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Unloaded: Crime Writers Writing Without Guns
Nominated for the 2017 Anthony Award for Best Anthology/Collection
*** Proceeds from the sales of Unloaded will benefit the nonprofit States United To Prevent Gun Violence (CeaseFireUSA.org) ***
For the first time, more than two dozen crime and mystery authors have joined together to use the strongest weapon at their disposal—words—in a call for reasonable gun control in the U.S.A. In this collection you get all the thrills and excitement you come to expect from a great crime story, but without any guns.
From best sellers and writing legends to the brightest stars of the next generation of crime writers, the twenty-five authors here have taken pen in hand to say enough is enough. Gun violence has got to stop and this is our way of speaking out—by showing that gun violence can be removed from the narrative, and maybe from our lives.
It's not anti-gun, it's pro-sanity. And above anything else, these are thrilling crime stories that will surprise and shock, thrill and chill—all without a gun in sight.
The writers are from both sides of the political aisle and many of the authors are gun owners themselves. But everyone felt it was time to speak out. Featuring the talents of J.L. Abramo , Patricia Abbott, Trey R. Barker, Eric Beetner, Alec Cizak, Joe Clifford, Reed Farrel Coleman, Angel Luis Colón, Hilary Davidson, Paul J. Garth, Alison Gaylin, Kent Gowran, Rob Hart, Jeffery Hess, Grant Jerkins, Joe R. Lansdale, S.W. Lauden, Tim O’Mara, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Pitts, Thomas Pluck, Keith Rawson, Kelli Stanley, Ryan Sayles, and Holly West.
Praise for UNLOADED…
“The 25 short stories in this thought-provoking theme anthology prove that clever crime writers can generate just as much mayhem, weirdness, and chills without the use of firearms.” —Publishers Weekly
*** Proceeds from the sales of Unloaded will benefit the nonprofit States United To Prevent Gun Violence (CeaseFireUSA.org) ***
For the first time, more than two dozen crime and mystery authors have joined together to use the strongest weapon at their disposal—words—in a call for reasonable gun control in the U.S.A. In this collection you get all the thrills and excitement you come to expect from a great crime story, but without any guns.
From best sellers and writing legends to the brightest stars of the next generation of crime writers, the twenty-five authors here have taken pen in hand to say enough is enough. Gun violence has got to stop and this is our way of speaking out—by showing that gun violence can be removed from the narrative, and maybe from our lives.
It's not anti-gun, it's pro-sanity. And above anything else, these are thrilling crime stories that will surprise and shock, thrill and chill—all without a gun in sight.
The writers are from both sides of the political aisle and many of the authors are gun owners themselves. But everyone felt it was time to speak out. Featuring the talents of J.L. Abramo , Patricia Abbott, Trey R. Barker, Eric Beetner, Alec Cizak, Joe Clifford, Reed Farrel Coleman, Angel Luis Colón, Hilary Davidson, Paul J. Garth, Alison Gaylin, Kent Gowran, Rob Hart, Jeffery Hess, Grant Jerkins, Joe R. Lansdale, S.W. Lauden, Tim O’Mara, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Pitts, Thomas Pluck, Keith Rawson, Kelli Stanley, Ryan Sayles, and Holly West.
Praise for UNLOADED…
“The 25 short stories in this thought-provoking theme anthology prove that clever crime writers can generate just as much mayhem, weirdness, and chills without the use of firearms.” —Publishers Weekly
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2016
7 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Eric Beetner
105 books120 followersBIO:
Eric Beetner has been hailed as “the new maestro of noir,” by Ken Bruen and “The 21st Century’s answer to Jim Thompson” by LitReactor.
He has written more than 2 dozen novels and his short stories has been featured in over 30 anthologies and along the way he’s been nominated for an ITW award, a Shamus, Derringer and three Anthony awards. He’s won none of them.
Novels include There and Back, All The Way Down, Two In The Head, Rumrunners, The Devil Doesn't Want Me and many more.
For more visit ericbeetner.com
Eric Beetner has been hailed as “the new maestro of noir,” by Ken Bruen and “The 21st Century’s answer to Jim Thompson” by LitReactor.
He has written more than 2 dozen novels and his short stories has been featured in over 30 anthologies and along the way he’s been nominated for an ITW award, a Shamus, Derringer and three Anthony awards. He’s won none of them.
Novels include There and Back, All The Way Down, Two In The Head, Rumrunners, The Devil Doesn't Want Me and many more.
For more visit ericbeetner.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 25, 2018
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
2 out of 25. The number of stories that I liked in this anthology, which were by Joe Lansdale (probably a good reason why his was the first in the book) and Eric Beetner (editor of this book). Overall, though, it was pretty disappointing.
2 out of 25. The number of stories that I liked in this anthology, which were by Joe Lansdale (probably a good reason why his was the first in the book) and Eric Beetner (editor of this book). Overall, though, it was pretty disappointing.
May 3, 2018
“Unloaded” is a collection of short stories edited by Eric Beetner. This group is unique because all of the writers specifically constructed their stories of murder, mayhem, and destruction without using guns. With the next volume of “unloaded” arriving in July, this is a great time to revisit the original collection.
“Unloaded” (volume 1) opens with the best wheelchair justice in a down-home classic by Joe R. Lansdale. The tales that follow are scary, thought provoking, questioning, and downright creepy. If you are not afraid of trains, baseball bats, tattoos, undertakers, clowns, or hammers, you will be by the time you are finished reading.
The advantage of an anthology such as “Unloaded” is that readers can finish an entire scary story in one sitting, while waiting for an appointment or a plane, or when one just needs a quick break from the stress of the day. Be advised however, these are not really those cute little “feel-good” stories; they compelling and scary. Once you start one, you will not be able to stop until you are finished. It is a good thing they are short.
I received a copy of “Unloaded” (volume 1) from Down and Out Books and NetGalley. I can hardly wait for the next installment in July.
“Unloaded” (volume 1) opens with the best wheelchair justice in a down-home classic by Joe R. Lansdale. The tales that follow are scary, thought provoking, questioning, and downright creepy. If you are not afraid of trains, baseball bats, tattoos, undertakers, clowns, or hammers, you will be by the time you are finished reading.
The advantage of an anthology such as “Unloaded” is that readers can finish an entire scary story in one sitting, while waiting for an appointment or a plane, or when one just needs a quick break from the stress of the day. Be advised however, these are not really those cute little “feel-good” stories; they compelling and scary. Once you start one, you will not be able to stop until you are finished. It is a good thing they are short.
I received a copy of “Unloaded” (volume 1) from Down and Out Books and NetGalley. I can hardly wait for the next installment in July.
August 11, 2020
What Unloaded is a gimmick anthology as it states in the title - Crime Writers Writing Without Guns. So you have a motley collection of authors who all write a crime story but guns are not used in the story. Some writers get creative, others just go low tech - safe doors vs heads in "Stark Raving" for example. My two favorite tales in the collection is "Creampuff" by Rob Hart which I had encountered in a food themed crime anthology and "The Final Encore of Moody Joe Shaw" by Thomas Pluck which begs the question as to who the real criminal is. Since this is an anthology of short stories, each reader will need to decide for herself/himself as to which stories most appeal to them.
February 16, 2023
This collection consists of a few knockout stories, a few good stories, and a slew of sub-par ones. Worst of all, the editing was laughable, if not merely nonexistent. Words were missing, some were errors of the juvenile sort (there/their), comma splices abound, and a consistent style was never applied.
October 23, 2017
This charity anthology is for a great cause, but the actual content is relatively weak - a lot of very-short short stories that didn't do much for me. Too many times the killer is killed in the end, or the killer goes ahead and gets away with, in either case often just as you suspected would happen but more important, without much reason to care about them either way. It finishes strong, but too much is just blah. Recommended only to support States United To Prevent Gun Violence (ceasefireusa.org). Maybe write them a check instead.
March 21, 2018
The authors of this book are fighting back against gun violence by writing really good stories without guns. The concept intrigued me and I am happy I read this, as the stories were entertaining and enjoyable.
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January 13, 2019I can't rate this book as I didn't finish it. Too many stories I didn't like at the beginning made me not want to finish the book. Maybe another time. I really like what the authors were trying to prove regarding the stories told with no gun violence, I really salute them for it.
May 22, 2016
Eric Beetner and his like-minded crew are fighting back against the insanity of gun violence with the only weapons they've got: their words. And their stories. All you have to do, is read them.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews