Organ Void

by Jon Padgett

Genres: Horror

11 pages, Chapbook

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Jon Padgett is a professional–though lapsed–ventriloquist who lives in New Orleans. He is the Editor-In-Chief of Grimscribe Press, which publishes Vastarien: A Literary Journal , a source of critical study and creative response to the work of Thomas Ligotti. Padgett’s first short story collection, The Secret of Ventriloquism, was named the Best Fiction Book of the Year by Rue Morgue Magazine.

Padgett’s voice has also become synonymous with the works of Thomas Ligotti. Padgett has lent his voice to numerous Thomas Ligotti works, including the recently released Penguin Random House audio version of Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe and various Cadabra Record releases, “The Bungalow House,” “The Red Tower,” “The Small People,” “Gas Station Carnivals,” “The Clown Puppet,” “Pictures of Apocalypse,” and “Mrs. Rinaldi’s Angel.” In addition to his work as a Ligotti narrator, Padgett has also narrated two Cadabra Records releases of his own work, “20 Simple Steps to Ventriloquism” and “Origami Dreams.” With his ability to channel Ligotti’s prose and poetry via the spoken word, Padgett is a singular figure in the world of weird storytelling.

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully weird and surreal story which leaves you unnerved and confused... in a good way!

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disease is passed on through reading a sign from a demented homeless man, a disease that makes the body shut down from the inside out and makes the mind go wild. Lots of nasty bodily fluids oozing everywhere. The brown kind, the yellow kind, the white kind and maybe even some of the red kind just for good measure. All the lovely stuff is on fully display to make you gag and squirm. Reminiscent to Junji Ito's body horror story called Glyceride.

[Brian O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first experience with Padgett's work, but I will make sure it is not my last. Weird fiction at in its purest form - body horror, ominous hobos, sickening distortion of reality...it all works so well. Highly recommended!

[Donald Armfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A weird horror tale following a female character. After reading a sign held by a homeless man that reads; "Organ Void" Leading to her sickness with strange occurrences.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Organ Void” explores identity and despair. Body horror delivered effectively.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose is driving home from work listening to a self help guru on her car's speakers, in Jon Padgett's short chapbook "Organ Void". As she stops at a red light she sees a tramp holding a cardboard sign reading "Organ -Void". The sign smells like rubbing alcohol and pus.

"Are you down with the Void ?"

Jon Pagett, in a short space, shares a bizarre incident of strangeness that quickly morphs into horror in this tale of loss of control and reality.