Speedloader [Kindle Edition]

Jonathan Woods (Author), Richard Thomas (Author), Nik Korpon (Author), W.D. County (Author), Matthew Funk (Author), Nigel Bird (Author), Sandra Ruttan (Editor), Brian Lindenmuth (Editor)

Book Description

Speedloader is the debut title of Snubnose Press.

From the trenches of WWI to the abandoned rowhomes of Baltimore; From a rural charnel house to the Texas-Mexican border these six stories explore the dark heart of crime fiction today.

Speedloader features stories of…

…revenge that will challenge you to a game of uncle that you may not win and will haunt those who are able to finish it.
…clashing motives on the Texas Mexico border
…a slide into an alcoholic haze
…a struggle with the weight of a personal choice when confronted with the sins of the past
…getting caught up in actions far beyond one’s control
…small crimes covered up and lost amidst larger forces

Speedloader is six stories slammed home and ready to kill

With all new, original stories from Richard Thomas, Nik Korpon, Nigel Bird, newcomer WD County and Spinetingler Award winners Matthew C Funk and Jonathan Woods.

Product Details

• File Size: 308 KB
• Print Length: 184 pages
• Publisher: Snubnose Press (June 18, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0056UBJ22
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,244 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stories right out of Hell September 15, 2011

By Heath Lowrance

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

If their first outing, Speedloader, is any indication, you'd be wise to keep your eye on Snubnose. This is six stories right out of Hell, featuring writers who know their business and don't pull their punches. It's very hard to disturb me as a reader, but a couple of the selections here had me squirming uncomfortably. So, you know... well-done, mates.
The incomparable Nigel Bird opens the collection with the gripping "You Dirty Rat", a WWI-era tale of revenge that manages to be beautifully layered and thrilling at the same time. I've not seen Bird take a misstep yet.
"Plastic Soldiers", by W.D. County, is an engrossingly disturbing story about a boy faced with the evil of monstrous adults, and forced to take a stand to save his own life and the lives of some other kidnapped boys.
Mathew C. Funk's "Cuffs", is a chilly, nerve-wracking tale about a motorist accosted by a scary cop, and it's fueled by a nice sense of paranoia and doubt.
"Mori Obscura", by Nik Korpon, is another genuinely disturbing tale, involving an ex-junkie, a kidnapped child, and some very, very bad men...
"Herniated Roots", from Richard Thomas, is a dark, somewhat depressing story about a "recovering" alcoholic trying to keep his life together, until he meets a beautiful woman who offers him either redemption... or total ruin.
And finally the awesome Jonathan Woods gives us "Crash & Burn", a wildly unpredictable story about corrupt Mexican drug cops, a slighted woman, a raped Mexican official out for revenge, and... the vice president of the United States. Written with the usual Woods flair and black humor.
So, a solid collection, and a nice mix of writers I'm familiar with and ones I'd never read before.
Very much looking forward to Snubnose re-loading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The darkest center of noir July 14, 2011

By Christopher Rhatigan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The debut effort from Snubnose Press, a six short story collection called Speedloader, is packed full of dark material.

I hear you already: "Of course it's dark, Rhatigan. It's noir. That's French for black, moron."

And I hear that. But trust me--this is noir burned to a crisp.

Particularly W.D. County's Plastic Soldiers, which has received special attention in nearly every review I've read. For good reason, too. This is an unflinching look inside a child-rape factory through the eyes of one boy. It's riveting material and County uses the boy's toy soldiers to great effect.

Nigel Bird has a gem in here as well in You Dirty Rat, an unconventional revenge tale set during WWI. Bird has quickly gained a reputation for crafting emotionally complex and thoughtful work with fully developed characters, and this story highlights his strengths.

I've seen a lot of Richard Thomas lately (Shotgun Honey, Dirty Noir). He delivers here with the seriously depressing Herniated Roots. A recovering alcoholic finds a girl who proves to be his true love. Or the cause of his slow death. Something like that. The message that "You're screwed!" comes through loud and clear and brilliant. The character's meandering yet inevitable demise proves to be (somehow) very satisfying.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't sit still June 29, 2011

By Jack Getze

Format:Kindle Edition

I only read one of these six stories before publication. PLASTIC SOLDIERS by W.D. County. After a few paragraphs, I realized I was twisting in my chair, on edge, completely uncomfortable. About halfway through, I started asking myself if I had the courage to read another paragraph. PLASTIC SOLDIERS is the most gripping, frightening, saddest, hopeful, and demanding short story I have ever read. W.D.County, whose short story MY NAME IS PRICILLA is available at spinetingler.com, is a writer you'll want to discover and stick with as his career blossoms. I'm betting PLASTIC SOLDIERS kicks off a long list of awards for Mr. County.