What do you think?
Rate this book
Even Swamp Creatures Get the Blues
15 EXTRAORDINARY TALES “We ate people,” I said. “We ate a lot of people,” she answered. “But we don’t anymore, right?” An estranged couple discovers cannibalism is the key to marital bliss; a swamp creature goes out on a disastrous blind date with a Goth girl; a private dick travels to the future to find an abducted teenager; Snow White uncovers a dark secret protected by seven ugly dwarves; a man without a past witnesses the murder of a ghost who’s haunted his dreams; an addict attempts to reconcile with the victims whose emotions he’s devoured; a widower infiltrates the underwater base of a mad scientist to exact his revenge. EVEN SWAMP CREATURES GET THE BLUES takes you from Hollywood to ancient China and out to the darkest parts of deep space. Love, loss, sex, and the Devil await in 15 imaginative stories examining our search for identity.HILARY GOLDSTEIN was born in San Rafael, California and raised in San Diego. Former Editor-in-Chief of IGN.com, he is a respected video game expert, writer, and teacher. A Pushcart Prize-nominated author, his work has appeared in numerous magazines, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction He lives in San Bruno with his wife and corgi and is currently at work on his first novel.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2011
5 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 21, 2011
I only wish I’d posted my review of Hilary Goldstein’s fascinating set of short stories, Even Swamp Creatures get the Blues in October. But this is a book of dark mystery for any time of year. Just reading the story titles is enough to intrigue, from the down-beat sci-fi horror of They Eat People on Phobos, to sad superhero in A Bird, A Plane, A Man, to the oddly introspective stranger at Ravi’s Funeral… and beyond.
My favorite story comes near the end of the book. Sadness, like a Warm Cup of Cocoa is warmly sensual and scarily alien. That ninth step, where addicts sit down with those they’ve wronged and offer atonement… but this character’s addiction is powerfully tempting and enthrallingly told.
A vampire struggles to find work in a down economy, a father pays the ultimate price for his son. And a wealth of strangely believable characters inhabit these dark pages. Well-written, ranging from gruesome to intriguing to odd, these stories make a great collection to read and reread on a dark night, or a cloudy afternoon.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite story comes near the end of the book. Sadness, like a Warm Cup of Cocoa is warmly sensual and scarily alien. That ninth step, where addicts sit down with those they’ve wronged and offer atonement… but this character’s addiction is powerfully tempting and enthrallingly told.
A vampire struggles to find work in a down economy, a father pays the ultimate price for his son. And a wealth of strangely believable characters inhabit these dark pages. Well-written, ranging from gruesome to intriguing to odd, these stories make a great collection to read and reread on a dark night, or a cloudy afternoon.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2011
Goldstein's first collection of short stories is a great read. It's incredibly well written and should be included on anyone's shelf. Hilary has a wonderfully creative mind and a way with words that all but guarantees a long writing career.
May 23, 2012
A group of short stories that are overall enjoyable. There are high and low points, but the average is worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews