What do you think?
Rate this book
Lazermall
Just when you thought it was safe to go to the mall... three authors (Katy Michelle Quinn, Joe Quenell, Sam Richard) of the strange, the unsettling, and the bizarre each conjure their own vision of lazer-infused mall-horror. From queer mall-goths fighting for their lives against androids with explosive genitals, to the American propaganda machine using coerced shock-rocker punk musicians to fight Soviet Communism, to a mall security officer high on the power of robots who seeks to crush the women who've scorned him.
We have it all, and more... Welcome to the LazerMall.
We have it all, and more... Welcome to the LazerMall.
81 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 7, 2021
Look for my full review in SCREAM Magazine Issue 68!
October 30, 2019
Three novellettes by three different horror authors, each one implored to contain two very specific things: LAZERS and MALLS. The variety between these three stories was great, as each author took the concept and made it their own. And while the book might be labelled as 'horror' there are healthy doses of weirdness and humor running through the veins of each of these tales. A short read (seriously, it only took me like 2 hours to read the whole thing) but a helluva good time.
November 29, 2019
LAZERMALL is three short stories about malls and lasers. Inspired by the all-too-brief mall horror movie era, the writing trio of Katy Michelle Quinn, Joe Quenell and Sam Richard do their best to not let it die. The three stories are separate and very different takes on the theme. Not a lot to add on this short, unique throwback book. Definitely cool for those who appreciate Chopping Mall and Sorority Babes in the Slimebowl-O-Rama. Filthy Loot delivers again.
November 23, 2019
Mall culture + horror tropes = ridiculous good times.
This little book is made up of three short stories that had to include two things: malls and lasers. Quinn’s piece, as ever, is witty, insightful, and a joy to read. Quenell’s is a rowdy rockin’ gnarly good time. And Richard’s would be a straightforward homage to the subgenre were it not for displaying a depth of humanity rarely seen in pieces like this.
Each one shines for its take on the mission, but for me Quenell’s resonates the strongest. A deeply 80’s sci-fi horror story in the vein of Society, a Wendy O. Williams-type must take to the mall risers to battle the communist specter. How awesome is that?
4 out of 5 food court pretzels. Lazermall isn’t on Amazon, because fight the power. It is available from filthyloot.com.
This little book is made up of three short stories that had to include two things: malls and lasers. Quinn’s piece, as ever, is witty, insightful, and a joy to read. Quenell’s is a rowdy rockin’ gnarly good time. And Richard’s would be a straightforward homage to the subgenre were it not for displaying a depth of humanity rarely seen in pieces like this.
Each one shines for its take on the mission, but for me Quenell’s resonates the strongest. A deeply 80’s sci-fi horror story in the vein of Society, a Wendy O. Williams-type must take to the mall risers to battle the communist specter. How awesome is that?
4 out of 5 food court pretzels. Lazermall isn’t on Amazon, because fight the power. It is available from filthyloot.com.
March 27, 2020
In the same way that 80s mall horror tends to critique consumerist culture, the three stories included in this collection present fresh, sharp critiques wrapped up in strange, and often darkly comedic packages. I absolutely loved this little book and I highly recommend it for both fans of 80s horror and those seeking well-crafted horror fiction.
January 5, 2021
For fans of Chopping Mall and Night of the Comet, Lazermall is a must read. For that matter, anyone who grew up in the 80's-90's heyday of shopping mall culture can probably find something to appreciate among these three short stories, as long as they don't mind wild laser action and a few helpings of gore.
Lazermall hits the ground running with Katy Michell Quinn's wild entry, the only contemporary story of the bunch. Preppy looking fembots with penises attack a mall's gay and trans employees after closing, while also shouting homophobic slurs and stereotypically heterosexual catchphrases.
Joe Quennel's entry, "We're the Torture Chambers (And You Suck)," is the most bizarre (and I mean that as a compliment) story in the collection, telling the tale of punk rockers forced into work as government weapons fighting communism in an apocalyptic alternate take on Reagan's 80's.
The final entry, Sam Richard's "Shopping Maul," is soaked in 80's nostalgia. Innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire when a psychotic security guard sics a security robot on a shop lifting teen. This one bears the most resemblance to the aforementioned Chopping Mall and was probably my favorite of the bunch.
This is one wild, fun, and quick read. Highly recommended!
Lazermall hits the ground running with Katy Michell Quinn's wild entry, the only contemporary story of the bunch. Preppy looking fembots with penises attack a mall's gay and trans employees after closing, while also shouting homophobic slurs and stereotypically heterosexual catchphrases.
Joe Quennel's entry, "We're the Torture Chambers (And You Suck)," is the most bizarre (and I mean that as a compliment) story in the collection, telling the tale of punk rockers forced into work as government weapons fighting communism in an apocalyptic alternate take on Reagan's 80's.
The final entry, Sam Richard's "Shopping Maul," is soaked in 80's nostalgia. Innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire when a psychotic security guard sics a security robot on a shop lifting teen. This one bears the most resemblance to the aforementioned Chopping Mall and was probably my favorite of the bunch.
This is one wild, fun, and quick read. Highly recommended!
June 18, 2020
Three stories with the stipulations of the setting must be the mall and there must be lasers involved. Three authors who have been writing (and publishing) some of the best horror out there. Three fantastic dives into an underwritten and under-appreciated subgenre--the mall horror.
"Mall Goth Lazerdick Explode-A-Thon III" by Katy Michelle Quinn is the first up and follows Khloe, a trangender female who is being chased by robots who are targeting and killing all of the LGBTQ+ people in the mall, with lazers coming out of their dicks. This is so absurd and so damn funny that I loved every minute of it. Of course there are social/political undertones that could be analysed at length, but instead I will just say that I loved every aspect of this story, and with Katy Michelle Quinn being the only author I was not familiar with before reading this, I will seek out more of her work.
"We're the Torture Chambers (And You Suck)" by Jo Quenell. I am familiar with Jo Quenell through their newest novella, "Mud Ballad." The story in this collection is nothing like this novella. "We're The Torture Chambers (And You Suck) takes place in the mid-80s, and Trish "Torture" Chambers has the task of playing 80s metal in a mall to lure out a large Glow, that the military will then try to kill with lazers. The story moves fast and I loved the way it ends. There is something to be said about Jo Quenell putting out a solid body of work, and their work should be sought out.
"Shopping Maul" by Sam Richard. The final story is by the publisher of Weird Punk Books, Sam Richard. The story unfolds a little like the movie "Chopping Mall" where there is a security robot that is using his lasers to protect the mall, but the story is better, with characters that I actually cared about.
LAZERMALL is a small book, less than 80 pages, but every story is a five star story. They definitely cared about quality over quantity, and the result could not be more satisfying. I agree that Mall Horror is shamefully underwritten, and we need more of it. This collection can be a springboard for many writers because it proves with even a small premise, there are so many directions it can go. I feel like this will be a collection I read more than once and will recommend to everyone.
"Mall Goth Lazerdick Explode-A-Thon III" by Katy Michelle Quinn is the first up and follows Khloe, a trangender female who is being chased by robots who are targeting and killing all of the LGBTQ+ people in the mall, with lazers coming out of their dicks. This is so absurd and so damn funny that I loved every minute of it. Of course there are social/political undertones that could be analysed at length, but instead I will just say that I loved every aspect of this story, and with Katy Michelle Quinn being the only author I was not familiar with before reading this, I will seek out more of her work.
"We're the Torture Chambers (And You Suck)" by Jo Quenell. I am familiar with Jo Quenell through their newest novella, "Mud Ballad." The story in this collection is nothing like this novella. "We're The Torture Chambers (And You Suck) takes place in the mid-80s, and Trish "Torture" Chambers has the task of playing 80s metal in a mall to lure out a large Glow, that the military will then try to kill with lazers. The story moves fast and I loved the way it ends. There is something to be said about Jo Quenell putting out a solid body of work, and their work should be sought out.
"Shopping Maul" by Sam Richard. The final story is by the publisher of Weird Punk Books, Sam Richard. The story unfolds a little like the movie "Chopping Mall" where there is a security robot that is using his lasers to protect the mall, but the story is better, with characters that I actually cared about.
LAZERMALL is a small book, less than 80 pages, but every story is a five star story. They definitely cared about quality over quantity, and the result could not be more satisfying. I agree that Mall Horror is shamefully underwritten, and we need more of it. This collection can be a springboard for many writers because it proves with even a small premise, there are so many directions it can go. I feel like this will be a collection I read more than once and will recommend to everyone.
June 12, 2020
I've been looking forward to this collection for a while and finally bought it as a birthday present to myself. It's delightfully tiny and exactly as loud, ridiculous, and queer as I expected from a mall-horror-with-lazers collection. I'll definitely be reading more by these authors!
December 17, 2019
3 fantastic and twisted mall short stories. Each story was unique in it’s style and delivery, but all three were fun to read. I cannot wait to read more from Filthy Loot!
January 14, 2020
Really fun read that absolutely delivers on both malls and lasers.
September 27, 2025
loved all three stories, first and last stories could be offshoots of chopping mall. filthy loot rules.
August 17, 2021
This slim volume offers three short stories, each from a different author but focusing on that delicious 80s-inspired mall aesthetic with a good dose of lasers. While reading, I reminisced on such classic (or classically terrible depending on your POV) movies such as Chopping Mall and Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, and wondered sadly why there weren't MORE of those weird, confusing, hilarious, gooey, and delightful flicks. Enter this book!
Loud, ridiculous, and queer af—this is an excellent collection for any afternoon where you need a B-horror pick-me-up. I give this one three stars because I really loved Katy Michelle Quinn's story (which includes robots with laser dicks), but I wasn't as inspired by the other stories.
Loud, ridiculous, and queer af—this is an excellent collection for any afternoon where you need a B-horror pick-me-up. I give this one three stars because I really loved Katy Michelle Quinn's story (which includes robots with laser dicks), but I wasn't as inspired by the other stories.
June 23, 2022
Just like a shopping mall, there’s a ton to be offered in this quick read. Three authors, all giving their premium sales on their 80s style reading experiences, deliver stories that make you want to run for the parking lot!
As a mall enthusiast, I’m always hunting for some spooky tales in one of my favorite places to be.
I bow my hat to these three, hoping that I don’t get the blood they spilled on my food court delights.
As a mall enthusiast, I’m always hunting for some spooky tales in one of my favorite places to be.
I bow my hat to these three, hoping that I don’t get the blood they spilled on my food court delights.
May 17, 2025
LAZERS! MALLS! This was a fun and short collection comprising of three very different stories — but all very reminiscent of Point Horror books! I personally prefer the first two stories as they were hella queer and somewhat better written story wise. The last one felt a bit too stunted in its writing, but I’ll give props to including incels controlling robots lmao
All in all another decent Filthy Loot book.
All in all another decent Filthy Loot book.
May 23, 2022
Lazers. Malls. This may be the pinnacle of art.
September 23, 2022
This book was everything I hoped for, it's like a shitty B-movie sci-fi/horror, but on purpose.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews