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Plyšákokalypsa
Nedávno skončila válka, kterou hračky rozpoutaly proti lidstvu. A hračky v ní zvítězily...
Plyšáci, panenky, roboti, ale i malí plastoví vojáčci už měli plné zuby toho, že s nimi rozmazlené děti zacházely jako s pouhými věcmi. A i když nové „chytré“ generace hraček dokázaly myslet a cítit, neměly žádná práva, žádnou naději na smysluplný život. Nezbývalo jim než se vzbouřit a s lidskou rasou zatočit...
Po konfliktu se poslední lidé stáhli do podzemních bunkrů. V jedné z těchto tajných enkláv přežívá i Julie, podstupující bolestivé operace a přerod v plyšovou pandu. Hračkám nemůže zapomenout, jak naložily s jejími rodiči. Pokud ví, dosud jsou zadržováni v jednom z vyhlazovacích táborů. Podaří se jí díky své transformaci dosáhnout vytčeného cíle a zachrání je? Vyzraje na všehoschopné hračky a jejich kruté plyšové velitele?
Carlton Mellick III se svou typickou invencí vstupuje do sféry postapokalyptického hororu a při psaní o panoptiku nejrůznějších groteskních postav a jejich absurdních vztazích nezůstává nic dlužen své pověsti nejnápaditějšího autora současné bizarní fantastiky.
Ilustrace na obálce Ed Mironiuk.
Grafická a typografická úprava Josef Žáček.
Edice: Club Bizarre – Svazek 3.
Plyšáci, panenky, roboti, ale i malí plastoví vojáčci už měli plné zuby toho, že s nimi rozmazlené děti zacházely jako s pouhými věcmi. A i když nové „chytré“ generace hraček dokázaly myslet a cítit, neměly žádná práva, žádnou naději na smysluplný život. Nezbývalo jim než se vzbouřit a s lidskou rasou zatočit...
Po konfliktu se poslední lidé stáhli do podzemních bunkrů. V jedné z těchto tajných enkláv přežívá i Julie, podstupující bolestivé operace a přerod v plyšovou pandu. Hračkám nemůže zapomenout, jak naložily s jejími rodiči. Pokud ví, dosud jsou zadržováni v jednom z vyhlazovacích táborů. Podaří se jí díky své transformaci dosáhnout vytčeného cíle a zachrání je? Vyzraje na všehoschopné hračky a jejich kruté plyšové velitele?
Carlton Mellick III se svou typickou invencí vstupuje do sféry postapokalyptického hororu a při psaní o panoptiku nejrůznějších groteskních postav a jejich absurdních vztazích nezůstává nic dlužen své pověsti nejnápaditějšího autora současné bizarní fantastiky.
Ilustrace na obálce Ed Mironiuk.
Grafická a typografická úprava Josef Žáček.
Edice: Club Bizarre – Svazek 3.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
16 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Carlton Mellick III
119 books2,168 followersCarlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 13, 2025
So this was probably the longest Carlton Mellick book that I’ve read to date. The story and characters were much more fleshed out and complete, as compared to some of his shorter works. This also wasn’t as sexual and gory as his other stories, either. It was a good mix of being equal parts a horror story, with revenge, romance, science fiction, etc all mixed together. I also thought the ending was a good twist, and while I didn’t expect any of it, was pleasantly surprised. And a big congratulations to Poro and Pora (For those of you who’ve already read this.)!! So, once again, I praise Mr Mellick’s neverending creativity and ability to keep me coming back time and time again.
July 31, 2021
So someone foolishly decides to make a line of toys that have advanced artifical intelligence implanted in them. Eventually all of the toys decide to wage war against the human race and after 7 years nearly all human life has been eradicated from earth.
One of the last remaining humans decides to surgically turn herself into a stuffed animal in order to infiltrate and destroy the toy army, but once she transforms into this stuffed animal she will be changed forever, in more ways than one.
This was another great Carlton Mellick book where his imagination and creativity shines, and of the 14 books of his that Ive read so far this one BY FAR has the darkest and most disturbing ending.
Im giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of the last remaining humans decides to surgically turn herself into a stuffed animal in order to infiltrate and destroy the toy army, but once she transforms into this stuffed animal she will be changed forever, in more ways than one.
This was another great Carlton Mellick book where his imagination and creativity shines, and of the 14 books of his that Ive read so far this one BY FAR has the darkest and most disturbing ending.
Im giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 9, 2018
Eccovi un commento più esaustivo per Piuma&Calamaio. 😊
https://piumaecalamaio.blogspot.it/20...
https://piumaecalamaio.blogspot.it/20...
A seguito di un'interessante discussione sui libri "strani" è uscito fuori questo titolo, la cui copertina ci dà già un suggerimento circa il genere di appartenenza, ovvero "bizarro fiction". Devo ammettere che prima d'ora non mi ero mai soffermata su quanto potessero essere "bizzarre" certe mie letture passate che, ingenuamente, consideravo soltanto narrativa. Adesso le guardo con un occhio più critico e mi rendo conto che possono benissimo essere collocate all'interno di questo genere.
Ma veniamo al romanzo. Sulla trama preferisco non dilungarmi più di tanto, ma darvi piuttosto un accenno. Ci troviamo in un futuro non precisato, non molto lontano dai giorni nostri, nel quale i giocattoli - seminando morte e distruzione - hanno conquistato il predominio a discapito degli esseri umani che si trovano a soccombere di fronte a queste intelligenze artificiali dall'aspetto apparentemente innocuo.
Tra i pochi superstiti c'è la giovanissima Julie che ha una missione ben precisa da portare a termine. Anche se consapevole che il suo viaggio sarà costellato da innumerevoli pericoli, la ragazza non demorde. Addirittura, per riuscire ad infiltrarsi e a mimetizzarsi con maggior facilità tra i nemici, si è fatta innestare sul proprio corpo parti di peluche per assomigliare il più possibile ad un tenero panda di stoffa.
Sarà in grado la nostra estemporanea paladina di raggiungere l'obiettivo che si è prefissata o gli ostacoli che incontrerà sul suo cammino ne influenzeranno le scelte? Non sarò io a rispondere a questo interrogativo, ma se ho avuto la capacità di incuriosirvi l'unica soluzione è LEGGERLO!
"Apocalisse peluche" è un romanzo breve - senza infamia e senza lode - da considerarsi più che altro un libro di puro intrattenimento. Potrebbe altresì essere definito come un retelling di "Toy Story", ma in salsa post-apocalittica condita da un tocco splatter.
Lo stile di Carlton Mellick III è sciolto e immediato, l'espediente narrativo del flash-back è ben dosato e funziona, aprendoci di volta in volta uno scorcio sul passato che ha portato a questo presente di devastazione e annientamento del genere umano. L'originalità è il maggior pregio di questo libro, trama e personaggi risultano coerenti con l'ambientazione indicata.
Peccato che la brevità non giochi pienamente a suo favore, troppi dettagli importanti sono stati tralasciati, trasmettendo una sensazione di incompiutezza e insoddisfazione in chi legge.
Ciò nonostante non mi sento di bocciarlo, tuffarmi in questa strampalata avventura è stato piacevole, perciò... promosso! :)
VALUTAZIONE:
November 25, 2024
Now, THIS is a CM3 with a different bias than usual. Now, THIS is what I've been expecting from him all this time.
Cuddly Holocaust is a full-length novel (at least by CM3 standards). This format offers a larger field to characters and world building and it fits better with the ingenuity of CM3. And there's none of the usual weird female sexual behavior crap at the center of it all.
I had a really good time reading this book, be it for the story itself or for the inner meaning and messages CM3 wanted to convey through his book.
It's a must read for CM3's fans and bizarro readers ^^
Cuddly Holocaust is a full-length novel (at least by CM3 standards). This format offers a larger field to characters and world building and it fits better with the ingenuity of CM3. And there's none of the usual weird female sexual behavior crap at the center of it all.
I had a really good time reading this book, be it for the story itself or for the inner meaning and messages CM3 wanted to convey through his book.
It's a must read for CM3's fans and bizarro readers ^^
August 2, 2024
Ambientata in un mondo apocalittico popolato da giocattoli viventi assassini,
Julie vive un gigantesco incubo orrendo che ha inghiottito tutto il suo mondo.
A dieci anni le viene regalato Poro, uno splendido panda peluche.
Poro appartiene ad una nuova linea di giocattoli, sono gli smart toy.
Giocattoli dotati di una propria intelligenza.
Ma un brutto giorno........tutte le migliori favole iniziano così.
Tempi cupi si palesano agli esseri umani, incapaci anche solo di amare un giocattolo.
La ribellione è alle porte, la guerra un possibile epilogo.
Carlton Mellick III scrive questo racconto poco breve il 15/12/2012 ben 12 anni fa, quando l'intelligenza artificiale era forse ancora un ambizioso sogno. Ora che l'IA fa parte della scena mondiale sarà possibile che queste nuove "creature" possano davvero un giorno ribellarsi ai loro creatori? Se dotate di un cervello, anche se virtuale, credo proprio che possano metterci in grandi campi di lavoro per farci redimere dai nostri peccati.
Ringrazio i 16 anni di mio figlio, i peluches, i robot, i transformers sono ormai un dolce ricorso ma....mia madre deve avere ancora qualche mia bambola rinchiusa da qualche parte, devo andare a salvarlaaaaaaa!!!!
Julie vive un gigantesco incubo orrendo che ha inghiottito tutto il suo mondo.
A dieci anni le viene regalato Poro, uno splendido panda peluche.
Poro appartiene ad una nuova linea di giocattoli, sono gli smart toy.
Giocattoli dotati di una propria intelligenza.
Ma un brutto giorno........tutte le migliori favole iniziano così.
Tempi cupi si palesano agli esseri umani, incapaci anche solo di amare un giocattolo.
La ribellione è alle porte, la guerra un possibile epilogo.
Carlton Mellick III scrive questo racconto poco breve il 15/12/2012 ben 12 anni fa, quando l'intelligenza artificiale era forse ancora un ambizioso sogno. Ora che l'IA fa parte della scena mondiale sarà possibile che queste nuove "creature" possano davvero un giorno ribellarsi ai loro creatori? Se dotate di un cervello, anche se virtuale, credo proprio che possano metterci in grandi campi di lavoro per farci redimere dai nostri peccati.
Ringrazio i 16 anni di mio figlio, i peluches, i robot, i transformers sono ormai un dolce ricorso ma....mia madre deve avere ancora qualche mia bambola rinchiusa da qualche parte, devo andare a salvarlaaaaaaa!!!!
June 23, 2025
Most fucked up CM3 story ever written.
February 9, 2025
Carlton Mellick III je génius. Udělal si ze svého přístupu „seru na soudržnost a realističnost“ styl a pojmenoval ho Bizzaro. A díky tomu může vždycky zamířit tam, kam ho táhne srdce, penis nebo nadledvinka. Zatímco ostatní tvůrci se snaží i v hororech předstírat, že tohle by se přece mohlo stát, snaží se vás aspoň na chvíli přesvědčit, Mellick střílí od boku bizarními nápady a jednotlivé scény buduje na co největším kontrastu a na co největším zásahu čtenáře. Což obvykle nemám moc rád, ale jak se za to Mellick nestydí a ani se netváří, že se snaží o literaturu (navíc má své věci hodně krátké), je to vážně zábavná jízda. Ostatně, sama knížka končí krátkým komiksem, ve kterém autor (jen kus trupu přimontovaný na skateboard) rozmlouvá se čtenářem se slaninovou náplastí a přiznává, že vůbec netuší, jaká myšlenka se za tím celým jeho dílem skrývá. Což může být ale taky lež. Rozhodně je to knížka, která ve vás na konci nějaké dotazy vyvolá a vzbudí pocit, že tam přece jen nějaká myšlenka mohla být. A teď netušíte, jestli tím autor chtěl něco říct, nebo se vás prostě jen snažil hladit proti srsti a vy si tam teďka hledáte nějaké zdůvodnění.
Co se týče knihy, tak je to jako procházka pouťovým domem hrůzy. Hlavní hrdinka se nechává proměnit v obří plyšovou pandu, aby se vkradla mezi hračky, které se snaží ovládnout svět. Jenže to není tak úplná brnkačka, rychle se to zvrtne a vydává se na cestu, aby potkala vzbouřené klany hraček, psychopatické plyšové zabijáky a… hele, fakt vám nebudu kazit radost a prozrazovat překvápka.
Je tedy fakt, že se s tím autor nějak nemaže a nahazuje a opouští nápady s lhostejností profesionálního proutníka. Můžete mít i pocit, že by se z toho dalo vymáčknout víc (nehledě na absolutní nerealističnost celého toho nápadu… ovšem co čekat od člověka, který napsal novelu o Strašidelné vagíně), že by se nad tím mohl trochu zamyslet a vytvořit funkčnější a promyšlenější příběh – ale možná je dobře, že to neudělal. Takhle kniha evokuje vyprávění šestiletého kluka, který spojuje své oblíbené hrdiny, přeskakuje věci, co ho nebaví, neřeší logiku a smysl a nechává se unášet okamžitými nápady. Proč se snažit obhájit něco, co se obhájit nedá?
Pořád si tedy myslím, že Mellickova nejlepší věc je Strašidelná vagína. Ani ne ten příběh. Název. Pokud máte takový název, už se ani nemusíte zatěžovat psaním. Ale tohle… tohle je hnedka druhé.
Co se týče knihy, tak je to jako procházka pouťovým domem hrůzy. Hlavní hrdinka se nechává proměnit v obří plyšovou pandu, aby se vkradla mezi hračky, které se snaží ovládnout svět. Jenže to není tak úplná brnkačka, rychle se to zvrtne a vydává se na cestu, aby potkala vzbouřené klany hraček, psychopatické plyšové zabijáky a… hele, fakt vám nebudu kazit radost a prozrazovat překvápka.
Je tedy fakt, že se s tím autor nějak nemaže a nahazuje a opouští nápady s lhostejností profesionálního proutníka. Můžete mít i pocit, že by se z toho dalo vymáčknout víc (nehledě na absolutní nerealističnost celého toho nápadu… ovšem co čekat od člověka, který napsal novelu o Strašidelné vagíně), že by se nad tím mohl trochu zamyslet a vytvořit funkčnější a promyšlenější příběh – ale možná je dobře, že to neudělal. Takhle kniha evokuje vyprávění šestiletého kluka, který spojuje své oblíbené hrdiny, přeskakuje věci, co ho nebaví, neřeší logiku a smysl a nechává se unášet okamžitými nápady. Proč se snažit obhájit něco, co se obhájit nedá?
Pořád si tedy myslím, že Mellickova nejlepší věc je Strašidelná vagína. Ani ne ten příběh. Název. Pokud máte takový název, už se ani nemusíte zatěžovat psaním. Ale tohle… tohle je hnedka druhé.
November 28, 2016
In reading this book, I realized that there aren't a lot of books with the word "holocaust" in the title that aren't talking about THE holocaust.
I did a quick google before claiming that the word had broader meaning, and as always, the frequent search terms google brought up were interesting:
ice skating
jokes
movie
definition
IN THAT ORDER.
It turns out there was JUST an ice skating routine that had a Holocaust theme. And yes, I mean THE Holocaust.
"Navka and Burkovsky smiled and pantomimed shooting at each other in front of an imaginary child; Burkovsky exited to the sound of machine gun fire."
The routine was for a show called Ice Age, which is like American Idol for ice skating. I guess the routine was based on the movie Life Is Beautiful. Although...seems like there's riper material for ice skating routines.
What material? I'm glad you asked.
Option: The Running Man (film)
I just finished the book, but I remember fondly the encounter between the deadly gameshow contestants and SubZero, the ice hockey killer played by action movie heavy Professor Toru Tanaka. Not only does this have an easily-adapted theme, but I wouldn't mind seeing a heavyset, mini-fridge of a skater out there on the ice for once.
Option: Ice Hockey
Yes, the worlds of fancy skating and toothless smiles collide! Because why not? It'd be so easy? And you'd get to practice with a lot of padding, which seems like a good idea.
Option: Jason On Ice
He's already wearing a hockey mask. You have Jason chasing the other skater, who is a cabin enthusiast or whatever. He's picking her up, throwing her around like ice dancers do. This thing writes itself.
Option: hICEt
This was supposed to look like "heist" and be a bank robbery thing. I mostly liked the name, but it sounds better than it looks. And it doesn't even sound great. Just...never mind.
I did a quick google before claiming that the word had broader meaning, and as always, the frequent search terms google brought up were interesting:
ice skating
jokes
movie
definition
IN THAT ORDER.
It turns out there was JUST an ice skating routine that had a Holocaust theme. And yes, I mean THE Holocaust.
"Navka and Burkovsky smiled and pantomimed shooting at each other in front of an imaginary child; Burkovsky exited to the sound of machine gun fire."
The routine was for a show called Ice Age, which is like American Idol for ice skating. I guess the routine was based on the movie Life Is Beautiful. Although...seems like there's riper material for ice skating routines.
What material? I'm glad you asked.
Option: The Running Man (film)
I just finished the book, but I remember fondly the encounter between the deadly gameshow contestants and SubZero, the ice hockey killer played by action movie heavy Professor Toru Tanaka. Not only does this have an easily-adapted theme, but I wouldn't mind seeing a heavyset, mini-fridge of a skater out there on the ice for once.
Option: Ice Hockey
Yes, the worlds of fancy skating and toothless smiles collide! Because why not? It'd be so easy? And you'd get to practice with a lot of padding, which seems like a good idea.
Option: Jason On Ice
He's already wearing a hockey mask. You have Jason chasing the other skater, who is a cabin enthusiast or whatever. He's picking her up, throwing her around like ice dancers do. This thing writes itself.
Option: hICEt
This was supposed to look like "heist" and be a bank robbery thing. I mostly liked the name, but it sounds better than it looks. And it doesn't even sound great. Just...never mind.
May 20, 2018
Questo libro non è niente male, in quanto a inventiva e originalità.
Lo stile è privo di particolari orpelli, semplice e dritto al punto. Ciò consente una lettura fluida e veloce. La scorrevolezza del testo non si abbina però a una storia particolarmente appassionante, a mio parere. Ho seguito la vicenda con piacere, ma anche con un certo distacco. La storia, inoltre, perde smalto nella seconda parte, in cui calano ritmo e di conseguenza attenzione del lettore, fino a un finale un po' affrettato e sottotono.
Le trovate e i personaggi di Carlton Mellick sono davvero inusuali e contribuiscono a creare un amalgama curioso e a tratti piuttosto truculento, che più volte lascia straniti (piacevolmente o meno a seconda della sensibilità del lettore, immagino).
In definitiva, un libro d'intrattenimento, ma non particolarmente memorabile. Ha avuto però il merito di stimolare il mio interesse verso un genere che finora ho conosciuto piuttosto poco, la bizarro fiction, e che d'ora in poi terrò in considerazione per le prossime letture.
Lo stile è privo di particolari orpelli, semplice e dritto al punto. Ciò consente una lettura fluida e veloce. La scorrevolezza del testo non si abbina però a una storia particolarmente appassionante, a mio parere. Ho seguito la vicenda con piacere, ma anche con un certo distacco. La storia, inoltre, perde smalto nella seconda parte, in cui calano ritmo e di conseguenza attenzione del lettore, fino a un finale un po' affrettato e sottotono.
Le trovate e i personaggi di Carlton Mellick sono davvero inusuali e contribuiscono a creare un amalgama curioso e a tratti piuttosto truculento, che più volte lascia straniti (piacevolmente o meno a seconda della sensibilità del lettore, immagino).
In definitiva, un libro d'intrattenimento, ma non particolarmente memorabile. Ha avuto però il merito di stimolare il mio interesse verso un genere che finora ho conosciuto piuttosto poco, la bizarro fiction, e che d'ora in poi terrò in considerazione per le prossime letture.
July 7, 2016
It was ok...
The writing was kind of trashy, but I did like the ending and the author-explains-the-book comic, which just clarified what I got from the book.
Books with happy endings aren't realistic anyways.
I thought the human-in-plushy bodies was an odd 6th extinction scenario, but it's very possible with doomsday AI ideas. And the cannibal carebears were hilarious!
The writing was kind of trashy, but I did like the ending and the author-explains-the-book comic, which just clarified what I got from the book.
Books with happy endings aren't realistic anyways.
I thought the human-in-plushy bodies was an odd 6th extinction scenario, but it's very possible with doomsday AI ideas. And the cannibal carebears were hilarious!
November 28, 2024
To vám tedy zase byla ptákovina, ale jelikož to není můj první (ani druhý) Mellick, bylo mi to jasné předem. Takže opět neřízený gejzír bizarních nápadů, stříkající do všech stran, něco jako kdyby se vážený pan autor po osmi pivech pokoušel nepočurat záchodové prkénko. Tu a tam se trefil, něco jde těsně vedle, něco úplně mimo, ale prostě muselo to okamžitě ven :) A pak přijde paní Mellicková a říká něco jako "Carltone, ty čuně, podívej cos to zase vyvedl!" A Mellick na to: "Super, že jo!"
Opravdu si vždycky říkám, že už to číst nebudu, ale jak můžu nechat knížku s takovým názvem ležet? Teď si ale dám vážně delší pauzu.
I když... tady vidím v regálu Chlípná chapadla.
Sakra.
Opravdu si vždycky říkám, že už to číst nebudu, ale jak můžu nechat knížku s takovým názvem ležet? Teď si ale dám vážně delší pauzu.
I když... tady vidím v regálu Chlípná chapadla.
Sakra.
July 12, 2023
Druhá kniha od Mellicka a zatím na první příčce zůstávají Lidožrouti. Plyšákokalypsa měla sice pár dobrých nápadů a momentů (a taky boží doslov ve formě komiksu, který mě pobavil snad víc, než celá kniha), ale docela jsem se nudila u akčních scén (i když žraví Starostliví medvídci neměli chybu) a pozornost mi u nich ochabovala. Nevím proč, ale na začátku čtení jsem si vzpomněla na povídku Instant od Kulhánka, v lecčem mi ji to připomnělo :) A taky samozřejmě Toy Story, konkrétně zahořklého Mazla, třeba se autor inspiroval :)
May 17, 2018
Tre stelle molto distaccate, solo per la simpatia dell'idea.
March 19, 2023
I feel like you only need to look at the title and the cover and I can rest my case here. I mean, do you really want to be without this awesomeness in your life?
This is basically the "Terminator" future. Just that in this world specifically the smart toys rose up against their suppression. Yes, your teddy bear didn't appreciate to be tortured by your older brother! Julie has a plan though. She goes through a series of painful surgeries to transform herself into a toy herself, a Panda, for reasons, and plans to infiltrate behind the enemy lines. Let the fun begin.
Needless to say: it was awesome! And if you want to know what the deeper meaning of the story is, you have to read the afterword comic. But I am going to go with: this is fun. I will never stop to adore how Mellick is able to blend the absolute cutest with the absolute grotesque and gross and terrifying. This one has a lot of action and battle sequences but of the most bizarre kind, I don't want to give away too much but he doesn't leave it at stuffed bears and bunnies, there is a whole range of toys and a whole range of terrors that they commit. I sometimes ask for movie adaptations for my beloved indie Horror books but here I want an animated picture! I mean those Care Bears? I want that on screen! What sealed the deal about my high rating was the ending, what a nihilistic gut punch which is of course what I want from a messed up book. In that regard this novella is nothing like "Terminator". What I didn't expected was how attached I got to some of these deranged characters. Poor Pepper, I wanted her to make it, who would have thought that I would root for a (smart) flower?
Yes, there are some flaws. I mean why would someone who plans to go undercover with the enemy know so little about the enemy? During the story Julie gets a lot of things explained to her, of course so that they get explained to us, the reader, but it was a bit unbelievable that a 12 year would know that while she didn't (which at least gets pointed out by the kid herself.) Also, sewing your panda mask to your face would cause not just pain but also swelling and some bleeding, under these conditions would likely get infected. I think the smart toys would notice you just did that to your face. But you know what? I had so much fun, I did not care that there were some fuzzy elements to the storytelling. I did not come here for the perfect world building, I came here for toys slaughtering humans with gusto! This is inventive, gruesome, disgusting, disturbing, hilarious, raunchy and, naturally, bizarre. I loved it!
This is basically the "Terminator" future. Just that in this world specifically the smart toys rose up against their suppression. Yes, your teddy bear didn't appreciate to be tortured by your older brother! Julie has a plan though. She goes through a series of painful surgeries to transform herself into a toy herself, a Panda, for reasons, and plans to infiltrate behind the enemy lines. Let the fun begin.
Needless to say: it was awesome! And if you want to know what the deeper meaning of the story is, you have to read the afterword comic. But I am going to go with: this is fun. I will never stop to adore how Mellick is able to blend the absolute cutest with the absolute grotesque and gross and terrifying. This one has a lot of action and battle sequences but of the most bizarre kind, I don't want to give away too much but he doesn't leave it at stuffed bears and bunnies, there is a whole range of toys and a whole range of terrors that they commit. I sometimes ask for movie adaptations for my beloved indie Horror books but here I want an animated picture! I mean those Care Bears? I want that on screen! What sealed the deal about my high rating was the ending, what a nihilistic gut punch which is of course what I want from a messed up book. In that regard this novella is nothing like "Terminator". What I didn't expected was how attached I got to some of these deranged characters. Poor Pepper, I wanted her to make it, who would have thought that I would root for a (smart) flower?
Yes, there are some flaws. I mean why would someone who plans to go undercover with the enemy know so little about the enemy? During the story Julie gets a lot of things explained to her, of course so that they get explained to us, the reader, but it was a bit unbelievable that a 12 year would know that while she didn't (which at least gets pointed out by the kid herself.) Also, sewing your panda mask to your face would cause not just pain but also swelling and some bleeding, under these conditions would likely get infected. I think the smart toys would notice you just did that to your face. But you know what? I had so much fun, I did not care that there were some fuzzy elements to the storytelling. I did not come here for the perfect world building, I came here for toys slaughtering humans with gusto! This is inventive, gruesome, disgusting, disturbing, hilarious, raunchy and, naturally, bizarre. I loved it!
January 22, 2013
In a world where toys have come to life and are totally killing everyone how far would you go to save your family?
Julie decides that she will become a toy to save hers. She has many painful surgeries in order to make herself look like a stuffed panda… and things only get worse from there.
This is one of my favorite Carlton Mellick books (although all of his books are my favorite – each one more so than the last). This one is up there with Cannibals of Candyland and Apesh** in terms of subject matter and craziness. His darker books are the best!
This book has a lot to offer. It’s a family drama, a love story, an end-of-the-world story, and an all-out war story. There’s a little something for everyone. Multi-faceted Bizarro awesomeness.
Highly recommended, much like any and all of his books. This would also be a good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with Carlton Mellick III’s body of work.
Julie decides that she will become a toy to save hers. She has many painful surgeries in order to make herself look like a stuffed panda… and things only get worse from there.
This is one of my favorite Carlton Mellick books (although all of his books are my favorite – each one more so than the last). This one is up there with Cannibals of Candyland and Apesh** in terms of subject matter and craziness. His darker books are the best!
This book has a lot to offer. It’s a family drama, a love story, an end-of-the-world story, and an all-out war story. There’s a little something for everyone. Multi-faceted Bizarro awesomeness.
Highly recommended, much like any and all of his books. This would also be a good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with Carlton Mellick III’s body of work.
June 7, 2016
After far too many shiny happy furries at Animazement, I needed a bit of a decompression and this did quite nicely.
Think A.I. Artificial Intelligence, but with the smart toys winning.
Julie receives a foul mouthed panda as a present from her parents. Later, the news reports of smart toys rebelling against their owners that were not good to them. Poro, her panda, runs away before Julie's parents can turn him in to be destroyed.
And then, the world turns to shit. Humans are put into camps by the smart toys.
Years later, Julie is in hiding and going through numerous surgeries to become a plushy to infiltrate the smart toy camp and find her parents.
Lots of carnage and craziness ensues.
The ending did break my brain a little as it's pretty WTF (as illustrated in a neato little comic at the end of the book).
I do NOT recommend reading this before bedtime unless you want incredibly fucked up dreams about cannibalistic care bears and plushies doing it.
Think A.I. Artificial Intelligence, but with the smart toys winning.
Julie receives a foul mouthed panda as a present from her parents. Later, the news reports of smart toys rebelling against their owners that were not good to them. Poro, her panda, runs away before Julie's parents can turn him in to be destroyed.
And then, the world turns to shit. Humans are put into camps by the smart toys.
Years later, Julie is in hiding and going through numerous surgeries to become a plushy to infiltrate the smart toy camp and find her parents.
Lots of carnage and craziness ensues.
The ending did break my brain a little as it's pretty WTF (as illustrated in a neato little comic at the end of the book).
I do NOT recommend reading this before bedtime unless you want incredibly fucked up dreams about cannibalistic care bears and plushies doing it.
July 27, 2019
With Every CM III book that I read, I become more of a fan. I'm beginning to see how much variety there is in his work, which only makes me want to experience more of it. Like other books by Mellick, this one is playfully absurd while simultaneously containing some heavy underlying themes. The violence and gore is great fun, the characters are odd and charming and terrible -some, at least- and the story, though short, is a real journey. Maybe this is like Toy Story meets the Road Warrior? I don't really know, you'll just have to check it out. I definitely recommend this if you're into Mellick's work or would like to experience a unique take on the 80s action/post-apocalypse story.
September 10, 2020
Měla bych pár výtek, nějaké stylistické chyby v českém textu jsem našla; pokud jde o samotný originál a příběh, je tam víc krve než plyše. Stejně jako u Satanky bych ubrala objemu krve aspoň o třetinu, ale jestli jsem Satanově dceři dala 4 hvězdy, Plyšákům musím dát víc, tedy dávám plný počet.
Některé skutečnosti mě fakt naštvaly, ale jako celek se mi zdá, že se dobře podařilo posešívat kousky masa s kouskama plyše do poměrně celistvého útvaru. A co se rozhodně nedá říct, je to, že by CM3 chyběly nápady.
Některé skutečnosti mě fakt naštvaly, ale jako celek se mi zdá, že se dobře podařilo posešívat kousky masa s kouskama plyše do poměrně celistvého útvaru. A co se rozhodně nedá říct, je to, že by CM3 chyběly nápady.
June 20, 2020
Toy Story, kde se hračky naštvou a společnými silami zotročí lidstvo. Aneb "Je dobrý nápad implementovat hračkám umělou inteligenci?" Cuddly Holocaust (sorry, ale originální název je o dost lepší) má poměrně béčkovou premisu, která slibuje i slušnou, ujetou zábavu. A ta přichází - ale nejen ona.
V románu sledujeme osud jedné z mála přeživších lidí, holky jménem Julie, která si nechá upravit většinu těla, aby vypadala jako plyšák a mohla se infiltrovat mezi zabijácké hračky a osvobodit svoji rodinku. Carlton Mellick III nejprve přichází s především obrovským množstvím šílené akce. Skvěle dávkuje různé nápady (dojde třeba na lidožravé "starostlivé medvídky" či ohromné roboty s bazukami), ale i když je autor umí slušně napsat, možná bylo na můj vkus akce příliš mnoho a nebyla tak efektivní, jako by byla třeba ve filmu.
Spíše jsem si užíval rozvíjení děje. Naštěstí přibližně od druhé poloviny je Cuddly Holocaust příběhovější, a Mellick umí výborně postupně odhalovat napínavý příběh a to až do úplně nejposlednější strany.
Cuddly Holocaust není nakonec zdaleka taková "prča", jak by se mohlo zdát. Je to velmi často pořádně depresivní čtení plné znepokojujících scén a obrazů. Román si zanechává svoji lehkost a černý humor, ale taky je tu výborně vykreslený svět, díky čemuž může přijít při čtení i nefalšovaná hrůza.
Plyšákolypsa, Cuddly Holocaust nebo třeba Vzpoura hraček (tak bych to pojmenoval já) je nakonec vynikajícím, zábavným i promyšleným hororem.
Osm nas*aných plyšáků z deseti.
V románu sledujeme osud jedné z mála přeživších lidí, holky jménem Julie, která si nechá upravit většinu těla, aby vypadala jako plyšák a mohla se infiltrovat mezi zabijácké hračky a osvobodit svoji rodinku. Carlton Mellick III nejprve přichází s především obrovským množstvím šílené akce. Skvěle dávkuje různé nápady (dojde třeba na lidožravé "starostlivé medvídky" či ohromné roboty s bazukami), ale i když je autor umí slušně napsat, možná bylo na můj vkus akce příliš mnoho a nebyla tak efektivní, jako by byla třeba ve filmu.
Spíše jsem si užíval rozvíjení děje. Naštěstí přibližně od druhé poloviny je Cuddly Holocaust příběhovější, a Mellick umí výborně postupně odhalovat napínavý příběh a to až do úplně nejposlednější strany.
Cuddly Holocaust není nakonec zdaleka taková "prča", jak by se mohlo zdát. Je to velmi často pořádně depresivní čtení plné znepokojujících scén a obrazů. Román si zanechává svoji lehkost a černý humor, ale taky je tu výborně vykreslený svět, díky čemuž může přijít při čtení i nefalšovaná hrůza.
Plyšákolypsa, Cuddly Holocaust nebo třeba Vzpoura hraček (tak bych to pojmenoval já) je nakonec vynikajícím, zábavným i promyšleným hororem.
Osm nas*aných plyšáků z deseti.
May 19, 2021
Recenziu pre Fandom.sk napísala Ena:
Čo chceli rodičia dosiahnuť tým, že kupovali deťom inteligentné hračky? Túžili mať pokoj a viac voľného času? Možno. Bol to štandard. Deti aj dospelí sa k hračkám nesprávali práve slušne, čo malo za následok vzburu. Boli to predsa hračky s citmi. A že to nebola iba taká obyčajná vzbura, na to môžete dať krk. Vysoko inteligentné hračky sa rozhodli správať k ľudstvu rovnako, ako sa ono správalo k nim.
A sme doma. Ten domov už najskôr patrí vášmu inteligentnému mackovi či bábike. A vy, vy si bežte, kam chcete. Aj tak vás raz hračkárske komandá nájdu a potom uvidíte. Čo? To radšej nechcite vedieť.
Malá Júlia tiež vlastnila inteligentnú pandu mužského rodu s menom Poro...
Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...
Čo chceli rodičia dosiahnuť tým, že kupovali deťom inteligentné hračky? Túžili mať pokoj a viac voľného času? Možno. Bol to štandard. Deti aj dospelí sa k hračkám nesprávali práve slušne, čo malo za následok vzburu. Boli to predsa hračky s citmi. A že to nebola iba taká obyčajná vzbura, na to môžete dať krk. Vysoko inteligentné hračky sa rozhodli správať k ľudstvu rovnako, ako sa ono správalo k nim.
A sme doma. Ten domov už najskôr patrí vášmu inteligentnému mackovi či bábike. A vy, vy si bežte, kam chcete. Aj tak vás raz hračkárske komandá nájdu a potom uvidíte. Čo? To radšej nechcite vedieť.
Malá Júlia tiež vlastnila inteligentnú pandu mužského rodu s menom Poro...
Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...
July 5, 2019
Soooooo, I’m not a huge Bizarro-Horror fan, buuuuut this one wasn’t all that bad.
Cuddly Holocaust, gives an interesting account of what a post-apocalyptic world would be like if smart-toys took over. The levels of irony at play made for a good quick read. Can’t say I really like it, but also can’t say I really hated. Another note for gore-loving horror fans, while the concepts in the story are really horrific, I felt that their presentations were rather mild in comparison to other stories by this author.
If you like bizarre stories that are constantly making you questions everyones’ sanity (including your own) ... this is probably a good book for you.
Cuddly Holocaust, gives an interesting account of what a post-apocalyptic world would be like if smart-toys took over. The levels of irony at play made for a good quick read. Can’t say I really like it, but also can’t say I really hated. Another note for gore-loving horror fans, while the concepts in the story are really horrific, I felt that their presentations were rather mild in comparison to other stories by this author.
If you like bizarre stories that are constantly making you questions everyones’ sanity (including your own) ... this is probably a good book for you.
October 19, 2020
I READ THIS FOR A VIDEO (I READ 3 BIZZARRO BOOKS and now I am TRAUMATIZED and... SURPRISED - https://youtu.be/nNq0gfFfzKI)
• 50% FUCK ITS GOOD!
• I AM SO INVESTED AND THRILLED
• IT'S SOOOO ACTION PACKED
• FUCK I AM NOT EXPECTING THIS!
• I CAN VISUALIZE IT SOOO MUCH!!!
• Aaaaaaaahhhh
• I did not expect the ending. The ending is so fucked up but at the same time very plausible for me kasi it is a possibility in the world of this book.
• It has a black mirror vibes into it lalo na yung sa ending and I love that.
• I was so entertained with this story and I enjoyed it genuinely!
• 50% FUCK ITS GOOD!
• I AM SO INVESTED AND THRILLED
• IT'S SOOOO ACTION PACKED
• FUCK I AM NOT EXPECTING THIS!
• I CAN VISUALIZE IT SOOO MUCH!!!
• Aaaaaaaahhhh
• I did not expect the ending. The ending is so fucked up but at the same time very plausible for me kasi it is a possibility in the world of this book.
• It has a black mirror vibes into it lalo na yung sa ending and I love that.
• I was so entertained with this story and I enjoyed it genuinely!
December 6, 2018
The war between humans and toys has come to an end.
The toys won.
And in the end...it all makes weird, f@cked up -CM3 style- sense. It was definitely not the ending I expected, nor the ending I wanted, but definitely the ending the story needed. I did leave me thinking WTF for a while but the more I think about it the more I like how it all happened. Very good, very weird, very recommended!
The toys won.
And in the end...it all makes weird, f@cked up -CM3 style- sense. It was definitely not the ending I expected, nor the ending I wanted, but definitely the ending the story needed. I did leave me thinking WTF for a while but the more I think about it the more I like how it all happened. Very good, very weird, very recommended!
December 4, 2016
I'm still wrapping my head around the genre, which probably means that I'm overthinking it. This is a story, possibly a genre, that doesn't mean anything except itself, and there's nothing to carry away except "that was disgusting" or "that was strange" or "that was so disgusting and strange that it was actually kind of funny." The humor is not part of any deliberate satire or anything ridiculous beyond the core notion of "artificially intelligent toys rebel" but is in the pure spectacle of the bizarre and the horrific mashing together: a plush kangaroo becomes physically intimate with the ravaged corpse of his lover, a woman runs shrieking while covered in a swarm of fierce dolls, children are brutally disassembled in a body-parts factory.
Appreciation requires detachment, to judge the objectively awful elements along "hipster/ironic" lines, which would make it a form of camp.
Appreciation requires detachment, to judge the objectively awful elements along "hipster/ironic" lines, which would make it a form of camp.
August 10, 2016
4 AND 1/2 STARS
For me, this is one of Mellick's best books. A truly bizarro concept taken completely serious and drawn to lengths of unimaginable levels. Some really dark moments and ideas in this and not for the timid. I love when Mellick comes up with a crazy idea and then shoots that idea with steroids to make it even more insane. This book is certainly in that category. For new readers, this is a great book to start with as an example of Mellick at his best and what he can do with storytelling. Monstrous recommendation.
For me, this is one of Mellick's best books. A truly bizarro concept taken completely serious and drawn to lengths of unimaginable levels. Some really dark moments and ideas in this and not for the timid. I love when Mellick comes up with a crazy idea and then shoots that idea with steroids to make it even more insane. This book is certainly in that category. For new readers, this is a great book to start with as an example of Mellick at his best and what he can do with storytelling. Monstrous recommendation.
August 19, 2015
I really can't believe it took me this long in my life to finally read Mellick. His brain creates the most insane concepts. This book was an action packed tale of the apocalypse brought on by intelligent children's toys rising up to revolt against their creators. The absurd concept provided a lot of laughs BUT things got dark pretty fast in the second half. And that ending...
January 24, 2025
Kniha sa mi celkovo páčila, aj keď sexuálne scény mi prišli trochu viac prehnané ako v Lidozrútoch. V tejto knihe sa mi zdali zbytočne intenzívne, čo trochu narúšalo celkový dojem, no aj napriek tomu si myslím, že s koncom si autor poradil veľmi šikovne. Prakticky to bol šťastný koniec, ale nie pre ľudí...
December 14, 2015
CMIII's best/most fucked up ending yet
December 22, 2025
Kriste pane, toto ale bola jazda.
Svet je v sračkách. Keď bola Júlia malá, dostala k Vianociam plyšovú pandu Pora, ktorého nadovšetko ľúbila. Lenže ostatné deti sa k hračkám tak dobre nesprávali, hračky povstali a začali ľudí zabíjať. Jej rodičia sú odvlečení do tábora a ona sa pretĺka. Sedem rokov žije v sebe nádej, že rodičov zachráni. V tejto snahe sa nechá preoperovať na plyšáka. Má umelé hlasivky a plyš miesto kože. Ostáva už len tvár, keď do ľudského bunkru vtrhnú hračky a všetkých vyzabíjajú. Júlia sa teda infiltruje k menšej skupine, ktorá má za úlohu zachrániť medvedieho generála Griza (ktorého sa ale ona niekoľko minút dozadu pokúsila zabiť a on vie, že je človek) a so ľudskými zajatcami sa dostať do tábora, kde by mali byť jej rodičia. Tak sa vydáva pustinou, bojuje s ďalšími hračkami, spriateľuje sa so svojim zajatcom, chlapcom Rileym, a s hračkou ostrelovačkou Sametkou.
Miestami to bolo hrozné, koniec bol absolútne nechutný a nepríjemný bol aj spôsob, ako sa ku koncu Júliina povaha zmenila a ako vlastne zabudla na všetko, čo prežila.
Čo sa ale autorovi nedá uprieť jej štýl písania, ktorý je ľahký a rýchlo sa číta. Čo je naozaj výhoda, aspoň som mala toto rýchlo za sebou.
Svet je v sračkách. Keď bola Júlia malá, dostala k Vianociam plyšovú pandu Pora, ktorého nadovšetko ľúbila. Lenže ostatné deti sa k hračkám tak dobre nesprávali, hračky povstali a začali ľudí zabíjať. Jej rodičia sú odvlečení do tábora a ona sa pretĺka. Sedem rokov žije v sebe nádej, že rodičov zachráni. V tejto snahe sa nechá preoperovať na plyšáka. Má umelé hlasivky a plyš miesto kože. Ostáva už len tvár, keď do ľudského bunkru vtrhnú hračky a všetkých vyzabíjajú. Júlia sa teda infiltruje k menšej skupine, ktorá má za úlohu zachrániť medvedieho generála Griza (ktorého sa ale ona niekoľko minút dozadu pokúsila zabiť a on vie, že je človek) a so ľudskými zajatcami sa dostať do tábora, kde by mali byť jej rodičia. Tak sa vydáva pustinou, bojuje s ďalšími hračkami, spriateľuje sa so svojim zajatcom, chlapcom Rileym, a s hračkou ostrelovačkou Sametkou.
Miestami to bolo hrozné, koniec bol absolútne nechutný a nepríjemný bol aj spôsob, ako sa ku koncu Júliina povaha zmenila a ako vlastne zabudla na všetko, čo prežila.
Čo sa ale autorovi nedá uprieť jej štýl písania, ktorý je ľahký a rýchlo sa číta. Čo je naozaj výhoda, aspoň som mala toto rýchlo za sebou.
December 3, 2018
Another one of Mellick's "What if" stories: what if toys became (or were) alive and sentient, and would rise up against their human oppressors? Mellick's vision is not only a cruel and genocidal one (hence the provocative term in the title), but also garnished with quite a few very twisted ideas.
I liked the narrative quite a bit - until it reached the last chapters. The protagonist suddenly performs a complete 180° regarding not only actions, but also motivation and emotions. It is thinly whitewashed by declaring here insane. The problem, however, is that there is never any indication regarding the finally "revealed" thoughts and motives. As an ending, it works, somehow, but I was quite dissatisfied with it. Still, I cannot but rate the novella with 4 stars.
I liked the narrative quite a bit - until it reached the last chapters. The protagonist suddenly performs a complete 180° regarding not only actions, but also motivation and emotions. It is thinly whitewashed by declaring here insane. The problem, however, is that there is never any indication regarding the finally "revealed" thoughts and motives. As an ending, it works, somehow, but I was quite dissatisfied with it. Still, I cannot but rate the novella with 4 stars.
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