What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ultra Fuckers
Tony dreads the idea of going to his wife's company dinner party in Eagle Hills; the new upper-middleclass gated community that just popped up outside of Scottsdale, AZ. He hates these Southwestern-style planned suburban neighborhoods. All of the streets look the same. All of the houses look the same. All of the people look the same. Because everything in Eagle Hills looks exactly the same, Tony has trouble finding the dinner party. He quickly becomes lost in the sea of red tile roofs. The streets seem to go on forever. The addresses don't seem to make any sense.
After hours of navigating the suburban labyrinth, Tony discovers that there is something terribly wrong with the Eagle Hills gated community. There is something unnatural about the houses around him. There is something inhuman about the people staring at him through the windows. And no matter how far he drives, he can't seem to find his way out.
Ultra Fuckers is a work of absurd suburban horror in the tradition of Mellick's previous short novel, The Menstruating Mall.
After hours of navigating the suburban labyrinth, Tony discovers that there is something terribly wrong with the Eagle Hills gated community. There is something unnatural about the houses around him. There is something inhuman about the people staring at him through the windows. And no matter how far he drives, he can't seem to find his way out.
Ultra Fuckers is a work of absurd suburban horror in the tradition of Mellick's previous short novel, The Menstruating Mall.
95 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Carlton Mellick III
119 books2,168 followersCarlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 17, 2022
That was interesting, like the movie Vivarium but on crack and just a bit of LSD. A couple Tony and Tammy are on their way to a dinner party being thrown by Tammy's boss and get lost in a suburban nightmare while trying to locate the address. eventually Tony comes across The Ultra Fuckers and underground punk band who are also lost but have been here for weeks now and have discovered some of it's secrets and together they are determined to get to the bottom of hats going on.
A fun nightmarish, dystopian idea that comes together in nice absurdist little package. If looking for a little break from reality and good way to fill the time I would give this a try.
A fun nightmarish, dystopian idea that comes together in nice absurdist little package. If looking for a little break from reality and good way to fill the time I would give this a try.
July 23, 2019
Carlton Mellick destroys and rebuilds the suburbs with his unique vision. Fast-paced, funny, and freaky. I liked it!
April 26, 2020
I liked the creepy vibe to this story and it was a fun, quick read.
It's not quite as good as other CMIII books though... in my opinion.
It's not quite as good as other CMIII books though... in my opinion.
June 22, 2024
"Life is only killing time between masturbations.”
For those who don't know, Ultra Fuckers is an actual Japanese noise punk band, the members of which are characters in this novel. (Not sure if the girl with the goldfish mohawk is a real person, though.) The only hard evidence of their existence is a handful of blurry YouTube videos that were uploaded within a few years of the inception of the website. I enjoyed the book, but I almost found it more interesting that a) Carlton discovered this band in the first place and b) wrote a book about them. Trying to find information on them was pretty fun.
This may be a bit of a tangent, but it reminds me of the recent album Tidal Memory Exo by Iglooghost. The album is possibly his best work to date, but even more amusing, to me, is the creation of the unreasonably detailed website [exoportal.xyz](http://exoportal.xyz) that explains the lore of the album. I guess I like when books, and other pieces of art, send me down obscure rabbit holes that I otherwise would've never discovered.
For those who don't know, Ultra Fuckers is an actual Japanese noise punk band, the members of which are characters in this novel. (Not sure if the girl with the goldfish mohawk is a real person, though.) The only hard evidence of their existence is a handful of blurry YouTube videos that were uploaded within a few years of the inception of the website. I enjoyed the book, but I almost found it more interesting that a) Carlton discovered this band in the first place and b) wrote a book about them. Trying to find information on them was pretty fun.
This may be a bit of a tangent, but it reminds me of the recent album Tidal Memory Exo by Iglooghost. The album is possibly his best work to date, but even more amusing, to me, is the creation of the unreasonably detailed website [exoportal.xyz](http://exoportal.xyz) that explains the lore of the album. I guess I like when books, and other pieces of art, send me down obscure rabbit holes that I otherwise would've never discovered.
June 9, 2017
With a smidge of "They Live" dark humor and the overall sameness horror of the suburbs, it's good to know that a little noise punk and ultra fuckers can make a cookie cutter world not so bad after all.
November 30, 2013
After reading Teeth and Tongue Landscape I was really excited to pick up another CM3 book, so I grabbed this one reading a description about punks in a creepy suburbia. I was excited because with Teeth and Tongue I got a crazy unique and interesting but pulpy setting, world, and characters but there was also a greater theme and alluded to the entire novel. I really enjoyed that novel...
Ultra Fuckers starts off really sorta blah and never really picks up from there. A lot of the themes and plot elements feel lackluster upon deliver or just fade away. The book just sorta exists for 90 pages or so.
Overall there were some interesting character designs and elements to the setting that I liked enough to remember, but this one let me down a big time. 2013 has been my year of binge Bizarro reading, and this one is on the low end of my list.
**
Ultra Fuckers starts off really sorta blah and never really picks up from there. A lot of the themes and plot elements feel lackluster upon deliver or just fade away. The book just sorta exists for 90 pages or so.
Overall there were some interesting character designs and elements to the setting that I liked enough to remember, but this one let me down a big time. 2013 has been my year of binge Bizarro reading, and this one is on the low end of my list.
**
June 24, 2024
3.5. A very fun read! I’m usually a little skeptical with bizarro; I expect the story may be weird just to be weird at the expense of a solid or cohesive storyline. I keep getting proved wrong though.
I really enjoyed this story. A bit of a surreal fever dream with the right amount of weirdness. I will be on the lookout for mundanes thus forth. Here your pop food!
I really enjoyed this story. A bit of a surreal fever dream with the right amount of weirdness. I will be on the lookout for mundanes thus forth. Here your pop food!
August 26, 2025
Thus far this is the most mainstream Mellick novel I’ve read. Basically a satirical send up of suburban conurbation and tract housing. Fairly entertaining SF sort of stuff. Perhaps with mild elements of bizarro fiction.
April 25, 2023
You know that movie with Jesse Eisenberg where he and his wife get stuck navigating an endless suburban hell and can’t find their way out. This is that on crack but with no Eisenberg..so you know..good!
August 30, 2014
Well, I gotta say that out of all the CMIII books I've read, this one is probably my least favorite. I understand its supposed to be a commentary on the whole suburban nightmare and cookie cutter 'everything looks exactly alike' type of consumerism, but it just really missed the mark. Definitely a must read for CMIII junkies that read every one of his books (i.e., ME), but even die hard fans will probably not be very impressed with this one. :-(
August 13, 2009
More strange crap from Mellick. Someone's gotta do it!
August 19, 2020
Like all of CM3's books I have read so far I enjoyed this immensely. However I had to take a star off because Tony became Troy twice in the book which threw me off until i realised they were typos.
September 18, 2021
This was painful to read, I think I had a stroke.
October 4, 2023
Tony and his wife Tammy enter a tract housing development, trying to locate Tammy's boss's house for a dinner party. They soon get lost in the seemingly endless suburb and eventually separated. While trying to make his way out, Tony comes across a Japanese punk band who call themselves the Ultra Fuckers who have also gotten lost.
Part satire of the cookie cutter architecture of suburbs and excess development, and part surreal action comedy, this is actually a fairly tame and accessible work by Mellick's standards despite the title. At less than 100 pages, it's also a quick read. If I was going to introduce someone to Mellick, I would probably give them this out of all the works I've read.
This is not to say that it isn't an enjoyable read in its own right. It certainly is, and the climax is a lot of fun.
Part satire of the cookie cutter architecture of suburbs and excess development, and part surreal action comedy, this is actually a fairly tame and accessible work by Mellick's standards despite the title. At less than 100 pages, it's also a quick read. If I was going to introduce someone to Mellick, I would probably give them this out of all the works I've read.
This is not to say that it isn't an enjoyable read in its own right. It certainly is, and the climax is a lot of fun.
December 22, 2023
Carlton Mellick is the king of Bizarro- i shall introduce one of the most Bizarroest Bizarro books I have read since my last Mellick book!
What you will get with this read-
🏠 A WTF expression on your face upon reading just a quarter of the way in.
🏠 No Hallmark movie here.
🏠 unpredictable story with a dash of claustrophobia
🏠 kooky characters and NPC characters along with a normal man just trying to survive.
🏠 is this the Twilight Zone on acid??
📚 Book Pairing- Cyclops Road by Jeff Strand
🍱 Food Pairing- sushi
What you will get with this read-
🏠 A WTF expression on your face upon reading just a quarter of the way in.
🏠 No Hallmark movie here.
🏠 unpredictable story with a dash of claustrophobia
🏠 kooky characters and NPC characters along with a normal man just trying to survive.
🏠 is this the Twilight Zone on acid??
📚 Book Pairing- Cyclops Road by Jeff Strand
🍱 Food Pairing- sushi
July 19, 2025
This one? Creepy AF. Tony and his wife Tammy are trying to get to her work event, but they end up stuck in this bizarre, never-ending suburban neighborhood. Like, forever lost. They stop for directions, and Tammy just vanishes. From there, it all spirals into straight-up WTF territory.
😩 Poor Tony. At first, Tammy was kind of annoying, then suddenly I was creeped out, then sad for Tony, then lowkey vibing with the ultra fuckers characters, and by the end I was just like—okay, what?!
Definitely a ride and it was fun!
😩 Poor Tony. At first, Tammy was kind of annoying, then suddenly I was creeped out, then sad for Tony, then lowkey vibing with the ultra fuckers characters, and by the end I was just like—okay, what?!
Definitely a ride and it was fun!
May 31, 2021
First story by Carlton Mellick III and definitly not the last. I like the "takers-out" style of writing.
Just 4* for this one though. I reminded me too much of Vivarium, even though the film came out later. The concept wasn't that surprising since I know it beforehand.
Just 4* for this one though. I reminded me too much of Vivarium, even though the film came out later. The concept wasn't that surprising since I know it beforehand.
August 30, 2025
Man, I was looking for books similar to the movie Vivarium, and this is it!
The ending revealing why they couldn’t escape, the fake people and the friends at the end, everything had me interested! The couple argued too much though
The ending revealing why they couldn’t escape, the fake people and the friends at the end, everything had me interested! The couple argued too much though
July 26, 2023
Another one I couldn't put down. Mellick's imagination is amazing and I love the humour he always includes.
January 28, 2024
mein favorit bisher von cm3!
eine labyrinth-story.
eine labyrinth-story.
March 24, 2024
This was absolutely buck wild 😂 Not my usual fare, but definitely entertaining!
June 19, 2024
While this wasn't my favorite of his books, it was super fun and a great way to pass a few NyQuil tinted hours while sick.
December 15, 2024
It was okay.
June 14, 2025
What starts as rather Palahniukan take on Stepford Wives turns into a punk moshpit of resistance and destruction. Fucking awesome.
July 23, 2024
A quick, easy read about a suburbia hellhole in a batshit crazy universe.
August 14, 2011
Ein Wort: ABGESPACED!
Ein paar Worte vorab zum Äußerlichen:
Wieder einmal ein Cover, das sofort ins Auge sticht. Eine Frau in Lack, knallroter Lippenstift, dunkle umrandete Augen, Fische als Irofrisur auf dem Kopf, provokant und anders. Ein Hingucker im Regal, genauso wie der Vorgänger Candyland. Diesmal sind die Seiten knallig orange, die Absätze werden von einem „“ unterbrochen das Lesebändchen leuchtet gelb, alles passt zur Story und zum genialen Autor.
Tony und seine Frau sind zu einer Dinnerparty eingeladen, Tony hat überhaupt keine Lust, doch seine Frau hat ihn so lange genervt, bis er schließlich doch mitkam. Zusammen befahren sie Eagle Hill, eine abgeschlossene Wohngegend. Es ist schon spät und dunkel, die beiden irren fahrend herum und finden den Ort des Geschehens nicht. Nach stundenlangem umherirren will Tony jemanden nach dem Weg fragen und als er zurück zu seinem Auto kommt, ist Tammy weg. Ab jetzt beginnt ein Abenteuer, von dem Tony nicht einmal nachts gewagt hätte zu träumen...
Dieses Buch ist mit 100 Seiten ein absolut typischer Mellick. Nachdem ich das Candyland schon in einem Rutsch verschlungen hatte, gefesselt von Mellicks einfachem, aber doch sehr besonderen Schreibstil, ging es mir mit den Ultra Fuckers nicht anders. Mellick ist es wieder einmal gelungen, einen bizarren Roman zu verfassen, wo der Leser sich einfach auf eine Story einlassen kann, ohne das Gehirn mit Nachdenken belasten zu müssen. Denn hier gilt die Regel: Kopf und logisches Denken aus, Phantasie und Spaß an.
Besonders das Vorwort vom Autor selbst hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Hier erklärt Mellick, dass Ultra Fuckers sein kürzester Roman ist und warum kurz nicht gleich „schlecht(er)“ bedeutet. Diese Erklärung hat mir sehr gut gefallen und sie passt absolut zu diesem Autor.
Zur inhaltlichen Story möchte ich gar nicht viel sagen. Hier gilt es ebenfalls, sich einfach drauf einzulassen. Man muss zusammen mit Mellick die Story rund um die Ultra Fuckers und dem Vorort Eagle Hills selbst entdecken und kennen lernen.
Ich war von Anfang an gefangen und habe das Buch in einem Rutsch gelesen. Man will einfach wissen, wie es weitergeht und die orangen Seiten fliegen nur so an einem vorbei. Die Story ist bizarr, schräg, anders, einfach abgespaced. Für mich „typisch“ Mellick und jeder, der zu diesem Buch greift, weiß, was ihn erwartet. Wenn nicht: Das Äußere stimmt mit dem Inneren überein. Hier bekommt man vom Cover definitiv keine falschen Versprechungen.
Besonders toll finde ich auch, dass es am Ende ein Interview mit Mellick gibt. Dies bringt uns den besonderen Autoren näher und lässt uns an seinen Gedanken teilhaben. Ebenfalls findet sich auf den letzten Seiten ein Nachwort, welches mir ebenfalls gut gefallen hat.
Für mich wieder einmal ein geniales Buch aus dem Bereich der bizarren Fiktion und ein Beweis mehr, wieso Carlton Mellick III für mich zu einem Musthave in meinem Buchregal geworden ist.
Ein paar Worte vorab zum Äußerlichen:
Wieder einmal ein Cover, das sofort ins Auge sticht. Eine Frau in Lack, knallroter Lippenstift, dunkle umrandete Augen, Fische als Irofrisur auf dem Kopf, provokant und anders. Ein Hingucker im Regal, genauso wie der Vorgänger Candyland. Diesmal sind die Seiten knallig orange, die Absätze werden von einem „“ unterbrochen das Lesebändchen leuchtet gelb, alles passt zur Story und zum genialen Autor.
Tony und seine Frau sind zu einer Dinnerparty eingeladen, Tony hat überhaupt keine Lust, doch seine Frau hat ihn so lange genervt, bis er schließlich doch mitkam. Zusammen befahren sie Eagle Hill, eine abgeschlossene Wohngegend. Es ist schon spät und dunkel, die beiden irren fahrend herum und finden den Ort des Geschehens nicht. Nach stundenlangem umherirren will Tony jemanden nach dem Weg fragen und als er zurück zu seinem Auto kommt, ist Tammy weg. Ab jetzt beginnt ein Abenteuer, von dem Tony nicht einmal nachts gewagt hätte zu träumen...
Dieses Buch ist mit 100 Seiten ein absolut typischer Mellick. Nachdem ich das Candyland schon in einem Rutsch verschlungen hatte, gefesselt von Mellicks einfachem, aber doch sehr besonderen Schreibstil, ging es mir mit den Ultra Fuckers nicht anders. Mellick ist es wieder einmal gelungen, einen bizarren Roman zu verfassen, wo der Leser sich einfach auf eine Story einlassen kann, ohne das Gehirn mit Nachdenken belasten zu müssen. Denn hier gilt die Regel: Kopf und logisches Denken aus, Phantasie und Spaß an.
Besonders das Vorwort vom Autor selbst hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Hier erklärt Mellick, dass Ultra Fuckers sein kürzester Roman ist und warum kurz nicht gleich „schlecht(er)“ bedeutet. Diese Erklärung hat mir sehr gut gefallen und sie passt absolut zu diesem Autor.
Zur inhaltlichen Story möchte ich gar nicht viel sagen. Hier gilt es ebenfalls, sich einfach drauf einzulassen. Man muss zusammen mit Mellick die Story rund um die Ultra Fuckers und dem Vorort Eagle Hills selbst entdecken und kennen lernen.
Ich war von Anfang an gefangen und habe das Buch in einem Rutsch gelesen. Man will einfach wissen, wie es weitergeht und die orangen Seiten fliegen nur so an einem vorbei. Die Story ist bizarr, schräg, anders, einfach abgespaced. Für mich „typisch“ Mellick und jeder, der zu diesem Buch greift, weiß, was ihn erwartet. Wenn nicht: Das Äußere stimmt mit dem Inneren überein. Hier bekommt man vom Cover definitiv keine falschen Versprechungen.
Besonders toll finde ich auch, dass es am Ende ein Interview mit Mellick gibt. Dies bringt uns den besonderen Autoren näher und lässt uns an seinen Gedanken teilhaben. Ebenfalls findet sich auf den letzten Seiten ein Nachwort, welches mir ebenfalls gut gefallen hat.
Für mich wieder einmal ein geniales Buch aus dem Bereich der bizarren Fiktion und ein Beweis mehr, wieso Carlton Mellick III für mich zu einem Musthave in meinem Buchregal geworden ist.
June 9, 2010
Being named “Ultra Fuckers” I expected this book to be all kinds of messed up, similar to CM3’s “Apeshit”. But it’s more along the lines of Mellick’s totally awesome bizarro classic “The Menstruating Mall.” Its absurdist horror mixed with social satire, this time aimed at the mechanical soul-crushery of suburbia.
The protagonist is Tony. He and his girlfriend Tammy are driving into the suburb of Eagle Hills for a dinner date. Their relationship is fleshed out fairly well given the fast pace of the book. They’re dysfunctional in just the right places, and Mellick makes you feel for Tony, which is good considering how lost he becomes in Eagle Hills. He’s separated from Tammy and learns that the suburb is actually a gigantic diabolical science experiment.
Mellick writes in the foreword that he’s a huge fan of Japanese culture and was also raised in the ultra-Southwestern Arizona suburbs that he’s satirizing here. He’s mixed those two things together to create a very weird world inside Eagle Hills. The constant Southwestern trappings and the Japanese punks Tony meets create a really strange clash that proves disorienting, violent, and creepy. And despite the title, “Ultra Fuckers” isn’t really that vulgar. There’s no ultraviolence or sex to be found. It’s straight-up situational horror with a normal guy trying to overcome a physically (and morally) terrifying environment. So if you enjoy horror-leaning bizarro, this is a must-have.
The protagonist is Tony. He and his girlfriend Tammy are driving into the suburb of Eagle Hills for a dinner date. Their relationship is fleshed out fairly well given the fast pace of the book. They’re dysfunctional in just the right places, and Mellick makes you feel for Tony, which is good considering how lost he becomes in Eagle Hills. He’s separated from Tammy and learns that the suburb is actually a gigantic diabolical science experiment.
Mellick writes in the foreword that he’s a huge fan of Japanese culture and was also raised in the ultra-Southwestern Arizona suburbs that he’s satirizing here. He’s mixed those two things together to create a very weird world inside Eagle Hills. The constant Southwestern trappings and the Japanese punks Tony meets create a really strange clash that proves disorienting, violent, and creepy. And despite the title, “Ultra Fuckers” isn’t really that vulgar. There’s no ultraviolence or sex to be found. It’s straight-up situational horror with a normal guy trying to overcome a physically (and morally) terrifying environment. So if you enjoy horror-leaning bizarro, this is a must-have.
June 29, 2011
Mellick, as always, is on fire with his latest story. Every tale by this creative madman is deliciously inspired and wholly original, and this book is no exception. His economy of words displays a pure, focused vision, uncomplicated by fluff or filler. Mellick is one of the very few authors that has such a distinct style, I can read a couple sentences anywhere in the book and know he is the author. He is one of my favorite discoveries in recent years and I make it a point to introduce him to friends and colleagues whenever I have a chance.
This book, like many of his other stories, begins rather innocuously. Then, sentence by sentence, page by page, he begins to unleash his eclectic world onto his readers, where you quickly becoming addicted to the characters and their remarkable situations. In this story, as the characters get lost in the gated suburban community, the narrative slowly begins to feel like a distant dream that eventually progresses into a full blown nightmare. The transitions from a familiar reality into a twisted fantasy are seamless and incredibly enjoyable to read.
While this is not my favorite by Mellick, I have yet to read one by him that I didn't absolutely fall in love with. As far as I can tell, he hits a bull's-eye every time out, and continues to publish fresh, new novels multiple times per year. Mellick is a creative machine and is a must read for any fan of original fiction, regardless of genre.
This book, like many of his other stories, begins rather innocuously. Then, sentence by sentence, page by page, he begins to unleash his eclectic world onto his readers, where you quickly becoming addicted to the characters and their remarkable situations. In this story, as the characters get lost in the gated suburban community, the narrative slowly begins to feel like a distant dream that eventually progresses into a full blown nightmare. The transitions from a familiar reality into a twisted fantasy are seamless and incredibly enjoyable to read.
While this is not my favorite by Mellick, I have yet to read one by him that I didn't absolutely fall in love with. As far as I can tell, he hits a bull's-eye every time out, and continues to publish fresh, new novels multiple times per year. Mellick is a creative machine and is a must read for any fan of original fiction, regardless of genre.
October 5, 2022
Wtf did I just read 😂 My second book by this author, and I’m just in awe of his imagination. If you want a really fun, really weird and bizarre read then please please pick this up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews