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Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror
Welcome to the cool side of the 1950s, where the fast cars and revved-up movie monsters peel out in the night. Where outlaw vixens and jukebox tramps square off with razorblades and lead pipes. Where rockers rock, cool cats strut, and hot rods roar. Where you howl to the moon as the tiki drums pound and the electric guitar shrieks and that spit-and-holler jamboree ain’t gonna stop for a long, long time . . . maybe never.
This is the ’50s where ghost shows still travel the back roads of the south, and rockabilly has a hold on the nation’s youth; where lucky hearts tell the tale, and maybe that fella in the Shriners’ fez ain’t so square after all. Where exist noir detectives of the supernatural, tattoo artists of another kind, Hollywood fix-it men, and a punk kid with grasshopper arms under his chain-studded jacket and an icy stare on his face.
This is the ’50s of Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror. This is your ticket to the dark side of American kitsch . . . the fun and frightful side!
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Table of Contents:
“Introduction” by Eric J. Guignard
“The Golden Girls of Fall” by Seanan McGuire
“Sea Lords of the Columbia” by Weston Ochse
“Tremble” by Kasey Lansdale and Joe R. Lansdale
“The Demon of the Track” by Gary Phillips
“Outlawed Ink” by Jason Starr
“We Might Be Giants” by Nancy Holder
“Universal Monster” by Duane Swierczynski
“Draggers” by David J. Schow
“The Starlite Drive-In” by John M. Floyd
“Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show” by Lisa Morton
“Hot Babe” by Bill Pronzini
“The Prom Tree” by Yvonne Navarro
“I’m with the Band” by Steve Perry
“Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation” by Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens
“Lab Experiment Turf War” by Jeff Strand
“The She-Creature” by Amelia Beamer
“Fish out of Water” by Will Viharo
“I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend” by Brian Hodge
###
Praise:
“A fitting tribute to the 1950s with this 18-story compendium of hot rods, rock ’n’ roll, and creature features come to life.” —Publishers Weekly
This is the ’50s where ghost shows still travel the back roads of the south, and rockabilly has a hold on the nation’s youth; where lucky hearts tell the tale, and maybe that fella in the Shriners’ fez ain’t so square after all. Where exist noir detectives of the supernatural, tattoo artists of another kind, Hollywood fix-it men, and a punk kid with grasshopper arms under his chain-studded jacket and an icy stare on his face.
This is the ’50s of Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror. This is your ticket to the dark side of American kitsch . . . the fun and frightful side!
###
Table of Contents:
“Introduction” by Eric J. Guignard
“The Golden Girls of Fall” by Seanan McGuire
“Sea Lords of the Columbia” by Weston Ochse
“Tremble” by Kasey Lansdale and Joe R. Lansdale
“The Demon of the Track” by Gary Phillips
“Outlawed Ink” by Jason Starr
“We Might Be Giants” by Nancy Holder
“Universal Monster” by Duane Swierczynski
“Draggers” by David J. Schow
“The Starlite Drive-In” by John M. Floyd
“Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show” by Lisa Morton
“Hot Babe” by Bill Pronzini
“The Prom Tree” by Yvonne Navarro
“I’m with the Band” by Steve Perry
“Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation” by Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens
“Lab Experiment Turf War” by Jeff Strand
“The She-Creature” by Amelia Beamer
“Fish out of Water” by Will Viharo
“I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend” by Brian Hodge
###
Praise:
“A fitting tribute to the 1950s with this 18-story compendium of hot rods, rock ’n’ roll, and creature features come to life.” —Publishers Weekly
346 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2019
14 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Eric J. Guignard
189 books526 followersERIC J. GUIGNARD is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award for his works of dark and speculative fiction.
He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , and A World of Horror , a showcase of international horror short fiction.
He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, Exploring Dark Short Fiction ( Vol. I: Steve Rasnic Tem ; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren ; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl ; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford ; Vol. V: Han Song ; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell).
He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +Horror Library+ anthology series. Additionally he curates the series, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.
His latest books are Last Case at a Baggage Auction ; Doorways to the Deadeye ; and short story collection That Which Grows Wild (Cemetery Dance).
Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.
He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , and A World of Horror , a showcase of international horror short fiction.
He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, Exploring Dark Short Fiction ( Vol. I: Steve Rasnic Tem ; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren ; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl ; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford ; Vol. V: Han Song ; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell).
He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +Horror Library+ anthology series. Additionally he curates the series, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.
His latest books are Last Case at a Baggage Auction ; Doorways to the Deadeye ; and short story collection That Which Grows Wild (Cemetery Dance).
Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 30, 2023
A book with stories that all take place in the 50's and contains tales of hot rods, rockabilly and monsters? Sign me up! Luckily, Eric J. Guignard did just that and here we are!
Featuring stories by the likes of Joe and Kasey Lansdale, Brian Hodge, David J. Schow and many others, how can you go wrong? Not all of these tales worked for be, but most of them did, especially the following:
David J. Schow's DRAGGERS just blew me away. One sentence buried among paragraphs of words transformed this drag racing story into something else altogether.
THE STARLITE DRIVE IN by John M. Floyd-first off how can you not think about Joe Lansdale in any discussion featuring drive-ins? Secondly, Kaiju at an abandoned drive-in. Need I say more?
THE DEMON OF THE TRACK by Gary Phillips features a wily black man that stole my heart.
DR. MORBISMO'S INSANEI-TERROR-IUM HORROR SHOW by Lisa Morton. A traveling magic and ghoul show that went wrong...but it all turned out alright in the end.
LAB EXPERIMENT TURF WAR by Jeff Strand. Jeff Strand always makes me laugh and this story is no exception.
THE PROM TREE by Yvonne Navarro-is there anything scarier than high school girls? How about a dead high school girl? I loved this weird little tale.
One last note-each story here is prefaced by an illustration from Steve Chanks and they are wonderful to look at! Each illustration takes a scene from the story and I found it fun to look at them and predict what the story would be. I was nearly always wrong, but the guessing made reading this even more fun.
Overall, Eric J. Guignard has put together authors both known and unknown and turned their stories into a book that flows easily from one story to the next, each with their own little tale about the good old days of the 50's. Many of these tales deal with real life in the 50's and in spite of all the fun these tales provide, they do not flinch from things that went on in the 50's that weren't so great-like racism for instance. However, most of these tales are imaginative, fast paced, and entertaining as all-get-out and as such? I highly recommend it!
*Thank you to Eric J. Guignard for the hardcover of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
Featuring stories by the likes of Joe and Kasey Lansdale, Brian Hodge, David J. Schow and many others, how can you go wrong? Not all of these tales worked for be, but most of them did, especially the following:
David J. Schow's DRAGGERS just blew me away. One sentence buried among paragraphs of words transformed this drag racing story into something else altogether.
THE STARLITE DRIVE IN by John M. Floyd-first off how can you not think about Joe Lansdale in any discussion featuring drive-ins? Secondly, Kaiju at an abandoned drive-in. Need I say more?
THE DEMON OF THE TRACK by Gary Phillips features a wily black man that stole my heart.
DR. MORBISMO'S INSANEI-TERROR-IUM HORROR SHOW by Lisa Morton. A traveling magic and ghoul show that went wrong...but it all turned out alright in the end.
LAB EXPERIMENT TURF WAR by Jeff Strand. Jeff Strand always makes me laugh and this story is no exception.
THE PROM TREE by Yvonne Navarro-is there anything scarier than high school girls? How about a dead high school girl? I loved this weird little tale.
One last note-each story here is prefaced by an illustration from Steve Chanks and they are wonderful to look at! Each illustration takes a scene from the story and I found it fun to look at them and predict what the story would be. I was nearly always wrong, but the guessing made reading this even more fun.
Overall, Eric J. Guignard has put together authors both known and unknown and turned their stories into a book that flows easily from one story to the next, each with their own little tale about the good old days of the 50's. Many of these tales deal with real life in the 50's and in spite of all the fun these tales provide, they do not flinch from things that went on in the 50's that weren't so great-like racism for instance. However, most of these tales are imaginative, fast paced, and entertaining as all-get-out and as such? I highly recommend it!
*Thank you to Eric J. Guignard for the hardcover of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
January 14, 2019
What an awesome, fun kick-a@@ book, all new short stories that are set around the wild and weird side of the 1950s! Rock & Roll and racing hot rods and one of the best line-up of authors I’ve ever seen in one place. Max Allan Collins (ROAD TO PURGATORY!) and Matthew V. Clemens bring a supernatural investigator who thinks he’s dead to track down a rock-singling werewolf. And Weston Ochse (SEAL TEAM 666) has two Korean War veterans off to rescue a pair of mermaids taken to sex slavery by the Finnish Brotherhood. Steve Perry (ALIENS; CONAN; STAR WARS tie-ins) is in this, and Nancy Holder (BUFFY and SMALLVILLE tie-ins) and tons others. I think the best stories were “Tremble” by Kasey Lansdale and Joe R. Lansdale and “The Demon of the Track” by Gary Phillips and “Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show” by Lisa Morton and “Draggers” by David J. Schow. But all the stories were good in diffrent ways. Best of the best!
March 13, 2019
I missed the Fifties. Born in the mid-Sixties I barely (and I do mean barely) remember the Moon Shot. However I grew up on a steady diet of "creature features" from that earlier decade, mostly from American International Pictures. (I should have had AIP tattooed on a bicep.) So I relished Pop the Clutch, an anthology featuring a lot of monsters, hot rods, and switchblade wielding JD's. I freely admit I purchased this book to get my hands on the Kasey and Joe Lansdale collaboration, but I found all these stories to be entertaining. Obligatory name dropping commences: in addition to the Lansdales, this collection features tales by Jason Starr, Steve Perry, Nancy Holder, Seanan McGuire, Yvonne Navarro, Duane Swierczynski, David J Schow, Bill Pronzini, and Max Allan Collins. There is a great amount of fun to be had in revisiting the (fictionalized) Fifties found here, Constant Reader-be there or be square.
January 14, 2019
I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced reader copy. Pop The Clutch sets a high bar for 2019 and short story anthologies.
It’s rare that an anthology of this size is so consistently great, but Pop The Clutch delivers. The concept is brilliant: horror stories based on the 50s, or idealized 50s, hotrod, b-movie, greaser culture. Cue the Cramps for the Big Beat from Badsville. From the table of contents I recognized so many favorites I knew I was in for a treat, but the thing that surprised me was how much I liked all the other stories as well. And now I’ll have to check out more from those authors I haven’t previously read. A great read from cover to cover.
It’s rare that an anthology of this size is so consistently great, but Pop The Clutch delivers. The concept is brilliant: horror stories based on the 50s, or idealized 50s, hotrod, b-movie, greaser culture. Cue the Cramps for the Big Beat from Badsville. From the table of contents I recognized so many favorites I knew I was in for a treat, but the thing that surprised me was how much I liked all the other stories as well. And now I’ll have to check out more from those authors I haven’t previously read. A great read from cover to cover.
October 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. It’s something a bit different from the norm. I am a fan of the fifties. Love the music, liked the clothes and styles and often say if I could have turned eighteen at the start of any decade, that would probably be the one I picked. Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror has a little bit of everything from the era. There are mad scientists, links to the monster movies that became so popular and pretty much began the genre, some sci fi alienesque type tales, tentacle monsters, swamp monsters and lots more, all wrapped up among, drag races, slicked back hair, leather jackets and nods to the music we know and love.
My personal favourites from the collection were:
Lab Experiment Turf War by Jeff Strand
The She-Creature by Amelia Beamer
Fish Out of Water by Will Viharo
I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend by Brian Hodge
Dr. Morbismos Insaniterorium Horror Show by Lisa Morton
Sealords of the Columbia by Weston Ochse
Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation by Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clements
Apart from Strand and Morton, the rest of these authors are new to me. While I have heard Hodge and Osche, I hadn’t read their work, and the others are names I didn’t know but they all seem to have impressive backgrounds. I’ll be checking some of them out now.
There is also some great artwork for the book for each story. A great read for anyone with an interest in the 50s.
My personal favourites from the collection were:
Lab Experiment Turf War by Jeff Strand
The She-Creature by Amelia Beamer
Fish Out of Water by Will Viharo
I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend by Brian Hodge
Dr. Morbismos Insaniterorium Horror Show by Lisa Morton
Sealords of the Columbia by Weston Ochse
Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation by Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clements
Apart from Strand and Morton, the rest of these authors are new to me. While I have heard Hodge and Osche, I hadn’t read their work, and the others are names I didn’t know but they all seem to have impressive backgrounds. I’ll be checking some of them out now.
There is also some great artwork for the book for each story. A great read for anyone with an interest in the 50s.
April 21, 2019
Loved this varied collection of 50s icon themes. As someone who grew up in the era of admiring hot rods, going to drive-ins, and spending Saturday mornings in an old theater watching movies like I Was A Teenage Werewolf, how could I not? Eric is a great author and, as editor of this anthology, knew exactly what to choose.
January 17, 2019
Great tribute to the fun side (“kitsche”) side of the 1950s! Great stories all the way throughout. Different takes on music scene, hot rod racing, monsters, creature movies, post-war culture, just cool all around. Art work by Steve Chanks is amazing! Adds an even higher level of caliber to the book. Favorite stories are Seanan McGuire’s The Golden Girls of Fall, Gary Phillips’s The Demon of the Track, and Bill Pronzini’s Hot Babe (and others).
February 21, 2020
Eric J. Guignard brings us Pop the Clutch, a high octane anthology chock full of fast cars, greasers and movie monsters. Guignard has assembled 18 stories by some truly talented authors. This is such a fun collection. We’ve got movie monsters, rockabilly stars, drag races and so much more. Each story brings to life the classic feel of the 50s and mixes in a unique brand of weird horror magic. While there isn’t much in the way of truly scary material, you’re guaranteed to love this rockin’ anthology. Out of the 18 included stories, I liked half of them and absolutely loved the other half. There was not a single story here that just didn’t do it for me. Narrowing down this selection was not an easy task, but I’ve highlighted my top three stories.
Before I get into the top three, I have to say a few words about the illustrations. Each story is illustrated with an ink drawing by artist Steve Chanks. These illustrations really brought home the anthology. I truly believe the tone wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if not for Chanks’ work. Plus, they just look bad-ass. Check out his website, http://stevechanks.com/
My Top Three
I’m with the Band- Steve Perry: The abusive lead singer of a greaser rock band meets a shocking end in this quick, but devious story. Told from the perspective of Cecil, the underappreciated roadie, Perry’s story is wonderfully clever.
Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation- Max Allan Collins & Matthew V. Clemens: When the inexplicable occurs deep within the Florida Everglades, we are introduced to a mysterious team of investigators who take the case. The premise and setup behind this story are intriguing, and beg to be further explored. Collins and Clemens leave you wanting more of this strange team of supernatural investigators.
I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend- Brian Hodge: Hodge takes us to the end of an era, where we meet Maddox, the last greaser in a town full of hippies. In an attempt to break into a new drug dealing market, Maddox discovers a very rare mushroom growing in an unusual place. When he gives out the shrooms across town, the unbelievable happens. Hodge captures the fading glory of the 50s through the lense of the last clinger-on to the lifestyle. The cherry on top is Hodge’s nod in his closing paragraphs to Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Honorable Mentions
Outlawed Ink- Jason Starr: Ray is the outcast of his family, mostly because he’s not an amoral psychopath. Then the death of his father reunites him with his long-estranged brother. The two decide to get tattoos at a special tattoo parlor, and things take a peculiar turn.
The Starlite Drive-In- John M. Floyd: A small town sheriff is investigating a series of grisly murders. His investigation leads him to the old abandoned Starlite Drive-In. Obviously, things get weird. Floyd’s story reads like a love letter to classic creature features.
Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show- Lisa Morton: Welcome to Dr. Moribismo’s Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show, where you’ll see all manner of things supernatural and spooky! But, of course it’s all just a show… right? Morton crafts a fun, thematic tale with an emotional climax and an unexpected ending.
Though I’ve picked a few favorites, this entire collection deserves accolades. There’s not a single dud to be found here. Guignard has expertly chosen and arranged these tales to be varied and keep things fresh. It’s clear that every author included poured pure passion into writing their stories. Hopefully, they had as much fun writing them as I did reading them.
Before I get into the top three, I have to say a few words about the illustrations. Each story is illustrated with an ink drawing by artist Steve Chanks. These illustrations really brought home the anthology. I truly believe the tone wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if not for Chanks’ work. Plus, they just look bad-ass. Check out his website, http://stevechanks.com/
My Top Three
I’m with the Band- Steve Perry: The abusive lead singer of a greaser rock band meets a shocking end in this quick, but devious story. Told from the perspective of Cecil, the underappreciated roadie, Perry’s story is wonderfully clever.
Mystery Train: An Arcane Investigation- Max Allan Collins & Matthew V. Clemens: When the inexplicable occurs deep within the Florida Everglades, we are introduced to a mysterious team of investigators who take the case. The premise and setup behind this story are intriguing, and beg to be further explored. Collins and Clemens leave you wanting more of this strange team of supernatural investigators.
I Was a Teenage Shroom Fiend- Brian Hodge: Hodge takes us to the end of an era, where we meet Maddox, the last greaser in a town full of hippies. In an attempt to break into a new drug dealing market, Maddox discovers a very rare mushroom growing in an unusual place. When he gives out the shrooms across town, the unbelievable happens. Hodge captures the fading glory of the 50s through the lense of the last clinger-on to the lifestyle. The cherry on top is Hodge’s nod in his closing paragraphs to Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Honorable Mentions
Outlawed Ink- Jason Starr: Ray is the outcast of his family, mostly because he’s not an amoral psychopath. Then the death of his father reunites him with his long-estranged brother. The two decide to get tattoos at a special tattoo parlor, and things take a peculiar turn.
The Starlite Drive-In- John M. Floyd: A small town sheriff is investigating a series of grisly murders. His investigation leads him to the old abandoned Starlite Drive-In. Obviously, things get weird. Floyd’s story reads like a love letter to classic creature features.
Dr. Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show- Lisa Morton: Welcome to Dr. Moribismo’s Morbismo’s InsaniTERRORium Horror Show, where you’ll see all manner of things supernatural and spooky! But, of course it’s all just a show… right? Morton crafts a fun, thematic tale with an emotional climax and an unexpected ending.
Though I’ve picked a few favorites, this entire collection deserves accolades. There’s not a single dud to be found here. Guignard has expertly chosen and arranged these tales to be varied and keep things fresh. It’s clear that every author included poured pure passion into writing their stories. Hopefully, they had as much fun writing them as I did reading them.
December 29, 2018
You can't go wrong with a book that rips off the candy coating of the 1950's and rubs a bunch of dirt on it. While some of the stories in this anthology sorta fizzle out, they are all a blast to read. There are enough gems in here to make up for the not so good ones.
April 23, 2024
A few decent stories and a few fun illustrations, but overall, disappointing entries even from consistently strong writers. Brian Hodge does deliver one fairly timeless line toward the end, though, that may make it all worthwhile for fans of horror anthologies: "If the weird is going to take over your life anyway, you might as well go out and find it first, so you have some control over the situation."
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August 25, 2021
One of those rare books that falls directly at the intersection of most of my interests.
May 1, 2020
I was not expecting to find another cheer squad story by Seanan McGuire opening an anthology, but “The Golden Girls of Fall” delivers. “Universal Monster” by Duane Swierczynski is a fun story about a haunted film, one of my weaknesses, clad in atomic age bakelite. “The Starlite Drive-In” by John M. Floyd is a love letter to pulpy B-movie horror flicks. “Dr. Morbismo's InsaniTERRORium Horror Show” by Lisa Morton is a delightful YA inspirational ghost story chock full of stage magic and spook show chicanery. “Lab Experiment Turf War” by Jeff Strand grabs all the 50s teen tropes and hangs a ghastly lampshade made of human skin on them. “The Prom Tree” by Yvonne Navarro is a slice of life story evocatively placed in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Loved the setting and characters, but would have loved a bit more wonder.
One of my favorites of the book is “Tremble” by Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale, which delivers stunning character development and inhabits the intense passions that flare during high school.
One of my favorites of the book is “Tremble” by Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale, which delivers stunning character development and inhabits the intense passions that flare during high school.
April 9, 2021
Superb collection of stories about the rockin’ rockabilly era! Great execution and an amazing roster of bestselling authors. Absolutely loved this book.
February 26, 2025
I'm a huge Rockabilly and 50s fan, but horror isn't usually my cup of tea. However, these short stories were fantastic, especially Tremble by Kasey and Joe Lansdale. The way they weave together Rockabilly music and storytelling is really something special.
February 16, 2022
“The Golden Girls of Fall” by Seanan McGuire
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