By

by Rich Bottles Jr.

TRIGGER ALERT: Be forewarned that the graphic sex and violence described in this book of bizarre short stories may provoke psychological or emotional triggers for some unstable or weak-minded readers, including, but not limited to, the following extreme content: Rape, Torture, Murder, Mayhem, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Necrophilia, Poisoning, Prostitution, Pornography, Nazis, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing, Terrorism, Incarceration, Bondage & Discipline, Sadomasochism, Corporal Punishment, Foot Fetishism, Masturbation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Eating Disorders, Domestic Violence, Mental Illness, Suicide, Drowning, Religious Intolerance, The Occult, Adult Language, Homosexuality, Sodomy, Unwanted Pregnancy, Amputees, Adultery, Shoplifting, Bukkake, Penis Envy, Cigarette Smoking, and Heavy Metal Music.

Genres: Bizarro Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

After an unillustrious print journalism career in southwestern Pennsylvania, Rich Bottles Jr. moved to West Virginia at the age of 32 to pursue a career in technical writing. He spends his free time visiting and hiking at the many state parks in the Mountain State, which is also where he develops the concepts for his novels.
Rich recently completed a trilogy of WV-themed "humorrorotica," which includes the novels “Lumberjacked,” “Hellhole West Virginia” and “The Manacled.”
In addition to editing and contributing to the Burning Bulb Publishing anthologies “Westward Hoes” and “The Big Book of Bizarro,” he has also written stories for the StrangeHouse Books anthologies “Strange Sex,” "A Very StrangeHouse Christmas," "Strange Versus Lovecraft," "Strange Fucking Stories" and “Zombie! Zombie! Brain Bang!”
He is currently working on a horror novel set in West Virginia’s Amish Country.
His only regret in life is that his out-of-state secondary school education prohibited him from earning West Virginia's prestigious Golden Horseshoe Award.

Reviews

[Matthew Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

By, from Rich Bottles Jr., was my first introduction to his writing. Here he has collected stories that were either previously published in books with a limited run, or were slated for books that never came out. It’s a diverse mix of stories, which is what you want in a collection of someone's work, in my opinion.

All of these stories are really good and definitely worth checking out, but the two I enjoyed the most were There's no place like the Sanitarium, where we get a twisted version of Judy Garland and the making of The Wizard of Oz and A Town Called Rupture, which ends the collection. Set in the old west and involving two of the ugliest cowboys, this was my favorite story. Also within the pages are pervy Nazi’s, an armless cam girl, lots of sex, debauchery, and some torture.

This book comes with a massive page full of warnings. Basically if anything offends you, this book may not be for you. But Rich Bottles Jr. can write some fantastic stories. They're perverted and shocking mind you, but they're really well done and entertaining.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are familiar with Rich Bottles' work then you probably won't be shocked by anything in this book. However two points if you are not: (1) Shame on you, he is a really good writer and if you like bizarro then you should have read at least one of his works by now. (2) There is a lot of really perverse sex in this book including multiple scenes in Hitler's Berlin bunker so you have been warned. If you are easily or even not so easily offended this is not the book for you. The trigger alert on the back cover was hilarious and should give you an idea of what the book has in store for you.

I am really glad that Rich put together this compilation as it would have been a shame for any of these stories to not have been (widely) published. It kicks off with "Bitter Night", a nice Nazisploitation piece that feels like a speculation on how effed up Hitler and his cronies might actually have been. I thought the opening quote before the story was quite apropos.

The author states in the foreward that "There's No Place Like the Sanitarium" wouldn't have fit anywhere else but the aborted bizarro Wizard of Oz collection that never saw print but I disagree. I really enjoyed the story and feel that it could be included in any compilation. It really gave me a new perception of Judy Garland even if it is fictional.

"Exciter" was tailor made for me since I grew up with 80s metal and really appreciated all the inside jokes and references. 

I had already read "Hamster and Gretel" when it was published in another book and really enjoyed it. It is a creepy one but just as enjoyable here as in the Hamsters! collection where I initially encountered it.

"Unarmed and Dangerous" was a wild ride, I thought it had a really neat storyline and the two main characters were quite interesting. This one really shows the author's creativity as the main character Thomasina is unlike any other character I've run into when reading bizarro material. I was enjoying the story then it took a twist that I totally did not see coming which was great.

"A Town Called Rupture" closes out the book with a bang. The storyline and setting were great, Michael and Patrick were awesome main characters. Once I again I was so engrossed with the story that I didn't see a plot twist coming at all. I haven't read much bizarro (if any) set in the old west so the setting was a very nice change of pace. This is another one where the opening quote (this time from Annie Oakley) was quite fitting.

[Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to the trigger alert on the back, this is a twisted collection. However do not discount it as one of those that shock merely for the sake of it. These seven tales give a thorough representation of the author's work and talent. My favorites are below:
The opener, Bitter Night, is a nice twist on Hitler's final days as the Reich fell, with plenty of abuse and deviant sex to keep it interesting.
Exciter was gritty, surprisingly dirty, and the heavy metal references really struck a chord with me. There were some hints of some kind of black magic, if that is even the right term, that added to the mystique of the piece as well.
Unarmed and Dangerous has some good twists and turns and kept the intensity throughout. You certainly feel for the protagonist and all that she has been through.
This collection is my favorite book thus far from Rich and is worth your attention if you can stomach what it has to offer.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are already familiar with Rich Bottle's style then you are not easily offended. "By" may challenge that notion for even the most seasoned reader of Bottle's work.
This book was (not so) famously removed from Amazon for content. While the retail giant was far off base in its reasoning for pulling the book, it still contains myriad off color topics. This is not for faint of heart or easily upset set.
But if you can handle the material you'll be treated to a brilliant Nazisploitation piece. The flogging, spanking and debauchery just keep pulling up from there. Rich Bottle's had a knack for marrying depraved sex acts with brilliant plot lines that would stand well on their own but are made twisted and darker with a stroke of fetish.
This is not for everyone. But if you don't offend easily and you like brains with your beatings, then don't hesitate to test your week by reading Rich Bottles Jr.'s "BY"

[Melanie Catchpole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories again! but longer than the normal short stories, if that makes sense. I think i prefer something longer like these as when you are reading something and it is good you want it to go on. I enjoyed this book. It has Hitler sex, make of that what you will haha.

[Josh Martens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly s***... this book is amazing! Not for the easily offended but highly recommend if you aren't. I can see why Rich Bottles Jr. was June's author of the month. Can't wait for his next book.

[Shadow Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC