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Gravity
Flesh magic, '80s hardcore, immortal aliens. Chaotic detectives and black-gloved killers. Nine stories by the author of Long Lost Dog Of It.
“Existentialist horror that’s never bound to form.” —COMPLEX
“Existentialist horror that’s never bound to form.” —COMPLEX
- GenresShort Stories
126 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2017
About the author
Michael Kazepis
7 books31 followersOriginally from Greece, Michael Kazepis lives in the United States. He is working on his second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 12, 2017
"They wanted to kill me before they knew who I was. But I think I gave them something real. And maybe they felt it and that's why I'm here and not in a canal."
Gravity is a short collection. I took my time on it, as to avoid finishing it in one sitting. These nine stories span multiple genres while avoiding any typical trope. They're all quite good. My favorite is Minerva, a complex horror which reminded me of the best Argento films, and whose final page stayed in my mind long after finishing. This will be getting a re-read very soon. Here's hoping for more Kazepis in the near future.
Gravity is a short collection. I took my time on it, as to avoid finishing it in one sitting. These nine stories span multiple genres while avoiding any typical trope. They're all quite good. My favorite is Minerva, a complex horror which reminded me of the best Argento films, and whose final page stayed in my mind long after finishing. This will be getting a re-read very soon. Here's hoping for more Kazepis in the near future.
May 13, 2021
Short and punchy collection of short stories. Initially I was a bit bewildered but grew to really like it, the stories seemed to improve as the collection went on, with the final three being standout.
July 17, 2017
GRAVITY is Michael Kazepis' follow-up to his 2014 novel LONG LOST DOG OF IT, which I believe will be re-released sometime in the future with new artwork, and new interior design. GRAVITY is a short story collection with short stories ranging from his most early work and possibly unpublished work, to more recent work like the incredibly dark story "Minerva", and the sci-fi/Lynch-esque "Goodbye to the Holy Mountain".
GRAVITY is comprised of nine short stories spanning multiple genres all the while avoiding the atypical tropes you'd see in lesser collections. In many ways GRAVITY seems like a love letter to the artists, writers, philosophers, films, directors, musicians, etc that have shaped Kazepis' life. For instance, Kazepis wears his Latin American Boom influence on his sleeve with his opening story "This Is A Horror Story" seeing the protagonist (likely to be Kazepis himself) visiting the grave of Cortázar in Paris, France. It's a short, somber story that encapsulates how much they mean to Kazepis, ending with the aforementioned visit to Cortázar's grave. Salvador Dalí makes an unexpected appearance in "Time In The Shadow Of The Thing Too Big To See". "Minerva" is practically oozing with nods to David Lynch, and Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Bolaño.
Kazepis makes unexpected turns in stories like "Thrush" examining the inner thoughts of an assassin as he stalks his target, and "A Song For Our Fathers" which follows a group of Russian, and Romanian ex-pats on an irradiated Earth committing some pretty horrendous crimes in order to survive.
His writing is immediate in its intimacy, and raw to your nerve endings when dealing with the visceral:
"He kept thinking about the woman inside, the cold body she was trying to warm, that special quiet king of love that builds between beings that can't talk to each other."
—
"The flesh had been carved out of his chest and stomach and now exposed an empty ribcage. His spine coiled down to where his pelvis had been. Blood filled two of the shit buckets they used."
It's difficult to say more about GRAVITY because it's so short (coming in 126 pgs), but it has writing that will stick to your bones, scar you, and turn your insides out as your sanity spirals downward in the dark reaches of space. It's dedication "for nationless children" is apt as you feel each story carries pieces of our wide, confusing world and the diverse, multi-cultured people in it. A collection that demands to be read, and you'll be the better for it.
**This review first appeared on Penboys Review: bit.ly/2uBl6g3
GRAVITY is comprised of nine short stories spanning multiple genres all the while avoiding the atypical tropes you'd see in lesser collections. In many ways GRAVITY seems like a love letter to the artists, writers, philosophers, films, directors, musicians, etc that have shaped Kazepis' life. For instance, Kazepis wears his Latin American Boom influence on his sleeve with his opening story "This Is A Horror Story" seeing the protagonist (likely to be Kazepis himself) visiting the grave of Cortázar in Paris, France. It's a short, somber story that encapsulates how much they mean to Kazepis, ending with the aforementioned visit to Cortázar's grave. Salvador Dalí makes an unexpected appearance in "Time In The Shadow Of The Thing Too Big To See". "Minerva" is practically oozing with nods to David Lynch, and Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Bolaño.
Kazepis makes unexpected turns in stories like "Thrush" examining the inner thoughts of an assassin as he stalks his target, and "A Song For Our Fathers" which follows a group of Russian, and Romanian ex-pats on an irradiated Earth committing some pretty horrendous crimes in order to survive.
His writing is immediate in its intimacy, and raw to your nerve endings when dealing with the visceral:
"He kept thinking about the woman inside, the cold body she was trying to warm, that special quiet king of love that builds between beings that can't talk to each other."
—
"The flesh had been carved out of his chest and stomach and now exposed an empty ribcage. His spine coiled down to where his pelvis had been. Blood filled two of the shit buckets they used."
It's difficult to say more about GRAVITY because it's so short (coming in 126 pgs), but it has writing that will stick to your bones, scar you, and turn your insides out as your sanity spirals downward in the dark reaches of space. It's dedication "for nationless children" is apt as you feel each story carries pieces of our wide, confusing world and the diverse, multi-cultured people in it. A collection that demands to be read, and you'll be the better for it.
**This review first appeared on Penboys Review: bit.ly/2uBl6g3
September 24, 2018
Interesting self-published collection of short stories. I particularly liked the one about Henry Rollins.
October 23, 2021
Whole lot of nothing. Comes off as trying to be artsy but just was a waste of time that says nothing and has no purpose.
May 29, 2023
Strangest stories to choose for the most mundane Greek vacation.
November 6, 2020
soon
the stories are all thinkpieces
and moody
and good. great actually. shit!
but my favourite is the one with the freezer delivery , there's something very gentle and raw about it. not unlike what is in the freezer itself.
the stories are all thinkpieces
and moody
and good. great actually. shit!
but my favourite is the one with the freezer delivery , there's something very gentle and raw about it. not unlike what is in the freezer itself.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews