Throwback

by Mark Manley

Once in many generations, it reappears. Scientists call it a freak of evolution. The people in the hills have another name for it. Throwback.

Something preys on your mind even as it grows under your skin. It will sprout a bone structure. Clawing hands. Killing fangs.

It will trap you within your own flesh. And if you lose the final, nightmarish war of wills, it will be your master. Forever.

Genres: Horror

218 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's not what I'd consider a "hidden gem" of horror or anything like that, Mark Manley's Throwback is a fine example of a competently-written piece of what I'll call "bedroom candy", a book that you can sit in bed, read, and enjoy without feeling like you've been ripped off. It won't set your hair on fire or change your life, but it's short and tells a fine story at a good pace. Sometimes that's all you need.

These are the books you won't see on the shelves today. It used to be that the top-tiered authors (King, Roberts, Clancy, Grisham, etc...) were so successful that publishers could gamble some of their earnings on publishing and promoting their mid-listers, allowing their less-successful and less-frequent authors to still earn a living at their craft while editorial gatekeeping ensured that (most of) the trash never made it into print.

Today we have indie publishing with no gate keepers on one side of the aisle, and on the other side publishers throwing everything they can into churning out books with James Patterson's name on the cover. In today's market, there's no room for the Mark Manleys on store shelves, as razor-thin profit margins and the rise of the enormous online second-hand market have squeezed that stone dry.

It's a shame, because books about hideous, mutant rats growing out of menopausal women's spinal columns are a genre woefully unrepresented, but there you have it.

[RVGSteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was… weird. In both a good and not so good way. The premise is very unique. The women in a certain family, upon hitting menopause, starts to develop a tumor of sorts growing out of their spine. And that tumor comes in the form of a rodent-like creature. Naturally, this creature is bloodthirsty. It’s the perfect B-Movie setup. Manley is a capable writer who presented a solid story. But I was hoping for a little more action. The climax is exciting though, taking place in a mall that I could picture every scene of. I have heard some good things about this book so I was hoping for a 4+ star experience. In the end, similar to Nightscape by Stephen R. George, I think this one slightly underwhelmed. Definitely better than most of the middling horror entries of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Just wish it had a little more action and creature violence!

[Signor Mambrino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of trash that I want to read. A giant mutant rat growing out of your mom? Yes please.

[Sreypich Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced, weird genetic mutation, quick and easy way to kill time.

[Henry Tejada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not disappoint, it’s a short one but it’ll keep you hooked with its grotesque and unnerving body horror. If you want a weird straight to the point no filler book then give this one a go.