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Speedloader
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.
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.
- GenresShort StoriesNoir
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2011
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54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 23, 2011
The first thing I need to do here is declare some self-interest. I’ve written one of the stories in this book; I have a huge respect for the publishers at Snubnose Press; I love good short stories; I want Speedloader to sell in huge numbers.
With that out of the way, I’d like to offer my opinion of the collection.
The opening story is my own. It’s a tale set in World War 1 and the years of its aftermath. The intention of the story was to look at the large scale crimes and the individual stories of the war in a compare and contrast kind of way. I hope I managed to achieve some of that.
WD County was billed as a newcomer on the Speedloader Press release. If I hadn’t seen him in the list of email addresses or read his bio, I’d have sworn it was some big-time author writing under a pseudonym. Some big time author like Stephen King, perhaps.
His story blew me away. Apparently he’s working on a debut novel called ‘Sammi and the Therapist’ and I can tell you now that I’m at the head of the queue for getting hold of a copy.
WD touches on a subject that is a taboo to many. A group of boys is held captive by a couple of sick individuals who use them for sex, entertainment and profit. The author deals with the whole thing masterfully, not flinching from the horror of what takes place yet introducing a subtlety that keeps it entirely in focus from start to finish. The ‘Plastic Soldiers’ title refers to the platoon the main character, one of the young hostages, keeps in his pocket. To help him through the ordeal, his mind has turned the soldiers into living, breathing and talking entities who shore up his courage and remind him of his responsibilities.
There’s something of the structure of the work that had me thinking of Tim O’Brien’s ‘The Things They Carried’. That could just be me being fanciful, but I really think it’s a piece of writing that is to be admired for a hatful of reasons.
Read it here and you’ll be able to say you were on at the ground floor.
Matthew C Funk is anything but a newcomer. He’s impressed me with everything I’ve seen from him to date.
No surprise that I was bowled over by his work. ‘Cuffs’ is a marvellous piece of storytelling. Driver, happy man, is pulled over by a cop. The cop’s a crazed lune - for a while he seems so spectral I thought we might be in ghost story territory. It begins badly for our driver. It gets worse. It’s the kind of dark tale that would grace any campfire and, having read this and ‘Plastic Soldiers’ I was beginning to wonder how on earth I got into the anthology at all. Another A+ Mr Funk.
The next night, having recovered from the exhaustion of such quality reads, I continued with Nik Corpon’s Mori Obscura. Surely there was going to be a dip in quality somewhere.
I should have known better.
‘Mori Obscura’ is another tale that has the edge of horror to it, yet it’s entirely human and touching.
Our protagonist is a photographer for ‘The Sun’ doing some undercover work in a boarded up slum house where junkies shoot-up and pass their lives away. Thing is our main man is also an ex-addict. The smells and sights are those from Heaven and Hell and as he ventures into this micro-world, he is to be faces with a decision he’s not going to find easy to make. Loved it. I felt like I was actually there on the scene, in need of a shower and a scrubbing brush. It feels dingy and low and the photographer’s emotions are all too easy to understand.
‘Herniated Roots’ by Richard Thomas. What can I say, the man’s a genius (where did Snubnose find so many in the one go?).
This one rang a little too true for me at times. I’ve not had a drink for 6 years. Neither has Michael.
Michael’s been getting on with his life without alcohol by going through the motions of work and sleep. Needless to say, it feels to him like he’s had something cut out from him, his heart perhaps or whatever it was that made him who he was.
It’s Michael’s shell that we meet as he shops in a local supermarket. He’s approached by a woman. Nothing in her basked suggests danger, the body lotion, avocados, banana, olive oil, dark chocolate and small honey bear. Maybe the snake tattoo around her wrist should have been a warning. As you can imagine, there’s a sexual chemistry between them and it leads to a dilemma for our alcoholic. Should he follow his instincts and leave well alone or dive in head-first and find an organ transplant for whatever it was way back when.
This one starts gently, but pressure is gradually applied until it starts to hurt. Shades of ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ and more touches of brilliance.
One more story to go, I was ready for a rest.
Instead I went on.
‘Crash And Burn’ by Jonathan Woods is bafflingly good. It’s the longest piece here and it’s fantastic.
It’s set around the Amer-Mex Anti-Drug Taskforce Southwest (DRAMA) as they make war on Mexican cartels. The story is divided into sixteen sections which come together outrageously to form a glorious hole.
There’s a bit of everything: sex, car crashes, bombs, violence, political intrigue, booze, crabs and sunshine.
As I read this I had the feeling that there was something familiar about the voice. I ran through it and played with it like a connoisseur might do in trying to identify a fine wine. I have neither the breadth of experience or the memory to be able to do that, but I can point at the flavours I think I caught – Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Gabriel Garcia Marquez played at 45 instead of 33 (reaching) and something European (who knows?).
It’s a terrific work, weaving lives together like a master of the tweed.
Throw in a cover that makes me purr and it has to be 5 stars. There’s no choice. You’ll not be disappointed by any of these and for the 99c price you’re getting a lot of talent on the cheap.
Go and love it.
With that out of the way, I’d like to offer my opinion of the collection.
The opening story is my own. It’s a tale set in World War 1 and the years of its aftermath. The intention of the story was to look at the large scale crimes and the individual stories of the war in a compare and contrast kind of way. I hope I managed to achieve some of that.
WD County was billed as a newcomer on the Speedloader Press release. If I hadn’t seen him in the list of email addresses or read his bio, I’d have sworn it was some big-time author writing under a pseudonym. Some big time author like Stephen King, perhaps.
His story blew me away. Apparently he’s working on a debut novel called ‘Sammi and the Therapist’ and I can tell you now that I’m at the head of the queue for getting hold of a copy.
WD touches on a subject that is a taboo to many. A group of boys is held captive by a couple of sick individuals who use them for sex, entertainment and profit. The author deals with the whole thing masterfully, not flinching from the horror of what takes place yet introducing a subtlety that keeps it entirely in focus from start to finish. The ‘Plastic Soldiers’ title refers to the platoon the main character, one of the young hostages, keeps in his pocket. To help him through the ordeal, his mind has turned the soldiers into living, breathing and talking entities who shore up his courage and remind him of his responsibilities.
There’s something of the structure of the work that had me thinking of Tim O’Brien’s ‘The Things They Carried’. That could just be me being fanciful, but I really think it’s a piece of writing that is to be admired for a hatful of reasons.
Read it here and you’ll be able to say you were on at the ground floor.
Matthew C Funk is anything but a newcomer. He’s impressed me with everything I’ve seen from him to date.
No surprise that I was bowled over by his work. ‘Cuffs’ is a marvellous piece of storytelling. Driver, happy man, is pulled over by a cop. The cop’s a crazed lune - for a while he seems so spectral I thought we might be in ghost story territory. It begins badly for our driver. It gets worse. It’s the kind of dark tale that would grace any campfire and, having read this and ‘Plastic Soldiers’ I was beginning to wonder how on earth I got into the anthology at all. Another A+ Mr Funk.
The next night, having recovered from the exhaustion of such quality reads, I continued with Nik Corpon’s Mori Obscura. Surely there was going to be a dip in quality somewhere.
I should have known better.
‘Mori Obscura’ is another tale that has the edge of horror to it, yet it’s entirely human and touching.
Our protagonist is a photographer for ‘The Sun’ doing some undercover work in a boarded up slum house where junkies shoot-up and pass their lives away. Thing is our main man is also an ex-addict. The smells and sights are those from Heaven and Hell and as he ventures into this micro-world, he is to be faces with a decision he’s not going to find easy to make. Loved it. I felt like I was actually there on the scene, in need of a shower and a scrubbing brush. It feels dingy and low and the photographer’s emotions are all too easy to understand.
‘Herniated Roots’ by Richard Thomas. What can I say, the man’s a genius (where did Snubnose find so many in the one go?).
This one rang a little too true for me at times. I’ve not had a drink for 6 years. Neither has Michael.
Michael’s been getting on with his life without alcohol by going through the motions of work and sleep. Needless to say, it feels to him like he’s had something cut out from him, his heart perhaps or whatever it was that made him who he was.
It’s Michael’s shell that we meet as he shops in a local supermarket. He’s approached by a woman. Nothing in her basked suggests danger, the body lotion, avocados, banana, olive oil, dark chocolate and small honey bear. Maybe the snake tattoo around her wrist should have been a warning. As you can imagine, there’s a sexual chemistry between them and it leads to a dilemma for our alcoholic. Should he follow his instincts and leave well alone or dive in head-first and find an organ transplant for whatever it was way back when.
This one starts gently, but pressure is gradually applied until it starts to hurt. Shades of ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ and more touches of brilliance.
One more story to go, I was ready for a rest.
Instead I went on.
‘Crash And Burn’ by Jonathan Woods is bafflingly good. It’s the longest piece here and it’s fantastic.
It’s set around the Amer-Mex Anti-Drug Taskforce Southwest (DRAMA) as they make war on Mexican cartels. The story is divided into sixteen sections which come together outrageously to form a glorious hole.
There’s a bit of everything: sex, car crashes, bombs, violence, political intrigue, booze, crabs and sunshine.
As I read this I had the feeling that there was something familiar about the voice. I ran through it and played with it like a connoisseur might do in trying to identify a fine wine. I have neither the breadth of experience or the memory to be able to do that, but I can point at the flavours I think I caught – Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Gabriel Garcia Marquez played at 45 instead of 33 (reaching) and something European (who knows?).
It’s a terrific work, weaving lives together like a master of the tweed.
Throw in a cover that makes me purr and it has to be 5 stars. There’s no choice. You’ll not be disappointed by any of these and for the 99c price you’re getting a lot of talent on the cheap.
Go and love it.
Read
July 13, 2011Snubnose Press is the new e-publishing arm of Spinetingler Magazine, and they’ve come roaring out the gate with their first offering, Speedloader. Edited by Sandra Ruttan and Brian Lindenmuth, Speedloader is a collection of six hard hitting crime fiction stories from an impressive group of authors.
In "You Dirty Rat" by Nigel Bird a powerful combination of festering guilt and a quest for justice drives a soldier to take action years after a series of tragic events occurred on the battlefield.
"Mori Obscura" by Nik Korpon and "Herniated Roots" by Richard Thomas both use addiction and what its overpowering pull can do to a man as their backdrop.
"Crash & Burn" by Jonathan Woods is an amazingly intricate story for short fiction, one which has the plans for revenge of several players unfolding on a collision course of epic proportions.
Classic Matthew C. Funk, "Cuffs" is a New Orleans set tale of mistaken identity – or is it? – that starts off with a feeling of confusion which quickly develops into an increasing sense of dread.
And while those five stories are all outstanding, "Plastic Soldiers" by W.D. County absolutely leveled me. Told through the eyes of a kidnapped ten year old boy, "Plastic Soldiers" showcases both the worst and best that the human soul is capable of. County manages to pack a novel’s worth of pain and desperation and hope into five of the most compelling pages you will ever read. This was the first story of County’s that I’ve read, but it damn sure won’t be the last.
In "You Dirty Rat" by Nigel Bird a powerful combination of festering guilt and a quest for justice drives a soldier to take action years after a series of tragic events occurred on the battlefield.
"Mori Obscura" by Nik Korpon and "Herniated Roots" by Richard Thomas both use addiction and what its overpowering pull can do to a man as their backdrop.
"Crash & Burn" by Jonathan Woods is an amazingly intricate story for short fiction, one which has the plans for revenge of several players unfolding on a collision course of epic proportions.
Classic Matthew C. Funk, "Cuffs" is a New Orleans set tale of mistaken identity – or is it? – that starts off with a feeling of confusion which quickly develops into an increasing sense of dread.
And while those five stories are all outstanding, "Plastic Soldiers" by W.D. County absolutely leveled me. Told through the eyes of a kidnapped ten year old boy, "Plastic Soldiers" showcases both the worst and best that the human soul is capable of. County manages to pack a novel’s worth of pain and desperation and hope into five of the most compelling pages you will ever read. This was the first story of County’s that I’ve read, but it damn sure won’t be the last.
December 22, 2011
Speedloader is a terrific neo-noir anthology featuring some of the best the genre has to offer. This was my first taste of Nigel bird and I was very impressed. Enough to download his book Beat On The Brat. This past year I've been following Nik Korpon and Matthew Funk and the two stories represented here some of their best. Richard Thomas' eloquent prose is a highlight of the stories I've read from him. W.D.County, one of the two names I had never heard of prior, was the best story in the collection in my opinion. The only story that didn't do it for me was the last by Jonathan Woods. A good story but the subject matter didn't hold my interest as much as the others. Overall, a knockout collection with a bargain price that can't be beat. Highly Recommended.
November 25, 2011
Speedloader showcases the latest neo-noir talent to emerge in recent times. Comprising of six short stories touching on topics from war memorials, deranged police officers, alcoholic obsessive delinquents, sex trafficking, drug addled journalism, and anti drug task forces this anthology is loaded with enough speed to keep you awake for days. Nigel Birds 'You Dirty Rat' is a nostalgic piece retelling the horrific journey of a soldier and his fallen comrade. 'Plastic Soldiers' by W.D. Country is nothing short of brilliant - with such a small window to capture the readers imagination, Country crafts a tale that's both gripping, heart wrenching and motivating all in a single beat as we watch 6 young boys try to live through their captivity whilst enduring unspeakable acts horror and misconduct. The collection continues to get better with 'Cuffs' by Matthew C. Funk in which a deranged cop frames an innocent man for the brutal murder of a woman - you want shock and awe? 'Cuffs' has it in abundance - a very well executed tale of all that is noir. 'Mori Obscura' by Nik Korpon sees a 'clean' journo end up at one of his former drug house haunts and forced to decided between relapse and redemption. Much like 'Cuffs' and 'Plastic Soldiers' before it, 'Mori Obscura' is packed with tension and beautifully defined characters and plot. The second to last story in 'Herniated Roots' by Richard Thomas was the only bump on an otherwise smooth road - I struggled to connect with the lead character and wasn't as compelled to read it as I was with the other stories - perhaps a testament to the quality of the others. Last but not least is quite possibly the best short story I've ever read in Jonathan Woods' brilliant 'Crash and Burn' about an ill fated attempt to bring down a Mexican drug plantation in operation Fig Leaf. Reminiscent of the movie 'Smoking Aces' in so much as it comprises a cast of crazies doomed for death and hellbent on destruction. Inclusive of bar room brawls, submission, military misconduct, Mexican drug cartels and promiscuous women 'Crash and Burn' is hands down the best of the best, the most engrossing and unrelenting blood pumping short story I've ever read. I hope Woods explores some of the great characters he created for 'Crash and Burn' further in a full length novel. Minor qualms aside (Herniated Roots) this is a very solid anthology by the future of neo-noir - jump on and enjoy the ride. 4.5 stars.
June 12, 2012
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.
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.
July 6, 2011
This first outing for new epublisher Snubnose (from the people behind Spinetingler) is a good, solid selection. Ranging from WW1 to the Texas/Mexico border, & all sorts of madness inbetween, each one is just perfect. Highly enjoyable as a taster for some of the newer names out there as well. I had already read Nigel Bird (Dirty Old Town) & Nik Korpon (Old Ghosts) before & both their stories here were excellent. Richard Thomas' Transubstantiate (currently on promo at 71p as is Nik Korpons' Stay God)has just landed on my Kindle based on how good his effort here was & Jonathan Woods Bad JuJu shouldn't be far behind. This was W D Countys debut & he rocks big style here. Can't wait to get more of his stuff. Matthew C Funk was new to me as well & will be well worth a look in the future. Buy this now if you want to try some new names writing at the top of their game.
June 26, 2011
This publication of SPEEDLOADER marks the beginning of what should be a very cool arena for writers to play at the top of their game. Six great stories from some of the best new faces in crime edged fiction.
I'm fairly biased, having done the art for this collection, but truly inspiring stuff from these authors. Characters drawing there own lines, sometimes criminal, sometimes emotionally horrific, bullets and some cinematic fiction.
Snubnose Press, the new press from the creators of Spinetingler, has a lot of cool things in the works.
I'm fairly biased, having done the art for this collection, but truly inspiring stuff from these authors. Characters drawing there own lines, sometimes criminal, sometimes emotionally horrific, bullets and some cinematic fiction.
Snubnose Press, the new press from the creators of Spinetingler, has a lot of cool things in the works.
June 9, 2017
Speedloader is one of the darkest, grittiest collections of stories ever penned. From battlefields to tenements to soap operas in the Mexican desert, the authors of the stories here take the readers on a remarkable journey. Each story in this collection is quality crime fiction. There are no clunkers in this bunch.
August 18, 2011
For anyone who knows me, Speedloader is an odd selection for me, as its not my normal fare. But it was an impulse purchase on the kindle and im very glad I did, as I very much enjoyed the stories.
Starting off brilliantly with "You Dirty Rat" by Nigel Bird, a story of revenge in the trenches of WW1 (of which I particularly loved the device of how the story was told), and following is a haunting and disturbing look at children at the mercy of evil men in "Plastic Soldiers" by W.D County.
For me, the stand out is next in "Cuffs" by Matthew C Funk. lovely idea, and to be honest, I could see that happening, which makes it all the more frightening.
Next came a cliffhanging Mori Obscura by Nik Korpon, about a former drug addict who returns to his former haunt.
However, the last two stories were the weakest in my view, particularly "Herniated Roots" by Richard Thomas. I just didnt connect with the story, not as much as the previous ones.
The last story, "Crash & Burn" by Jonathan Woods, didnt really do it for me. however, I've had it described to me personally by a friend that it was the best story they have ever read, and I've seen plenty of praise here on Goodreads. I have to admit that the first time I read it was late after work on the train home, and I was remarkably tired so nothing really sank in. So I was convinced to try it again, but even then I feel like I'm missing something - you know, that inside joke that your left out of. While it was an ok story, I just didnt go crazy for it. But I guess, theres no accounting for personal opinion, and im perfectly capable of saying im wrong, as the majority of reviews seem to love it.
Anyway, all in all, loved this collection and will be on the lookout for followups.
Starting off brilliantly with "You Dirty Rat" by Nigel Bird, a story of revenge in the trenches of WW1 (of which I particularly loved the device of how the story was told), and following is a haunting and disturbing look at children at the mercy of evil men in "Plastic Soldiers" by W.D County.
For me, the stand out is next in "Cuffs" by Matthew C Funk. lovely idea, and to be honest, I could see that happening, which makes it all the more frightening.
Next came a cliffhanging Mori Obscura by Nik Korpon, about a former drug addict who returns to his former haunt.
However, the last two stories were the weakest in my view, particularly "Herniated Roots" by Richard Thomas. I just didnt connect with the story, not as much as the previous ones.
The last story, "Crash & Burn" by Jonathan Woods, didnt really do it for me. however, I've had it described to me personally by a friend that it was the best story they have ever read, and I've seen plenty of praise here on Goodreads. I have to admit that the first time I read it was late after work on the train home, and I was remarkably tired so nothing really sank in. So I was convinced to try it again, but even then I feel like I'm missing something - you know, that inside joke that your left out of. While it was an ok story, I just didnt go crazy for it. But I guess, theres no accounting for personal opinion, and im perfectly capable of saying im wrong, as the majority of reviews seem to love it.
Anyway, all in all, loved this collection and will be on the lookout for followups.
July 16, 2011
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 free at http://www.spinetinglermag.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.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews