#BookReview: Splatterpunk Fighting Back
This was a fun collection if you like your fiction bloody.
My Thoughts:
Splatterpunk Fighting Back edited by Jack Bantry & Kit Power
Horror Fiction
Released November 2017
Amazon ♦ Goodreads
Horror Fiction
Released November 2017
Amazon ♦ Goodreads
A row with a boyfriend leads to unexpected and bloody consequences...
A high powered CEO undertakes a highly unusual therapy to take his career to the next level…
A mother frantically searches for the child as the world burns…
Featuring new fiction by Adam Millard, Matt Shaw, Bracken MacLeod, John Boden, Duncan Ralston, Rich Hawkins, Glenn Rolfe, George Daniel Lea, Tim Curran, WD Gagliani & Dave Benton and Kristopher Rufty.
A high powered CEO undertakes a highly unusual therapy to take his career to the next level…
A mother frantically searches for the child as the world burns…
Featuring new fiction by Adam Millard, Matt Shaw, Bracken MacLeod, John Boden, Duncan Ralston, Rich Hawkins, Glenn Rolfe, George Daniel Lea, Tim Curran, WD Gagliani & Dave Benton and Kristopher Rufty.
Splatterpunk Fighting Back is a charity anthology with proceeds going towards cancer. I have a love/hate relationship with anthologies. I love reading them because even if a story isn’t working for me it’s usually over quickly but I dread reviewing them. They are so much work but here goes. I’m not going to rate them because that’s kind of pointless.
I’m going to attempt to write a mini review of each story but if I start to fatigue near the end or miss one it’s nothing personal against any particular story.
They Swim by Night by Adam Millard
A man thinks he's getting lucky when an ethereally beautiful singer makes the moves on him. But he is terribly mistaken. This was a perfectly gory start to the collection. Why lead a reader in gently when you can grab them by the hair and drag them in kicking and screaming?
Melvin by Matt Shaw
Claudia insults Melvin at a dive bar. Big mistake. Melvin is a sick bastard and seeks revenge with a detachable dick. This story was gleefully nasty and I love, love, loved it.
Side note after the first two stories:
There is so much sex related horror in here so far. It almost feels like as if I were reading a new installment of the Hot Blood series and that’s a very good thing. I loved those books so hard back in the olden days when we didn’t have digital books and could frighten people away with a creepy cover! Just be warned if this isn't your thing.
Extinction Therapy by Bracken MacLeod
A rich man visits some expensive woo woo doctor to reach his full potential. His lust for bloodshed is awakened and he glories in it. This story is primal, brutal and ugly. There's no sex in this one which surprised me in a good way. The story did make me very sad for the state of man and that’s all I’m saying.
The Passion of the Robertsons by Duncan Ralston
Whatever you do, don't go and get yourself on the bible thumping Robertson’s naughty list. Unfortunately for the town drunk, he manages to do just that. Now that he’s on their radar, they intend to force him to accept God’s word and their methods are not gentle. I liked this one, especially the ending.
Hellscape by Rich Hawkins
The world is now a hellish landscape and a woman goes on a desperate searching to find her son, slaying monsters along the way. I can’t find my notes on this one so it was either a forgettable tale or I was too tired when I read it. I DO remember thinking it felt like an introduction to a bigger story.
Molly by Glenn Rolfe
Caleb is a front desk clerk at a hotel and has to deal with all kinds of crap. One night he spies a strange silhouette in the window that shouldn’t be there when leaving work. Turns out one of the hotel’s bitchiest guests has a traveling buddy staying with her that she keeps hidden. Bloodshed ensues. Molly was a bloody creepfest that was a lot of fun to read. Pinhead would approve :)
Only Angels Know by George Daniel Lee
An artist puts out a call for subjects willing to give themselves to art. All of themselves. This is a story of extreme body modification but somehow the difficult to decipher writing, never outright graphic, wasn’t able to draw me in. I much prefer Kathe Koja’s novel “Skin” which tackles this same subject matter in a devastatingly gorgeous and unforgettable way. This was my least liked story in the collection.
Limb Memory by Tim Curran
After losing his left arm in an accident, a man whines and complains about his new lot in life. Poor me, boo-hoo-hoo. But just when I was getting annoyed with the man-whining, the phantom arm comes back to life to haunt him. This was gross and fun and enjoyable even with such a whiny ass main character. It brought back images from my scarred childhood of Michael Caine and “The Hand”. I’m still afraid to stick my arms out of a moving car’s open window after that one . . .
Feast of Consequences by WD Gagliani & Dave Benton
This was a fun throwback to cannibalistic slashers and half naked heroines as a young woman attempts to outwit a bunch of hungry, human monsters. I adored the modern day twist and the ending.
The Going Rate by John Boden
The tax man is coming and he's hungry. This story is sinister and dark and creepy as hell. I loved it!
Darla’s Problem by Kristopher Rufty
A young girl asks a policeman for assistance and he had no idea what terror awaits. This was another super creepy tale that was gory and not at all sweet. Great stuff!
Okay that’s all of them, I hope! If any of these stories sound remotely interesting to you then go buy yourself a copy because it'll go to a good cause.
I’m going to attempt to write a mini review of each story but if I start to fatigue near the end or miss one it’s nothing personal against any particular story.
They Swim by Night by Adam Millard
A man thinks he's getting lucky when an ethereally beautiful singer makes the moves on him. But he is terribly mistaken. This was a perfectly gory start to the collection. Why lead a reader in gently when you can grab them by the hair and drag them in kicking and screaming?
Melvin by Matt Shaw
Claudia insults Melvin at a dive bar. Big mistake. Melvin is a sick bastard and seeks revenge with a detachable dick. This story was gleefully nasty and I love, love, loved it.
Side note after the first two stories:
There is so much sex related horror in here so far. It almost feels like as if I were reading a new installment of the Hot Blood series and that’s a very good thing. I loved those books so hard back in the olden days when we didn’t have digital books and could frighten people away with a creepy cover! Just be warned if this isn't your thing.
Extinction Therapy by Bracken MacLeod
A rich man visits some expensive woo woo doctor to reach his full potential. His lust for bloodshed is awakened and he glories in it. This story is primal, brutal and ugly. There's no sex in this one which surprised me in a good way. The story did make me very sad for the state of man and that’s all I’m saying.
The Passion of the Robertsons by Duncan Ralston
Whatever you do, don't go and get yourself on the bible thumping Robertson’s naughty list. Unfortunately for the town drunk, he manages to do just that. Now that he’s on their radar, they intend to force him to accept God’s word and their methods are not gentle. I liked this one, especially the ending.
Hellscape by Rich Hawkins
The world is now a hellish landscape and a woman goes on a desperate searching to find her son, slaying monsters along the way. I can’t find my notes on this one so it was either a forgettable tale or I was too tired when I read it. I DO remember thinking it felt like an introduction to a bigger story.
Molly by Glenn Rolfe
Caleb is a front desk clerk at a hotel and has to deal with all kinds of crap. One night he spies a strange silhouette in the window that shouldn’t be there when leaving work. Turns out one of the hotel’s bitchiest guests has a traveling buddy staying with her that she keeps hidden. Bloodshed ensues. Molly was a bloody creepfest that was a lot of fun to read. Pinhead would approve :)
Only Angels Know by George Daniel Lee
An artist puts out a call for subjects willing to give themselves to art. All of themselves. This is a story of extreme body modification but somehow the difficult to decipher writing, never outright graphic, wasn’t able to draw me in. I much prefer Kathe Koja’s novel “Skin” which tackles this same subject matter in a devastatingly gorgeous and unforgettable way. This was my least liked story in the collection.
Limb Memory by Tim Curran
After losing his left arm in an accident, a man whines and complains about his new lot in life. Poor me, boo-hoo-hoo. But just when I was getting annoyed with the man-whining, the phantom arm comes back to life to haunt him. This was gross and fun and enjoyable even with such a whiny ass main character. It brought back images from my scarred childhood of Michael Caine and “The Hand”. I’m still afraid to stick my arms out of a moving car’s open window after that one . . .
Feast of Consequences by WD Gagliani & Dave Benton
This was a fun throwback to cannibalistic slashers and half naked heroines as a young woman attempts to outwit a bunch of hungry, human monsters. I adored the modern day twist and the ending.
The Going Rate by John Boden
The tax man is coming and he's hungry. This story is sinister and dark and creepy as hell. I loved it!
Darla’s Problem by Kristopher Rufty
A young girl asks a policeman for assistance and he had no idea what terror awaits. This was another super creepy tale that was gory and not at all sweet. Great stuff!
Okay that’s all of them, I hope! If any of these stories sound remotely interesting to you then go buy yourself a copy because it'll go to a good cause.
Other Books Like This That You Might Like Too
This collection sounds creepy as all get out and I love that. That cover is so much awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou must read it!
DeleteOoh, I do love horror anthologies. Super creepy cover!
ReplyDeleteI think you're going to love it, Laura. It's gruesome though so be warned!
DeleteI agree, love the anthologies, but hate having to review them! I think you did a fabulous job of getting a bit of information from each out, plus the entire feel for the book! Which is exactly what we readers need to know if we want to pick it up!
ReplyDeleteHaven't read anything too bloody lately. I have a feeling you're going to be giving me a lot to put onto my TBR! Love it!
Thanks so much Christina. I always dread reviewing these collections and fear giving away to much so your compliment means a lot. As for your TBR, it's probably going to be in trouble. We are all good at enabling each other :) I've just about given up on taming mine.
DeleteI never make it through anthologies--the stories I like are always too short, and the ones I don't are always too long. :)
ReplyDeleteThis was a good one for not doing that because I usually feel the same way. There were only a few that I felt were too short.
DeleteSounds creepy good. I just read a horror anthology myself. This sounds like another good one and I do love extreme horror.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
You will love it, Sherry!
DeleteThis sounds pretty good! I like a good horror story and don't read as many of them as I would like. Glad you enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteThese are good because you can sneak in a few stories in-between other reads.
DeleteThat cover freaks me out. I love it! I’m glad you enjoyed this one. 😀
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's kind of weird but it fits one of the stories at least. I hate it when they throw a random pic on the cover that has nothing to do with the contents inside.
DeleteI never enjoy reviewing anthologies either! It is so time consuming and trying to avoid spoilers is hard when you want to say something about each story!
ReplyDeleteIt is so very hard and if I don't take notes I get them all mixed up in my head.
DeleteOkay, with the week I've had, I honestly need this in my life...and the sooner the better. Is it wrong to say you had me at detachable dick? Gotta kind of know what that one is all about. I can always count on you to enable me almost as much as I seem to enable you. Booker T and Cass have a new post coming up Monday so maybe I can return the favor then!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that story is something else and it ends fabulously. I'm happy to enable you as you do me!
Delete