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Gorilla In My Room
Jack Ketchum is back with a brand new short story collection, full of the horror and terror we've come to love and expect from the author Stephen King has called, "one of the best in the business."
What Ketchum has crafted in these stories are portrayals of the starkest, darkest aspects of the human condition. These stories are enthralling, expertly constructed, and very very powerful. Some will put a lump in your throat. Some will have you squirming. Some might be so intense and disturbing that they leave you no choice but to put it aside for awhile, catch your breath, and finish when you've worked up the guts.
This is fiction that does far more than "entertain," and it goes far beyond what we expect when we read "horror." No haunted houses here, no pitchfork-wielding devils with horns on their heads. The only monsters are the very worst kind: humans.
Table of Contents:
Introduction by Edward Lee
Gorilla in My Room
The Western Dead
Bully
Listen
Polaroids
Squirrely Shirley (with Lucky McKee)
Group of Thirty
Winter Child
Cow (with Lucky McKee)
The Transformed Mouse
The Right Thing
Awake
That Moment
Oldies
Seconds
What Ketchum has crafted in these stories are portrayals of the starkest, darkest aspects of the human condition. These stories are enthralling, expertly constructed, and very very powerful. Some will put a lump in your throat. Some will have you squirming. Some might be so intense and disturbing that they leave you no choice but to put it aside for awhile, catch your breath, and finish when you've worked up the guts.
This is fiction that does far more than "entertain," and it goes far beyond what we expect when we read "horror." No haunted houses here, no pitchfork-wielding devils with horns on their heads. The only monsters are the very worst kind: humans.
Table of Contents:
Introduction by Edward Lee
Gorilla in My Room
The Western Dead
Bully
Listen
Polaroids
Squirrely Shirley (with Lucky McKee)
Group of Thirty
Winter Child
Cow (with Lucky McKee)
The Transformed Mouse
The Right Thing
Awake
That Moment
Oldies
Seconds
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2019
25 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Jack Ketchum
199 books2,968 followersDallas William Mayr, better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels included Off Season, Offspring, and Red, which were adapted to film. In 2011, Ketchum received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award for outstanding contribution to the horror genre.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
A onetime actor, teacher, literary agent, lumber salesman, and soda jerk, Ketchum credited his childhood love of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror for getting him through his formative years. He began making up stories at a young age and explained that he spent much time in his room, or in the woods near his house, down by the brook: "[m]y interests [were] books, comics, movies, rock 'n roll, show tunes, TV, dinosaurs [...] pretty much any activity that didn't demand too much socializing, or where I could easily walk away from socializing." He would make up stories using his plastic soldiers, knights, and dinosaurs as the characters.
Later, in his teen years, Ketchum was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who became his mentor.
Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel (1980's controversial Off Season), including acting as agent for novelist Henry Miller at Scott Meredith Literary Agency.
His decision to eventually concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity.
Ketchum died of cancer on January 24, 2018, in New York City at the age of 71.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 8, 2019
In the forward, Edward Lee gives a bit, if not more, praise to Ketchum's writing. ”He writes horror fiction as literature, horror fiction as art, and I mean dark, dark art” He goes on to say that you'll find no haunted houses here (in this collection), no devils with horns; the only monsters are the very worst kind: humans.
I can't argue. Humans are monsters. Two characters in the first three stories are the arrant definition of that, one an abusive husband, the other a child rapist. But don't run away from these. Ketchum doesn't go for the easy horror and gross-out (not that this book is free of horror and language – a few get crazy later in the collection). But in these first, sometimes bad guys get their due, and for the right reason. One jackass even finds his heart, so to speak. If only in real life. Why does Ketchum write these? Because he hates those kind of guys.
He also makes each word count. Yet another truth mentioned in the forward, and something he admittedly strove for in his writing. I couldn't escape the economy and tactfulness of even the hardest of stories among this bunch of fifteen. “Cow”, the longest at 36 pages, and easily the most gruesome and repellent, grabbed me with that writing style and held on until I had succumbed to the story.
Like the good anthologies published these days, the author follows each short with a few words (some longer than the story itself) telling where and how the story came about. Always a nice touch. I learned quite a bit about Ketchum here, understanding that his underlying ideas often came by way of the real matters in life, hardly off-the-cuff stuff. It's also the reason a story about dementia named “Oldies” became my favorite of the fifteen. Personal as if he had lived it. Emotional because it's totally first person. The other favorite is the last, titled “Seconds”. A full-depth love story in ten pages about a woman who stopped aging, and a look to her past with a monster of a husband.
I can't argue. Humans are monsters. Two characters in the first three stories are the arrant definition of that, one an abusive husband, the other a child rapist. But don't run away from these. Ketchum doesn't go for the easy horror and gross-out (not that this book is free of horror and language – a few get crazy later in the collection). But in these first, sometimes bad guys get their due, and for the right reason. One jackass even finds his heart, so to speak. If only in real life. Why does Ketchum write these? Because he hates those kind of guys.
He also makes each word count. Yet another truth mentioned in the forward, and something he admittedly strove for in his writing. I couldn't escape the economy and tactfulness of even the hardest of stories among this bunch of fifteen. “Cow”, the longest at 36 pages, and easily the most gruesome and repellent, grabbed me with that writing style and held on until I had succumbed to the story.
Like the good anthologies published these days, the author follows each short with a few words (some longer than the story itself) telling where and how the story came about. Always a nice touch. I learned quite a bit about Ketchum here, understanding that his underlying ideas often came by way of the real matters in life, hardly off-the-cuff stuff. It's also the reason a story about dementia named “Oldies” became my favorite of the fifteen. Personal as if he had lived it. Emotional because it's totally first person. The other favorite is the last, titled “Seconds”. A full-depth love story in ten pages about a woman who stopped aging, and a look to her past with a monster of a husband.
April 5, 2018
Shortly after this book was published, we lost Jack Ketchum. I put off reading it for a while because I hated that it would be the last of his work that I would ever read, and I was not ready for it to be over. Now I wish I had started it sooner so that I could have asked him what in the world the title story was about. I didn't know him in person, but we were Facebook friends, and had I asked he would have answered because that is the kind of guy he was. He always had time for his fans, It was probably genius and whooshed right over my head? I don't know but it was a head scratcher for me. I loved the rest. My favorites were Squirrely Shirley, Group of Thirty, Winter Child, Cow, Oldies, and Seconds. Writing this review is harder than I expected it to be. The world has lost a master story teller. Thank you for the fears, the tears, the suspense and the gut wrenching horrors over the years.
March 6, 2020
This is one of my most prized books. It's signed and gorgeous. The stories don't hit as hard as those found in PEACEABLE KINGDOM, but they're exceptional nonetheless. The stories that hint at dying hit hard, particularly the semi-autobiographical one. It felt prophetic. Dallas left us far too soon.
Want to read
February 10, 2018This hardcover is numbered 28 of 750 copies produced and is signed by Jack Ketchum .
Contents:
007 - Introduction by Edward Lee
013 - "Gorilla in My Room"
015 - "The Western Dead"
025 - "Bully"
037 - "Listen"
049 - "Polaroids"
051 - "Squirrely Shirley" (with Lucky McKee)
071 - "Group of Thirty"
085 - "Winter Child"
101 - "Cow" (with Lucky McKee)
139 - "The Transformed Mouse"
151 - "The Right Thing"
155 - "Awake"
165 - "That Moment"
167 - "Oldies"
179 - "Seconds"
Contents:
007 - Introduction by Edward Lee
013 - "Gorilla in My Room"
015 - "The Western Dead"
025 - "Bully"
037 - "Listen"
049 - "Polaroids"
051 - "Squirrely Shirley" (with Lucky McKee)
071 - "Group of Thirty"
085 - "Winter Child"
101 - "Cow" (with Lucky McKee)
139 - "The Transformed Mouse"
151 - "The Right Thing"
155 - "Awake"
165 - "That Moment"
167 - "Oldies"
179 - "Seconds"
April 20, 2020
Ummm... you do know did is a Ketchum book, right?
This is the book to read if you love Jack Ketchum and just can’t get enough.
Not all the short stories (and some are truly short!) are awesome BUT true fans of Ketchum will find things to love here; his afterwords are true gems from the man. I say this mostly because some short stories related to his universe are included (Winter Child, Cow..) and I think readers who are really initiated will get more out of them than will newbies. But... then again, maybe these would intrigue fans enough to go back and read his classics???
There are many “personal” stories (Group of Thirty), stories outside of the horror realm (Seconds), comedies (Squirrely Shirley), and even a fantastic fable (The Transformed Mouse).
I miss Jack Ketchum! He brought a certain amount of depth to horror. I’ve spent hours debating the true depravity of his characters and the nature of evil vs survival. I enjoyed Gorilla In My Room because it gave me the opportunity to revisit with the man and his themes.
Thanks, Dallas!
This is the book to read if you love Jack Ketchum and just can’t get enough.
Not all the short stories (and some are truly short!) are awesome BUT true fans of Ketchum will find things to love here; his afterwords are true gems from the man. I say this mostly because some short stories related to his universe are included (Winter Child, Cow..) and I think readers who are really initiated will get more out of them than will newbies. But... then again, maybe these would intrigue fans enough to go back and read his classics???
There are many “personal” stories (Group of Thirty), stories outside of the horror realm (Seconds), comedies (Squirrely Shirley), and even a fantastic fable (The Transformed Mouse).
I miss Jack Ketchum! He brought a certain amount of depth to horror. I’ve spent hours debating the true depravity of his characters and the nature of evil vs survival. I enjoyed Gorilla In My Room because it gave me the opportunity to revisit with the man and his themes.
Thanks, Dallas!
Want to read
March 9, 2019Read Ron's Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 15, 2018
The last two novels I have read were The Girl Next Door and Stranglehold, both by Jack Ketchum. I am sorry I waited until after his passing before trying his work. Both of those books, spotlighting child abuse, are very vivid, brutal and devastating. Gorilla In My Room had arrived a few days earlier. Being a fan of short stories, I hoped to see more variety in these stories. It isn’t that I don’t find Ketchum’s writing to be superb but the content of The Girl Next Door and Stranglehold was emotionally depleting. I hoped to find something less bleak in these stories.
Introduction by Edward Lee – I have only recently begun to read introductions and forwards. Stephen King is the exception and I have anticipated his words to the Constant Reader almost as much as the novel itself. I am suddenly saddened thinking of all that I have missed out on and I will be reading these introductions in the future. (I can always skip the ones that prove dull, right?) I have never read anything by Lee (to my knowledge) but his love and respect for Ketchum is quite obvious in this introduction. I enjoy seeing the person beyond the name.
There was a nice mixture of stories, including a western, a fable, a couple of love stories and of course his brutally honest stories depicting the evil in human nature. There is even a hint fiction story (25 words or less) and I love hint fiction where the author must make a very powerful statement in only a few words.
I gave 10 of the stories 4 stars: Gorilla In My Room, Bully, Listen, Group of Thirty, The Transformed Mouse, The Right Thing, Awake, That Moment, Oldies and Seconds
3 stars to: Polaroids, Squirrely Shirley, Winter Child, and Cow
2 stars: The Western Dead
Hard to say much about short stories without spoilers. Following each story is a brief afterword about that story from Ketchum himself. I can say that I really enjoyed seeing different sides of him.
Introduction by Edward Lee – I have only recently begun to read introductions and forwards. Stephen King is the exception and I have anticipated his words to the Constant Reader almost as much as the novel itself. I am suddenly saddened thinking of all that I have missed out on and I will be reading these introductions in the future. (I can always skip the ones that prove dull, right?) I have never read anything by Lee (to my knowledge) but his love and respect for Ketchum is quite obvious in this introduction. I enjoy seeing the person beyond the name.
There was a nice mixture of stories, including a western, a fable, a couple of love stories and of course his brutally honest stories depicting the evil in human nature. There is even a hint fiction story (25 words or less) and I love hint fiction where the author must make a very powerful statement in only a few words.
I gave 10 of the stories 4 stars: Gorilla In My Room, Bully, Listen, Group of Thirty, The Transformed Mouse, The Right Thing, Awake, That Moment, Oldies and Seconds
3 stars to: Polaroids, Squirrely Shirley, Winter Child, and Cow
2 stars: The Western Dead
Hard to say much about short stories without spoilers. Following each story is a brief afterword about that story from Ketchum himself. I can say that I really enjoyed seeing different sides of him.
April 24, 2023
"A kiss is a concealed bite." ("Cow")
I get real tired of hearing people say, I had to give up my cat or dog because we've just had this baby and he or she's allergic.
Screw that. There are plenty of products and strategies out there for both pet and baby that will cut down the dander or whatever and if not eliminate the problem, ameliorate it greatly. Live with it, folks, or else be damned. That's my feeling about it.
And I'm not sure that any couple willing to give up an old pet, who's depended upon them for years, are going to make terrific parents in the first place. So a modest proposal -- maybe you guys shouldn't have kids at all.
Just sayin'. (Afterward to "The Right Thing")
Love is love, however masked or transposed. ("Oldies")
I get real tired of hearing people say, I had to give up my cat or dog because we've just had this baby and he or she's allergic.
Screw that. There are plenty of products and strategies out there for both pet and baby that will cut down the dander or whatever and if not eliminate the problem, ameliorate it greatly. Live with it, folks, or else be damned. That's my feeling about it.
And I'm not sure that any couple willing to give up an old pet, who's depended upon them for years, are going to make terrific parents in the first place. So a modest proposal -- maybe you guys shouldn't have kids at all.
Just sayin'. (Afterward to "The Right Thing")
Love is love, however masked or transposed. ("Oldies")
February 4, 2018
This book was extremely hard to read - not because of the content, but because of the loss the literary world sustained at the passing of Dallas (AA: Jack Ketchum). Jack passed away on January 24th and as a personal tribute, I dropped everything I was reading and picked this one up. And as I said, this was a hard read. Every word, every sentence, every story constantly reminded me that there won’t be any new stories from that brilliant mind.
Be that as it may, the book in question was a phenomenal look into that exceptional mind. Not all of it horror, there were fables, and love stories, but all of it written carefully, with the intention of making the reader think.
One of the things I loved most about this (other than the fact that my edition is signed) is that Jack wrote and afterward following every story, explaining a little about it. I enjoy getting insight into the authors reason behind writing what they do.
The stories contained within range from a very sad 12 word story (yes 12 words) titled THAT MOMENT to what some might consider a novella in COW. - and everything in between.
1) Gorilla in My Room - a one page story about, well, a gorilla in the writer’s room. I can’t say more than that.
2) The Western Dead - an interesting take on the whole “where do zombies come from” mixed with the Wild West.
3) Bully - a story about that one Uncle who takes things a little too far with his “ribbing” and “teasing”.
4) Listen - an extremely disturbing story about a pedophile who meets up with his victims as adults.
5) Polaroids - another one page story that I can’t describe without giving it away. Sorry.
6) Squirrely Shirley - be careful what you say to someone, you may be on a speakerphone, leaving you with no alibi. A tale of cheating, murder, and cleanup.
7) Group of Thirty - I always wondered what authors thought when they are invited to speak to a group of fans. What if that group misrepresented themselves as fans and hate the authors work, and try to get them alone to show them that fact?
8) Winter Child - a father and son are snowed in a remote cabin when a young girl appears on their doorstep. She’s not exactly the angel Dad things she is.
9) Cow - an extremely weird story about a group of ferrel women who kill, and subsequently eat, a group of actors, saving one of the males to be used as a stud. This story was disturbing in ways that only Jack Ketchum can do.
10) The Transformed Mouse - this is perhaps one of my favorites. A nice parable about a wizard, some gods, and a transformed mouse. “Each to each, yet all things one.”
11) The Right Thing - if ever there was a doubt that Jack is an animal lover, this story removes all doubt. In his own words, he writes (in the afterward, “I get real tired of hearing people say, I had to give up my cat or dog because we’ve just had this baby and he or she’s allergic. Screw that. ...I’m not sure that any couple willing to give up an old pet...are going to make terrific parents in the first place.” I really liked this story as well.
12) Awake - an ailing jazz musician gets his just deserts in a filing marriage.
13) That Moment - the saddest 12 word story you’ll ever read.
14) Oldies - a very, very hard to read story about dealing with Alzheimer’s. Jack took a first hand account in all it’s horror and ran with it.
15) Seconds - a fantastic love story about a women who stopped aging after the death of her abusive first husband who found love again.
There you have it. One of the best things in this anthology is the span of themes. They aren’t all horror, there is something for everyone. It shows just how versatile Jack could be. If you’ve never read Jack Ketchum, this would be a wonderful place to start.
Rest in Piece, Dallas, you will be missed by many.
Be that as it may, the book in question was a phenomenal look into that exceptional mind. Not all of it horror, there were fables, and love stories, but all of it written carefully, with the intention of making the reader think.
One of the things I loved most about this (other than the fact that my edition is signed) is that Jack wrote and afterward following every story, explaining a little about it. I enjoy getting insight into the authors reason behind writing what they do.
The stories contained within range from a very sad 12 word story (yes 12 words) titled THAT MOMENT to what some might consider a novella in COW. - and everything in between.
1) Gorilla in My Room - a one page story about, well, a gorilla in the writer’s room. I can’t say more than that.
2) The Western Dead - an interesting take on the whole “where do zombies come from” mixed with the Wild West.
3) Bully - a story about that one Uncle who takes things a little too far with his “ribbing” and “teasing”.
4) Listen - an extremely disturbing story about a pedophile who meets up with his victims as adults.
5) Polaroids - another one page story that I can’t describe without giving it away. Sorry.
6) Squirrely Shirley - be careful what you say to someone, you may be on a speakerphone, leaving you with no alibi. A tale of cheating, murder, and cleanup.
7) Group of Thirty - I always wondered what authors thought when they are invited to speak to a group of fans. What if that group misrepresented themselves as fans and hate the authors work, and try to get them alone to show them that fact?
8) Winter Child - a father and son are snowed in a remote cabin when a young girl appears on their doorstep. She’s not exactly the angel Dad things she is.
9) Cow - an extremely weird story about a group of ferrel women who kill, and subsequently eat, a group of actors, saving one of the males to be used as a stud. This story was disturbing in ways that only Jack Ketchum can do.
10) The Transformed Mouse - this is perhaps one of my favorites. A nice parable about a wizard, some gods, and a transformed mouse. “Each to each, yet all things one.”
11) The Right Thing - if ever there was a doubt that Jack is an animal lover, this story removes all doubt. In his own words, he writes (in the afterward, “I get real tired of hearing people say, I had to give up my cat or dog because we’ve just had this baby and he or she’s allergic. Screw that. ...I’m not sure that any couple willing to give up an old pet...are going to make terrific parents in the first place.” I really liked this story as well.
12) Awake - an ailing jazz musician gets his just deserts in a filing marriage.
13) That Moment - the saddest 12 word story you’ll ever read.
14) Oldies - a very, very hard to read story about dealing with Alzheimer’s. Jack took a first hand account in all it’s horror and ran with it.
15) Seconds - a fantastic love story about a women who stopped aging after the death of her abusive first husband who found love again.
There you have it. One of the best things in this anthology is the span of themes. They aren’t all horror, there is something for everyone. It shows just how versatile Jack could be. If you’ve never read Jack Ketchum, this would be a wonderful place to start.
Rest in Piece, Dallas, you will be missed by many.
June 12, 2019
This was always going to be a tough read. See, Jack Ketchum (real life name Dallas Mayr) is one of my favourite authors. He writes lean, mean, emotionally impactful horror gear. He also died last year.
Gorilla in my Room is probably his final book (unless there's something waiting in the wings, which seems unlikely) and it's always hard to say goodbye. Anyway, the collection itself is classic Ketch: terse poetic writing, unflinching portrayals of violence, stuff that cuts you to the core. There's even a sorta sequel to The Woman in there, great stuff.
But now we reach the end and that's it, short of re-reads (which I do with Off Season quite a bit). Never got to meet the cat and now I never will, but Jack - you were a hell of a writer and the world was a damn sight better with you in it.
Gorilla in my Room is probably his final book (unless there's something waiting in the wings, which seems unlikely) and it's always hard to say goodbye. Anyway, the collection itself is classic Ketch: terse poetic writing, unflinching portrayals of violence, stuff that cuts you to the core. There's even a sorta sequel to The Woman in there, great stuff.
But now we reach the end and that's it, short of re-reads (which I do with Off Season quite a bit). Never got to meet the cat and now I never will, but Jack - you were a hell of a writer and the world was a damn sight better with you in it.
January 15, 2018
Another great book by Jack Ketchum. This one is full of mature stories that come close to the writer's heart. A must read for fans of the author, and anyone interested in tightly written suspense.
July 6, 2018
Review to come. This is a signed limited edition, number 150 of 750
Want to read
May 16, 2019Jack Ketchum's final short story collection, with an introduction by Edward Lee.
August 20, 2020
A true master. While each story is wonderful, "Oldies" is devastating.
April 18, 2021
This Ketchum collection is a great starting point if you want to have a taste of his writing. You can have a glimpse of his merciless writing style without his abitual full power. Maybe the one thing I have to complaint about are the 2 shor stories that are tied to his Off Season universe. You can "enjoy" both of them but I still there is some background missing. And there are a couple of stories that are not horror at all and just proves that Ketchum was a hell of a writer.
And one thing I found interesting, and probably you should know too before getting in, is that the title story Gorilla in My Room is a poem he wrote when he found out about his cancer. When I found out about it I appreciated the story even more.
My favorite stories are (and probably in that order):
Listen
Group of Thirty
Seconds
Bully
So, bottom line, if you want to tip a toe into Ketchum waters, this is the place to be.
And one thing I found interesting, and probably you should know too before getting in, is that the title story Gorilla in My Room is a poem he wrote when he found out about his cancer. When I found out about it I appreciated the story even more.
My favorite stories are (and probably in that order):
Listen
Group of Thirty
Seconds
Bully
So, bottom line, if you want to tip a toe into Ketchum waters, this is the place to be.
September 12, 2018
January 24th of this year was a sad day. It was the day Jack Ketchum died. I didn't get caught up with his novels until a few years ago, and I found so much thoughtful and meaningful (and also brutal and violent) fiction there, I knew I would read anything he wrote. I had pre-ordered this collection in late 2017, but it took me several months to get around to reading it.
The collection opens with "Gorilla in My Room", an ultra-short story (less than one page) where Ketchum uses a gorilla living in his room as a metaphor for life. It definitely fits the thoughtful and meaningful categories of his fiction, and it hints at the brutal and violent categories, as well.
"The Western Dead" follows, and it's a story about zombies set in the old west. It's an interesting idea (Ketchum notes in his afterword that he wrote the story as part of an anthology that sought to place the origin of zombies far back in the past), and it makes me wonder why we don't see more zombie stories set in older eras. Are zombies intended to be a modern construct? Regardless, this is a characteristic Ketchum story with the concise prose and disturbing imagery.
Next is "Bully", and now we're getting into the usual Ketchum storytelling. It's about a man who stands up to his abusive father, years after having grown up out from under his shadow. This is a compelling story, made original by the way Ketchum writes it.
"Listen" is a story that covers usual territory for Ketchum - pedophilia. In this story, it's narrated by one, and he's tracking down his survivors, hoping to get them to kill him. In the usual Ketchum-revenge style, he doesn't quite get what he wants.
"Polaroids" is another ultra short, which reminds me of Richard Matheson's "The Near Departed". It packs the same kind of queasy punch, but with much more economy.
Edward Lee's introduction to the collection made me expect "Squirrely Shirley" to be funny, but the events of the story were too horrifying for me to find the humor in it. I've been coming to terms with the fact that the kind of horror I like is more subtle and suggestive than what's usually on offer in the genre, but I still like Ketchum in general. This one just didn't do much for me.
In "Group of Thirty", Ketchum imagines what it's like to finally meet the people who don't like his fiction. The main character is a thinly-veiled version of Ketchum himself, and he comes up with a good way for him to get out of it.
"Winter Child" is a prequel to Offspring, which just isn't a favorite of mine. I get that cannibals are horrifying, but when that's the whole source of the horror and the story, it loses its effect. Here, Ketchum gives us a different perspective on the theme, which helps make the story more relatable. For one thing, the story isn't just about the cannibalism.
"Cow" is another story set in the Dead River series, and this one is a sequel to The Woman. That story was good, since it showed how much more horrible regular people are from the cannibals, but Ketchum flips the script again and makes it about the cannibalism and the survival. It's engaging, but doesn't have the same effect as The Woman.
Ketchum writes a parable with "The Transformed Mouse", which is interesting, since it doesn't quite follow his usual type of story. It does make a cool point, though, and it's written in the lean style Ketchum is known for.
"The Right Thing" is another ultra-short story, about a couple getting rid of a child to keep a pet. It's an interesting take on the usual "get rid of the pet for the child" dilemma, but probably resonates more with people who actually have kids.
Ketchum returns to pedophilia with "Awake", an okay story about an aging jazz musician who rapes his daughter. He ends the story in his usual fashion, in grisly revenge.
"That Moment" is an uber-story story (story starter, really; it's two sentences) about the death of a pet. Ketchum packs a lot of punch in such few words.
"Oldies" is horrific in a different way, as it's a story told from the perspective of an Alzheimer patient. It's not graphic or gruesome, but it's an accurate look at how it is for someone suffering from dementia to deal with the rest of the world.
The collection concludes with "Seconds", a story about a woman who stops aging after her abusive husband dies. She finally meets someone who cares for her when she's over seventy years old, but still looks like she's in her early thirties, and the story goes from there. On the one hand, it's a poignant story, but on the other, her not aging seems more like a reward for the person who cares for her than one for her. It's odd, but it's a different sort of story for Ketchum, which highlights his skills with tenderness.
Most collections I read are hit-and-miss, but this one has more hits than I usually find. It helps that I like Ketchum's fiction as much as I do, but his style reflects the styles I'm used to from the horror fiction I read in the '80s. It felt like the stories I remember, and that definitely played a part into how much I liked the collection overall.
The collection opens with "Gorilla in My Room", an ultra-short story (less than one page) where Ketchum uses a gorilla living in his room as a metaphor for life. It definitely fits the thoughtful and meaningful categories of his fiction, and it hints at the brutal and violent categories, as well.
"The Western Dead" follows, and it's a story about zombies set in the old west. It's an interesting idea (Ketchum notes in his afterword that he wrote the story as part of an anthology that sought to place the origin of zombies far back in the past), and it makes me wonder why we don't see more zombie stories set in older eras. Are zombies intended to be a modern construct? Regardless, this is a characteristic Ketchum story with the concise prose and disturbing imagery.
Next is "Bully", and now we're getting into the usual Ketchum storytelling. It's about a man who stands up to his abusive father, years after having grown up out from under his shadow. This is a compelling story, made original by the way Ketchum writes it.
"Listen" is a story that covers usual territory for Ketchum - pedophilia. In this story, it's narrated by one, and he's tracking down his survivors, hoping to get them to kill him. In the usual Ketchum-revenge style, he doesn't quite get what he wants.
"Polaroids" is another ultra short, which reminds me of Richard Matheson's "The Near Departed". It packs the same kind of queasy punch, but with much more economy.
Edward Lee's introduction to the collection made me expect "Squirrely Shirley" to be funny, but the events of the story were too horrifying for me to find the humor in it. I've been coming to terms with the fact that the kind of horror I like is more subtle and suggestive than what's usually on offer in the genre, but I still like Ketchum in general. This one just didn't do much for me.
In "Group of Thirty", Ketchum imagines what it's like to finally meet the people who don't like his fiction. The main character is a thinly-veiled version of Ketchum himself, and he comes up with a good way for him to get out of it.
"Winter Child" is a prequel to Offspring, which just isn't a favorite of mine. I get that cannibals are horrifying, but when that's the whole source of the horror and the story, it loses its effect. Here, Ketchum gives us a different perspective on the theme, which helps make the story more relatable. For one thing, the story isn't just about the cannibalism.
"Cow" is another story set in the Dead River series, and this one is a sequel to The Woman. That story was good, since it showed how much more horrible regular people are from the cannibals, but Ketchum flips the script again and makes it about the cannibalism and the survival. It's engaging, but doesn't have the same effect as The Woman.
Ketchum writes a parable with "The Transformed Mouse", which is interesting, since it doesn't quite follow his usual type of story. It does make a cool point, though, and it's written in the lean style Ketchum is known for.
"The Right Thing" is another ultra-short story, about a couple getting rid of a child to keep a pet. It's an interesting take on the usual "get rid of the pet for the child" dilemma, but probably resonates more with people who actually have kids.
Ketchum returns to pedophilia with "Awake", an okay story about an aging jazz musician who rapes his daughter. He ends the story in his usual fashion, in grisly revenge.
"That Moment" is an uber-story story (story starter, really; it's two sentences) about the death of a pet. Ketchum packs a lot of punch in such few words.
"Oldies" is horrific in a different way, as it's a story told from the perspective of an Alzheimer patient. It's not graphic or gruesome, but it's an accurate look at how it is for someone suffering from dementia to deal with the rest of the world.
The collection concludes with "Seconds", a story about a woman who stops aging after her abusive husband dies. She finally meets someone who cares for her when she's over seventy years old, but still looks like she's in her early thirties, and the story goes from there. On the one hand, it's a poignant story, but on the other, her not aging seems more like a reward for the person who cares for her than one for her. It's odd, but it's a different sort of story for Ketchum, which highlights his skills with tenderness.
Most collections I read are hit-and-miss, but this one has more hits than I usually find. It helps that I like Ketchum's fiction as much as I do, but his style reflects the styles I'm used to from the horror fiction I read in the '80s. It felt like the stories I remember, and that definitely played a part into how much I liked the collection overall.
March 26, 2020
(En realidad se acerca más a las 3,5 estrellas)
Si alguien no se ha acercado nunca a Jack Ketchum quizás esta pequeña colección de relatos sea una buena forma. Funciona casi como un catálogo de muchas de las cosas que encuentra alguien luego en sus novelas: sí, hay violencia (mucha y de muchas maneras) pero también cierto humor extraño e incluso algunas historias de amor. Son interesantes también las reflexiones que el propio autor al final de cada pieza.
Si alguien no se ha acercado nunca a Jack Ketchum quizás esta pequeña colección de relatos sea una buena forma. Funciona casi como un catálogo de muchas de las cosas que encuentra alguien luego en sus novelas: sí, hay violencia (mucha y de muchas maneras) pero también cierto humor extraño e incluso algunas historias de amor. Son interesantes también las reflexiones que el propio autor al final de cada pieza.
December 23, 2017
This is a collection of short stories ranging from a few words to over twenty pages. The stories range from silly to touching stories about loss. Throughout Mr. Ketchum keeps the reader entertained.
October 2, 2018
This one hurt, given Jack's passing. Particularly the final story, "Seconds." If all you know of Ketchum is the ultra-violence of OFFSEASON or THE WOMAN, pick this up and see the heart that Dallas had beating throughout all his stories. If you looked for it.
December 17, 2018
An amazing collection of powerful prose that reaches heights of quality writing rarely found.
April 28, 2019
It’s Ketchum ( with some Lucky McKee as well) sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, a lot of times brutal and horrifying, always sincere.
May 23, 2020
Pretty tame if you've read Ketchum before. Still, the stories are well written and entertaining.
June 14, 2020
Not a very good collection by my favorite author.
August 11, 2021
A fab heady mix of stories in this collection. Some are shocking, some disturbing and that's just two of the emotions you will go through but what they are are well crafted.
June 16, 2022
Call me crazy but I enjoyed Gorilla in My Room more than Peaceable Kingdom (which had a slew of stellar stories but, overall, was uneven). A third or so of the entries here aren't necessarily horror, but all of them are exceedingly well-written and to the point. Favorites include: Bully, Squirrely Shirley, Group of Thirty, Winter Child, and Oldies. Group of Thirty and Squirrely Shirley, in particular, I thought were morbidly funny.
Of note is that this collection ends with a short story about finding love that is so powerful it destroys the hold of decades-long trauma. Who would have thought that Jack Ketchum, a man known for writing unflinching and utterly disturbing horror, would close his career with a story full of tenderness and beauty? An apt and appropriate way to see off his readers, if you ask me. R.I.P. Dallas. Hard to believe it's already been a number of years since your death.
Of note is that this collection ends with a short story about finding love that is so powerful it destroys the hold of decades-long trauma. Who would have thought that Jack Ketchum, a man known for writing unflinching and utterly disturbing horror, would close his career with a story full of tenderness and beauty? An apt and appropriate way to see off his readers, if you ask me. R.I.P. Dallas. Hard to believe it's already been a number of years since your death.
December 16, 2017
Every Jack Ketchum book is an event, especially when that book is a signed limited edition!
I was a tad disappointed that not all the stories in Gorilla in My Room are new. Some are old and previously published. That aside there is some great work here; highlights being; Squirrely Shirley, with Lucky McKee, Group of Thirty, Winter Child, Oldies and Seconds.
I was a tad disappointed that not all the stories in Gorilla in My Room are new. Some are old and previously published. That aside there is some great work here; highlights being; Squirrely Shirley, with Lucky McKee, Group of Thirty, Winter Child, Oldies and Seconds.
December 27, 2025
Great collection of short stories by Ketchum. The first one was really excellent and I enjoyed others too. I picked it out because of The Winter Child story, as I'm working on the Off Season series. They all left me wanting more, which is exactly what a short story should do.
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May 4, 2024i love this man’s mind
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