Metamorphosis

by Claire Fitzpatrick

Madeline will never become a woman. William will never become a man. Does June deserve to be human? Does Lilith deserve a heart?

Seventeen stories. Seventeen tales of terror.

If imperfection is crucial to a society's survival, what makes a monster?

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

198 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2019

Reviews

[Cameron Trost · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think you had a hard time when puberty hit, trying to work out who you were, wanting so desperately to feel comfortable in your skin, Claire Fitzpatrick's title story, Metamorphosis, will reassure you. After all, it could have been so much worse!

Once again, Claire delivers the goods with her very own style of body horror.

[William Bitner Jr.]

Metamorphosis: A Collection of Short Stories
By Claire Fitzpatrick

Genre - Fiction
Subgenre - Body Horror/Psychological Horror/Speculative Fiction/Short Stories
Pages - 245
Publication Information - IFWG Publishing International, September 2, 2019, ASIN: B07TCJX6X2
Format - Digital
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙

Having never read anything by Claire Fitzpatrick, or having really any idea what the sub-genre “Body Horror” is, I was anxious, thrilled and even a bit titillated to read something new - for me at least. I think I now have an idea and a handle on what “Body Horror” is - and I think I should have considering Ms Fitzpatrick is considered Australia's “Queen of Body Horror”. A crown I believe she should wear with great pride, as it is for this reader at least, very well deserved. Now, I finished reading this collection of seventeen incredible short stories a few days ago and have been left in a state of awe and wonderment at what I just experienced. I cannot remember the last time horror short stories or a horror novel of any kind for that matter had such a profound or personal affect on me. I’ve been sitting with these stories marinating in my mind and embedded in my soul somewhere hidden for later retrieval. As Ms Fitzpatrick explains in the introduction to these stories (and yes, you should read it as it is as heartfelt and as wonderful an explanation of her creative journey as I have ever read) the ideas of these stories come from her personal experiences with Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder. “I am a crazy person who has seizures. Many of my ideas stem from my fears, my neurotic thoughts, my paranoia.” I think I read things in much the same way as she writes. As a person who has had to deal with mental issues, alcohol and drug abuse and who has been living with HIV for the last 25+ years and now drug and alcohol free for the last 16 years, I find myself sometimes not very comfortable in my own skin or in certain situations. I have found that over the last twenty-five years or so that I’ve been going through my own kind of “metamorphosis”. These stories are examples of nothing short of masterpieces of brilliant artistry, and I for one am a better person for having had the privilege to read them. Brutally honest, visceral, moving, horrifying, sad, terrifying and even a little humorous - these stories are stories of life. Well played Ms Fitzpatrick - well played, indeed “Your Majesty” . Writing is not my thing, I don’t have the vocabulary or the chops for it, but I’ve committed myself to reviewing all the books I read and the experiences that come along with those readings. I hope I did this one justice.

Stories contained within this book are: Madeline, Eat, Mechanical Garden, Jacaranda House, Transplant, The Eagle, Scarab, Senses, The Dog, The Town Hall, Metamorphosis, Happy Birthday - Ebony, Synthetic, Andromeda, The Perfect Son, Thorne House and Deep-Sea Fishing.

From the back cover: This short story collection includes 17 tales of terror. Madeline will never become a woman. William will never become a man. Does June deserve to be human? Does Lilith deserve a heart? If imperfection is crucial to a society’s survival, what makes a monster?

About the author: Claire Fitzpatrick is an author of speculative fiction and non-fiction. She won the 2017 Rocky Wood Award for Non-Fiction and Criticism. Called 'Australia's Queen of Body Horror' and 'Australia's Body Horror Specialist', she enjoys writing about anatomy and the darker sides of humanity.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know there are people out there who skip author's notes and introductions on short story collections. If that's you, make an exception this time. I, myself, have read the odd introduction that ran in circles for 20 pages and has me tapping my foot with impatience to get to the meat. In the introduction to Metamorphosis , author Claire Fitzpatrick lets us know that the stories we're about to read are the results of paranoia and neurotic thoughts related to bouts with epilepsy and borderline personality disorder. As a result, the stories are honest, unyielding, and snapshots of a very specific time in the author's life.

I'd like to lead off by letting you know that if body horror is not your cup of tea, there is quite a bit of material in this collection that may not be up your alley. Potential readers may like that Fitzpatrick opens with two stories, Madeline and Eat, that give you an idea of just how intense the experience is going to be.

Body horror is not necessarily my favorite genre, but we see it mixed well here with tales of revenge and/or comeuppance, or even with coming-of-age and self-acceptance. The title story Metamorphosis is an excellent example of the latter. Synthetic might be the best showing in this sub genre, and contains a little of both.

While there is plenty of the supernatural and horror in extremis on display, there are many displays of simply evil (everyday) people. The Dog showcases this magnificently, and I hate to admit I found myself mollified by the eventual ending.

My two favorites from the collection are Jacaranda House and Andromeda. Jacaranda House offers a unique and spookular take on the haunted house story, which anyone who comes here regularly will know, is my favorite horror genre. Andromeda reads almost as a very short novelette, broken into chapters. This story deals with humanity's inclination toward manifest destiny, and the particularly alien consequences. Fair warning, you might find yourself agreeing with the alien reasoning, but the author does a masterful job of painting the human protagonist, and she very much has our empathy.

While some stories stuck with me more than others, there is never a dull moment in Metamorphosis. A second heads up that this collection is graphic and disturbing at times. It's also honest, and above all raw. Something that fiction could occasionally use a pinch of. If that sounds like something you can deal with, then give Claire Fitzpatrick's collection a shot.



[Alexander Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the darkest things I have ever read.

'Metamorphosis' is right. I don't think there was a single story in this collection that didn't consist of the main character undergoing some collossal transformation. Most of the time, not for the better.

This is body horror. This is splatter. This is gore and transformation and a lot of psychological aspects. Claire Fitzpatrick brings these short stories to life with beautiful writing, proving once again that extreme, messed up scenes can also be beautiful. To me, this is Beautiful Horror, a form I first discovered in Clive Barker's work. But I don't think Barker was ever this traumatic 😵

Seriously, pick up a copy. Support horror, support indie, support women in horror, and support Australian speculative writers. This is 5 stars for me. The only negative, I had to watch My Little Pony on repeat for three days so I could cleanse the darkness from my mind.

[J.A. Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a short story collection with variety, Metamorphosis by Claire Fitzpatrick is a great choice. The lineup offers diverse plots, rich themes, and a range of speculative fiction subgenres, including paranormal, dark fantasy, science fiction, and body horror. Not all the stories hit the mark for me, but because of the mixture presented there’s something for almost everyone.

Thematically this is a heavy book, sidestepping surface jump-scares to contemplate self-harm, substance abuse, feelings of alienation, loss and despair. These seventeen stories don’t offer happy endings, most without a glimmer of hope from the onset, dragging the reader deep into the gloom. When faced with tales like these, readers often wonder what the author must have gone through to want to commit such dark thoughts to paper, and those answers are here too. At the beginning of the collection is a brief introduction by Fitzpatrick, candidly discussing her struggles with Epilepsy and Borderline Personality Disorder. I know some people skip author introductions, but don’t with this one.

To give you a sense of what Metamorphosis holds, here are a few of the stories which really captivated me.

“Transplant” enters the realm of science fiction where Lilith received a 3D printed heart replacement from INTEGRATE eight years ago. She’s now at the end of the “rent-to-own” contract for the organ, but as a single parent she’s unable to scrape together enough money to buy her heart. INTEGRATE doesn’t negotiate, though exchanging one life for another isn’t off the table. This is a quick read, but rife with tension, touching on the realities of corporations providing health services.

My favourite was “Senses,” which I also found to be the darkest in the collection. Addiction, grief, and self mutilation infuse themselves into every aspect of Alison’s life. She struggles against loss – the death of her mother, abandonment of her father, and loss of herself. Beautifully written, this story is like a haunting fever dream transporting you into Alison’s broken existence.

If you find violence against animals too disturbing to read, then “The Dog” may not be for you. However, for readers who can handle it, this story is a gem. School-aged girl Jean is angry at the world and takes out her frustrations on an abandoned dog. Every second of this story is uncomfortable, and not just because of what Jean does. The message between the lines is heartbreaking, as you consider what type of environment she’s been raised. At one point she says to her friend, “Dogs think they’re so tough with their stupid barks and their stupid sharp claws. But they can be broken, just like you and me.” Powerful stuff!

As much as I did enjoy this collection, there were some sections that could have used a touch more editing. Instances where characters seemed to switch names, a few inconsistencies within specific stories, and repetitive use of names between unrelated stories, all detracted from the otherwise excellent writing. Those small flaws aside, Metamorphosis has a lot to offer and is worth a read.

*This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews*

[Claire F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review appeared in Aurealis #124.

Metamorphosis is a collection of short horror stories by Australian author Claire Fitzpatrick and, oh boy, what a gruesome body of work it is.

Each story tackles a different theme, from science fiction to zombie nightmares, some more shocking than others in their brutality, some simply heartbreaking. Fitzpatrick takes her reader on a journey through a range of gruelling situations and makes certain there’s something for a horror fiction fan in this flinch-inducing anthology.

Standouts include: ‘Eat’, a zombie tale with bite; ‘Mechanical Garden’, a radiation disaster with a sinister twist; ‘Transplant’, a much-needed medical intervention with dire consequences; ‘The Dog’, with the plight of a simple dog that leaves you in tears. Each story is a journey into another world, one you’ll wish you never entered. All stories are guaranteed to stir emotions within you.

Fitzpatrick opens this book with what appears to be a simple introduction but, as you read on, the sheer honesty of her words gives you a rare insight into her life and writing. This sets pace with the rest of the book, and you can tell Fitzpatrick has meticulously researched each story, polishing it to perfection.

Her words are simple and easy to follow. A wicked joy to read—even if she’s short of inflicting any kind of joy on her characters. Her stories deliver. This anthology is a must read, a welcome addition to any horror lover’s library.

Excerpt from
Aurealis #124
Dirk Strasser (Editor)
This material may be protected by copyright.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book completely blind with no prior knowledge of Claire Fitzpatrick and her work, so I have to admit I was taken aback by the very generous dose of body horror. I didn't find it off-putting however (we often learn things about ourselves from reading stories - well, this book taught me that I'm not as squeamish as I thought I was).

I enjoyed the variety of short stories offered, all centring on the theme of metamorphosis. While many featured gruesomely detailed explorations of body horrors and the gory destruction/creatively horrific metamorphosis of human bodies, I found the most powerful stories to be the ones which focused on the inner twists and turns of the human mind, and the dark side of the human condition. 'The Dog' and 'Transplant' were the ones that lingered most for me, and among the stories they arguably contained very little body horror in the traditional sense of visceral gore (although 'The Dog' certainly contains unsettling violence and cruelty).

As some other reviewers have noted, another round of editing may have heightened the impact of stories - some minor grammatical errors and issues with character names changing mid-story do break immersion. Some of the stories also read more like the first chapter of a novel — there are many details quickly mentioned which open up worlds of possibilities and questions but these details are then never revisited. I have to add that one of the stories - The Town Hall - reads like a derivative work of Jackson’s ‘The Lottery’; it would have been a good story if I wasn’t familiar with The Lottery, but as it was, it paled in (the inevitable) comparison.

Generally, though, the concepts are creative, the ideas well-executed, and the stories are wonderfully varied. Fitzpatrick isn't afraid to explore different genres and narrative styles, and I appreciate the generous serving of seventeen different stories. The introduction also gave me additional context - as someone who is neurodiverse, I really appreciate reading the work of authors who bring their unique perspectives and lived mental-health experiences to their writing.

[Eva Lazar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of short stories had me feeling nauseated. There was quite some creativity throughout the book, and it is my understanding that the author’s specialty is body horror, but I really underestimated how grossed out I would be by that. If you are looking to feel a sense of trepidation through reading, this book is for you!

Although the book evoked strong feelings, which I personally find to be one of the signs that a book is good, I think that being caused discomfort is not the same as reading a piece of enjoyable writing. While the author excels in what I assume she set out to do, it was just not for me.

A final observation is that the type of horror is quite repetitive in its style. Sometimes the horror outshines the stories, as if the in-depth descriptions are more in focus than the coherence or necessity of the stories written.

[Anthony Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection from Australia's queen of body horror. The author strips herself bare in churning out a stellar collection of gut wrenching tales. There's lots of meat on the bones here.

Deep Sea Fishing, which concludes the collection, is arguably my favourite. A nautical tale filled with restless malignant spirits, it hammers along to an unexpected but damning conclusion.

The Dog is particularly brutal. I cringed reading it. One of the few stories where I really wanted the protagonist to suffer.

Eat is another gut churning charmer about apocalyptic cannibalism that will have you holding the book away from you while salivating against your will.

You get the drift. There's mutilation aplenty, gore, guts, self-harm and self-loathing. This has got it all!

[R.A. Goli · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Disclaimer: I was given a free eCopy for an honest review*
I enjoyed this unique and weird collection of body horror short stories, though it was a bit hit and miss for me. Some stories I loved and would cringe or laugh out loud in parts, while others I thought were a bit silly. Having said that, I do really like the author's style and wouldn't be put off reading more of her work. I feel like her story ideas are different and delightfully grotesque. It wasn't quite a 4 for me, but I wish I could rate it a 3.5 as 3 seems a little low. Highlights for me were Madeline, Eat, Transplant, & Deep-Sea Fishing.

[T Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wickedly gruesome collection of horror shorts; some shocking, some terrifying, all highly emotionally charged. Inspired by her struggles with BPD, Fitzpatrick writes honestly and openly, and her work is both engaging and darkly beautiful.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of splatterpunk and body horror.