Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror

by Alex Grass

"Neither his face nor his lips moved when he laughed. It was more a plague of laughter than the sound of it; a pervasion of the hearer's mind by hypnotic disease."

A boy discovers his father's oracular grotesque in a secret dungeon below their family funeral home.

An antique spiked collar transforms Philadelphia into a city that worships a dead dog.

A video game dominates the market for years and then disappears, except for one man's memories of its horrors.

A mother with a trunkful of hungry, inhuman babies tracks down the family that abandoned them.

The warden of a penal colony offers to pardon a murderer, but only if the inmate can find the antidote to the poison wine the warden gave him.

A wealthy young woman receives a surgical implant that delivers more than just a shapely body.

Step into a world of fleshly titillation and fresh terror, a dimension of blood and consequence. But buyer beware! Crack the spine and these dark tales are not so easily forgotten. And you may find yourself changing into a beast of insatiable hunger, a tormented sinner, a lunatic on the fringe.

Heed this warning, that what once is read cannot be unread. Turn back now, if you can, or else become one of the...

Infernal Tramps!

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 15, 2026

About the author

Alex Grass was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three kids.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This short story collection is freaky and gory. Fast-paced and well-written, I enjoyed these stories.

The Tezcat Apparatus- keeping critters out of your garden. A limb for life.

Infernal Tramps- are they aliens demons or hallucinations? I will let you decide.

Rats- YUCK! A dead rat comes back to life. Rats are coming out of people’s mouth, yeah no thanks! Rats are my kryptonite.

Pujkamaunka Splash- a game that no one remembers.

A Woman of Distinction- She sounds like friend material. “How being rude can get you killed”.

Odd Egg- don’t take eggs from strangers.

A Vixenly Hexer- Bloodballs! The stranger and Hexer a deadly team.

Meeting Ivor Voelman- a wizard of dread.

The EPtm Implant - not all plastic surgery is good.

The Golden Mile- don’t touch old circus trunks.

A New World Basement- make sure you pay your medical bills.

Ever Shall They Feed- sometimes playing pranks leads to unwanted visions.

The Equisto Zanosi Fast- don’t cheat!

If Promises Were Meant To Keep- how fast would you run with poison in your blood?

Boxed Breakfast-look out for Boxhead.

Finding Erland- Is Inga good or Evil?

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Clara Quill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite 17 intriguing premises and a clear respect for literary prose, this horror collection ultimately frustrates more than it frightens.

The author’s passion for prose is evident, but it’s unfortunately overshadowed by overly wordy and syntactically complex sentences. Many of the stories also feel like strong concepts that never fully develop into fully realized narratives. They promise intriguing setups that end abruptly or fizzle out more than expected for a short story.

The collection lacks any meaningful cohesion or overarching theme, making the stories feel like a loose assortment rather than a curated experience. Furthermore, frequent untranslated passages (in various languages) were distracting and occasionally frustrating, especially when they seemed intended to enhance the narrative's flavor or mystery.

While fans of ambitious, concept-driven horror might find enough here to enjoy, the collection would have benefited from more rigorous editing and development. There’s clear potential, but it remains largely unrealized. Still, it’s worth a look for the premises alone.

[Lady Georgette (ieatpagesforbreakfast) · Rating 5 out of 5]

• BOOK REVIEW •

NEW ARC READ!!
Releasing Date : 15th July 2026

Date : 22nd May 2026
Book : Infernal Tramps : Tales Of Weird Terror
Author : Alex Grass
Genre : Horror / Weird Fiction

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This book was interesting! Super stoked that the author reached out and offered me a chance to read his work. I’ve already been eyeing this book for a while now on Goodreads and all over Bookstagram so it was just my lucky day!

This book is just not your normal horror book but it’s a collection of short stories that’s pretty awesome…and grotesque, might I add. Especially if you love bodily horror!🤩

I’m definitely not gonna spoil it but I’m gonna give a couple of reviews of my fav ones that I’ve read.

✨ Ever Shall They Feed : A son who tries to pull a prank on his dad to get back at him but lets just say it backfires when he kinda stumbles onto a huge and terrifying secret life his dad has been keeping.

✨ The EP Implant : (2 words - BLACK MIRROR!!!) I kid you not, this was prolly my fav one!! This one is about a wealthy woman who is completely obsessed with getting plastic surgeries and decides to get a high tech implant that she can control with an app. As you can guess, the tech glitches out and SHTF!

✨Pujkamaunka Splash : This guy has a fixation on a weird game back when he was younger but NOBODY remembers it but him. Now if you’re curious…. that just means you gotta read this!😝

This book made me feel like a kid reading short horror stories again while laying in bed before it was time to hit the sack. I loved it! I do feel some of the stories (especially in the beginning) were different due to the writing but I’m glad I caught on and found a few that I deeply enjoyed!

And the author was so kind to send a physical copy that’s on the way to the US! Thank you🥹❤️✨

[natalielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Think how much longer your life would be if you’d been forewarned that gentlemanliness can safeguard your physical safety. The name of the book? I think going to call it How Being Rude Can Get You Killed. I’d let you read it, but you won’t be around.”

If you know me, you know I love me a good anthology book. I looooove short horror stories. So when I got the opportunity to read this arc, I jumped at the chance and I’m glad I did! This book has 17 unsettling, disturbing and just weird stories where not one story is the same. Each one has its own personality and you feel different emotions with each one. The cover is also a perfect representation of the inside with just that fever dream, creepy element.

Thank you to the author for the arc!

[Dez Reads With Totoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps by Alex Grass
Publication Date: July 15, 2026
4.5

There's something incredibly nostalgic about a good collection of horror short stories. They remind me of my grandpa, who loved telling us creepy, unsettling, and wonderfully odd stories when I was growing up. Infernal Tramps gave me that same feeling, and because of that, I enjoyed this collection even more.
Each story felt like stepping into a strange world somewhere between Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone. Some left me unsettled, others had me questioning reality, and all of them carried an eerie atmosphere.

A few of my favorite stories were:
Eguisto Zanios Fast
In A New World, It's Basement
A Woman of Distinction
Infernal Tramps
The Odd Egg

Truthfully, I enjoyed the entire collection, those were simply the ones that stood out the most..

I also have to mention the artwork throughout the book. It's unique, haunting, and perfectly complements the unsettling tone of the stories, making the entire reading experience even more immersive.
If you enjoy horror anthologies, weird fiction, or stories that leave you feeling uncomfortable, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy. I absolutely love it.

[Michelle]

ARC/Goodreads Giveaway Review:

I liked this anthology a lot. I'm a big fan of weird horror, and I liked a lot of the short stories. There was a lot of good twists that I wasn't expecting.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC/Goodreads Giveaway Review:

Think “Twilight Zone meets Hostel”. The short stories immediately captivate the reader. The language is eloquent and thoughtful. I highlighted many quotes while reading. Loved the surprise PA references: Wawa, Hoagies, and the Schuylkill river. For horror fans, a must read! Excited to read more from this author!!!

[Joy Kie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short bite sized terror filled stories for those fans of Clive Barker and Lovecraft. Get to know some strange creatures and feel the fear. If you are comfortable feeling uncomfortable come on this journey.

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror
By Alex Grass
Publisher: Dickinson Publishing Group
Published Date: July 15, 2026
ASIN: B0GSN4BX4Y
Page Count: 207

Triggers: Gore, body horror, medical horror, rats, death, violence, disturbing imagery, poison, surgical horror, unsettling creatures, dark humor, weird fiction chaos

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀


What Did I Just Walk Into?

I opened this book expecting weird horror and immediately realized I had not emotionally prepared for the level of “what in the haunted carnival basement is happening here” that was waiting for me.

Infernal Tramps is a collection of strange, nasty, unsettling short stories that do not politely knock on the door. They kick it in, leave something wet on the floor, and then ask if you are comfortable. No. I was not. Thank you for asking.

This is the kind of horror collection that feels like it was grown in a petri dish labeled “bad ideas with excellent execution.” There are cursed situations, disturbing bodies, grotesque surprises, bizarre creatures, and enough “absolutely not” moments to make me question why I enjoy this genre. Then I remembered I do, in fact, enjoy being personally attacked by fiction, so here we are.

Here’s What Slapped:

The variety in this collection is what makes it work so well. Each story brings its own flavor of nightmare, and none of them feel like they are politely trying to be normal. We get strange objects, creepy transformations, horrifying consequences, medical nightmares, unsettling family secrets, bizarre punishments, and rats. Unfortunately, yes, rats. My soul filed a complaint.

The stories are quick to read, but they do not feel empty. Mr. Grass has a strong imagination and clearly enjoys taking a simple idea and asking, “How can I make this worse?” Then he answers himself repeatedly and with enthusiasm. Respectfully, sir, who hurt you, and also please continue.

I also loved that the collection does not stay in one lane. Some stories are disgusting in the best horror way. Some are more eerie and strange. Some feel darkly funny, like the universe is laughing right before it pushes someone down the stairs. That mix kept me turning pages because I never knew what kind of nonsense was coming next.

The writing has a literary edge without losing the horror. It can be sharp, strange, and a little fancy in places, but it still knows how to land the creepy parts. This is not plain mashed-potato horror. This is the weird dish at the table that you side-eye, taste anyway, and then keep eating while wondering if it is legal.

What Could’ve Been Better:

As with most anthologies, some stories grabbed me harder than others. A few felt like they could have expanded a little more, because the concepts were so interesting that I wanted to dig around in them longer. That may just be me being greedy, but I said what I said.

There were also a few moments where the prose got a little dressed up for the occasion. Readers who like clean, direct horror may have to adjust to the style. Personally, I did not mind it, but now and then I did feel like the book handed me a dictionary and whispered, “Keep up.”

Still, these were small things compared to how much fun I had with the collection. And by fun, I mean the horror-reader version of fun, where everything is awful and we are somehow delighted.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:

Weird horror, body horror, grotesque short stories, dark and twisted anthologies, strange creatures, cursed objects, medical horror, unsettling endings, cosmic horror, literary horror, Clive Barker vibes, old-school creepy story collections, and books that make you pause and say, “I need an adult,” even though you are the adult.

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories lean into the “weird” of the subtitle in a genuine way. Weird horror is its own subgenre and most of these stories embrace that sensibility, not that they’re nonsensical or surreal but they have a tone of being detached, just so slightly skewed away from normality, and not interesting in explaining what unseen forces mediate their alignment. That said, not all the stories hit the mark for me. Each of the seventeen stories had an interesting central premise but in the weird, kind of obtuse approach some of the stories just felt underserved. Many of the stories felt a bit overwritten, with exhaustive vocabulary words that did not add to the story or the experience, nor were they genuinely reflective of the narrator in the story. I like lush and dense writing and am a fan of combining a multisyllabic vocabulary with horror, but by and large it just leant an artificial taste to these stories, further detaching them from an emotional reading experience. Similarly, a number of stories had sections in foreign languages that went untranslated (and not always the same foreign language), and while I can appreciate that as a narrative and storytelling technique this collection did not feel nearly robust enough for it to be leaned on so frequently that I took note of it.

That said, there are some gems in this collection, and it was fun to read. The stories vary in length, from ~1,000-word, practically flash pieces to ~7,500-word stories with multiple character POVs. To be honest I most enjoyed the stories on either end of that spectrum, The shortest stories get in there and get the job done quick and efficiently, leaving you grinning and enjoying the ride, not missing the sense of character depth or interiority because the characters and world fit the needs of the story perfectly. The longer stories actually give the author some time to give a little more context and not just wander in the observational hinterlands that the medium length stories felt a little mired in. It is part and parcel with the subgenre but most of these stories are written in this style that doesn’t want you to experience deep connection but instead wants you to observe, maybe gawk, maybe scratch your head. None of the stories drag or feel overly long. The collection doesn’t have a singular theme, but the style and tone of the stories is similar enough that even with the diversity of ideas and topics they do feel like they’re circling the same well. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you don’t read collections front to back as if they were a novel but instead take your time and read them between other things, but it is something that was noticeable by the end (ironically the final story being the most dissimilar in turns of style and tone, and one of my favorites in the collection).

(Rounded from 2.5)

[Anthony Burdge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps tales of Weird Terror is our first introduction to the work of Alex Grass. As fans of all things Weird Fiction, we found this small volume an instant page turner. “The Apparatus” opens the door into Grass’ bizarre landscape as a strange door-to-door salesman details a new device to a customer. The door never closes as we are drawn further and further into Grass' panorama of twisted tales, each lush with unexpected prose, redolent with elements of Clive Barker, Margaret Atwood, and a smattering of Ray Bradbury.

Grass does not offer usual tropes of haunted houses, but settings we may know and take for granted. Like Barker and Atwood, Grass takes obscene, often grotesque characters, and settings to new heights of comprehension through illustrative language. The result being a hold on the reader to take it all in as a bloody eye-opening tapestry.

The title story “Infernal Tramps,” takes place at a railyard of which terrifying beings emerge from the caboose of a train. This reviewer once had life changing experiences during 6 months of riding the rails in the 90's of which this story triggered flashbacks. The experiences were not as horrific as described in this tale, yet I was absorbed in the story each step of the way. Such is the case of Grass' monstrous tales, each are attractive and terrifyingly alluring.

Who has gone to the mall and waited on line for the release of a video game? Never shall that experience be the same again. Nor will plastic surgery for those who seek major body modification. Little did I know that Lovecraft's “The Rats in the Walls,” was only the beginning with Grass' own tale “Rats,” which you will not be able to turn away from. Even shorter tales, “Woman of Distinction” leave distorted echoes that sit with the reader after closing the volume.

In reading Infernal Tramps there are reverberations of others, such as linguistic eloquence of Wilum Pugmire, or the horrors of Barker & Lovecraft, or an Atwood style; but this work is wholly its own. Tramps not only lives up to the heights of Weird Terror, but it can also shudder your mind to its maddening end.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness, when he said "Weird terror" he meant it!

This collection is such a crazy ride-I found myself just devouring each story so quickly and was left sitting and pondering about what the hell I had just read (in the best way).

I hate to draw comparisons because they're very different in so many ways, but it was like when I was younger me reading Stephen King's short story collections. Just in the way that I couldn't even fathom the mind that could come up with some of these crazy ideas and make me sit and contemplate the story I'd just consumed.

Alex Grass's narrative voice for each story is so unique, they don't all read similar at all, allowing each story to have a distinctive personality and perspective. My only drawback is that on occasion, the story would be so off the wall and the language so weird and flowery that it was a bit over my head. This is in no way a criticism, I believe it's intentional to flesh out the characters, for example, in one story about a homeless man and a train-his language gave me an idea of the man behind the narration. It's a genius way to tell us more about who he is just by his dialect and wording choices.

For me though, I did at times find myself going "Am I not intelligent enough for this?" but I think it's just how wacky and fun these stories are, it's always good to stop and have to think about what you're taking in. Going from one story with this insane prose and language, then the next having it switch out for a different way of speaking entirely was such a wonderful contrast.

I think this collection truly showcases this author's ability to really demonstrate an almost chameleon like writing style. It definitely makes me want to explore more works by him.

Overall, an insanely bizarre and enjoyable experience and I would give this a 4.5!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Reign Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC copy of this book, and I was eager to get into it. It felt like it was recalling the short story collections I read in Junior High and appealed to my nostalgic desire to curl up with a book of strange horror shorts.

The stories aren’t interconnected, nor do they necessarily stay in the same genre throughout. While this is a bold approach and could provide a novel and engaging reading experience, it felt uneven and stilted overall.

The writing is evocative, extensively descriptive, and thoughtful. However, in some spots, the pacing slowed under the weight of lengthy passages and abstract ideas. Weird fiction naturally leaves room for interpretation, which I generally enjoy, but a few stories went beyond this to the point that they lost some of their emotional resonance. I understood what Grass was trying to accomplish, but it just didn’t hit. Because of this, the overall impact wasn’t as consistent as I’d hoped.

Once of ‘Infernal Tramps’ greatest strengths is its originality. It’s refreshing to read horror that trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and uncertainty. The atmosphere is rich, the concepts are imaginative, and there are amazing stories to be found within the collection.

For me, a five-star version of this collection would have benefitted from a cohesive theme and/or greater consistency across the stories. Tighter pacing in some pieces, and a clearer emotional anchor would have made the more experimental elements land with greater force. Also some stories could have used a bit more narrative payoff to balance the ambiguity.

Overall, this is a solid collection for readers who enjoy literary weird horror, surreal imagery, and stories that prioritize prose and atmosphere. Even though it didn’t completely connect with me, I can see the potential there.

[Read & Filed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps is a strange and highly memorable collection of weird horror stories. What worked best for me was how distinct each story felt while still connecting to a larger shared sense of theme and purpose. These are stories full of cursed objects, monstrous appetites, body horror, supernatural punishments, strange family legacies, and people being consumed by the consequences of their own choices.

What keeps the collection fresh for me is that so many of the stories seem rooted in recognizable real-life fears and failures. Loneliness, abuse, medical debt, policing, cosmetic surgery, cheating, toxic relationships, grief, addiction, guilt, and class resentment are all present, but they are twisted into something much darker and unsettling. The horror often takes familiar human problems and pushes them to an extreme.

I also appreciated the variety. Some stories lean into folk horror, some into body horror, some into cursed-media horror, and others feel closer to strange morality tales. A few are darkly funny, while others are bleak and unsettling. Even when the stories get bizarre, they rarely feel random. There is usually a strong emotional or thematic idea underneath the ugliness, which gave me something to think about beyond the shock of the imagery.

The writing can be dense, but for me that mostly added to the collection’s personality. In short fiction, that kind of heightened style works better than it might in a full-length novel because each story has room to feel like its own strange little nightmare. The prose gives the collection a unique feel and helps make the stories read as more distinct from one another.

Overall, this was a creative and compelling collection that blends weird fiction and horror with real thematic weight. It is grotesque, strange, and sometimes difficult, but also imaginative and consistently engaging. For readers who like horror that is bizarre, bold, and still grounded in human faults, this is an easy recommendation.

[Sammantha (its_a_literary_life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when authors realize that horror is not merely about monsters but about ontological contamination; the sense that reality itself has become porous, infected, unreliable. It's my favorite kind of horror. This collection is grotesque and hallucinatory, and is indeed, weird terror.

There’s a very old-school, weird-fiction vibe here that's filtered through body horror and nightmare logic and the writing is familiar to the likes of modern works from Paul Tremblay and Clay McLeod Chapman. It's dense, strange, and highly atmospheric. There are 17 stories in all ranging in a variety of different flavors of terror "aka" something for everyone to love. All are rather short with a couple around 2 pages and I think the longest was less than 30. There is artwork prior to each story that I found interesting too.

We don't get cheap jump scares but instead psychic corrosion, blending cosmic horror, body horror, and surreal nightmare imagery into something that feels both vintage and modern. From a dead dog worshipping city to surgical implants becoming existential horror, not to mention THE strangest and most terrifying eggs, weird fits the bill.

Horror is fundamentally sensory before it is narrative and this collection hones in on that. 😌 Some of my favorites were :

~ The Tezcat Apparatus
~ A Woman of Distinction (the star of the show for me)
~ Odd Egg
~ The EP™️ Implant
~ The Black Gaucho of Revendiction
~ The Golden Mile
~ If Promises Were Meant to Keep
~ Boxed Breakfast

If you enjoy fragmented nightmare logic, body horror, cosmic dread, and the “wth did I just read?” sensation, it's a standout collection of quick reads. 🙌

Some tales do lean on the more ambiguous side, but that ambiguity is part of the charm for me. If you love a weird short story collection, it's worth the read!

[Kevin Lawlor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Grass gave me the privilege of reading an ARC of Infernal Tramps, a collection of intense, sometimes grotesque, horror short stories. Now…my rating might not fully reflect it, but I came away seriously impressed.
Grass is a fantastic writer. His vocabulary and command of language give his horror a poetic, almost hypnotic quality. I was getting strong Lovecraftian vibes throughout...in the best way. His prose is rich, eerie, and immersive. That said…short horror stories just don’t always land for me. That’s a me problem. I run into the same issue with a lot of Stephen King’s short fiction...I often find them feeling incomplete or a bit hollow. When it comes to horror, I want more room to breathe. More buildup, more payoff. With science fiction, even short works tend to leave me with big ideas to chew on. Horror? I need depth to really sink in.
Because of that, I grade short story collections pretty meticulously. Each story gets a score from 1–5 (5 being the best), then I average them across the collection, 17 stories in this case, to land on a final, “scientific” grade. That’s how I ended up at a B- (around 2.75 stars).
There were three stories I really dug: the titular “Infernal Tramps,” about vagrants turned caretakers of grotesque infant beings; “If Promises Were Meant to Keep,” featuring a prisoner granted a deeply unsettling form of clemency; and “Finding Erland,” where a battered woman is caught in the crossfire of warring, otherworldly forces. All three were solid 4s for me.
The rest? A mix of “that was fine” and a few “why does this exist?” moments.
All that said, I’m very excited to see what Grass does with a full-length novel. Because if there’s one thing this collection proves, it’s that his horror voice is absolutely fantastic—and I want more of it.

[Brandon Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC Review**
Author: Alex Grass
Book: Infernal Tramps Tales of Weird Terror
Book Rating: 3.75 Stars
Genre: Short Stories/Horror
I would like to thank Alex Grass for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Infernal Tramps, Tales of Weird Terror was a fever dream of intense scenes and confusing yet gory plots that made me finish the entire book in one sitting. To be honest, some of these stories really didn’t land for me. I either didn’t get the point or it was too bogged down with complicated prose that it was hard to understand.

But the stories that did work for me hit extremely hard. Three stories really stood out in particular. In Odd Egg, a salesman leaves a carton of free eggs with a homeowner. We all know how expensive eggs are, so if someone offered me a free carton, I might have taken them too. But what is housed in one of those eggs leaves the homeowner wishing she had never accepted the offer. In The EP Implant, a lady tries a new butt enhancement implant that doesn’t go as expected. In Eguisto Zanosi’s Fast, a man cheats on his wife, but she poisons him with something that makes it so that he can’t eat anything without throwing it all back up.

These stories will stick with me for a long time. Each one had a layer of terror that will leave the reader uncomfortable. This was slimy, gross horror that made me feel like I needed a shower, but that was what made it work really well. Alex Grass knows what makes his readers uncomfortable and leans into it. That is the joy of horror, and that is why this short story collection works really well.

If you are looking for quick horror stories that will leave a lasting impression, you will need to pick up Infernal Tramps, Tales of Weird Terror when it is released on July 15th.

[Leslie Powell-Mccarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this collection of seventeen incredibly bizarre stories two nights ago and had initially decided on a three star rating. I've since changed my rating to four stars because I can't get these freaky tales out of my head. I'm still turning them over and over as if I've been infected with an alien brain worm. Alex grass has taken common themes: addiction, vanity, cruelty, loneliness (to name a few) and created a collection that is wholly unique. The writing style was tedious at times, over-written, verbose. Call it what you will. Other times it was crisp. I could be wrong but I believe this was done on purpose to add to the reader's experience. The characters were quirky, ghastly, and diabolical. You never knew who or what you would meet from one story to the next. Every story didn't resonate with me but oh, the ones that did were fantastic!

A Woman of Distinction - What can happen to a man when he fails to be a gentleman? So good!

Infernal Tramps - A derelict raises a pitiful, orphaned being. Or does he? I couldn't tell what was real from what was imagined.

A Vixenly Hexer - Dark Humor at its finest! "Yes Dear" LOL!

Odd Egg - Would you accept free eggs from a stranger? This is also the 2nd story I've read recently that contained the word proboscis. Hmm...

The EP Implant - A vain woman gets a butt enhancing implant with an operating app that goes horribly awry.

There is something in here for every reader who appreciates weird fiction and the obscure. Be warned the images are haunting, grotesque, chilling, and sometimes absurd but worth it! (What's wrong with me?)

I want to thank Alex Grass for reaching out and giving me the opportunity to read this unforgettable compilation. This is my first book from Mr. Grass but I will be reading more from him.

Infernal Tramps is scheduled for release on July 15, 2026.

[kym ✨ the midnight review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Alex Grass for the advance readers copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Infernal Tramps is a short (~200pg) collection of horror stories whose primary horrors range from religions to monsters to technology & science, to revenge.

In each tale, Grass examines a piece of human mentality: nostalgia, fear, morality, justice, and overall the basic theme of human kindness (or lack thereof.)

My personal favorite was Finding Erland, a 30-page story of immortal beings and a human woman caught up in their feud by sheer circumstance. I felt it was the perfect ending for the collection, as it left me sitting with a sense of satisfaction but also a desire to know more about the characters and the worldbuilding.

Notable other stories included a very mysterious tale about an egg cult — this one had me on the edge of my seat with its absurdity but also its creativity — a short featuring train-hopping travelers and an inhuman creature adopted into their ranks, and more than one story about dogs. (Don't read this collection if you have a fear of dogs, by the way.) I also really enjoyed the story about a man on parole being hunted by a ghost from his past and his race against the clock.

The sense of permeating unease throughout the stories was similar to the feelings in certain episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return. Exploring humanity in all aspects: corruption, greed, and violence, as well as the fear of the unknown and the looming dread of supernatural beings, Infernal Tramps is a well-written collection of grotesque horrors and an exploration of humanity and the unknown.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Mercy Presh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Grass’s Infernal Tramps is a collection that lives up to its name—it is gritty, unsettling, and intentionally strange. It belongs to the "Weird Fiction" genre, which blends horror with the surreal to leave you feeling more "off-balance" than just scared. The book is built around characters who exist on the fringes of society. These aren't polished heroes; they are drifters, outcasts, and "tramps" who stumble into situations where reality starts to break. The "Infernal" part of the title hints at the darkness and decay that follows them. Grass excels at making the setting feel heavy. Whether it’s a dusty road or a cramped room, you can almost smell the rot and feel the tension. It feels like a fever dream that won't end. Instead of classic movie monsters (like vampires or werewolves), the "terror" here is often psychological or cosmic. It's the fear of the unknown and the things that shouldn't exist but do. The prose is sharp and doesn't waste time. Grass uses simple language to describe very complex, horrific images, which actually makes the horror hit harder because it’s so easy to visualize.

In my view, this book is a masterclass in "discomfort." Most horror books try to make you jump; this book tries to make you feel unsafe in your own skin. What I find most impressive is how Grass gives dignity to his "tramp" characters. Even as they face cosmic horrors, their human struggles (hunger, loneliness, regret) feel very real.

[Emily Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this ARC at the start of the month and felt I needed time to read and dissect each story for a proper review. So here it goes.

This was a weird one for me because I didn't love every story, but the stories that landed REALLY landed. Pujkamaunka Splash was pure nostalgia horror and had me hooked from the start. Odd Egg gave me creepy cult vibes in the best way possible. But the real standouts for me were Meeting Ivor Voëlman and The Black Gaucho of Revendication. Both gave me major Stephen King-esque vibes—strange people on the edge of society and existential dread. This collection has plenty of "what the hell am I reading?" moments and the artwork is unsettling and creepy, but overall, a nice touch.

Now, fair warning: this book is VERY prose-heavy. Alex Grass clearly loves metaphors, and sometimes I felt like the writing was getting very poetic which got in the way of the story at times. There were moments where I had to slow down and reread passages. HOWEVER, I read a lot of books. A LOT. And when stories stick with me days after finishing them, it means something! Meeting Ivor Voëlman has lived in my head rent-free since I read it. Finding Erland absolutely blew me away. The Black Gaucho of Revendication is one I know I'll be thinking about for a long time. These alone are worth buying the whole book just to read!

Absolutely fantastic plots and I truly enjoyed getting to read this!

[Llrâc Nôdbé · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first delve into work written by Alex, so I had no expectations or any experience of how he wrote. All I had was the book details. Labelled as ‘weird fiction,’ this is a collection of seventeen short stories and flash fiction with a huge range of sub-genres such as sci-fi horror and creature horror.

If each one of Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children were short stories, not people, then they would feel at home in this eccentric, phantasmagorical collection of unorthodox tales. As the label suggests, this is an elaborate, bizarre and eccentric collection, which will have something that appeals to everyone no matter what your favourite horror trope is. That said, because of the very nature of a varied story collection, there will be stories that will not appeal to everyone’s tastes.

This is the first time that I have read something with such surrealistic, mind-bending, and disturbing imaginative prose delivered with outlandish, peculiar verbiage and, well … just immense wordiness, that it creates an atmosphere filled with idiosyncratic characters that will either drag you screaming through an individual story or will have you staring blankly at the page with WTF teetering on your tonsils.

Definitely weird.

My favourite stories were the self-titled Infernal Tramps, A Woman Of Distinction, Odd Egg, The EP™ Implant, and Finding Erland.

[nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Dickinson Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I find this book to be an interesting experience - both positive and negative - I don't have that much experience with reading any anthology book. I practically have no experience except for the occasional anthology series that I cross paths with.
I found it to be quite hard to get into some stories - even though they were short (which is not a problem for me at all) - it sometimes felt a bit too much like I was being dropped in the middle of a mystery house where Nothing was clear and I found that to be a bit too confusing.
Having said that, it could just be my inexperience with anthology reads (and maybe this book wasn't really for me - if you never try you'll never know).

I did find this book to be a neat creative endeavour and I'm Very unsure where this writer got his ideas from but I did like that they were quite original - even though not every one of them landed as well with me as I would've liked.
I would also like to say that this book has some incredible sentences and prose - which is quite unexpected but I'll give it a shoutout - I found it to be a very neat positive point.

I would also like to say that I did enjoy Rats, Odd Egg, The EP™ Implant and Ever Shall They Feed - they struck a certain nerve in the best way.

[Judith Cormier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly provided an ARC print copy of this short story collection by the author, and while I am not usually one who reads short stories, I was more than happy to give it a try and provide my honest opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories. If I'm being honest, I liked the longer ones the least. The short ones were snappy, very quick-witted, and I loved the twists. My biggest complaint with the longer ones is that they suffered from the "in-between" stage. So I'd define that as not quite short enough to fit my previous description and not long enough to be a novella and develop a rich story.

Strangely, there were multiple moments throughout the stories when I felt a bit of a T. Kingfisher vibe, particularly similar to the creepy nature of The Sworn Soldier series. It wasn't that they were specifically like those novellas, but I felt this author's style of writing was quite similar at times. As a side note, that is one of my favourite T. Kingfisher series, so it stands to reason that many of the instalments in this appealed to me.

I'd be curious to read something longer from this author. Something that had richer characters with a great plot. Perhaps in the future?

I also realized that maybe I haven't been reading the right kind of short stories!!! The key was that they just needed to be weird, super creepy and ...

[Kris Cornett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am usually a big fan of the horror genre, I would dare say that it is one of my favorite genres, but this was a struggle for me to get through. I received an ARC copy of this book and figured that it would be right up my alley, and there were a couple stories in it that I did really like (A Woman of Distinction' and 'In a New World, Its Basement'). There was a few times when some of the jumps in a story lost me until I reread a previous paragraph, but my main problem with the book was honestly how many times I got taken out of the stories by having to look up what a word meant, or translate a foreign phrase. Grass goes into great details on the descriptions, which can be nice but the word choice for me honestly made it feel like I was too dumb for this book and came off in some instances as too wordy. As for translations of foreign phrases, if it is in there I assume it is important to the plot and if I have to step away to translation it or struggle to figure out what it means by context clues, then I am no longer in the story.

With all that said though, the stories written definitely give a sense of the uncomfortable even if not terrifying. While it was not my cup of tea, I can see fans of The Twilight Zone or Beyond Fact and Fiction liking it.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tagline for this collection is not hyperbolic or misleading. Tales of Weird Horror. Indeed. Not even your typical "weird". These are Weird with that big ol' capital W. The themes, the worlds, the narrative choices in each one begs for your attention. And that's a good thing because you'll be thinking "I'll have what the author is smoking" throughout lol.

Sure, there is the presence of familiar tropes. Rats, a female serial killer, a strange salesman selling something for your garden. Seemingly innocuous at first glance. But trust me when I say they evolve (or perhaps DEVOLVE) into indeterminable mind bending bizarreness which will wrinkle your brain in the best possible way. The way the author writes them demands you suspend your disbelief and just accept the fact that there are things in his worlds which would cause you to melt into an hallucinogenic heap were you to encounter them.

David Lynchian fever dreams mixed with the kind of bad acid trips people of my generation are very much aware of! I highly doubt you'll read a more bizarre eccentric collection of stories this year and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps is one of those horror collections that sticks with you long after you finish it. Every story feels completely different, yet they all share the same unsettling, bizarre energy that ties the collection together perfectly.

This book delivers a little bit of everything: body horror, cursed objects, strange creatures, dark humour, supernatural horror, and plenty of genuinely disturbing moments. Some stories are grotesque, some are heartbreaking, and others are just plain weird in the best possible way. I never knew what I was going to get next.

I appreciated how many of the stories took familiar human struggles and transformed them into something horrific. Themes of grief, addiction, loneliness, family trauma, guilt, obsession, and consequence run throughout the collection, giving the horror real weight beneath all the strange and unsettling imagery.

The writing has a distinctive style that fits the bizarre nature of these stories perfectly. Even when things become surreal or grotesque, there is always a purpose behind the horror, making each story feel memorable.

I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you so much Alex Grass for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤

[Joyfully Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are unique and very creative. A perfect fit for my complicated mind. Alex does a great job with storytelling, delivering vivid visuals that pull you right into each scene.

At times, the prose is quite dense and the vocabulary feels extensive, which may require slowing down or rereading certain passages to fully grasp the meaning. It leans more literary and atmospheric than straightforward, so understanding often comes in layers rather than immediately.

The language also shifts at times, with occasional phrases in other languages that added to the atmosphere but sometimes required looking up meanings to fully understand. It gave the stories a fragmented, unsettling edge, but also meant I had to pause and actively interpret parts of the text.

That said, the prose feels intentional. It prioritizes mood, imagery, and tone, creating a strong, unsettling atmosphere throughout each story. It’s less about clear cut explanation and more about experience and interpretation.

This was my first adult short story collection, and I wasn’t disappointed. The reading experience was different, but it made the collection stand out even more.

Thank you to Alex for the ARC, truly appreciate the early read, I enjoyed every weird, unsettling second of it.

[Anna Grace McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review (3.5/5) — First, I want to say a huge thank you to Alex Grass for gifting me an e-reader version of his brand new book of horror short stories! Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror - out 7/15/2026!

I love short stories, especially the spooky kind. I was very impressed by how Grass was able to create worlds and characters that terrified me, all in a matter of a couple of pages. I was intrigued by the differences in writing style throughout the book, some stories being easily digestible while others were much more difficult to decipher. While this made it confusing at times and made lengthier stories harder to move through, I found myself still being drawn to the weirdness.

“Pujkamaunka Splash” had me staring at my TV screen and willing whatever was in there to stay the hell in.

“A Woman of Distinction” led me to looking over my shoulder, questioning if I was alone.

“Meeting Ivor Voëlman” created a curiosity within me about what happens to the book characters once the pages are closed.

“Ever Shall They Feed” made me think of what lies beneath our hometown establishments.

“Odd Egg” left me slightly afraid of breakfast time.

Overall, I enjoyed the stories and was impressed. Make sure to snag a copy next week!

[Megan Diedericks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infernal Tramps by Alex Grass is filled with amazing prose and haunting imagery. As weird as the stories get, they often hunkered down and made me wonder: "Is this just reality with a beast shoved in its midst?"

This book is a nightmarish read, and a living nightmare for its characters. I was struck by how creative each and every premise was, even if some wisp of the creature is familiar—Grass made it new. Grass also presented parallel images that were almost movie-like in their transition.

Speaking of creativity, each story is preceded by incredible artwork the author put together (occasionally from public domain), which added another layer to the horror!

As for the characters: they're very real in their flaws, or intrusive thoughts, or less-than-savory actions. Which, obviously, made the stories even more interesting.

Infernal Tramps is absolutely beautiful in its grotesqueness, and I simply couldn't get enough!

Full review, with my thoughts on each story, here.