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Rejected for Content #1
Rejected for Content: Splattergore
The most hard-core, profane, gory, explicit short stories available. each carries a message and some of those messages are unpleasant and terrifying. RFC is a collection of stories that other presses refused because of their shocking content, but each is a solid, well written piece that deserves a home. Demons, Evil people, sea monsters,the unknown: there is something here to offend the most hardened reader. Featuring: Essel Scott Pratt, Alex S Johnson, Mathias Jansson, Dr. Reverend Lance Carbuncle,Toneye Eyenot, Lisa Dabrowski, Mark Woods,
Jeremy Maddux, Amanda Lyons, Kerry G.S Lipp Matthew Arkham, Jason Hughes,
Christopher Ropes, Susan Simone, Michael Fisher, Jim Goforth, Todd Misura, Stuart Keane, Dona Fox, (Editor's Choice) Kevin J MacLeod
Warning: Explicit sex, Gore, Violence,Depravity. Over 21 please.
Jeremy Maddux, Amanda Lyons, Kerry G.S Lipp Matthew Arkham, Jason Hughes,
Christopher Ropes, Susan Simone, Michael Fisher, Jim Goforth, Todd Misura, Stuart Keane, Dona Fox, (Editor's Choice) Kevin J MacLeod
Warning: Explicit sex, Gore, Violence,Depravity. Over 21 please.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2014
24 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Catt Dahman
91 books52 followerscatt dahman is now under contract with Severed Press publishing house for the 9 Z is for Zombie books.
catt dahman has been writing for more than 30 years, has taught in public schools, private schools, home school, and college. Her B.S. and M.S. degrees are from Texas A & M. She is a native of North East Texas, has lived all over the US, (and tries to claim Jamaica as a second home) but is currently back in the Fort Worth, Texas area where she lives with her husband, David (a retired Marine), son Nic, cats, a ferret, and dog. She has also been a public speaker, artist, director for a charity, dabbled as a PI, and more. When not working, she enjoys SCUBA diving (PADI), reading, ruining movies for her family by pointing out mistakes, collecting Tarot card sets , playing Legos with her son, and growing herbs. She now writes full time, working on a zombie series of nine books, short stories, horror, splatter punk, thrillers, vampire books, and westerns.
catt dahman has been writing for more than 30 years, has taught in public schools, private schools, home school, and college. Her B.S. and M.S. degrees are from Texas A & M. She is a native of North East Texas, has lived all over the US, (and tries to claim Jamaica as a second home) but is currently back in the Fort Worth, Texas area where she lives with her husband, David (a retired Marine), son Nic, cats, a ferret, and dog. She has also been a public speaker, artist, director for a charity, dabbled as a PI, and more. When not working, she enjoys SCUBA diving (PADI), reading, ruining movies for her family by pointing out mistakes, collecting Tarot card sets , playing Legos with her son, and growing herbs. She now writes full time, working on a zombie series of nine books, short stories, horror, splatter punk, thrillers, vampire books, and westerns.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 10, 2014
I'm going to do something a little different with this anthology. Rather than one huge review at the end of it, I'm going to flash review story by story and drop a final rating at the end. As always, I will leave my story out of the review process, reviewing everyone else only.
The reason? Each and every person in this anthology has worked their backside off to be involved. I've had the pleasure of working with several of them, in close proximity, for the past several months. I'm proud to call them fellow authors, TOC sharers, JEA alumni and, most importantly, friends and literary family. To coup them together in one review, with their ruthless dedication and hard work, just isn't fair.
Part One can be read on my blog now. It includes stories and poems by Essel Pratt, Alex S. Johnson, Mathias Jansson, Jeremy Maddux, Lance Carbuncle, Toneye Eyenot, Lisa Dabrowski, Mark Woods, and Amanda Lyons.
Read Part One here: http://www.stuartkeane.com/rejected-f...
Part Two is below. I had to do this for space constraints - I only have 20,000 characters on Goodreads.
All Manner Of Sin - Toneye Eyenot
Another short poem, the second from Eyenot in this anthology. Whilst I preferred the first effort, this poem was a lot darker and the meaning more macabre. Basically, a man walks into a church and starts sinning in a variety of ways...
Fleeting and horrific, with a deep vein of humour, this poem definitely has a dark heart to it. There's no doubt the actions would send you to hell - the poem was originally submitted to a Hell anthology - and this poem is well written and creative. I could totally picture the character doing everything in front of the priests.
Verdict: A short, amusing and, in the right frame of mind, a deeply psychotic poem. I laughed, but the dark undertones bring us a unique and terrifying piece of work. Great stuff.
Grailith - Susan Simone
From a deeply, dark tale to one simplistic and horrifying, RFC goes from strength to strength. Many fears have been mentioned and poked at, and Grailith provides yet another. Many people, including myself, see our beds as sanctuary, forbidden ground. Basically, being attacked in them is a nightmare come true for many humans. I know, for a fact, if I woke up and noticed someone in the room, looking at me, that would be me shuffling off the mortal coil. It's such a petrifying premise...
An unnamed woman wakes up to find a black creature, Grailith, sitting on top of her. Confused and afraid; she gets into a short conversation with the demon, one she describes as 'black fire'. The conversation becomes obsessive and...well, I don't want to ruin the ending for you.
This is a short story, only four paragraphs or so, but it packs a solid punch. The fear of being attacked in your bed is paramount, but soon takes a back seat to the fear of being crushed. As Grailith explains his presence, the woman starts to realise some horrific truths. This is a short story, but it drips with menace and evil. Sometimes, horror doesn't need many words to get its point across, and Grailith is one of those. Just one piece of advice, make sure you read everything in the story, it has a hell of a punchline.
Verdict: Taut, tense, frightening, and somewhat poignant, this is a superb short story, an excellent example of flash fiction. Would be at home in any horror anthology with smarts.
Rendezvous - Stuart Keane
My story, so exempt from review here. Here's a brief outline for you though...
Paige is a woman scorned. Discovering her husband is cheating on her, she takes him out to Lake Whisper, in the middle of nowhere, to exact her revenge. When she gets there, she discovers that they aren't alone. Someone else is at Lake Whisper, and doesn't take lightly to their presence...
Out of Darkness Comes Life - Michael Fisher
A Rejected compilation wouldn't complete without a serial killer story and we get one right here. This is the first time I've read Michael Fisher and his command of the English language is superb, creating tension and scares from simple and routine situations, the sign of a great writer. Throw into the mix a resurrection story and a sly twist on the stalker motif, and you have a great fantasy/action story.
Thomas Butcher, aka The Ripper, is dead. Gunned down, his corpse is thrown in the morgue and left to rot. However, a higher being has different ideas. The Ripper is resurrected, his mask fused to his skin, and he grows in height and strength. On his exit from the morgue, he recruits a reluctantly willing 'fan' (Gutter) as he seeks to complete unfinished business.
This story is wonderful. As I was reading this, I could imagine it unravelling on a screen in front of me. Darkly humorous and satirical - the fans forming a protest outside the morgue is one of many sly nods - this takes the serial killer tale and twists it on its head. The Ripper is so evil and demonic and his visage is described in such a way it keeps you captivated. Gutter is a character in the story, but he's our avatar, we're drawn into the story and taken along for the ride in his place. It's a clever technique from the author, one that immerses you in the story, which elevates a simple, yet smart serial killer story from normal to unique.
Verdict: Wonderfully inventive and darkly funny, this is a casually unique take on the serial killer story, one with a subtle Clive Barker influence. The Ripper is an exceptional creature - a blend between Jack the Ripper and Freddy Krueger - and like many in RFC, could very well have his own series of novels. This is certainly one of the more fun stories in the anthology, swapping out mood and darkness for humour and sly social winks, which creates a clever and unique action/horror story. You could say it's 'killer'...
There Goes The Neighbourhood - Jim Goforth
Since Plebs, I've been eager to read something else from this author. TGTN is textbook Goforth; sweary, sexual, violent, perverse in several different ways, and darkly funny. Oh, and relevant, despite being a horror story. It also addresses certain protocols within schools in a way that, well, could stop bullying. I vote we use this story as an anti-bullying campaign right now.
Lucina is the new girl in school, a Goth with an unusual cheery demeanour. Bullied and reviled by the popular kids, but admired and lusted after by the horny boys in equal measure, she throws a party at her home to welcome everyone into her world. When they arrive at the creepy house she resides in, not everything is as it seems...
Think a cross between Scream (but actually scary) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with a dribbling of Rob Zombie and the moral code of Battle Royale, and you're half way there. TGTN is a phenomenal story, one that offers warning against bullying kids in school - 'Looking different or being different doesn't make anybody less a person than you' - and social outcasting based on appearance. Judging a book, or person, by their cover is never good, and this story tackles it in a unique, gory, and perverse way. After this, you might just smile at the Goth chick walking down the street or resist abusing someone for their weight.
Verdict: Violent, gory, grotesque - lube will never feel the same again -, and twisted, it's like Rob Zombie crawled into our brain and mind-raped us. Then laughed, spat on us, and tossed the results into this book. Or, in this case, Mr. Goforth produced another sublime, phenomenal horror tale. Plebs: The Teenage Years, possibly?
Drift - Todd Misura
At first, I didn't know what to think of this story. The chapter layout was a unique way of sectioning the events of the story, but it kind of threw me out of the loop for a bit. Once I delved into the story though, it was quite a ride. Of all the stories in RFC, this one was probably the most oppressive, but then again, the underlying message is too. Consumerism it seems, in any form, is going to be our downfall.
The narrator of the tale is a vigilante for hire, seeking out the scum of society. After a late-night job, he returns to his boat house and finds a black blob on the carpet, which injures him. After much deliberation, he feeds the black blob...but it's hunger never stops. It's not long until it's out of control and becomes a threat to humanity.
The Blob. Those two words were screaming at me for the duration of the story. About halfway through, your brain clicks into place. This is either a homage to said movie - possibly, horror authors respect their muse - or a clever riff on consumerism. I might be reading it wrong, but as the blob grows like a huge, insatiable mass of swirling oil, so does its greed. No spoilers here, but its actions are consumerism at work; everyone is affected and suffers. As it's greed grows, so does it's fulfilment level. Or, this is just a great, original horror story with an unstoppable foe. If so, Misura has created an evil entity that literally will destroy you to get by. This bleakness in the story is the reason for its rejection, but I think it works. Sometimes, a bad ending is suitable; happy endings aren't always possible and horror is about scaring people, making them fear for their sanity. The tale on show here nails that, creating a dark and brooding story with several realistic messages.
Verdict: Depressingly bleak to the right degree, this story will tax your brain as the prose flies along. The chapters break it up, however, the story is the right side of mysterious and macabre to satiate any horror fan. Consumerism, homage, or otherwise, this is one of the more original entries in the book. Misura has a unique writing style that brings alive the first person narrative and it's welcome to see this used to such an accomplished degree.
Teratoma - Lance Carbuncle
The second entry from Lance Carbuncle, and just as disturbing, if not more so. Another lean story that had a dark message at its core, but one that always works in horror lore. It also touches on the dark side of religion, or using it as an excuse. People hide behind it too often and in this story, it shatters that social norm, confirming that religion doesn't always get it right.
Simone is a disfigured baby. Doctors declare is an abomination, the church declare it a miracle. The parents are doting. However, when a baby tries to bite you, you know something ain't right...
In two short stories, Carbuncle has made me a fan. In this story, which is a mere four pages long, he pokes fun at corporate denial, FDA approvals, toxic contamination, and dodgy medical drugs. All possible reasons for Simone's deformities. Or, its a miracle and God made her that way. Whatever the reason, it's not looking good for whoever is to blame, Simone being a monstrosity who likes to snack on the family pets and bite anyone near her. Its a gruesome and dark story of devoted parenting - should they keep her alive and is it fair to the kid? A touchy topic, maybe too taboo for those who rejected it. However, the topic is relevant, creating a quagmire of 'should they, shouldn't they' which can cause a whole load of ethical dilemmas.
Verdict: Disturbing, witty, satirical, and simple; Carbuncle delivers another exceptional flash fiction piece, one that will give you nightmares. Thinking about kids? Read this at your own risk.
Dr. Sadistic - Lisa Dabrowski
The second story from Lisa Dabrowski, which is a more sordid and erotic tale, one of unspoken sadomasochism and lust. Reeling it in for a simple, two piece story, Lisa exposes her Mistress Rosie persona on this one, providing a story of fetishism gone horribly wrong.
Dr. Samuels meets a woman, one who likes to dominate. Taking him back to his house, she satisfies his most extreme fantasies. But just how extreme is he willing to go...
In short, this is every guy's nightmare. Finding a sexy woman, taking her home and having her fulfil your desires. I'll stop there due to spoilers. However, this short, taut tale delivers a solid, erotic piece of fiction that will have you reassessing the one night stand process. Fantasies are sometimes best left as that: Fantasies.
Verdict: Short, concise and kinky, this story has a little bit for the horror fans, erotica fans, and the flash fiction fans. Once again, as all the RFC stories seem to have, it has an underlying message: Stay at home with a coffee if this story scares you.
Vengeful Games of Forced Consumption - Jason Hughes
For me, this was the most disturbing story in the entire anthology. In theory, it's realistic horror, a tale of neglect and irresponsibility. This sort of thing is rife in the UK - probably not to the extent of this story though - and is a serious social issue. It touched a nerve for me, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. This, for me, is what pushed it into horror territory. It was awful, but relevant in a society which takes such responsibility for granted.
Two immature, junkie parents get pregnant. Refusing to acknowledge their twin children at risk of losing their livelihood and freedom, they shove the kids in the wardrobe in the second bedroom. What unravels is a twenty-one year ordeal of venomous abuse, starvation, parental neglect, isolation, and pure hatred. After twenty-one years, the deformed, mutilated kids are set free...
This is a stark, harrowing tale. Such is the construction of the words, it drags you into the parents murky, drug-laden, abusive relationship. As they bully the kids, it effortless flits from their POV to the kids, and with each you're in the wardrobe with the kids and on the outside with the parents, frequently considering which one is best. True, the kids are locked in the wardrobe without sustenance and love, but would they really benefit on the outside, with parents who see them as nothing more than an irritation? I'm not a parent, but I can imagine this story shocking any decent parent, who wouldn't dare put their kid in this situation. It makes for a horrific tale and, when the inevitable conclusion comes around, you can't help but smile a little. The journey is torturous though, not for the faint of heart, and definitely a test of any horror fan's mental stability
Verdict: This story is what Rejected is all about. True, each and every story thus far has earned it's place, but some stories push the boundaries to the utter limit. Kids are always a touchy topic and Hughes nails this story, creating a house of utter helplessness, one you wouldn't step in for a thousand dollars but, in true form, is probably only five feet from your doorstep. Parent's, beware. If you're reading, you might find it difficult. Dark, dreary, traumatic, and horrific, you might need a shower after reading this.
Better To Have Loved - Dona Fox
The final poem in the anthology, provided by Dona Fox. As an author and a reader, I enjoy apocalyptic novels. Seeing humanity collapse under extreme duress makes for entertaining fiction. In true form though, it's best saved for longer works. Imagine my surprise when Dona Fox not only encapsulates a virus outbreak, and it's devastation, into a poem, but does so in only one page. I was shocked. And it worked extremely well.
From blood contagion to international devastation within a matter of sentences, Dona captures the mysteriousness and 'classified' themes and utilises them to stark, foreboding effect. Do we know what's going on? No, and it's a perfect representation of an apocalyptic event. No one owns up and the world perishes. People suffer, the virus spreads, some survive - in this case, the narrator does -, and technology fails us. For such a short poem, Dona filters this into the words perfectly and delivers a huge punch to the ribs.
Verdict: An excellent poem that somehow captures the panic and chaos of a virus outbreak, yet delivers a subtle and clever survivors tale, all in the space it takes to put together a shopping list. Never before has an event the size of the globe been shrunk down into a single page. Excellent.
A Message of Flesh - Kevin J. Macleod
And finally, the Editors Choice award for Rejected for Content. And what a way to end the collection. Some stories have been subtle, some wide in scope, and some outright brutal. This one? A Hollywood blockbuster of a story, encompassing a variety of creatures, occult themes and outright erotica. It's Spartacus crossed with Prince of Persia and Caligula with a little Divine Comedy thrown in for good measure. It's one of the smartest, most offensive stories you'll read all year and, in it's own right and a little extension, could be an excellent novel.
Ahmed is sailing to Sodom to set free his Queen, Lilan. What takes place is pure film fanfare, a story of perverse perfection, religion baiting offensiveness and undeniable, unfathomable lust. This story is hard to explain...you have to read it yourself.
To tell you anything that happens in this story is to ruin one of the most unique, outright insane, twisting and turning, crazy stories I've ever peeled my eyes over. So much happens in this story, from mass orgies, sacrifices, dark magic, resurrections, devil worshipping...it has a bit of everything. The scope on this story is so grand, I'm surprised MacLeod condensed it into the story itself, which is still fairly long. The themes are dark and strict, but the story is played for fun, creating a wonderful fantasy story with graphic, religious undertones and imagery that will have your eyes out on stalks. Which is never a bad thing...
Verdict: Bonkers, absolute bonkers. But controlled, imaginative, absolute bonkers. This story is a fitting finale to a grand anthology of horror. Kevin MacLeod shows that with a little bit of wit, bravado and research, you can create amazing, grand, original horror that will put perverts to shame and priests to the ground begging. Not many authors can do that...bravo sir.
Overall Verdict: - Five stars, absolutely. Stories aside, being a part of this anthology was a grand experience. Never have I seen so many hard working, dedicated authors come together and create one hell of an extreme anthology. My story was phenomenal to write (and it took me to a dark place), and I'm proud to be included amongst such talent.
The stories? Wonderful, bizarre, terrifying, hilarious, twisted, violent, bonkers. And varied. Everything a horror book should be. If you buy one anthology this year, make it Rejected for Content. Besides, you need to read this...the sequel is only a few moons away. Formidable reading.
The reason? Each and every person in this anthology has worked their backside off to be involved. I've had the pleasure of working with several of them, in close proximity, for the past several months. I'm proud to call them fellow authors, TOC sharers, JEA alumni and, most importantly, friends and literary family. To coup them together in one review, with their ruthless dedication and hard work, just isn't fair.
Part One can be read on my blog now. It includes stories and poems by Essel Pratt, Alex S. Johnson, Mathias Jansson, Jeremy Maddux, Lance Carbuncle, Toneye Eyenot, Lisa Dabrowski, Mark Woods, and Amanda Lyons.
Read Part One here: http://www.stuartkeane.com/rejected-f...
Part Two is below. I had to do this for space constraints - I only have 20,000 characters on Goodreads.
All Manner Of Sin - Toneye Eyenot
Another short poem, the second from Eyenot in this anthology. Whilst I preferred the first effort, this poem was a lot darker and the meaning more macabre. Basically, a man walks into a church and starts sinning in a variety of ways...
Fleeting and horrific, with a deep vein of humour, this poem definitely has a dark heart to it. There's no doubt the actions would send you to hell - the poem was originally submitted to a Hell anthology - and this poem is well written and creative. I could totally picture the character doing everything in front of the priests.
Verdict: A short, amusing and, in the right frame of mind, a deeply psychotic poem. I laughed, but the dark undertones bring us a unique and terrifying piece of work. Great stuff.
Grailith - Susan Simone
From a deeply, dark tale to one simplistic and horrifying, RFC goes from strength to strength. Many fears have been mentioned and poked at, and Grailith provides yet another. Many people, including myself, see our beds as sanctuary, forbidden ground. Basically, being attacked in them is a nightmare come true for many humans. I know, for a fact, if I woke up and noticed someone in the room, looking at me, that would be me shuffling off the mortal coil. It's such a petrifying premise...
An unnamed woman wakes up to find a black creature, Grailith, sitting on top of her. Confused and afraid; she gets into a short conversation with the demon, one she describes as 'black fire'. The conversation becomes obsessive and...well, I don't want to ruin the ending for you.
This is a short story, only four paragraphs or so, but it packs a solid punch. The fear of being attacked in your bed is paramount, but soon takes a back seat to the fear of being crushed. As Grailith explains his presence, the woman starts to realise some horrific truths. This is a short story, but it drips with menace and evil. Sometimes, horror doesn't need many words to get its point across, and Grailith is one of those. Just one piece of advice, make sure you read everything in the story, it has a hell of a punchline.
Verdict: Taut, tense, frightening, and somewhat poignant, this is a superb short story, an excellent example of flash fiction. Would be at home in any horror anthology with smarts.
Rendezvous - Stuart Keane
My story, so exempt from review here. Here's a brief outline for you though...
Paige is a woman scorned. Discovering her husband is cheating on her, she takes him out to Lake Whisper, in the middle of nowhere, to exact her revenge. When she gets there, she discovers that they aren't alone. Someone else is at Lake Whisper, and doesn't take lightly to their presence...
Out of Darkness Comes Life - Michael Fisher
A Rejected compilation wouldn't complete without a serial killer story and we get one right here. This is the first time I've read Michael Fisher and his command of the English language is superb, creating tension and scares from simple and routine situations, the sign of a great writer. Throw into the mix a resurrection story and a sly twist on the stalker motif, and you have a great fantasy/action story.
Thomas Butcher, aka The Ripper, is dead. Gunned down, his corpse is thrown in the morgue and left to rot. However, a higher being has different ideas. The Ripper is resurrected, his mask fused to his skin, and he grows in height and strength. On his exit from the morgue, he recruits a reluctantly willing 'fan' (Gutter) as he seeks to complete unfinished business.
This story is wonderful. As I was reading this, I could imagine it unravelling on a screen in front of me. Darkly humorous and satirical - the fans forming a protest outside the morgue is one of many sly nods - this takes the serial killer tale and twists it on its head. The Ripper is so evil and demonic and his visage is described in such a way it keeps you captivated. Gutter is a character in the story, but he's our avatar, we're drawn into the story and taken along for the ride in his place. It's a clever technique from the author, one that immerses you in the story, which elevates a simple, yet smart serial killer story from normal to unique.
Verdict: Wonderfully inventive and darkly funny, this is a casually unique take on the serial killer story, one with a subtle Clive Barker influence. The Ripper is an exceptional creature - a blend between Jack the Ripper and Freddy Krueger - and like many in RFC, could very well have his own series of novels. This is certainly one of the more fun stories in the anthology, swapping out mood and darkness for humour and sly social winks, which creates a clever and unique action/horror story. You could say it's 'killer'...
There Goes The Neighbourhood - Jim Goforth
Since Plebs, I've been eager to read something else from this author. TGTN is textbook Goforth; sweary, sexual, violent, perverse in several different ways, and darkly funny. Oh, and relevant, despite being a horror story. It also addresses certain protocols within schools in a way that, well, could stop bullying. I vote we use this story as an anti-bullying campaign right now.
Lucina is the new girl in school, a Goth with an unusual cheery demeanour. Bullied and reviled by the popular kids, but admired and lusted after by the horny boys in equal measure, she throws a party at her home to welcome everyone into her world. When they arrive at the creepy house she resides in, not everything is as it seems...
Think a cross between Scream (but actually scary) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with a dribbling of Rob Zombie and the moral code of Battle Royale, and you're half way there. TGTN is a phenomenal story, one that offers warning against bullying kids in school - 'Looking different or being different doesn't make anybody less a person than you' - and social outcasting based on appearance. Judging a book, or person, by their cover is never good, and this story tackles it in a unique, gory, and perverse way. After this, you might just smile at the Goth chick walking down the street or resist abusing someone for their weight.
Verdict: Violent, gory, grotesque - lube will never feel the same again -, and twisted, it's like Rob Zombie crawled into our brain and mind-raped us. Then laughed, spat on us, and tossed the results into this book. Or, in this case, Mr. Goforth produced another sublime, phenomenal horror tale. Plebs: The Teenage Years, possibly?
Drift - Todd Misura
At first, I didn't know what to think of this story. The chapter layout was a unique way of sectioning the events of the story, but it kind of threw me out of the loop for a bit. Once I delved into the story though, it was quite a ride. Of all the stories in RFC, this one was probably the most oppressive, but then again, the underlying message is too. Consumerism it seems, in any form, is going to be our downfall.
The narrator of the tale is a vigilante for hire, seeking out the scum of society. After a late-night job, he returns to his boat house and finds a black blob on the carpet, which injures him. After much deliberation, he feeds the black blob...but it's hunger never stops. It's not long until it's out of control and becomes a threat to humanity.
The Blob. Those two words were screaming at me for the duration of the story. About halfway through, your brain clicks into place. This is either a homage to said movie - possibly, horror authors respect their muse - or a clever riff on consumerism. I might be reading it wrong, but as the blob grows like a huge, insatiable mass of swirling oil, so does its greed. No spoilers here, but its actions are consumerism at work; everyone is affected and suffers. As it's greed grows, so does it's fulfilment level. Or, this is just a great, original horror story with an unstoppable foe. If so, Misura has created an evil entity that literally will destroy you to get by. This bleakness in the story is the reason for its rejection, but I think it works. Sometimes, a bad ending is suitable; happy endings aren't always possible and horror is about scaring people, making them fear for their sanity. The tale on show here nails that, creating a dark and brooding story with several realistic messages.
Verdict: Depressingly bleak to the right degree, this story will tax your brain as the prose flies along. The chapters break it up, however, the story is the right side of mysterious and macabre to satiate any horror fan. Consumerism, homage, or otherwise, this is one of the more original entries in the book. Misura has a unique writing style that brings alive the first person narrative and it's welcome to see this used to such an accomplished degree.
Teratoma - Lance Carbuncle
The second entry from Lance Carbuncle, and just as disturbing, if not more so. Another lean story that had a dark message at its core, but one that always works in horror lore. It also touches on the dark side of religion, or using it as an excuse. People hide behind it too often and in this story, it shatters that social norm, confirming that religion doesn't always get it right.
Simone is a disfigured baby. Doctors declare is an abomination, the church declare it a miracle. The parents are doting. However, when a baby tries to bite you, you know something ain't right...
In two short stories, Carbuncle has made me a fan. In this story, which is a mere four pages long, he pokes fun at corporate denial, FDA approvals, toxic contamination, and dodgy medical drugs. All possible reasons for Simone's deformities. Or, its a miracle and God made her that way. Whatever the reason, it's not looking good for whoever is to blame, Simone being a monstrosity who likes to snack on the family pets and bite anyone near her. Its a gruesome and dark story of devoted parenting - should they keep her alive and is it fair to the kid? A touchy topic, maybe too taboo for those who rejected it. However, the topic is relevant, creating a quagmire of 'should they, shouldn't they' which can cause a whole load of ethical dilemmas.
Verdict: Disturbing, witty, satirical, and simple; Carbuncle delivers another exceptional flash fiction piece, one that will give you nightmares. Thinking about kids? Read this at your own risk.
Dr. Sadistic - Lisa Dabrowski
The second story from Lisa Dabrowski, which is a more sordid and erotic tale, one of unspoken sadomasochism and lust. Reeling it in for a simple, two piece story, Lisa exposes her Mistress Rosie persona on this one, providing a story of fetishism gone horribly wrong.
Dr. Samuels meets a woman, one who likes to dominate. Taking him back to his house, she satisfies his most extreme fantasies. But just how extreme is he willing to go...
In short, this is every guy's nightmare. Finding a sexy woman, taking her home and having her fulfil your desires. I'll stop there due to spoilers. However, this short, taut tale delivers a solid, erotic piece of fiction that will have you reassessing the one night stand process. Fantasies are sometimes best left as that: Fantasies.
Verdict: Short, concise and kinky, this story has a little bit for the horror fans, erotica fans, and the flash fiction fans. Once again, as all the RFC stories seem to have, it has an underlying message: Stay at home with a coffee if this story scares you.
Vengeful Games of Forced Consumption - Jason Hughes
For me, this was the most disturbing story in the entire anthology. In theory, it's realistic horror, a tale of neglect and irresponsibility. This sort of thing is rife in the UK - probably not to the extent of this story though - and is a serious social issue. It touched a nerve for me, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. This, for me, is what pushed it into horror territory. It was awful, but relevant in a society which takes such responsibility for granted.
Two immature, junkie parents get pregnant. Refusing to acknowledge their twin children at risk of losing their livelihood and freedom, they shove the kids in the wardrobe in the second bedroom. What unravels is a twenty-one year ordeal of venomous abuse, starvation, parental neglect, isolation, and pure hatred. After twenty-one years, the deformed, mutilated kids are set free...
This is a stark, harrowing tale. Such is the construction of the words, it drags you into the parents murky, drug-laden, abusive relationship. As they bully the kids, it effortless flits from their POV to the kids, and with each you're in the wardrobe with the kids and on the outside with the parents, frequently considering which one is best. True, the kids are locked in the wardrobe without sustenance and love, but would they really benefit on the outside, with parents who see them as nothing more than an irritation? I'm not a parent, but I can imagine this story shocking any decent parent, who wouldn't dare put their kid in this situation. It makes for a horrific tale and, when the inevitable conclusion comes around, you can't help but smile a little. The journey is torturous though, not for the faint of heart, and definitely a test of any horror fan's mental stability
Verdict: This story is what Rejected is all about. True, each and every story thus far has earned it's place, but some stories push the boundaries to the utter limit. Kids are always a touchy topic and Hughes nails this story, creating a house of utter helplessness, one you wouldn't step in for a thousand dollars but, in true form, is probably only five feet from your doorstep. Parent's, beware. If you're reading, you might find it difficult. Dark, dreary, traumatic, and horrific, you might need a shower after reading this.
Better To Have Loved - Dona Fox
The final poem in the anthology, provided by Dona Fox. As an author and a reader, I enjoy apocalyptic novels. Seeing humanity collapse under extreme duress makes for entertaining fiction. In true form though, it's best saved for longer works. Imagine my surprise when Dona Fox not only encapsulates a virus outbreak, and it's devastation, into a poem, but does so in only one page. I was shocked. And it worked extremely well.
From blood contagion to international devastation within a matter of sentences, Dona captures the mysteriousness and 'classified' themes and utilises them to stark, foreboding effect. Do we know what's going on? No, and it's a perfect representation of an apocalyptic event. No one owns up and the world perishes. People suffer, the virus spreads, some survive - in this case, the narrator does -, and technology fails us. For such a short poem, Dona filters this into the words perfectly and delivers a huge punch to the ribs.
Verdict: An excellent poem that somehow captures the panic and chaos of a virus outbreak, yet delivers a subtle and clever survivors tale, all in the space it takes to put together a shopping list. Never before has an event the size of the globe been shrunk down into a single page. Excellent.
A Message of Flesh - Kevin J. Macleod
And finally, the Editors Choice award for Rejected for Content. And what a way to end the collection. Some stories have been subtle, some wide in scope, and some outright brutal. This one? A Hollywood blockbuster of a story, encompassing a variety of creatures, occult themes and outright erotica. It's Spartacus crossed with Prince of Persia and Caligula with a little Divine Comedy thrown in for good measure. It's one of the smartest, most offensive stories you'll read all year and, in it's own right and a little extension, could be an excellent novel.
Ahmed is sailing to Sodom to set free his Queen, Lilan. What takes place is pure film fanfare, a story of perverse perfection, religion baiting offensiveness and undeniable, unfathomable lust. This story is hard to explain...you have to read it yourself.
To tell you anything that happens in this story is to ruin one of the most unique, outright insane, twisting and turning, crazy stories I've ever peeled my eyes over. So much happens in this story, from mass orgies, sacrifices, dark magic, resurrections, devil worshipping...it has a bit of everything. The scope on this story is so grand, I'm surprised MacLeod condensed it into the story itself, which is still fairly long. The themes are dark and strict, but the story is played for fun, creating a wonderful fantasy story with graphic, religious undertones and imagery that will have your eyes out on stalks. Which is never a bad thing...
Verdict: Bonkers, absolute bonkers. But controlled, imaginative, absolute bonkers. This story is a fitting finale to a grand anthology of horror. Kevin MacLeod shows that with a little bit of wit, bravado and research, you can create amazing, grand, original horror that will put perverts to shame and priests to the ground begging. Not many authors can do that...bravo sir.
Overall Verdict: - Five stars, absolutely. Stories aside, being a part of this anthology was a grand experience. Never have I seen so many hard working, dedicated authors come together and create one hell of an extreme anthology. My story was phenomenal to write (and it took me to a dark place), and I'm proud to be included amongst such talent.
The stories? Wonderful, bizarre, terrifying, hilarious, twisted, violent, bonkers. And varied. Everything a horror book should be. If you buy one anthology this year, make it Rejected for Content. Besides, you need to read this...the sequel is only a few moons away. Formidable reading.
December 22, 2014
This review may well get rejected for content but if you are even considering reading a book with a title such as this, you would have to expect, this is plainly and oh, not so simply...Fukked up! One can't help but wonder after reading the stories within, if the authors in this anthology are in need of intensive psychiatric treatment. Eye have read my fair share of Horror...Extreme Horror even but some of the material within these pages is sincerely of the utmost depravity. It is quite near impossible if eye were to choose which story disturbed me the most but VENGEFUL GAMES OF FORCED CONSUMPTION by Jason Hughes is definitely up there. Eye pride myself on having a demented mind which is released mainly through my writing but consider my own contributions in this anthology to be somewhat tame in comparison to what is on offer here. Eye applaud each and every author in this book for their masterfully conveyed tales of sickness, as well as the editor, for her guts to unleash this on the literary world. Eye know there's some sick folk out there who would lap these stories up with relish but eye challenge anyone to read this book from front to back without at least the slightest flinch. Beware. You have been warned!
Toneye Eyenot
Toneye Eyenot
September 26, 2014
review coming soon
January 27, 2015
These anthologies are hard to rate and review. I am more of a novel reader. That being said, I enjoyed several of the stories in here. Some were quite weird and over the top. All the stories were rejected by other publishers or what not, adding the rejection letters was a nice touch.
Some of my favorite stories were:
Pubienne Tueur De Cheveux by Essel Pratt
The Obelisk of Souls by Lisa Dadrowski
The Year of the Cat by Mark Woods
All That Remains by Amanda Lyons
Where Here Sorrow Runs To When It Must Hide by Christopher Ropes
Out Of Darkness Comes Life by Michael Fisher
Drift by Todd Misura
Dr. Sadistic by Lisa Dabrowski
And a few I really loved were:
The Perfect Woman by Kerry G.S. Lipp (Weird fetish!)
Lust Among the Reefs by Matthew Arkham (Sea creature, sex, don't even ask!)
Rendezvous by Stuart Keane (He never disappoints, awesome author.)(A cheater, the ultimate revenge, yea.)
There Goes the Neighborhood by Jim Goforth (Another brilliant author.) (Gotta love it when bullies get what's coming to them!)
4 out of 5 stars for some great stories and the added bonus of having the rejection letters.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
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Some of my favorite stories were:
Pubienne Tueur De Cheveux by Essel Pratt
The Obelisk of Souls by Lisa Dadrowski
The Year of the Cat by Mark Woods
All That Remains by Amanda Lyons
Where Here Sorrow Runs To When It Must Hide by Christopher Ropes
Out Of Darkness Comes Life by Michael Fisher
Drift by Todd Misura
Dr. Sadistic by Lisa Dabrowski
And a few I really loved were:
The Perfect Woman by Kerry G.S. Lipp (Weird fetish!)
Lust Among the Reefs by Matthew Arkham (Sea creature, sex, don't even ask!)
Rendezvous by Stuart Keane (He never disappoints, awesome author.)(A cheater, the ultimate revenge, yea.)
There Goes the Neighborhood by Jim Goforth (Another brilliant author.) (Gotta love it when bullies get what's coming to them!)
4 out of 5 stars for some great stories and the added bonus of having the rejection letters.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
http://lisasandberg88.wordpress.com/
http://thezeroshour.com/
https://m.facebook.com/lisa.sandberg8...
https://m.facebook.com/thezeroshour?r...
http://1988lisa1988.tumblr.com/
Twitter - @1988Lisa1988
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1NU...
August 30, 2015
This anthology ranges from very good to shockingly bad. I'm guessing that some of these stories were rejected for reasons other than being too "extreme." These had a lot of grammar and typo issues that made them painful, and in fact I gave up on some of them halfway through. I'm learning that anthologies aren't for me, as it only takes a few clunkers to make the whole book seem like a chore. Extreme horror junkies may want to check it out.
January 5, 2015
I don't normally post negative reviews, so Ill stick to the facts...
To be fair, there are some very well written stories in this book that I would have given a five star rating to, if only I could have rated them individually. Especially the one about the cats, and the one titled "All that remains". But a few good stories, even great ones, do not justify the rest of the stuff in this collection.
1) About half of the stories are just erotica with a horror twist, nothing truly original.
2) Several of the stories need more editing and formatting. Without looking at their names, I can tell these authors have potential, and some are probably already career professionals. But the rest need to spend more time refining their writing before trying to sell it. And whoever formatted the E-book needs to be more thorough. Errors throughout.
3) the stories that aren't focused on sex tended to be the most forced. I cant explain this one without getting into spoilers. Basically, just because the idea is unusual or original doesn't mean it will make a good story. Several of these stories obviously got included because of that item alone.
4) the poems seemed to be the best part of it, but I didn't pay money for just a few good poems.
5) at least two of the stories have inconsistent Point-of-view issues that were glaringly obvious, and made it difficult to keep reading.
6) some of these stories were impossible to visualize because the amount of text was too slim for the amount of activity being mentioned - particularly "The obelisk of souls". These should have been fleshed out into novellas. As short stories, they left far too much empty space in my minds eye.
To be fair, there are some very well written stories in this book that I would have given a five star rating to, if only I could have rated them individually. Especially the one about the cats, and the one titled "All that remains". But a few good stories, even great ones, do not justify the rest of the stuff in this collection.
1) About half of the stories are just erotica with a horror twist, nothing truly original.
2) Several of the stories need more editing and formatting. Without looking at their names, I can tell these authors have potential, and some are probably already career professionals. But the rest need to spend more time refining their writing before trying to sell it. And whoever formatted the E-book needs to be more thorough. Errors throughout.
3) the stories that aren't focused on sex tended to be the most forced. I cant explain this one without getting into spoilers. Basically, just because the idea is unusual or original doesn't mean it will make a good story. Several of these stories obviously got included because of that item alone.
4) the poems seemed to be the best part of it, but I didn't pay money for just a few good poems.
5) at least two of the stories have inconsistent Point-of-view issues that were glaringly obvious, and made it difficult to keep reading.
6) some of these stories were impossible to visualize because the amount of text was too slim for the amount of activity being mentioned - particularly "The obelisk of souls". These should have been fleshed out into novellas. As short stories, they left far too much empty space in my minds eye.
December 13, 2015
Rejected Why???
If u like your stories edgy, graphic, and most definitely memorable, then you'll want to give this book a shot! Chock full of gore, blood, sex, cannibalism, abuse, and all types of subject matter that your psychiatrist told u to stop reading! Plenty of talented authors throughout, this is a book you'll be reading in one sitting. Once started, I found it a very difficult thing to set aside.
If u like your stories edgy, graphic, and most definitely memorable, then you'll want to give this book a shot! Chock full of gore, blood, sex, cannibalism, abuse, and all types of subject matter that your psychiatrist told u to stop reading! Plenty of talented authors throughout, this is a book you'll be reading in one sitting. Once started, I found it a very difficult thing to set aside.
September 21, 2016
My only complaint is that the editor seemed to get lazier and lazier as the book progresses; the editing is VERY sloppy and half-assed. It's quite noticeable and I'm talking huge mistakes: words left out, words and phrases repeated, wrong word usage, etc. it's annoying and you have to reread some parts. Overall though, these latter stories (content-wise), are definitely worth the read.
January 19, 2016
Worth the money. Very entertaining bordering on wrong.
January 11, 2016
It isn't often that I stop reading a book before it's actually finished, but I felt I had to with this. I expected so much more, none of these stories were scary in my opinion. I'd say that if you like the idea of horror but can't read anything honesty chilling without being unable to sleep for a week this is good for you, otherwise I wouldn't suggest it.
October 30, 2016
Few stories are great and creative but majority of the stories should remain rejected.
September 9, 2024
A lot of these stories weren't even extreme. There is some bizzaro.
And smut.
Yes, one of the stories is literally porn, so there's that. And there wasn't even "horror"; it was just about tentacle rape, but she likes it, or something. Why that was even in this collection, I have no clue. But please, if you can't keep them all extreme, please at least have them be horror, for Christ's sake.
Also, not all these stories were rejected for their "content". And not all their rejection letters are shown, so ...
And smut.
Yes, one of the stories is literally porn, so there's that. And there wasn't even "horror"; it was just about tentacle rape, but she likes it, or something. Why that was even in this collection, I have no clue. But please, if you can't keep them all extreme, please at least have them be horror, for Christ's sake.
Also, not all these stories were rejected for their "content". And not all their rejection letters are shown, so ...
January 16, 2018
Love this! Love the idea, love the end product, love the little bit of f*ck you factor in printing the rejection letters right along with the stories lol! Love having access to several stories deemed too disturbing for the general public. This is genius! Have I mentioned I love it? This series is the new standard by which all splattergore anthologies should be measured.
January 24, 2026
Just didn't deliver what was expected and promised. In the anthologies that I did read I couldn't get why they were labeled as hardcore, profane, gory, explicit short stories. I didn't read the 2 poems (just not into poetry) and the only thing that was entertaining were the fake rejection letters!
September 24, 2020
Can't help but feel that most of these stories weren't rejected because of gory, vulgar content but simply because they're terrible.
Went in expecting some clever, depraved, gross reads akin to American Psycho and Palahniuk's Guts. What I got was mostly authors' weird sexual fantasies about necrophilia, rape and tentacle porn with no literary intellect. All boring, eye-roll worthy and without any real meaning, despite what the editor's foreword promises.
One or two almost good stories in there (The Year of the Cat, All That Remains) and the poems are a lot of fun, but you have to sift through a lot of rubbish to get to the stories worth reading.
Don't waste your time.
Went in expecting some clever, depraved, gross reads akin to American Psycho and Palahniuk's Guts. What I got was mostly authors' weird sexual fantasies about necrophilia, rape and tentacle porn with no literary intellect. All boring, eye-roll worthy and without any real meaning, despite what the editor's foreword promises.
One or two almost good stories in there (The Year of the Cat, All That Remains) and the poems are a lot of fun, but you have to sift through a lot of rubbish to get to the stories worth reading.
Don't waste your time.
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