What do you think?
Rate this book
Fuck Around and Find Out
Dare to find out?
It always starts small—a broken rule, a selfish impulse, a single step over the line. Harmless, maybe. Justified, even. But boundaries don’t disappear when ignored. They bide their time. And when they strike, they strike deep.
These sixteen stories claw at the mind and tear at the flesh. Rebellion turns rancid, decisions rot into dread, and those who defy fate find themselves stalked by something far worse than guilt. The cost isn’t counted in moments—it’s measured in ruin.
FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT is a collection of consequences—bloody, brutal, and bone-deep. Some lessons scar the soul. Others leave bodies behind.
Featuring stories Nick Roberts, Clay McLeod Chapman, John Durgin, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, Leigh Kenny, R.E. Sargent, Megan Stockton, M.L. Rayner, Ben Young, RJ Roles, LM Kaplin, and Lance Dale.
Edited by R.E. Sargent and Steven Pajak.
Proudly represented by Sinister Smile Press, a division of Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
It always starts small—a broken rule, a selfish impulse, a single step over the line. Harmless, maybe. Justified, even. But boundaries don’t disappear when ignored. They bide their time. And when they strike, they strike deep.
These sixteen stories claw at the mind and tear at the flesh. Rebellion turns rancid, decisions rot into dread, and those who defy fate find themselves stalked by something far worse than guilt. The cost isn’t counted in moments—it’s measured in ruin.
FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT is a collection of consequences—bloody, brutal, and bone-deep. Some lessons scar the soul. Others leave bodies behind.
Featuring stories Nick Roberts, Clay McLeod Chapman, John Durgin, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, Leigh Kenny, R.E. Sargent, Megan Stockton, M.L. Rayner, Ben Young, RJ Roles, LM Kaplin, and Lance Dale.
Edited by R.E. Sargent and Steven Pajak.
Proudly represented by Sinister Smile Press, a division of Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2025
9 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
R.E. Sargent
43 books61 followersR.E. Sargent, the author of Relative Terror, One-Star Review and the Fury series, lives in Oregon with his wife, Sandi and their two fur children, Mason, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and Riley, a Chocolate Lab.
Born in California, R.E. spent most of his life living and working in Arizona, where he met his wife. Between them, they raised four sons. Talk about a lot of testosterone in the house!
An avid reader, R.E. fell in love with books when he was a child and the bug never went away. It was his love for the written word--and his admiration for authors such as Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Gregory Mcdonald, Paul Gallico, Donald Westlake and Roald Dahl--that persuaded him to write novels himself. Currently, he is working on the latest novel in the Fury - Scorned series.
When not working or writing, R.E. and his wife enjoy making trips to the coast and taking in the ocean air. Life doesn't get much better than watching the waves crash on the shore as the sun sets below the horizon. Well, maybe one of those drinks with the little umbrellas would make it better. You know what I mean, right?
Born in California, R.E. spent most of his life living and working in Arizona, where he met his wife. Between them, they raised four sons. Talk about a lot of testosterone in the house!
An avid reader, R.E. fell in love with books when he was a child and the bug never went away. It was his love for the written word--and his admiration for authors such as Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Gregory Mcdonald, Paul Gallico, Donald Westlake and Roald Dahl--that persuaded him to write novels himself. Currently, he is working on the latest novel in the Fury - Scorned series.
When not working or writing, R.E. and his wife enjoy making trips to the coast and taking in the ocean air. Life doesn't get much better than watching the waves crash on the shore as the sun sets below the horizon. Well, maybe one of those drinks with the little umbrellas would make it better. You know what I mean, right?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 22, 2025
A fantastic collection with some of my favorite indie authors. John Durgin wrote a banger of a story and I was not expecting so much blood and guts. My favorite story was Digging by Gage Greenwood. Gage, if you’re reading this, fuck you. With peace and love. ❤️
July 30, 2025
Overall, this is a hell of a collection: moody, gory, emotional, and satisfying. I can't wait to dive into more of what these authors have written! As for the stories, here are my thoughts upon completing each:
Red Star: Wow, didn't see that coming!
Hanging Turbines: Mother Nature's vengeance on excellent display.
Bludlust: One word: INTENSE.
Puddles: I love cutesy critters. It's always so satisfying when the darkness comes out.
Pretty Little Lies: I did not expect that ending. Jealousy is a bitch.
The Overthrown: Gruesome.
The She-Shed: Oh, holy crap, that was wild and unexpected.
Digging: Never trust rich old ladies.
Swallowbox: Well, now I'm even more afraid of birds.
Loch Lament: Oh, shit. Slow start but gripping end.
The Red Thirst: I knew where it was going almost immediately, but I love the gore and twist.
Generative Demon 2.0: Interesting play on the evil sentient AI.
A New Leaf: 3.0? At least a 4.0!
Stolen Valor: This is not how I saw this sex doll story going at all.
Sweatin' to the Oldies: Wholly unexpected!
The Masterpiece: Yikes. It's important to take your meds, folks.
Red Star: Wow, didn't see that coming!
Hanging Turbines: Mother Nature's vengeance on excellent display.
Bludlust: One word: INTENSE.
Puddles: I love cutesy critters. It's always so satisfying when the darkness comes out.
Pretty Little Lies: I did not expect that ending. Jealousy is a bitch.
The Overthrown: Gruesome.
The She-Shed: Oh, holy crap, that was wild and unexpected.
Digging: Never trust rich old ladies.
Swallowbox: Well, now I'm even more afraid of birds.
Loch Lament: Oh, shit. Slow start but gripping end.
The Red Thirst: I knew where it was going almost immediately, but I love the gore and twist.
Generative Demon 2.0: Interesting play on the evil sentient AI.
A New Leaf: 3.0? At least a 4.0!
Stolen Valor: This is not how I saw this sex doll story going at all.
Sweatin' to the Oldies: Wholly unexpected!
The Masterpiece: Yikes. It's important to take your meds, folks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2025
If there’s one adjective to describe FAFO, a new collection of horror stories published by Sinister Smile Press, it’s unapologetic. Spanning thirteen gruesome tales from openers like Red Star by Nick Roberts all the way through to the chilling conclusion in The Masterpiece by John Durgin, FAFO is relentless, pummeling horror delivered fresh to the doorstep of modern audiences.
Each story in the collection hits hard. The common thread running throughout all of them, however, is that they become so much greater than the sum of their parts. In FAFO, horror is loud and proud; the anthology is both a love letter to the past and a shot fired into the future, an acknowledgment that dark fiction is still going strong, bleeding and battered but brimming with talent and champing at the bit to create something new.
To try to whittle down my favorite stories from the collection is nigh impossible. All the stories are well written, well-edited, and fiendishly brutal in their own ways, making the task of picking some over others an exercise in torture. I will say that my top three stories of the book were Hanging Turbines by Ben Young, Bludlust by Leigh Kenny, and Generative Demon 2.0, but picking a place to start was brutal.
Swallowbox by Clay McLeod Chapman is claustrophobic, visceral, and emotionally catastrophic. Chapman screws the lid down on the story as tightly as the lid is screwed down on the box, and he doesn't stop until we're drawn into a nightmare fueled by grief, guilt, and dread. Swallowbox is a triumph of body horror with edge-of-your-seat pacing, vivid imagery, and an emotional resonance that packs a more powerful punch than I anticipated. Highly recommended, this is one of those stories that sticks with you long after you turn the page, like the dream from hell that you almost don't want to wake up from because it's true, even if you know it's true.
Hanging Turbines does a phenomenal job of subverting some of my expectations of what modern horror can do, particularly for the eco-horror genre. I loved how Young could weave together elements of my absolute favorite genres of horror—psychological collapse and body horror—in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s weird. It’s deeply unsettling. And it’s one hell of a modern take on eco-horror done right.
Bludlust by Leigh Kenny was up next on my list, a headlong rush through the muck and mire of the European Dark Ages. There’s something so achingly visceral about stories that take place in that particular slice of history, and Kenny is nothing if not a master of description. The story itself is lean and mean, a winding descent into medieval depravity that bleeds atmospheric prose and visceral unease throughout.
Last but by no means least was Generative Demon 2.0, which was a much-needed jolt of fresh air when it came to exploring horror’s holy grail of fears and existential questions in the modern age: artificial intelligence. The piece is absurd, clever, and wickedly aware of the genre tropes while still managing to turn the horror up to 11 and transcend any pretense to another level. It was a thoroughly unsettling, scary ride, and I could not recommend it more.
FAFO is an unflinching, brutal anthology of the dark and the depraved, and I can’t recommend it enough to lovers of modern horror. The Sinister Smile Press team has given readers a bloody, rawhide collection that both respects the traditions of its predecessors while coming on like a charging bull. You want horror? FAFO.
Each story in the collection hits hard. The common thread running throughout all of them, however, is that they become so much greater than the sum of their parts. In FAFO, horror is loud and proud; the anthology is both a love letter to the past and a shot fired into the future, an acknowledgment that dark fiction is still going strong, bleeding and battered but brimming with talent and champing at the bit to create something new.
To try to whittle down my favorite stories from the collection is nigh impossible. All the stories are well written, well-edited, and fiendishly brutal in their own ways, making the task of picking some over others an exercise in torture. I will say that my top three stories of the book were Hanging Turbines by Ben Young, Bludlust by Leigh Kenny, and Generative Demon 2.0, but picking a place to start was brutal.
Swallowbox by Clay McLeod Chapman is claustrophobic, visceral, and emotionally catastrophic. Chapman screws the lid down on the story as tightly as the lid is screwed down on the box, and he doesn't stop until we're drawn into a nightmare fueled by grief, guilt, and dread. Swallowbox is a triumph of body horror with edge-of-your-seat pacing, vivid imagery, and an emotional resonance that packs a more powerful punch than I anticipated. Highly recommended, this is one of those stories that sticks with you long after you turn the page, like the dream from hell that you almost don't want to wake up from because it's true, even if you know it's true.
Hanging Turbines does a phenomenal job of subverting some of my expectations of what modern horror can do, particularly for the eco-horror genre. I loved how Young could weave together elements of my absolute favorite genres of horror—psychological collapse and body horror—in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s weird. It’s deeply unsettling. And it’s one hell of a modern take on eco-horror done right.
Bludlust by Leigh Kenny was up next on my list, a headlong rush through the muck and mire of the European Dark Ages. There’s something so achingly visceral about stories that take place in that particular slice of history, and Kenny is nothing if not a master of description. The story itself is lean and mean, a winding descent into medieval depravity that bleeds atmospheric prose and visceral unease throughout.
Last but by no means least was Generative Demon 2.0, which was a much-needed jolt of fresh air when it came to exploring horror’s holy grail of fears and existential questions in the modern age: artificial intelligence. The piece is absurd, clever, and wickedly aware of the genre tropes while still managing to turn the horror up to 11 and transcend any pretense to another level. It was a thoroughly unsettling, scary ride, and I could not recommend it more.
FAFO is an unflinching, brutal anthology of the dark and the depraved, and I can’t recommend it enough to lovers of modern horror. The Sinister Smile Press team has given readers a bloody, rawhide collection that both respects the traditions of its predecessors while coming on like a charging bull. You want horror? FAFO.
August 2, 2025
So many good things to say about this Sinister Smile Press anthology! The roster? MJ Mars, Megan Stockton, Leigh Kenny, Nick Roberts, John Durgin, Gage Greenwood, Jay Bower, Ben Young, Clay McLeod Chapman, and seven more super-talented authors... Just take my money! The theme? FAFO! Revenge stories, historical horror, supernatural messes, psychological twists, eco-horror, well-deserved punishments, and some insane lessons to be learned! But the real excitement lies in the tales themselves: each one literally a gem, taking inspiration from the theme and coming up with original concepts and shocking endings! Did I mention the writing? Consistently of high quality from start (Nick Roberts opens the volume) to finish (John Durgin closes it)!
Straight to my favorites: Gage Greenwood's "Digging" - you haven't read a story like this: perfectly balanced between a dad's suffocating need to take care of his young son and the utterly creepy task he's taken on to attain his goal, the story soon becomes a suspenseful and unpredictable tale of desperation and mania, with an ambiguous ending bound to raise a few hackles - as any brilliant piece of work should do; Clay MacLeod Chapman's "Swallowbox," an ambitious morsel of bizarre storytelling, captures (pun intended!) that liminal experience of places 'with no exit,' and giving it a spin straight out of a nightmare; M.L. Rayner's "Loch Lament," a supernatural story of a father and son trip to a small, isolated island, with the most heart-breaking ending in the volume; Megan Stockton's "Puddles" - don't mess with cats, people! - and MJ Mars' "The Overthrown" - don't mess with cults, either!
These were my favorites because they were the most brutal, the most depressing (lol), and I'll take schadenfreunde and brutality any day rather than sheer boredom and didactism. But you won't find a single story of the latter kind on this volume: horror with a broader point, sure (Ben Young's "Hanging Turbines" and Leigh Kenny's "Bludlust" come to mind - they're both about greediness), even horror comedy of sorts (Devin Cabrera's "The She-Shed" certainly shows why you don't mess with your elder neighbors), or horror combined with more current concerns (two stories about the use and development of AI are included, "Generative Demon 2.0" by Jay Bower and "The Masterpiece" by John Durgin, though neither can be simply reduced to that theme). Some stories pack so much emotion, others are brimming with action - honestly, the excitement is high with this one.
In sum, highly recommend! But don't take my word for it - find out for yourselves!
Straight to my favorites: Gage Greenwood's "Digging" - you haven't read a story like this: perfectly balanced between a dad's suffocating need to take care of his young son and the utterly creepy task he's taken on to attain his goal, the story soon becomes a suspenseful and unpredictable tale of desperation and mania, with an ambiguous ending bound to raise a few hackles - as any brilliant piece of work should do; Clay MacLeod Chapman's "Swallowbox," an ambitious morsel of bizarre storytelling, captures (pun intended!) that liminal experience of places 'with no exit,' and giving it a spin straight out of a nightmare; M.L. Rayner's "Loch Lament," a supernatural story of a father and son trip to a small, isolated island, with the most heart-breaking ending in the volume; Megan Stockton's "Puddles" - don't mess with cats, people! - and MJ Mars' "The Overthrown" - don't mess with cults, either!
These were my favorites because they were the most brutal, the most depressing (lol), and I'll take schadenfreunde and brutality any day rather than sheer boredom and didactism. But you won't find a single story of the latter kind on this volume: horror with a broader point, sure (Ben Young's "Hanging Turbines" and Leigh Kenny's "Bludlust" come to mind - they're both about greediness), even horror comedy of sorts (Devin Cabrera's "The She-Shed" certainly shows why you don't mess with your elder neighbors), or horror combined with more current concerns (two stories about the use and development of AI are included, "Generative Demon 2.0" by Jay Bower and "The Masterpiece" by John Durgin, though neither can be simply reduced to that theme). Some stories pack so much emotion, others are brimming with action - honestly, the excitement is high with this one.
In sum, highly recommend! But don't take my word for it - find out for yourselves!
August 1, 2025
Crystal Lake Publishing’s Fuck Around and Find Out is an unflinching reminder that every wicked impulse carries a receipt, and payment is always due. Across 379 blood slick pages of doom, co-editors R.E. Sargent and Steven Pajak curate a line up of rising and award winning voices (Nick Roberts, Clay McLeod Chapman, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood and more) who revel in the exquisite moment when bad choices hard-pivot into cosmic payback.
Fuck Around and Find Out is that rare theme anthology that nails its concept without handcuffing its authors. It’s messy, merciless, and wickedly cathartic, a cautionary campfire chorus chanting that actions have consequences.
Fuck Around and Find Out is that rare theme anthology that nails its concept without handcuffing its authors. It’s messy, merciless, and wickedly cathartic, a cautionary campfire chorus chanting that actions have consequences.
December 4, 2025
After seeing all the big names in this anthology I knew it was going to be good and I absolutely wasn't disappointed. It's bloody, gory, satisfying, and very cathartic.
16 stories about people pushing to the limit and dealing with the consequences. With stories by Nick Roberts, Clay McLeod Chapman, John Durgin, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, Devin Cabrera, Leigh Kenny, R.E. Sargent, Megan Stockton, M.L. Rayner, Ben Young, RJ Roles, LM Kaplin, and Lance Dale, there's bound to be something for everyone.
16 stories about people pushing to the limit and dealing with the consequences. With stories by Nick Roberts, Clay McLeod Chapman, John Durgin, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, Devin Cabrera, Leigh Kenny, R.E. Sargent, Megan Stockton, M.L. Rayner, Ben Young, RJ Roles, LM Kaplin, and Lance Dale, there's bound to be something for everyone.
July 31, 2025
I’ve read a decent number of horror anthologies, and I can definitely say that FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT pulls no punches. Sixteen tales of people who metaphorically dared to push the envelope, stick their hand into the dark hole, peek behind the forbidden curtain, ignore the “do not enter” signs.
The “heroes” may not all be so “heroic”, but there is no denying the grip these stories will have on you as the reader, and each tale leaves its mark.
Be warned, these stories are not for the squeamish…but in all the good ways for lovers of horror with a bite.
One tale that still clings to my brain is “Swallowbox”, by Clay McLeod Chapman – that birdhouse lives “rent free” in my memory now, but indeed, all the authors deserve a bow:
Nick Roberts, Ben Young, Leigh Kenny, Megan Stockton, R.E. Sargent, MJ Mars, Devin Cabrera, Gage Greenwood, Clay McLeod Chapman, M.L. Rayner, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, LM Kaplin, RJ Roles, Lance Dale, and John Durgin.
The “heroes” may not all be so “heroic”, but there is no denying the grip these stories will have on you as the reader, and each tale leaves its mark.
Be warned, these stories are not for the squeamish…but in all the good ways for lovers of horror with a bite.
One tale that still clings to my brain is “Swallowbox”, by Clay McLeod Chapman – that birdhouse lives “rent free” in my memory now, but indeed, all the authors deserve a bow:
Nick Roberts, Ben Young, Leigh Kenny, Megan Stockton, R.E. Sargent, MJ Mars, Devin Cabrera, Gage Greenwood, Clay McLeod Chapman, M.L. Rayner, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, LM Kaplin, RJ Roles, Lance Dale, and John Durgin.
July 31, 2025
FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT is just that, 16 stories from the best in horror about what happens when you don't listen and mind ya business. From ancient creatures, cults, vengeful female vampires (the real ones, not the sparkly kind), a boss level Karen, a meth fueled kitten and many, many more this anthology has something for everyone. It felt like being a kid again watching Tales from the Crypt and anticipating the next story. Authors included are Nick Roberts (personal favorite), Clay McLeod Chapman, John Durgin, MJ Mars, Gage Greenwood, Steven Pajak, Jay Bower, Leigh Kenny, R.E. Sargent, Megan Stockton, M.L. Rayner, Ben Young, RJ Roles, LM Kaplin, and Lance Dale. And was edited by R.E. Sargent and Steven Pajak.
August 30, 2025
Excellent collection of stories!! If you liked this, also be sure to check out Sinister Smile Press’s anthology My Evil Fucking Neighbor.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews