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Head Blown #1
Head Blown: Extreme Horror Stories
Featuring contributions from fabulous horror authors such as Heather Miller, Megan Stockton, Mike Ennenbach, D.W. Hitz, Matt Micheli, Chris Miller, Jay Bower, C Derick Miller, Bruce Cuttman, Eric Butler, Ruthann Jagge, Jason Nickey, Ben Chadwick, Chase Will, B.L. Blankenship, Kayla Krantz, Merrill David, and a foreword from Patrick C. Harrison III, this filthy collection of extreme body horror tales is not for those easily offended. These stories contain common tropes used within the broader horror genre, as well as some characteristics more specific to the body horror subgenre to include; pornography, invasion, contagion, mutation, transformation, disease, mutilation, or other unnatural or violent distortions of the human body. Be warned; readers may experience feelings of terror through horror, sympathy through melodrama, or sexual arousal through pornography. So, with all of that being said, read this collection ONLY if you dare to have your
Head BLOWN !
- GenresHorror
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2023
14 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Merrill David
32 books64 followersMerrill David is a brain tumor survivor who now resides in East Texas with his wife and their Chiweenie dog Vinny. Merrill's list of works includes his Wicked Awake zombie novel series, a splatterpunk sci-fi novel called Fester, a paranormal amusement park novel called Season Pass, a horror / mafia crime novella called Lasagna, two collections of my own disgusting stories called Appendage and Every THING You Love, extreme horror anthologies Head Blown and Head Blown Too, and a Western Horror anthology called Tumble Bleed.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 27, 2023
ARC Review – Texas Author Con’s “Head Blown” - Extreme Horror Stories edited by Merril David.
Thanks to the editor for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
It took me a couple of weeks to read this, as I’m still pretty new to modern extreme horror, and I wanted to make sure that I both gave each story due consideration, and more importantly that I could, and wanted to, ‘handle’ work of this nature. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to do both in the end! (Well, except for perhaps DW Hitz’ “Y2K” – all I could say there was “EWWWW!” lol!) What I have decided so far is that I seem to like my extreme horror well-written, more on the grotesque rather than the “gore for the sake of gore” side, when there is a clear story arc – and in some cases, if it is funny!
This collection did meet my particular brief in many ways, with some definite favorites for me. The best story of the collection by far was BL Blankenship’s “A Sad Song” – this was beautifully written, and the brutality both perpetrated on and by the MC was taken very seriously and did not feel exploitative at all, despite its obvious horror. I also enjoyed the originality, prose and grotesqueness of Heather Miller’s “Envy The Earth”, and I absolutely loved and enjoyed Chase Will’s “A Raging Heart-On” far, far more than I thought I would!
I did have trouble understanding one or two stories, even after reading them again, and to be honest I’m still processing Ben Chadwick’s “I’m Your Boogeyman” – it was repulsive, so not really to my taste at all, but incredibly well written, disturbing and powerful in its own way. However, I enjoyed reading a lot of new authors and seeing where this genre is going, and by and large I did feel this to be a very representative collection, that will definitely have something for everyone!
3.5 stars
Thanks to the editor for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
It took me a couple of weeks to read this, as I’m still pretty new to modern extreme horror, and I wanted to make sure that I both gave each story due consideration, and more importantly that I could, and wanted to, ‘handle’ work of this nature. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to do both in the end! (Well, except for perhaps DW Hitz’ “Y2K” – all I could say there was “EWWWW!” lol!) What I have decided so far is that I seem to like my extreme horror well-written, more on the grotesque rather than the “gore for the sake of gore” side, when there is a clear story arc – and in some cases, if it is funny!
This collection did meet my particular brief in many ways, with some definite favorites for me. The best story of the collection by far was BL Blankenship’s “A Sad Song” – this was beautifully written, and the brutality both perpetrated on and by the MC was taken very seriously and did not feel exploitative at all, despite its obvious horror. I also enjoyed the originality, prose and grotesqueness of Heather Miller’s “Envy The Earth”, and I absolutely loved and enjoyed Chase Will’s “A Raging Heart-On” far, far more than I thought I would!
I did have trouble understanding one or two stories, even after reading them again, and to be honest I’m still processing Ben Chadwick’s “I’m Your Boogeyman” – it was repulsive, so not really to my taste at all, but incredibly well written, disturbing and powerful in its own way. However, I enjoyed reading a lot of new authors and seeing where this genre is going, and by and large I did feel this to be a very representative collection, that will definitely have something for everyone!
3.5 stars
October 15, 2023
Halloween is fast approaching and this means my favorite genre is having its birthday.
This spooky season a few books managed to knock my socks off. 'Head Blown: Extreme Horror Stories' is a prime example of such a book. I got this one as an ARC for review (ain't I a lucky guy huh?)
Featuring stories from amazing newcomers and phenomenal veterans in the horror genre this beautifully filthy collection of extreme horror tales is not for the faint-hearted as it includes some delightful jaw dropping grotesqueries.
These stories fellow reader do justice to the body horror subgenre and explore themes ranging from pornography, invasion, contagion, mutation, transformation, disease, mutilation, or other unnatural or violent distortions of the human body.
Have I warned you enough? Yeah, it is extreme horror, but for those who wanna experience sheer terror and go through an array of feelings suitable for the season of the lovely dreadful things, this is an absolute diamond.
So dive deep into this collection of beautiful and chilling, gut wrenching horror fiction done right by the brains of :
Heather Miller, Megan Stockton, Mike Ennenbach, D.W. Hitz, Matt Micheli, Chris Miller, Jay Bower, C Derick Miller, Bruce Cuttman, Eric Butler, Ruthann Jagge, Jason Nickey, Ben Chadwick, Chase Will, B.L. Blankenship, Kayla Krantz, Merrill David.
Every single story delivers a stab resulting in a festering wound but maaaan, Merrill David, Heather Miller, C. Derick Miller and Mike Ennenbach almost killed me.
I loved every bit of it and I couldn't recommend it enough for a Halloween read.
This spooky season a few books managed to knock my socks off. 'Head Blown: Extreme Horror Stories' is a prime example of such a book. I got this one as an ARC for review (ain't I a lucky guy huh?)
Featuring stories from amazing newcomers and phenomenal veterans in the horror genre this beautifully filthy collection of extreme horror tales is not for the faint-hearted as it includes some delightful jaw dropping grotesqueries.
These stories fellow reader do justice to the body horror subgenre and explore themes ranging from pornography, invasion, contagion, mutation, transformation, disease, mutilation, or other unnatural or violent distortions of the human body.
Have I warned you enough? Yeah, it is extreme horror, but for those who wanna experience sheer terror and go through an array of feelings suitable for the season of the lovely dreadful things, this is an absolute diamond.
So dive deep into this collection of beautiful and chilling, gut wrenching horror fiction done right by the brains of :
Heather Miller, Megan Stockton, Mike Ennenbach, D.W. Hitz, Matt Micheli, Chris Miller, Jay Bower, C Derick Miller, Bruce Cuttman, Eric Butler, Ruthann Jagge, Jason Nickey, Ben Chadwick, Chase Will, B.L. Blankenship, Kayla Krantz, Merrill David.
Every single story delivers a stab resulting in a festering wound but maaaan, Merrill David, Heather Miller, C. Derick Miller and Mike Ennenbach almost killed me.
I loved every bit of it and I couldn't recommend it enough for a Halloween read.
June 2, 2023
Solid collection of body horror stories from a great group of authors... and I'm not just saying that because I'm one of them. Butler, Stockton, and Ennenbach's contributions were the stand outs for me.
July 11, 2023
Full reviews at https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/chr...
What a well-done anthology! Seriously, this is grade A selection of some of our more well-known authors and some new ones that I will start stalking… Let’s look at allllll 17.
The Passengers by Jason Nickey - Ugly neighbors lust for hot ones, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
More by Ruthann Jagge - More money, more problems. Laura’s life goes from bad to worse before she knows it.
Y2K by D.W. Hitz - Don’t do drugs, kids, especially at the end of the world.
Envy the Earth by Heather Miller - A good man is hard to… grow? Brandy makes a mistake but gets kind of a second chance.
A Sad Song by B.L. Blankenship - Revenge is best served with a side of arrows and breast pouches.
Fluffy by C. Derick Miller - Always feed the cat… and oh, don’t rape or kill people.
I’m Your Bogeyman by Ben Chadwick - Always check your closet for monsters. They may not be happy that you ignore them.
The Elephant in the Room by Merrill David - Deformed people have feelings too — and they can get people pregnant.
Drunk Girls and Ouija Boards by Kayla Krantz - Don’t get drunk and try to summon spirits. They suck.
The Tearing of the Veil by Chris Miller - If you speak from the Necronomicon, you deal with the weird things that come out of your wife’s vagina.
A Raging Heart On by Chase Will - Once Jane’s heart was broken by Chad, she gains confidence for revenge from an unlikely helper.
Call Me Auntie Betty by Bruce Cuttman - Lucifer has bad taste in demons. They like making minions and whatnot.
Children of the Porn by Matt Micheli - Want to stay relevant and hot? Get an Only Fans and listen to the highest tipper.
Temple by Megan Stockton - When a one-night stand’s possible STD becomes much, much more.
The Fixer Upper by Eric Butler - Joanie can’t catch a break. Out of the fire, into the pan as they say.
Brother Francis by Jay Bower - Brother Francis wants atonement for sin and will get it anyway possible.
Kafka and the Fly by Mike Ennenbach - Insurance companies are the devil. This story is absolute perfection.
Top 5: Ennenbach, Nickey, Butler, Jagge, and David. This will be a top anthology for me this year without a doubt. A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 10/5.
What a well-done anthology! Seriously, this is grade A selection of some of our more well-known authors and some new ones that I will start stalking… Let’s look at allllll 17.
The Passengers by Jason Nickey - Ugly neighbors lust for hot ones, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
More by Ruthann Jagge - More money, more problems. Laura’s life goes from bad to worse before she knows it.
Y2K by D.W. Hitz - Don’t do drugs, kids, especially at the end of the world.
Envy the Earth by Heather Miller - A good man is hard to… grow? Brandy makes a mistake but gets kind of a second chance.
A Sad Song by B.L. Blankenship - Revenge is best served with a side of arrows and breast pouches.
Fluffy by C. Derick Miller - Always feed the cat… and oh, don’t rape or kill people.
I’m Your Bogeyman by Ben Chadwick - Always check your closet for monsters. They may not be happy that you ignore them.
The Elephant in the Room by Merrill David - Deformed people have feelings too — and they can get people pregnant.
Drunk Girls and Ouija Boards by Kayla Krantz - Don’t get drunk and try to summon spirits. They suck.
The Tearing of the Veil by Chris Miller - If you speak from the Necronomicon, you deal with the weird things that come out of your wife’s vagina.
A Raging Heart On by Chase Will - Once Jane’s heart was broken by Chad, she gains confidence for revenge from an unlikely helper.
Call Me Auntie Betty by Bruce Cuttman - Lucifer has bad taste in demons. They like making minions and whatnot.
Children of the Porn by Matt Micheli - Want to stay relevant and hot? Get an Only Fans and listen to the highest tipper.
Temple by Megan Stockton - When a one-night stand’s possible STD becomes much, much more.
The Fixer Upper by Eric Butler - Joanie can’t catch a break. Out of the fire, into the pan as they say.
Brother Francis by Jay Bower - Brother Francis wants atonement for sin and will get it anyway possible.
Kafka and the Fly by Mike Ennenbach - Insurance companies are the devil. This story is absolute perfection.
Top 5: Ennenbach, Nickey, Butler, Jagge, and David. This will be a top anthology for me this year without a doubt. A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 10/5.
August 25, 2023
This collection of “body horror” is a great introduction to extreme horror. I enjoyed all the stories collected here of course some more than others. The real standout for me was “Fluffy” by C. Derick Miller. I would recommend to both people who already love extreme horror as well as those who want to see what it is all about.
June 28, 2023
As a contributing author, it's always interesting to me being in an anthology and read the other authors' impressions of writing stories on a specific subgenre alongside mine. It's like different flavors of ice cream or ways of painting. I greatly admire everyone's abilities who are a part of this book & also loved the foreword by Patrick C. Harrison III as well. Everyone did a great job in presenting stories that are exceedingly gory and explicit in one way or another. This is actually the first audiobook that I've appeared in, so that kind of felt nice too.
With that said, this is the level of horror that Martyrs, American Jane, and other such things are that are too disturbing for some audiences. Being a historian & having a past interest in law enforcement - i.e. having seen a ton of crime scene photos, documentaries, criminal profiling shows, etc. - things like that don't disturb me like they would many people. Just like I say on many books that I publish - "If you are offended by anything - don't read this book." Not to give anything away, but as you might expect - A LOT of people die horrible prolonged deaths in this.
With that said, this is the level of horror that Martyrs, American Jane, and other such things are that are too disturbing for some audiences. Being a historian & having a past interest in law enforcement - i.e. having seen a ton of crime scene photos, documentaries, criminal profiling shows, etc. - things like that don't disturb me like they would many people. Just like I say on many books that I publish - "If you are offended by anything - don't read this book." Not to give anything away, but as you might expect - A LOT of people die horrible prolonged deaths in this.
December 31, 2024
This has 17 extreme horror stories. Each one is by a different author. There are some revenge stories, some super bleak stories, some with endings that took me by surprise. It is a great collection of stories.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews