CriminOlly presents Trash Tales: An Anthology of Trashy Fiction

by Alex J. Gardner (Editor), Olly Clarke (Introduction)

Shortlisted for the Booker? Unlikely.
Pulitzer prize-winning? No.
A damn good read filled with thrills and chills? You bet!

Forget all those books you feel you ought to be reading and rediscover the pure joy of down-to-earth fiction with Trash An Anthology of Trashy Fiction .

These 29 short stories are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, send a shiver down your spine and put some lead in your pencil. Personally selected by YouTube's champion of trashy literature, CriminOlly, and Kilter & Rammel editor-in-chief, Alex J. Gardner, this collection has something for everyone (except book snobs).

29 authors from the US, the UK and Canada have plumbed the depths of their trashy imaginations to bring you a host of fabulously fun short stories across 5 different horror, science fiction, crime, western and bizarro fiction.

You'll find stories in this collection featuring werewolves, sexbots in space, creepy puppets, large Hadron Collider-related erotica, tales of bloody revenge, cosy mystery and the cosmic horror story about oral sex you didn't know you needed in your life. And much, much more!

CONTENT This collection contains violence, sexual situations, themes, general weirdness, and language some readers may find objectionable.

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I helped proofread this collection and I am entirely biased. So that's a giant spoonful of salt for you. That said, this collection is a lot of fun. It is a diverse collection of stories, with most falling into horror but there's a decent smattering of other genres represented too. Importantly, they are all a delight to read. Some look at important ideas and topics, or toy with heavy emotions, but that is always secondary to simple, unqualified fun. A lot of the stories are from fairly new authors and maybe they could be tightened up a bit here and there, sure, but the stories are all teeming with heart. Infected with it, you might even say. An afternoon with this collection is going to be a fun time, no matter what. The curation is also really smart, letting you read through the stories in order and feel a nice flow, moving across genres and tones in a way that keeps the whole collection feeling nimble. When you want to just relax with some fun stories that will bring a grin to your face you will certainly find you share of them here.

[Ren Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved the stories, rlly great!

[Bellows reads quietly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lovely little piece in the introduction by Criminolly. It thanks all the authors who just missed out on the cut to be included in this anthology. I’m one of those authors and only human so, the knives are out! Except, the star rating is there for all to see. What tapered my intended hatchet job?

Well, the first story for a start. (Momma’s good silver) That’s how you open up an anthology. It reminded me of how James Bond films used to start, an explosive set piece before the main event. Incredibly, the authors first published work.

What follows is an absolutely fantastic collection of stories, not one that I’d skip on a re-read.

At least four stories are just WTF! Such is the breadth of imagination.

One tale will have you reaching for a particular Slayer album and I strongly recommend listening to it whilst reading.

I strongly disagreed with one of the main characters decision making in, A Man of Experience and Wisdom. I need someone to read it and discuss. I guarantee we’ll be of the same conclusion.

A special mention for the crime writers. All were brilliantly conceived with such a limited word count. I was gripped by Mexican Mennonites and the interplay between Jack and Jessie. I was left with a proper ‘punch to the gut’ feeling when I read the last lines.

It’s so hard to pick a favourite. Tomahawk left a lasting impression, justifiably nasty. Another story I read listening to music. The authors own band Black Swan Event and the track Drowninwavingwavingdrowning, really enhanced the endless march for revenge in the high sun.

I think overall my favourite was, Carnivorous Smiles. Everything I want from a story is there. I read it with a big smile on my face which stayed with me for the rest of the day.

The anthology is so much more than just a bunch of great stories. The small author intros give vlogs and blogs to follow, music to listen to, more content from some of the authors and most importantly..The inspiration to keep writing my own stories. Plus, all profits go to charity!

Kudos to Olly and Alex for compiling the anthology and the running order. I usually ‘dip in’ to books like this. However, the flow of the stories works so well, I just read it front to back.

And, despite what some Booktubers will tell you. For lovers of great tales. This is a ‘must read’ ;0)

[Hokunani Sorci · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That’s the beauty of trash. It asks so little and gives so much.”

This collection is amazing! And I’m not just saying that because my story, Bloodemic, is included. There are 28 other amazing authors who have fantastically trashy tales to tell. They’re weird, they’re wild, they’re worth the read.

The majority of these stories were 4* or higher and I had a difficult time limiting my favorites to five, but here they are:

The Roma Project by Vincent Saint Claire
Not His Name by Arthur Ursini
The Covenant of the Furnace Keepers by R. Dell Walker
Carnivorous Smiles by Mariah L. Napier
Catch of the Day by Marek Z. Turner

However, the Most Trashy Story Award goes to Lickety’s Got the Touch by Doris V. Sutherland. Absolutely bonkers.

4.5 stars (rounded to 5)

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok for me. I think it succeeds in what it's intending to do...the stories definitely give the vibe of trashy fiction and I enjoyed it for that. But of the 29 stories in this collection there were only 4 that I gave 4 stars and none that I'd give 5 stars. The rest were 3 stars...enjoyed them well enough but they just aren't anything I see myself remembering over time...well...except the one about the street sign...I don't know how anyone forgets that one.

But my favorites from the collection were:

Bonding Time
The Roma Project
Why I Won't Eat Fried Chicken
Love and Other Addictions

This is a wild mix of stories...I had just hoped for a couple more stand outs.

[Sue :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some great short stories. Others not so much. I loved how each story had approximate times to read so I could read what I had time to read.

[Andy Rota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 ⭐️. More hits than misses. Overall a fun read.