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Splatterpunk Forever
From the Splatterpunk Award-winning editors of Splatterpunk Fighting Back comes a brand new anthology. Marital dysfunction explodes into violence in a circus sideshow from hell... Three American tourists get more than they bargained for when they visit a very special Mexican brothel... When you work for the cartels, 'trash disposal' has a whole new meaning... Splatterpunk Forever brings you 11 all-new tales of extreme horror, with an introduction by Glenn Rolfe.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 31, 2018
"...the truth is I love a bit of the ole ultra-violence." - Lydian Faust
I believe I was introduced to splatterpunk / extreme horror last year, and while I've enjoyed most of what I've read, I haven't been crazy about everything. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from the Splatterpunk Forever anthology, but I knew I wanted to give it a shot.
I think Splatterpunk Forever is a pretty good introduction to the genre - I can't say what a more experienced splatterpunk reader would think, but that's my opinion. There are 11 stories in this anthology, so it's a fast read. Not all of the stories are as intense as I thought they would be, and there's a pretty good variety here. It opens with the hilarious and unsettling The Seacretor by Ryan Harding - the first line of the book is "Grant fucked the tree on the sixth day", which made me laugh & definitely caught my attention. It's memorable as hell.
Splatterpunk Forever provides a lot of entertainment in the middle, and then ends with Monica J. O'Rourke's Virtue of Stagnant Waters. The last story was the most extreme (in my opinion), and I was completely hooked to this disturbing story. Virtue of Stagnant Waters ended up being one of my top three stories, and the other two were Garrote by Lydian Faust and Guinea Pig Blues - Chad Lutzke. I hadn't read quite a few of these authors before, and I'm excited to hopefully read more from writers such as Saul Bailey.
If you're looking for a quick & entertaining read with stories that will both amuse and disturb you, pick up Splatterpunk Forever! The editors of this anthology (Jack Bantry and Kit Power) have another splatterpunk anthology that I definitely want to check out now. I rated all of the stories between 3⭐ to 5⭐, so it's full of good stories!
I believe I was introduced to splatterpunk / extreme horror last year, and while I've enjoyed most of what I've read, I haven't been crazy about everything. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from the Splatterpunk Forever anthology, but I knew I wanted to give it a shot.
I think Splatterpunk Forever is a pretty good introduction to the genre - I can't say what a more experienced splatterpunk reader would think, but that's my opinion. There are 11 stories in this anthology, so it's a fast read. Not all of the stories are as intense as I thought they would be, and there's a pretty good variety here. It opens with the hilarious and unsettling The Seacretor by Ryan Harding - the first line of the book is "Grant fucked the tree on the sixth day", which made me laugh & definitely caught my attention. It's memorable as hell.
Splatterpunk Forever provides a lot of entertainment in the middle, and then ends with Monica J. O'Rourke's Virtue of Stagnant Waters. The last story was the most extreme (in my opinion), and I was completely hooked to this disturbing story. Virtue of Stagnant Waters ended up being one of my top three stories, and the other two were Garrote by Lydian Faust and Guinea Pig Blues - Chad Lutzke. I hadn't read quite a few of these authors before, and I'm excited to hopefully read more from writers such as Saul Bailey.
If you're looking for a quick & entertaining read with stories that will both amuse and disturb you, pick up Splatterpunk Forever! The editors of this anthology (Jack Bantry and Kit Power) have another splatterpunk anthology that I definitely want to check out now. I rated all of the stories between 3⭐ to 5⭐, so it's full of good stories!
April 27, 2021
Nice collection
I’m am becoming a big fan of splatterpunk and the stories in this book are so good!! Right when you think you have read it all the next story comes along and blows you away. Such a good , fun disgusting collection. Check it out.
I’m am becoming a big fan of splatterpunk and the stories in this book are so good!! Right when you think you have read it all the next story comes along and blows you away. Such a good , fun disgusting collection. Check it out.
December 27, 2018
Loved
Extreme horror at it's sickest. Extreme authors with extreme stories. Every one unique, leaves you looking up what books each author has published, loved monica o Rourke.
Extreme horror at it's sickest. Extreme authors with extreme stories. Every one unique, leaves you looking up what books each author has published, loved monica o Rourke.
November 28, 2023
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2019/07/02/splatterpunk-forever/
The Splatterpunk Forever anthology is a feast for the Splatterpunk fan. A bloody, depraved feast!
I was both shocked and delighted to see that the opening story was by Ryan Harding. Ryan always comes to mind first when I hear or read the word “Splatterpunk.”
I was not disappointed.
“The Seacretor” by Ryan Harding is a creative, splattery first person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding! It was a fantastic beginning to this incredible antho and won the Splatterpunk Award at Killercon 2019 for best Short Story.
splatterpunk foreverBut wait. There’s more.
Next comes “Garrote” by Lydian Faust. “Garrote” is a good story, a solid story, with depth, good characters, creative perspective shifts, and a perverse mixing of horror subgenres. There is no predictability here. The creativity is off the charts.
Then comes “The Junkyard Shift” by Ryan C Tomas. This one is pure, flowing Splatterpunk. Right up to the unexpected twist at the end that rips a little piece of your heart off and keeps it.
I took a break after that and returned to read “Cougars” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, aka The Sisters of Slaughter. “Cougars” is a classic themed tale told with delightful and dark skill. Perfectly paced. A truly enjoyable read.
And then there is “Guinea Pig Blues” by Chad Lutzke. Another one that is pure Splatterpunk. This is the epitome of Splatterpunk. You don’t know whether to laugh or puke. A very visual read.
Next, Saul Bailey manages to mix extreme horror with historical horror and add a touch of cosmic horror to create the Splatterpunk story, “Blood on the Walls.” Intelligent, grotesque, and occasionally humorous, this is a well-crafted tale and an excellent read.
That gem is followed by the Splatterpunk masterpiece, “Chum” by Nathan Robinson. Chum is a classic story of revenge that is taken to exquisite levels of dark creative presentation by the very talented Mr. Robinson. A very entertaining splatter piece.
Then we have “The Bearded Woman” by Alessandro Manzetti (translated to English by Daniele Bonfanti). This story is a mixture of freak show horror, extreme horror, and a touch of scifi horror. The result is Splatterpunk gold. The subject matter is assured to delightfully offend.
After that, we are plunged into a story of rare depth and emotional impact for Splatterpunk. “Finger Paint” by Robert Essig speaks of bullying, torture both physical and emotional, and supernatural horror elements that embody the short and long of vengeance. This one is a mind ripper.
“Diamond in the Rough” b JR Park returns us to dark humor and graphic violence with a twisted story and more twisted ending. Blatant. Explicit. This is fun Splatterpunk for the Splatterpunk aficionado.
The final offering of Splatterpunk Forever is “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” by Monica O’Rourke.
Monica is Splatterpunk royalty. If you are familiar with her stories, you know the visceral delights that await you. If you are not, well, visceral delights await you. Like most of Monica’s stories, “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” will violate your psyche as well as turn your stomach. This story is expertly crafted with suspense, psychological horror, explicit violence of varying natures, and edgy content. It pushes all the buttons and boundaries. All fans of Monica should own this book if only for this dark masterpiece.
So ends the anthology Splatterpunk Forever.
This is a phenomenal collection. It is a shelf-worthy must-have for all fans of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror.
If you generally shy away from taking that step into Splatterpunk because you feel the plots tend to be lacking, make this collection the exception and take that step. All of these stories have strong storylines and quality characterization. Just brace yourself for that added level of content shock.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2019/07/02/splatterpunk-forever/
The Splatterpunk Forever anthology is a feast for the Splatterpunk fan. A bloody, depraved feast!
I was both shocked and delighted to see that the opening story was by Ryan Harding. Ryan always comes to mind first when I hear or read the word “Splatterpunk.”
I was not disappointed.
“The Seacretor” by Ryan Harding is a creative, splattery first person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding! It was a fantastic beginning to this incredible antho and won the Splatterpunk Award at Killercon 2019 for best Short Story.
splatterpunk foreverBut wait. There’s more.
Next comes “Garrote” by Lydian Faust. “Garrote” is a good story, a solid story, with depth, good characters, creative perspective shifts, and a perverse mixing of horror subgenres. There is no predictability here. The creativity is off the charts.
Then comes “The Junkyard Shift” by Ryan C Tomas. This one is pure, flowing Splatterpunk. Right up to the unexpected twist at the end that rips a little piece of your heart off and keeps it.
I took a break after that and returned to read “Cougars” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, aka The Sisters of Slaughter. “Cougars” is a classic themed tale told with delightful and dark skill. Perfectly paced. A truly enjoyable read.
And then there is “Guinea Pig Blues” by Chad Lutzke. Another one that is pure Splatterpunk. This is the epitome of Splatterpunk. You don’t know whether to laugh or puke. A very visual read.
Next, Saul Bailey manages to mix extreme horror with historical horror and add a touch of cosmic horror to create the Splatterpunk story, “Blood on the Walls.” Intelligent, grotesque, and occasionally humorous, this is a well-crafted tale and an excellent read.
That gem is followed by the Splatterpunk masterpiece, “Chum” by Nathan Robinson. Chum is a classic story of revenge that is taken to exquisite levels of dark creative presentation by the very talented Mr. Robinson. A very entertaining splatter piece.
Then we have “The Bearded Woman” by Alessandro Manzetti (translated to English by Daniele Bonfanti). This story is a mixture of freak show horror, extreme horror, and a touch of scifi horror. The result is Splatterpunk gold. The subject matter is assured to delightfully offend.
After that, we are plunged into a story of rare depth and emotional impact for Splatterpunk. “Finger Paint” by Robert Essig speaks of bullying, torture both physical and emotional, and supernatural horror elements that embody the short and long of vengeance. This one is a mind ripper.
“Diamond in the Rough” b JR Park returns us to dark humor and graphic violence with a twisted story and more twisted ending. Blatant. Explicit. This is fun Splatterpunk for the Splatterpunk aficionado.
The final offering of Splatterpunk Forever is “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” by Monica O’Rourke.
Monica is Splatterpunk royalty. If you are familiar with her stories, you know the visceral delights that await you. If you are not, well, visceral delights await you. Like most of Monica’s stories, “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” will violate your psyche as well as turn your stomach. This story is expertly crafted with suspense, psychological horror, explicit violence of varying natures, and edgy content. It pushes all the buttons and boundaries. All fans of Monica should own this book if only for this dark masterpiece.
So ends the anthology Splatterpunk Forever.
This is a phenomenal collection. It is a shelf-worthy must-have for all fans of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror.
If you generally shy away from taking that step into Splatterpunk because you feel the plots tend to be lacking, make this collection the exception and take that step. All of these stories have strong storylines and quality characterization. Just brace yourself for that added level of content shock.
February 23, 2019
A good yarn or two
A few really surprisingly deep narratives and tales in an overall good collection of stories about the beloved world of splatterpunk.
A few really surprisingly deep narratives and tales in an overall good collection of stories about the beloved world of splatterpunk.
July 2, 2019
The Splatterpunk Forever anthology is a feast for the Splatterpunk fan. A bloody, depraved feast!
I was both shocked and delighted to see that the opening story was by Ryan Harding. Ryan always comes to mind first when I hear or read the word “Splatterpunk.”
I was not disappointed.
“The Seacretor” by Ryan Harding is a creative, splattery first person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding! It was a fantastic beginning to this incredible antho.
But wait, there's more.
Next comes “Garrote” by Lydian Faust. “Garrote” is a good story, a solid story, with depth, good characters, creative perspective shifts, and a perverse mixing of horror subgenres. There is no predictability here. The creativity is off the charts.
Then comes “The Junkyard Shift” by Ryan C Tomas. This one is pure, flowing Splatterpunk. Right up to the unexpected twist at the end that rips a little piece of your heart off and keeps it.
I took a break after that and returned to read “Cougars” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, aka The Sisters of Slaughter. “Cougars” is a classic themed tale told with delightful and dark skill. Perfectly paced. A truly enjoyable read.
And then there is “Guinea Pig Blues” by Chad Lutzke. Another one that is pure Splatterpunk. This is the epitome of Splatterpunk. You don’t know whether to laugh or puke. A very visual read.
Next, Saul Bailey manages to mix extreme horror with historical horror and add a touch of cosmic horror to create the Splatterpunk story, “Blood on the Walls.” Intelligent, grotesque, and occasionally humorous, this is a well-crafted tale and an excellent read.
That gem is followed by the Splatterpunk masterpiece, “Chum” by Nathan Robinson. Chum is a classic story of revenge that is taken to exquisite levels of dark creative presentation by the very talented Mr. Robinson. A very entertaining splatter piece.
Then we have “The Bearded Woman” by Alessandro Manzetti (translated to English by Daniele Bonfanti). This story is a mixture of freak show horror, extreme horror, and a touch of scifi horror. The result is Splatterpunk gold. The subject matter is assured to delightfully offend.
After that, we are plunged into a story of rare depth and emotional impact for Splatterpunk. “Finger Paint” by Robert Essig speaks of bullying, torture both physical and emotional, and supernatural horror elements that embody the short and long of vengeance. This one is a mind ripper.
“Diamond in the Rough” b JR Park returns us to dark humor and graphic violence with a twisted story and more twisted ending. Blatant. Explicit. This is fun Splatterpunk for the Splatterpunk aficionado.
The final offering of Splatterpunk Forever is “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” by Monica O’Rourke.
Monica is Splatterpunk royalty. If you are familiar with her stories, you know the visceral delights that await you. If you are not, well, visceral delights await you. Like most of Monica’s stories, “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” will violate your psyche as well as turn your stomach. This story is expertly crafted with suspense, psychological horror, explicit violence of varying natures, and edgy content. It pushes all the buttons and boundaries. All fans of Monica should own this book if only for this dark masterpiece.
So ends the anthology Splatterpunk Forever.
This is a phenomenal collection. It is a shelf-worthy must-have for all fans of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror.
Note to Extreme Horror Fans:
If you generally shy away from taking that step into Splatterpunk because you feel the plots tend to be lacking, make this collection the exception and take that step. All of these stories have strong storylines and quality characterization.
Just brace yourself for that added level of content shock.
I was both shocked and delighted to see that the opening story was by Ryan Harding. Ryan always comes to mind first when I hear or read the word “Splatterpunk.”
I was not disappointed.
“The Seacretor” by Ryan Harding is a creative, splattery first person story that ultimately brings to mind Lovecraft on some really bad drugs. Or really good ones. But while it may lean toward the Lovecraftian in overall context, the skill and style are all Ryan Harding! It was a fantastic beginning to this incredible antho.
But wait, there's more.
Next comes “Garrote” by Lydian Faust. “Garrote” is a good story, a solid story, with depth, good characters, creative perspective shifts, and a perverse mixing of horror subgenres. There is no predictability here. The creativity is off the charts.
Then comes “The Junkyard Shift” by Ryan C Tomas. This one is pure, flowing Splatterpunk. Right up to the unexpected twist at the end that rips a little piece of your heart off and keeps it.
I took a break after that and returned to read “Cougars” by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, aka The Sisters of Slaughter. “Cougars” is a classic themed tale told with delightful and dark skill. Perfectly paced. A truly enjoyable read.
And then there is “Guinea Pig Blues” by Chad Lutzke. Another one that is pure Splatterpunk. This is the epitome of Splatterpunk. You don’t know whether to laugh or puke. A very visual read.
Next, Saul Bailey manages to mix extreme horror with historical horror and add a touch of cosmic horror to create the Splatterpunk story, “Blood on the Walls.” Intelligent, grotesque, and occasionally humorous, this is a well-crafted tale and an excellent read.
That gem is followed by the Splatterpunk masterpiece, “Chum” by Nathan Robinson. Chum is a classic story of revenge that is taken to exquisite levels of dark creative presentation by the very talented Mr. Robinson. A very entertaining splatter piece.
Then we have “The Bearded Woman” by Alessandro Manzetti (translated to English by Daniele Bonfanti). This story is a mixture of freak show horror, extreme horror, and a touch of scifi horror. The result is Splatterpunk gold. The subject matter is assured to delightfully offend.
After that, we are plunged into a story of rare depth and emotional impact for Splatterpunk. “Finger Paint” by Robert Essig speaks of bullying, torture both physical and emotional, and supernatural horror elements that embody the short and long of vengeance. This one is a mind ripper.
“Diamond in the Rough” b JR Park returns us to dark humor and graphic violence with a twisted story and more twisted ending. Blatant. Explicit. This is fun Splatterpunk for the Splatterpunk aficionado.
The final offering of Splatterpunk Forever is “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” by Monica O’Rourke.
Monica is Splatterpunk royalty. If you are familiar with her stories, you know the visceral delights that await you. If you are not, well, visceral delights await you. Like most of Monica’s stories, “Virtue of Stagnant Waters” will violate your psyche as well as turn your stomach. This story is expertly crafted with suspense, psychological horror, explicit violence of varying natures, and edgy content. It pushes all the buttons and boundaries. All fans of Monica should own this book if only for this dark masterpiece.
So ends the anthology Splatterpunk Forever.
This is a phenomenal collection. It is a shelf-worthy must-have for all fans of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror.
Note to Extreme Horror Fans:
If you generally shy away from taking that step into Splatterpunk because you feel the plots tend to be lacking, make this collection the exception and take that step. All of these stories have strong storylines and quality characterization.
Just brace yourself for that added level of content shock.
August 1, 2021
I enjoyed this anthology so much, I read it one sitting. Be aware, these stories are not for the faint of heart. If your stomach gets turned by scenes of blood, guts, gore, excessive violence, rape, cannibalism, and scat, this is most definitely not the book for you! Some stories are better than others but as a whole, this anthology was one of the best ive ever read! The last story, "Virtue of Stagnant Waters" even made me feel queasy and creeped out by his behavior towards Lisa and the other girls.
But yeah, the editors for this anthology definitely deserve praise and a huge clap on the back for putting this baby together! I'm now eagerly awaiting to read "Splatterpunk Not Dead"as to how good this one turned out.
But yeah, the editors for this anthology definitely deserve praise and a huge clap on the back for putting this baby together! I'm now eagerly awaiting to read "Splatterpunk Not Dead"as to how good this one turned out.
January 30, 2019
Good collection
These are pretty gruesome stories, so know that before you read. I enjoyed the anthology! I just wish it could have been longer!
These are pretty gruesome stories, so know that before you read. I enjoyed the anthology! I just wish it could have been longer!
January 17, 2023
The Seacretor (by Ryan Harding) - 3/5
Main character had little development, and his two friends seemed like stereotypes. I did like his increasingly doomed outlook, and that the writer stopped the narrative at the point he did (keeps you imagining all the horrific possibilities). It all reminded me of Lovecraft's scenarios, where the main characters always seem to end up in terrible situations with no apparent way out. My main problem is that this was a body horror story and didn't really fit in a splatterpunk anthology.
Garrote (by Lydian Faust) - 1/5
This started off strong and had some good moments (especially the first encounter with the killer and a character named Selene), but the ending was unsatisfying. None of the characters seemed to get any real development, and everyone felt interchangeable. The story would benefit if the 'message board' parts were removed (those didn't seem to fit the narrative).
The Junkyard Shift (by Ryan C. Thomas) - 1/5
The setup (workers at a mysterious junkyard where they dispose of bodies for an unnamed employer) had some splatterpunk promise. Instead, all this story delivers on is unredeemable characters, & an incomplete & abrupt ending (this whole story felt like it was a chapter taken from a longer work). Not a satisfying read at all.
Cougars (by Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason) - 3/5
If the main trio of guys were better developed, this story would have more impact. But other than a lack of developed characters, this gory story about a group of guys looking for a fun time at a remote brother is a solid read.
Guinea Pig Blues (by Chad Lutzke) - 3/5
At first this seems like your regular story of friends reconnecting, and realizing maybe they aren't as close as they used to be (if they were ever close at all). This story very quickly goes THERE. It gets very disgusting and uncomfortable fast, and as a reader you want to know exactly what is wrong with the 'guinea pig' friend Nate (and at the same time maybe you also don't). The ending balances both grossout elements and dark comedy well.
Blood On The Walls (by Saul Bailey) - 3/5
That first line is sure.....ughhhhhh...something.
This story really handles tension and paranoia well. Our main character, FBI agent Parker, is a nervous wreck, and always has the feeling that there is just something very wrong at work. Sure, there's the strange smell that no one else seems to notice, but there are also the bizarre dreams he's been having lately. This all leads to an explosive ending, which I won't reveal here. This was so out there and unpredictable, and that is hard to do in horror fiction. Bonus points for originality, definitely.
Chum (by Nathan Robinson) - 1/5
This story takes place in the middle of the sea, on a tiny fishing boat, and focuses on a revenge plot by a deranged father (who takes his anger on his daughter's boyfriend very very far). There are some good descriptions here, and the premise is interesting, but overall the story is disappointing. The villain is quickly devolved to a cliche, and the boyfriend character of Danny was so deeply unlikeable (all the way to the very end), that it's hard to care about anything happening to him at all.
The Bearded Woman (by Alessandro Manzetti) - 1/5
A circus setting is perfect for a dark and twisted horror story. This seemed to have all the ingredients. It takes place in a circus setting, but throwaway lines hint at a futuristic and crumbling world (there are hints of weird technologies and references to unspecified catastrophes throughout the text). It all gets pretty dark at the very end, but what drags this down is lack of any character development and extremely awkward writing (though this could be down to the fact that this was a translated story, perhaps something was lost in the process).
Finger Paint (by Robert Essiy) - 1/5
Horror stories and bullied teenagers can go hand in hand. There are so many ways to craft a creepy and gory story from that simple concept. The author creates an interesting mythology here, of a haunted/supernatural bathroom mirror that manifests whatever is drawn on it into reality. Our main character Bradley (and the gang of bullies that target him) at not developed much at all, and the story feels very jumbled (the narrative didn't 'flow' well). There's some good and disturbing imagery towards the end, but not enough to be truly effective.
Diamond In The Rough (by J. R. Park) - 1/5
This story of hidden identities, stolen talismans, and explicit body horror violence, had splatterpunk potential. The problem is that our main character Angel has no real development, and most of his backstory is revealed in info dumps (either told to other characters or quickly revealed by Angel himself). The ending, which I hoped would redeem the story, just didn't work for me as a reader.
Virtue Of Stagnant Waters (by Monica J. O'Rourke) - 1/5
This starts off as a slightly aloof reporter is chasing her big story, trying to get more details on a notorious serial killer. She's trying to get more from the survivors, and at the beginning you get immediate hints that she maybe actually looking for something else. This 'something else' is revealed at the very end in a kind of cliché manner. This story is clearly going for the shock and extreme gross-out factor (what with the graphic descriptions of assault and violent imagery), but without well-written characters (that never really develop beyond 'brutal killer' & 'helpless victim'), the story doesn't work at all.
Main character had little development, and his two friends seemed like stereotypes. I did like his increasingly doomed outlook, and that the writer stopped the narrative at the point he did (keeps you imagining all the horrific possibilities). It all reminded me of Lovecraft's scenarios, where the main characters always seem to end up in terrible situations with no apparent way out. My main problem is that this was a body horror story and didn't really fit in a splatterpunk anthology.
Garrote (by Lydian Faust) - 1/5
This started off strong and had some good moments (especially the first encounter with the killer and a character named Selene), but the ending was unsatisfying. None of the characters seemed to get any real development, and everyone felt interchangeable. The story would benefit if the 'message board' parts were removed (those didn't seem to fit the narrative).
The Junkyard Shift (by Ryan C. Thomas) - 1/5
The setup (workers at a mysterious junkyard where they dispose of bodies for an unnamed employer) had some splatterpunk promise. Instead, all this story delivers on is unredeemable characters, & an incomplete & abrupt ending (this whole story felt like it was a chapter taken from a longer work). Not a satisfying read at all.
Cougars (by Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason) - 3/5
If the main trio of guys were better developed, this story would have more impact. But other than a lack of developed characters, this gory story about a group of guys looking for a fun time at a remote brother is a solid read.
Guinea Pig Blues (by Chad Lutzke) - 3/5
At first this seems like your regular story of friends reconnecting, and realizing maybe they aren't as close as they used to be (if they were ever close at all). This story very quickly goes THERE. It gets very disgusting and uncomfortable fast, and as a reader you want to know exactly what is wrong with the 'guinea pig' friend Nate (and at the same time maybe you also don't). The ending balances both grossout elements and dark comedy well.
Blood On The Walls (by Saul Bailey) - 3/5
That first line is sure.....ughhhhhh...something.
This story really handles tension and paranoia well. Our main character, FBI agent Parker, is a nervous wreck, and always has the feeling that there is just something very wrong at work. Sure, there's the strange smell that no one else seems to notice, but there are also the bizarre dreams he's been having lately. This all leads to an explosive ending, which I won't reveal here. This was so out there and unpredictable, and that is hard to do in horror fiction. Bonus points for originality, definitely.
Chum (by Nathan Robinson) - 1/5
This story takes place in the middle of the sea, on a tiny fishing boat, and focuses on a revenge plot by a deranged father (who takes his anger on his daughter's boyfriend very very far). There are some good descriptions here, and the premise is interesting, but overall the story is disappointing. The villain is quickly devolved to a cliche, and the boyfriend character of Danny was so deeply unlikeable (all the way to the very end), that it's hard to care about anything happening to him at all.
The Bearded Woman (by Alessandro Manzetti) - 1/5
A circus setting is perfect for a dark and twisted horror story. This seemed to have all the ingredients. It takes place in a circus setting, but throwaway lines hint at a futuristic and crumbling world (there are hints of weird technologies and references to unspecified catastrophes throughout the text). It all gets pretty dark at the very end, but what drags this down is lack of any character development and extremely awkward writing (though this could be down to the fact that this was a translated story, perhaps something was lost in the process).
Finger Paint (by Robert Essiy) - 1/5
Horror stories and bullied teenagers can go hand in hand. There are so many ways to craft a creepy and gory story from that simple concept. The author creates an interesting mythology here, of a haunted/supernatural bathroom mirror that manifests whatever is drawn on it into reality. Our main character Bradley (and the gang of bullies that target him) at not developed much at all, and the story feels very jumbled (the narrative didn't 'flow' well). There's some good and disturbing imagery towards the end, but not enough to be truly effective.
Diamond In The Rough (by J. R. Park) - 1/5
This story of hidden identities, stolen talismans, and explicit body horror violence, had splatterpunk potential. The problem is that our main character Angel has no real development, and most of his backstory is revealed in info dumps (either told to other characters or quickly revealed by Angel himself). The ending, which I hoped would redeem the story, just didn't work for me as a reader.
Virtue Of Stagnant Waters (by Monica J. O'Rourke) - 1/5
This starts off as a slightly aloof reporter is chasing her big story, trying to get more details on a notorious serial killer. She's trying to get more from the survivors, and at the beginning you get immediate hints that she maybe actually looking for something else. This 'something else' is revealed at the very end in a kind of cliché manner. This story is clearly going for the shock and extreme gross-out factor (what with the graphic descriptions of assault and violent imagery), but without well-written characters (that never really develop beyond 'brutal killer' & 'helpless victim'), the story doesn't work at all.
January 8, 2020
As every anthology it was a mixed bag, with the high points really high (like the first and last stories) and the low points really low and utterly boring.
Other than that was pretty enjoyable, full of guts and genital mutilation that had me most of the time reading with a grimace on my face.
Probably won't read more splatterpunk in a bit, but it's fun to know I can fnd some to read outhere when in the mood.
Other than that was pretty enjoyable, full of guts and genital mutilation that had me most of the time reading with a grimace on my face.
Probably won't read more splatterpunk in a bit, but it's fun to know I can fnd some to read outhere when in the mood.
March 31, 2020
From the opening mind-bender by the consistently excellent Ryan Harding to the amazing closer by the equally excellent Monica J. O'Rourke, this little anthology totally kills it! If you enjoy boundary-pushing horror fiction then you will really love this one! A wonderful, skillfully assembled collection by the demented minds behind the Splatterpunk Zine! Check it out! :D
December 5, 2019
Splatterpunk anthology. It's exactly what you expect. Some really silly stories, some really good stories.
June 30, 2024
I liked this anthology! But there were 3 stories that I didn't like and just skimmed through them. But the rest were great!!
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