Dead Animals

by C.S. DeWildt

“A master’s class in short fiction… DeWildt doesn’t pull a single punch, and it’s refreshing to find an author who has the literary balls necessary to pull it off.”
– JJ Anderson, author of Trailer Park Juggernauts

“In the rugged tradition of the best rural noir… these stories are brutal, sobering reminders that mankind is little more than animals who can talk, driven by instinct, defeated by inability, and always dangerous when cornered.”
– Joe Clifford, author of Junkie Love and Wake the Undertaker

“Bleak, twisted, and not afraid to take risks. It’s a haunting journey with surprisingly real characters — sometimes wonderfully odd, almost bizarre, but believable.”
– Chris Irvin, co-editor of Shotgun Honey

Hear them shriek.
See them live.
Watch them love / die.

Pay your fee.
Come one / come all.
They’re on parade today.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror

134 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2013

Reviews

[Christopher Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. DeWildt’s new collection of short fiction, DEAD ANIMALS, boasts a mix short stories and flash fiction – 34 tales ranging from a paragraph to several pages in length. As a fan of his previous work (see my review of his novella, CANDY and CIGARETTES) I’d been looking forward to DeWildt’s next release. The ‘Rural Noir’ vibe of DEAD ANIMALS drags the grit and dust of the Southwestern United States under a magnifying glass. Dark vignettes that make you think and tales with shades of neo-noir that have you cringing as you turn the page to see what’s around the bend. DEAD ANIMALS is bleak, twisted, and not afraid to take risks. It’s a haunting journey with surprisingly real characters – sometimes wonderfully odd, almost bizarre, but believable. DeWildt’s work is a great mix of “writing what you know” and pushing the boundaries of what readers will accept. Overall, DEAD ANIMALS delivers some of my favorites moments in short fiction that I’ve read this year (and I’ve read A LOT.) Recommended for fans of dark fiction and neo-noir.

Some of my favorite stories were: The Bull, Bad Habits, A Favor Returned, Corbin’s Dream Takes Flight, The Yard Sale, Tu’s Chicken, A Bottle Room Can Save a Marriage.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I read these stories after I'd read DeWildt's novel and novellas and I definitely prefer the longer works. On the plus side the stories show great attention to concrete detail and that gives them a beautiful immediacy and believability. On the negative side a lot of the endings just seemed to unwind without delivering any emotional payoff. The bulk of these stories and flash fictions are trailer-park-kid stories, so there is a nice window into that world. "The Bull" and "That Boy Got Dynamite in His Hands" seemed the best stories to me, extended and fully realized. "Yard Sale" is a kind of homage to a famous Raymond Carver story and that was pretty cool. Good story, too.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The aspect I love best about these short pieces is the contrast between the brutal portions of the world DeWildt gives life to and the delicately beautiful point of significance revealed in a character. The brutality is grittily stated, but the point of significance isn't belabored. It could almost escape you, but lets you hold on for just long enough to marvel at it. The effect is really well done.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read. A LOT. Never before have characters taken such an immediate magnetic grip on my emotions. These stories are as mind-bending as they are real while they give you a peek into human nature, some we can understand, some that most cannot. CS has an incredible ability to give us the keys to our own imaginations. But only if you are brave enough to go there.
I highly recommend you try.

[Rory Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bizarre and harsh and funny and sad. Messed-up and pretty. Beautifully damaged characters. This is an often brilliant collection from a very imaginative author. My particular favorite was "Corbin's Dreams Take Flight" but there were many other standouts.

[Julian Darius · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of short stories, in which darkness is balanced by literary subtlety. Each one will have you thinking after you're through. Highly recommended.

[Allena Heckman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories that were in this book. I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.