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Splatterlands: Reawakening the Splatterpunk Revolution
Splatterlands reawakens and reimagines the hyperintensive writing style and controversial themes indicative of the original Splatterpunk movement. Containing the work of some of the freshest voices of our modern time, it is an anthology of deeply intelligent short stories whose extreme themes and graphic depictions of violence and terror are intended to have a lasting effect for years to come.
Splatterlands pushes the boundaries of horror while taking several giant leaps beyond senseless violence and gore for the sake of gore. It's a collection of personal, subversive and intelligent horror that doesn't sugarcoat reality.
Exploring themes that include serial murder, personal betrayal, vengeance, religious fanaticism, physical and mental abuse, the fragility of the human mind, societal corruption, corporate greed, sexual assault and more, Splatterlands reaches into your soul with an icy, steel claw and twists. You will never look at the world the same way again.
Splatterlands pushes the boundaries of horror while taking several giant leaps beyond senseless violence and gore for the sake of gore. It's a collection of personal, subversive and intelligent horror that doesn't sugarcoat reality.
Exploring themes that include serial murder, personal betrayal, vengeance, religious fanaticism, physical and mental abuse, the fragility of the human mind, societal corruption, corporate greed, sexual assault and more, Splatterlands reaches into your soul with an icy, steel claw and twists. You will never look at the world the same way again.
282 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2013
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277 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 14, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.
According to Wikipedia, “splatterpunk” was a movement in horror writing between roughly 1985 and 1995, distinguished by its graphic and often gory descriptions of violence and attempts to create “hyperintensive” horror with no limits. Supernatural elements are neither necessary or forbidden. It seems to have been subsumed by newer trends in horror fiction, but never entirely died out.
Splatterlands is an anthology of thirteen short stories that try to recapture the feel of the splatterpunk movement. As such, it is filled with sex, violence, sexual violence, crude language and a fascination with body fluids. I’m going to come right out and issue a Trigger Warning for rape, torture, abuse and suicide.
For example, the first story, “Heirloom” by Michael Laimo, is about a woman who inherits a phallic symbol. The main action of the story involves an explicitly described act of semi-consensual sexual violence. If that immediately triggers your “do not want” instinct, then this volume is not for you.
Some stories that stood out include “Violence for Fun and Profit” by Gregory L. Norris, about the origin of a hired assassin/serial killer that’s frighteningly topical; “Housesitting” by Ray Garton (the only reprint), a relatively understated tale of a housesitter who snoops and finds out things she’d rather not about her neighbors; “The Defiled” by Christine Morgan, about a band of Viking raiders who meet a karmic fate; and “The Devil Rides Shotgun” by Eric del Carlo, in which a police officer makes a demonic pact to track down a serial killer.
One story that really didn’t work for me was “Empty” by A.A. Garrison. It’s about a woman in a post-apocalyptic world seeking medical assistance for her husband. It turns out to be metafictional humor, (and I did like the protest sign that said “Too Many Adverbs”), but really came across as trying too hard.
Recommended for horror fans with strong stomachs, especially those who were fans of the original splatterpunk movement. Probably not suitable for anyone else, despite the high quality of some of the stories.
According to Wikipedia, “splatterpunk” was a movement in horror writing between roughly 1985 and 1995, distinguished by its graphic and often gory descriptions of violence and attempts to create “hyperintensive” horror with no limits. Supernatural elements are neither necessary or forbidden. It seems to have been subsumed by newer trends in horror fiction, but never entirely died out.
Splatterlands is an anthology of thirteen short stories that try to recapture the feel of the splatterpunk movement. As such, it is filled with sex, violence, sexual violence, crude language and a fascination with body fluids. I’m going to come right out and issue a Trigger Warning for rape, torture, abuse and suicide.
For example, the first story, “Heirloom” by Michael Laimo, is about a woman who inherits a phallic symbol. The main action of the story involves an explicitly described act of semi-consensual sexual violence. If that immediately triggers your “do not want” instinct, then this volume is not for you.
Some stories that stood out include “Violence for Fun and Profit” by Gregory L. Norris, about the origin of a hired assassin/serial killer that’s frighteningly topical; “Housesitting” by Ray Garton (the only reprint), a relatively understated tale of a housesitter who snoops and finds out things she’d rather not about her neighbors; “The Defiled” by Christine Morgan, about a band of Viking raiders who meet a karmic fate; and “The Devil Rides Shotgun” by Eric del Carlo, in which a police officer makes a demonic pact to track down a serial killer.
One story that really didn’t work for me was “Empty” by A.A. Garrison. It’s about a woman in a post-apocalyptic world seeking medical assistance for her husband. It turns out to be metafictional humor, (and I did like the protest sign that said “Too Many Adverbs”), but really came across as trying too hard.
Recommended for horror fans with strong stomachs, especially those who were fans of the original splatterpunk movement. Probably not suitable for anyone else, despite the high quality of some of the stories.
March 10, 2014
In case you’re new to this sub-genre of horror, ‘splatterpunk’ is defined by Dictionary.com as “a form of fiction featuring extremely graphic violence”. Obviously, films and books from this style are not for the faint of heart. But if you can endure it, there are some excellent stories out there that fit this genre. SPLATTERLANDS is a fantastic return to this long-lost art form. Full of gruesome and gut-wrenching stories, this book will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.
I was a huge fan of splatterpunk back in the day, and I guess I still am (although my tastes lean more towards traditional horror than anything). I liked it so much that my parents considered sending me to a psychiatrist. I guess a person has to be a little ‘off’ to enjoy something like this; but putting the subject matter aside, the authors in this collection are talented and are definitely worth watching for in the future.
The stories in SPLATTERLANDS are written well and most have intriguing plotlines. I will confess there a couple of stories that I didn’t care for, but 10 winners out of 12 is still pretty good.
One of my favorite stories is the first one, “Heirloom” by Michael Laimo. In this tale, a young woman uses a rifle that has been handed down in her family as a sick toy for fantasies. Unfortunately, the fantasies she acts out have dire consequences for those involved. This story is written very well and captivated me from the start.
My least favorite story in this collection is “Empty” by A. A. Garrison. In this one, C*nt and Sh*t are two entities that raise children to sell into slavery; Sh*t runs out of fuel and C*nt has to travel into the city to beg the prophet for more. The author literally inserts himself into the story, which completely took me out of my immersion into the tale. As such, I finished this one with disappointment instead of satisfaction.
Still, SPLATTERLANDS, is a heck of a collection and one you should check out, BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED. These stories are full of things many people would find reprehensible and even blasphemous. If you can look past that, however, you’re in for the ride of your life.
I was a huge fan of splatterpunk back in the day, and I guess I still am (although my tastes lean more towards traditional horror than anything). I liked it so much that my parents considered sending me to a psychiatrist. I guess a person has to be a little ‘off’ to enjoy something like this; but putting the subject matter aside, the authors in this collection are talented and are definitely worth watching for in the future.
The stories in SPLATTERLANDS are written well and most have intriguing plotlines. I will confess there a couple of stories that I didn’t care for, but 10 winners out of 12 is still pretty good.
One of my favorite stories is the first one, “Heirloom” by Michael Laimo. In this tale, a young woman uses a rifle that has been handed down in her family as a sick toy for fantasies. Unfortunately, the fantasies she acts out have dire consequences for those involved. This story is written very well and captivated me from the start.
My least favorite story in this collection is “Empty” by A. A. Garrison. In this one, C*nt and Sh*t are two entities that raise children to sell into slavery; Sh*t runs out of fuel and C*nt has to travel into the city to beg the prophet for more. The author literally inserts himself into the story, which completely took me out of my immersion into the tale. As such, I finished this one with disappointment instead of satisfaction.
Still, SPLATTERLANDS, is a heck of a collection and one you should check out, BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED. These stories are full of things many people would find reprehensible and even blasphemous. If you can look past that, however, you’re in for the ride of your life.
July 5, 2016
Grey Matter Press is considered a quickly rising star among those of us who love horror. They're putting out all new fiction by established writers as well as some of the best, fresh voices in the business of scaring the shorts off of you. Splatterlands is one of their anthologies, focused on recalling the splatterpunk revolution with works that honor the genre's tradition of gore, taboo and weirdness. This volume is noteworthy for achieving its goal, but I will admit it is a mixed bag, which always seems to be the case with anthologies.
Among the best stories are Chad Stroup's "Party Guests", which gives us a first-person account of an autistic young man with rather sick leanings, written in short brain shocks of disturbing prose; Michael Laimo's "Heirloom", about a dominatrix with a fetish for her father's rifle; and "The Defiled", an incredibly brutal and repulsive story about a clan of vikings who get wrapped up with a group of inbred swamp people, only to find out the hard way how these folk are reproducing. There are a few other choice cuts of prime horror in the book, but these three are the most memorable.
Some of the stories simply didn't work for me, either because of a slow pace, silly storyline, or because they relied too heavily on a splatterpunk ending while the ride getting there was rather banal.
Other stories were very good - creatively gory and well written - but went nowhere. Ray Garton's "Housesitting" had a great set-up that simply fizzled out. "Dis" by Michelle Garber felt much the same way, falling flat although it did have some of the most appalling (and effective) violence in the book.
Still, overall, this was a solid collection that turned me on to a lot of talented authors, and I'll be looking into more of their work. Even at 270 pages, Splatterlands felt like a fast read and kept me interested all the way through - a fine achievement for any anthology.
Among the best stories are Chad Stroup's "Party Guests", which gives us a first-person account of an autistic young man with rather sick leanings, written in short brain shocks of disturbing prose; Michael Laimo's "Heirloom", about a dominatrix with a fetish for her father's rifle; and "The Defiled", an incredibly brutal and repulsive story about a clan of vikings who get wrapped up with a group of inbred swamp people, only to find out the hard way how these folk are reproducing. There are a few other choice cuts of prime horror in the book, but these three are the most memorable.
Some of the stories simply didn't work for me, either because of a slow pace, silly storyline, or because they relied too heavily on a splatterpunk ending while the ride getting there was rather banal.
Other stories were very good - creatively gory and well written - but went nowhere. Ray Garton's "Housesitting" had a great set-up that simply fizzled out. "Dis" by Michelle Garber felt much the same way, falling flat although it did have some of the most appalling (and effective) violence in the book.
Still, overall, this was a solid collection that turned me on to a lot of talented authors, and I'll be looking into more of their work. Even at 270 pages, Splatterlands felt like a fast read and kept me interested all the way through - a fine achievement for any anthology.
February 25, 2014
Brevity challenges horror. The short story writer has to build dread and portray believable characters whose confrontation with doom the reader will care about -- more than that, will be terrified, but compelled, to read. This collection, neither more nor less uneven than any other, showcases stories that seize the reader and plunge him or her into blood, viscera, and bile, to amplify the horrifying impact in the space of a few pages. The opening piece introduces a serial killer whose m.o. features gory sadomasochistic sex, lovingly described. The antiheroine acts as a gatekeeper to the collection: if you can survive this bloodbath, you are prepared for the rest of the table of contents.
Strangely, not all are gory -- one story, written as an email that describes the fate of girl sold to slavery, leaves most of the violence to the imagination; it is the act itself and the writer's attitude that are so disturbing. Some stories are so hallucinatory, the violence lacks a visceral punch, however enjoyable the spectacle. But the most successful -- the most suspenseful and the one with the most repulsively graphic depictions -- of a Viking raid on a village and the gruesome fates awaiting the invaders, is also the longest. The writer has the space to acquaint the reader with many characters, giving us the opportunity to enjoy a range of perspectives on the unfolding drama and terror, and lots more gore splashed into our eyes. Horror benefits from...luxuriation. ;^)
Strangely, not all are gory -- one story, written as an email that describes the fate of girl sold to slavery, leaves most of the violence to the imagination; it is the act itself and the writer's attitude that are so disturbing. Some stories are so hallucinatory, the violence lacks a visceral punch, however enjoyable the spectacle. But the most successful -- the most suspenseful and the one with the most repulsively graphic depictions -- of a Viking raid on a village and the gruesome fates awaiting the invaders, is also the longest. The writer has the space to acquaint the reader with many characters, giving us the opportunity to enjoy a range of perspectives on the unfolding drama and terror, and lots more gore splashed into our eyes. Horror benefits from...luxuriation. ;^)
January 3, 2014
I received this book for free from the Goodreads first-read giveaway. A little bit too hard-core for me. Lots of blood and guts and gore. A couple of the stories were really good but overall it was just a little too twisted.
February 10, 2014
*Won through Goodreads giveaway*
I enjoyed this selection of short stories and found each story disturbing in its own right. (As you should with this type of genre!)
I enjoyed this selection of short stories and found each story disturbing in its own right. (As you should with this type of genre!)
May 27, 2018
Normally the way I review anthologies is I will stop and make a note of titles and authors of stories that stand out to me. Halfway through the book I looked at the paper and realized I had written down every story title so far, so much for picking a favorite! I can't remember ever have coming across a book where that happens. Huge points for putting together a book that stays consistently brutal and disturbing.
February 7, 2014
Disclaimer: I posted this same review over on Amazon and for the sake of laziness, chose to copy and paste it here instead of writing a whole new review.
I keep finding myself pleasantly surprised by the tremendous story selections in Grey Matter Press' collection of anthologies and this one was no disappointment.
If you like quiet, subtle horror then this is NOT the book for you. That said, if you like a little blood splatter with your milk and cookies then you've come to the right place. One of the things that I really find impressive about this book is how it compares to the splatterpunk that was being published back in the 90s. The splatterpunk of old tended to have a heavy focus on blood and gore without a lot of attention paid to things like theme, plot and characterization. SPLATTERLANDS, on the other hand, completely breaks that mold, bringing together a collection of stories that focus first and foremost on the important elements of story with the blood and gore (of which there is plenty) being more of an enhancement to the story or a direct result of the story line.
Like GMP's other anthologies, this one gathers together a group of seasoned veteran authors along with some bold and extremely talented newcomers and there is not a bad story to be found here. I know it's been said here before, but SPLATTERLANDS is truly horror with a point. Highly recommended.
I keep finding myself pleasantly surprised by the tremendous story selections in Grey Matter Press' collection of anthologies and this one was no disappointment.
If you like quiet, subtle horror then this is NOT the book for you. That said, if you like a little blood splatter with your milk and cookies then you've come to the right place. One of the things that I really find impressive about this book is how it compares to the splatterpunk that was being published back in the 90s. The splatterpunk of old tended to have a heavy focus on blood and gore without a lot of attention paid to things like theme, plot and characterization. SPLATTERLANDS, on the other hand, completely breaks that mold, bringing together a collection of stories that focus first and foremost on the important elements of story with the blood and gore (of which there is plenty) being more of an enhancement to the story or a direct result of the story line.
Like GMP's other anthologies, this one gathers together a group of seasoned veteran authors along with some bold and extremely talented newcomers and there is not a bad story to be found here. I know it's been said here before, but SPLATTERLANDS is truly horror with a point. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2014
Not for the faint of heart
As with any anthology, you get great stories, good stories, so-so stories and stories that don't appeal to you at all. This is true for this anthology as well. Although it has a significantly higher proportion of great stories than is typical for most anthologies. And even the not-so-great stories are worth a read.
Being that this book is geared toward splatter punks not all horror fans will appreciate the stories in this book. But for those who like a little queasiness with their horror, this is the book for you. And some of the stories do push the boundary.
A Letter to My Ex by J. Michael Major was very disturbing and tough to get through, but one of the best stand alone stories I've read in quite some time. Another favorite was Amputations in the Key of D by Jack Maddox. These two stories alone are worth the price of the book.
Other stories worth a read are: Heirloom by Michael Laimo, Housesitting by Ray Garton, Dis by Paul M. Collrin, The Viscera of Worship by Allen Griffin, The Artist by James S. Dorr, and Devil Rides Shotgun by Eric Del Carlo.
I'd love to give more then the title of the stories, but you'll enjoy it much by just reading it with no pre-conceived notions.
This was definitely one of the best anthologies I've ever read. If you like gore and blood, you will not regret reading this book.
As with any anthology, you get great stories, good stories, so-so stories and stories that don't appeal to you at all. This is true for this anthology as well. Although it has a significantly higher proportion of great stories than is typical for most anthologies. And even the not-so-great stories are worth a read.
Being that this book is geared toward splatter punks not all horror fans will appreciate the stories in this book. But for those who like a little queasiness with their horror, this is the book for you. And some of the stories do push the boundary.
A Letter to My Ex by J. Michael Major was very disturbing and tough to get through, but one of the best stand alone stories I've read in quite some time. Another favorite was Amputations in the Key of D by Jack Maddox. These two stories alone are worth the price of the book.
Other stories worth a read are: Heirloom by Michael Laimo, Housesitting by Ray Garton, Dis by Paul M. Collrin, The Viscera of Worship by Allen Griffin, The Artist by James S. Dorr, and Devil Rides Shotgun by Eric Del Carlo.
I'd love to give more then the title of the stories, but you'll enjoy it much by just reading it with no pre-conceived notions.
This was definitely one of the best anthologies I've ever read. If you like gore and blood, you will not regret reading this book.
August 19, 2015
Great book
Most of the short stories were great page turners. Had a great time reading it. Can't wait to read more of his work.
Most of the short stories were great page turners. Had a great time reading it. Can't wait to read more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews