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TerrorTome
Garth Marenghi's Throttle and Bribes
The Sunday Times-Bestselling horror master Garth Marenghi returns with a short tale of semi-simian supernatural horror...
Horror novelist Nick Steen (whose imagination has escaped from a portal to another dimension situated within his own brain following ill-advised dabblings with a cursed typewriter) is haunted by two murdering men-monkeys intent on peeling their victims apart like massive human bananas (whose names are Throttle and Bribes, hence the title). Can Nick protect two young siblings (whose names he can't remember) plus erstwhile editor Roz Bloom from the aforementioned murdering men-monkeys before it's too late? The answer lies within the pages of this short story I have called 'Throttle and Bribes' (after the names I chose for the aforementioned two murdering men-monkeys).
About the Author
Garth Marenghi was born in the past, graduated from his local comprehensive (now bulldozed) with some O levels in subjects. He taught for nine years at his local library reading group before becoming a full-time horror writer. He has published numerous novels of terror (too numerous to list, nay count), over five hundred short stories, and has edited thirty anthologies of his own work, which have all received the Grand Master of Darkdom Award. He wrote, directed and starred in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace for the Peruvian market, which subsequently aired on Channel 4 and has not been repeated due to its radical and polemic content. His 2022 novel Garth Marenghi's TerrorTome became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller, followed in 2023 by Garth Marenghi's Incarcerat. He is an honorary fellow.
Horror novelist Nick Steen (whose imagination has escaped from a portal to another dimension situated within his own brain following ill-advised dabblings with a cursed typewriter) is haunted by two murdering men-monkeys intent on peeling their victims apart like massive human bananas (whose names are Throttle and Bribes, hence the title). Can Nick protect two young siblings (whose names he can't remember) plus erstwhile editor Roz Bloom from the aforementioned murdering men-monkeys before it's too late? The answer lies within the pages of this short story I have called 'Throttle and Bribes' (after the names I chose for the aforementioned two murdering men-monkeys).
About the Author
Garth Marenghi was born in the past, graduated from his local comprehensive (now bulldozed) with some O levels in subjects. He taught for nine years at his local library reading group before becoming a full-time horror writer. He has published numerous novels of terror (too numerous to list, nay count), over five hundred short stories, and has edited thirty anthologies of his own work, which have all received the Grand Master of Darkdom Award. He wrote, directed and starred in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace for the Peruvian market, which subsequently aired on Channel 4 and has not been repeated due to its radical and polemic content. His 2022 novel Garth Marenghi's TerrorTome became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller, followed in 2023 by Garth Marenghi's Incarcerat. He is an honorary fellow.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2025
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 23, 2025
I want to keep my thoughts on this book to just one sentence. Unfortunately, it seems to have already reached two sentences. And now apparently there's a third. And now we've somehow reached a fourth. And a fifth. And a sixth. And don't get me started on there being a seventh. And an eighth. And a ninth. Allow me to rephrase: I want to summarize my thoughts on this book in just ten sentences. Unfortunately, now I've reached an eleventh...
April 5, 2025
One of, if not the best horror story involving two monkeys written by one man, Garth Marenghi, who doesn't really exist, except as a fictional author of real tales of terror, like this book, which is real, unlike the monkeys which aren't (being the manifestation of Marenghi's horrific imagination).
June 19, 2025
"Warning - this story contains scenes of women and children being peeled apart like human bananas. It also dramatises the theft of children's breakfasts at gunpoint. If this offends you, tough.
Heh heh heh.
- Garth Marenghi
Heh heh heh.
- Garth Marenghi
August 26, 2025
A fun little romp back into the shoes of Nick Steen, horror writer extraordinaire, as written by Garth Marenghi, horror writer extraordinaire. This short tale is an entertaining romp with two psychotic man-monkeys who want to peel innocent Mums, Dads, and naughty children apart like bananas whilst also fleecing them of their life savings, but more importantly is it's a personal journey for Nick. It's a very short tale, and is probably building up excitement for the third book later this year, and so I could recommend it if you want something quick and easy. Isn't the best story in the series, but it's definitely still a good time.
July 5, 2025
So the book starts like this:
“I'm lucky. I have money. A lot of money. Most folk don't.
In fact, I take that back. I'm not remotely lucky. I've earned what I've got through hard graft and woe betide anyone or anything that tries to take it from me. I have access to a famer's shotgun and I will aim it at another human torso.
But for many, the acquisition of wonga is a mystical art. All too oft, what the workshy manage to grasp fleetingly in their hands after blowing the bulk of it on vapes and ‘acrylic nails'.”
So if you’re not sure where you stand with GM, he lets you know straight away. Arrogant, opinionated, and has a certain way with words.
A 55 page short novella is less intense than the larger tomes and definitely works as a quick fun read that has all the horror comedy classic writing mixed with a real down to earth, British viewpoint. Just like his other books, the action can be interrupted with pedantic comments, footnotes and specific complaints about UK society.
“Nick Steen, horror author and current battler of his own internal demons, ignored his former editor Roz Bloom and concentrated instead on the road ahead, trying not to hit any dallying schoolchildren as his '93 silver Ford Sierra Sapphire swerved fast past the main school gates at 60 mph in what was officially a 20 mph zone…
'Thanks for the reminder, Roz’ said Nick, slamming the car from full throttle into even fuller throttle, before cranking it up to much more throttle than before.
Roz looked up, staring through the passenger window at disparate groups of fleeing schoolchildren.
'I've a suspicion you're breaking the law, Nick.'”
Recommended?: just as funny as his previous two books and probably one of my favourite of his stories as it was more on the “normal” side, allowing more room for classic GM humour and less page time on weird, graphic scenes!
However, the warning that opens the book tells you everything you need to know going into it…
“Warning - this story contains scenes of women and children being peeled apart like human bananas. It also drama-tises the theft of children's breakfasts at gunpoint. If this offends you, tough.”
Enjoy!
“I'm lucky. I have money. A lot of money. Most folk don't.
In fact, I take that back. I'm not remotely lucky. I've earned what I've got through hard graft and woe betide anyone or anything that tries to take it from me. I have access to a famer's shotgun and I will aim it at another human torso.
But for many, the acquisition of wonga is a mystical art. All too oft, what the workshy manage to grasp fleetingly in their hands after blowing the bulk of it on vapes and ‘acrylic nails'.”
So if you’re not sure where you stand with GM, he lets you know straight away. Arrogant, opinionated, and has a certain way with words.
A 55 page short novella is less intense than the larger tomes and definitely works as a quick fun read that has all the horror comedy classic writing mixed with a real down to earth, British viewpoint. Just like his other books, the action can be interrupted with pedantic comments, footnotes and specific complaints about UK society.
“Nick Steen, horror author and current battler of his own internal demons, ignored his former editor Roz Bloom and concentrated instead on the road ahead, trying not to hit any dallying schoolchildren as his '93 silver Ford Sierra Sapphire swerved fast past the main school gates at 60 mph in what was officially a 20 mph zone…
'Thanks for the reminder, Roz’ said Nick, slamming the car from full throttle into even fuller throttle, before cranking it up to much more throttle than before.
Roz looked up, staring through the passenger window at disparate groups of fleeing schoolchildren.
'I've a suspicion you're breaking the law, Nick.'”
Recommended?: just as funny as his previous two books and probably one of my favourite of his stories as it was more on the “normal” side, allowing more room for classic GM humour and less page time on weird, graphic scenes!
However, the warning that opens the book tells you everything you need to know going into it…
“Warning - this story contains scenes of women and children being peeled apart like human bananas. It also drama-tises the theft of children's breakfasts at gunpoint. If this offends you, tough.”
Enjoy!
May 29, 2025
My intense craving for Garth Marenghi and the 'Stalkford Saga' has been temporarily placated with this short, yet equally as enjoyable mini novel (audio book).
Confusion of where exactly this story lies in the timeline of his adventures does leave me a little less able to enjoy it than the others, however I do picture this being between the end of 'Terrortome' and the start of 'Incarcerat'. Treat it as a side quest if you will, a book 1.5, even.
But regardless of that, I feel this is a nice little taster to quench the thirsts of those who have been with Garth from the moment his first novel dropped. 'Throttle and Bribes' is everything a Marenghian story should be. Ridiculous, unhinged, a little too wordy at times but more importantly, dark.
I await the release of 'This bursted Earth' with unequivocal intrigue and excitement. The 30th of October is going to be a day well-celebrated in the Marenghi fandom.
Listen to this, even if it's for free with Amazon Audible.
Confusion of where exactly this story lies in the timeline of his adventures does leave me a little less able to enjoy it than the others, however I do picture this being between the end of 'Terrortome' and the start of 'Incarcerat'. Treat it as a side quest if you will, a book 1.5, even.
But regardless of that, I feel this is a nice little taster to quench the thirsts of those who have been with Garth from the moment his first novel dropped. 'Throttle and Bribes' is everything a Marenghian story should be. Ridiculous, unhinged, a little too wordy at times but more importantly, dark.
I await the release of 'This bursted Earth' with unequivocal intrigue and excitement. The 30th of October is going to be a day well-celebrated in the Marenghi fandom.
Listen to this, even if it's for free with Amazon Audible.
April 12, 2025
There are those who say of books that feature monsters devouring or dismembering or tying knots in humans, that the real truth at the heart of such stories is that humans are the real monsters. Well, here is the book to prove those dipsticks wrong. The real monster in Garth Marenghi's Throttle And Bribes, a short story about two evil monkeys who peel people like bannanas, is Garth Marenghi. I think we can all agree that this is Deep.
September 11, 2025
A tale so horrifying that I had to turn the lights on and it was already daytime.
Marenghi now sits on the high throne of feardom. King, Barker, Herbert et al lie quivering on the wood stained floor.
And why is Marenghi the only author brave enough for his monsters to be driven by the need for cash? This has always struck me as odd. If you're a monster, or a ghost, then go and make some bloody money out of it at least for heaven's sake.
This is now my favourite book of ALL time.
Marenghi now sits on the high throne of feardom. King, Barker, Herbert et al lie quivering on the wood stained floor.
And why is Marenghi the only author brave enough for his monsters to be driven by the need for cash? This has always struck me as odd. If you're a monster, or a ghost, then go and make some bloody money out of it at least for heaven's sake.
This is now my favourite book of ALL time.
May 30, 2025
Any book that starts with the line “Warning: This story contains scenes of women and children being peeled apart like human bananas” is bound to be good
A brilliant short story in the same world as Marenghi’s other tales, featuring the same level of prose you’d expect if you’ve read his other books (You should) and the same brand of comedy you’d expect.
You bloody monkeys!
A brilliant short story in the same world as Marenghi’s other tales, featuring the same level of prose you’d expect if you’ve read his other books (You should) and the same brand of comedy you’d expect.
You bloody monkeys!
December 13, 2025
I think Garth Marenghi works best in the short form. I tend to lose interest when the plot becomes overly complicated. I will admit I laughed out loud in a few moments. The is also another example of the audiobook version being superior because you get the added bonus of Matt’s performance.
May 14, 2025
Garth Marenghi IS BACK! Before the 3rd terror tome drops later this year enjoy this ray of dark
May 31, 2025
Interesting story. I found myself laughing out loud a few times. I know it's a horror story, but still...
August 29, 2025
Exactly as fun as expected.
September 12, 2025
Freaking hilarious. I can't wait until October when the new one comes out!
December 7, 2025
Nice spinoff, fun short moment spilled forth from Nick Steen, and Garth Marenghis mind
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews