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Fireside Popsicles
An anthology of the weird, the bizarre and the twisted. And we mean this literally. Fireside Popsicles features short stories, poetry and prose by great talents working in the literary worlds of bizarro, dark erotica, splatterpunk and alt-lit such as Bradley Sands, Jeremy C. Shipp and James Ward Kirk.
- GenresBizarro Fiction
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2014
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 3, 2014
Excellent debut from Fireside Press that includes stories from a variety of genres. If you're a fan of bizarro fiction you'll see a lot of familiar faces and every story here is pure gold.
Popsicles is a flawless anthology that should be on everyone's reading list. I heard about this way back in December and as I began reading it I was reminded why indie fiction is so good. While everyone is churning out the same rehashed ideas and catering to their fan base Fireside has released a book that will earn them not only a fan base but a loyal one.
Popsicles is a flawless anthology that should be on everyone's reading list. I heard about this way back in December and as I began reading it I was reminded why indie fiction is so good. While everyone is churning out the same rehashed ideas and catering to their fan base Fireside has released a book that will earn them not only a fan base but a loyal one.
August 15, 2014
There are 26 of these Twisted Tales Told by the Fire in all; each one a unique flavor. I’m pleased with Fireside Press for including such diversity within their anthology. The flow of the book is beautifully curated, each story carefully placed as if they were tracks on an album. Keeping a tight pace, and yet allowing for significant shifts in genre, tone, and style. A perfect example of which is the pairing of Rick Austin’s tale “The Mysterious Case of the Post-Apocalyptic Oxymoron” just before Michael Allen Rose’s “Confession and Redemption of the Apostle Abbot Technobabble.” Austin plays linguistic gymnastics, ripping colloquialisms apart and quilting them together again. This master wordsmithery provides a beautiful segue into the delightful madness of MAR’s pastafarian prophet.
I’m floored by Emily Stern’s ability to paint a layered portrait and turn it on its head (“Mellow Yellow”), I simply have no words [adequate] for “A Moment of Silence” (by Max Booth III), and Gabino Iglesias’ “In the Tub”… well, I’ll tell you what I told him, “You hit me right in the heart, and turned the knife in the only way that could make me laugh and dry heave simultaneously.” It was the first time I’ve ever been compelled to write an author, for the express purpose of lauding their work.
Having said all that, the three stories which made a profound impact upon me were: Becky Flade’s “Elementary Contract,” J.C. Michael’s “Closing the Deal,” and Jeremy Maddux’s “The Street Artist.” Each of these stories are easily worth the price of admission on their own. I could discuss their strengths at great length, but I’d rather not spoil the thrills for you!
I’m floored by Emily Stern’s ability to paint a layered portrait and turn it on its head (“Mellow Yellow”), I simply have no words [adequate] for “A Moment of Silence” (by Max Booth III), and Gabino Iglesias’ “In the Tub”… well, I’ll tell you what I told him, “You hit me right in the heart, and turned the knife in the only way that could make me laugh and dry heave simultaneously.” It was the first time I’ve ever been compelled to write an author, for the express purpose of lauding their work.
Having said all that, the three stories which made a profound impact upon me were: Becky Flade’s “Elementary Contract,” J.C. Michael’s “Closing the Deal,” and Jeremy Maddux’s “The Street Artist.” Each of these stories are easily worth the price of admission on their own. I could discuss their strengths at great length, but I’d rather not spoil the thrills for you!
April 27, 2014
This debut publication from Fireside Press, a project jointly edited by Sheila Hall and M.C. O'Neill has pulled together a plethora of talent ranging from some of the giants of bizarro, alt-lit, erotica and dark fiction to those who are seeing their work in print for the very first time.
In total, there are 26 "Popsicles" for you to ingest and, as is always the case, not all flavours may be to everyone's liking, though I urge the reader to suck it and see, because you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how good the menu tastes!
Be prepared to experience exploding tastebuds and brain freeze; "Fireside Popsicles" will stain your tongue and corrupt your soul, so throw another log on the fire, curl up in your favourite armchair and enjoy it before it melts!
In total, there are 26 "Popsicles" for you to ingest and, as is always the case, not all flavours may be to everyone's liking, though I urge the reader to suck it and see, because you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how good the menu tastes!
Be prepared to experience exploding tastebuds and brain freeze; "Fireside Popsicles" will stain your tongue and corrupt your soul, so throw another log on the fire, curl up in your favourite armchair and enjoy it before it melts!
April 21, 2014
After reading the list of authors represented in this anthology from Fireside Press, I bought it right away and began reading. A great quality is the variety of the short stories inside. Some of them could be called bizarro, others were more along the lines of general horror, there's even a bit of noir. The best ones were Douglas Hackle's Trapdoor People, Max Booth's A Moment of Silence, Jeremy Shipp's The Worm Men, and Jeremy Maddux's The Street Artist. What I enjoy about reading anthologies is that I am introduced to new talent and can search out the works of those that really grab me.
December 24, 2014
Rounded up from a 4.73 (I rated each story individually then averaged them out...yes, I know I'm a dork). Great collection of stories with a few cool 'easter eggs' thrown in. I've got 'mini-reviews' for each story that I need to copy and paste here. It'll happen one day...
October 11, 2014
Fireside Popsicles is the first release from Fireside Press and it's a brave first foray for editors Sheila Hall and M C O'Neil. Why do I say that? Because they haven't gone with a collection that fits nicely within any set genre, or which revolves around a central theme.
Instead, this collection can in some ways be viewed as a sampler of things to come. A collection of bizarro, horror, and dark fiction, the likes of which will no doubt be found in future publications where there will be more of a focus on a particular genre (such as the forthcoming Wishes trilogy with a volume apiece dedicated to horror, bizarro, and dark erotica).
What this does mean is that some readers may really like one story, but not care so much for the next. There's a wide variety here, and although some will appreciate that others may see it more as a mixed bag in terms of appeal.
Personally, I can see both sides of the argument. It was nice to read things I otherwise wouldn't have looked at, but in some cases I didn't really "get" the stories.
For me the standout works were the more traditional in tone, Becky Flade's Elementary Contract and my favourite in the collection, Soothsayer by Troy Blackford, but plenty of others were well worth a read such as Diogenes Ruiz's Fireside Popsicle and Milk and Cookies by M J Syndney.
Oh, and don't forget, I'm in there too!
Instead, this collection can in some ways be viewed as a sampler of things to come. A collection of bizarro, horror, and dark fiction, the likes of which will no doubt be found in future publications where there will be more of a focus on a particular genre (such as the forthcoming Wishes trilogy with a volume apiece dedicated to horror, bizarro, and dark erotica).
What this does mean is that some readers may really like one story, but not care so much for the next. There's a wide variety here, and although some will appreciate that others may see it more as a mixed bag in terms of appeal.
Personally, I can see both sides of the argument. It was nice to read things I otherwise wouldn't have looked at, but in some cases I didn't really "get" the stories.
For me the standout works were the more traditional in tone, Becky Flade's Elementary Contract and my favourite in the collection, Soothsayer by Troy Blackford, but plenty of others were well worth a read such as Diogenes Ruiz's Fireside Popsicle and Milk and Cookies by M J Syndney.
Oh, and don't forget, I'm in there too!
June 25, 2014
More and more anthologies are being published, but few have such a diverse and yet common theme of "twisted tales". Sheila Hall and M.C. O'Neill (Sheila being the person who brought us The Struggle Anthology) put together Fireside Popsicles, a collection of short stories by some of today's independent writers.
With stories about killer Santa Claus and a murderous twelve year old, the whole world going deaf and mute, and monotony of life being broken by a teal bra, I can guarantee that you will never read anything quite like this ever again. There are stories that push into the horror genre and others take even seem sociological, while you also have some science fiction.
Each story is original. While I can't guarantee that you will like all of them, you will definitely like some, as they really are an eclectic mix of talent.
I enjoyed reading them, and I think you will, too...as long as you like the strange and the bizarre. I wish I could say more, but you'll just have to read it for yourself. ;p
4/5--bizarre and entertaining
With stories about killer Santa Claus and a murderous twelve year old, the whole world going deaf and mute, and monotony of life being broken by a teal bra, I can guarantee that you will never read anything quite like this ever again. There are stories that push into the horror genre and others take even seem sociological, while you also have some science fiction.
Each story is original. While I can't guarantee that you will like all of them, you will definitely like some, as they really are an eclectic mix of talent.
I enjoyed reading them, and I think you will, too...as long as you like the strange and the bizarre. I wish I could say more, but you'll just have to read it for yourself. ;p
4/5--bizarre and entertaining
November 12, 2014
Somewhere there is an asylum where the patients have managed to run amok and stolen the keys. The contributing authors of Fireside Popsicles have dark, twisted souls on the best of days. With storylines involving trapdoor people, olfactory tumors, mermaids, stalking ghostly apparitions and a warning of a new Great Chicago Fire, there is clearly a group of social outcasts talented authors who take everyday observations and twist them into the bizarre and unrecognizable.
Fireside Popsicles is not for every taste. But, if you’re looking for something off the beaten track, with vivid, clever prose and truly inventive stories, check this one out.
Fireside Popsicles is not for every taste. But, if you’re looking for something off the beaten track, with vivid, clever prose and truly inventive stories, check this one out.
June 6, 2014
See my full review on Lurid-lit.com.
September 13, 2014
There are a lot of stories of many different flavours (literally). I loved them all, even the ones that were challenging to mentally consume.
Many of the tales actually featured a popsicle as a central part of the plot. Loved that!
Many of the tales actually featured a popsicle as a central part of the plot. Loved that!
June 26, 2019
Here's a motley collection of horror and bizarro tales. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I might . . . though the more traditional horror tales were compelling and well written. Popsicles did indeed show up in a few of the stories.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews