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Dead Clown Barbecue
A man who finds a severed nose on a plate on his dining room table. A bell that can summon Satan (maybe). Casual Fridays at work that get out of control. A cheery outlook on the post-apocalyptic landscape. The final thoughts of a doomed skydiver. A girl punished by having to share a bed with her grandmother’s corpse. Revenge via baking a tarantula into a cake. A romance between two carnivorous genetically enhanced plants. And the lost tale of Fangboy.These are only a few of the demented stories in DEAD CLOWN BARBECUE, a collection of twenty-nine gleefully macabre tales, seven of which were written just for this collection. There’s even a brand new one about a ventriloquist dummy. Those things creep you out, right? You’ll laugh. You’ll scream. Okay…you probably won’t actually scream, unless you already had issues before you started reading, but you might cringe and get a little spooked.Table of SemmutearyComeuppanceThe Apocalypse Ain’t So BadThe Bell…FROM HELL!!!Work/Life BalanceStop Stabbing MeEight-Legged VengeanceThe DropHere’s What Happened…Pregnancy TestMr. Twitcher’s Miracle Baby-Chopping MachineThe CarverPush the ButtonSpecimen 313My Knife CollectionDrain BamageGramma’s CorpseBurdenRough DraftFangboy and the TrollDead in the WaterImmunityThe Big BiteWe BelievePoor Career ChoiceTrue HeroChomp (A Cautionary Tale)The Severed NoseDummyStory Notes
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2012
132 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Strand
229 books2,217 followersBram Stoker Award-winning author of a bunch of demented books, including PRESSURE, DWELLER, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS, AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER, MY PRETTIES, the official novelization of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and lots of others!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
August 25, 2015
I suspect Jeff Strand writes with a razor sharp pen. No ink, just blood from some little dead guy he uses as a pen holder.
Exhibit A
Strand’s stories are for people who grew up watching George Romero’s Tales from the Darkside (not that pussy shit Tales from the Crypt). A MUST READ for a few of you peeps (you freaks know who you are!!). The fun starts even before the stories! Here's one from the Intro:
I, for one, would have no interest in attending a barbecue where some live clown is being held onto a charcoal grill. That would be sadistic. [...] Would you want to eat that meat on your burger? Would you? Please say no or I will judge you for it.
Then there are these little rays of sunshine and road kill:
Theme: Nice, upbeat and hopeful -- The Apocalypse Ain’t So Bad
Now, some survivors did have to defend themselves against mutated friends and/or family, and there’s no question that it must’ve sucked. If you’re one of them, you have the right to be mopey. That’s not who I’m complaining about. It’s the folks who had to shoot three or four mutant strangers, yet are acting like they had to drown their own mother in a bathtub. Three words: Get. Over. It.
My natural optimism faltered a bit after they duct taped me to the desk. I tried to let a smile be my umbrella, but it wasn’t working. […] They can take away my freedom. They can take away my arm. They can take away my life. But they won’t take away my smile until they eat my lips.
Theme: Creepy -- Gramma's Corpse
"Stop playing around!" said Pa. "You snuggle up tight to Gramma's corpse."
"I can't."
"The hell you can't! Snuggle!"
Theme: Soooooo Relatable -- Work/Life Balance
“I'm pleased to inform you all that violence is now acceptable. I shouldn't even have to say this, but of course any fatal wounding is completely forbidden and will result in immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. If you're going to stab, stab an appendage, such as an arm, and not a torso. Let's not let this get out of hand.”
“Can we opt out?”
“Of being the stabber or the stabbee?”
“Both.”
“Well, nobody is going to make you stab anyone. That’s simply not the way things operate around here. But, naturally, with the new policy some people are going to get stabbed who don’t want to be. Nobody is going to voluntarily get stabbed, right? That doesn't make sense.”
Theme: Just Plain Wrong -- Mr. Twitcher’s Miracle Baby-Chopping Machine
“Do you ever feel like what we do is…you know, evil?”
“Evil? How so?”
“I dunno,” I admitted, “Chopping babies in half all day; it just feels like some kind of ethical line has been crossed.”
Garry shrugged and took another bite of his BLT. “Those babies need chopping.”
All the stories are great with lots of creep and fun. Some are actually touching, and most are guiltily chuckle-worthy.
______________________
PRE-REVIEW
This is my first Strand picnic, and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed! So many stories and hilarious quotes to add here.
Exhibit A
Strand’s stories are for people who grew up watching George Romero’s Tales from the Darkside (not that pussy shit Tales from the Crypt). A MUST READ for a few of you peeps (you freaks know who you are!!). The fun starts even before the stories! Here's one from the Intro:
I, for one, would have no interest in attending a barbecue where some live clown is being held onto a charcoal grill. That would be sadistic. [...] Would you want to eat that meat on your burger? Would you? Please say no or I will judge you for it.
Then there are these little rays of sunshine and road kill:
Theme: Nice, upbeat and hopeful -- The Apocalypse Ain’t So Bad
Now, some survivors did have to defend themselves against mutated friends and/or family, and there’s no question that it must’ve sucked. If you’re one of them, you have the right to be mopey. That’s not who I’m complaining about. It’s the folks who had to shoot three or four mutant strangers, yet are acting like they had to drown their own mother in a bathtub. Three words: Get. Over. It.
My natural optimism faltered a bit after they duct taped me to the desk. I tried to let a smile be my umbrella, but it wasn’t working. […] They can take away my freedom. They can take away my arm. They can take away my life. But they won’t take away my smile until they eat my lips.
Theme: Creepy -- Gramma's Corpse
"Stop playing around!" said Pa. "You snuggle up tight to Gramma's corpse."
"I can't."
"The hell you can't! Snuggle!"
Theme: Soooooo Relatable -- Work/Life Balance
“I'm pleased to inform you all that violence is now acceptable. I shouldn't even have to say this, but of course any fatal wounding is completely forbidden and will result in immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. If you're going to stab, stab an appendage, such as an arm, and not a torso. Let's not let this get out of hand.”
“Can we opt out?”
“Of being the stabber or the stabbee?”
“Both.”
“Well, nobody is going to make you stab anyone. That’s simply not the way things operate around here. But, naturally, with the new policy some people are going to get stabbed who don’t want to be. Nobody is going to voluntarily get stabbed, right? That doesn't make sense.”
Theme: Just Plain Wrong -- Mr. Twitcher’s Miracle Baby-Chopping Machine
“Do you ever feel like what we do is…you know, evil?”
“Evil? How so?”
“I dunno,” I admitted, “Chopping babies in half all day; it just feels like some kind of ethical line has been crossed.”
Garry shrugged and took another bite of his BLT. “Those babies need chopping.”
All the stories are great with lots of creep and fun. Some are actually touching, and most are guiltily chuckle-worthy.
______________________
PRE-REVIEW
This is my first Strand picnic, and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed! So many stories and hilarious quotes to add here.
August 19, 2013
I can almost imagine the look on the face of anyone NOT familiar with the kind of horror/comedy mix that Jeff Strand writes, reading these stories for the first time! This collection was priceless--a true Laugh-out-loud riot. I enjoyed his collection GLEEFULLY MACABRE TALES, but the stories here upped the ante! I had so many "favorites", that I don't know where to start. Strand's humor blended horror is so unique, that I honestly can't think of anything to compare these tales to. Included in this collection is the novella "The Severed Nose"--which alone is worth the purchase price! Anyone with a nicely "warped" sense of humor will want to add this book to their favorites' collection immediately! Strand's best collection to date!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
August 4, 2013
Great collection of short stories. Hilarious and horrifying, I could not tear myself away. My one gripe is against the publisher, since I paid good money to get this limited edition signed copy, yet they sent without the dust jacket, and cover art is referred to in the book itself...
The author on the other hand, deserves every penny, as his work is outstanding!
The author on the other hand, deserves every penny, as his work is outstanding!
March 13, 2023
I’m always on a never-ending quest to find and read horror-comedy books. It’s my jam. My bread and butta, and I don’t care how unhinged, sick, gory, or silly it is. I fucking dig it. So yeah, this was all of those things. 10/10.
January 1, 2019
An excellent way to end the year. I was really cramming this one in to get to my goal of 150 books this year and barely f'n made it.
There is something severely deranged about Jeff Strand. He is truly unique and demented with an uncanny sense of comedic timing paired with extreme violence and gross out gore. Nice!!
There is something severely deranged about Jeff Strand. He is truly unique and demented with an uncanny sense of comedic timing paired with extreme violence and gross out gore. Nice!!
May 11, 2022
if you're in need of a laugh, look no further. This is the book for you. Its hilarious. And the narrator is a total performer. The way he changes his voice to suit each character was top notch
July 11, 2020
Title: Dead Clown Barbecue
Author: Jeff Strand
Synopsis:
A man who finds a severed nose on a plate on his dining room table. A bell that can summon Satan (maybe). Casual Fridays at work that get out of control. A cheery outlook on the post-apocalyptic landscape. The final thoughts of a doomed skydiver. A girl punished by having to share a bed with her grandmother’s corpse. Revenge via baking a tarantula into a cake. A shocking look at where those awful computer-generated book covers come from. And the lost tale of Fangboy.
These are only a few of the demented stories in DEAD CLOWN BARBECUE, a collection of thirty gleefully macabre tales, seven of which were written just for this collection. There’s even a brand new one about a ventriloquist dummy. Those things creep you out, right? You’ll laugh. You’ll scream. Okay...you probably won’t actually scream, unless you already had issues before you started reading, but you might cringe and get a little spooked.
These are only a few of the demented stories in DEAD CLOWN BARBECUE, a collection of thirty gleefully macabre tales, seven of which were written just for this collection. There’s even a brand new one about a ventriloquist dummy. Those things creep you out, right? You’ll laugh. You’ll scream. Okay...you probably won’t actually scream, unless you already had issues before you started reading, but you might cringe and get a little spooked.
Publisher: Dark Regions Press
"They can take away my freedom. They can take away my arm. They can take away my life. But they won't take away my smile until they eat my lips."
Jeff Strand brings us another collection of comedic horror in Dead Clown Barbecue, filled with 29 short stories that do not disappoint. I found each of the stories unique and innovative and many were burst out laughing funny.
The introduction. The Introduction! It was perfect. We get Strand humor right off the bat, with a side of marital bliss.
Pett Senmuteary: Oh, poor Tipsy. This story tells of the joys of living by the Pet Cemetery and wanting to please your wife. 5 stars
Comeuppance: Curse you Tom Booth! Destroyer of mediocre men!
4 stars
The Apocalypse Ain't So Bad: An optimist and the apocalypse.
5 stars
The Bell...FROM HELL!!: "Love conquers all, but in a pinch, you can fake it."
3 stars
Work/Life Balance: With freedom comes great responsibility.
3 stars
Stop Stabbing Me: Wanna play a game?
3 stars
Eight-Legged Vengeance: Please do not ever bake a spider into a cake.
5 stars
The Drop: What would you think about if your parachute didn't open while sky diving?
5 stars
Here's What Happened...: Who ordered the turkey sandwich?
4 stars
Pregnancy Test: If pee sticks could talk...
3.5 stars
Mr. Twitcher's Miracle Baby-Chopping Machine: Stand up for what you believe in!
4 stars
The Carver: Want to hear a joke?
3 stars
Push the Button: Would you push a button to collect $1,000,000 but someone you didn't know would have to die?
4 stars
My Knife Collection: Serial killer caught by serial killer
4 stars
Drain Bamage: Do NOT drop the baby!
3 stars
Gramma's Corpse: You better study harder.
3.5 stars
Burden: Please remember to always wear your seat belt.
3 stars
Rough Draft: More notes than story. Cute concept.
3 stars
Fangboy and the Troll: Here, eat this.
3 stars
Dead in the Water: Zombies and a jet ski.
4 stars
Immunity: Getting bit, with a twist.
4 stars
The Big Bite: 65 foot vampire!
3 stars
Specimen 313: Feed me Seymour!
4 stars
We Believe: Grandma got ran over by a reindeer.
3 stars
Poor Career Choice: If you're going to put out a hit, pay more than $50.
4 stars
True Hero:
4 stars
Chomp (A Cautionary Tale): Ha, ha! You lost an arm!
4 stars
The Severed Nose:
Dummy: I'm a real boy!
4 stars
Overall score: 105/140 3.75 rounded up to 4!
December 24, 2017
Let's get something straight - There is nobody who can write comedy-horror like Jeff Strand!
Should you have a sunny disposition during the zombie Apocolypse? What SHOULDN'T you do with your dead pet? What could happen when you send your food back in a not-so-classy establishment? Are those funny Christmas songs still so funny if you know all the facts? Seriously, though, how DO you handle any severed body part on a plate? And then there's Andrew Mayhem...
This collection had me laughing hard enough to get funny looks from people. Not all of the stories are comedic, something like "Burden" had a much heavier feel to it, more in the line of a Matt Shaw, perhaps. And "Gramma's Corpse" was surprisingly disgusting and more in line with pure horror. But, for the most part, Mr. Strand can make you cringe while giggling like a school girl. "Pett Semmuteary", an obvious homage to Stephen King's masterpiece, was an excellent way to kick things off. "The bell...FROM HELL!!!" was special for all the right reasons, "Poor Career Choice" brings back my favorite (Andrew Mayhem...duh!) and "The Severed Nose" was an absolutely brilliant novella.
There's nothing bad I can say about this book - get it for Christmas, it could be one of those "to me from me" gifts that might end up being the best present you get!
Should you have a sunny disposition during the zombie Apocolypse? What SHOULDN'T you do with your dead pet? What could happen when you send your food back in a not-so-classy establishment? Are those funny Christmas songs still so funny if you know all the facts? Seriously, though, how DO you handle any severed body part on a plate? And then there's Andrew Mayhem...
This collection had me laughing hard enough to get funny looks from people. Not all of the stories are comedic, something like "Burden" had a much heavier feel to it, more in the line of a Matt Shaw, perhaps. And "Gramma's Corpse" was surprisingly disgusting and more in line with pure horror. But, for the most part, Mr. Strand can make you cringe while giggling like a school girl. "Pett Semmuteary", an obvious homage to Stephen King's masterpiece, was an excellent way to kick things off. "The bell...FROM HELL!!!" was special for all the right reasons, "Poor Career Choice" brings back my favorite (Andrew Mayhem...duh!) and "The Severed Nose" was an absolutely brilliant novella.
There's nothing bad I can say about this book - get it for Christmas, it could be one of those "to me from me" gifts that might end up being the best present you get!
July 30, 2018
Every time I read something by Jeff, I repeatedly ask myself: "What is wrong with that man?" Then I laugh, giggle, chortle, guffaw and cackle at his work, and am forced to consider: "What is wrong with me?"
Some highlights of the collection are
"Pett Semmuteary" - An interesting extension of Stephen King's classic book.
"Eight-Legged Vengeance"- A story of ridiculous revenge.
"Pregnancy Test" - What if your pregnancy test spoke to you?
"Mr. Twitcher's Miracle Baby-Chopping Machine" - The narrator, after chopping babies for 6 years, decides that perhaps chopping babies is...wrong?
"The Severed Nose" - One thing after another plagues Josh White after he finds a severed nose on a plate in his living room.
A thoroughly fun and enjoyable collection of stories.
Some highlights of the collection are
"Pett Semmuteary" - An interesting extension of Stephen King's classic book.
"Eight-Legged Vengeance"- A story of ridiculous revenge.
"Pregnancy Test" - What if your pregnancy test spoke to you?
"Mr. Twitcher's Miracle Baby-Chopping Machine" - The narrator, after chopping babies for 6 years, decides that perhaps chopping babies is...wrong?
"The Severed Nose" - One thing after another plagues Josh White after he finds a severed nose on a plate in his living room.
A thoroughly fun and enjoyable collection of stories.
August 7, 2013
I've been a big Jeff Strand fan for a while now, so to edit this book was a privilege and a joy. There are seven new stories in this collection, and while I have my favorites, I can say that all seven will be enjoyed by Strand fans.
This book is going to special, as we're having a Pennywise-ecque clown holding balloons (and possibly his own head) stamped into the front cover of the deluxe hardcover. We're also going to have some great interior illustrations from artist Alex McVey.
Dead Clown Barbecue will be offered in two collectible signed limited edition hardcover formats as well as as a trade paperback edition (at a later date).
If anyone is looking for a great blend of horror and humor, you will find plenty in Dead Clown Barbecue. I laughed out loud plenty of times, and I think you will too.
My personal favorite stories from the book: Pett Semmuteary, Dummy, True Hero (all three are new stories), Work/Life Balance, The Bell...FROM HELL!!!, Dead in the Water and Gramma's Corpse.
This book is going to special, as we're having a Pennywise-ecque clown holding balloons (and possibly his own head) stamped into the front cover of the deluxe hardcover. We're also going to have some great interior illustrations from artist Alex McVey.
Dead Clown Barbecue will be offered in two collectible signed limited edition hardcover formats as well as as a trade paperback edition (at a later date).
If anyone is looking for a great blend of horror and humor, you will find plenty in Dead Clown Barbecue. I laughed out loud plenty of times, and I think you will too.
My personal favorite stories from the book: Pett Semmuteary, Dummy, True Hero (all three are new stories), Work/Life Balance, The Bell...FROM HELL!!!, Dead in the Water and Gramma's Corpse.
August 26, 2013
Oh good Lord, where to start?
If you have a particular taste (I avoid the snarky remarks of others who may say "or lack thereof") a new book by Jeff Strand is always reason to celebrate. For the time you wander around in Jeff's world you can be sure that you will repeatedly (l) laugh at something so inappropriate and twisted that you cannot tell anyone what you were laughing at (2) wince at something so awful and well described that it comes very close to causing actual pain (3) stop and think about a profound moment hidden in thick humorous satire (4) be amazed at how good a writer Strand is while at the same time wonder how someone so funny could also be so twisted. If you like the irreverent humor of David Sidaris but also enjoy horror, if you don't take yourself or literary conventions very seriously, and if you want to read an author that really pushes the edge of good taste (or more like jumps squealing with glee over that precipice) then you need to give Strand a try.
If you have a particular taste (I avoid the snarky remarks of others who may say "or lack thereof") a new book by Jeff Strand is always reason to celebrate. For the time you wander around in Jeff's world you can be sure that you will repeatedly (l) laugh at something so inappropriate and twisted that you cannot tell anyone what you were laughing at (2) wince at something so awful and well described that it comes very close to causing actual pain (3) stop and think about a profound moment hidden in thick humorous satire (4) be amazed at how good a writer Strand is while at the same time wonder how someone so funny could also be so twisted. If you like the irreverent humor of David Sidaris but also enjoy horror, if you don't take yourself or literary conventions very seriously, and if you want to read an author that really pushes the edge of good taste (or more like jumps squealing with glee over that precipice) then you need to give Strand a try.
April 2, 2019
Hilarious and horrific, Jeff Strand's Dead Clown Barbecue is what might happen if "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and directed an episode of Tales From The Crypt. I loved every sentence. My favorite stories were "Pett Semmuteary," "The Pregnancy Test," and "Drain Brammage," but they're all really, really good and really, really funny.
One of the unique things about Strand's works is that he is incredibly in touch with his inner childhood fears. Whenever he writes kids, he perfectly captures childhood "logic" in terms of what they worry about. "Drain Brammage" is the best example of his talent here.
Well worth your time.
One of the unique things about Strand's works is that he is incredibly in touch with his inner childhood fears. Whenever he writes kids, he perfectly captures childhood "logic" in terms of what they worry about. "Drain Brammage" is the best example of his talent here.
Well worth your time.
December 1, 2015
I couldn't even begin to estimate how many times I laughed out loud while reading this amazing collection of twistedly hilarious short stories. This is horror comedy at its best. There are some darker, not so funny tales, but the sick hilarity vastly outweighs the serious. Highly recommended for those with a morbid sense of humor.
September 17, 2013
read the review here https://ephesians616.wordpress.com/20...
August 20, 2015
I had a lot of hope for this. The name alone tells you you're in for a sick, twisted, maybe humorous ride. You'd think "comic horror" would be right up my alley, but unfortunately this book of short stories is full of stupid people in situations they could very easily get themselves out of if they were even marginally smarter.
A few of the stories were genuinely good, though not memorable enough to recall at this moment. Some had a lot of promise but were marred by dialogue reminiscent of what *I* write (i.e. not good). And then there were the stupid people. The first three stories had all kinds of stupidity, in the bad way, and I nearly stopped reading. Luckily (or not, depending on point of view here), I'm stubborn and try to finish the books I start.
Short story collections have a hard row to hoe to begin with -- you have a brief period to introduce a character, make that character go through some horrific stuff, and come out the other side of it... or not. In that short time, you have to make the reader like that character, empathize with his or her plight, and root for a good outcome.
I can't do that if the main character of the story is a complete idiot.
In the very first story, a take-off of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the main character is an idiot. I gave it a pass, though, because the whole point of that one seemed to be about doing the same stupid things over and over, expecting different results, and somehow being surprised that you don't get them.
In the second story, about revenge gone wrong, there was nothing funny about it. I'm sure it was meant to be hyperbole and a lesson about letting bygones be bygones, but nothing the character does was in any way humorous to me. He was simply an idiot. (WARNING: The story contains self harm as revenge. How is that in any way funny? Or vengeful?)
I won't go story by story, because a) this book isn't worth it, and b) I don't have the memory to do so anyway. I will, however, give some positive feedback to balance the tirade. (I try to find something good about every entertainment I consume.)
Though the premise was wonky in the way I've been complaining about, the story about the little girl forced to sleep in a bed with her dead grandmother was genuinely creepy. It's a good look into the mindset of a frightened child being forced to face a terrifying situation.
Also, the novella that was the penultimate tale of the book did leave me a little amused, especially in the way the situations and events seemed to escalate out of control. Again, it was full of the head-shaking dialogue, but the story was a fun romp.
Ultimately, I can not recommend this book. I know, as someone who occasionally pens bad novels myself, that a lot of time and effort was put into these stories. I also know that some people will love them -- as evidenced by how many of this author's stories have appeared in published media and how many books he has written. I just don't happen to be one of the ones to love them.
A few of the stories were genuinely good, though not memorable enough to recall at this moment. Some had a lot of promise but were marred by dialogue reminiscent of what *I* write (i.e. not good). And then there were the stupid people. The first three stories had all kinds of stupidity, in the bad way, and I nearly stopped reading. Luckily (or not, depending on point of view here), I'm stubborn and try to finish the books I start.
Short story collections have a hard row to hoe to begin with -- you have a brief period to introduce a character, make that character go through some horrific stuff, and come out the other side of it... or not. In that short time, you have to make the reader like that character, empathize with his or her plight, and root for a good outcome.
I can't do that if the main character of the story is a complete idiot.
In the very first story, a take-off of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the main character is an idiot. I gave it a pass, though, because the whole point of that one seemed to be about doing the same stupid things over and over, expecting different results, and somehow being surprised that you don't get them.
In the second story, about revenge gone wrong, there was nothing funny about it. I'm sure it was meant to be hyperbole and a lesson about letting bygones be bygones, but nothing the character does was in any way humorous to me. He was simply an idiot. (WARNING: The story contains self harm as revenge. How is that in any way funny? Or vengeful?)
I won't go story by story, because a) this book isn't worth it, and b) I don't have the memory to do so anyway. I will, however, give some positive feedback to balance the tirade. (I try to find something good about every entertainment I consume.)
Though the premise was wonky in the way I've been complaining about, the story about the little girl forced to sleep in a bed with her dead grandmother was genuinely creepy. It's a good look into the mindset of a frightened child being forced to face a terrifying situation.
Also, the novella that was the penultimate tale of the book did leave me a little amused, especially in the way the situations and events seemed to escalate out of control. Again, it was full of the head-shaking dialogue, but the story was a fun romp.
Ultimately, I can not recommend this book. I know, as someone who occasionally pens bad novels myself, that a lot of time and effort was put into these stories. I also know that some people will love them -- as evidenced by how many of this author's stories have appeared in published media and how many books he has written. I just don't happen to be one of the ones to love them.
March 28, 2014
Absolutely loved this!
Full review soon, asap.
Full review soon, asap.
August 22, 2017
This is my second "experience" with Jeff Strand. I've now read one of his novels and this collection of short stories. I'll be honest. I need a break! Time for something less over-the-top and perhaps grounded in some semblance of reality.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It was entertaining, but apparently like most of what Strand writes (and by design), it was also disturbing. But because he writes in that odd genre of comedy-horror I found myself often scoffing at some of the absurdities rather than letting them affect me. I like being "affected" by what I read, so I'm not sure this is a good thing.
I don't know if there is a name for this literary technique, but I noticed that Strand often writes outside of the current story. What I mean by that is that his characters or narrators often make mention of something separate and apart from the current narrative. There will be snippets of conversation completely out of context or a reference to something else that happened at a different place or time, but no elaboration takes place. Most often he tries to use it for comic effect. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But it seems to be one of his favorite ways of cracking a joke - or perhaps lightening the mood.
It's apparent to me that dialogue, witty, clever dialogue, is Strand's forte. Nobody speaks the way his characters do, but that's what usually makes the stories fun. The fact that this dialogue is often delivered by a psychopath, a serial killer, a hooker or a hardened murderer is sometimes a bit hard to take. But character and dialogue, more than story, are what make a Jeff Strand story stand out. That is certainly true of most all of the tales in this collection.
Another thing I noticed is that Strand's stories are very often derivative. He makes no bones about this and does so blatantly at times. Yes, there's a twist, but to be honest, I prefer his completely original stories over the ones based on other works. But don't be surprised if when reading a chapter in this book that you recall a Stephen King novel, a horror film or two, or even an episode of The Twilight Zone. They're all in there!
As I said, I now need a break from Jeff Strand. I have several more of his book on my to-read shelf, but I'm in the mood for something less frivolous, or to be more precise, less "comedically gory," next.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It was entertaining, but apparently like most of what Strand writes (and by design), it was also disturbing. But because he writes in that odd genre of comedy-horror I found myself often scoffing at some of the absurdities rather than letting them affect me. I like being "affected" by what I read, so I'm not sure this is a good thing.
I don't know if there is a name for this literary technique, but I noticed that Strand often writes outside of the current story. What I mean by that is that his characters or narrators often make mention of something separate and apart from the current narrative. There will be snippets of conversation completely out of context or a reference to something else that happened at a different place or time, but no elaboration takes place. Most often he tries to use it for comic effect. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But it seems to be one of his favorite ways of cracking a joke - or perhaps lightening the mood.
It's apparent to me that dialogue, witty, clever dialogue, is Strand's forte. Nobody speaks the way his characters do, but that's what usually makes the stories fun. The fact that this dialogue is often delivered by a psychopath, a serial killer, a hooker or a hardened murderer is sometimes a bit hard to take. But character and dialogue, more than story, are what make a Jeff Strand story stand out. That is certainly true of most all of the tales in this collection.
Another thing I noticed is that Strand's stories are very often derivative. He makes no bones about this and does so blatantly at times. Yes, there's a twist, but to be honest, I prefer his completely original stories over the ones based on other works. But don't be surprised if when reading a chapter in this book that you recall a Stephen King novel, a horror film or two, or even an episode of The Twilight Zone. They're all in there!
As I said, I now need a break from Jeff Strand. I have several more of his book on my to-read shelf, but I'm in the mood for something less frivolous, or to be more precise, less "comedically gory," next.
April 14, 2017
I'm a Strand-Fan. (Is that a term? If not, it should be and I'm claiming it.) Let me make that clear. But it seems I'm more of a Strand-Fan when he has a larger number of pages to tell a story. His novellas are universally good to excellent; his novels better still. But when it comes to Dead Clown Barbecue, I thought a good number of the stories were just okay, even disappointing in a couple of cases.
Don't get me wrong. There are still some zingers in here. SPECIMEN 313 is one of those; GRAMMA'S CORPSE is another. DUMMY is also a decent spin on an old idea. But there are others like MR TWITCHER'S MIRACLE BABY-CHOPPING MACHINE which really left me cold. And the longest tale, THE SEVERED NOSE, feels like Andrew Mayhem lite.
So this was a very mixed bag for me. Others, however, seem to have enjoyed it a great deal more. o if you're also a Strand-Fan (has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?), ignore the shit out of me and check it out for yourself.
3 Pieces of Face Left on Your Plate for Dead Clown Barbecue.
Don't get me wrong. There are still some zingers in here. SPECIMEN 313 is one of those; GRAMMA'S CORPSE is another. DUMMY is also a decent spin on an old idea. But there are others like MR TWITCHER'S MIRACLE BABY-CHOPPING MACHINE which really left me cold. And the longest tale, THE SEVERED NOSE, feels like Andrew Mayhem lite.
So this was a very mixed bag for me. Others, however, seem to have enjoyed it a great deal more. o if you're also a Strand-Fan (has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?), ignore the shit out of me and check it out for yourself.
3 Pieces of Face Left on Your Plate for Dead Clown Barbecue.
July 31, 2017
I got so many strange looks from people while reading this book.
Not that it mattered what look they gave me, because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. I don't think there was a single one that I really didn't enjoy, which is usually the case when I read short story collections. I usually find at least one or two duds in the mix, but this was enjoyable throughout. There were a couple stories that turned quite dark, unexpectedly, but they were deliciously dark. Jeff Strand always satisfies my morbid sense of weirdness.
The introduction is quite clever and if that isn't enough to hook you with this book, each and every story will. I do wish that the introductions to the stories themselves was at either the beginning of the book or before each story. Strand did make a point of mentioning that people don't like it when the introductions are at the back of the book (which they were in this case) but didn't think people really read them anyways. I read them, Jeff Strand! :)
Just wonderful. If you are a Strand-fan, you will enjoy this! If you're looking for some horror-comedy to entertain you for a while, you will love this!
Not that it mattered what look they gave me, because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. I don't think there was a single one that I really didn't enjoy, which is usually the case when I read short story collections. I usually find at least one or two duds in the mix, but this was enjoyable throughout. There were a couple stories that turned quite dark, unexpectedly, but they were deliciously dark. Jeff Strand always satisfies my morbid sense of weirdness.
The introduction is quite clever and if that isn't enough to hook you with this book, each and every story will. I do wish that the introductions to the stories themselves was at either the beginning of the book or before each story. Strand did make a point of mentioning that people don't like it when the introductions are at the back of the book (which they were in this case) but didn't think people really read them anyways. I read them, Jeff Strand! :)
Just wonderful. If you are a Strand-fan, you will enjoy this! If you're looking for some horror-comedy to entertain you for a while, you will love this!
April 20, 2022
I'm going to go ahead and give this five stars because this is true! “No author working today comes close to Jeff Strand’s perfect mixture of comedy and terror.” - Cemetery Dance
If you're a horror fan and you haven't discovered Jeff Strand yet, please go ahead and thank me. Not only are you in for totally original stories, but his character dialogue is hilarious and he has a mind like no one else. Did Jeff Strand just 'go there'? Yes, he did, my friends. You can count on it with his stories.
Macabre entertainment. Not for squeamish readers.
If you're a horror fan and you haven't discovered Jeff Strand yet, please go ahead and thank me. Not only are you in for totally original stories, but his character dialogue is hilarious and he has a mind like no one else. Did Jeff Strand just 'go there'? Yes, he did, my friends. You can count on it with his stories.
Macabre entertainment. Not for squeamish readers.
March 18, 2024
A great collection of short stories by the master of humorous horror.
April 6, 2017
Amazing how funny gross, gory,horror stories can be.I found parts of this book absolutely hilarious.My new favorite author.I kept reading parts of it to my wife and she told me to shut up.Gleefully Macabre Tales is great too
December 31, 2014
I have a lot of favorite authors but only a couple favorite short story authors, Jeff stand is one of them. Most short story collections I will read a few here and there but with Jeff strand you can't help but read straight through them. Unless of course it is a kindle lendle book and you don't start right away because you are trying to get caught up on group reads and buddy reads and then run out of time part way through it and you don't want to buy a book you have already read 80% of because money is tight and you would rather spend it on a book you haven't read any of instead so you wait and watch for a price drop or freebie or something and then a couple months later it is put in the Amazon unlimited section and you get to finally finish it. That doesn't mean you don't want to read straight through it though, circumstances just didn't allow it to happen. I'm not sure why after reading Jeff strand I feel an uncontrollable urge to give long overly thought out explanations of things with elaborate what if situations, it's kind of like when your talking to a foreign person and you have an uncontrollable urge to start speaking to them in a fake accent that matches their own but you don't because they would probably think you where making fun of them. I guess it's not really an uncontrollable urge if you don't do it though. That happens to me all the time, not the talking in a fake accent part but the controllable urge to talk in a fake accent part. I'm not the only one right? Anyway though back to the review, this book was great and I highly recommend it. If you have Amazon unlimited (I got the free trial with no intention of sighning up, I'm sure they think they will get me when I forget to cancel it and have to pay but I set a reminder in my phone) you should check it out for free right now! If you don't have Amazon unlimited it is well worth paying for. (The book, not Amazon unlimited I mean.) Unless you have already read 80% of it. Or even 75%, I'm not sure the actual percent in which it would no longer be worth paying full price to finish but if you have read some of it then you will know how good it is and how much is left and be able to decide for yourself.
July 9, 2018
Good enough book of short stories that I will try a Jeff Strand novel.
June 5, 2019
Dead Clown Barbecue isn't a novel but rather a collection of his short stories. If you've never read Jeff Strand's work, this is a fine place to start because you immediately get a sense at the dark comedy treats you are in for.
The book contains 29 stories in its 264 pages, and I laughed out loud just as much as a cringed reading each one of them. Strand is one of the few people that can expertly pull off humor and horror, as it's not often when you are literally giggling reading one sentence, then curling your toes the next. That takes a good amount of skill, something of which Strand clearly has a lot.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
The book contains 29 stories in its 264 pages, and I laughed out loud just as much as a cringed reading each one of them. Strand is one of the few people that can expertly pull off humor and horror, as it's not often when you are literally giggling reading one sentence, then curling your toes the next. That takes a good amount of skill, something of which Strand clearly has a lot.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 6, 2013
If you enjoy horrifyingly warped humor, this is the book for you. If you don't think guts and blood can be funny then you should pass. Jeff is a great author and very funny and worth liking and friending on Facebook. This book is a great intro to his work if you have never read anything by him.
January 11, 2014
This book is filled with some of the funniest and most bizarre stories I have ever read. I'm going to look at reading all he has written. Hope they are as good as this one.
October 10, 2014
Clicked wrong stars - should be half at most. Did not bother to finish the book.
August 12, 2017
Extremely entertaining!! Looking forward to the expansion pack next :0)
November 13, 2019
Not impressed
Nothing scary about this book just lots of talk!!. This is the second book in the series and I hope it's the last. Sorry!
Nothing scary about this book just lots of talk!!. This is the second book in the series and I hope it's the last. Sorry!
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