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Thuglit Issue Twenty-One
The award-winning crime fiction anthology series is BACK, jamming its literary finger straight up your readin' nose with EIGHT new original tales of love, losers, larceny, lacerations, and lunatics.
THE LONG DRIVE HOME by William R. Soldan
NUT LOBBY by Preston Lang
BEING FRED by Travis Richardson
THE NIGHT THEY BURNED OL’ BIG TEX DOWN by Christopher Fulbright
VIRGIN SACRIFICE by David Rachels
PARADISE by Rena Robinett
A NICE PAIR OF GUNS by Nick Kolakowski
MERCY by Dale Sandlin
THE LONG DRIVE HOME by William R. Soldan
NUT LOBBY by Preston Lang
BEING FRED by Travis Richardson
THE NIGHT THEY BURNED OL’ BIG TEX DOWN by Christopher Fulbright
VIRGIN SACRIFICE by David Rachels
PARADISE by Rena Robinett
A NICE PAIR OF GUNS by Nick Kolakowski
MERCY by Dale Sandlin
- GenresCrime
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2015
17 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 21, 2017
Each edition of Thuglit is like a box of chocolates. You don't know exactly what you are going to get, but you know you'll gobble it up quickly and follow it up with a double shot of whiskey. No. 21 hits that sweet spot with stories dragging you from the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii to the stinky truck stops of I-5. There are stories about cold- hearted criminals and about guys who have had just about enough. Also, there's a special treat for those who have just had it with the peanut mafia. There are people out on the edge and people who have to track down stolen guns. Especially enjoyed Soldan's The Long Drive Home about hitchhiking and family values and Dale Sandlin's Mercy about truck stops and being the toughest guy around.
January 22, 2019
This issue was smoking hot. Had more stories to my taste than just about any ThugLit issue. First story, "The Long Drive Home," by William R. Soldan is tight and compelling literary fiction with a nasty criminal edge. Kind of like a Richard Ford story from the "Rock Springs" collection. And in this story they actually drive through Rock Springs, Wyoming, so a sweet bit of intertextual homage from Soldan. "The Night They Burned Ol' Big Tex Down," by Christopher Fulbright is just a nasty in the moment action piece. The other two that I thought kicked ass were Nick Kolakowski's "A Nice Pair of Guns" and "Mercy" by Dale Sandlin. The other stories are OK but these four are definitely stories that I will return to and read again.
November 25, 2017
Every time I read an anthology of hard-boiled and noir crime writing, I become a bigger and bigger fan. This was my first look at Thuglit and it didn't disappoint. There were pieces from two authors I've already been enjoying from Switchblade magazine, Preston Lang and Travis Richardson, but I really enjoyed the whole selection of stories here.
It's a shame that Thuglit is no longer being published, although I have started ordering the back catalogue!
It's a shame that Thuglit is no longer being published, although I have started ordering the back catalogue!
April 4, 2016
The usual solid collection. Travis Richardson's Being Fred was particularly good.
December 19, 2017
This collection has a fantastic cover design and really pulls you into the stories. William R. Soldan's story about picking up a hitchhiker stands out in my mind as a fantastic piece of narrative fiction.
March 7, 2016
Thuglit: Issue 21 continues the anthology tradition of hard hitting noir stories. Eight new stories that tell tales of folks living on the edges doing what needs to be done due to compulsion or to survive. Of course, since these are short stories, it is not possible to say much as to do otherwise would create spoilers. It can be said that as always these tales will make you consider your own circumstances and the realization that things could be far worse.
It was a street kid and his dog near an on ramp in Sacramento that caused Alan to stop in “The Long Drive Home” by William R. Soldan. Hopper and his dog, Maggie, are headed to Chicago to see family. Maggie is a far better traveling companion.
If you have kids you are probably well aware of the issue of life threatening nut allergy as no doubt at least one kid in the school your child attends has this life threatening problem. “Nut Lobby” by Preston Lang takes a different tack on the idea by focusing on the lobbyists of both sides who make presentations before school boards and the like. For Lydia Todd of the national peanut council it is a life and death battle as well.
At least this time when he wakes up Fred does not find a dead hooker in the bed with him. Still, he knows Connor did something really bad. He is about to find out what that was in “Being Fred” by Travis Richardson opens thanks to a phone call from Vladmir Dvoynev. A wakeup call from him, or any other time, can’t be a good thing.
Back in Oct. 2012, the gigantic statue known as “Big Tex” burned down to its metal frame at the Texas State Fair. It was not terrorists, as first reported by local television stations, but a simple electrical short. A fictionalized version of that fire is just part of the deal in “The Night They Burned Ol’ Big Tex Down” by Christopher Fulbright. All Darla-May and Ray have to do is get rid of Toby when the moment is right. Fair Park in Dallas is a long way from Afghanistan, but a bullet does the same damage/death thing everywhere.
Jamie insists on being a virgin and plans to remain so. They have known each other since the first grade as Jamie lives down just down the street. It isn’t surprising that sometimes the narrator goes to the woods behind the house to check out the bedroom view in “Virgin Sacrifice” by David Rachels. Graduation is coming and there are plans.
Cici has been gone for a few years, but is back in Maui. In “Paradise” by Rena Robinett, Trelani is missing and Cici is on the hunt as a mother does what she has to do.
Bad enough to come home and find your place ransacked. Your daughter’s toys were one of the few things not messed with while you and your family were at the movies. Especially annoying to find out that your two AR-15s are gone. In “A Nice Pair Of guns” by Nick Kolakowski the hunt is on for the guns and these responsible.
His father Hal told him to only trust his eyes and ears and ignore what was on television and in the paper. He apparently never said a word about watching out for stuff falling on your head by the way of a crane on the hard docks of Oakland. He certainly isn’t going to say anything at all how thanks to the blow caused by six tons of Malaysian tin hitting his head. Jimmy is still coping with the aftermath of that is so many ways in “Mercy” by Dale Sandlin.
The bios of eight authors involved and the editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow and Julie Mccarron bring the latest issue to a close.
If you have read Thuglit before you know what you are in for as this issue meets high standards. If you have not, this series is not about unicorns and rainbows. If any are present, they are because of your imagination is in whacked out over drive as you have been chasing meth and alcohol the last 36 hours in a desperate attempt to get some money together in a cock eyed plan to rip somebody off. Or, somebody hit you over the head and you had strange dreams while lying unconscious as god knows what went on around you and to you. Thuglit: Issue 21 is another dark read and another good one.
Thuglit: Issue 21
Editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow, and Julie Mccarron
Thuglit Publishing
http://www.thuglit.com
December 2015
ASIN#: B01A1I89H6
E-Book (Paperback also available)
132 Pages
$1.99
Material was purchased to read and review back in late January by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
It was a street kid and his dog near an on ramp in Sacramento that caused Alan to stop in “The Long Drive Home” by William R. Soldan. Hopper and his dog, Maggie, are headed to Chicago to see family. Maggie is a far better traveling companion.
If you have kids you are probably well aware of the issue of life threatening nut allergy as no doubt at least one kid in the school your child attends has this life threatening problem. “Nut Lobby” by Preston Lang takes a different tack on the idea by focusing on the lobbyists of both sides who make presentations before school boards and the like. For Lydia Todd of the national peanut council it is a life and death battle as well.
At least this time when he wakes up Fred does not find a dead hooker in the bed with him. Still, he knows Connor did something really bad. He is about to find out what that was in “Being Fred” by Travis Richardson opens thanks to a phone call from Vladmir Dvoynev. A wakeup call from him, or any other time, can’t be a good thing.
Back in Oct. 2012, the gigantic statue known as “Big Tex” burned down to its metal frame at the Texas State Fair. It was not terrorists, as first reported by local television stations, but a simple electrical short. A fictionalized version of that fire is just part of the deal in “The Night They Burned Ol’ Big Tex Down” by Christopher Fulbright. All Darla-May and Ray have to do is get rid of Toby when the moment is right. Fair Park in Dallas is a long way from Afghanistan, but a bullet does the same damage/death thing everywhere.
Jamie insists on being a virgin and plans to remain so. They have known each other since the first grade as Jamie lives down just down the street. It isn’t surprising that sometimes the narrator goes to the woods behind the house to check out the bedroom view in “Virgin Sacrifice” by David Rachels. Graduation is coming and there are plans.
Cici has been gone for a few years, but is back in Maui. In “Paradise” by Rena Robinett, Trelani is missing and Cici is on the hunt as a mother does what she has to do.
Bad enough to come home and find your place ransacked. Your daughter’s toys were one of the few things not messed with while you and your family were at the movies. Especially annoying to find out that your two AR-15s are gone. In “A Nice Pair Of guns” by Nick Kolakowski the hunt is on for the guns and these responsible.
His father Hal told him to only trust his eyes and ears and ignore what was on television and in the paper. He apparently never said a word about watching out for stuff falling on your head by the way of a crane on the hard docks of Oakland. He certainly isn’t going to say anything at all how thanks to the blow caused by six tons of Malaysian tin hitting his head. Jimmy is still coping with the aftermath of that is so many ways in “Mercy” by Dale Sandlin.
The bios of eight authors involved and the editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow and Julie Mccarron bring the latest issue to a close.
If you have read Thuglit before you know what you are in for as this issue meets high standards. If you have not, this series is not about unicorns and rainbows. If any are present, they are because of your imagination is in whacked out over drive as you have been chasing meth and alcohol the last 36 hours in a desperate attempt to get some money together in a cock eyed plan to rip somebody off. Or, somebody hit you over the head and you had strange dreams while lying unconscious as god knows what went on around you and to you. Thuglit: Issue 21 is another dark read and another good one.
Thuglit: Issue 21
Editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow, and Julie Mccarron
Thuglit Publishing
http://www.thuglit.com
December 2015
ASIN#: B01A1I89H6
E-Book (Paperback also available)
132 Pages
$1.99
Material was purchased to read and review back in late January by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
March 20, 2016
Very nice collection of short stories. Not the best production value ever for the actual boo.. nothing horrible, mind you, but just alot of wasted space and a pretty thin cover. I suspect it's mostly an e-pub, and the print part is a minor side light. Anyway, the stories:
The Long Drive Home by William R. Seldon: Pitching up a hitchhiker in this day and age seems a bit incongrouous, but it was still a decent story, and the little dog was cute :).
Being Fred by Travis Richardson: My favorite of the bunch, about a Russian Enforcer who has MPD and his other personality is a 'weak' solid citizen named Fred. Very cool concept that delivered plot wise as well.
Paradise by Rena Robinett: Nice twist on a fairly typical revenge story where it's the mom that goes hunting for the killer.
Nut Lobby by Preston Lang: Man, I didn't know lobbyists were this tough! Kinda surreal, but not bad.
The Night They Burned Ol' Big Tex Down by Christopher Fulbright: Drug Deals gone bad aren't my favorite, but this was a pretty well written one.. I'd love to see something by this author that was a better story.
A Nice Pair of Guns by Nick Kolakowski: I find myself wondering why this wasn't an episode of Justified...swap in Raylan for the good guy and the Crows for Zombie Bill, and you've got yourself an excellent episode. Very close 2nd to being my favorite!
Virgin Sacrifice by David Rachels: A little too creepy of a stalker for my tastes.. cool twists at the end, though.
Mercy by Dale Sandin: Good writing, as I really felt bad for the poor main character... good if you're into sob stories.
Overall, very much worth the $5.99... I'll definitely consider getting future (or past) ones!
The Long Drive Home by William R. Seldon: Pitching up a hitchhiker in this day and age seems a bit incongrouous, but it was still a decent story, and the little dog was cute :).
Being Fred by Travis Richardson: My favorite of the bunch, about a Russian Enforcer who has MPD and his other personality is a 'weak' solid citizen named Fred. Very cool concept that delivered plot wise as well.
Paradise by Rena Robinett: Nice twist on a fairly typical revenge story where it's the mom that goes hunting for the killer.
Nut Lobby by Preston Lang: Man, I didn't know lobbyists were this tough! Kinda surreal, but not bad.
The Night They Burned Ol' Big Tex Down by Christopher Fulbright: Drug Deals gone bad aren't my favorite, but this was a pretty well written one.. I'd love to see something by this author that was a better story.
A Nice Pair of Guns by Nick Kolakowski: I find myself wondering why this wasn't an episode of Justified...swap in Raylan for the good guy and the Crows for Zombie Bill, and you've got yourself an excellent episode. Very close 2nd to being my favorite!
Virgin Sacrifice by David Rachels: A little too creepy of a stalker for my tastes.. cool twists at the end, though.
Mercy by Dale Sandin: Good writing, as I really felt bad for the poor main character... good if you're into sob stories.
Overall, very much worth the $5.99... I'll definitely consider getting future (or past) ones!
July 6, 2016
Another installment of noir
These collections of short stories are something I look forward to. For a mere pittance (99¢), it just cannot be beat if you like this kind of of stuff. Every story is well written and edited (big issue for me, even at less than a buck) .
These are dark tales of dark men and women. No good guys; just bad guys and worse guys. The underbelly of society. Blood, violence and dead bodies are the norm.
My kind of stuff!
These collections of short stories are something I look forward to. For a mere pittance (99¢), it just cannot be beat if you like this kind of of stuff. Every story is well written and edited (big issue for me, even at less than a buck) .
These are dark tales of dark men and women. No good guys; just bad guys and worse guys. The underbelly of society. Blood, violence and dead bodies are the norm.
My kind of stuff!
February 29, 2016
Wow! Great crime stories and only $2! You gotta read this! My favorites were Nut Lobby Virgin Sacrifice, A Nice Pair of Guns and Mercy! The best part: when I read this on the train, some guy gave me a really dirty look! I love Thuglit and so will you!
March 30, 2016
Pretty good
Poop and early release days of work for you. Free of consciousness and doug is my first time.
Quiet on the same thing to do.
Poop and early release days of work for you. Free of consciousness and doug is my first time.
Quiet on the same thing to do.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews