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Dust
1879: An unknown and timeless evil descends on East Texas. John Dee, bestowed with knowledge from beyond, moves through time and space, pursuing age-old horrors and ending their reign. As he seeks the hidden town of Dust to continue his lifework, another is hot on his heels, and will stop at nothing to rip the divine knowledge from Dee.
As these opposing forces collide, Dee becomes both hero and villain in his quest against the Elders. He doesn't have time to be sorry - THERE ARE GODS TO KILL.
Third in the Splatter Western series from Death's Head Press.
As these opposing forces collide, Dee becomes both hero and villain in his quest against the Elders. He doesn't have time to be sorry - THERE ARE GODS TO KILL.
Third in the Splatter Western series from Death's Head Press.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2020
46 people are currently reading
537 people want to read
About the author
Chris Miller
49 books168 followersChris Miller is a native Texan who has been writing from an early age. He began publishing in 2017 with his first novel, A Murder of Saints, and since then he has published several novels—including the Amazon bestselling Splatter Western, Dust—and has also been inducted into many anthologies. When not writing, Chris enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, and reading. He is first and foremost a family man and is happily married to the love of his life (and best friend) Aliana. They have three beautiful children and live in Winnsboro, TX.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
November 15, 2020
Book 3 of Death's Head Press' Splatter Westerns series. Each of these books is a stand alone (though this one contains a nod to the previous book, but it's an obvious one that can be noticed just from that book's title and more Easter egg than essential knowledge) and thus if you're interested, read them in whatever order interests you. I've personally read the first and now this one. So, why did I skip the second and go straight to this one? Honestly, because when I discovered the series, I picked up the first based on thinking a "Splatter Western" was a fun idea, but when this one was announced I was more intrigued by it than the second. Why? Because each of these seems to be tackling a different sub-genre of horror, and this one is the cosmic horror story. I may have issues with old H.P. Lovecraft, but I do love the ideas behind cosmic horror.
Plot: James Dee is a gunslinger, a drifter and a killer of gods. He's been looking for a little town called Dust for seven years, knowing that an elder god lies sleeping there. Along with a new companion, they find this mythic town... but so does a band of killers, whose intentions differ greatly from Dee's.
Well, did it live up to my exceptions? Eh... I guess it's fun at times, but not exactly what I was hoping for. Let's start with a few negative aspects. First off, there's a rather needless subplot that our lead comes from the future. No, this isn't a spoiler, in the first 20 pages he flat out says this. This aspect seemed... unnecessary. What was wrong with just a straight up cowboy hunting an elder god concept? Other than giving him a modern revolver, this didn't really add much to the story and seemed more liked padding.
Second issue with the book, the side character Denarius. When first introduced, I sat there going "oh, this could be interesting. We've got a black man in the book, so he could be here as almost a commentary on Lovecraft's racism as well as that of the time period. We can show him in a heroic light and put a bit of a positive spin on this." And indeed the book does try to do that to an extent, but some of his dialogue comes off as a stereotype and the author creates a problematic "white savior" plotpoint which made me cringe.
Positives: Mr. Bonham. Seriously one of the best villains I've read in this type of novel in some time. He's a side character, but easily the most memorable part. He's a sadist, more concerned with killing anything that moves and with little in terms of self preservation... and yet the character is executed almost perfectly. There's a wonderful scene where a monster is charging at him, and he's just calmly loading a shotgun with the sense of urgency of "a gentleman going on a stroll" and I couldn't help but kind of love him in a despising him sort of way. No spoilers, but his last scene in the novel, while a bit unexpected is also perfect for what was presented before.
The "otherness" of the eldritch abominations. They were appropriately... well, wrong, which is what is needed in a good cosmic horror novel.
Another good point, and this one needs a bit of a spoiler,
Finally that cover. Really all of these Splatter Westerns have had wonderful cover art, but I truly love this one.
I debated on the rating for this one for quite some time. The more problematic aspects of the Denarious character really bothered me (and not in a good "this is horror and I'm supposed to be uncomfortable" sort of way) and a lot of aspects felt like padding... that said it was also a fun ride and I've got to give it points for that last shootout section. In the end I'd probably go with a 2.5 and round it up to 3 stars. Fun, but not the best. That said, I'll still be picking up more books in this Splatter Western series.
Plot: James Dee is a gunslinger, a drifter and a killer of gods. He's been looking for a little town called Dust for seven years, knowing that an elder god lies sleeping there. Along with a new companion, they find this mythic town... but so does a band of killers, whose intentions differ greatly from Dee's.
Well, did it live up to my exceptions? Eh... I guess it's fun at times, but not exactly what I was hoping for. Let's start with a few negative aspects. First off, there's a rather needless subplot that our lead comes from the future. No, this isn't a spoiler, in the first 20 pages he flat out says this. This aspect seemed... unnecessary. What was wrong with just a straight up cowboy hunting an elder god concept? Other than giving him a modern revolver, this didn't really add much to the story and seemed more liked padding.
Second issue with the book, the side character Denarius. When first introduced, I sat there going "oh, this could be interesting. We've got a black man in the book, so he could be here as almost a commentary on Lovecraft's racism as well as that of the time period. We can show him in a heroic light and put a bit of a positive spin on this." And indeed the book does try to do that to an extent, but some of his dialogue comes off as a stereotype and the author creates a problematic "white savior" plotpoint which made me cringe.
Positives: Mr. Bonham. Seriously one of the best villains I've read in this type of novel in some time. He's a side character, but easily the most memorable part. He's a sadist, more concerned with killing anything that moves and with little in terms of self preservation... and yet the character is executed almost perfectly. There's a wonderful scene where a monster is charging at him, and he's just calmly loading a shotgun with the sense of urgency of "a gentleman going on a stroll" and I couldn't help but kind of love him in a despising him sort of way. No spoilers, but his last scene in the novel, while a bit unexpected is also perfect for what was presented before.
The "otherness" of the eldritch abominations. They were appropriately... well, wrong, which is what is needed in a good cosmic horror novel.
Another good point, and this one needs a bit of a spoiler,
Finally that cover. Really all of these Splatter Westerns have had wonderful cover art, but I truly love this one.
I debated on the rating for this one for quite some time. The more problematic aspects of the Denarious character really bothered me (and not in a good "this is horror and I'm supposed to be uncomfortable" sort of way) and a lot of aspects felt like padding... that said it was also a fun ride and I've got to give it points for that last shootout section. In the end I'd probably go with a 2.5 and round it up to 3 stars. Fun, but not the best. That said, I'll still be picking up more books in this Splatter Western series.
July 9, 2020
3.5 stars!
DUST by Chris Miller is the third book in the Splatter Western series published by Death's Head Press. Book 1 is THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young (5 stars) and Book 2 is HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by M. Ennenbach (4 stars). All three covers boast the talents of Justin T Coons. He's done amazing work for Death's Head Press. The cover for DUST might be my favorite.
Dust is the name of a small town in Texas and the current location of an ancient, evil god. John Dee is a 'gunslinger' equipped with supernatural abilities from god knows where by god knows who, to track ancient elders through space and time to whoop their cosmic butts. He has tracked this evil god thus far and is making his way to their eventual showdown. Dee meets some interesting characters along the way.
I had an interesting experience with this book. The first ten pages are not the best introduction. There are some clunky sentences and odd word choices that kicked things off on the wrong foot. Everything about the setting, dialog, and characters was too on the nose; too cliche. Telegraphing the message to the reader, "This is a Western!"
But there is something irresistible and accessible about Chris Miller's storytelling voice that generates enough interest to keep going. Plus, I'm a sucker for weird Westerns.
It's my opinion that Miller's storyline (fairly reminiscent of King's cosmic horror Western, THE DARK TOWER SERIES) is a great idea that needed more time in the oven. Some of the scenes are executed well, while others feel half-baked, giving me a sense of epic scale for a story that was squished down into a novella. Another issue I had is a similar issue I found with the second book, and it's this icky, cringing feeling I get when authors employ Western-style stereotypes that seem extremely outdated. In the second book, it was the whole 'cowboys and Indians' trope with a lot of derogatory language. In DUST, there's a Black character, Denarius who is given that whole "yes, Suh. Thank ya, Suh" dialect which just felt gross. I don't think it's appropriate for a White author to highlight a Black dialect from an oppressive time in history. I hope I making that point correctly. I don't think Miller is trying to be offensive with his choices, I believe his purpose was for authenticity and context but it's not successful. It's cringey. Later in the story, Denarius rescues this book from committing an unfortunate "White Savior" trope misstep. I think this review should serve as a cautionary tale for other writers lined up for this Splatter Western series to level up their game on these issues.
On a positive note, I already mentioned Miller's welcoming tone and easy narrative style that borders on addicting. I was engaged enough in the story to see it through to the end. I loved the genre mash-up of eldritch horrors set in the 1800s. The protagonist, John Dee is a likable, Clint Eastwood-ish hero. All the blood and gore, qualifying this as a Splatter Western, is in vivid technicolor; a nice juxtaposition to the drab landscape. This is a solid 3.5 stars from me.
DUST by Chris Miller is the third book in the Splatter Western series published by Death's Head Press. Book 1 is THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young (5 stars) and Book 2 is HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by M. Ennenbach (4 stars). All three covers boast the talents of Justin T Coons. He's done amazing work for Death's Head Press. The cover for DUST might be my favorite.
Dust is the name of a small town in Texas and the current location of an ancient, evil god. John Dee is a 'gunslinger' equipped with supernatural abilities from god knows where by god knows who, to track ancient elders through space and time to whoop their cosmic butts. He has tracked this evil god thus far and is making his way to their eventual showdown. Dee meets some interesting characters along the way.
I had an interesting experience with this book. The first ten pages are not the best introduction. There are some clunky sentences and odd word choices that kicked things off on the wrong foot. Everything about the setting, dialog, and characters was too on the nose; too cliche. Telegraphing the message to the reader, "This is a Western!"
But there is something irresistible and accessible about Chris Miller's storytelling voice that generates enough interest to keep going. Plus, I'm a sucker for weird Westerns.
It's my opinion that Miller's storyline (fairly reminiscent of King's cosmic horror Western, THE DARK TOWER SERIES) is a great idea that needed more time in the oven. Some of the scenes are executed well, while others feel half-baked, giving me a sense of epic scale for a story that was squished down into a novella. Another issue I had is a similar issue I found with the second book, and it's this icky, cringing feeling I get when authors employ Western-style stereotypes that seem extremely outdated. In the second book, it was the whole 'cowboys and Indians' trope with a lot of derogatory language. In DUST, there's a Black character, Denarius who is given that whole "yes, Suh. Thank ya, Suh" dialect which just felt gross. I don't think it's appropriate for a White author to highlight a Black dialect from an oppressive time in history. I hope I making that point correctly. I don't think Miller is trying to be offensive with his choices, I believe his purpose was for authenticity and context but it's not successful. It's cringey. Later in the story, Denarius rescues this book from committing an unfortunate "White Savior" trope misstep. I think this review should serve as a cautionary tale for other writers lined up for this Splatter Western series to level up their game on these issues.
On a positive note, I already mentioned Miller's welcoming tone and easy narrative style that borders on addicting. I was engaged enough in the story to see it through to the end. I loved the genre mash-up of eldritch horrors set in the 1800s. The protagonist, John Dee is a likable, Clint Eastwood-ish hero. All the blood and gore, qualifying this as a Splatter Western, is in vivid technicolor; a nice juxtaposition to the drab landscape. This is a solid 3.5 stars from me.
March 20, 2021
Book three in Deaths Head Press’s Splatter Western line takes the series in a fun new direction, bringing some cosmic horror to the wild west. It’s an unusual but inspired melding of two seemingly disparate genres that sets ‘Dust’ apart from what has come before (and after) it.
James Dee is looking for the town of Dust. It is a place few have heard of, and even fewer have seen, but it is home to horrors greater than a man can comprehend. James Dee, however, is no ordinary man and he is on a mission to kill the evil gods that threaten the world itself.
Gear Dreary is also searching for Dust, but he aims to use these cosmic powers for his own nefarious purposes, harnessing them to gain ultimate knowledge of the universe. When the pair meet, there will be more at stake than just their lives. When they arrive at Dust, their battle will settle the fate of mankind.
Of all the Splatter Western books to date, ‘Dust’ felt the most cinematic. Miller’s style of writing and pacing, ending each chapter with a cliffhanger or a pithy one-liner, sets a very vivid picture and it was tantalisingly easy to imagine this as an epic horror western movie. Hollywood; take note!
When I was reading ‘Dust’ there seemed to be a great deal of backstory for the lead that was being hinted at but never fully explored. I’ve since realised that this book ties into Miller’s ‘Damned’ series of books and, while I’ve never read these myself, existing fans will no doubt appreciate the link, whereas new readers (like me) get enough to make ‘Dust’ a satisfying standalone. If, however, you are left wanting more, it is exciting to have these books to visit to scratch that itch.
The only real issue I had with the novel is the way the antagonists are presented. Gear Dreary never really feels like a viable threat to Dee, and the wider cosmic villain in the town of Dust is, visually at least, genuinely unsettling, but the lore is never really made clear. Dreary’s companion, Mr Bonham, is a potentially interesting character who never quite gets the space to develop and I couldn’t help feel there was some wasted potential with him, and the villains of the piece in general.
Dust is one of the most fun of the Splatter Western series to date and offers a genuinely unique premise by mixing Lovecraftian terrors, sci-fi and fantasy as well as the promised western set horror. While the balance of power between characters never feels quite right, taking the edge off in terms of tension, it is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining book and more than worthy of its place amongst some of the best this series has offered horror fans to date.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
James Dee is looking for the town of Dust. It is a place few have heard of, and even fewer have seen, but it is home to horrors greater than a man can comprehend. James Dee, however, is no ordinary man and he is on a mission to kill the evil gods that threaten the world itself.
Gear Dreary is also searching for Dust, but he aims to use these cosmic powers for his own nefarious purposes, harnessing them to gain ultimate knowledge of the universe. When the pair meet, there will be more at stake than just their lives. When they arrive at Dust, their battle will settle the fate of mankind.
Of all the Splatter Western books to date, ‘Dust’ felt the most cinematic. Miller’s style of writing and pacing, ending each chapter with a cliffhanger or a pithy one-liner, sets a very vivid picture and it was tantalisingly easy to imagine this as an epic horror western movie. Hollywood; take note!
When I was reading ‘Dust’ there seemed to be a great deal of backstory for the lead that was being hinted at but never fully explored. I’ve since realised that this book ties into Miller’s ‘Damned’ series of books and, while I’ve never read these myself, existing fans will no doubt appreciate the link, whereas new readers (like me) get enough to make ‘Dust’ a satisfying standalone. If, however, you are left wanting more, it is exciting to have these books to visit to scratch that itch.
The only real issue I had with the novel is the way the antagonists are presented. Gear Dreary never really feels like a viable threat to Dee, and the wider cosmic villain in the town of Dust is, visually at least, genuinely unsettling, but the lore is never really made clear. Dreary’s companion, Mr Bonham, is a potentially interesting character who never quite gets the space to develop and I couldn’t help feel there was some wasted potential with him, and the villains of the piece in general.
Dust is one of the most fun of the Splatter Western series to date and offers a genuinely unique premise by mixing Lovecraftian terrors, sci-fi and fantasy as well as the promised western set horror. While the balance of power between characters never feels quite right, taking the edge off in terms of tension, it is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining book and more than worthy of its place amongst some of the best this series has offered horror fans to date.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
July 16, 2020
DUST is the third installment of the splatter western series published by Death’s Head Press. The first two are MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young and HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by Mike Ennenbach. While MAGPIE COFFIN remains my favorite, I have really enjoyed reading all of these bizarre little western tales.
The cover of Chris Miller’s DUST is by far the most eye catching. The story itself is a gory, bloody, action-packed mashup of cosmic horror, western, and science fiction. We have everything from a Clint Eastwood-esque gunslinger, to the famous old west setting, to gods, monsters, gunfights, and to plenty of bloodshed. As always, I go in blind so it was a nice surprise that science fiction had a role in the story.
Dust is a small Texas town with an evil entity just waiting to be unleashed. The protagonist, James Dee, is a god killer and is equipped with inexplicable abilities to help him kill these gods. He rescues a former slave named Denarius who he forms a relationship with and off it goes. Any good hero needs a villain so we are introduced to Gear Dreary who stops at nothing to interfere with Dee’s pursuit.
The story is entertaining enough, but I had some problems with execution. I think Miller writes some great scenes and descriptions but some of the dialogue falls short and the pacing is off. Denarius ends up being the character that shines the most which I think helps the story. Although I enjoyed the nods to Stephen King, Lovecraft, and the other two books, there was one bit that was meant to be a “did you catch that meaning” moment but was too subtle to have any dramatic effect.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy. And thank you to the Night Worms for the book party.
The cover of Chris Miller’s DUST is by far the most eye catching. The story itself is a gory, bloody, action-packed mashup of cosmic horror, western, and science fiction. We have everything from a Clint Eastwood-esque gunslinger, to the famous old west setting, to gods, monsters, gunfights, and to plenty of bloodshed. As always, I go in blind so it was a nice surprise that science fiction had a role in the story.
Dust is a small Texas town with an evil entity just waiting to be unleashed. The protagonist, James Dee, is a god killer and is equipped with inexplicable abilities to help him kill these gods. He rescues a former slave named Denarius who he forms a relationship with and off it goes. Any good hero needs a villain so we are introduced to Gear Dreary who stops at nothing to interfere with Dee’s pursuit.
The story is entertaining enough, but I had some problems with execution. I think Miller writes some great scenes and descriptions but some of the dialogue falls short and the pacing is off. Denarius ends up being the character that shines the most which I think helps the story. Although I enjoyed the nods to Stephen King, Lovecraft, and the other two books, there was one bit that was meant to be a “did you catch that meaning” moment but was too subtle to have any dramatic effect.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy. And thank you to the Night Worms for the book party.
July 14, 2020
☠️Review of Dust by Chris Miller☠️
This is book 3 in the splatterpunk western series. I’m loving the fact that these books are by all different authors. It makes for a new experience with every story. Dust is about James Dee a god killer. James uses his knowledge from beyond and moves through time and space to end monstrous gods.
Dust, while still having those western undertones, brought something new to the table. You get to experience some modern feel to it since James can move through time and space. I enjoyed that part of the book because it didn’t feel completely western. I don’t normally read westerns as a hobby so this element helped make it a little more relatable while still having that age old time of outlaws and heroes.
Now, the problems I had while reading this book. One issue was the fact that I didn’t care about the main character until I found an easter egg from the authors previous work. I think as a novel that’s suppose to be a standalone the main character should have made me feel connected or care without making that connection. I want to judge this book as if I’ve never read anything else by this author. The second issue I had was after the half way point in the book there is so much action going on that I was lost through most of it and it made me feel disinterested in the story. Lastly, the monster’s description took me out of a serious scene. I dunno if it was to bring levity to a horrific situation but it didn’t work for me. Let me be emotional or scared for a minute without bringing in humor. These are just my opinions of this book and I’m basing it as if I’ve never read any of his other works to connect to this story. I gave this book 2/5 ⭐️ rating. Please check out other reviews before deciding not to read this book.
Thank you @deathsheadpress and @nightworms for this book for a review consideration. #nightwormsparty
This is book 3 in the splatterpunk western series. I’m loving the fact that these books are by all different authors. It makes for a new experience with every story. Dust is about James Dee a god killer. James uses his knowledge from beyond and moves through time and space to end monstrous gods.
Dust, while still having those western undertones, brought something new to the table. You get to experience some modern feel to it since James can move through time and space. I enjoyed that part of the book because it didn’t feel completely western. I don’t normally read westerns as a hobby so this element helped make it a little more relatable while still having that age old time of outlaws and heroes.
Now, the problems I had while reading this book. One issue was the fact that I didn’t care about the main character until I found an easter egg from the authors previous work. I think as a novel that’s suppose to be a standalone the main character should have made me feel connected or care without making that connection. I want to judge this book as if I’ve never read anything else by this author. The second issue I had was after the half way point in the book there is so much action going on that I was lost through most of it and it made me feel disinterested in the story. Lastly, the monster’s description took me out of a serious scene. I dunno if it was to bring levity to a horrific situation but it didn’t work for me. Let me be emotional or scared for a minute without bringing in humor. These are just my opinions of this book and I’m basing it as if I’ve never read any of his other works to connect to this story. I gave this book 2/5 ⭐️ rating. Please check out other reviews before deciding not to read this book.
Thank you @deathsheadpress and @nightworms for this book for a review consideration. #nightwormsparty
April 30, 2021
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One man’s mission...to locate an elusive archaic western town named Dust. A town that harvests nothing but pure black-hearted evil. A town with a hidden age-old relic from another time. A town that will soon unveil its mysterious hidden agenda that has been shrouded in darkness.
Chris Miller adds to the Death’s Head Press line of Splatterpunk Westerns with his novel Dust. Written with a flare of cosmic horror, Miller’s Lovecraftian approach harnesses an original mixture of ancient gods and Wild West.
As unimaginable horrors of the universe gather to unlock myths of the unholy, two men ride into town. One to prevent destruction and annihilation, and one to encourage it. Boundaries will be pushed towards other planes of existence, and entities will cause chaos. The result will be an unfathomable confrontation of the Good, the Bad and the Elders.
Graphic depictions of parasitic hosts devouring fresh meat. Tentacle driven innovations where fear is food and suffering is a delicacy. Gods, monsters and fiends all have an uncontrollable lust for power. Chris Miller has undeniably succeeded in putting the splatter in splatterpunk with his novel Dust.
Published in 2020, Dust by Chris Miller is a nominee for Best Novel on behalf of the 2021 Splatterpunk Award. Sometimes it takes a small nudge from a fellow reader to explore an author you may not have read yet. Consider this my nudge. It will leave you with the need to feed on more Chris Miller fiction.
One man’s mission...to locate an elusive archaic western town named Dust. A town that harvests nothing but pure black-hearted evil. A town with a hidden age-old relic from another time. A town that will soon unveil its mysterious hidden agenda that has been shrouded in darkness.
Chris Miller adds to the Death’s Head Press line of Splatterpunk Westerns with his novel Dust. Written with a flare of cosmic horror, Miller’s Lovecraftian approach harnesses an original mixture of ancient gods and Wild West.
As unimaginable horrors of the universe gather to unlock myths of the unholy, two men ride into town. One to prevent destruction and annihilation, and one to encourage it. Boundaries will be pushed towards other planes of existence, and entities will cause chaos. The result will be an unfathomable confrontation of the Good, the Bad and the Elders.
Graphic depictions of parasitic hosts devouring fresh meat. Tentacle driven innovations where fear is food and suffering is a delicacy. Gods, monsters and fiends all have an uncontrollable lust for power. Chris Miller has undeniably succeeded in putting the splatter in splatterpunk with his novel Dust.
Published in 2020, Dust by Chris Miller is a nominee for Best Novel on behalf of the 2021 Splatterpunk Award. Sometimes it takes a small nudge from a fellow reader to explore an author you may not have read yet. Consider this my nudge. It will leave you with the need to feed on more Chris Miller fiction.
July 14, 2020
Dust is the third installment Splatter Western series published by Death's Head Press. Each book in the series has told a different story with a somewhat different theme/style. Dust is no different! In this book we get a little magic and some old gods thrown in to bring some fantasy elements into this gory, horror western! A dash of cosmic fun never hurt anyone, right? Dust is exciting and full of adventure - quite a lot happens in these pages. Being less than 200 pages, however, did not allow for a lot of character development. There are some awesome personalities and people in this book, but we never got a total in-depth look into them. I would have really loved more backstory on or two main characters, James Dee and Denarius, as well as our wicked antagonist, Gear Dreary. I think I read through this one the quickest, but it was because their were a LOT of action scenes that just kept the pages turning and turning. 3 stars! Also, this is my favorite cover in the series so far! It's just so.... *heart eyes for days*
July 15, 2020
Y’ALL!!!! I can’t get enough of these splatter westerns! They are a new favorite.
This kicks it straight from the first page with gore and guts and that’s just how I like it. Every time I crack one of these splatters open I feel like nothing can top the last and this one is no exception. I loved the setting and the characters. I know there are complaints about there being a lack of character development, and while this is true, I just enjoyed the overall world. I think the action scenes and gore really keep me entertained. Also, I might’ve shed a tear or two at the end, but I can’t confirm nor deny this lol. Needless to say I need more of these!
Thank you so so much to Death’s Head Press, Night Worms and the author for sending this my way in exchange for an honest review.
This kicks it straight from the first page with gore and guts and that’s just how I like it. Every time I crack one of these splatters open I feel like nothing can top the last and this one is no exception. I loved the setting and the characters. I know there are complaints about there being a lack of character development, and while this is true, I just enjoyed the overall world. I think the action scenes and gore really keep me entertained. Also, I might’ve shed a tear or two at the end, but I can’t confirm nor deny this lol. Needless to say I need more of these!
Thank you so so much to Death’s Head Press, Night Worms and the author for sending this my way in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2020
“Naw, suh. You don’t tell a man something like that and not show him what you speaking of. I may be three-fifths a man, but you five-fifths out your damn mind you think you ain’t about to show me what you talking about.”
Third installment of the stand alone Splatter Western series by Death's Head Press, Dust, takes us on a fast, gory ride to 1879. The Civil War is still fresh in everyone's mind. Selling body parts off Black people is profitable. And James Dee is on a mission from the future.
East Texas, where it is hot and the only past-times are shooting stuff and drinking piss colored beer. We are welcomed by the brutal violence of James Dee, a pure heart, but not a good man, and his quest to destroy an ancient evil in the hidden town of Dust. He has worked seven years to get to this spot and he isn't taking shit from anyone that gets in his way.
Gear Dreary is there to get in his way. But he has to find Dust first. Only a little old lady holds the secret to finding the town, home to the marker of N'yea'thuul. As much as James wants to destroy the evil, Gear wants to harness it. What unfolds is a true western shoot out of good vs evil.
I was most pleased by the pace and gore level of this book. It satisfied all my bloody needs and never had a dull moment. It is told in multiple point of views so some events overlap depending on that person's actions. Some might find that confusing, but I feel it adds to the atmosphere of the story. James is definitely not our hero, even though his goal is to save the world. He seems to do the right thing, but typically does it in a manner most would frown upon.
What I didn't like and it bothered me the duration of the story, was Denarius and his ability to assume his family was "fine" after white men kidnap him and without any consideration, accompanies James to Dust. Like really dude? You don't think you should at least be like "hey wife, I'm alive thanks to this guy and I need to help him stop the apocalypse"? Write her a note? Something? No? Ok, rude.
August 2, 2020
Thank you to NightWorms for hosting a Book Party brought to us by Dead Head Press and their amazingly illustrated Splatter Western Series.
Perhaps I am just going to give into my inner nerd here and say I like Science Fiction wayyyyy more than I thought I did. Or maybe horror authors just know how to interweave them well!
Chris Miller has contributed his amazing writing in the third installment in the DHP Splatter Western Series and this one had my attention and my heart! I fell in love with so many of the characters in this one. I especially loved the Friendship that developed between one of our main Characters, James Dee and the kind and curious gentlemen he encounters on his journey, Denarius. His spirit is worth every minute you invest in this book! James Dee is the bad ass friend you long for when the stakes are high and the world before you is unknown and unsure. He always seems to have the right answers and the right amount of ammo.
The overall concept of this story worked so well for me on multiple levels. Cosmic horror with a Demigod at the forefront of the chaos. Time travel, mind-reading ability and a cast of characters that serve the story well. I loved the not-so-religious, religious take with the use of the church, and alters. The gore was rich but flowed so well with the use of a mythological world laced in magic and leather.
I really look forward to more of what Miller has in store for his future of writing. He has an ability to tell a story that will have you turning pages to find out what or whom lies ahead and how he can plant an easter egg with the Best of 'em! Well Executed!!
Perhaps I am just going to give into my inner nerd here and say I like Science Fiction wayyyyy more than I thought I did. Or maybe horror authors just know how to interweave them well!
Chris Miller has contributed his amazing writing in the third installment in the DHP Splatter Western Series and this one had my attention and my heart! I fell in love with so many of the characters in this one. I especially loved the Friendship that developed between one of our main Characters, James Dee and the kind and curious gentlemen he encounters on his journey, Denarius. His spirit is worth every minute you invest in this book! James Dee is the bad ass friend you long for when the stakes are high and the world before you is unknown and unsure. He always seems to have the right answers and the right amount of ammo.
The overall concept of this story worked so well for me on multiple levels. Cosmic horror with a Demigod at the forefront of the chaos. Time travel, mind-reading ability and a cast of characters that serve the story well. I loved the not-so-religious, religious take with the use of the church, and alters. The gore was rich but flowed so well with the use of a mythological world laced in magic and leather.
I really look forward to more of what Miller has in store for his future of writing. He has an ability to tell a story that will have you turning pages to find out what or whom lies ahead and how he can plant an easter egg with the Best of 'em! Well Executed!!
August 25, 2020
It's 1879 and gun-slinging time-traveling James Dee is searching for the elusive town of Dust to seek and destroy a horror that can threaten the human race as we know it. That's as much of a synopsis as you will get from me and really, what more could you want?
This is the third stand alone installment in the splatter western series from Death's Head Press and I cannot begin to even describe accurately how much I am enjoying this subgenre of horror. While this still did not top the first book in the series, Dust came pretty damn close.
The novel starts with some rip bang bloody action and does not really let up through out most of he book. Normally, this would be excellent for me. However, I really enjoyed the characters of James Dee and Denarius that Miller created, and I was waiting for a few chapters that were solely dialogue between the two of them.
This book had plenty of violence and gore to satisfy any horror reader that that may appeal to, however, I feel like due to the time period and vernacular that comes along with that, a trigger warning is not needed. This story definitely made me appreciate the word "splat" far more that I ever thought I would.
If you enjoy horror and this specific subgenre, then you need to be reading this series. If you enjoy horror and have not dabbled in splatter westerns yet, then you really need to be reading this series!
This is the third stand alone installment in the splatter western series from Death's Head Press and I cannot begin to even describe accurately how much I am enjoying this subgenre of horror. While this still did not top the first book in the series, Dust came pretty damn close.
The novel starts with some rip bang bloody action and does not really let up through out most of he book. Normally, this would be excellent for me. However, I really enjoyed the characters of James Dee and Denarius that Miller created, and I was waiting for a few chapters that were solely dialogue between the two of them.
This book had plenty of violence and gore to satisfy any horror reader that that may appeal to, however, I feel like due to the time period and vernacular that comes along with that, a trigger warning is not needed. This story definitely made me appreciate the word "splat" far more that I ever thought I would.
If you enjoy horror and this specific subgenre, then you need to be reading this series. If you enjoy horror and have not dabbled in splatter westerns yet, then you really need to be reading this series!
June 12, 2020
Not only the most technically well-written of the first three splatter western books, but the most fun as well. A gripping, bullet-paced cosmic horror story that refuses to let you go as it gallops across a weird west. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.
May 7, 2022
Not the best of the Splatter Westerns, but a fun cosmic horror take on the subject. The final portion is pretty great though. 3/5 stars
June 29, 2020
Dust by Chris Miller is the third in the Splatter Western books from Death’s Head Press. But I read this one first because it came to hand before I read the other two and word on the net was they are stand alone, not dependent on one another. This appears to be true. That being said, this one makes definitive references to the book preceding it. So now I’m chomping at the bit to read that one!
*I will end up reading these in reverse order, but I don’t necessarily recommend it.*
There is a reason I did not want to wait to read Dust. Plain and simple, Chris Miller wrote it. I was eager to read a new novel by Chris Miller, and I had heard through the proverbial grapevine Dust ties in to The Damned Place and The Damned Ones. Guess what, Miller Fans? It does. These are the same cosmic horrors of those books brought to the old west. And you have to read it yourself now because I won’t say more on that.
Where are my manners? A “Splatter Western?” Well, a splatter western is pretty much what the label implies: splatter + western. It’s extreme horror in an “old west” setting. It’s the new extreme horror subgenre you really need to sample. No, I get it; I’m not a western novel person myself, but this isn’t like that. This is horror. Extreme Horror. Extreme Horror in an old west setting.
In this case, this is Chris Miller’s masterful cosmic extreme horror in an old west setting. (Note to reader: Cosmic horror does not equal sci-fi horror. Think Lovecraftian, not sci-fi.) Miller has brought his old gods mythos into the old west, not missing the opportunity to authenticate the societal norms of the time with seamless integration into the story. His gift for characters and dialogue shines like a black light on a scorpion in this old west tale. Dust is full of action, gore, suspense, terror, and vivid visuals. It’s a fast paced and complex story, masterfully told, evocative, punch-the-author impactful.
I know you are looking at that cover art and wondering, “What in the world?” But yes, the cover is good artistic symbolism of the story and setting. I like it.
This splatter western, cosmic horror crossover is a shining jewel for the library of any extreme horror fan.
*I will end up reading these in reverse order, but I don’t necessarily recommend it.*
There is a reason I did not want to wait to read Dust. Plain and simple, Chris Miller wrote it. I was eager to read a new novel by Chris Miller, and I had heard through the proverbial grapevine Dust ties in to The Damned Place and The Damned Ones. Guess what, Miller Fans? It does. These are the same cosmic horrors of those books brought to the old west. And you have to read it yourself now because I won’t say more on that.
Where are my manners? A “Splatter Western?” Well, a splatter western is pretty much what the label implies: splatter + western. It’s extreme horror in an “old west” setting. It’s the new extreme horror subgenre you really need to sample. No, I get it; I’m not a western novel person myself, but this isn’t like that. This is horror. Extreme Horror. Extreme Horror in an old west setting.
In this case, this is Chris Miller’s masterful cosmic extreme horror in an old west setting. (Note to reader: Cosmic horror does not equal sci-fi horror. Think Lovecraftian, not sci-fi.) Miller has brought his old gods mythos into the old west, not missing the opportunity to authenticate the societal norms of the time with seamless integration into the story. His gift for characters and dialogue shines like a black light on a scorpion in this old west tale. Dust is full of action, gore, suspense, terror, and vivid visuals. It’s a fast paced and complex story, masterfully told, evocative, punch-the-author impactful.
I know you are looking at that cover art and wondering, “What in the world?” But yes, the cover is good artistic symbolism of the story and setting. I like it.
This splatter western, cosmic horror crossover is a shining jewel for the library of any extreme horror fan.
July 24, 2020
The wild west, gunslingers, cosmic horrors, elder gods, god killers, and buckets upon buckets of blood all wrapped up into one package, um, yes please! Dust by Chris Miller is the third entry in the Splatter Western series from Death’s Head Press. Once again Justin T. Coons absolutely kills it with the cover art. The covers alone for this series need to win some kind of award. I have only read this entry and book one in the series, The Magpie Coffin by Wile E. Young (and yes I know I skipped over book two Hunger on the Chisholm Trail by M. Ennenbach but I am getting to it soon) but I feel like these books were written just for me. The old wild west setting infused with the mystical and magical, the weird and otherworldly, and copious amounts of Tarantino-esque violence just makes my black little heart sing with joy. Death’s Head Press can keep pumping these bad boys out and I’ll keep devouring them as fast as I can.
In Dust we follow god killer James Dee on his quest to find a mythical town in the heart of East Texas by the same name, Dust. There is an evil lurking just beyond the veil in Dust, building its army and awaiting the time to break through and unleash destruction and chaos upon the world. James’ mission is to stop this from coming to fruition. He has traveled for many years, and across many worlds to get here and nothing is going to stand in his way. Not his nemesis Gear Dreary, or the elders themselves.
Chris Miller brings some classic western tropes and cliches to this tale that for me adds to the pulpy over the top wink wink, nod nod, factor of the whole thing. There are just some things you come to expect to see in a western and I was fine with that. We are introduced to some colorful characters during our journey. Some standouts for me were Denarius King (a former slave who becomes James’ sidekick), Bonham (a cold and calculating killing machine), and Agatha Dupree (our mysterious and wise old crone). Denarius is probably the most well rounded and developed character in the story and had more of the heartfelt moments. We get to learn some but not a lot about James Dee’s past and where he comes from. I was very intrigued with his backstory and would have liked to have learned more about him, his past, and his prior dealings with god killing.
As with The Magpie Coffin nearly every page is dripping with bloody violence. Chris Miller writes some epic cinematic moments of blood and gore that played out in John Woo style slow motion in my mind while reading them. I could easily see this adapted to film or television. The action scenes were intensely brutal, visceral, fast paced, and not for the faint of heart. I also really enjoyed the depictions of the cosmic horrors skittering around the town of Dust. They were uniquely horrific, twisted, and grotesque.
There are some references to Hunger on the Chisholm Trail and the events that occurred in book two giving the series some loose connections that I hope only continue to deepen as the series moves forward. We also get at least one fun author easter egg that I won’t spoil, see if you can spot it. Speaking of other authors it is evident that Chris Miller was heavily inspired by Stephen King and his Dark Tower universe specially. It won’t get into specifics but I loved all of the little tidbits that paid homage to King.
The plot was simple and straightforward yet wildly entertaining and I felt more of a threat coming from the vile human characters than the cosmic horrors themselves, though this is just personal feelings as I tend to find the human horrors scarier than any cosmic force that I may or may not be able to comprehend. My only real nitpick with the story was some of the dialogue, mainly when Denarius was talking and saying "please, suh" and "yes, suh". I understand the author was going for authenticity with the story being set in 1879 but I felt it was overused here.
Riddled with savage violence and unfathomable abominations, Dust by Chris Miller seamlessly blends cosmic horror with the gritty wild west for one hell of an entertaining ride that will leave you dripping with gore by journeys end. Score another win for Death's Head Press and their Splatter Western series. I cannot wait to see what else they have in store for the rest of this series.
Video review: https://youtu.be/dbwxxpB1NKc
In Dust we follow god killer James Dee on his quest to find a mythical town in the heart of East Texas by the same name, Dust. There is an evil lurking just beyond the veil in Dust, building its army and awaiting the time to break through and unleash destruction and chaos upon the world. James’ mission is to stop this from coming to fruition. He has traveled for many years, and across many worlds to get here and nothing is going to stand in his way. Not his nemesis Gear Dreary, or the elders themselves.
Chris Miller brings some classic western tropes and cliches to this tale that for me adds to the pulpy over the top wink wink, nod nod, factor of the whole thing. There are just some things you come to expect to see in a western and I was fine with that. We are introduced to some colorful characters during our journey. Some standouts for me were Denarius King (a former slave who becomes James’ sidekick), Bonham (a cold and calculating killing machine), and Agatha Dupree (our mysterious and wise old crone). Denarius is probably the most well rounded and developed character in the story and had more of the heartfelt moments. We get to learn some but not a lot about James Dee’s past and where he comes from. I was very intrigued with his backstory and would have liked to have learned more about him, his past, and his prior dealings with god killing.
As with The Magpie Coffin nearly every page is dripping with bloody violence. Chris Miller writes some epic cinematic moments of blood and gore that played out in John Woo style slow motion in my mind while reading them. I could easily see this adapted to film or television. The action scenes were intensely brutal, visceral, fast paced, and not for the faint of heart. I also really enjoyed the depictions of the cosmic horrors skittering around the town of Dust. They were uniquely horrific, twisted, and grotesque.
There are some references to Hunger on the Chisholm Trail and the events that occurred in book two giving the series some loose connections that I hope only continue to deepen as the series moves forward. We also get at least one fun author easter egg that I won’t spoil, see if you can spot it. Speaking of other authors it is evident that Chris Miller was heavily inspired by Stephen King and his Dark Tower universe specially. It won’t get into specifics but I loved all of the little tidbits that paid homage to King.
The plot was simple and straightforward yet wildly entertaining and I felt more of a threat coming from the vile human characters than the cosmic horrors themselves, though this is just personal feelings as I tend to find the human horrors scarier than any cosmic force that I may or may not be able to comprehend. My only real nitpick with the story was some of the dialogue, mainly when Denarius was talking and saying "please, suh" and "yes, suh". I understand the author was going for authenticity with the story being set in 1879 but I felt it was overused here.
Riddled with savage violence and unfathomable abominations, Dust by Chris Miller seamlessly blends cosmic horror with the gritty wild west for one hell of an entertaining ride that will leave you dripping with gore by journeys end. Score another win for Death's Head Press and their Splatter Western series. I cannot wait to see what else they have in store for the rest of this series.
Video review: https://youtu.be/dbwxxpB1NKc
February 7, 2021
Reviewer’s Note: This book is part of the Splatter Western series being published by Death’s Head Press. These books all share a common theme, but are NOT a connected series. Though each book has a series number attached, they do not need to be read in any particular order and are not all within the same world.
Chris Miller enters the splatter western scene with a bloody bang. Set in Texas in the year 1879, Dust, the third book in Death’s Head Press’ Splatter Western series tells the tale of a mysterious stranger hell-bent on finding an elusive town called Dust. James Dee will stop at nothing to find this town and stop the cosmic evil lurking there from spreading across the world. With such high stakes, Dee is willing to do the unthinkable in order to save the world.
Miller gets the blood flowing right off the bat. With several over-the-top, bloody and explosive deaths all within the first chapter, Miller wastes no time demonstrating exactly what “splatter western” means. This story is full of violence, blood-spewing mayhem, guts and glory. While some of it is a bit exaggerated, isn’t that the point? The overall tone of Dust is pretty serious, but the ultraviolence adds a fun flair to the dark narrative. It isn’t quite the most disgustingly bloody narrative I’ve ever read, but it’s got its fair share of gore. I think you’ll be able to enjoy it even if you’re just a bit squeamish, but if gore is an absolute deal-breaker for you, you’ll likely need to pass.
As with other stories I’ve read by Miller, the tone and voice of the narrative really fits the story. This is the third novel I’ve read from this author, and each one has had such an incredibly unique voice. Miller has slipped with ease from writing through the eyes of young kids (The Damned Place) to religious nuts and psycho killers (The Damned Ones) and now onto the rough-and-tumble characters in Dust. I’ve never read a western before, but Miller truly captures the tone of a rough and unforgiving frontier in all its gunslinging glory.
The two main players here are James Dee and Gear Dreary. James Dee is our troubled hero. Though he has a pure goal in his heart, the realities of the world force him to do evil things in order to save it. This internal struggle between having a pure heart and being a good man is one of the major themes of the novel. Dust isn’t just some blood-soaked cosmic western. It’s also an introspective look at what it means to be a good person, and on the consequences of doing bad things with good intentions. Contrarily, we have Gear Dreary- a bad dude with a cool name. Dreary is on a quest that parallels Dee’s; he wants to find Dust as well. His intentions, however, are much different. Dreary wants to find Dust in order to help bring a terrible cosmic evil into the world.
Speaking of evil in the world, Miller does not shy away from the terrible realities of this period of American history. Along his way to Dust, James Dee encounters a man named Denarius King. Denarius is a black man, in a time that treated black men and women with incredible cruelty. Miller does not glaze over this. The characters in Dust are pretty much all racist. Denarius is constantly insulted, treated as less-than-human, and called some horrible slurs. If this sort of portrayal would stop you from reading a book, I think it’s only fair to warn you now. But it’s important to note that Miller is not glorifying or siding with these racists. Too often, people misinterpret an author’s use of such unacceptable themes as supporting them or as a projection of the author’s own personal beliefs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Miller paints a brutally honest picture of the way people acted in this time period. On the bright side, our hero James Dee isn’t exactly from around this part of the world, and absolutely does not stand for the mistreatment of his new friend Denarius. Watching Mr. Dee violently defend his pal Denarius’ honor is pretty cool.
Perhaps my favorite thing about Dust is its connection to Miller’s other work. If you’ve read The Damned Place or The Damned Ones, you will be pleasantly surprised reading Dust. I won’t let on what the connection is, but as the book went on and I started to guess the connection being hinted at, I absolutely loved it. If you’ve read those other works, this story will have an additional depth to it. But if you haven’t read them, fear not. They aren’t necessary to understand the plot. However, I’ll warn that there are some minor spoilers in Dust for The Damned Place and The Damned Ones. I highly recommend reading those two books first, so that you fully appreciate the story.
One last thing I’ll cover is the cosmic horror aspect of Dust. The story follows the pretty traditional theme of some bad dudes trying to bring an ancient, cosmic evil into the world. Nothing too revolutionary there, though Miller does it fairly well and in his own way. I did particularly enjoy the concept of the town of Dust itself and the role that it plays. In addition to this Big Bad Cosmic Horror, there are smaller terrors that are particularly brutal and cool. These lesser horrors were reminiscent of monsters from a Resident Evil game, in my opinion. Pretty killer stuff.
Chris Miller’s Dust is a solid offering in both the cosmic horror and the splatter western genres. The old west setting is fun, and Miller clearly enjoyed the world he built. The characters are all very well done, and their actions and dialogue fit the setting perfectly. If you’re looking for an introduction to splatter westerns, this is a great start. Fans of cosmic horror will love this one for sure, as will splatterpunk fans. If you don’t like ultraviolence, you probably won’t enjoy this one too much, and should avoid any subgenre with the word “splatter” in it anyway. Also, if you’re looking for more psychological, slow burn horror, this isn’t the one. Dust is a fast paced, action packed cosmic horror blood bath, and an absolute must-read.
Chris Miller enters the splatter western scene with a bloody bang. Set in Texas in the year 1879, Dust, the third book in Death’s Head Press’ Splatter Western series tells the tale of a mysterious stranger hell-bent on finding an elusive town called Dust. James Dee will stop at nothing to find this town and stop the cosmic evil lurking there from spreading across the world. With such high stakes, Dee is willing to do the unthinkable in order to save the world.
Miller gets the blood flowing right off the bat. With several over-the-top, bloody and explosive deaths all within the first chapter, Miller wastes no time demonstrating exactly what “splatter western” means. This story is full of violence, blood-spewing mayhem, guts and glory. While some of it is a bit exaggerated, isn’t that the point? The overall tone of Dust is pretty serious, but the ultraviolence adds a fun flair to the dark narrative. It isn’t quite the most disgustingly bloody narrative I’ve ever read, but it’s got its fair share of gore. I think you’ll be able to enjoy it even if you’re just a bit squeamish, but if gore is an absolute deal-breaker for you, you’ll likely need to pass.
As with other stories I’ve read by Miller, the tone and voice of the narrative really fits the story. This is the third novel I’ve read from this author, and each one has had such an incredibly unique voice. Miller has slipped with ease from writing through the eyes of young kids (The Damned Place) to religious nuts and psycho killers (The Damned Ones) and now onto the rough-and-tumble characters in Dust. I’ve never read a western before, but Miller truly captures the tone of a rough and unforgiving frontier in all its gunslinging glory.
The two main players here are James Dee and Gear Dreary. James Dee is our troubled hero. Though he has a pure goal in his heart, the realities of the world force him to do evil things in order to save it. This internal struggle between having a pure heart and being a good man is one of the major themes of the novel. Dust isn’t just some blood-soaked cosmic western. It’s also an introspective look at what it means to be a good person, and on the consequences of doing bad things with good intentions. Contrarily, we have Gear Dreary- a bad dude with a cool name. Dreary is on a quest that parallels Dee’s; he wants to find Dust as well. His intentions, however, are much different. Dreary wants to find Dust in order to help bring a terrible cosmic evil into the world.
Speaking of evil in the world, Miller does not shy away from the terrible realities of this period of American history. Along his way to Dust, James Dee encounters a man named Denarius King. Denarius is a black man, in a time that treated black men and women with incredible cruelty. Miller does not glaze over this. The characters in Dust are pretty much all racist. Denarius is constantly insulted, treated as less-than-human, and called some horrible slurs. If this sort of portrayal would stop you from reading a book, I think it’s only fair to warn you now. But it’s important to note that Miller is not glorifying or siding with these racists. Too often, people misinterpret an author’s use of such unacceptable themes as supporting them or as a projection of the author’s own personal beliefs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Miller paints a brutally honest picture of the way people acted in this time period. On the bright side, our hero James Dee isn’t exactly from around this part of the world, and absolutely does not stand for the mistreatment of his new friend Denarius. Watching Mr. Dee violently defend his pal Denarius’ honor is pretty cool.
Perhaps my favorite thing about Dust is its connection to Miller’s other work. If you’ve read The Damned Place or The Damned Ones, you will be pleasantly surprised reading Dust. I won’t let on what the connection is, but as the book went on and I started to guess the connection being hinted at, I absolutely loved it. If you’ve read those other works, this story will have an additional depth to it. But if you haven’t read them, fear not. They aren’t necessary to understand the plot. However, I’ll warn that there are some minor spoilers in Dust for The Damned Place and The Damned Ones. I highly recommend reading those two books first, so that you fully appreciate the story.
One last thing I’ll cover is the cosmic horror aspect of Dust. The story follows the pretty traditional theme of some bad dudes trying to bring an ancient, cosmic evil into the world. Nothing too revolutionary there, though Miller does it fairly well and in his own way. I did particularly enjoy the concept of the town of Dust itself and the role that it plays. In addition to this Big Bad Cosmic Horror, there are smaller terrors that are particularly brutal and cool. These lesser horrors were reminiscent of monsters from a Resident Evil game, in my opinion. Pretty killer stuff.
Chris Miller’s Dust is a solid offering in both the cosmic horror and the splatter western genres. The old west setting is fun, and Miller clearly enjoyed the world he built. The characters are all very well done, and their actions and dialogue fit the setting perfectly. If you’re looking for an introduction to splatter westerns, this is a great start. Fans of cosmic horror will love this one for sure, as will splatterpunk fans. If you don’t like ultraviolence, you probably won’t enjoy this one too much, and should avoid any subgenre with the word “splatter” in it anyway. Also, if you’re looking for more psychological, slow burn horror, this isn’t the one. Dust is a fast paced, action packed cosmic horror blood bath, and an absolute must-read.
August 3, 2021
*I did receive the audiobook for free from the author and am reviewing it honestly*
What in the Lovecraftian splatter western was this amazingness?! The characters were extremely fleshed out (even though some would say that a few were underdeveloped, I feel like that is the point.) My favorite character and one I would LOVE to know the backstory to, is the woman seer. Her past was hinted at but I could read a whole novel just on her.
Some of the criticism is aimed at Denarius and his reinforcement of the Master/slave mentality. But, that’s not how I see it. Denarius is rescued by James Dee but James doesn’t see it as if he is the hero, just someone who rescued someone when he should have kept walking. But Denarius is the hero later on in the novel as well. As for the dialect, he seems to want to keep it stereotypical for a reason, to play with the western trope and he does it well.
While not super gory, in my opinion, the pacing of the novel and plot pushed it along beautifully.
Easily a 5/5. One of the better novels in the series.
What in the Lovecraftian splatter western was this amazingness?! The characters were extremely fleshed out (even though some would say that a few were underdeveloped, I feel like that is the point.) My favorite character and one I would LOVE to know the backstory to, is the woman seer. Her past was hinted at but I could read a whole novel just on her.
Some of the criticism is aimed at Denarius and his reinforcement of the Master/slave mentality. But, that’s not how I see it. Denarius is rescued by James Dee but James doesn’t see it as if he is the hero, just someone who rescued someone when he should have kept walking. But Denarius is the hero later on in the novel as well. As for the dialect, he seems to want to keep it stereotypical for a reason, to play with the western trope and he does it well.
While not super gory, in my opinion, the pacing of the novel and plot pushed it along beautifully.
Easily a 5/5. One of the better novels in the series.
September 14, 2021
The third novel in the Splatter Western series.
This is the first novel with a cosmic entity so I was really keen on reading this one. It was cool to see the what happen before and after that city. In this take we follow James Dee as he searching from a town called Dust. In the second novel we were introduced to James Dee, just a brief mention but maybe there is some connections in-between novels which is really cool stuff since they are all different authors writing different stories, the only connection being the wild frontier around 1850 to 1890.
This novel is about the quest itself. The quest to find Dust and the quest of redemption.
There are some moments that made me cringe but maybe that's the problem of living in his time and period. There are some instances and may be some problematic. The action scenes are cool but it felt somewhat repetitive in the terms of the quest to find dust.
I for once, enjoyed the the ending. Let us continue with the next novels...
This is the first novel with a cosmic entity so I was really keen on reading this one. It was cool to see the what happen before and after that city. In this take we follow James Dee as he searching from a town called Dust. In the second novel we were introduced to James Dee, just a brief mention but maybe there is some connections in-between novels which is really cool stuff since they are all different authors writing different stories, the only connection being the wild frontier around 1850 to 1890.
This novel is about the quest itself. The quest to find Dust and the quest of redemption.
There are some moments that made me cringe but maybe that's the problem of living in his time and period. There are some instances and may be some problematic. The action scenes are cool but it felt somewhat repetitive in the terms of the quest to find dust.
I for once, enjoyed the the ending. Let us continue with the next novels...
January 25, 2023
This is my first splatter western - I read it for research, to see how someone writes in this western world and writes horror and I’m pleased to say it was brilliant. I loved the story and the flavour of the west conjured by Miller - it wasn’t deeply engrained with it, but felt throughout, and it shows how the brevity of descriptions can be used to construct the location and time without taking a deep dive into historical elements - characters were brilliant and the antagonists, this little gang of shit kickers was a highlight!
June 22, 2020
This story comes out of the corner swinging and never lets up. Fast paced and entertaining through and through. The author is a master of dialogue which I appreciate as I’ve been known to be a bit of a dialogue snob. The western elements felt well thought out and genuine for the period. An excellent offering that I highly recommend.
December 13, 2020
Review to follow...
August 4, 2020
I should really start reading synopses before I read a book. Then, I would've realized there was a sci-fi aspect to this installment of the splatter western series, which I didn't mind. This is the third in this series and maybe it's just me, but I'm finding the splatter part seems to wane with each book. I absolutely LOVED Magpie Coffin and then Hunger on the Chisolm Trail was ok for me and this one... well, unfortunately, I didn't particularly care for it. *shrug* And the synopsis says John Dee, but his name is James Dee, or did I miss something here? Probably just a typo so I digress....
Even though I know to expect certain things due to the time/era of the novella, it still doesn't stop me from cringing when reading the parts with Denarius. However, I did like the story arc of James and Denarius and how their relationship grew within these pages. This was a pleasant and welcome surprise.
There's no particular thing that stands out for me as to why this one just didn't quite work for me. Sometimes you just like or don't like something because you just feel that way. Know what I mean? The storyline itself was fine and the writing seemed to change from telling you to showing you as the pages were turned. I appreciate what the author was doing in terms of James' magic and how while having a good heart, sometimes you still have to be bad to do the things you need to do. It's nice to see the main characters actually being good guys doing bad things.
Nice nod to Ennenbach in there. Among one other that I also had a bark of laughter with James. If you know, you know. 😉 This is a fun series and I love how we get to meet a variety of authors since there's a different one for each part of the series. Rather than a continuation, we get to go back to the Western days through the eyes of someone new and that is always of interest to me.
Even though I know to expect certain things due to the time/era of the novella, it still doesn't stop me from cringing when reading the parts with Denarius. However, I did like the story arc of James and Denarius and how their relationship grew within these pages. This was a pleasant and welcome surprise.
There's no particular thing that stands out for me as to why this one just didn't quite work for me. Sometimes you just like or don't like something because you just feel that way. Know what I mean? The storyline itself was fine and the writing seemed to change from telling you to showing you as the pages were turned. I appreciate what the author was doing in terms of James' magic and how while having a good heart, sometimes you still have to be bad to do the things you need to do. It's nice to see the main characters actually being good guys doing bad things.
Nice nod to Ennenbach in there. Among one other that I also had a bark of laughter with James. If you know, you know. 😉 This is a fun series and I love how we get to meet a variety of authors since there's a different one for each part of the series. Rather than a continuation, we get to go back to the Western days through the eyes of someone new and that is always of interest to me.
July 4, 2020
*4/5* - I’m not sure if Death’s Head Press planned only for these three books in their Splatter Western series or not, but Dust leaves you with endless possibilities. Miller’s writing is brutal and quick; most things are explained early on, and there are sequences of action every other chapter, it seems. Readers that seek adrenaline injections will find a lot to love with this one, as it is fast-paced and bloody.
Though more relentless than the previous two entries of this series, Dust also feels the easiest somehow. By that, I mean they enter the elusive town of Dust within pages of seeking it out. That wasn’t so hard, now was it? And though the large battle that soon follows spills copious amounts of blood and gore, the main threat is dispelled rather easily. The primary injuries our hero and his partner receive are from a gunman, not a monster. The main (human) bad guy was also hardly interesting or scary. It was his large, violent soldier that posed the most danger.
Dust isn’t without its issues, but it’s still a strong entry in the Splatter Western series. Like I’ve said, there’s a lot of action throughout this story, as well as a lot of room to grow the universe presented. For example, we never learn the story behind the magical lady that directs James to Dust. And she was just a minor player here! How about all the god-monsters that exist? Yes, this series could go on and on. I just hope the return is more detailed and fleshed out; I could see this premise being as large as The Dark Tower (by Stephen King), which was clearly an influence here.
Though more relentless than the previous two entries of this series, Dust also feels the easiest somehow. By that, I mean they enter the elusive town of Dust within pages of seeking it out. That wasn’t so hard, now was it? And though the large battle that soon follows spills copious amounts of blood and gore, the main threat is dispelled rather easily. The primary injuries our hero and his partner receive are from a gunman, not a monster. The main (human) bad guy was also hardly interesting or scary. It was his large, violent soldier that posed the most danger.
Dust isn’t without its issues, but it’s still a strong entry in the Splatter Western series. Like I’ve said, there’s a lot of action throughout this story, as well as a lot of room to grow the universe presented. For example, we never learn the story behind the magical lady that directs James to Dust. And she was just a minor player here! How about all the god-monsters that exist? Yes, this series could go on and on. I just hope the return is more detailed and fleshed out; I could see this premise being as large as The Dark Tower (by Stephen King), which was clearly an influence here.
November 6, 2021
Love these splatter westerns! Anything goes in these and they are a “rootin, tootin,” good time!
June 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐
June 21, 2021
I had read a few mediocre reviews for book #3 in the Splatter Western series, so I kind of went into Dust with lower expectations...and then I had them blown away. I was nervous that the "cosmic horror" story was going to be difficult to follow, but this book was fantastic! Yes there is a bit of mystery to the character of James Dee...he has a past (and a future) that we only get hints at, but I felt that it made him more like a Clint Eastwood old time western character where he rides into town, gives zero fucks and gets down to business. The dark unknown stranger is what I liked about James Dee. Such a great character in a book full of great characters. Dust left me wanting more and I loved it!
July 4, 2021
Third in the series and I enjoyed this immensely. At times I felt like I missed something, but upon researching the authors works I can confirm that YES I was missing something, so I will definitely be reading those very soon. The writing here is very smooth(?) is that a good word? I flew through pages and didn’t ever struggle to understand the events or the characters. The part I really, REALLY want to talk about is the monsters, and holy John carpenters the thing are there monsters! The plot builds and builds like a great eldritch horror tale with the unspoken promise that there will be something vile, evil, and hideous in the coming pages. Without risking spoiling anything, I was not let down. Would love to see this made as a movie similar to the classics of Stuart Gordon, a big ooey gooey slime ridden gory movie.
July 13, 2020
Episode three in the ongoing Night Worms/ Death’s Head Press Splatter Western Book Party is headed your way! This entry featuring Chris Miller’s Dust. Ok, firstly, Dust is a hoot! I really had a good time with this read, and as far as entertainment value goes I’ll place it behind Young’s Magpie Coffin (who sets the bar pretty high) and just a little above Ennenbach’s fun Hunger on the Chisholm Trail.
Check out the cover, seriously, behold it. I’d say it’s the best cover thus far. Greens and Purples? It screams “this ain’t your daddy’s old-west.” And it isn’t. Dust is a glorious mashup of old High-Plains-Drifter-esque westerns and Cosmic Horror/ Elder Gods. Miller embraces the pulpiness of both genres and creates something that feels meant to be. I have a love for Lovecraftian inspired lore (not so much for the man himself) and I am coming to learn that Westerns sit very well with me. I’m thinking a pure western novel my be in my future... yeah, I can’t believe it either.
I dig the meta aspect bringing the Splatter Western’s together into a potentially common universe. I may have overlooked an homage to Magpie, but Dust and Chisholm Trail are absolutely on the same plane of existence with detailed mention of the calamity that befell the town of Duncan. Do you remember the random stranger passing through looking for the town of Dust? It’s a nice touch. I don’t know that, potentially, 14 novels can have a firm cannon coexistence that works fluently, but I’d be stoked for a handful here-and-there sharing some commonality.
Another aspect I dug was that, after a slowish-burn set up as our primary characters find the hidden town, the meat and potatoes of Dust plays out over the course of a day or two. It’s high octane. James and Denarius cross into the town and shit promptly hits the fan.
What I didn’t like so much was the lack of character development. Which I guess there wasn’t really time for, but I mean ya’ gotta make time sometimes. We don’t get to learn a whole lot about our primary “hero”, quotes because he’s “not a good man but has a pure heart”. Nor do we learn much about our primary villain, Gear Dreary, what a name! These characters feel like they could be awesome, deep characters, but with what we are given it feels like we are already supposed to know them. Like they are already established elsewhere, like this book is a continuation of an ongoing series. I’m also getting tired of the derogatory terms for characters of color, not so much with this book in particular, but in the Splatter Western series in general. Not one book in itself is overwhelming with its ugly terminology but a little bit in each book it’s adding up and starting to wear on me. I get that it’s a period piece, but actions get your character’s feelings across just a well.
So I guess that’s that, Dust, I had a lot of fun with it. Personal entertainment value: 4/5. I am looking forward to further entries the Splatter Western universe and maybe something else to do with James and/ or Gear.
Personal entertainment value: 4/5
Read via paid Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
Check out the cover, seriously, behold it. I’d say it’s the best cover thus far. Greens and Purples? It screams “this ain’t your daddy’s old-west.” And it isn’t. Dust is a glorious mashup of old High-Plains-Drifter-esque westerns and Cosmic Horror/ Elder Gods. Miller embraces the pulpiness of both genres and creates something that feels meant to be. I have a love for Lovecraftian inspired lore (not so much for the man himself) and I am coming to learn that Westerns sit very well with me. I’m thinking a pure western novel my be in my future... yeah, I can’t believe it either.
I dig the meta aspect bringing the Splatter Western’s together into a potentially common universe. I may have overlooked an homage to Magpie, but Dust and Chisholm Trail are absolutely on the same plane of existence with detailed mention of the calamity that befell the town of Duncan. Do you remember the random stranger passing through looking for the town of Dust? It’s a nice touch. I don’t know that, potentially, 14 novels can have a firm cannon coexistence that works fluently, but I’d be stoked for a handful here-and-there sharing some commonality.
Another aspect I dug was that, after a slowish-burn set up as our primary characters find the hidden town, the meat and potatoes of Dust plays out over the course of a day or two. It’s high octane. James and Denarius cross into the town and shit promptly hits the fan.
What I didn’t like so much was the lack of character development. Which I guess there wasn’t really time for, but I mean ya’ gotta make time sometimes. We don’t get to learn a whole lot about our primary “hero”, quotes because he’s “not a good man but has a pure heart”. Nor do we learn much about our primary villain, Gear Dreary, what a name! These characters feel like they could be awesome, deep characters, but with what we are given it feels like we are already supposed to know them. Like they are already established elsewhere, like this book is a continuation of an ongoing series. I’m also getting tired of the derogatory terms for characters of color, not so much with this book in particular, but in the Splatter Western series in general. Not one book in itself is overwhelming with its ugly terminology but a little bit in each book it’s adding up and starting to wear on me. I get that it’s a period piece, but actions get your character’s feelings across just a well.
So I guess that’s that, Dust, I had a lot of fun with it. Personal entertainment value: 4/5. I am looking forward to further entries the Splatter Western universe and maybe something else to do with James and/ or Gear.
Personal entertainment value: 4/5
Read via paid Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
June 1, 2021
I'd say probably 3.5* out of 5, I enjoyed the Stephen King references and like the other splatter western books before it I'd happily read another story based on the lead character!
June 26, 2022
A Splatter Western with a Lovecraftian element. The journey to the mysterious town of Dust and the battle with the supernatural monsters makes for a great fast paced read.
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