G. Arthur Brown is one of my favorite Bizarro authors. His New Bizarro Author Series book KITTEN is one of my biggest inspirations as a writer. So I knew I would most likely love his newest book.
Well, I did in one way. It's an amazingly written book, weird and surreal as Brown's other works. The problem to me is that I never was into M.A.S.H. In fact, the series wasn't huge here in Brazil during my generation, and I think that influenced me in rating this book lower than Brown's previous works.
That being said, this is an intense book. It's surreal, but in a way darker than KITTEN, or THE GOVERNOR OF THE HOMELESS. The war landscape is a nightmare on its own, but Brown takes the comedic setting of the show this is a parody of, and mash it (pun intended) with darkly surreal, almost Lovecraftian elements to create what I can only describes as an unstable dreamscape.
If I was a fan of M.A.S.H. I'd probably say this is my favorite G. Arthur Brown book. But as much as I'm not a fan of the series, I'm a fan of G. Arthur Brown, and would highly recommend this book to anyone into super weird stuff (and M.A.S.H.)
Buy THE LONG NIGHT OF THE KOREAN WAR here
Monday, September 3, 2018
Sunday, September 2, 2018
BOOK REVIEW - We Don't Talk About Her (by Andersen Prunty)
Prunty's nauseating story of obsession and overall horrible people is very effective. It's almost a moralist tale, without the actual morals.
Typical story: Boy meets girl, boy obsesses silently over girl, boy has no pants so wraps himself in toilet paper, boy keeps the corpse of his mother at home for fucking, girl has some dark secrets of her own, etc. It's a vile story, written in Prunty's signature style, which makes you want to read it all the way through in one sitting just so you know what will happen next.
This is not my favorite of Andersen Prunty's books, no. I thought it was a bit rushed at some points, which compromised the prose. But it's not a bad book, it's a solid entry in the prolific author's catalog. I prefer the weirder Prunty than the viler Prunty, but this book makes for a solid couple of hours of entertainment, and sometimes that's all that matters. One thing I found really cool was how the characters of "Mr. Stalky" and Stella mirrors themselves in the beginning, which each one of them trying to infer information about the other. While Stella does this in a more calculated manner, Clint (the eponymous "Mr. Stalky") does it in an almost childish way. I thought that set up the themes of each character perfectly.
So even in a more pure exploitation setting such as this, Prunty manages to inject it with his amazing writing style.
Buy WE DON'T TALK ABOUT HER here
Typical story: Boy meets girl, boy obsesses silently over girl, boy has no pants so wraps himself in toilet paper, boy keeps the corpse of his mother at home for fucking, girl has some dark secrets of her own, etc. It's a vile story, written in Prunty's signature style, which makes you want to read it all the way through in one sitting just so you know what will happen next.
This is not my favorite of Andersen Prunty's books, no. I thought it was a bit rushed at some points, which compromised the prose. But it's not a bad book, it's a solid entry in the prolific author's catalog. I prefer the weirder Prunty than the viler Prunty, but this book makes for a solid couple of hours of entertainment, and sometimes that's all that matters. One thing I found really cool was how the characters of "Mr. Stalky" and Stella mirrors themselves in the beginning, which each one of them trying to infer information about the other. While Stella does this in a more calculated manner, Clint (the eponymous "Mr. Stalky") does it in an almost childish way. I thought that set up the themes of each character perfectly.
So even in a more pure exploitation setting such as this, Prunty manages to inject it with his amazing writing style.
Buy WE DON'T TALK ABOUT HER here
Saturday, September 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW - The Indifference of Heaven (by Michael Allen Rose)
Michael Allen Rose's THE INDIFFERENCE OF HEAVEN is a beautifully haunting book. I can already imagine the weird dreams this will give me.
There's a video on YouTube of Penn & Teller (well, Penn) discussing one of Teller's greatest tricks, called "Shadows". This setup of the trick consists of just a small table with a rose in a jar on it, and a canvas in the back. A spotlight projects the shadow from the rose onto the canvas. Teller then proceeds to use a knife to "cut" the petals in the shadow, making the petals in the actual rose fall off one by one. It's a beautiful, atmospheric trick, and Penn says that it can be done much more easily than the way they do it, but that doesn't matter, what matters is the effect.
That's exactly how I'd describe this book. If you KNOW the ending, you could sum up this book in a single sentence, it's much more high concept than it looks. BUT that doesn't matter. What does matter is how masterfully Michael creates an atmosphere of nightmares and paranoia that sucks you in until you get to that ending. It's incredibly cinematic and vivid, the images pop out of the page onto your face.
If you ask Bizarro fans who are the best Bizarro writers in terms of their craft, the most common answers would probably be Laura Lee Bahr, Autumn Christian, Danger Slater and Violet LeVoit. But they'd be foolish not to include Michael Allen Rose's name to that mix.
Buy THE INDIFFERENCE OF HEAVEN here
There's a video on YouTube of Penn & Teller (well, Penn) discussing one of Teller's greatest tricks, called "Shadows". This setup of the trick consists of just a small table with a rose in a jar on it, and a canvas in the back. A spotlight projects the shadow from the rose onto the canvas. Teller then proceeds to use a knife to "cut" the petals in the shadow, making the petals in the actual rose fall off one by one. It's a beautiful, atmospheric trick, and Penn says that it can be done much more easily than the way they do it, but that doesn't matter, what matters is the effect.
That's exactly how I'd describe this book. If you KNOW the ending, you could sum up this book in a single sentence, it's much more high concept than it looks. BUT that doesn't matter. What does matter is how masterfully Michael creates an atmosphere of nightmares and paranoia that sucks you in until you get to that ending. It's incredibly cinematic and vivid, the images pop out of the page onto your face.
If you ask Bizarro fans who are the best Bizarro writers in terms of their craft, the most common answers would probably be Laura Lee Bahr, Autumn Christian, Danger Slater and Violet LeVoit. But they'd be foolish not to include Michael Allen Rose's name to that mix.
Buy THE INDIFFERENCE OF HEAVEN here
Thursday, December 31, 2015
My Favorite Reads of 2015!
Hey guys!
I was going to complain about 2015 being a shitty year overall, but this was the year I got my first book published AND I went to Bizarro Con! So, I can say 2015 was shitty 11 out 12 months.
I'm not going to do a big recap on the year. Instead, I'll pick my top reads of the year.
These are not necessarily the best books released in 2015, but the best books I've read this year. And if you click on the titles, you too can feast your eyes on these exquisite books. After you buy them.
And, if you can, leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. It helps authors. It helps A LOT.
Oh yeah, all the lists are in alphabetical order. And they are all top 6s, instead of top 5s or top 10s. Because 6 is a nice number.
Let's get to it :)))
First up, the top 6 books released in 2015 which I haven't read yet, but am most excited about reading in 2016:
Michael Cisco's Animal Money
John Skipp's The Art Of Horrible People
Carlton Mellick III's Bio Melt
Max Booth III's How To Successfully Kidnap Strangers
Michael J. Seidlinger's The Strangest
Gabino Iglesias' Zero Saints
Now, my top 6 favorite collections/anthologies I've read this year:
Ecstatic Inferno, by Autumn Christian
The Four Gentleman Of The Apocalypse, by G.Arthur Brown, Dustin Reade, Douglas Hackle and S.T. Cartledge
I'll Fuck Anything That Moves and Stephen Hawking, by Violet LeVoit
In the Fishbowl, We Bleed, by Jeremy C. Shipp
Please Do Not Shoot Me In The Face, by Bradley Sands
Underlaid Overlaid, by Jordan Krall
And, finally, the top 6 novels that I read in 2015:
A Choir of Ill Children, by Tom Piccirilli
A God Of Hungry Walls, by Garrett Cook
I Will Rot Without You, by Danger Slater
Long-Form Religious Porn, by Laura Lee Bahr
Musclebound Mario, by Kevin L. Donihe
Teeth and Tongue Landscape, by Carlton Mellick III
That's it, guys. Hope 2016 doesn't suck for you.
I was going to complain about 2015 being a shitty year overall, but this was the year I got my first book published AND I went to Bizarro Con! So, I can say 2015 was shitty 11 out 12 months.
I'm not going to do a big recap on the year. Instead, I'll pick my top reads of the year.
These are not necessarily the best books released in 2015, but the best books I've read this year. And if you click on the titles, you too can feast your eyes on these exquisite books. After you buy them.
And, if you can, leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. It helps authors. It helps A LOT.
Oh yeah, all the lists are in alphabetical order. And they are all top 6s, instead of top 5s or top 10s. Because 6 is a nice number.
Let's get to it :)))
First up, the top 6 books released in 2015 which I haven't read yet, but am most excited about reading in 2016:
Michael Cisco's Animal Money
John Skipp's The Art Of Horrible People
Carlton Mellick III's Bio Melt
Max Booth III's How To Successfully Kidnap Strangers
Michael J. Seidlinger's The Strangest
Gabino Iglesias' Zero Saints
Now, my top 6 favorite collections/anthologies I've read this year:
Ecstatic Inferno, by Autumn Christian
The Four Gentleman Of The Apocalypse, by G.Arthur Brown, Dustin Reade, Douglas Hackle and S.T. Cartledge
I'll Fuck Anything That Moves and Stephen Hawking, by Violet LeVoit
In the Fishbowl, We Bleed, by Jeremy C. Shipp
Please Do Not Shoot Me In The Face, by Bradley Sands
Underlaid Overlaid, by Jordan Krall
And, finally, the top 6 novels that I read in 2015:
A Choir of Ill Children, by Tom Piccirilli
A God Of Hungry Walls, by Garrett Cook
I Will Rot Without You, by Danger Slater
Long-Form Religious Porn, by Laura Lee Bahr
Musclebound Mario, by Kevin L. Donihe
Teeth and Tongue Landscape, by Carlton Mellick III
That's it, guys. Hope 2016 doesn't suck for you.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Review copies!
Oh, hi. Didn't see you guys there.
How are you? How is your day? Just remember I love you, ok? You're as special as a Jeremy Shipp metaphor.
Now, here's the deal: I know you love me too. I remember the time you spent on your dad's old tool shed.
I'm sure you remember too.
So, in honor of those magical summer moments, I'm offering 5 review copies of my book BENJAMIN to the first five people who ask for it. PDF or Mobi, it's your choice!
All I ask is an honest review. Even if you hate it, a 1-star review would make me as happy as a 5-star one.
Well, not as happy, but every review helps.
So, who wants it? Just give me a heads up on Facebook or Goodreads, and the copy is yours!
Facebook page
Goodreads page
Thank you, I love you.
How are you? How is your day? Just remember I love you, ok? You're as special as a Jeremy Shipp metaphor.
Now, here's the deal: I know you love me too. I remember the time you spent on your dad's old tool shed.
I'm sure you remember too.
So, in honor of those magical summer moments, I'm offering 5 review copies of my book BENJAMIN to the first five people who ask for it. PDF or Mobi, it's your choice!
All I ask is an honest review. Even if you hate it, a 1-star review would make me as happy as a 5-star one.
Well, not as happy, but every review helps.
So, who wants it? Just give me a heads up on Facebook or Goodreads, and the copy is yours!
Facebook page
Goodreads page
Thank you, I love you.
Friday, October 23, 2015
I'm a New Bizarro Author! (and I'm going to Bizarro Con)
Since the last time I blogged, this happened:
I am now an official New Bizarro Author!
Mid to late August, I was approached by author and editor Garrett Cook. He informed me that he had recently accepted the position of editor for the New Bizarro Author Series (Eraserhead Press' imprint that gives new authors in the Bizarro Fiction genre a chance to prove themselves as writers), and he offered me a chance to finally write my first book.
We threw some pitches around, and he liked Benjamin - although the original pitch was somewhat different (and definitely worse) than the finished product.
He created a Facebook group for all of the authors to work together. We pumped each other (wow, that sounded naughty) up, keep each other working. Every day there was a new "So, how is everyone doing" thread. We became friends and colleagues.
And I typed away, aiming for a mid September deadline. I wrote and I wrote, and I was able to get 20,000 words down on paper for his appreciation.
He liked it.
So, the hard work is all behind me, yes?
NOPE!
Now it's when things get interesting: I (and all of the wonderful authors with whom I worked it) will have to work even harder to promote and sell my book, to generate interest.
I want to thank Garrett, for the invite, plus Rose O'Keefe (Eraserhead Press' editor-in-chief) and Jeff Burk (author, editor) for all they have done to help me and my fellow New Bizarro Authors.
And I want to thank the authors, for all of their mutual support and encouragement. This year's class was a tight one.
We did it, guys!
And in other news, I'm going to Bizarro Con with my girlfriend!
Yes, Sarah and I will be going to this year's Bizarro Con. I'll read with my fellow New Bizarro Authors and I'll perform in the Ultimate Bizarro Showdown!
I did an Indiegogo, and I want to thank everyone who donated. Your perks will be sent out staring December, but the ones going to Bizarro Con will get theirs in hand!
And thanks to the authors who offered perks to help me get donations. You guys are the best!
See you in Portland! :))
I am now an official New Bizarro Author!
Mid to late August, I was approached by author and editor Garrett Cook. He informed me that he had recently accepted the position of editor for the New Bizarro Author Series (Eraserhead Press' imprint that gives new authors in the Bizarro Fiction genre a chance to prove themselves as writers), and he offered me a chance to finally write my first book.
We threw some pitches around, and he liked Benjamin - although the original pitch was somewhat different (and definitely worse) than the finished product.
He created a Facebook group for all of the authors to work together. We pumped each other (wow, that sounded naughty) up, keep each other working. Every day there was a new "So, how is everyone doing" thread. We became friends and colleagues.
And I typed away, aiming for a mid September deadline. I wrote and I wrote, and I was able to get 20,000 words down on paper for his appreciation.
He liked it.
So, the hard work is all behind me, yes?
NOPE!
Now it's when things get interesting: I (and all of the wonderful authors with whom I worked it) will have to work even harder to promote and sell my book, to generate interest.
I want to thank Garrett, for the invite, plus Rose O'Keefe (Eraserhead Press' editor-in-chief) and Jeff Burk (author, editor) for all they have done to help me and my fellow New Bizarro Authors.
And I want to thank the authors, for all of their mutual support and encouragement. This year's class was a tight one.
We did it, guys!
And in other news, I'm going to Bizarro Con with my girlfriend!
Yes, Sarah and I will be going to this year's Bizarro Con. I'll read with my fellow New Bizarro Authors and I'll perform in the Ultimate Bizarro Showdown!
I did an Indiegogo, and I want to thank everyone who donated. Your perks will be sent out staring December, but the ones going to Bizarro Con will get theirs in hand!
And thanks to the authors who offered perks to help me get donations. You guys are the best!
See you in Portland! :))
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Fireside Popsicles + Writing Updates
'Sup?
So, it's been 10 days since FIRESIDE POPSICLES came out. This book is a wonderful anthology of short stories, featuring names like Bradley Sands, Gabino Iglesias, M.C. O'Neil, Sheila Hall, Andy de Fonseca, Daniel Vlasaty, Michael Allen Rose, Max Booth III, Jeremy Maddux, Jeremy C. Shipp, Mercedes M. Yardley, Rick Austin, Douglas Hackle, and more.
Yeah, it's a lot of juice in one bottle.
You can buy the book by clicking HERE.
I can't say how honored I am to be a part of this, and for the first time ever seeing my name on an actual published work.
Now, for the updates:
My grandma is sick. She's sick, and everyone at my house (we live all together, me, the missus, my parents and my grandparents on my father's side) is nervous, and tense, and the mood is awful. And my writing has suffered from this.
I got to say, I'm scared. Death is natural, but it is never pleasant.
So, things were moving slowly, but now I'm picking up the pace. My future projects include:
- A yet unnamed book about a grown up Anne Frank killing Nazi war criminals. I'm writing this for the wonderful Jordan Krall at Dynatox Ministries. The man is a real sweetheart, despite his grouchy exterior, and I love him.
- THE MICHAEL BAY, a idea that started as a joke after watching the movie THE BAY on Jeremy C. Shipp's Halloween Movie Club. I told Raye Roeske I would write it, and now Kevin Strange at StrangehouseBooks gave me a chance to do it. It's a parody of the aforementioned THE BAY, but with Michael Bay clones instead of a deadly parasite.
Same thing, right?
So I just want to finish this up by saying how much I love the Bizarro comunity. These people can make a guy from a country a continent away feel right at home. I love you guys.
Thanks!
So, it's been 10 days since FIRESIDE POPSICLES came out. This book is a wonderful anthology of short stories, featuring names like Bradley Sands, Gabino Iglesias, M.C. O'Neil, Sheila Hall, Andy de Fonseca, Daniel Vlasaty, Michael Allen Rose, Max Booth III, Jeremy Maddux, Jeremy C. Shipp, Mercedes M. Yardley, Rick Austin, Douglas Hackle, and more.
Yeah, it's a lot of juice in one bottle.
You can buy the book by clicking HERE.
I can't say how honored I am to be a part of this, and for the first time ever seeing my name on an actual published work.
Now, for the updates:
My grandma is sick. She's sick, and everyone at my house (we live all together, me, the missus, my parents and my grandparents on my father's side) is nervous, and tense, and the mood is awful. And my writing has suffered from this.
I got to say, I'm scared. Death is natural, but it is never pleasant.
So, things were moving slowly, but now I'm picking up the pace. My future projects include:
- A yet unnamed book about a grown up Anne Frank killing Nazi war criminals. I'm writing this for the wonderful Jordan Krall at Dynatox Ministries. The man is a real sweetheart, despite his grouchy exterior, and I love him.
- THE MICHAEL BAY, a idea that started as a joke after watching the movie THE BAY on Jeremy C. Shipp's Halloween Movie Club. I told Raye Roeske I would write it, and now Kevin Strange at StrangehouseBooks gave me a chance to do it. It's a parody of the aforementioned THE BAY, but with Michael Bay clones instead of a deadly parasite.
Same thing, right?
So I just want to finish this up by saying how much I love the Bizarro comunity. These people can make a guy from a country a continent away feel right at home. I love you guys.
Thanks!
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