Cursed [Paperback]

Jeremy C. Shipp (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 193329387X | ISBN-13: 978-1933293875 | Publication Date: October 15, 2009

Your life is no longer recognizable, every detail corrupted by unknown forces. The harder you struggle, the more you suffer. Your words mean nothing, your actions backfire, and one by one everybody you know is sucked down with you. You are: 1) Nick 2) cursed 3) afraid all the time That's because: a) someone or b) something is after you with a vengeance. Even with the help of other cursed people, you don't stand a chance because you're all, you know, cursed. That means you and everyone you know will: 1) suffer 2) die 3) amuse your tormentor That is, unless you figure out how to manipulate the person behind this and turn their power against them. Check your list a second time because they're probably on it. The only thing left to do is scratch them off.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shipp (Sheep and Wolves) offers readers a tightly written story of suspense and occult horror. Nicholas believes that he has been cursed, and he is not alone; his eccentric love interest, Cicely, is convinced that the fate of the world depends on her possession of a tennis ball. As their loved ones express skepticism, Nicholas and Cicely seek out other curse victims, including accident-prone Abby and reluctant mentor Kin. Though at first the curses seem mere delusions, it soon becomes clear that a malevolent entity called Pete is amusing itself by tormenting them. Abby's fatalism, Nick's self-hatred and Pete's power and ruthlessness hamper their efforts to find curse-free lives. Using Nicholas's idiosyncratic voice and fondness for lists, Shipp effectively conveys the claustrophobic world of people caught up in events beyond their control. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Raw Dog Screaming Press (October 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193329387X
• ISBN-13: 978-1933293875
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,278,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeremy C. Shipp is a weird author of Bizarro, horror, dark fantasy, and magic realism. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in over 50 publications, the likes of Cemetery Dance, ChiZine, Harlan County Horrors, Apex Magazine, Pseudopod, and The Bizarro Starter Kit (blue). While preparing for the forthcoming collapse of civilization, Jeremy enjoys living in Southern California in a moderately haunted Victorian farmhouse with his wife, Lisa, and their legion of yard gnomes. He's currently working on many stories and novels and is losing his hair, though not because of the ghosts. His books include Vacation, Sheep and Wolves, and Cursed. And thankfully, only one mime was killed during the making of his first short film, Egg.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being CURSED never felt so good., October 22, 2009

By 

Christopher Bowsman (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cursed (Paperback)

Jeremy C. Shipp's CURSED is, like his other work, unlike anything else. It does not follow a recognizable formula. You will not guess the ending halfway through. Instead, we get to know a group of strange and wonderful characters, who have all been cursed. There are no witches or black magic, but instead a touching story that focuses on the care and feelings the cursed individuals have for one another.

If you're getting a bit tired of cheap attempts at being gored to death by the likes of the same old formula authors, give CURSED a try. It's offbeat, yet totally accessible, thought provoking, yet never preachy, touching without being sappy.

Despite the inherent irony in the statement, CURSED will leave you feeling uplifted.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weird, wacky, decidedly different!, October 13, 2010

By 

Donna Carrick (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cursed (Paperback)

I purchased my copy of Cursed with no preconceived notions. Actually, I downloaded the free Kindle sample, just wondering what Mr. Shipp's work was all about, then found myself thoroughly hooked.

This book will not appeal to everyone, but for readers who enjoy wit, character depth and an offbeat look at real human flaws, carried by a strange and compelling story that refuses to rely on cliche, then Cursed is a 5-Star choice.

I highly recommend this one. It's so far off the beaten path you just can't help but smile. Well written, deep and intensely human -- absolutely worth the read!

Donna Carrick
author of The First Excellence, Gold And Fishes and The Noon God

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shipp Thinks Way Outside the Box -- Very Enjoyable, March 3, 2010

By 

William M Miller (Bronxville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cursed (Paperback)

3 AND ½ STARS

After reading Cursed, the one thing you can never say about author Jeremy C. Shipp is that he isn't original. I was fascinated by the setup of characters cursed with relatively minor problems - something right out of a Bentley Little novel. And while the main character, Nick, was annoying at times and apologized to others on literally every other page, you find yourself being immersed in this bizarre little world. The lighter tone begins to darken considerably in the final 50 or so pages and really ramps up for a satisfying finale.

I would have preferred more description and atmosphere because most of the text consists of back-and-forth dialogue, and although clever, there are only so many quips I can read without characters starting to feel one and the same. I'm not sure I would label this as straight horror, but there is still a lot to like here. I also think it would make one heck of a stage play if there was ever an adaptation. If you are interested in something completely off-the-wall and eclectic, I would recommend reading Cursed.