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Peaceable Kingdom
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780843952162.
This landmark collection gathers more than thirty of Jack Ketchum's most thrilling stories. "Gone" and "The Box" were honored with the prestigious Bram Stoker Award. Whether you are already familiar with Ketchum's unique brand of suspense or are experiencing it for the first time, here is a book no aficionado of fear can do without.
Contents:
1 · Introduction · in
5 · The Rifle · ss Cemetery Dance Win ’95
18 · The Box · ss Cemetery Dance Spr ’94
31 · Mail Order · ss Voices from the Night, ed. John Maclay, Maclay & Associates, 1994
45 · Luck · ss Skull Full of Spurs: A Roundup of Weird Westerns, ed. Jason Bovberg & Kirk Whitham, Dark Highway Press, 2000
56 · The Haunt · ss Cemetery Dance #34, 2001
70 · Megan’s Law · ss Subterranean Gallery, ed. Richard T. Chizmar & William K. Schafer, Subterranean Press, 1999
81 · If Memory Serves · ss Darkside, ed. John Pelan, Darkside Press, 1996
93 · Father and Son · ss, 2000
99 · The Business · ss Murder for Mother, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, Signet, 1994
109 · Mother and Daughter · ss The Spook (online) Aug, 2001
120 · When the Penny Drops · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
133 · Rabid Squirrels in Love · ss Cemetery Dance Spr ’97
143 · Sundays · ss, 2000
153 · Twins · ss *
168 · Amid the Walking Wounded · ss The UFO Files, ed. Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg, DAW, 1998
183 · The Great San Diego Sleasy Bimbo Massacre · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
202 · The Holding Cell · ss Bizarre Bazaar #2 ’93
216 · The Work · ss, 1997
226 · The Best · ss, 2000
231 · Redemption · ss Night Screams, ed. Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg, Roc, 1996
245 · The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
259 · Chain Letter · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
267 · Forever · ss Imagination Fully Dilated 2, ed. Elizabeth Engstrom, IFD Publishing, 2000
281 · Gone · ss October Dreams, ed. Richard Chizmar & Robert Morrish, CD Publications, 2000
288 · Closing Time · na *
331 · The Rose · ss Deadly After Dark, ed. Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett, Pocket, 1994
348 · The Turning · ss Vampire Detectives, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, DAW, 1995
354 · To Suit the Crime · ss Bizarre Sex & Other Crimes of Passion #1, ed. Stan Tal, Tal Publications ’92
363 · Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis Is Still Dead · ss *
372 · The Visitor · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
380 · Snakes · ss Fear Itself, ed. Jeff Gelb, Warner, 1995
400 · Firedance · ss Imagination Fully Dilated, ed. Alan M. Clark & Elizabeth Engstrom, CD Publications, 1998
413 · Afterword · aw
This landmark collection gathers more than thirty of Jack Ketchum's most thrilling stories. "Gone" and "The Box" were honored with the prestigious Bram Stoker Award. Whether you are already familiar with Ketchum's unique brand of suspense or are experiencing it for the first time, here is a book no aficionado of fear can do without.
Contents:
1 · Introduction · in
5 · The Rifle · ss Cemetery Dance Win ’95
18 · The Box · ss Cemetery Dance Spr ’94
31 · Mail Order · ss Voices from the Night, ed. John Maclay, Maclay & Associates, 1994
45 · Luck · ss Skull Full of Spurs: A Roundup of Weird Westerns, ed. Jason Bovberg & Kirk Whitham, Dark Highway Press, 2000
56 · The Haunt · ss Cemetery Dance #34, 2001
70 · Megan’s Law · ss Subterranean Gallery, ed. Richard T. Chizmar & William K. Schafer, Subterranean Press, 1999
81 · If Memory Serves · ss Darkside, ed. John Pelan, Darkside Press, 1996
93 · Father and Son · ss, 2000
99 · The Business · ss Murder for Mother, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, Signet, 1994
109 · Mother and Daughter · ss The Spook (online) Aug, 2001
120 · When the Penny Drops · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
133 · Rabid Squirrels in Love · ss Cemetery Dance Spr ’97
143 · Sundays · ss, 2000
153 · Twins · ss *
168 · Amid the Walking Wounded · ss The UFO Files, ed. Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg, DAW, 1998
183 · The Great San Diego Sleasy Bimbo Massacre · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
202 · The Holding Cell · ss Bizarre Bazaar #2 ’93
216 · The Work · ss, 1997
226 · The Best · ss, 2000
231 · Redemption · ss Night Screams, ed. Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg, Roc, 1996
245 · The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
259 · Chain Letter · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
267 · Forever · ss Imagination Fully Dilated 2, ed. Elizabeth Engstrom, IFD Publishing, 2000
281 · Gone · ss October Dreams, ed. Richard Chizmar & Robert Morrish, CD Publications, 2000
288 · Closing Time · na *
331 · The Rose · ss Deadly After Dark, ed. Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett, Pocket, 1994
348 · The Turning · ss Vampire Detectives, ed. Martin H. Greenberg, DAW, 1995
354 · To Suit the Crime · ss Bizarre Sex & Other Crimes of Passion #1, ed. Stan Tal, Tal Publications ’92
363 · Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis Is Still Dead · ss *
372 · The Visitor · ss The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard, Obsidian Books, 1998
380 · Snakes · ss Fear Itself, ed. Jeff Gelb, Warner, 1995
400 · Firedance · ss Imagination Fully Dilated, ed. Alan M. Clark & Elizabeth Engstrom, CD Publications, 1998
413 · Afterword · aw
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2003
196 people are currently reading
2507 people want to read
About the author
Jack Ketchum
198 books2,956 followersDallas William Mayr, better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels included Off Season, Offspring, and Red, which were adapted to film. In 2011, Ketchum received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award for outstanding contribution to the horror genre.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 1, 2022
"You think the world is a sane, just place? well, look over here, let me shine the light in this dark spot, and if you still feel the same, fine, but at least now you have all the information." - Jack Ketchum
Initial Thoughts
Jack Ketchum is an author best known for his shocking and brutal horror seen in books like Off Season and The Girl Next Door, both brilliant novels. However, I'm guessing you've never heard of him. His stories are more often than not based in the realms of reality as oppose to the supernatural and isn't that always more scary? If you have a strong stomach and can handle a slice of hardcore horror he's an author I definitely recommend.
Peaceable Kingdom is a collection of 32 short stories and one that I've had sat on my bookshelf for ages and when I needed something to take with me on a holiday to Turkey, I decided the stars were aligned and now was the time. Collections like these are great when you're looking to dip in to a story when you get the odd chance. But would it stand up to the quality of others that I've been fortunate enough to sample.
Authors like Stephen King, Robert McCammon and Joe Lansdale are absolute masters at this format of storytelling and can all pack a punch in a short timeframe. Going off what I've experienced from Ketchum he's was well up to the task. Let's take a look.
"He liked gore. He liked to hear the screams. So what."
The Stories
Look, there's thirty-two bloody stories in this puppy. If you're expecting me to do a synopsis of each then you're barking up the wrong tree. I'm not the type of person to go overboard when writing a review. What I will do is give you my top five. Okay, okay...a top ten if I have to.
The entries in “Peaceable Kingdom” walk the line between supernatural horror, suspense, science fiction and dark humour. It's very varied in its scope and there's certainly something for everyone. Some are blockbusters and will hit that sweet spot, while others aren't quite on that level. So see the ones I've covered if you want to focus on the must reads. In my opinion of course.
The Box
This one won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Story in 1994 and deservedly so. If I had to pick one, then this would be it.
When a young boy asks a stranger on a train what he's got wrapped in a mysterious gift box, he finds out with devastating consequences for himself and his family. The tension in this one builds and it's told in brilliant fashion. It had me hooked right to the end. Highly recommended.
Closing Time
The longest story in the collection and more of a novella. Its one of the best and starts with two separate and concurrent narratives that collide in spectacular fashion. One follows an artist who was ditched by his mistress, as he won't leave his wife, and is taking it all very hard. Then we have an armed robber who's hitting the Manhattan bars with some real success. Set in the wake of 9/11, it's dark, perfectly paced and absolutely fantastic. Well worth a read!
The Rifle
This one is also up there as one of the strongest installments in Peaceable Kingdom. When a mother finds a loaded hunting rifle in her son's wardrobe and decides to confront him things take a slide into nightmare country. This one gets very dark very quickly and that's exactly why I enjoyed it so much!
Twins
In the wake of a traumatic event, a pair of twins share a special bond that's a little bit too special if you catch my drift. This is already a messed up story when a twist at the midpoint takes things in a direction you won't be expecting. Yes, this is definitely a horror with a shocking ending. Sit back and enjoy.
Mail Order
When a wealthy recluse, who's obsessed with snuff movies, places an order with a magazine, he thinks he's got the genuine article. But as the saying goes be careful what you wish for.
This one was disturbing and entertaining in equal measures.
If Memory Serves
A psychiatrist listens to the story of a middle-aged woman who has been through hell while a child and has repressed those dark and nasty memories. Suffering from a severe case of multiple personality disorder, we witness accounts of some vile and depraved acts as we uncover what's been going on. Shades of The Girl Next Door here. Again this is graphic, disturbing and certainly not for those with a weak stomach.
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre
This one is a little bit different in tone from what I'd experienced so far and had some of that black humor that I can't help but enjoy. A woman schemes with her next door neighbor to murder her bum of a husband, agreeing to split the insurance payout. But they have some trouble deciding on how they're going to get it done.
It was very funny and I had a great time with it.
Snakes
This one was an absolute blast. When nature attacks! A woman, down on her luck, is confronted by a massive snake in her back garden. This snake has took a personal shine to her and won't rest until he's got his juicy fangs in her. It was a boat load of fun!
The Rose
This begins fairly light when a man takes his "girlfriend" to a tattoo parlor to get a beautiful rose. But as certain facts come to light it really descends into darkness pretty quickly, like so many of Ketchum's do.
Its shocking, it's creepy, it's close to the bone...all of the good stuff.
Redemption
Who doesn't love a bit of redemption in thier story, but this is redemption Ketchum style. A jilted woman decides to take revenge on the object of her affection by systematically murdering his lovers. The female of the species and all that. But there's a killer twist in this one and the crazy bint gets more than she bargained for...a lot more.
To Suit the Crime
Should the punishment fit the crime? A gruesome tale where two men discuss the possibility of a legal system that can dish out the same punishment that the victim of the crime received. A very philosophical debate that has a nasty shock coming at the end. In this one you can certainly see hallmarks of the author who wrote Off-season.
The Best
As if one woman scorned wasn't enough. Fatal attraction has got nothing on this girl. Just be careful what you do with those johnnies after you finish boys. That's all I'm saying.
The Writing
Going to definitely have to stop there. Couldn't possibly do all thirty-two of these bad boys, although there's a few others deserve special mention. But I'll be seeing in the new year at this rate and my daughter would starve. There's a Ketchum story in the making!
I'm a fan of Ketchum's style. He's not verbose and his writing certainly isn't flowery. But he has a no nonsense approach that sets the tone perfectly and he has zero problems getting his story across. Its like a tractor beam that sucks you in.
His descriptions are razor sharp and the characters realistic and we'll fleshed out. This is all for the good when he turns the microscope on to those aspects of human nature that most other authors stay well clear of. There's no happy endings here, but despite being bleak it's all very thought provoking.
"It runs deep, this aloneness. I have accommodated it. It informs all my relationships and all my expectations. It makes me almost impossible to surprise by life’s grimmer turns of fate."
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a very strong collection of short stories that any fan of dark and disturbing horror will enjoy. It's very accessible and considering the amount of stories, there's very little filler.
As I've already said there's a broad range of horror subgenres covered and there really is something for everyone. Ketchum will make you laugh, he'll make you cry and he'll punch you straight in the gut.
A strong recommendation for fans of dark fiction. I'll stop now before I blow my word count. But not before I say...
...thanks for reading and...cheers!
"I’ll take my turn. I expect to enjoy it. The freedom I mean. I don’t swallow a word of it but I’ll play the game according to the rules and then I’ll probably blow my damned fool brains out."
August 3, 2022
I like Ketchum's novels better than his short stories. Some stories in this collection are great, some seem to lose the plot halfway through, but all are written in his trademark style. It is not a collection for the faint of heart or the prude - gore is liberally sprinkled (or, more accurately, splattered) throughout, and the sex scenes tend toward the explicit. But it's not all a splatterfest either - there are also understated, haunting stories, even non-horror pieces that verge on melodrama. The quality is varied. There are excellent stories that feel like a punch to the gut, as well as stories which I suspect didn't quite cut it for previous publication.
3.5 stars because I liked most of the stories.
3.5 stars because I liked most of the stories.
Want to read
October 29, 2024This is my spillover review from
October Dreams
in which I ran out of word space:
In Gone, a night of boredom on Halloween reveals a past tragedy of a kidnapped child (one of many recurring themes in this anthology), and it takes only one less-than-considerate comment to throw a woman into a grief-stricken rampage against the only trick-or-treaters she receives for the evening, all without falling to exploitation.
Jack Ketchum knows that sadness and trauma are inherent components of terror.
In Gone, a night of boredom on Halloween reveals a past tragedy of a kidnapped child (one of many recurring themes in this anthology), and it takes only one less-than-considerate comment to throw a woman into a grief-stricken rampage against the only trick-or-treaters she receives for the evening, all without falling to exploitation.
Jack Ketchum knows that sadness and trauma are inherent components of terror.
May 10, 2019
It's Ketchum...what else needs to be said? The guy makes the rest of us who write feel like we don't have a clue how to tell a story. Miss you, Dallas!
September 14, 2012
Well... I'm not really sure what to say about this book. It certainly was a collection of brutally horrific stories, which I guess is what I expected from Jack Ketchum. But there's something so much more upsetting about his style in short story format. I can't really put my finger on it but I think in his books you know everyone's going to die and you have time to get comfortable with that, so when it happens you're like "ah well I knew they were all doomed." Here, where every story is 3-10 pages long, it goes more like:
"Oh, she seems like a nice lady! I wonder if she - oh nevermind."
"Aw this kid is having such a good day! I hope he - oh."
"Her cancer's in remission! That's so - ohhh."
"A dog! I love dogs! Oh my god why. I don't even. Why."
So I just felt like I was being punched in the face over and over again. Also, this format means that Jack has the room to do not just a handful of nightmarish things, but like 50 of them. So every single thing that I'm scared of was pretty much covered.
I guess... um.. if you really want to feel upset about a bunch of different things, read this book?
Also, I can't really say anything specific without it being a spoiler, but "Twins" is the most disturbing thing I've ever read in about 100 different ways. PLOT TWIST ANYONE?! (Don't read that story. You won't like it.)
"Oh, she seems like a nice lady! I wonder if she - oh nevermind."
"Aw this kid is having such a good day! I hope he - oh."
"Her cancer's in remission! That's so - ohhh."
"A dog! I love dogs! Oh my god why. I don't even. Why."
So I just felt like I was being punched in the face over and over again. Also, this format means that Jack has the room to do not just a handful of nightmarish things, but like 50 of them. So every single thing that I'm scared of was pretty much covered.
I guess... um.. if you really want to feel upset about a bunch of different things, read this book?
Also, I can't really say anything specific without it being a spoiler, but "Twins" is the most disturbing thing I've ever read in about 100 different ways. PLOT TWIST ANYONE?! (Don't read that story. You won't like it.)
Want to read
January 31, 2016Will leave reviews as I work my way through, not necessarily in order.
(Format is: star rating out of five, denoted by the number of *, followed by the title of the story being reviewed)
***** The Rifle
Ketchum pulls no punches, kicking this collection off with a 12 page roundhouse to the brain. Kids with...um... problems, always a good premise for horror and the master delivers the goods with understated elegance on this one.
*** The Box
Nicely written eerie tale, once again about kids with problems. This story reads like something Matheson would have written for The Twilight Zone. Enjoyable, but not essential. (Recently discovered that this story also won a Bram Stoker Award. I'm not sure I understand the criteria used for those, obviously I would have had disagreements with the panel - either that or there was a dearth of innovative short fiction the year this came out. Like I said, it's good, it's very well done - but innovative or breath-taking?)
***** Mail Order
Here we go! The Ketchum you expect. Dark, twisted, predictable but in that good TALES FROM THE CRYPT sort of way. Good stuff.
*** Luck
If O'Henry wrote a western short story (which he may have, I don't know) it would probably be something like this. Light and amusing, but not essential. Primary appeal is to see Ketchum write a western.
*** The Haunting
A strip club has a visitor who seems to have taken an strong interest in one of the new dancers. A lot tamer than the subject matter would imply. A fun, light-hearted tale - by Ketchum standards, anyway.
*** Megan's Law
A violent sex offender has moved into your neighborhood, a couple of doors down. You have a small daughter. What would you do? What COULD you do? This one will make you think.
*** If Memory Serves
A psychiatrist is in session with a patient that is about to make him famous. Patricia was abused as a child and her personality has fractured into many facets and identities as a result - one of them is even a dog. Bits and pieces of a dark past have emerged, but during this session the full truth may be revealed...
This story is well written but ultimately a bit unsatisfying, very remiscent in style and subject matter to Richard Laymon, though I get that feel that much of the gratuitousness might be for gratutity's sake, and given the subject at hand steps a little further into tastelessness than perhaps needed.
*** Father and Son
Short but sweet tale. Thought for a minute it was going to be a CRAWLSPACE type of story...it had the potential, but Ketchum kept it very short. An old man finds himself trapped in his bathroom in this one.
*** The Business
A Rod Sterling/Twilight Zone sort of story. Wonder if this has ever been adapted for a TV series? A man feels his brother has gotten all the luck, and makes plans to change things in his own favor. But the best laid plans...well, you know the rest.
** Mother and Daughter
Dad left behind Mom and son and daughter, and now the women are wasting away...nicely written, but that's pretty much the story.
*** When the Penny Drops
A very literary offering by Ketchum, really love the flow and language of this one. This was a story that in the hands of a less gifted writer could have ended up going everywhere and nowhere at once, but Ketchum put a wonderful bow on this one.
"Do the same for someone else someday", a message the narrator receives several times during his life when others do an unexpected kind deed for him. But when a liquor store robbery alters his life forever, he plans to live the message in a way it was probably never intended.
SKIPPING AROUND A BIT HERE...
** Gone
This won a Bram Stoker Award. I'm not sure why. Then again, I'm not smart enough to understand the ending and I'm left scratching my head. Even read the ending again to see if I missed something. If you know what it is that makes this story so great, please share. It's nicely written, true, very much in the Bradbury "October" vein, but it strikes me as more of a sketch than a complete story, more of a feeling painted in words. And maybe that's all it's meant to be. Still have that feeling that I'm just not getting something though.
SKIPPING AROUND A BIT HERE...
** The Exit at Toledo Blade Blvd
Another nicely written piece that just seems to hang in mid-air at the end. Quite a departure in style from the usual Ketchum, and seems more as if he was experimenting with a "CRASH"-style intersecting narrative device than constructing a complete and satisfying tale.
Several sets of characters are cruising late at night and we learn about them and how their lives brush against each other during a brief period of time. Again, I get the feeling that I'm missing something at the end. Am I simply dense or do these stories simply lack resolution? I'd like to know. PLease tell me if you do.
*** AMID THE WALKING WOUNDED
I enjoyed this well-written story anout a man with a nosebleed that just won't quite but have no earthly what it meant or what it was about. Ketchum writing on drugs, perhaps? This story had a gag factor on par with Adam Light's Vengeance By The Foot.
**** THE GREAT SAN DIEGO SLEAZY BIMBO MASSACRE
A really fun black comedy about two girls conspiring to kill one of their husbands, in between blowing the bartender and getting drunk. One of their plans to kill the husband was to "grind up" some LSD and put it in his pancakes. Umm, okay.
Best line from the story: "The worker ant climbed over labia arid and joyless as the desert."
(Format is: star rating out of five, denoted by the number of *, followed by the title of the story being reviewed)
***** The Rifle
Ketchum pulls no punches, kicking this collection off with a 12 page roundhouse to the brain. Kids with...um... problems, always a good premise for horror and the master delivers the goods with understated elegance on this one.
*** The Box
Nicely written eerie tale, once again about kids with problems. This story reads like something Matheson would have written for The Twilight Zone. Enjoyable, but not essential. (Recently discovered that this story also won a Bram Stoker Award. I'm not sure I understand the criteria used for those, obviously I would have had disagreements with the panel - either that or there was a dearth of innovative short fiction the year this came out. Like I said, it's good, it's very well done - but innovative or breath-taking?)
***** Mail Order
Here we go! The Ketchum you expect. Dark, twisted, predictable but in that good TALES FROM THE CRYPT sort of way. Good stuff.
*** Luck
If O'Henry wrote a western short story (which he may have, I don't know) it would probably be something like this. Light and amusing, but not essential. Primary appeal is to see Ketchum write a western.
*** The Haunting
A strip club has a visitor who seems to have taken an strong interest in one of the new dancers. A lot tamer than the subject matter would imply. A fun, light-hearted tale - by Ketchum standards, anyway.
*** Megan's Law
A violent sex offender has moved into your neighborhood, a couple of doors down. You have a small daughter. What would you do? What COULD you do? This one will make you think.
*** If Memory Serves
A psychiatrist is in session with a patient that is about to make him famous. Patricia was abused as a child and her personality has fractured into many facets and identities as a result - one of them is even a dog. Bits and pieces of a dark past have emerged, but during this session the full truth may be revealed...
This story is well written but ultimately a bit unsatisfying, very remiscent in style and subject matter to Richard Laymon, though I get that feel that much of the gratuitousness might be for gratutity's sake, and given the subject at hand steps a little further into tastelessness than perhaps needed.
*** Father and Son
Short but sweet tale. Thought for a minute it was going to be a CRAWLSPACE type of story...it had the potential, but Ketchum kept it very short. An old man finds himself trapped in his bathroom in this one.
*** The Business
A Rod Sterling/Twilight Zone sort of story. Wonder if this has ever been adapted for a TV series? A man feels his brother has gotten all the luck, and makes plans to change things in his own favor. But the best laid plans...well, you know the rest.
** Mother and Daughter
Dad left behind Mom and son and daughter, and now the women are wasting away...nicely written, but that's pretty much the story.
*** When the Penny Drops
A very literary offering by Ketchum, really love the flow and language of this one. This was a story that in the hands of a less gifted writer could have ended up going everywhere and nowhere at once, but Ketchum put a wonderful bow on this one.
"Do the same for someone else someday", a message the narrator receives several times during his life when others do an unexpected kind deed for him. But when a liquor store robbery alters his life forever, he plans to live the message in a way it was probably never intended.
SKIPPING AROUND A BIT HERE...
** Gone
This won a Bram Stoker Award. I'm not sure why. Then again, I'm not smart enough to understand the ending and I'm left scratching my head. Even read the ending again to see if I missed something. If you know what it is that makes this story so great, please share. It's nicely written, true, very much in the Bradbury "October" vein, but it strikes me as more of a sketch than a complete story, more of a feeling painted in words. And maybe that's all it's meant to be. Still have that feeling that I'm just not getting something though.
SKIPPING AROUND A BIT HERE...
** The Exit at Toledo Blade Blvd
Another nicely written piece that just seems to hang in mid-air at the end. Quite a departure in style from the usual Ketchum, and seems more as if he was experimenting with a "CRASH"-style intersecting narrative device than constructing a complete and satisfying tale.
Several sets of characters are cruising late at night and we learn about them and how their lives brush against each other during a brief period of time. Again, I get the feeling that I'm missing something at the end. Am I simply dense or do these stories simply lack resolution? I'd like to know. PLease tell me if you do.
*** AMID THE WALKING WOUNDED
I enjoyed this well-written story anout a man with a nosebleed that just won't quite but have no earthly what it meant or what it was about. Ketchum writing on drugs, perhaps? This story had a gag factor on par with Adam Light's Vengeance By The Foot.
**** THE GREAT SAN DIEGO SLEAZY BIMBO MASSACRE
A really fun black comedy about two girls conspiring to kill one of their husbands, in between blowing the bartender and getting drunk. One of their plans to kill the husband was to "grind up" some LSD and put it in his pancakes. Umm, okay.
Best line from the story: "The worker ant climbed over labia arid and joyless as the desert."
October 15, 2020
It took me three months to work my way through this 400+ page collection because I wanted to savor each and every word. Ketchum could write about anything and turn it into something special. Highly recommended!
March 26, 2009
Although Jack Ketchum is one of my favorite horror writers working today this collection of stories is a hit and miss. Some of the stories here are astoudinly brutal, like the first in the collection "The Rifle", where a mother discovers the horrible truth about her ten year old son or "The Visitor" where a man visits the hospital room his wife died in day after day to watch over the next occupants pass away. But there are some pointless ones here too. "Chain Letter" seemed a little muddled in why the recipiants of the letter had to kill and "The Holding Cell" was a story without an ending but all in all this is an enjoyable collection worthy of spending time with.
December 11, 2022
The Rifle: 2 / 5
A mom discovers her son is a killer. How charming.
The Box: 3 / 5
There's a lot of ambiguity in this story after a tragic turn of events.
I wanted more explanation but at the same time I think the unsolved mystery of "The Box"
is one of the appeals of this story.
Mail Order: 3 / 5
A guy with a snuff-film fetish finally gets to star in one! Good for him!
Luck: 1 / 5
A brief western tale where some cowboys sit around the campfire talking about some bad guys
that could be possibly hunting them; it turns out, they are. Story ends.
What a stinker this one was.
The Haunt: 2 / 5
A ghost haunts a sleazy bar / nightclub.
This one had some interesting points but never really went anywhere with it.
Megan's Law: 4(?) / 5
A pedophile who's served his time moves into a neighborhood only to be eliminated by our protagonist for fear of his daughter's safety. I really liked this one up until the last two lines of the story, which have vague implications to something twisted. Or maybe it's just my stupid imagination that's twisted. I don't know. Either way, there's not much consolation.
If Memory Serves: 3 / 5
This story disturbed the hell out of me. A girl with multiple personality disorder unveils her
childhood traumas to her therapist, the cause of her many personalities. What's revealed is f***ed up. The ending of this one, supposed to be even darker, might honestly be a service to the girl/victim in question.
Father and Son: 2 / 5
A sweet, charming story about a father and his son.
Yeah, right.
The Business: 2 / 5
This feels like a type of story I've read before.
Mother and Daughter: 2 / 5
A heartwarming tale about mama and her baby girl. Yup. Sure.
When the Penny Drops: 3 / 5
I found this one intriguing at first but the ending left something to be desired.
Rabid Squirrels in Love: 2 / 5
Ew. Gross. Not a fan of these more disturbing entries.
Sundays: 4 / 5
My favorite story in here thus far. This one is a bit more of a melodrama and seems to be a more personal story. The ending was a bit abrupt but overall I found this one to be more touching/tragic than the others. Maybe because it involves an animal?
Twins: ?
This is the X rated version of Flowers in the Attic. This story was f***ing gross. I did not enjoy it one bit. However, I can't deny that it was well written and the impact it had on me was likely intended by the author, so... 3.5 stars, I guess? Idk.
Amid the Walking Wounded: 4 / 5
I honestly didn't fully understand this story or the ending of it, but it managed to captivate me and make me feel a bit uneasy. A solid 4 stars for this one.
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre: 4 / 5
The title of this story is perfectly representative of its tone. A cheesy, sleazy, and funny story
about a couple of "bimbos" planning to murder their husbands. It was great stuff. A nice change of pace from the more serious, much darker stories that comprise most of this collection.
The Holding Cell: 2 / 5
What exactly happened here...?
The Work: 3 / 5
An interesting, seemingly allegorical tale that has a bit of irony and humor to it. I liked this one.
The Best: 2 / 5
A guy is framed for rape and murder in a particularly nasty setup. It was okay I guess. Wasn't much substance to this one.
Redemption: 2 / 5
Another story with some disturbing elements but fails to really pack any punch or memorability to it, at least for me.
The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard: 1 / 5
I didn't understand the point of this story at all.
Chain Letter: 2 / 5
I didn't really get this one either. Lol. I'm starting to realize that, while I appreciate and respect Ketchum's style of writing and his legacy, the subject matter of most of his stories simply do not appeal to me.
Forever: 3 / 5
Okay, this one was depressing. Thanks a lot for that, Mr. Ketchum - as if I needed more sadness in my life.
Gone: 3 / 5
If I wasn't already numb from the previous story, this one might have impacted me more. Another brief but effective exploration of grief and tragedy. I think I enjoyed (if these kinds of stories can really be enjoyed at all) this one more than the previous, though.
Closing Time: 2 / 5
Yet another dramatic story laced with tragedy. It was okay I guess. These types of stories are wearing a bit thin for me.
The Rose: 1 / 5
I skimmed some of this. Again, not a fan of these darker, more transgressive entries. The ending, though, was... interesting.
The Turning: 1 / 5
I didn't really get this one.
To Suit the Crime: 1 / 5
Okay, I think I'm getting bored with this book at this point. This story simply didn't do anything for me, not even the 'WTF' twist ending.
Lines: Or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead: 1 / 5
The Visitor: 1 / 5
Snakes: 2.5 / 5
Okay, I don't expect a story about killer snakes to be that serious, and it was (kind of) goofy fun, but I couldn't help but cringe at Ketchum's lack of knowledge of snakes.
Firedance: 3.5 / 5
This one was actually kind of intriguing. Bizarre as hell, but intriguing. But for God's sake, Ketchum, snakes do NOT blink. Geez.
Overall this was... okay.
Only five stories in here made 4 star ratings, and a couple of others were okay, but most I could have done without. I can appreciate and respect Ketchum's style of writing, but for the most part his stories just aren't my cup of tea. This was the 4th book I've read of his and it might be the last one for quite a while... maybe the last, ever.
A mom discovers her son is a killer. How charming.
The Box: 3 / 5
There's a lot of ambiguity in this story after a tragic turn of events.
I wanted more explanation but at the same time I think the unsolved mystery of "The Box"
is one of the appeals of this story.
Mail Order: 3 / 5
A guy with a snuff-film fetish finally gets to star in one! Good for him!
Luck: 1 / 5
A brief western tale where some cowboys sit around the campfire talking about some bad guys
that could be possibly hunting them; it turns out, they are. Story ends.
What a stinker this one was.
The Haunt: 2 / 5
A ghost haunts a sleazy bar / nightclub.
This one had some interesting points but never really went anywhere with it.
Megan's Law: 4(?) / 5
A pedophile who's served his time moves into a neighborhood only to be eliminated by our protagonist for fear of his daughter's safety. I really liked this one up until the last two lines of the story, which have vague implications to something twisted. Or maybe it's just my stupid imagination that's twisted. I don't know. Either way, there's not much consolation.
If Memory Serves: 3 / 5
This story disturbed the hell out of me. A girl with multiple personality disorder unveils her
childhood traumas to her therapist, the cause of her many personalities. What's revealed is f***ed up. The ending of this one, supposed to be even darker, might honestly be a service to the girl/victim in question.
Father and Son: 2 / 5
A sweet, charming story about a father and his son.
Yeah, right.
The Business: 2 / 5
This feels like a type of story I've read before.
Mother and Daughter: 2 / 5
A heartwarming tale about mama and her baby girl. Yup. Sure.
When the Penny Drops: 3 / 5
I found this one intriguing at first but the ending left something to be desired.
Rabid Squirrels in Love: 2 / 5
Ew. Gross. Not a fan of these more disturbing entries.
Sundays: 4 / 5
My favorite story in here thus far. This one is a bit more of a melodrama and seems to be a more personal story. The ending was a bit abrupt but overall I found this one to be more touching/tragic than the others. Maybe because it involves an animal?
Twins: ?
This is the X rated version of Flowers in the Attic. This story was f***ing gross. I did not enjoy it one bit. However, I can't deny that it was well written and the impact it had on me was likely intended by the author, so... 3.5 stars, I guess? Idk.
Amid the Walking Wounded: 4 / 5
I honestly didn't fully understand this story or the ending of it, but it managed to captivate me and make me feel a bit uneasy. A solid 4 stars for this one.
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre: 4 / 5
The title of this story is perfectly representative of its tone. A cheesy, sleazy, and funny story
about a couple of "bimbos" planning to murder their husbands. It was great stuff. A nice change of pace from the more serious, much darker stories that comprise most of this collection.
The Holding Cell: 2 / 5
What exactly happened here...?
The Work: 3 / 5
An interesting, seemingly allegorical tale that has a bit of irony and humor to it. I liked this one.
The Best: 2 / 5
A guy is framed for rape and murder in a particularly nasty setup. It was okay I guess. Wasn't much substance to this one.
Redemption: 2 / 5
Another story with some disturbing elements but fails to really pack any punch or memorability to it, at least for me.
The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard: 1 / 5
I didn't understand the point of this story at all.
Chain Letter: 2 / 5
I didn't really get this one either. Lol. I'm starting to realize that, while I appreciate and respect Ketchum's style of writing and his legacy, the subject matter of most of his stories simply do not appeal to me.
Forever: 3 / 5
Okay, this one was depressing. Thanks a lot for that, Mr. Ketchum - as if I needed more sadness in my life.
Gone: 3 / 5
If I wasn't already numb from the previous story, this one might have impacted me more. Another brief but effective exploration of grief and tragedy. I think I enjoyed (if these kinds of stories can really be enjoyed at all) this one more than the previous, though.
Closing Time: 2 / 5
Yet another dramatic story laced with tragedy. It was okay I guess. These types of stories are wearing a bit thin for me.
The Rose: 1 / 5
I skimmed some of this. Again, not a fan of these darker, more transgressive entries. The ending, though, was... interesting.
The Turning: 1 / 5
I didn't really get this one.
To Suit the Crime: 1 / 5
Okay, I think I'm getting bored with this book at this point. This story simply didn't do anything for me, not even the 'WTF' twist ending.
Lines: Or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead: 1 / 5
The Visitor: 1 / 5
Snakes: 2.5 / 5
Okay, I don't expect a story about killer snakes to be that serious, and it was (kind of) goofy fun, but I couldn't help but cringe at Ketchum's lack of knowledge of snakes.
Firedance: 3.5 / 5
This one was actually kind of intriguing. Bizarre as hell, but intriguing. But for God's sake, Ketchum, snakes do NOT blink. Geez.
Overall this was... okay.
Only five stories in here made 4 star ratings, and a couple of others were okay, but most I could have done without. I can appreciate and respect Ketchum's style of writing, but for the most part his stories just aren't my cup of tea. This was the 4th book I've read of his and it might be the last one for quite a while... maybe the last, ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2019
Ясно защо сборникът е носител на Стокър за 2003 година.
Над тридесет кратки разказа, четени повече от четири месеца. Кетчъм е като текила, лют, остър, сгряващ и опияняващ. Не можеш да го консумираш на един път. Трябва да си понесеш последствията след всяко прекаляване.
Всички разкази ме докоснаха по някакъв начин. Всички освен два-три ми станаха любими. Всички освен пет-щест направо ме е яд, че не съм написал аз.
Няма да ги разглеждам поотделно. Прекалено са кратки, прекалено са много, за всеки ще се изкуша да кажа повече от колкото е прилично.
Тук, за разлика от в романите си, авторът си е позволил всякакви експерименти. Тропите на хорър жанра се смесват с класическия американски разказ. Финалите се измъкват от хватката на повествованието и те пляскат през муцуната като обратен шамар. Не знаеш къде ще те отведе всеки разказ, макар пътеката му да ти се струва измамно позната. Има сюрреалистични, има вулгарни, има зъбати, има мистериозни, има чисто по човешки топли, иам и такива, които сливат всичко в едно.
Стилът на писане на Кетчъм е стегнат, отчетлив и въпреки това изключително палещ въображението. Жестокостта никога не е самоцелна. Историите, дори най-шантавите, имат реалистично звучене. Изреченията са хемингуейски, рядко надхвърлят 3-5 думи и всяка е прикована на мястото си като парче от пъзел. Въображението на читателя няма никакъв проблем да стъпва в тези стегнати стъпки и все пак да вижда пълната панорама на авторовия свят. Героите са логично нелогични, мога да ги оприлича само с графики от Густав Климт – частични щрихи, смесени на места с пълни форми, улавящи повече чувства от колкото образи.
Определено се затвърди като един от любимите ми автори.
Над тридесет кратки разказа, четени повече от четири месеца. Кетчъм е като текила, лют, остър, сгряващ и опияняващ. Не можеш да го консумираш на един път. Трябва да си понесеш последствията след всяко прекаляване.
Всички разкази ме докоснаха по някакъв начин. Всички освен два-три ми станаха любими. Всички освен пет-щест направо ме е яд, че не съм написал аз.
Няма да ги разглеждам поотделно. Прекалено са кратки, прекалено са много, за всеки ще се изкуша да кажа повече от колкото е прилично.
Тук, за разлика от в романите си, авторът си е позволил всякакви експерименти. Тропите на хорър жанра се смесват с класическия американски разказ. Финалите се измъкват от хватката на повествованието и те пляскат през муцуната като обратен шамар. Не знаеш къде ще те отведе всеки разказ, макар пътеката му да ти се струва измамно позната. Има сюрреалистични, има вулгарни, има зъбати, има мистериозни, има чисто по човешки топли, иам и такива, които сливат всичко в едно.
Стилът на писане на Кетчъм е стегнат, отчетлив и въпреки това изключително палещ въображението. Жестокостта никога не е самоцелна. Историите, дори най-шантавите, имат реалистично звучене. Изреченията са хемингуейски, рядко надхвърлят 3-5 думи и всяка е прикована на мястото си като парче от пъзел. Въображението на читателя няма никакъв проблем да стъпва в тези стегнати стъпки и все пак да вижда пълната панорама на авторовия свят. Героите са логично нелогични, мога да ги оприлича само с графики от Густав Климт – частични щрихи, смесени на места с пълни форми, улавящи повече чувства от колкото образи.
Определено се затвърди като един от любимите ми автори.
June 11, 2011
The name Jack Ketchum is notorious for extreme sex and violence in fiction (see my review of Right to Life). As an avid reader of short fiction, I was looking forward to digging into Peaceable Kingdom, and was anxious to see how it would compete with my other favourite short collections, Dreadful Tales by Laymon, Nightmares and Dreamscapes by King, and The Collection by Little.
As outlined by Ketchum in the introduction to this book, be prepared for a variety of different genres in this great collection.
My favourites were The Box, when a child on a bus is given a special peek into the box of a fellow traveler with heart breaking results, To Suit the Crime, which is suitably nasty for my tastes, and Sundays, which again is a heart-string puller.
Rather than purely entertain, Ketchum invokes an emotional response in the reader, be it sadness, disgust or humour.
A very thoughtful collection that can't be 100% considered a book of horror short stories, but doesn't suffer a jot for it.
Any reader of dark fiction should have a copy of this on their shelf.
As outlined by Ketchum in the introduction to this book, be prepared for a variety of different genres in this great collection.
My favourites were The Box, when a child on a bus is given a special peek into the box of a fellow traveler with heart breaking results, To Suit the Crime, which is suitably nasty for my tastes, and Sundays, which again is a heart-string puller.
Rather than purely entertain, Ketchum invokes an emotional response in the reader, be it sadness, disgust or humour.
A very thoughtful collection that can't be 100% considered a book of horror short stories, but doesn't suffer a jot for it.
Any reader of dark fiction should have a copy of this on their shelf.
July 19, 2018
Be warned, all kinds of uncomfortable topics are covered in this collection of short stories. Jack Ketchum writes like the devil, it's gritty, edgy and I like the writing a whole lot, as far as terror and suspense go. The problem with this is I think there are just too many stories lumped together (30+) and while some were great, others were passable and one too many just left me feeling unsatisfied. The writing builds the tension higher and higher and it feels like you're watching a balloon being inflated slowly until the point where you know it's just gonna blow and instead of that fantastic bang you were anticipating, you watch dejectedly while the air is let out in a miserable wheeze. [Final rating: 3.5*]
May 26, 2024
1. The Rifle ★★★✩✩
2. The Box ★★★★★
3. Mail Order ★★★✩✩
4. Luck ★✩✩✩✩
5. The Haunt ★✩✩✩✩
6. Megan's Law ★★★✩✩
7. If Memory Serves ★★✩✩✩
8. Father and Son ★★✩✩✩
9. The Business ★★★✩✩
10. Mother and Daughter ★★✩✩✩
11. When the Penny Drops ★★★✩✩
12. Rabid Squirrel in Love ★✩✩✩✩
13. Sundays ★★★★✩
14. Twins ★★✩✩✩
15. Amid the Walking Wounded ★★★★✩
16. The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre ★★★★✩
17. The Holding Cell ★★✩✩✩
18. The Work ★★★★★
19. The Best ★★★✩✩
20. Redemption ★★★✩✩
21. The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard ★★✩✩✩
22. Chain Letter ★★✩✩✩
23. Forever ★★★★✩
24. Gone ★★★★★
25. Closing Time — DNF
26. The Rose ★✩✩✩✩
27. The Turning ★✩✩✩✩
28. To Suit the Crime ★★★★✩
29. Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead ★★★✩✩
30. The Visitor ★★★✩✩
31. Snakes ★★★✩✩
32. Firedance ★★★✩✩
2. The Box ★★★★★
3. Mail Order ★★★✩✩
4. Luck ★✩✩✩✩
5. The Haunt ★✩✩✩✩
6. Megan's Law ★★★✩✩
7. If Memory Serves ★★✩✩✩
8. Father and Son ★★✩✩✩
9. The Business ★★★✩✩
10. Mother and Daughter ★★✩✩✩
11. When the Penny Drops ★★★✩✩
12. Rabid Squirrel in Love ★✩✩✩✩
13. Sundays ★★★★✩
14. Twins ★★✩✩✩
15. Amid the Walking Wounded ★★★★✩
16. The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre ★★★★✩
17. The Holding Cell ★★✩✩✩
18. The Work ★★★★★
19. The Best ★★★✩✩
20. Redemption ★★★✩✩
21. The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard ★★✩✩✩
22. Chain Letter ★★✩✩✩
23. Forever ★★★★✩
24. Gone ★★★★★
25. Closing Time — DNF
26. The Rose ★✩✩✩✩
27. The Turning ★✩✩✩✩
28. To Suit the Crime ★★★★✩
29. Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead ★★★✩✩
30. The Visitor ★★★✩✩
31. Snakes ★★★✩✩
32. Firedance ★★★✩✩
April 9, 2023
Some great stories, some a little less than great, but still worthwhile because you are in the capable hands of a master. Some of it is brutal and uncompromising, and some of it is unpredictable and uncomfortable. All of it is unforgettable.
January 11, 2008
Thank god Books-A-Million keeps their Ketchum novels in the buy two get one free bin; not that this makes his work a bargain, but it let’s me look back on the wasted time and wasted money, and the time I wasted at work making that money….nevermind, it depresses me. Let’s just say his work is largely a fucking waste of effort.
I’ve given Ketchum’s work several chances, all novels (Off Season, The Lost, Red) and of course the free short stories/novellas they include in his books in order for the people at Leisure Books to sleep a little better at night thinking they haven’t completely fleeced the unwitting public. It was time to see if he could do it: to emulate his idol Stephen King (who appropriately adores Ketchy as well) and churn out some shorter fiction worth a damn. My verdict is in: I’ve read better…..by my former junior high classmates and stoner friends. Ok, so my stoner friends don’t actually write, but they always allude to the fact that they intend to, and that’s something that Ketchum has to learn, sometimes your intentions may seem good, but a wiser man recognizes that the last bongload probably didn’t inspire the great American novel and they suck it up and wait for a real idea to come along and bite them in the ass, and that never happens, and eventually a little voice grows increasingly louder, proclaiming ‘give it up, Give It Up, GIIIVE IT UUUUP!”. Well, Ketchum doesn’t listen to that little voice; I suspect that his little voice of reason might speak a language completely foreign to him. Hmm…that could be a very interesting idea for a story, Ketchum thinks, reading this review, a man plagued with a voice of reason which speaks Tagalog, and he misunderstands its incessant biddings and goes on some sort of murderous rampage while shooting up barbeque sauce and sodomizing pot-bellied pigs! F@ckin' wrong, brah, you’re baked, you’ll realize that’s some piss-poor piddle in the morning.
This isn’t to say that all the stories within miss the mark. Sure, most of the 32 tales within trip at the starting line and immediately fall on their ass astonishingly, but at least he spares us introductions for each short. Hell, some of the stories aren’t half bad. What puzzles me, however, is that two of them apparently won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award; “The Box” and “Gone” being the pair bestowed these meritorious honors. I hate being at odds with the B.S. Award committee, but I thought both of those turds were amongst the worst in the collection. Still, there are worse, somehow. But I’ll focus on the positives, which won’t take very long: “Mail Order” was relatively solid, “Sundays” was a slightly more solid tale, nothing that moves the soul, but definitely with a compassionate edge, and then he has to try the middle ground with “The Work” which is a bit cheesy but readable. After that it immediately drops off; “Chain Letter” and “To Suit the Crime” both reach for greatness but fail in their attempts. In the introduction, Ketchum praises his own diversity, which he doesn’t go out of the way to exemplify, with “Forever” (a love yarn) being the only thing really out of the ordinary. Without those few elements, you get a lot of eclectic shit, and not eclectic in the cool-indie-rock way, eclectic in the not-focused or not-well-organized way; beware the pseudo-western ghost story "Luck", completely avoid “Closing Time” (perhaps the longest and probably worst specimen in the collection) which is a suck-ass centerpiece, and the book wraps up anticlimactically with bull$hit about “Snakes” and the ridiculous “Firedance”, which only bookend tales with such conversational fare as incest between twins, sleazy bimbos bungling a murder, and numerous duds laden with undesirable and uninspiring sexual deviance. Not that it all totally eats shit, but you’d think something within might deliver to some satisfying degree.
I’ve given Ketchum’s work several chances, all novels (Off Season, The Lost, Red) and of course the free short stories/novellas they include in his books in order for the people at Leisure Books to sleep a little better at night thinking they haven’t completely fleeced the unwitting public. It was time to see if he could do it: to emulate his idol Stephen King (who appropriately adores Ketchy as well) and churn out some shorter fiction worth a damn. My verdict is in: I’ve read better…..by my former junior high classmates and stoner friends. Ok, so my stoner friends don’t actually write, but they always allude to the fact that they intend to, and that’s something that Ketchum has to learn, sometimes your intentions may seem good, but a wiser man recognizes that the last bongload probably didn’t inspire the great American novel and they suck it up and wait for a real idea to come along and bite them in the ass, and that never happens, and eventually a little voice grows increasingly louder, proclaiming ‘give it up, Give It Up, GIIIVE IT UUUUP!”. Well, Ketchum doesn’t listen to that little voice; I suspect that his little voice of reason might speak a language completely foreign to him. Hmm…that could be a very interesting idea for a story, Ketchum thinks, reading this review, a man plagued with a voice of reason which speaks Tagalog, and he misunderstands its incessant biddings and goes on some sort of murderous rampage while shooting up barbeque sauce and sodomizing pot-bellied pigs! F@ckin' wrong, brah, you’re baked, you’ll realize that’s some piss-poor piddle in the morning.
This isn’t to say that all the stories within miss the mark. Sure, most of the 32 tales within trip at the starting line and immediately fall on their ass astonishingly, but at least he spares us introductions for each short. Hell, some of the stories aren’t half bad. What puzzles me, however, is that two of them apparently won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award; “The Box” and “Gone” being the pair bestowed these meritorious honors. I hate being at odds with the B.S. Award committee, but I thought both of those turds were amongst the worst in the collection. Still, there are worse, somehow. But I’ll focus on the positives, which won’t take very long: “Mail Order” was relatively solid, “Sundays” was a slightly more solid tale, nothing that moves the soul, but definitely with a compassionate edge, and then he has to try the middle ground with “The Work” which is a bit cheesy but readable. After that it immediately drops off; “Chain Letter” and “To Suit the Crime” both reach for greatness but fail in their attempts. In the introduction, Ketchum praises his own diversity, which he doesn’t go out of the way to exemplify, with “Forever” (a love yarn) being the only thing really out of the ordinary. Without those few elements, you get a lot of eclectic shit, and not eclectic in the cool-indie-rock way, eclectic in the not-focused or not-well-organized way; beware the pseudo-western ghost story "Luck", completely avoid “Closing Time” (perhaps the longest and probably worst specimen in the collection) which is a suck-ass centerpiece, and the book wraps up anticlimactically with bull$hit about “Snakes” and the ridiculous “Firedance”, which only bookend tales with such conversational fare as incest between twins, sleazy bimbos bungling a murder, and numerous duds laden with undesirable and uninspiring sexual deviance. Not that it all totally eats shit, but you’d think something within might deliver to some satisfying degree.
April 21, 2018
Amazing imagery from Jack Ketchum--He can phrase something so skillfully that I have to stop and laugh, or reread, or shiver.
1. Cowboys around a fire, pondering an unpleasant reality, from the story "Luck":
2. This is my long dark night of the soul?, from the story "Chain Letter":
3. Your significant other leaves again, and this time, you realize, is the last time, from the story "The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard":
I raise my coffee cup in salute, Jack. Bravo, and thank you.
1. Cowboys around a fire, pondering an unpleasant reality, from the story "Luck":
They passed the bottle and moments passed silent and sullen as kicked dogs...
2. This is my long dark night of the soul?, from the story "Chain Letter":
His Gethsemane bored him.
3. Your significant other leaves again, and this time, you realize, is the last time, from the story "The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard":
The empty hangers in the big walk-in closet seemed ridiculous, poverty awaiting an abundance that would never occur again.
I raise my coffee cup in salute, Jack. Bravo, and thank you.
February 24, 2011
Now that I'm done reading this book, I can safely say it is one of the worst books I've ever read. Some people are excellent at writing short stories, but unfortunately, Mr. Ketchum is not one of them. He says it himself that his writing is all over the place, and in some cases, that's not a bad thing. Some authors are capable of writing about many-a-subject, and some authors even do it well. Jack Ketchum, however, is good at violence. He's good at shocking. But the subject matters he attempts to write about in this book just don't work. At all. And half of the time, after you're through reading the story, you can't help but wonder, "What the hell did I just read?" Awful book. Absolutely awful. Definitely disappointed in this one.
January 8, 2015
This is one of those books that I did not want to end. I've read a bunch of Ketchum's novels, but this was my first foray into his short stories. He does not disappoint! The stories cover an array of genres and themes, but all have one thing in common: superior writing and the ability to hook the reader from the opening paragraph. Probably my favorite is "The Work." I won't spoil it, but will say that especially for authors, this story will shake you up. This is a beautiful collection of vicious fiction, and Ketchum even ties it all up at the end with a surprisingly poignant Afterward.
January 10, 2010
I love Jack Ketchum, I really do! Whether it's a short story, his old hustler porn stories, or his novels, I love them all! This book really shows how great he is. While I didn't enjoy every story, most of them were truly awesome. Especially Gone, Sundays, The Box...he is the best!
November 30, 2010
One of the best short story collections I have ever read.
April 29, 2024
This is a collection of thirty-two stories by Dallas Mayr aka Jack Ketchum, known for his dark horror fiction. Most of the stories are horror but there are also suspense stories and a weird western. Except for one novella (Closing Time) they’re all pretty short. In just a few pages Ketchum is able to develop characters, evoke emotion, and make some kind of commentary on human nature and society. He is a master of the final sentence. The stories often end with a punch to the gut or a profound sense of loss.
While I didn’t care for every story and some stories were much too dark and unsettling for me, others were terrifying in a good way, and a few were quite touching. In every case I thought the writing was excellent.
Favorite stories:
*****When the Penny Drops
A love story that turns into serious noir.
*****The Work
A semi-auto-biographical story about a writer. Brutal but so well done.
*****Gone
A devastating story about tragedy and grief.
******The Visitor
I wasn’t expecting a story with zombies to be so touching and deep, but here we are.
*****Forever
A bittersweet story about a couple dealing with cancer. This one crushed me.
My complete ratings:
The Rifle (4/5)
The Box (4/5)
Mail Order (3/5)
Luck (4/5)
The Haunt (3/5)
Megan’s Law (4/5)
If Memory Serves (3/5)
Father and Son (4/5)
The Business (4/5)
Mother and Daughter (4/5)
When the Penny Drops (5/5)
Rabid Squirrels in Love (2/5)
Sundays (4/5)
Twins (2/5)
Amid the Walking Wounded (2/5)
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre (2/5)
The Holding Cell (3/5)
The Work (5/5)
The Best (3/5)
Redemption (3/5)
The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard (4/5)
Chain Letter (3/5)
Forever (5/5)
Gone (5/5)
Closing Time (2/5)
The Rose (2/5)
The Turning (3/5)
To Suit the Crime (3/5)
Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead (3/5)
The Visitor (5/5)
Snakes (4/5)
Firedance (3/5)
While I didn’t care for every story and some stories were much too dark and unsettling for me, others were terrifying in a good way, and a few were quite touching. In every case I thought the writing was excellent.
Favorite stories:
*****When the Penny Drops
A love story that turns into serious noir.
*****The Work
A semi-auto-biographical story about a writer. Brutal but so well done.
*****Gone
A devastating story about tragedy and grief.
******The Visitor
I wasn’t expecting a story with zombies to be so touching and deep, but here we are.
*****Forever
A bittersweet story about a couple dealing with cancer. This one crushed me.
My complete ratings:
The Rifle (4/5)
The Box (4/5)
Mail Order (3/5)
Luck (4/5)
The Haunt (3/5)
Megan’s Law (4/5)
If Memory Serves (3/5)
Father and Son (4/5)
The Business (4/5)
Mother and Daughter (4/5)
When the Penny Drops (5/5)
Rabid Squirrels in Love (2/5)
Sundays (4/5)
Twins (2/5)
Amid the Walking Wounded (2/5)
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre (2/5)
The Holding Cell (3/5)
The Work (5/5)
The Best (3/5)
Redemption (3/5)
The Exit at Toledo Blade Boulevard (4/5)
Chain Letter (3/5)
Forever (5/5)
Gone (5/5)
Closing Time (2/5)
The Rose (2/5)
The Turning (3/5)
To Suit the Crime (3/5)
Lines: or Like Franco, Elvis is Still Dead (3/5)
The Visitor (5/5)
Snakes (4/5)
Firedance (3/5)
September 22, 2017
Having read a couple Jack Ketchum novels, I wanted to check out some of his short stories. Most horror authors that I've come to enjoy have collections like this and it's usually a pretty enjoyable experience. Sometimes the stories are hit-or-miss but I've come to expect that with short story collections. I'm not exactly sure how to explain my reaction to this book, but I don't know if hit-or-miss qualifies here.
The stories were...interesting. If you're looking for something that lives in the dark side of reality, this book will satisfy that. I'm an avid reader of horror. I probably tend to read more horror and other darker type of books than anything else. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm no stranger to some of these darker concepts that Ketchum introduces within Peaceable Kingdom. I found myself having a pretty intense visceral reaction to many of the stories. I considered just stopping because it wasn't worth the awful feeling this book was giving me.
That's why I'm so conflicted about how to rate this book and how to describe my feelings towards it. The writing is good, clearly. If the writing was bad, I doubt I would have reacted in such a way. Some of the stories were excellent and didn't cause any sort of visceral reaction, but there were quite a few that did. I kind of suspect that Ketchum was going for that reaction in the reader. These stories really have to appeal to someone who has a more-than morbid curiosity in taboo subjects and things of a dark nature.
Even if you're a Ketchum fan, this might be too much. Or, it might be just right. For now, I need to go read something about a happy fluffy kitten who doesn't die in the end because this book was too dark for me.
The stories were...interesting. If you're looking for something that lives in the dark side of reality, this book will satisfy that. I'm an avid reader of horror. I probably tend to read more horror and other darker type of books than anything else. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm no stranger to some of these darker concepts that Ketchum introduces within Peaceable Kingdom. I found myself having a pretty intense visceral reaction to many of the stories. I considered just stopping because it wasn't worth the awful feeling this book was giving me.
That's why I'm so conflicted about how to rate this book and how to describe my feelings towards it. The writing is good, clearly. If the writing was bad, I doubt I would have reacted in such a way. Some of the stories were excellent and didn't cause any sort of visceral reaction, but there were quite a few that did. I kind of suspect that Ketchum was going for that reaction in the reader. These stories really have to appeal to someone who has a more-than morbid curiosity in taboo subjects and things of a dark nature.
Even if you're a Ketchum fan, this might be too much. Or, it might be just right. For now, I need to go read something about a happy fluffy kitten who doesn't die in the end because this book was too dark for me.
January 31, 2019
We're gonna go through this bad Larry and review every short story. Buckle up.
The Rifle- A rather dark and disturbing opener, but also extremely well written, about what happens when a mother discovers that her son has some rather nasty hobbies he performs in his clubhouse. It's harrowing, and a pretty good indicator about whether or not this collection, or Jack Ketchum as a whole, is something you want to continue reading.
The Box- This is the first of two Bram Stoker award winning stories in this collection about a family who is soon plagued by the knowledge of what a man on a subway was carrying in his gift box. To be honest, I didn't much care for this one when I saw the short film adaptation in the horror anthology XX, and while it works better on the page, I still don't think it's my favorite work by Ketchum.
Mail Order- While the first two stories are harrowing and dark in their own way, this is way more Ketchum- a truly filthy mixture of sexuality and violence that really hits hard. It follows a man who is obsessed with collecting disturbing footage, from the nastiest mainstream horror movies to the most obscure home made splatter features, until he receives in the mail what he believes to be the real deal, areal snuff film. Things get complicated when he thinks he recognizes the woman in it. It leads to a nasty ending, too, but not the nastiest in this collection.
Luck- This is an interesting little Western tale. After a botched station robbery, one of the bandits recounts the continuing tale of a gunslinger who seemingly will not die. It almost feels like a Twilight Zone episode, and in this case that's a good thing.
The Haunt- This is a surprisingly funny story about a strip club that's haunted by a total prude. Nice characterization with a dark ending.
Megan's Law- An entirely nasty story about what a single father does when a convicted sex offender moves into the neighborhood, and it's not what you think. It has a whopper of a twist ending, and highlights how sometimes, a single concise sentence can change a story more than pages of storytelling.
If Memory Serves- A psychiatrist studies a woman with several personalities, one of which is a dog, and discovers the horrific things that happened to her. It's certainly a disturbing story, with a particularly out of nowhere ending, but it's not quite as memorable as some others in this collection.
Father and Son- This is just a depressing story about, you guessed it, a father and son who have both seen better days. Well written and bleak.
The Business- A cautionary tale about two brothers, one of whom resents the other for his success. It works as an ironic tale of hate, but doesn't stand out in any particular way
Mother and Daughter- A story about a pair of sibling's whose mother is dying, it's well written, but truth be told I don't remember much of it even skimming through it as I write this. I guess that says all you need to know.
When the Penny Drops- Another of Ketchum's stories that feature a recurring phenomena, similar to Luck, about a note a man keeps seeing pop up everywhere. It darks a dark turn in its third act that is mostly sad. It ends on a pretty dour note.
Rabid Squirrels in Love- Essentially a story about the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome ever, with a trademark Ketchum feel bad, so dark you can hardly believe it twist. It does have a strange ending, through, that makes it kind of tough to process.
Sundays- An interesting story about a hunter and his son who take in a squirrel, a creature he has traditionally killed since he sees them as vermin. Less gruesome and more just sad. It's decent.
Twins- Dear God, this story. What starts off as a graphic, twin themed version of Flowers in the Attic, becomes something else entirely in its final act. I don't know if I would necessarily call this good, but it's certainly memorable.
Amid the Walking Wounded- A man starts bleeding in a way that he can't stop and also sees what might be the ghost of another man. This was nicely atmospheric, but not particularly memorable.
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre- As the title implies, it's a dark comedy about two dumb women trying and failing to murder one of their husbands. It's funny enough and has a nice cautionary ending.
The Holding Cell- A strange and atmospheric story about a man spending his night in a holding cell for drunk driving. This is one of his rare full supernatural stories. Not sure how well it works as a story, but it definitely stands out for being creepy.
The Work- This is a truly meta story, where essentially a female version of Jack Ketchum hires a hitman to kill her in the same manner as her "first novel," which is heavily implied to be Off Season. If you've read that book, you can guess what method of death she chooses. It's a bit masturbatory, but also an interesting meditation on the nature of cult celebrity.
The Best- A hyper twisted and very short story about a woman who is obsessed with the man she's having an affair with, and the subsequent revenge she takes when he breaks it off. I'm 90% it was ripped off in a movie called Good Neighbors, but have no confirmation. Still, really dark and really twisted.
Redemption- Another hyper sexual and hyper disturbing story about a woman who kills her husband's lovers. It's nasty and memorable.
The Exit at Toldeo Blade Boulevard- An interesting story about a group of people colliding with one another on the same highway. It's another one that's just sad, but also hopeful as well.
Chain Letter- Essentially Ketchum's take on the Lottery, with all the fucked up violence that implies. It's an interesting morality tale, one that sticks with you.
Forever- An overlong short story about a man caring for his dying wife. It's sad, but not entirely engaging and unlike other short stories in here, the final sentence twist doesn't entirely sell the tale.
Gone- The second of the Bram Stoker winning short stories in this collection, and much more effective than The Box. It's about a woman whose child went missing years ago and her encounter with three young trick or treaters. It's sad, bleak, and a masterclass of subtext.
Closing Time- A novella about people struggling in the aftermath of 9/11, focusing on a gunman who robs bars and two struggling lovers. It's suitably moody, with a harrowing ending.
The Rose- Fitting into the more fucked up stories in this collection, it's about a man who has been keeping a young woman hostage in hopes of her producing a baby for him. It's disturbingly sexual, horribly uncomfortable, and all around makes you feel bad. Still not 100% sure what the ending was going for, but it definitely sticks with you.
The Turning- A strange and borderline surreal story about a rich man walking the streets of New York and sensing a change in the world coming soon. It has a nice little twist, but I can't help but feel this could have been expanded. Still not bad.
To Suit the Crime- This follows a lawyer who, in the future of 2021, has managed to create a law system where criminals are punished withe the same violent crimes they perpetrate. Not only does it go into great detail about a truly awful crime against a child, but it veers off into another direction with an ending that no male reader will ever be able to unsee. Violent, horrific, and effective.
Lines: or, Like Franco, Elvis is Dead: A strange story about one man's encounter with a woman at his summer home. Simply a well told tale.
The Visitor- This one exists in the same universe as Twins, and like that one, it's about one thing before becoming entirely about another seemingly out of nowhere. Not the best in the collection but not the worst.
Snakes- A kind of overlong but still good short story about a woman whose yard becomes infested with snakes during a horrific storm in Florida. It does go on too long, but unlike many other stories in here, it has a hopeful ending.
Firedance- The final tale in here, about Dead River, everyone's favorite cannibal infested town, and how the residents react to the animals when they begin behaving strangely. Rather than turning into a vicious tale of man vs. nature, this is a more contemplative piece on the nature of humanity. It closes the collection with a hopeful message that maybe, eventually, humans wont be so goddamn awful to each other, which we see in almost every other story in this collection.
Overall, a good but slightly uneven collection of horror stories from one of the most disturbing writers in the genre.
The Rifle- A rather dark and disturbing opener, but also extremely well written, about what happens when a mother discovers that her son has some rather nasty hobbies he performs in his clubhouse. It's harrowing, and a pretty good indicator about whether or not this collection, or Jack Ketchum as a whole, is something you want to continue reading.
The Box- This is the first of two Bram Stoker award winning stories in this collection about a family who is soon plagued by the knowledge of what a man on a subway was carrying in his gift box. To be honest, I didn't much care for this one when I saw the short film adaptation in the horror anthology XX, and while it works better on the page, I still don't think it's my favorite work by Ketchum.
Mail Order- While the first two stories are harrowing and dark in their own way, this is way more Ketchum- a truly filthy mixture of sexuality and violence that really hits hard. It follows a man who is obsessed with collecting disturbing footage, from the nastiest mainstream horror movies to the most obscure home made splatter features, until he receives in the mail what he believes to be the real deal, areal snuff film. Things get complicated when he thinks he recognizes the woman in it. It leads to a nasty ending, too, but not the nastiest in this collection.
Luck- This is an interesting little Western tale. After a botched station robbery, one of the bandits recounts the continuing tale of a gunslinger who seemingly will not die. It almost feels like a Twilight Zone episode, and in this case that's a good thing.
The Haunt- This is a surprisingly funny story about a strip club that's haunted by a total prude. Nice characterization with a dark ending.
Megan's Law- An entirely nasty story about what a single father does when a convicted sex offender moves into the neighborhood, and it's not what you think. It has a whopper of a twist ending, and highlights how sometimes, a single concise sentence can change a story more than pages of storytelling.
If Memory Serves- A psychiatrist studies a woman with several personalities, one of which is a dog, and discovers the horrific things that happened to her. It's certainly a disturbing story, with a particularly out of nowhere ending, but it's not quite as memorable as some others in this collection.
Father and Son- This is just a depressing story about, you guessed it, a father and son who have both seen better days. Well written and bleak.
The Business- A cautionary tale about two brothers, one of whom resents the other for his success. It works as an ironic tale of hate, but doesn't stand out in any particular way
Mother and Daughter- A story about a pair of sibling's whose mother is dying, it's well written, but truth be told I don't remember much of it even skimming through it as I write this. I guess that says all you need to know.
When the Penny Drops- Another of Ketchum's stories that feature a recurring phenomena, similar to Luck, about a note a man keeps seeing pop up everywhere. It darks a dark turn in its third act that is mostly sad. It ends on a pretty dour note.
Rabid Squirrels in Love- Essentially a story about the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome ever, with a trademark Ketchum feel bad, so dark you can hardly believe it twist. It does have a strange ending, through, that makes it kind of tough to process.
Sundays- An interesting story about a hunter and his son who take in a squirrel, a creature he has traditionally killed since he sees them as vermin. Less gruesome and more just sad. It's decent.
Twins- Dear God, this story. What starts off as a graphic, twin themed version of Flowers in the Attic, becomes something else entirely in its final act. I don't know if I would necessarily call this good, but it's certainly memorable.
Amid the Walking Wounded- A man starts bleeding in a way that he can't stop and also sees what might be the ghost of another man. This was nicely atmospheric, but not particularly memorable.
The Great San Diego Sleazy Bimbo Massacre- As the title implies, it's a dark comedy about two dumb women trying and failing to murder one of their husbands. It's funny enough and has a nice cautionary ending.
The Holding Cell- A strange and atmospheric story about a man spending his night in a holding cell for drunk driving. This is one of his rare full supernatural stories. Not sure how well it works as a story, but it definitely stands out for being creepy.
The Work- This is a truly meta story, where essentially a female version of Jack Ketchum hires a hitman to kill her in the same manner as her "first novel," which is heavily implied to be Off Season. If you've read that book, you can guess what method of death she chooses. It's a bit masturbatory, but also an interesting meditation on the nature of cult celebrity.
The Best- A hyper twisted and very short story about a woman who is obsessed with the man she's having an affair with, and the subsequent revenge she takes when he breaks it off. I'm 90% it was ripped off in a movie called Good Neighbors, but have no confirmation. Still, really dark and really twisted.
Redemption- Another hyper sexual and hyper disturbing story about a woman who kills her husband's lovers. It's nasty and memorable.
The Exit at Toldeo Blade Boulevard- An interesting story about a group of people colliding with one another on the same highway. It's another one that's just sad, but also hopeful as well.
Chain Letter- Essentially Ketchum's take on the Lottery, with all the fucked up violence that implies. It's an interesting morality tale, one that sticks with you.
Forever- An overlong short story about a man caring for his dying wife. It's sad, but not entirely engaging and unlike other short stories in here, the final sentence twist doesn't entirely sell the tale.
Gone- The second of the Bram Stoker winning short stories in this collection, and much more effective than The Box. It's about a woman whose child went missing years ago and her encounter with three young trick or treaters. It's sad, bleak, and a masterclass of subtext.
Closing Time- A novella about people struggling in the aftermath of 9/11, focusing on a gunman who robs bars and two struggling lovers. It's suitably moody, with a harrowing ending.
The Rose- Fitting into the more fucked up stories in this collection, it's about a man who has been keeping a young woman hostage in hopes of her producing a baby for him. It's disturbingly sexual, horribly uncomfortable, and all around makes you feel bad. Still not 100% sure what the ending was going for, but it definitely sticks with you.
The Turning- A strange and borderline surreal story about a rich man walking the streets of New York and sensing a change in the world coming soon. It has a nice little twist, but I can't help but feel this could have been expanded. Still not bad.
To Suit the Crime- This follows a lawyer who, in the future of 2021, has managed to create a law system where criminals are punished withe the same violent crimes they perpetrate. Not only does it go into great detail about a truly awful crime against a child, but it veers off into another direction with an ending that no male reader will ever be able to unsee. Violent, horrific, and effective.
Lines: or, Like Franco, Elvis is Dead: A strange story about one man's encounter with a woman at his summer home. Simply a well told tale.
The Visitor- This one exists in the same universe as Twins, and like that one, it's about one thing before becoming entirely about another seemingly out of nowhere. Not the best in the collection but not the worst.
Snakes- A kind of overlong but still good short story about a woman whose yard becomes infested with snakes during a horrific storm in Florida. It does go on too long, but unlike many other stories in here, it has a hopeful ending.
Firedance- The final tale in here, about Dead River, everyone's favorite cannibal infested town, and how the residents react to the animals when they begin behaving strangely. Rather than turning into a vicious tale of man vs. nature, this is a more contemplative piece on the nature of humanity. It closes the collection with a hopeful message that maybe, eventually, humans wont be so goddamn awful to each other, which we see in almost every other story in this collection.
Overall, a good but slightly uneven collection of horror stories from one of the most disturbing writers in the genre.
December 2, 2013
A vast array of mediocre stories, with one or two diamonds in the rough to make it almost worthwhile. SNAKES stands head and shoulders above the rest--not only did it have me on the edge of my seat, it even creeped me out a little. CLOSING TIME is a nice melodrama that packs a nasty bite. THE WORK was also interesting, in that Ketchum is obviously writing about much of his own career. As for the rest of these tales, I could, for the most part, take 'em or leave 'em. Virtually all of them start out with great potential, but one lackluster ending after another causes the great majority of them to fall flat at the finish line. In some ways, PEACEABLE KINGDOM is an experimental work for Ketchum, and, while it does feature the occasional gross-out horror story, there are also plenty of straight-up dramatic pieces in which his trademark blood and gore is conspicuously absent.
August 24, 2012
Ketchum's compilation of short horror stories, and there are more hits than misses I find, but the one which completely had me speechless was called "The Box", which rightly won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Story. A story which absolutely transcends the horror genre, "The Box" touches on the nature of the meaninglessness of life, of death, and that empty unblinking chasm of black hole that stares at you during your every waking hour; absolutely terrifying. "The Box" alone is worth your time to track this collection down.
May 19, 2013
As is the case with every collection of short stories, this one has it's tops and it's bottoms. There are some really good ones in here; The Box, Closing Time, Gone. Mostly, there are OK to good stories that's enjoyable for a reading. No story in here is a complete waste of time, even though some of them didn't really get to me. For Ketchum, this isn't as gruesome as one couldve expected, but there sure are some harsh bits in this one.
Want to read
August 28, 2011Stephen King recommended author. He says: "Who's the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum."
and
"He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business, on par with Clive Barker, James Ellroy, and Thomas Harris."
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“Ketchum has become a kind of hero to those of us who write tales of horror and suspense. He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business.”
and
"He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business, on par with Clive Barker, James Ellroy, and Thomas Harris."
and
“Ketchum has become a kind of hero to those of us who write tales of horror and suspense. He is, quite simply, one of the best in the business.”
March 21, 2016
This eclectic collection of short stories (mostly variations of horror, very broadly defined) features some good ones, some mediocre ones, and some simply bizarre ones, like the incest story that turns into a zombie story. You have to give Ketchum points for nerve, though.
April 28, 2014
Crikey .. every one a page turner & each has it's own merit's whether it's creepy, gorey or just plain scary. Plus there are a few that prompt debate & are clearly designed to make the reader question and think .. Megan's Law being the most obvious. A terriffic collection by a very talented author.
February 4, 2015
I'm not normally a fan of short story collections, but Ketchum's Peaceable Kingdom contained a wide enough variety of stories (from the brutal and bloody to the plain weird) that it made reading it surprisingly captivating.
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