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Transcendental Mutilation
SIGILS INCISED, A COMMUNION WITH THE BLADE A trio of young people stranded on an uncharted island discover its sickening secrets. A man contracts a degenerative disease through a webcam encounter. An office worker follows the object of his affection into a mysterious club where life, death, and anatomy have no limits. A reforming necrophiliac struggles to maintain the illusion of normalcy in a new relationship. A woman awakens with other captives in the basement of a madman using them to attract impossible prey. UNLOCK THE GATES OF FLESH, WORLDS WITHIN FLAYED A decade after the infamous Genital Grinder, Ryan Harding returns with ten more stories, collected for the first time—including the Splatterpunk Award-winning tales "The Seacretor" and "Angelbait"—which plunder the depths of depravity and obsession, yielding offenses and transformations of the flesh never before seen or carved. His first solo work in years dissects its themes and characters alike in a sublime autopsy worthy of the hardcore horror pantheon. Even the vomitorium has its philosophy, and the keys to revelation are all serrated. EVERY JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE SLICE… TRANSCENDENTAL MUTILATION
264 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2023
18 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Harding
37 books171 followersRyan Harding is the four-time Splatterpunk Award-winning author of books like Transcendental Mutilation, Genital Grinder, and collaborations with Jason Taverner (Reincursion, Reincarnage), Kristopher Triana (The Night Stockers), Lucas Mangum (Pandemonium), and Edward Lee (Header 3). He wrote the novella The Profile for the all Me Hoop anthology, and wrote guest scenes in Jonathan Butcher's Your Loved Ones Will Die First and Matt Shaw's The Devil's Guests. His short stories have appeared in the anthologies Y'All Ain't Right: Southern Extreme Horror Brewtality, The Big Book of Blasphemy, The New Flesh: A Literary Tribute to David Cronenberg, Splatterpunk Forever, Past Indiscretions, Masters of Horror, Battered Broken Bodies, Into Painfreak, DOA 3, and The Year's Best Hardcore Horror Vol. 3. His work has also been published in German, Italian, and Polish. Upcoming projects include a collaboration with Bryan Smith and the 3rd Agent Orange book with Jason Taverner.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 27, 2023
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
What can I say about the collection called TRANSENDENTAL MUTILATION?
It is something, all right.
Ryan Harding – such a calm looking, soft-spoken guy – can go to places where extreme readers will say shit like:
“I’m done with extreme for a little while…”
Have you recovered yet, my reviewer friend who I shall not name?
Look, this guy can write, there is just no denying that. But he can also repulse you to the point where you might feel the need to just take a shower and smoke a blunt to wrap your mind around the mental images you just had.
This is not a criticism – this is what he does…because he can.
Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking he is just trying to gross you out (even though he will), because even with tales like ‘The Corpsefucker Blues’ there is actually a story there. Can you imagine how it must be to be ‘Orificially Compromised’ or what ‘The Seacretor’ might be?
You’re probably right, but it is done with style to the point that you feel like the author must have been wearing a tie when he wrote it. Granted, he may have been naked and wearing a gimp mask, but the tie was definitely there. Man, there’s even a zombie story in there that I liked!
Extreme and Splatterpunk fans, you are going to LOVE this!
Just heed this one warning:
It is not for those who likes to put limits on what they deem to be acceptable – this is balls out messed up.
5 Shamefilled Stars!
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
What can I say about the collection called TRANSENDENTAL MUTILATION?
It is something, all right.
Ryan Harding – such a calm looking, soft-spoken guy – can go to places where extreme readers will say shit like:
“I’m done with extreme for a little while…”
Have you recovered yet, my reviewer friend who I shall not name?
Look, this guy can write, there is just no denying that. But he can also repulse you to the point where you might feel the need to just take a shower and smoke a blunt to wrap your mind around the mental images you just had.
This is not a criticism – this is what he does…because he can.
Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking he is just trying to gross you out (even though he will), because even with tales like ‘The Corpsefucker Blues’ there is actually a story there. Can you imagine how it must be to be ‘Orificially Compromised’ or what ‘The Seacretor’ might be?
You’re probably right, but it is done with style to the point that you feel like the author must have been wearing a tie when he wrote it. Granted, he may have been naked and wearing a gimp mask, but the tie was definitely there. Man, there’s even a zombie story in there that I liked!
Extreme and Splatterpunk fans, you are going to LOVE this!
Just heed this one warning:
It is not for those who likes to put limits on what they deem to be acceptable – this is balls out messed up.
5 Shamefilled Stars!
April 21, 2024
TRANSCENDENTAL MUTILATION [2023] By Ryan Harding
My Review 4.8 Stars****
“Every Journey Begins with A Single Slice…Transcendental Mutilation.”
Ryan Harding has been called the “unsung master of hardcore horror”. Harding returns a decade after his masterpiece “Genital Grinder” with his first solo work in years. This collection of new stories includes the Splatterpunk Award-winning tales "The Seacretor" and "Angelbait". “Transcendental Mutilation” has been nominated for the 2024 Splatterpunk Awards in Best Collection category.
The Corpsesicker Blues
This is the story of one charismatic young man named Chase. He is additionally a misogynist, a manipulative, sadistic sociopath, and a sexual predator. But the labels that most define him are serial murderer and necrophiliac. Chase is feeling some of the “heebie jeebies” over his predilection, namely getting caught. He decides to join a sex therapy for help. He meets an attractive self-professed sexaholic (do they still call women nymphomaniacs or is that old school?). Her name is Cynthia, and she is hot with a capital “H”. But a couple months of hot sex in motion and technicolor, and with a very much alive soundtrack, Chase feels his real passions resurfacing. When Cindy suggests that the two of them leave town for a romantic weekend Case eagerly agrees to the idea. Solid Five Stars.
Ryan writes with a sardonic sense of humor, and I found myself LOL several times. The story did not spark a scientific thought about necrophilia even once. The story is immediately engaging, funny as hell (especially the sex therapy group), and though devoid of a surprise ending, satisfying and well crafted. I loved it and I would rate it greater than 5 Stars if I could.
The Seacretor
“A trio of young people stranded on an uncharted island discovers its sickening secrets.” A trio of friends are stranded on a small unchartered island, and the need for water to sustain them is becoming a real challenge and necessity. The three spot a tree growing seemingly out of rock and “It looked like the withered three-fingered hand of a giant stickman”. They noted something dark and syrup like oozing from the tree. They made fun of it at first. This tale from the creative mind of Ryan Harding is certainly original. I know I have never read a tale about being stranded on a deserted island that takes you meandering down a storyline like this one does. Ryan won the Splatterpunk Award for Best Short Story for this imaginative take on Dendrophilia. Rated 5.
The Threesome
This is the saga of a pig named Blake. No, not a pig you would find at the farm, but more like at a testosterone filled men’s fraternity house. The egotistical and remorseless Blake objectified women and did not view them as feeling human beings, misogynistic---that is the word. He had one thing in common with every straight guy on the planet. What’s that you say? Well, a three-way with two nice looking women of course. That is every guy’s dream. Anyway, I hate to say it, but Blake gets his wish and a “three way” with two hot girls comes his way. In his case it was deserved, I guess. I loved this story of Ryan’s and I knew it was a winner after the first few sentences. Rated 5.
Divine Red
“An office worker follows the object of his affection into a mysterious club where life, death, and anatomy have no limits”. Painfreak makes an appearance in this story. That may tell Extreme Horror fans all they need to know. Yep! This one is out there all right. Rob is hopelessly in love with Anna. One of those “from afar” deals. He manages to learn that she frequents Painfreak. I would have run. Shucks, what am I saying? I am reading Extreme Horror, duh! If you are familiar with Painfreak, ANYTHING goes. Rob does not even pause to question if her perversion, WHATEVER it was, would be too much for him to handle. Nope. And he finds her. Happy ending or not. I am not telling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
Down There
This tale is one about a girl named Kendra, her younger brother Russell, and a girl named Gwendolyn who knew the boy and girl, but mostly from their jaunts in the scary woods. Fear of the unknown and of urban myths play here in this one. Sacrifice to a demon in the woods? Perhaps not that imaginative. But the author did put a spin on this one, which caught me napping. I was surprised. This story was not a favorite. Rating 3.5 Stars
JUNK
An easy 5 Stars for this one about a porn purveyor (worse really) who was cut down by his own hand but prompted by a computer virus. Top notch.
Angelbait
Winner of the Splatterpunk Award for Short Story in 2019. LOVED this one. The teaser description on this is “A woman awakens with other captives in the basement of a madman using them to attract impossible prey. That is SO accurate, but you would never guess that three “Saints” have been captured and are being made purer and saintlier by the rites many martyrs had suffered in the annals of Catholicism. The research that Ryan did on martyrs blew my mind. I was so impressed and horrified (BTW it is difficult to feel those two emotions at the same time). This is the story I asked Ryan about when he was invited to accept our questions and, in my case, largely praise. Rated 10 Stars (I cannot do that, okay 5 Stars then)
Orifically Compromised
This is a story about technology run amok, but on a more basic level it is about human jealousy, a man’s attempt to get an artificial edge on the competition for a member of the fair sex. Porter learns about his Ella purchasing goods from the rival high tech company and the orders from the sexual enhancement division of the company himself. There was the strong contention that Interphaz was using nontechnology in the sexual enhancement products which they denied. This is a story I could easily see being broadcast on Outer Limits. The endgame was far more important than the unification of two good looking young executives in a carnal embrace. I liked the story, but it was more sci-fi to me than horror. I awarded 3 Stars.
Temple of Anduscious
Olivia is disenchanted with life. She tries to find some semblance of meaning in life by visiting deserted places of business, antique emporiums, and wanders alone among the remains of the store that were left behind. Olivia seeks “to absorb this specific feeling only conjured by the convergence of something left and something lost.” However, she realized that it stayed hidden now, even in hidden places. The feeling or state of being she had once attained in her explorations was subject to diminishing returns. Olivia chose not to speculate about what this apathy could mean to her long term. She meets three young people during her present exploration for meaning. Angela is into geocaching and her two friends are simply accompanying her. The group find evidence of satanic activity as they search the rooms. Angela had already discovered that she had been beaten to the cache, and that two people she knew had beaten her.
But that was before that Olivia and the trio she met started finding severed body parts, and eyeballs still attached to the optic nerve. They flee from the deserted antique store into the darkest of night and have no cell signal. Olivia initially stays with the group and attempts to thwart the forces of evil, until she decides her own fate. Daylight had vanished, and their phones were useless.
The main character ponders the question “Where could one go in such a maelstrom of voids?” Her journey finally brings her to the gates of Hell where the author finds an answer to the quandary of the unsustainability of apathy. Rating 4.5 Stars.
Last Time at Thanksgiving
This is a story of a first-year college student home for the Thanksgiving Holidays. His girlfriend through High School had ghosted him. I never did believe in that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” thing, He brings his college roommate home with him for the holidays only because originally his girlfriend was going to drive them from the college to his home. He takes his parents’ car to transport Granddad back to the nursing home. The two boys leave Granddad in the car when no one meets them out front to help with getting him back into the facility. They march casually into the nursing home and are met with…. bedlam. Initially I did not think too much of this storyline. I went back and read Ryan’s notes on the story and was able to view it through the spectrum of what the writer was trying to say with it. The story was about “time”. The way I finally interpreted this is that it was a tale of the beginning on the end for mankind. I rated it 3.5 Stars.
Thank you to Horror Aficionados and the exceptionally talented Ryan Harding.
My Review 4.8 Stars****
“Every Journey Begins with A Single Slice…Transcendental Mutilation.”
Ryan Harding has been called the “unsung master of hardcore horror”. Harding returns a decade after his masterpiece “Genital Grinder” with his first solo work in years. This collection of new stories includes the Splatterpunk Award-winning tales "The Seacretor" and "Angelbait". “Transcendental Mutilation” has been nominated for the 2024 Splatterpunk Awards in Best Collection category.
The Corpsesicker Blues
This is the story of one charismatic young man named Chase. He is additionally a misogynist, a manipulative, sadistic sociopath, and a sexual predator. But the labels that most define him are serial murderer and necrophiliac. Chase is feeling some of the “heebie jeebies” over his predilection, namely getting caught. He decides to join a sex therapy for help. He meets an attractive self-professed sexaholic (do they still call women nymphomaniacs or is that old school?). Her name is Cynthia, and she is hot with a capital “H”. But a couple months of hot sex in motion and technicolor, and with a very much alive soundtrack, Chase feels his real passions resurfacing. When Cindy suggests that the two of them leave town for a romantic weekend Case eagerly agrees to the idea. Solid Five Stars.
Ryan writes with a sardonic sense of humor, and I found myself LOL several times. The story did not spark a scientific thought about necrophilia even once. The story is immediately engaging, funny as hell (especially the sex therapy group), and though devoid of a surprise ending, satisfying and well crafted. I loved it and I would rate it greater than 5 Stars if I could.
The Seacretor
“A trio of young people stranded on an uncharted island discovers its sickening secrets.” A trio of friends are stranded on a small unchartered island, and the need for water to sustain them is becoming a real challenge and necessity. The three spot a tree growing seemingly out of rock and “It looked like the withered three-fingered hand of a giant stickman”. They noted something dark and syrup like oozing from the tree. They made fun of it at first. This tale from the creative mind of Ryan Harding is certainly original. I know I have never read a tale about being stranded on a deserted island that takes you meandering down a storyline like this one does. Ryan won the Splatterpunk Award for Best Short Story for this imaginative take on Dendrophilia. Rated 5.
The Threesome
This is the saga of a pig named Blake. No, not a pig you would find at the farm, but more like at a testosterone filled men’s fraternity house. The egotistical and remorseless Blake objectified women and did not view them as feeling human beings, misogynistic---that is the word. He had one thing in common with every straight guy on the planet. What’s that you say? Well, a three-way with two nice looking women of course. That is every guy’s dream. Anyway, I hate to say it, but Blake gets his wish and a “three way” with two hot girls comes his way. In his case it was deserved, I guess. I loved this story of Ryan’s and I knew it was a winner after the first few sentences. Rated 5.
Divine Red
“An office worker follows the object of his affection into a mysterious club where life, death, and anatomy have no limits”. Painfreak makes an appearance in this story. That may tell Extreme Horror fans all they need to know. Yep! This one is out there all right. Rob is hopelessly in love with Anna. One of those “from afar” deals. He manages to learn that she frequents Painfreak. I would have run. Shucks, what am I saying? I am reading Extreme Horror, duh! If you are familiar with Painfreak, ANYTHING goes. Rob does not even pause to question if her perversion, WHATEVER it was, would be too much for him to handle. Nope. And he finds her. Happy ending or not. I am not telling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
Down There
This tale is one about a girl named Kendra, her younger brother Russell, and a girl named Gwendolyn who knew the boy and girl, but mostly from their jaunts in the scary woods. Fear of the unknown and of urban myths play here in this one. Sacrifice to a demon in the woods? Perhaps not that imaginative. But the author did put a spin on this one, which caught me napping. I was surprised. This story was not a favorite. Rating 3.5 Stars
JUNK
An easy 5 Stars for this one about a porn purveyor (worse really) who was cut down by his own hand but prompted by a computer virus. Top notch.
Angelbait
Winner of the Splatterpunk Award for Short Story in 2019. LOVED this one. The teaser description on this is “A woman awakens with other captives in the basement of a madman using them to attract impossible prey. That is SO accurate, but you would never guess that three “Saints” have been captured and are being made purer and saintlier by the rites many martyrs had suffered in the annals of Catholicism. The research that Ryan did on martyrs blew my mind. I was so impressed and horrified (BTW it is difficult to feel those two emotions at the same time). This is the story I asked Ryan about when he was invited to accept our questions and, in my case, largely praise. Rated 10 Stars (I cannot do that, okay 5 Stars then)
Orifically Compromised
This is a story about technology run amok, but on a more basic level it is about human jealousy, a man’s attempt to get an artificial edge on the competition for a member of the fair sex. Porter learns about his Ella purchasing goods from the rival high tech company and the orders from the sexual enhancement division of the company himself. There was the strong contention that Interphaz was using nontechnology in the sexual enhancement products which they denied. This is a story I could easily see being broadcast on Outer Limits. The endgame was far more important than the unification of two good looking young executives in a carnal embrace. I liked the story, but it was more sci-fi to me than horror. I awarded 3 Stars.
Temple of Anduscious
Olivia is disenchanted with life. She tries to find some semblance of meaning in life by visiting deserted places of business, antique emporiums, and wanders alone among the remains of the store that were left behind. Olivia seeks “to absorb this specific feeling only conjured by the convergence of something left and something lost.” However, she realized that it stayed hidden now, even in hidden places. The feeling or state of being she had once attained in her explorations was subject to diminishing returns. Olivia chose not to speculate about what this apathy could mean to her long term. She meets three young people during her present exploration for meaning. Angela is into geocaching and her two friends are simply accompanying her. The group find evidence of satanic activity as they search the rooms. Angela had already discovered that she had been beaten to the cache, and that two people she knew had beaten her.
But that was before that Olivia and the trio she met started finding severed body parts, and eyeballs still attached to the optic nerve. They flee from the deserted antique store into the darkest of night and have no cell signal. Olivia initially stays with the group and attempts to thwart the forces of evil, until she decides her own fate. Daylight had vanished, and their phones were useless.
The main character ponders the question “Where could one go in such a maelstrom of voids?” Her journey finally brings her to the gates of Hell where the author finds an answer to the quandary of the unsustainability of apathy. Rating 4.5 Stars.
Last Time at Thanksgiving
This is a story of a first-year college student home for the Thanksgiving Holidays. His girlfriend through High School had ghosted him. I never did believe in that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” thing, He brings his college roommate home with him for the holidays only because originally his girlfriend was going to drive them from the college to his home. He takes his parents’ car to transport Granddad back to the nursing home. The two boys leave Granddad in the car when no one meets them out front to help with getting him back into the facility. They march casually into the nursing home and are met with…. bedlam. Initially I did not think too much of this storyline. I went back and read Ryan’s notes on the story and was able to view it through the spectrum of what the writer was trying to say with it. The story was about “time”. The way I finally interpreted this is that it was a tale of the beginning on the end for mankind. I rated it 3.5 Stars.
Thank you to Horror Aficionados and the exceptionally talented Ryan Harding.
January 19, 2024
Transcendental Mutilation is dedicated to the memory of some of the too-damned-many lost since my last collection: David Barnett, GAK, JF Gonzalez, James Herbert, Dallas Mayr/Jack Ketchum, Richard Matheson, Tom Piccirili, and Peter Straub.
December 23, 2023
First there was Genital Grinder and now 10 years later comes Trancendental Mutilation. A collection of 10 stories to push you to your limit and assault your senses, filled with Easter eggs and unforgettable stories. TM is an absolute must-read. Dark, twisted, vile, and impossible to put down. Do not miss out on this collection. Some of the best stories I have read all year. Check it out.
5 severed fingers out of 5
5 severed fingers out of 5
January 6, 2024
Loved every story!
This is my first time reading Harding's work and it definitely won't be my last.
Each story is connected in some small way, either with a mention of a character from another story or InterphaZ. It was quite fun to find these little Easter eggs as I was reading. There's also just the tiniest little bits of humor that provide a reprieve from the grotesquery.
Overall this collection was fantastic. It felt very Clive Barker-ish. I could also see these stories as an anthology movie.
This is my first time reading Harding's work and it definitely won't be my last.
Each story is connected in some small way, either with a mention of a character from another story or InterphaZ. It was quite fun to find these little Easter eggs as I was reading. There's also just the tiniest little bits of humor that provide a reprieve from the grotesquery.
Overall this collection was fantastic. It felt very Clive Barker-ish. I could also see these stories as an anthology movie.
March 7, 2024
I reviewed this entire collection over a year ago but I’m a different person now. The Christina of a year ago wasn’t as hip to the Easter eggs and movie/music references so here we are, all of us, reading the more mature review. (OK, that may be a bit of a stretch, tbh.)
There are ten short stories in the TM collection, many have been published and here, are extended and in some cases a bit rewritten but Temple of Amduscias is brand new. So let’s get into them.
The Corpsefucker Blues - Cynthia and Chase have a very specific kink and meeting at a sex addiction group, they probably shouldn’t have started a relationship. But old habits die (ha) hard (double ha).
The Seacretor - Three “friends” are off on a yacht when all of a sudden they are on a deserted island. When their only option is to drink “tree jizz” or die of thirst, dehydration becomes the least of their worries. And for the super freaks of us, there is a bit of dendraphilia. wink
Threesome - Karla and Blake have a decent sex life but it gets better when Karla wants to bring in another woman. But with the ultimate fantasy comes (ha) a bit of familiarity. Will there be enough of him to go around when they do the scissors?
Divine Red - Rob has obsession at first sight, with Anna, in an elevator. His buddy and co-worker, Alec, sees her at a place called Painfreak, Rob shows her how far he is willing to go to prove his feelings.
Down There - Kendra and Russell are the new kids in tow when they befriend, Gwendolyn. Deep in the woods behind their house, a legend is held of the Woodsman who demands offerings. Is this just a silly neighborhood story or a warning of things to come?
Junk - Nick likes to show his dick on camera to unsuspecting people, especially women. But when he is the victim of “cock and awe”, things get a bit messy.
Angelbait - Michael, Isabella, and Tilda are in a bit of a religious pickle. Otis is hunting angels and has some plans for these three “saints” and Simon. Simon is such a helper. DO NOT EAT BEFORE READING THIS. You are welcome for the warning.
Orificially Compromised - Porter has a thing for Ella but Ella has a thing for Dr. Obrist — kinda. When sex toys seem to good to be true, they usually are.
Temple of Amduscias - Olivia goes back to Naughton for a clearing of the mind trip. While wandering a long forgotten antique shop, she meets three geo-cachers. As they explore the antique store together, one door will change their lives forever.
Last Time at Thanksgiving - The narrator brings his college roommate, Kendall, to Thanksgiving with his family. Kendall doesn’t really fit in with his inappropriate jokes but those turn out to be the least of the narrators concern when they are charged with taking Grandpa back to the nursing home.
TM is Ryan’s second collection, the perfect follow-up to GENITAL GRINDER. But what is shown in this collection is his growth; growth as an author and personally. Each story has his trademarks; Easter eggs, clever wit, hilarious dialogue, and insane gore.
But it feels mature, as though he knew what worked in GG and classed it up a bit. I mean, tree fucking, threesomes, and “cock and awe”? Some things will always be.
My #1 book of the year (since May of last year), a DOUBLE OF THE CHARTS RECOMMENDATION 20/5.
There are ten short stories in the TM collection, many have been published and here, are extended and in some cases a bit rewritten but Temple of Amduscias is brand new. So let’s get into them.
The Corpsefucker Blues - Cynthia and Chase have a very specific kink and meeting at a sex addiction group, they probably shouldn’t have started a relationship. But old habits die (ha) hard (double ha).
The Seacretor - Three “friends” are off on a yacht when all of a sudden they are on a deserted island. When their only option is to drink “tree jizz” or die of thirst, dehydration becomes the least of their worries. And for the super freaks of us, there is a bit of dendraphilia. wink
Threesome - Karla and Blake have a decent sex life but it gets better when Karla wants to bring in another woman. But with the ultimate fantasy comes (ha) a bit of familiarity. Will there be enough of him to go around when they do the scissors?
Divine Red - Rob has obsession at first sight, with Anna, in an elevator. His buddy and co-worker, Alec, sees her at a place called Painfreak, Rob shows her how far he is willing to go to prove his feelings.
Down There - Kendra and Russell are the new kids in tow when they befriend, Gwendolyn. Deep in the woods behind their house, a legend is held of the Woodsman who demands offerings. Is this just a silly neighborhood story or a warning of things to come?
Junk - Nick likes to show his dick on camera to unsuspecting people, especially women. But when he is the victim of “cock and awe”, things get a bit messy.
Angelbait - Michael, Isabella, and Tilda are in a bit of a religious pickle. Otis is hunting angels and has some plans for these three “saints” and Simon. Simon is such a helper. DO NOT EAT BEFORE READING THIS. You are welcome for the warning.
Orificially Compromised - Porter has a thing for Ella but Ella has a thing for Dr. Obrist — kinda. When sex toys seem to good to be true, they usually are.
Temple of Amduscias - Olivia goes back to Naughton for a clearing of the mind trip. While wandering a long forgotten antique shop, she meets three geo-cachers. As they explore the antique store together, one door will change their lives forever.
Last Time at Thanksgiving - The narrator brings his college roommate, Kendall, to Thanksgiving with his family. Kendall doesn’t really fit in with his inappropriate jokes but those turn out to be the least of the narrators concern when they are charged with taking Grandpa back to the nursing home.
TM is Ryan’s second collection, the perfect follow-up to GENITAL GRINDER. But what is shown in this collection is his growth; growth as an author and personally. Each story has his trademarks; Easter eggs, clever wit, hilarious dialogue, and insane gore.
But it feels mature, as though he knew what worked in GG and classed it up a bit. I mean, tree fucking, threesomes, and “cock and awe”? Some things will always be.
My #1 book of the year (since May of last year), a DOUBLE OF THE CHARTS RECOMMENDATION 20/5.
February 3, 2024
It’s worth taking time to meditate upon Ryan Harding’s Transcendental Mutilation. The author is an absolute master of body horror. He builds from an unsettling tone with the carefully selected words he uses to build the nightmares he’s crafted for the reader’s exploration…nudging you along until you find yourself trapped in the phantasmagoric prison from which the only way out is through.
While the influences of Clive Barker and David Cronenberg are infused throughout, Harding takes the reader on a journey only his feverish imagination could birth. Fans of his previous work will be pleased to see references to familiar characters, organizations, and concepts sprinkled throughout the stories contained within this collection. But Harding isn’t content to rest upon his laurels and retread the same ground, he boldly ventures off the beaten path and veers away from anything comfortable and familiar, to bring us an offering suitable to the monstrous deity lurking beneath some forgotten, abandoned town…and within the author’s mind.
There’s a lesson in some of these tales–one that a great many people could stand to learn–that is to behave in a civilized manner and treat people with respect and empathy, or risk finding a truly hellish reward awaiting you…perhaps sooner than you expect.
Revenge porn, shipwrecks, the dangers associated with new technology (and the abuse thereof), and tantalizing–terrifying–glimpses through the thin shroud that separates our world from a place far more chaotic and monstrous are only some of the things you’ll find scattered throughout these pages…but I assure you there’s nothing that will disappoint.
While the influences of Clive Barker and David Cronenberg are infused throughout, Harding takes the reader on a journey only his feverish imagination could birth. Fans of his previous work will be pleased to see references to familiar characters, organizations, and concepts sprinkled throughout the stories contained within this collection. But Harding isn’t content to rest upon his laurels and retread the same ground, he boldly ventures off the beaten path and veers away from anything comfortable and familiar, to bring us an offering suitable to the monstrous deity lurking beneath some forgotten, abandoned town…and within the author’s mind.
There’s a lesson in some of these tales–one that a great many people could stand to learn–that is to behave in a civilized manner and treat people with respect and empathy, or risk finding a truly hellish reward awaiting you…perhaps sooner than you expect.
Revenge porn, shipwrecks, the dangers associated with new technology (and the abuse thereof), and tantalizing–terrifying–glimpses through the thin shroud that separates our world from a place far more chaotic and monstrous are only some of the things you’ll find scattered throughout these pages…but I assure you there’s nothing that will disappoint.
April 18, 2024
I'm taking a pause about mid-book, as I was completely grossed out by "Divine Red" and haven't been able to pick this back up. Of what I've read so far, the story that has had the best impression on me by far is "The Seacretor." I loved the whole terrible eventuality of it.
So, a middle rating to balance out the awesomeness that is one story with the putridness of another. I still have more to read, so I'm sure that opinion will change.
So, a middle rating to balance out the awesomeness that is one story with the putridness of another. I still have more to read, so I'm sure that opinion will change.
January 14, 2024
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Transcendental Mutilation by Ryan Harding
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
- Three friends become shipwrecked on an uncharted island following an ocean joy ride. This misfortune quickly develops into a repulsive transformation of terror as the island offers its unusual poisons.
- An infected Thanksgiving centerpiece is served with a heaping portion of retirement aged rot and a side of creepy chaos.
- Resembling the one and only Agent Orange, a disturbing serial killer known as The Woodsman emerges from the darkness to do his own brand of gruesome bidding.
This unsettling collection of sick stories entitled Transcendental Mutilations unveils all the jarring joys and muffled screams that Ryan Harding has to offer. Not only does he shed a distorted light on desired threesomes, but he also allows a brief entrance to Painfreak. This legendary private club is built on brutality, depravity and mutilations. Harding’s skill for emphasizing each and every one of these stories with repulsion and disgust is a talent within itself.
Ryan Harding seems to conjure the inner spirit of David Cronenberg as he exposes flesh enhancement and anatomical body horror. His distinct binary code of carnage replaces 0’s and 1’s with 666’s and strange hellish symbols. Trying to advise trigger warnings to a Ryan Harding book is as useless as a knitted condom, so I’m not gonna go there. Intelligent wit, horrific murders and necrophilia…Ryan Harding isn’t a multi-splatterpunk award winner for nothing.
I loved this book and invite all to join in on the genital grinding enjoyment this collection has to offer. The coordinates on your GPS should be set somewhere at the corner of mutilation and carnage street. From Acme Dickhead Skin Regrowth to a putrid plethora of WTF moments, these graphic splatter stories have it all. As for Ryan Harding? I hear he was recently promoted to Night Stocker at the Devil’s Food grocery store. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Transcendental Mutilation by Ryan Harding
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
- Three friends become shipwrecked on an uncharted island following an ocean joy ride. This misfortune quickly develops into a repulsive transformation of terror as the island offers its unusual poisons.
- An infected Thanksgiving centerpiece is served with a heaping portion of retirement aged rot and a side of creepy chaos.
- Resembling the one and only Agent Orange, a disturbing serial killer known as The Woodsman emerges from the darkness to do his own brand of gruesome bidding.
This unsettling collection of sick stories entitled Transcendental Mutilations unveils all the jarring joys and muffled screams that Ryan Harding has to offer. Not only does he shed a distorted light on desired threesomes, but he also allows a brief entrance to Painfreak. This legendary private club is built on brutality, depravity and mutilations. Harding’s skill for emphasizing each and every one of these stories with repulsion and disgust is a talent within itself.
Ryan Harding seems to conjure the inner spirit of David Cronenberg as he exposes flesh enhancement and anatomical body horror. His distinct binary code of carnage replaces 0’s and 1’s with 666’s and strange hellish symbols. Trying to advise trigger warnings to a Ryan Harding book is as useless as a knitted condom, so I’m not gonna go there. Intelligent wit, horrific murders and necrophilia…Ryan Harding isn’t a multi-splatterpunk award winner for nothing.
I loved this book and invite all to join in on the genital grinding enjoyment this collection has to offer. The coordinates on your GPS should be set somewhere at the corner of mutilation and carnage street. From Acme Dickhead Skin Regrowth to a putrid plethora of WTF moments, these graphic splatter stories have it all. As for Ryan Harding? I hear he was recently promoted to Night Stocker at the Devil’s Food grocery store. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
February 12, 2025
Oh boy, lol. I redid this about 15x trying to shorten it, but idk… I’m just gonna wing this entire review because I’m unsure the best way to go about it. So, let’s just see what happens. 😅
I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first time reading something by Harding. 🫣 But I swear, he’s been on my TBR for quite some time now. Better late than never, right? Anyway, I finally took the plunge into this bad Larry, and damn... I was missing out. This is some top tier shit right here. And I’m 100% positive everyone needs to be reading more Ryan Harding. (Including myself). 👏🏼
That being said. It’s a short story collection. So the original plan was take each story one by one. But there’s 10. And I had a lot to say about each one. And no one wants to read all that. 🥲😂 Then I said, “well okay, I’ll just highlight a couple,” nope… couldn’t do that either. I loved them all, and I don’t like cherry picking often, so I simply cannot. 🙂↔️
What I will say is that this book is a wild ride. It’s sick. It’s depraved. It’s vile. I gagged. I chuckled. I cringed. I felt physical pain in body parts I don’t even have. It has a lot of unhinged shit going on. Bodily fluids. Necrophilia. Mutilation (obviously, lol), and everything in between—even some “aw, it’s love,” type moments… kinda. 😆
The writing style(s) and tone(s) etc. hit beautifully for every single story. This entire book is a WHOLE vibe, each story has its own vibe too… and I’m obsessed. Transcendental Mutilation gets a super easy five stars from start to finish. Simple as that. 🤌🏼
TL;DR: Please run to Amazon and go check this book out asap. I want to see more people talk about it. I need to talk to more people about it. It’s that good. I promise. 👉🏼👈🏼
I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first time reading something by Harding. 🫣 But I swear, he’s been on my TBR for quite some time now. Better late than never, right? Anyway, I finally took the plunge into this bad Larry, and damn... I was missing out. This is some top tier shit right here. And I’m 100% positive everyone needs to be reading more Ryan Harding. (Including myself). 👏🏼
That being said. It’s a short story collection. So the original plan was take each story one by one. But there’s 10. And I had a lot to say about each one. And no one wants to read all that. 🥲😂 Then I said, “well okay, I’ll just highlight a couple,” nope… couldn’t do that either. I loved them all, and I don’t like cherry picking often, so I simply cannot. 🙂↔️
What I will say is that this book is a wild ride. It’s sick. It’s depraved. It’s vile. I gagged. I chuckled. I cringed. I felt physical pain in body parts I don’t even have. It has a lot of unhinged shit going on. Bodily fluids. Necrophilia. Mutilation (obviously, lol), and everything in between—even some “aw, it’s love,” type moments… kinda. 😆
The writing style(s) and tone(s) etc. hit beautifully for every single story. This entire book is a WHOLE vibe, each story has its own vibe too… and I’m obsessed. Transcendental Mutilation gets a super easy five stars from start to finish. Simple as that. 🤌🏼
TL;DR: Please run to Amazon and go check this book out asap. I want to see more people talk about it. I need to talk to more people about it. It’s that good. I promise. 👉🏼👈🏼
December 5, 2023
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/12/05/transcendental-mutilation/
A Depraved, Visceral, and Impactful Collection
Transcendental Mutilation is the new horror collection from the incomparable Ryan Harding, and it’s everything you want it to be. Let’s dive right in.
The first story, “The Corpsefucker Blues,” both is and isn’t what you think it’s going to be. The most disturbing part is the very moving underlying statement about addiction.
“The Seacretor” is a personal favorite, and it was previously published in Splatterpunk Forever. It’s a creative, splattery first-person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding.
“Threesome” is a graphic and disturbing story about choices. It’s a really impactful tale, written as only Harding can write such things.
“Divine Red” is a dark story about longing, obsession, and taboo carnality. There is a level of depravity within this one that will either spark the dark side of your mind or send it screaming the other direction. Or perhaps both.
“Down There” is a suspenseful folklore horror tale with an ending I did not see coming. I love the flow of this one.
“Junk” is not to be enjoyed with snacks. This story is a-whole-lotta graphic gross. But it’s still a solid story with a point to make, so try not to miss the storyline when the twist churns both your stomach and your brain.
“Angelbait” is also one that doesn’t really go well with snacking. But in spite of the graphic gore and ick, I found myself both engrossed and emotionally invested. The premise is not necessarily original, but the presentation (of course) is. But no spoilers. The story is both brutal and deep. It’s no wonder it won an award.
“Orificially Compromised” is a story to be experienced, not described. To me, it’s the keystone of the collection, the hidden basement in this dark world Harding has created.
“Temple of Amduscias” takes you where the darkness of it all waits. This story defies your expectations of what’s going to happen next. The continuity in spite of the multitude of twists is sheer brilliance.
“Last Time at Thanksgiving” begins with Harding’s trademark dark and irreverent humor and turns into something unexpected and visceral. It’s ultimately an impactful and appropriate final story to the collection.
Here are two important tips to fully appreciate this collection as a whole. One: read the Foreword (Prelude to Repulsion) and the Afterword (Postscript to Repulsion). Seriously. And two: read the quoted excerpts preceding each story. Again, seriously. Take note of them, they tie the collection together. I won’t tell you why. I will tell you the revelation is mind-blowing.
Fans of Ryan Harding, you want this, want to own it, want to read it, want to make it a part of your life. Fans of Extreme Horror, you too. Fans of Splatterpunk, same. This is the collection we have collectively been waiting for.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/12/05/transcendental-mutilation/
A Depraved, Visceral, and Impactful Collection
Transcendental Mutilation is the new horror collection from the incomparable Ryan Harding, and it’s everything you want it to be. Let’s dive right in.
The first story, “The Corpsefucker Blues,” both is and isn’t what you think it’s going to be. The most disturbing part is the very moving underlying statement about addiction.
“The Seacretor” is a personal favorite, and it was previously published in Splatterpunk Forever. It’s a creative, splattery first-person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding.
“Threesome” is a graphic and disturbing story about choices. It’s a really impactful tale, written as only Harding can write such things.
“Divine Red” is a dark story about longing, obsession, and taboo carnality. There is a level of depravity within this one that will either spark the dark side of your mind or send it screaming the other direction. Or perhaps both.
“Down There” is a suspenseful folklore horror tale with an ending I did not see coming. I love the flow of this one.
“Junk” is not to be enjoyed with snacks. This story is a-whole-lotta graphic gross. But it’s still a solid story with a point to make, so try not to miss the storyline when the twist churns both your stomach and your brain.
“Angelbait” is also one that doesn’t really go well with snacking. But in spite of the graphic gore and ick, I found myself both engrossed and emotionally invested. The premise is not necessarily original, but the presentation (of course) is. But no spoilers. The story is both brutal and deep. It’s no wonder it won an award.
“Orificially Compromised” is a story to be experienced, not described. To me, it’s the keystone of the collection, the hidden basement in this dark world Harding has created.
“Temple of Amduscias” takes you where the darkness of it all waits. This story defies your expectations of what’s going to happen next. The continuity in spite of the multitude of twists is sheer brilliance.
“Last Time at Thanksgiving” begins with Harding’s trademark dark and irreverent humor and turns into something unexpected and visceral. It’s ultimately an impactful and appropriate final story to the collection.
Here are two important tips to fully appreciate this collection as a whole. One: read the Foreword (Prelude to Repulsion) and the Afterword (Postscript to Repulsion). Seriously. And two: read the quoted excerpts preceding each story. Again, seriously. Take note of them, they tie the collection together. I won’t tell you why. I will tell you the revelation is mind-blowing.
Fans of Ryan Harding, you want this, want to own it, want to read it, want to make it a part of your life. Fans of Extreme Horror, you too. Fans of Splatterpunk, same. This is the collection we have collectively been waiting for.
April 25, 2024
The stories I liked, I *REALLY* liked. The ones I wasn't not such a fan of, I still liked well enough to engage with and finish, and appreciated the technical mastery of the art of writing.
Four stars because they weren't all big winners for me, but this is a great read for anyone into splatterpunk that is more or less overtly influenced by metal and experimental horror movies from the 80s and 90s.
April 16, 2024 – 0.0% "Horror Aficionados April 2024 group read"
April 16, 2024 – 13.0%
"Story #1 "The Corpsefucker Blues" is everything I hoped it would be, even the completely unsurprising twist. 5 stars, no notes.
April 17, 2024 – 31.0%
"Threesome" - technically fine, definitely a huge step above some unedited self published Kindle fodder, but ultimately just a predictable rehashed trope. The sex and violence needs to be more specific. Three stars.
April 18, 2024 – 39.0%
"Divine Red" - It's like the myth of Tristan and Isolde, but filtered through a late-stage capitalist post industrial version of Dante's Hell. I felt a little of the The Famous Scene from Blade, too.
I think the story resolved too quickly, I would have liked to see the MC get built up before the sacrifice.
April 18, 2024 – 50.0%
"Down There" - I love a good Spirit of the Forest story, and this one delivers. I'd like to see this expanded into an entire novel length story. 5 stars.
April 19, 2024 – 66.0%
"Junk" - Great idea, would love to see it fleshed out a little more. Read the first few pages of the next story and it looks like they may be related. Again, I'd like to see the MC get built up a bit more so the 'crux' of the story hits a little harder. Four stars.
April 20, 2024 – 75.0%
"Orificially Compromised" - Interesting premise I bought into, but the supporting world building doesn't really stand up well to scrutiny. Three stars.
April 20, 2024 – 89.0%
"Temple of Amduscias" I do love a good "oops we stumbled into a gate into Hell story". I'd like to more about the MC's motivations though. Four stars.
April 20, 2024 – 95.0%
"Last Time At Thanksgiving" Ahh, the zombie apocalypse. First person style. The characterization felt all over the place; the narrative was clear, but it had that problem that Stephen King books have - why are we spending so much time on characters that hardly move the story forward? Three stars.
Four stars because they weren't all big winners for me, but this is a great read for anyone into splatterpunk that is more or less overtly influenced by metal and experimental horror movies from the 80s and 90s.
April 16, 2024 – 0.0% "Horror Aficionados April 2024 group read"
April 16, 2024 – 13.0%
"Story #1 "The Corpsefucker Blues" is everything I hoped it would be, even the completely unsurprising twist. 5 stars, no notes.
April 17, 2024 – 31.0%
"Threesome" - technically fine, definitely a huge step above some unedited self published Kindle fodder, but ultimately just a predictable rehashed trope. The sex and violence needs to be more specific. Three stars.
April 18, 2024 – 39.0%
"Divine Red" - It's like the myth of Tristan and Isolde, but filtered through a late-stage capitalist post industrial version of Dante's Hell. I felt a little of the The Famous Scene from Blade, too.
I think the story resolved too quickly, I would have liked to see the MC get built up before the sacrifice.
April 18, 2024 – 50.0%
"Down There" - I love a good Spirit of the Forest story, and this one delivers. I'd like to see this expanded into an entire novel length story. 5 stars.
April 19, 2024 – 66.0%
"Junk" - Great idea, would love to see it fleshed out a little more. Read the first few pages of the next story and it looks like they may be related. Again, I'd like to see the MC get built up a bit more so the 'crux' of the story hits a little harder. Four stars.
April 20, 2024 – 75.0%
"Orificially Compromised" - Interesting premise I bought into, but the supporting world building doesn't really stand up well to scrutiny. Three stars.
April 20, 2024 – 89.0%
"Temple of Amduscias" I do love a good "oops we stumbled into a gate into Hell story". I'd like to more about the MC's motivations though. Four stars.
April 20, 2024 – 95.0%
"Last Time At Thanksgiving" Ahh, the zombie apocalypse. First person style. The characterization felt all over the place; the narrative was clear, but it had that problem that Stephen King books have - why are we spending so much time on characters that hardly move the story forward? Three stars.
August 10, 2025
I loved Transcendental Mutilation. While keeping in line with the visceral prose that defined his infamous first collection, Genital Grinder, Ryan Harding adds elements of atmosphere, cosmic horror, and weird fiction, lending a more cerebral and somber dimension to his writing.
Beyond its more general meaning of “spiritual,” the word transcendental also precisely references Kantian philosophy, pointing to the basic structures of human experience—how the world appears to us ordered in space and time, in causal sequences, in patterns of presence and absence, quantity and quality. One of the keys to Harding’s stories is that these basic norms of experience are broken, pulling the characters into a paradoxical, Lovecraftian realm of mutilation. In Divine Red and Temple of Amduscias, the rules of space are warped—the insides of buildings are incongruent with their outsides. In Junk, the law of cause and effect collapses. In Angelbait, time seems to flow differently from ordinary time.
In the postscript, Harding notes that the story Down There, about a girl’s fear of the woods, was partially inspired by The Blair Witch Project. I’m a big fan of that film, and I think the way the witch’s presence is suggested rather than shown makes the horror more suffocating—as if the forest itself is cursed, trapping the protagonists from the moment they step inside, perhaps without their conscious awareness. The same goes for Down There: the evil is absent yet omnipresent, in the bark of trees, in the foliage, in the shadowed corners. Evil here is shapeless and lurking—not fully something, but not nothing either. A malignant nothing.
Speaking of nothing, Temple of Amduscias has a more existentialist undercurrent. Olivia, the main character, is obsessed with empty, abandoned places—with the faces of the void, with hopelessness. The grim mood of this story reminded me of the philosophical pessimism in works by Thomas Ligotti, Nicole Cushing, and Curtis Lawson’s The Envious Nothing.
These journeys through the doors of perception lead to mutilation, but also mutation. “Progression could mean growing new organs and limbs. Perhaps it may also mean losing some of the old ones through an act of transcendental mutilation.” In Harding’s universe, as in Clive Barker’s, evil can be an opportunity for transcendence; agony can be a gateway to ecstasy, as showcased in one of the book’s best stories, Red Divine.
I can only skim the surface of this brilliant, singular collection in a short review, but I hope it’s enough to whet the appetite of horror fans. Ryan Harding is an original, powerful voice with a morbid, depraved imagination and a penchant for philosophy. My next stop is Header 3, Harding’s collaboration with extreme horror icon Edward Lee.
Beyond its more general meaning of “spiritual,” the word transcendental also precisely references Kantian philosophy, pointing to the basic structures of human experience—how the world appears to us ordered in space and time, in causal sequences, in patterns of presence and absence, quantity and quality. One of the keys to Harding’s stories is that these basic norms of experience are broken, pulling the characters into a paradoxical, Lovecraftian realm of mutilation. In Divine Red and Temple of Amduscias, the rules of space are warped—the insides of buildings are incongruent with their outsides. In Junk, the law of cause and effect collapses. In Angelbait, time seems to flow differently from ordinary time.
In the postscript, Harding notes that the story Down There, about a girl’s fear of the woods, was partially inspired by The Blair Witch Project. I’m a big fan of that film, and I think the way the witch’s presence is suggested rather than shown makes the horror more suffocating—as if the forest itself is cursed, trapping the protagonists from the moment they step inside, perhaps without their conscious awareness. The same goes for Down There: the evil is absent yet omnipresent, in the bark of trees, in the foliage, in the shadowed corners. Evil here is shapeless and lurking—not fully something, but not nothing either. A malignant nothing.
Speaking of nothing, Temple of Amduscias has a more existentialist undercurrent. Olivia, the main character, is obsessed with empty, abandoned places—with the faces of the void, with hopelessness. The grim mood of this story reminded me of the philosophical pessimism in works by Thomas Ligotti, Nicole Cushing, and Curtis Lawson’s The Envious Nothing.
These journeys through the doors of perception lead to mutilation, but also mutation. “Progression could mean growing new organs and limbs. Perhaps it may also mean losing some of the old ones through an act of transcendental mutilation.” In Harding’s universe, as in Clive Barker’s, evil can be an opportunity for transcendence; agony can be a gateway to ecstasy, as showcased in one of the book’s best stories, Red Divine.
I can only skim the surface of this brilliant, singular collection in a short review, but I hope it’s enough to whet the appetite of horror fans. Ryan Harding is an original, powerful voice with a morbid, depraved imagination and a penchant for philosophy. My next stop is Header 3, Harding’s collaboration with extreme horror icon Edward Lee.
May 13, 2024
I read this book for my book club and this book was good each story had its own unique twist. The writing style of the author made each story seem like its own book brags how different each story was. The stories I enjoyed the most was:
Threesome
Junk
The Seacreator
The CF Blues
Last time at thanksgiving
You should definitely give this book a read.
Threesome
Junk
The Seacreator
The CF Blues
Last time at thanksgiving
You should definitely give this book a read.
December 23, 2025
Unsettling and grotesque in all the best ways. I usually find "splatterpunk" novellas rather dull and boring, but I both felt that Harding has a much more impressive voice than many of his peers, and I quite enjoyed the dark humour and poignant subtext. It neither feels forced nor juvenile, which is something I often dread in books like this.
Since it's a collection, I have a hard time rating it, especially since some stories stayed with me more than others... but overall I would say I really enjoyed reading this.
Since it's a collection, I have a hard time rating it, especially since some stories stayed with me more than others... but overall I would say I really enjoyed reading this.
September 5, 2024
What a nasty fucking book. I made the mistake of eating a whole buffet-style smorgasbord of Bohemian food before starting to read this thing. What a colossal mistake of Mt. Everest-sized fucking proportions that was. I was puking my guts out after a couple stories. Vile shit, man. Then after puking, I was hungry again so I went out and got a couple of Big Macs. I like them with extra mayo and horseradish, makes them go down easier, like blasting down a greasy slide. But then I had to know what other stories this collection had, so I picked up the book again. Another huge fucking mistake! This book is DISGUSTING! I ralphed that shit up so fast, I probably could have scooped it out of the toilet and put it on a plate, reheated it in the microwave, and enjoyed those Big Macs for a second time. Actually no, that's pretty fucked up. See what this book has done to me? It's got me thinking all kinds of horrible shit now. Nasty fucking book, what a shitshow!
Favorite story was Angelbait. Great story collection, def recommend. 👍👍
Favorite story was Angelbait. Great story collection, def recommend. 👍👍
February 24, 2024
Harding's work is simply the most twisted, vile and taboo in the business. Brillant but brutal. Thrilling but disgusting. On par with Edward Lee and Aron Beauregard but somehow even more nightmarish. I thought I was going to vomit at one point. I had to put the book down a lot and take a breather. But isn't that what we want from splatterpunk? A great if long-delayed follow up to Genital Grinder.
September 26, 2024
3.25 rounded down. Quite a few of these stories were grotesquely well done. Only a couple were a bit hard to follow/find engaging. Good enough to make me want to read his previous works so that I understand the easter eggs in this book.
December 29, 2023
my god. this was gruesomee. my favs were #1, Corpsefucker Blues, about, well, a necrophiliac, and #9, Angelbait, about a group of kidnapped people. thanks for the ARC edelweiss
December 10, 2025
Takes a lot to gross me out, but these stories certainly managed it!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews