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Turning Face: A Tale of Horror, Comedy and Wrestling!
Tojo Smith has a serious problem. He is the number one heel for a small wrestling promotion in Texas. He is also an earthbound demon and his mission is to inspire hatred in people. This is his service to the greater evil. But suddenly, the wrestling fans start to cheer for Tojo. He goes from the most hated villain of his promotion to the most cheered antihero. And no matter how loathsome his actions in the ring become, his popularity soars. When Hell notices this imbalance, Tojo is given an ultimatum: get the hate flowing again or be sent down into the fiery pits! Turning Face is a brand new tale from critically-acclaimed author, Terry M. West.
90 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2015
4 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Terry M. West
198 books134 followersTerry M. West is an American horror author. His best known works: What Price Gory, Car Nex, Dreg and his Night Things series. He was a finalist for 2 International Horror Guild Awards and he was featured on the TV Guide Sci-Fi hot list for his YA graphic novel series, Confessions of a Teenage Vampire. Terry was born in Texas, lived in New York for two decades and he currently hangs his hat in California.
www.terrymwest.com
www.terrymwest.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 29, 2015
I received a copy of Turning Face in exchange for an honest review and to be perfectly honest I'm a fan of West's and have been since Heroin In The Magic Now. What I like about West is that he's always evolving and no matter what I've read I've never been disappointed. West writes fiction that mixes in pieces of horror, bizarro, and sometimes a bit of gore when the story calls for it. When you read a West novella you know that you're in for a good solid read. From Heroin to the Car-Nex series these are all solid novellas. West has a distinctive style that keeps you reading and you form bonds with the characters that he creates. These are stories that move quickly and demand your full attention.
As a horror and wrestling fan I have to admit that I was nervous. Usually books like these fail because the author is trying to hard to please everyone. With Turning Face even the most jaded wrestling fan will find something to like here. While the story itself is well plotted it's easy to tell by the title what's about to happen, but it's not as predictable as you might think. West did his research here and the wrestling aspects are dead on. Tojo is a convincing villain that also happens to be a demon. His job is to instill hate but what happens when the fans start to cheer him? That is where the novel turns interesting. Tojo may be a demon but you can't help but like the guy, When you think of demons and hell you never imagine that it would be a heel in an indie promotion in Texas. If you watch enough pro-wrestling it sounds plausible. The heels job is to generate heat and make the fans hate you. You can see that Tojo's job as a heel would be easy, but then we see a shift and the fans that booed him are now cheering for him.
West knows his stuff and the research he did on the wrestling aspect is top notch. The story itself would feel right at home with a variety of B-movie classics. That's not a dig at all. I love a good B-movie that delivers not just a touch of horror, but quite a bit of comedy. Fans of West and even horror comedy are going to enjoy this because while the subject matter may not be for everyone the story itself flows well and at 96 pages it doesn't feel as if it's rushed or missing something vital. West moves the story along and keeps you interested. As a fan of West it's another addition to an already growing collection. It's a novella that shows a writer evolving and branching out into newer territory and it works.
As a horror and wrestling fan I have to admit that I was nervous. Usually books like these fail because the author is trying to hard to please everyone. With Turning Face even the most jaded wrestling fan will find something to like here. While the story itself is well plotted it's easy to tell by the title what's about to happen, but it's not as predictable as you might think. West did his research here and the wrestling aspects are dead on. Tojo is a convincing villain that also happens to be a demon. His job is to instill hate but what happens when the fans start to cheer him? That is where the novel turns interesting. Tojo may be a demon but you can't help but like the guy, When you think of demons and hell you never imagine that it would be a heel in an indie promotion in Texas. If you watch enough pro-wrestling it sounds plausible. The heels job is to generate heat and make the fans hate you. You can see that Tojo's job as a heel would be easy, but then we see a shift and the fans that booed him are now cheering for him.
West knows his stuff and the research he did on the wrestling aspect is top notch. The story itself would feel right at home with a variety of B-movie classics. That's not a dig at all. I love a good B-movie that delivers not just a touch of horror, but quite a bit of comedy. Fans of West and even horror comedy are going to enjoy this because while the subject matter may not be for everyone the story itself flows well and at 96 pages it doesn't feel as if it's rushed or missing something vital. West moves the story along and keeps you interested. As a fan of West it's another addition to an already growing collection. It's a novella that shows a writer evolving and branching out into newer territory and it works.
June 26, 2015
Classic Terry M. West
A compelling story that twists and turns.
West has a knack for coming up with unusual horror-based stories. Be prepared to meet a couple of old friends. This story introduces Tojo, a wrestler with special qualities. Expect to laugh, put tongue to cheek, and rev up with the action scenes. Cecil & Bubba make an appearance as number one fans, but there’s no need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy the story. West, as usual creates well-defined characters and builds the story into a satisfying finale.
A compelling story that twists and turns.
West has a knack for coming up with unusual horror-based stories. Be prepared to meet a couple of old friends. This story introduces Tojo, a wrestler with special qualities. Expect to laugh, put tongue to cheek, and rev up with the action scenes. Cecil & Bubba make an appearance as number one fans, but there’s no need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy the story. West, as usual creates well-defined characters and builds the story into a satisfying finale.
July 3, 2015
I have always been a fan of wrestling. I remember watching it with my grandfather as a child and as I grew older I submergerd myself into the sport. Years passed and the business changed and I grew tired of the big companies storylines and general staleness; so I quit watching.
Enter author Terry M. West's Turning Face.
Turning Face places a demon in disguise into the wrestling business to spread hate. Tojo serves hell well as the ultimate heel in a local independent promotion.
It's apparent as you read that Mr. West is a true fan of the sport and knows the inner workings of the business as well. While this is based on a wrestler, you don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this great read. It is full of action and horror that you expect from the author.
For fans of Mr. West, you will discover couple of familar faces while reading which adds to the story and is a nice inclusion for people who have read his other works.
It is a quick read that entertained me and ultimately got me back loving wrestling. If only the current promotions lived up to that of the story.
Enter author Terry M. West's Turning Face.
Turning Face places a demon in disguise into the wrestling business to spread hate. Tojo serves hell well as the ultimate heel in a local independent promotion.
It's apparent as you read that Mr. West is a true fan of the sport and knows the inner workings of the business as well. While this is based on a wrestler, you don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this great read. It is full of action and horror that you expect from the author.
For fans of Mr. West, you will discover couple of familar faces while reading which adds to the story and is a nice inclusion for people who have read his other works.
It is a quick read that entertained me and ultimately got me back loving wrestling. If only the current promotions lived up to that of the story.
June 23, 2015
Loved this book, my 1st Terry West but definitely not my last! There was comedy, violence, horror, gore & more! What else do we horror fans want?! Get a copy, you won't regret it!!!
July 19, 2020
I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest pro wrestling fan but my partner loves it. Correction, is OBSESSED with it and has been for years. I’m trying to encourage my partner to read more and saw this book on someone’s bookstagram. After reading the synopsis and thought that if my partner is going to like a book, surely this will be it! Terry M.West was kind enough to offer a copy of his book for free. My partner said if I read it first and thought he would like it then he will give it a chance! So here we go!
This novella is unique, darkly funny and entertaining. Terry writes in a very easy to digest style and considering I’m not really a pro wrestling fan, drew me in and kept my attention throughout. I even managed to learn a bit about wrestling which my partner would no doubt be happy about!
The sprinkling throughout of famous pro wrestling names from the past will appeal to the nostalgia of pro wrestling fans and the terminology and storylines specific to the sport will draw readers in.
I think readers who enjoy a combination of wrestling and horror will love this one! Maybe even readers who only really like horror like me!
Now to convince my partner to read it!
This novella is unique, darkly funny and entertaining. Terry writes in a very easy to digest style and considering I’m not really a pro wrestling fan, drew me in and kept my attention throughout. I even managed to learn a bit about wrestling which my partner would no doubt be happy about!
The sprinkling throughout of famous pro wrestling names from the past will appeal to the nostalgia of pro wrestling fans and the terminology and storylines specific to the sport will draw readers in.
I think readers who enjoy a combination of wrestling and horror will love this one! Maybe even readers who only really like horror like me!
Now to convince my partner to read it!
August 1, 2022
Not really horror, but a sweet ending for a demon who loves wrestling. I guess the horror is the fact that he’s a demon, but it def leans heavy on the comedy.
June 6, 2015
Either Terry M. West is a writing machine, or I'm just behind. Mr. West is back with yet another; this time fusing two of his favorite things—wrestling and horror—in this horror/comedy novella. But we're not talkin' WrestleMania here. This is the indie world of wrestling complete with luchador masks and matches held in high schools and rented halls.
The world that West brings in this tale tells of demons living on earth with duties that help fuel Hell. What better way to feed the hate machine than to use the boos of an audience.
Main character Tojo Smith is an earth-born demon to parents direct from hell, who has a passion for all things wrestling. While Tojo's duty on earth is to taint the planet and breed hate, we watch as the world and its inhabitants—in particular the tight-knit federation he's a part of—bring out the human side to him more than he'd like.
Like all of West's stuff, it's well written and the prose is tight. The dialogue in particular brings a lot of color to the characters and you'll find yourself laughing at least a few times.
In the early 80s I would partake in the ritual of lying on the living room carpet, with head propped up on my hands as I watched the likes of Junkyard Dog, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy. But as I grew older I put wrestling behind me. Reading Turning Face took me back to that living room floor where I longed to watch once again and root for my side with great exuberance.
West manages to bring the fever of wrestling to the pages, forcing the reader into a "love-to-hate/hate-to-love" relationship with the characters in and out of the ring, while smiling the whole time.
There is no question that those who like the professional wrestling circuit even a little bit—at least at one time—will love this story. And to those who still spill their beer and chips as their favorite nemesis gets thrown over the ropes, this is an absolute must read.
Warning: May cause boisterous "Tojo! Tojo!" chanting.
~Chad Lutzke, Horror Novel Reviews
The world that West brings in this tale tells of demons living on earth with duties that help fuel Hell. What better way to feed the hate machine than to use the boos of an audience.
Main character Tojo Smith is an earth-born demon to parents direct from hell, who has a passion for all things wrestling. While Tojo's duty on earth is to taint the planet and breed hate, we watch as the world and its inhabitants—in particular the tight-knit federation he's a part of—bring out the human side to him more than he'd like.
Like all of West's stuff, it's well written and the prose is tight. The dialogue in particular brings a lot of color to the characters and you'll find yourself laughing at least a few times.
In the early 80s I would partake in the ritual of lying on the living room carpet, with head propped up on my hands as I watched the likes of Junkyard Dog, Big John Studd, and King Kong Bundy. But as I grew older I put wrestling behind me. Reading Turning Face took me back to that living room floor where I longed to watch once again and root for my side with great exuberance.
West manages to bring the fever of wrestling to the pages, forcing the reader into a "love-to-hate/hate-to-love" relationship with the characters in and out of the ring, while smiling the whole time.
There is no question that those who like the professional wrestling circuit even a little bit—at least at one time—will love this story. And to those who still spill their beer and chips as their favorite nemesis gets thrown over the ropes, this is an absolute must read.
Warning: May cause boisterous "Tojo! Tojo!" chanting.
~Chad Lutzke, Horror Novel Reviews
November 3, 2015
I used to watch wrestling as a kid and even went to a live event once. I stopped watching as I got older but then started watching again in the early 2000’s for a few years. I’ve since stopped again mostly because I don’t have cable but I’ve always found it fun and entertaining. And don’t you dare give me that crap about it being fake… I’ll put you through a table. Yes I know its scripted but the injuries some of these guys get are very real. I’ve said for years that wrestling is a soap opera for guys, its got scantily clad women and gratuitous violence, what more could a guy ask for. In fact there is a great line from this book that says…”This business is equal parts sports, comic books and soap operas.”
The thing about West’s writing is that he paints a vivid picture of what’s happening without bogging down the story. There are a couple of scenes where he describes what is happening in a match and I swear that I got chills…. It was like watching WWE Raw when The Rock makes a surprise appearance. All I needed was to hear Good Ol’ JR telling me it was gonna be a slobberknocker to make it complete. Its that well written.
So you have the basic gist of the story. What the description doesn’t go into is that despite being demon born Tojo shows signs of humanity and compassion his whole life like getting upset when his parents keep eating his cats or showing true feelings for the loss of his parents when they “die” and go back to hell. So the concept of Turning face, in wrestling it means a bad guy turning good, is established almost from the beginning. However the climax wasn’t what I was expecting at all so bravo to West for that.
Just a quick couple of other mentions of stuff that I liked. At one point a visiting demon mentions to Tojo that there is no smoking in Hell which I thought was hilarious. Finally we get a bit of interconnectivity that I love so much when my favorites Cecil and Bubba make an appearance.
Overall this was a great bit of fun and quiet entertaining. Another home run from West.
The thing about West’s writing is that he paints a vivid picture of what’s happening without bogging down the story. There are a couple of scenes where he describes what is happening in a match and I swear that I got chills…. It was like watching WWE Raw when The Rock makes a surprise appearance. All I needed was to hear Good Ol’ JR telling me it was gonna be a slobberknocker to make it complete. Its that well written.
So you have the basic gist of the story. What the description doesn’t go into is that despite being demon born Tojo shows signs of humanity and compassion his whole life like getting upset when his parents keep eating his cats or showing true feelings for the loss of his parents when they “die” and go back to hell. So the concept of Turning face, in wrestling it means a bad guy turning good, is established almost from the beginning. However the climax wasn’t what I was expecting at all so bravo to West for that.
Just a quick couple of other mentions of stuff that I liked. At one point a visiting demon mentions to Tojo that there is no smoking in Hell which I thought was hilarious. Finally we get a bit of interconnectivity that I love so much when my favorites Cecil and Bubba make an appearance.
Overall this was a great bit of fun and quiet entertaining. Another home run from West.
June 14, 2015
This was an interesting novella to read as I am a lifelong wrestling fan. Mr. West walks a fine line here by using a lot of "insider" terms that the average person would probably not understand, but the explanations of which would be boring to the people who already know. As a reader who didn't need the explanations it was a bit of a chore to wade through them, even though I know they are necessary for the wider audience. Ultimately I found the wrestling parts the least interesting. Instead I enjoyed the story of Tojo's struggle between his demonic and human natures.
I felt the promotion of the book led me to expect something else. Despite it being labeled a comedy I didn't find anything particularly funny. Going in I was expecting something along the lines of Edward Lee's Goon, and Turning Face is nothing like that. I did enjoy Turning Face on the whole, and it is unfair to judge it based on what I hoped it would be, so I'm giving it 3.5 stars.
I felt the promotion of the book led me to expect something else. Despite it being labeled a comedy I didn't find anything particularly funny. Going in I was expecting something along the lines of Edward Lee's Goon, and Turning Face is nothing like that. I did enjoy Turning Face on the whole, and it is unfair to judge it based on what I hoped it would be, so I'm giving it 3.5 stars.
March 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. I've been a pro wrestling fan my whole life and it was fun to be able to combine two of my loves in one book, pro wrestling, and horror. In the world that Terry M. West has created hell sends demons to Earth to stir up hate in order to provide hell with the energy it needs to do all its hell stuff. What better way to stir up the hate in people than a mega heel in a regional wrestling promotion in Texas. Jojo Smith is that hate demon. His wrestling character is the Crimson Demon and he's the most hated man in the Hard Knocks Wrestling promotion. He's been stirring hate in his audience for almost 30 years but times are changing. When Jojo finds himself being cheered by the crowd he has to find a way to get heat with the crowd again or there will be hell to pay.
This was my first exposure to Terry M. West's writing and I totally enjoyed myself. The dialogue was well done and the plot was exciting. I'll absolutely be reading more from Terry in the future! If you're a fan of pro wrestling or horror or even better both, you need to check this one out!
This was my first exposure to Terry M. West's writing and I totally enjoyed myself. The dialogue was well done and the plot was exciting. I'll absolutely be reading more from Terry in the future! If you're a fan of pro wrestling or horror or even better both, you need to check this one out!
January 12, 2022
Loved this short story.
So, let me start by saying, I was looking for a horror comedy to read for my 2022 BOH, reading challenge. I stumble across this book, Turning Face, A Tale of Horror, Comedy and Wrestling. I do not watch any wrestling. So lets dig in.
Tojo Smith is a Eden Demon (A demon born on earth by two demons from the depths of hell). When Tojo turns into an adult demon there is a ceremony, with a sacrificed goat and all. With this ceremony Tojo chooses a path, in which he chooses a heel (bad guy, villain, someone that takes cheap shots. I had to look this up) wrestler. His goal is to make the fans hate him, boo him and inspire hatred for the good of Hell itself. Hail Satan!
But what happens when he Becomes the anti hero and the fans start to cheer for him? The demons down below won't be to happy! This will set a clash between good and evil.
This was a good read. A very short story of 75 pages.
So, let me start by saying, I was looking for a horror comedy to read for my 2022 BOH, reading challenge. I stumble across this book, Turning Face, A Tale of Horror, Comedy and Wrestling. I do not watch any wrestling. So lets dig in.
Tojo Smith is a Eden Demon (A demon born on earth by two demons from the depths of hell). When Tojo turns into an adult demon there is a ceremony, with a sacrificed goat and all. With this ceremony Tojo chooses a path, in which he chooses a heel (bad guy, villain, someone that takes cheap shots. I had to look this up) wrestler. His goal is to make the fans hate him, boo him and inspire hatred for the good of Hell itself. Hail Satan!
But what happens when he Becomes the anti hero and the fans start to cheer for him? The demons down below won't be to happy! This will set a clash between good and evil.
This was a good read. A very short story of 75 pages.
February 17, 2020
A darkly funny good vs evil story using wrestlers
A Well narrated fun listen
I received a free review audiobook in voluntarily left this review
A Well narrated fun listen
I received a free review audiobook in voluntarily left this review
February 19, 2022
A nostalgic tale of regional wrestling from the inside, only with a twist. Behind the scenes takes on a whole new meaning in this work. I had a great time reading this.
September 17, 2023
Well written demon coming of age story. The wrestling lingo was spot on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
A fun novella, a love letter to wrestling, and a cosy-ish horror.
August 26, 2015
Turning Face is a quirky and clever story! Completely unexpected. As a character study, it chronicles the rise, fall, and redemption of an "Eden-born" demon who becomes a wrestler, a “heel” (the bad guy). Tojo is a demon with problems. He grows up lonely, in Texas, where his minor-demon parents keep eating his cats. He literally attends the school of Hard Knocks! He is so relatable that the supernatural elements of his character only enhance our empathy toward him. And the cinematic climax has the perfect button ending.
Turning Face is sort of unclassifiable, in the best possible sense. It’s actually an engrossing drama, with the undertones of a dark thriller. And lots of on-point humor. It's a great blend of literary and genre. West's prose is, as always, crisp. His conversational tone seduces the reader into his world, lowers our defenses, and then smacks us in the face. It’s a world we can recognize as our own, but strange, terrible, and sometimes wonderful, things happen in this particular reality.
Terry M. West is a true original. Turning Face is simply amazing.
Turning Face is sort of unclassifiable, in the best possible sense. It’s actually an engrossing drama, with the undertones of a dark thriller. And lots of on-point humor. It's a great blend of literary and genre. West's prose is, as always, crisp. His conversational tone seduces the reader into his world, lowers our defenses, and then smacks us in the face. It’s a world we can recognize as our own, but strange, terrible, and sometimes wonderful, things happen in this particular reality.
Terry M. West is a true original. Turning Face is simply amazing.
July 4, 2016
I got this as a free audiobook in return for an unbiased review. While it was short (2hrs 17 mins), I really enjoyed it. So many books that I've read/listened to recently take /so/ long to get into the story, and even longer before you get to like a character. There wasn't a dull moment and I actually wish it had gone on for longer. I adore stories about demons and hell, etc, and I would love it if the author had gone into more detail about the hierarchy and how things are run in his version of Hell. Overall, it was a fun story and I'll be looking for more books from this author :)
April 23, 2017
Better than I expected
Book is off the wall. I had no idea what to expect, but I enjoyed it. Fun quick read. Different.
Book is off the wall. I had no idea what to expect, but I enjoyed it. Fun quick read. Different.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews