyway. Kilworth is a solid wordsmith, though, and doesn't waste time getting to the point. My main complaint is that it's not a horror tale (but, then, Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre wasn't the epitome of truth in advertising, either).

Then, "Hardboiled Stiff" by Michael Hemmingson ups the title factor significantly. Hemmingson offers up a blend of the private-eye and zombie genres that works surprisingly well. Arthur Gideon awakens with two bullet holes in his chest, covered with dirt, no memory, and a inexplicable craving for fresh brains. We follow Gideon as he discovers how he got into this state, finding things out as he does. Hemmingson throws in some necrophilia for good measure (dead guys have needs, too!), but the effect is lessened by the fact that the whole thing reads like a first draft. (Editors, don't be afraid to do your jobs, even for someone so widely published.)

Next comes the highlight of the anthology, "All the Pretty Girls" by Ronald Damien Malfi. Some people worship cars, but monastery groundskeeper Pablo Santiago is taking things a little bit too far. Malfi really knows his craft, creating a protagonist who remains engaging no matter his actions, a gripping premise, and a good measure of suspense toward how it will all turn out. The conclusion is direct and fits all the pieces together, and though the here-we-go-again epilogue is cliche (it has become a standard of the horror genre), it actually imparts more needed information for the reader. Plus, he has a real ear for dialogue, giving each character a discernible speech pattern. "All the Pretty Girls" is like Mary Poppins: "practically perfect in every way."

But Davin Ireland's "The Essences" really gives it a run for it money. There's real storytelling brilliance here. The beginning is not only a grabber, but is also cleverly deceptive -- and I love surprises in fiction; they are so rare. A stakeout gone awry leads Paul Gemson onto the abandoned thirteenth floor of an office building, and to the Keeper of the Essences. The pure imagination involved in this story was stunning and it is not only readable but also brought back memories of old-time radio with its taut delivery. My only complaint is that it should have ended (as I thought) prior to the accompanying illustration, instead of (as I discovered the next day) on the following page. That last page does nothing for the tale itself and its meandering tone actually detracts from it.

(Speaking of the illustrations, there are eight that appear throughout the book by artist Federico Dallochio, and some are repeated on the book's final pages. Every story is illustrated -- except "The Stray," and for good reason -- and "Pool Sharks" and "All the Pretty Girls" each get two, if you include the cover. They don't all come off equally well, though; the monochromatic design of the book often makes the blacks too black and the whites too white, causing a loss of detail. They are successful as often as not, however, and are a good addition to the anthology.)

I first read Gord Rollo's work in an anthology called Tooth and Claw, Volume One that put humans "at the bottom of the food chain." Rollo's piece in that anthology, "Friends of a Forgotten Man," focused on an uncommon manner of revenge, as does his story here. "Moving Pictures" is the story of Ronnie, a protection-racket enforcer trying to redeem himself to his boss, extorting a free tattoo out of a small-businessman in the process. Don't people know you never anger a tattoo artist? Only bad can come of it. Rollo's talent lies in details, in his description of Ronnie's inner thoughts, and especially in the directness of the closing paragraph. "Moving Pictures" is a throwback to the pulps, and a damned good one.

If you know the name Michael Boatman, it's as likely from movies like Hamburger Hill or TV shows like Spin City as from reading books, though his short work has been widely anthologized and he has published two novels. His entry, "Bloodbath and Landsdale Towers," is a perfect closer; I can't imagine one having such a complete sense of finality as this one. Filled with purely despicable characters, the horror comes not from their deaths (which are actually welcome) but from their vile actions toward each other. Sex, drugs, and violence abound. The title is a nice (though misspelled) tribute to Joe R. Lansdale, since Boatman's characters are so obviously influenced by this master of attitude-horror. This thinly veiled inspiration makes it difficult to take the story on its own terms, but Boatman is at the very least an excellent mimic -- though I do wonder what he's like when he writes in his own voice.

Coming in at 145 pages, this is a slim volume, but a tightly packed one. The average story length is twenty pages, the ideal length for short fiction in my experience. Editors Michael Stone and Christopher J. Hall have done their book a service by picking only the very best to represent them, instead of padding out the length with less effective ones just to up the page count (and most likely the price). Kudos to Dybbuk Press for another fine volume of genre fiction; this and Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre speak well for their future. Now, if we can only get a novel out of them ....

This anthology of horror stories is not for those with weak stomachs. Therefore, if you are looking for a chill, but nothing hard core, go elsewhere. It seemed to me that no one was spared or granted any mercy within these pages. If you are still interested, this is what you will get:

Pool Sharks by Gerard Brennan is the first tale and is about just that...pool sharks. But in this game you win or die.

The Stray by Garry Kilworth is about a slow man that some ladies of night let hang around their place of business. Until, that is, a customer takes offense.

Hardboiled Still by Michael Hemmingson is the longest tale in the anthology. It is also the strangest. The way it is written, it reminds me of the old Dick Tracy comics. A private investigator wakes up one night to find out that he is a zombie.

All the Pretty Girls by Ronald Damien Malfi will appeal to you classic car lovers. The story revolves around a possessed 1962 Mercury Comet S-22 Coupe. (I sense you drooling already.)

Moving Pictures by Gord Rollo is my personal favorite. A new tattoo parlor is about to open in the area. When the enforcer appears to collect the protection money, the oriental man offers a free tattoo to buy time until he can get customers and make some money. But his tattoos are VERY special indeed.

The Essences by Davin Ireland refer to the emotions of people in the world. Each city has a Keeper (Watcher or Caretaker) who cares of the vials containing that city's essences.

Bloodbath at Landsdale Towers by Michael Boatman is my second fave. Two dark and menacing figures with interesting powers are out to get the names of all the dealers in the area. They also have the most interesting pet, a Death Puck with legs. You have to read it to believe it.

**** Each story is well done. However, the first story or two uses slang words that some people will not understand. Yet they will easily figure it out by the way the words are used. All of the stories are good, none below average. Those searching for talent in the horror field will be pleased with the choices made to create this anthology. I will be checking back to see which, if not all, of these authors make the big time. Excellent reading for stormy nights. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Sporting a dark, powerful cover and delicious illustrations that shed a menacing light on the corresponding text, the seven stories featured here, by writers hailing from Maryland, California, Ireland and Holland, among other places, oscillate between the brutal and the sensitive, earthly violence and fantastic gore, moronic mafia men and funny zombies. A follow-up to Teddy Bear Cannibal Massacre, the debut release from Dybbuk Press, Badass Horror is a tremendous improvement. Everything looks better this time, from the choice of material to the graphic design, from the layout and typesetting to the overall production. My favorite is Michael Hemmingson's "Hardboiled Stiff," an impressive tribute to classic detective fiction that employs all the familiar conventions of the genre in a refreshing, self-referential way: the mysterious broad who kicks off the plot with a sexually charged visit to the private eye's office, the witty dialogue, the missing daughter of a rich senator, hippie orgies, and the inevitable clash between conservative politics and free love - only this time Vietnam victims are rising from the dead, determined to take control over the streets of Miami and punish those who sent them to die. Another good story is Gord Rollo's "Moving Pictures," an urban-oriental legend about a deadly Chinese tattoo with a life of its own, an intense piece that abounds, like most of the stories here, in elaborate metaphors, stubborn adjectives and adverbs, and charming, out-of-control similes: "Ronnie's smile fell off his face like an outcropping of ice dropping from the edge of a glacier into the cold dark sea" (102). Or: "Ronnie's cocky attitude wilted and died, fear literally squeezing the breath from his lungs, like a hug from a world record Boa Constrictor" (103). An interesting effort from an original press that promises to deliver regular doses of disturbing fiction.

BADASS HORROR is! These seven tales are so singed with the macabre that they grab you from behind a dark door and don't let go. It is not often that an anthology of horror stories can maintain a readers interest so intensely that it becomes impossible to let go of the book until you've crept through all the atrocious cracks in the psyche this book represents. The various authors - Gerard Brennan, Garry Kilworth, Miichael Hemmingson, Ronald Damien Malfi, Gord Rollo, Davin Ireland, and Michael Boatman - all have a style that makes the collection like a bouquet at a wake. Not only are the stories well paced as short stories, but they also have a gritty sense of humor hidden within the writing. And in the style of the book itself are placed black and white illustrations by Federico Dallochio whose artwork captures the feeling of the stories and remain as dark as the themes of the tales.

If you love horror stories (and from the crowds at the movie lines for scary films indicates that the audience ti large indeed) then this is a little badass collection to be savored. Fine work on the part of editors Michael Stone and Christopher J. Hall! Grady Harp, April 11

I picked up this book and couldn't put it down until I read the last sentence. Each story had that car crash curiousity that kept me hooked through even the most stomach turning paragraphs. Definitely not one for the faint hearted but horror fans will love it. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

This is a collection of tough guy horror featuring fellas who play hard, drink hard and usually make their living in nefarious and various shady ways.

Pool Sharks by Gerard Brennan in a nutshell is about a vacationing guy who stumbles into a bar infested with a crew of pool sharks who prey on unsuspecting decent folks. Things turn bloody pretty quickly but in all honesty this storyline just wasn't my thing. 3 ½ stars

Now The Stray by Garry Kilworth was my kind of thing and was my favorite of the collection. It's about a cat house, the type filled with call girls, who take in a stray named Tom. Tom is an innocent, rather simple sort of guy, whom the girls fill safe spilling their dark secrets to. His presence gives them comfort and in exchange they allow him to stick around and feed him. One night Tom overhears a confession made by a john and things take a dark turn. This author writes some well painted pictures of innocence and kindness found within the walls where acts of debauchery took place nightly. 4 ½ stars

Hard Boiled Stiff by Michael Hemmingson is about a man who awakens buried alive in a shallow grave with no memory of why he's missing part of his head and has a hunger for fresh brains. This was a fun zombie tale with a wry sense of humor. It's nasty and gross even darkly romantic in a very disturbed kind of way. Turns out he was a gumshoe type and his secretary has been hiding a secret that may freak a few readers out. I thought it was the perfect touch to this offbeat zombie tale. 4 stars

All The Pretty Girls by Ronald Damien Malfi is a story about a guy who starts the tale lamenting about his inability to fix his old car. He's digging a hole and about to bury something. The author holds back exactly what he is doing and why but soon it all comes clear. This one was morbid and disturbing. 3 ½ stars

Moving Pictures by Gord Rollo follows a thug named Ronnie as he beats down upstanding small business owners for a share of their profits. When a new tattoo parlor opens on "his" block he does best intimidation routine on the ancient Asian artist but the man has no cash and instead offers to give a free tattoo in exchange for "protection". This is a classic revenge tale written in the same gritty style to match the tone of the rest of the stories here. 3 ½ stars

The Essences by Davin Ireland was too predictable for me to recommend. It starts out all mysterious-like but I could see where things were heading as soon as the names of the "essences" were revealed. A big bloody mess ensues and I felt as if I had been bludgeoned with a political "all men are evil" message. Something about it just rubbed me raw. 2 1/2 stars

Bloodbath At Landsdale Towers again beats me over the head with the anti-politics/big corporation BAD message. I get it, truly I do and I may even agree with it but that doesn't mean I want to read about it in my escapist fiction. Perhaps if these two stories had been spaced further apart these messages wouldn't have been so painfully obvious but it is what it is. And I was bugged. Set in 2010 (and written in 2006) the setting is this: "raging unemployment, abetted by four successive Bush administrations, had forged a Darwinian nightmare for the residents of the Landsdale Towers Residental Estates. Drug dealers, crack whores and child molesters make the area a living hell for decent folks. The entire story takes place inside a dingy room where a drug pusher and his cronies are doing very bad things to two "upper-middle class" young adult sibling junkies. Someone knocks on the door and they find a very nasty surprising awaiting them. 3 stars

The only reson I didn't give this 5 stars is its too SHORT ! Not a very long anthology. Can easily be read in one long day. Not for the squeemish! Almost like the old "splatterpunk" but more modern habitats. A definite for your collection!

Maybe I was hoping for more.

Worth reading if you find it on the discount rack.