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The Monster Librarian Presents:
Reviews of Bizarro Fiction
Experimental fiction that is considered to be weird or strange, often Bizarro fiction will have elements of horror in it.
Swarm
of Flying Eyeballs by Gina
Ranalli*New Review
Squid Salad Press, 2009
ISBN: N/A
Available: New
Squid Salad Press' second bizarro release, Swarm of Flying
Eyeballs, comes from one of the top-selling authors in the genre, Gina
Ranalli. In Swarm, the summer school
students of a local school are going on a local field trip to a blueberry
field. Ron, the poor guy that has to tend to the blueberry fields, watches as
the bus pulls up and is a bit disgruntled, since back in the day when he was in
school he never got to go on field trips during summer school. Soon, the kids
are all picking berries until all of a sudden one of them starts to scream! Ron
goes to check on the girl who was screaming, and next thing, both Ron and the
girl that was previously screaming are both running and yelling "EYEBALLS!" But
what are they talking about? Only the mind of Ranalli
and those that have read Swarm know for sure and honestly, I'm not even
sure the readers know exactly what Ranalli has in
mind once this book comes to such a twisted end. Swarm has the feel of a
fun B-horror movie and I could picture the film rolling in my head as I was
reading it. The characters that Ranalli has
created are brilliant. They vary in age from young kids, to teens, to adults.
The weird thing is... it seemed liked a lot of the time the young kids, such as
Natalie, our heroine, had more smarts about her then those that should have had
more maturity. Of course,, I guess that is how things do seem to be in a lot of
real life instances, so Ranalli probably hit that
dead on! It's the underlying things such as that, and
Ranalli's quirky writing style, that make this such a powerful read.
Highly recommended for all fans of the bizarro genre, or even those readers that
are hesitant about the genre and just want to consider "dipping their feet in".
Contains: Mild Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Rotten Little Animals
by Kevin Shamel*New Review
Eraserhead Press, 2009
ISBN: 1-933929-91-X
Available: New and Used
Kevin Shamel's debut release
from Eraserhead Press, Rotten Little Animals,
is a bit like Animal Farm on crack. The animals in
Shamel's novel, however, are trying to keep their
presence unknown to humans. While filming their latest masterpiece, the animals
are spotted by a young boy that lived across the street. When the boy comes to
investigate what he has seen (it's not every day you see a zombie cat fight!)
the film crew of animals decides to kidnap him and re-write the movie that were
working on to include the boy as their newest cast member. They figure staging
an abduction will be more realistic-looking than their previous project, and it
might help their chances in the Animal Academy Awards. What the crew doesn't
count on is some of the animals turning against each other... and when that
happens, you never know what Rotten Little Animals might do next! These animals
are crude, rude, and usually drunk and/or high. They aren't your typical,
cuddly pets that you'd want to take home, but this is definitely a novel that
you want in your collection! Shamel has created a
tale that is disturbingly rude, laugh-out-loud funny, and at times, just so
bizarre that you can't even wrap your head around the fact that these are
animals doing these things. Of course, some scenes I couldn't even fathom
humans doing to other humans! In particular, there is a scene in the book where
the animals put the human boy, Cage, in a room that he had to share with Filthy
Pig (obviously a pig) that is known as the "Toilet Room". As you can guess,
there is a grating above the room that all of the other animals stand above and
let their urine and feces come down through... right onto poor Cage. It's a
powerful scene, but greatly disturbing at the same time. It makes the reader
feel for Cage though and want him to pull through somehow and escape. That
scene, as well as numerous others, kept me reading Rotten Little Animals,
fast and furious, as I wanted to see what was going to happen at the end. As
this was part of Eraserhead Press' New Bizarro
Author Series, I am hoping that Shamel will have
more releases in the future because I am greatly anticipating reading more by
this author. Highly Recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Piecemeal June by Jordan Krall*New Review
Eraserhead Press, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-933929-63-7
Available: New and Used
Jordan Krall's first bizarro release through
Eraserhead Press, Piecemeal June, is a
strong first novel. It is the story of a guy named Kevin who lives above the
town's one and only porn shop with his cat, Mithra. Said cat has a habit of
bringing various things to Kevin, typically tarot cards, but one day he brings
Kevin an ankle... and it's sweating! In the following days Mithra brings Kevin
more body parts, and eventually Kevin has the complete makings of a full
female. When he puts the female together, to his surprise, she comes to life
and tells him her name is June. However, little does Kevin know, but Max
Alexander, evil pornographer, and his three crab-human assassins are looking for
June and will stop at nothing to get her back. Based on the blurb of the back of
this book, I went into Piecemeal June thinking it might be heavy in regards to
sex, but after reading it realized there honestly wasn't much to do with sex in
the book at all. The book is actually more focused on a deeper love story
between the characters in the book as you will see as you read it. Despite this
being a "love story", however, Piecemeal June also is quite grotesque in parts.
There is one character called Simon, the God of Whores, who is pretty darn
foul! The scenes describing him and the things he does may make some readers
retch a bit. For those accustomed to reading gross-out kinds of scenes, these
parts shouldn't phase them one bit, but to others... I'm just giving fair
warning that you might not want to eat right before reading this. All in all,
this is a great first novel and I'm looking forward to reading the other works
by Krall. Highly Recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations
Review by Rhonda Wilson
The
Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III
Eraserhead Press, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-933-92985-9
Available: New and Used
Franklin Pierce witnessed something very traumatic as a child. His brother and
sisters were devoured by a candy woman with cotton candy hair, a belly like a
giant circus lollipop, and marshmallow breasts. Due to this, he has made it his
mission in life to track down the candy people and to destroy them. Franklin
buys a gun so he can kill the candy people, then stumbles into a candy person on
the street and shoots him. The candy person doesn't die right away and Franklin
follows him back to the secret "Candyland". There he runs into Jujy, the candy
woman who killed his siblings. Jujy takes Franklin into her home and eventually
turns him into a candy person himself. But can a human actually be turned into
a candy person without repercussions?
Candyland was one of my all-time favorite games as a kid, so when I saw this
book was being released I was ecstatic! Also, I thought the cover art for this
book was absolutely gorgeous. I finally received the book and read Mellick's
note at the beginning of the book, I saw that the book actually had nothing to
do with the board game, but that it was his inspiration for the book, and I was
still ready to devour it. From start to finish this book is a delicacy!
Mellick uses such vivid language to describe the candy people and the world they
inhabit that I had a very clear image of what they all looked like. There are
also some humorous moments in the book that keep the story light and balance out
the gore level of the book. It was a well-rounded read and will be a great
addition to the bizarro lover's collection. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Cannibalism, Gore, Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Shatnerquake
By Jeff Burk
Eraserhead Press, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781933929828
Available: New
Jeff Burk is the editor of a new but excellent bizarro fiction magazine, which
gives him an important role at center of a growing literary movement, so it
should not be a surprise that he has also put out a unique novella of science
fiction bizarro-ness. Shatnerquake is the story of rabid Bruce Campbell
fans at a science fiction convention who accidentally bring all of William
Shatner’s characters to life after he steals the spotlight from their hero. Kirk
with a lightsaber, Priceline Shatner, TJ Hooker, cartoon Kirk: they are all
there on a hilarious mission to hunt down and destroy the man who created them.
This is a funny piece of fiction. William Shatner fans have been lighting up the
internet with buzz about this slim but hilarious book that packs more inside
geek jokes and humor into 83 pages than most episodes of Mystery Science Theater
3000. Both Shatner fans and Star Trek fans who don’t like him can find a lot to
love here. Shatnerquake has already become the subject of Wil Wheeton's
tweets, and fans have already generated fake sequel covers. 'Tsunimoy'
anyone? Public libraries with a science fiction or bizarro fiction focus will
not want to miss this one.
Contains: violence and all kinds of bizarro depravity.
Review by David Agranoff
The Good Humor Man
by Andrew Fox
Tachyon Publications, 283 pages
ISBN: 9781892391858
Available: New
Andrew Fox is a New Orleans based bizarro author who uses fantastic concepts in his books that promise an endless number of laugh out loud moments. His debut novel, Fat White Vampire Blues told the story of an overweight cab-driving vampire in New Orleans who angers a radical black power vampire. Based on the description, I was excited to read that book, but it just didn't live up to the potential of the concept.
The Good Humor Man is Fox’s third novel, and again Fox has a book with a brilliant and funny plot. The Good Humor Man is set in a dystopia where junk food has been declared illegal and features ex-liposuctionist Dr. Louis Schmalzberg as its unlikely hero. Louis is beginning to question his role as a “Good Humor man” in a group of government sanctioned vigilantes who track down illegal use of junk food. This book is satire, and it’s not subtle. It’s clear that Fox’s biggest influence is Fahrenheit 451.
I see a lot of improvement in Fox’s writing, although the narrative is a little uneven and not all the humor is effective. Fans of political satire could do far worse. Because of its potential for wide appeal, it is recommended for public library collections.
Contains: violence,sexuality and some potty humor.
Review by David Agranoff
Mother
Puncher
by Gina Ranalli
Afterbirth Books, 2008
ISBN: 1933929170
Available: New
Ed has an odd job. In a country faced with overpopulation the government has instituted an odd punishment for those who choose to procreate. Seconds after their child is born the parents have to face the ‘Mother Puncher’. The name says it all. As a retired boxer Ed is perfect for the job, but he truly hates it. The only thing that keeps him coming back to work every day is a bizarre form of sympathy for the mothers. If he doesn’t punch them then some other Mother Puncher will and most lack the compassion to do it humanely. As expected, this law isn’t a popular one, and the population soon erupts into full-scale riots… and the rioters want the Mother Puncher’s head.
Mother Puncher is a unique story with a wide variety of characters. Though it seems unlikely from the title, Ed is a character that the reader can sympathize with. He is really a compassionate fellow and this underlies his personality throughout the entire story. Recommended to anyone who is looking for a good story with a different twist.
Contains: mild violence
Review by Bret Jordan
Blankety
Blank: A Memoir of Vulgaria by
D.Harlan Wilson
Raw Dog Screaming Press,2008
ISBN: 9781933293509
Available: New
The first book I read by D.Harlan Wilson was the science fiction title Dr. Identity, and it sold me on the man’s brilliance in the first few pages. I described the book as Monty Python meets Phillip K Dick I was unsure how his absurdist style would work outside of science fiction.
While Blankety Blank is not exactly horror, it is a darker take on Wilson’s absurdist style and is every bit as zany as his other work. With more laugh-out-loud parts than Douglas Adams’ books it’s pretty hard not to enjoy Blankety Blank. While the complete absurd nature of the world created sometimes gets a bit old, the story’s lightning speed makes this book a fun and light read.
The story is about Rutger Von Trout, who lives in a Wilsonish absurd vision of his home town, Grand Rapids. Characters throw sausages at each other and explode into bouts of hulkamania after a serial killer begins to stalk their “perfect neighborhood.” Wilson also detours into hilarious mini-chapters on subjects ranging from the film career of Patrick Swayze to the history of Ferris wheels. Does this advance the plot? I’m not sure, but I enjoyed it just the same. Wilson is a master of absurdist humor and if that is your cup of tea, have a drink!
Review by David Agranoff
Super
Cell Anemia
by Duncan B. Barlow
Afterbirth Books,2008
ISBN: 978-1933929163
Available: New
Super Cell Anemia is an unsettling debut in all the right ways. Effectively organized through journal entries and narratives from shifting perspectives, the story follows Giles, a germ-a-phobe who is so electrified that he relies on an experimental treatment (involving biting copper) to deal with his rare illness. Giles has moved to Cincinnati to continue this treatment and be close to his doctor. As the story moves along, Giles’ neighbors get stranger, and his doctor goes off on convincing pseudo-scientific monologues. Chapters focused on the various rooms and neighbors in Giles’ building are an inventive touch that relate to the character nicely. Most disturbing is the half-man calico cat Giles knows is stalking him. As you read the book you begin to wonder how much you can trust the journal entries that often compete with the present tense narrative.
The subtle nature of Barlow’s take on the absurd is a strength of the book. While I enjoy the over the top whacky-ness of some Bizarro authors, like Bradley Sands (also an Afterbirth author) and D. Harlan Wilson, Barlow takes a different approach. Like a slow burn gothic horror novel the moments of the absurd are peppered brilliantly through the first hundred pages. From there the strangeness of the book expands like lungs sucking in a deep breath
Super Cell Anemia is a doozy of a character-based Bizarro novel. It is excellently written and everything I hoped for when I started it. If you like a strange read this book needs to be on your TBR pile.
Review by David Agranoff
Die Earthman Die by MF Korn, DF Lewis, Mike Philbin and David Matthew
Cosmic Eyeball Press, 2005
ISBN:1411641299
Available: New
I wanted to like this collection of short stories. Most are Bizarro style science fiction or horror, with several that are in both genres. Most of the stories are written for irony and humor and a few have an interesting old school feel. Those stories remind me of the thin science fiction paperbacks with orange paper. Strangely, there is no explanation of how the four authors worked together. No publication information is included in the book. This book is really only for libraries dedicated to building a wide collection of Bizarro books.
Review by David Agranoff.
Confessions
of a
Ghoul and other stories by M.F. Korn
Silverlake Publishing, 2003
ISBN:1931095477
Available: New and Used
Confessions of a Ghoul starts out with fifty pages of short stories set in a college environment in the author’s home state of Louisiana. The stories are followed by an interesting novella that gives the book its title. When I first opened this book I thought it was off to a fantastic start. Korn horror tinged Bizarro, with very creative use of prose. However, his pop culture and prompted literary references distance readers from engaging in the story and making connections on their own, and many of his themes are well-worn or repetitive- for instance, his use of horror authors as characters, and multiple references to the same International House of Pancakes. Those interested in including original voices in their collections should not overlook M.F. Korn. I’m just not sure this is the best example of his work.
Contains: Violence, Cannibalism, Adult language and themes
Review by David Agranoff
It
Came from Below the Belt
by Bradley Sands
Afterbirth Books, 2005
ISBN: 0976631040
Available: New
Brandley Sands is not for everyone, but if you are one of people who connect with his work, finding It Came from Below the Belt would be like being struck by lightning. Perhaps the most absurd of absurdist novels I have ever read, this book has as many laughs as a Mel Brooks film from the seventies. On the surface, the novel seems to suffer from ADD, but it is actually deviously constructed to have a plot complete with a “choose your adventure” breakdown in which all the directions make sense in the whole.
So the question is, are you ready to read a science fiction novel about a man swallowed by a giraffe and vomited into the far future that has to run his sentient penis for public office? If that sounds like the type of story you have always been missing, then get Afterbirth Press on the horn and get yourself a copy!
Contains: Adult content and language.
Review by David Agranoff
The
Troublesome Amputee: Collected Poetry
by John Edward Lawson
Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2006
ISBN: 1933293152
Available: New
There are few books like this one. Even within the new and growing Bizarro movement Lawson has released a book full literary razorblades in the form of poetry. Lawson’s work shines through the whole spectrum, including funny, sad, morbid, disgusting and meaningful poems. Libraries looking offer a unique book of poetry that spits in the face of conventional, sugary sweet, or pretentious “literary” poetry, that expresses a dissident voice of gloom should put this book in the shelf. Recommended.
Review by David Agranoff
Chemical
Gardens by Gina Ranalli
Afterbirth Books, 2006
ISBN: 0976631067
Availability: New
Gina Ranalli has
already established herself as the dark queen of the bizarro underground
with the politically challenging experimental novella Suicide Girls in the
Afterlife and a recent collaboration with outsider artist Gus Fink on a
collection titled 13 Thorns. With amazing cover art also by Fink, Chemical
Gardens, released in 2006, is a good place to start for readers looking to
explore this growing literary movement. Laugh out loud funny, bizarre, and
inventive, Chemical Gardens is Ranalli’s take on The Wizard of Oz.
The members of a Seattle punk band, Green is the Enemy, are trapped in a
buried city underneath Seattle called the Underground, where the punk heroes
battle the villains with their guitars as sidekicks, and must fight their
way out in time to make a gig in the Bay Area. It’s safe to say that with
Ranalli leading the way, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Contains: violence,
drug use, alcohol consumption, bizarre imagery.
Review by David Agranoff
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