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The Essential Sick Stuff
In the foul and fetid darkness, it awakens.Vile, unstable, brimming with ill intent, like pus on the verge of eruption.Repulsive to gaze upon and even more disturbing to comprehend. It reaches out and discovers that the others—its siblings—have abandoned this cancerous womb long ago. Angry and alone, it thrashes violently…tearing, clawing its way from dormancy into daylight…and onto the dark playground of your bookshelf.
Amid these pages, Southern horror master Ronald Kelly has brought together a
loathsome assemblage of stories that cut deeply and expose the raw nerves of
fright and revulsion. Joining his extreme horror collections, The Sick Stuff and
More Sick Stuff, is a third installment of yarns both new and old…Even Sicker Stuff.
Combined, they meld and morph, forming The Essential Sick Stuff. Twenty-three
abhorrent tales to tantalize and torture the fragile psyche; to cause the stomach
to revolt and gooseflesh to crawl as though something, visceral and alive, lurks
just beneath the surface…
Amid these pages, Southern horror master Ronald Kelly has brought together a
loathsome assemblage of stories that cut deeply and expose the raw nerves of
fright and revulsion. Joining his extreme horror collections, The Sick Stuff and
More Sick Stuff, is a third installment of yarns both new and old…Even Sicker Stuff.
Combined, they meld and morph, forming The Essential Sick Stuff. Twenty-three
abhorrent tales to tantalize and torture the fragile psyche; to cause the stomach
to revolt and gooseflesh to crawl as though something, visceral and alive, lurks
just beneath the surface…
- GenresHorrorShort StoriesDark
Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2020
About the author
Ronald Kelly
102 books415 followersRonald Kelly was born and raised in the hills and hollows of Middle Tennessee. He became interested in horror as a child, watching the local "Creature Feature" on Saturday nights and "The Big Show"---a Nashville-based TV show that presented every old monster movie ever made ---in the afternoons after school. In high school, his interest turned to horror literature and he read such writers as Poe, Lovecraft, Matheson, and King. He originally had dreams of becoming a comic book artist and created many of his own superheroes. But during his junior year, the writing bug bit him and he focused his attention on penning short stories and full-length novels. To date, he has had thirteen novels and twelve short fiction collections published. In 2021, his extreme horror collection, THE ESSENTIAL SICK STUFF, won a Splatterpunk Award for Best Collection.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 10, 2021
Ronald Kelly is well known in the horror community for several things:
1. Down-home horror stories set in the American South
2. His amazing artwork
3. Signing his books to fans "Many Happy Nightmares!"
I'm fortunate enough to have a signed copy of this book, complete with some fantastic RK artwork. I love it, and it sets proudly on my bookshelf.
This is an incredibly fun book of extreme short stories, most of which were written in the 1990s. They're gruesome. They'll make you distinctly uncomfortable...and will, most assuredly, send your stomach churning.
Standouts for me included Diary, Mojo Mama, Cell Number 9, Scream Queen, Traps, and Eating Hearty. I'm a sucker for a good revenge story, and many of these cover deeply diabolical retribution.
One thing I do have to mention - because it took me right out of so many of the stories - there is a significant amount of dog torture/death. If not for that, this would be a 4.5 star read for me.
AVAILABLE NOW!
1. Down-home horror stories set in the American South
2. His amazing artwork
3. Signing his books to fans "Many Happy Nightmares!"
I'm fortunate enough to have a signed copy of this book, complete with some fantastic RK artwork. I love it, and it sets proudly on my bookshelf.
This is an incredibly fun book of extreme short stories, most of which were written in the 1990s. They're gruesome. They'll make you distinctly uncomfortable...and will, most assuredly, send your stomach churning.
Standouts for me included Diary, Mojo Mama, Cell Number 9, Scream Queen, Traps, and Eating Hearty. I'm a sucker for a good revenge story, and many of these cover deeply diabolical retribution.
One thing I do have to mention - because it took me right out of so many of the stories - there is a significant amount of dog torture/death. If not for that, this would be a 4.5 star read for me.
AVAILABLE NOW!
November 7, 2020
This anthology actually is a collection of the volumes Sick Stuff and More Sick. The book started well and the author is a gifted craftsman of horror. But the more stories I read the more similar they seemed to me. Repetitive, always following the same pattern. Okay, there was a kinky over the top detail in every single one of them, this was the claim of the book with regard to the title. But I could only digest one or two stories at times, simply couldn't slice through the whole collection it. This anthology was really hard work what is seldom the case with me when reading horror. I put in several books and story collections in between. I'm glad I'm through...
October 12, 2020
There were some crazy extreme stories within these pages!
There are quite a few stories which were icky, bloody, and gore infested, but all of them were a twisted fun time! All of them were excellent, but here is a small taste of what is inside:
Housewarming - after reading this story I will be checking my bedsheets from now on and will keep a can of Raid by my bed! :)
Pins and Needles - revenge is "sweet" for a trickster of Halloween candy.
Consumption - don't go traipsing around in kudzu as you never know what will latch onto you. This was a gory mess with a twisted creature.
The Thing At The Side of the Road - creature feature that is not only dangerous but intelligent - moral of the story: "Don't be trying to poke something that you think is dead on the road".
Eating Hearty - this was a twisted ride with images that I won't be able to get out of my head for awhile!
The Nipples in Dad's Toolbox - a serial killer story that takes an unexpected 360 degree twist at the end which was a shocking surprise!.
The other cool thing about this book is there are illustrations before the story that show you what the creatures or things look like before delving into the twisted horrors of author, Ronald Kelly's mind!
Giving this book five stars for creative and twisted stories!
There are quite a few stories which were icky, bloody, and gore infested, but all of them were a twisted fun time! All of them were excellent, but here is a small taste of what is inside:
Housewarming - after reading this story I will be checking my bedsheets from now on and will keep a can of Raid by my bed! :)
Pins and Needles - revenge is "sweet" for a trickster of Halloween candy.
Consumption - don't go traipsing around in kudzu as you never know what will latch onto you. This was a gory mess with a twisted creature.
The Thing At The Side of the Road - creature feature that is not only dangerous but intelligent - moral of the story: "Don't be trying to poke something that you think is dead on the road".
Eating Hearty - this was a twisted ride with images that I won't be able to get out of my head for awhile!
The Nipples in Dad's Toolbox - a serial killer story that takes an unexpected 360 degree twist at the end which was a shocking surprise!.
The other cool thing about this book is there are illustrations before the story that show you what the creatures or things look like before delving into the twisted horrors of author, Ronald Kelly's mind!
Giving this book five stars for creative and twisted stories!
October 29, 2020
The Essential Sick Stuff was such a fun collection of stories! It was a perfect way to distract myself from the dumpster fire that is life in 2020.
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't all all. My favorites among them were:
DIARY-The diary of a sociopath waiting for death by electric chair.
HOUSEWARMING-Spiders!
MASS APPEAL-The truth of this story slowly unfurls until you find yourself horrified.
OLD HACKER-Ewwww. That's all I'm going to say.
MOJO MAMA-Don't mess with her!
CONSUMPTION-Caterpillars, ugh! I found this one particularly disturbing because we had a caterpillar infestation a few years ago and there were so many, our driveway was like a moving carpet of them. I shudder just thinking about it.
EXIT 85-Don't run so low on gas that you're forced to get off the highway in the middle of the night. Just don't do it.
SNAKEHANDLER-A crooked preacher comes to town.
THE THING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD-Don't pull over to look at it. Don't do it!
CELL NUMBER NINE-Jail sucks! The inmates are just the start of it.
SUCKERS-I thought this story was hilarious and creative. Who doesn't love a good mad scientist tale?
MISS ABIGAIL'S DELICATE CONDITION-It is indeed, delicate, but it's not what you think!
Ronald Kelly is legendary in the world of horror but it seems that not enough people are aware of that, and it's a true shame. The man can write anything, particularly stories of the American south and all the beauty and darkness that surrounds it. He seems like a nice enough guy, but I have to wonder because these stories are just what the title suggests, sick. What fun!
Highly recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/35O7NJ1
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.*
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't all all. My favorites among them were:
DIARY-The diary of a sociopath waiting for death by electric chair.
HOUSEWARMING-Spiders!
MASS APPEAL-The truth of this story slowly unfurls until you find yourself horrified.
OLD HACKER-Ewwww. That's all I'm going to say.
MOJO MAMA-Don't mess with her!
CONSUMPTION-Caterpillars, ugh! I found this one particularly disturbing because we had a caterpillar infestation a few years ago and there were so many, our driveway was like a moving carpet of them. I shudder just thinking about it.
EXIT 85-Don't run so low on gas that you're forced to get off the highway in the middle of the night. Just don't do it.
SNAKEHANDLER-A crooked preacher comes to town.
THE THING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD-Don't pull over to look at it. Don't do it!
CELL NUMBER NINE-Jail sucks! The inmates are just the start of it.
SUCKERS-I thought this story was hilarious and creative. Who doesn't love a good mad scientist tale?
MISS ABIGAIL'S DELICATE CONDITION-It is indeed, delicate, but it's not what you think!
Ronald Kelly is legendary in the world of horror but it seems that not enough people are aware of that, and it's a true shame. The man can write anything, particularly stories of the American south and all the beauty and darkness that surrounds it. He seems like a nice enough guy, but I have to wonder because these stories are just what the title suggests, sick. What fun!
Highly recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/35O7NJ1
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.*
October 22, 2020
Ronald Kelly once again proves he can write nasty! This collection contains a few of his previous short stories with some new ones as well. Still set in the south, these stories are sure to add a terrifying new layer on everything from the spittoon to kudzu to roadkill. I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author and this one is no different. I'm always eager to see what he comes up with next.
October 17, 2020
THE ESSENTIAL SICK STUFF contains some of Ronald Kelly's earlier released "Sick Stuff" story collections, as well as some new material. Known more for his "Southern Horror" style, it was interesting to see some extreme and gory tales from this author.
While I had read many of these tales before, they were no less shocking a second (or third) time around, and the newer ones were definitely worth the read. If you're looking for something a little different this Halloween season, this anthology might be just what you need.
Recommended.
While I had read many of these tales before, they were no less shocking a second (or third) time around, and the newer ones were definitely worth the read. If you're looking for something a little different this Halloween season, this anthology might be just what you need.
Recommended.
September 25, 2020
I love short horror stories and normally when reviewing a collection I will mention my favorites by name. I can't really do that here because it would end up being a table of contents. I would need to list them all, since they are just that good. Ronald Kelly is a master of his craft and these 23 stories more than live up to the title. There is indeed some very sick stuff to be found in this book. Spiders, ticks, snakes and otherworldly parasites lurk among the pages and infest unsuspecting characters in the most gruesome of ways.
That is not to say the "sick stuff" is confined to blood sucking creepy crawlies. There are plenty of twisted individuals of the human variety as one man finds out on his way home from the happiest place on earth with his young family in tow, when a simple pit stop veers off into horror and depravity. A winter storm awakens a desire to feast on human flesh, a demonic presence waits to be fed, an evil man gets what he deserves on Halloween in a story that made me think if it were a movie I would have to look away and peek at it occasionally through my fingers, not wanting to miss anything but unable to bear the full scope of horror. A mother curses the family who wronged her son with grisly, blood curdling results, culminating in an eerie horseback ride that brought to mind Sleepy Hollow in a far darker and more disturbing way. I may have lost a pound from all the calories I burned due to cringing and squirming in my seat while I read.
I received an advance copy for review.
That is not to say the "sick stuff" is confined to blood sucking creepy crawlies. There are plenty of twisted individuals of the human variety as one man finds out on his way home from the happiest place on earth with his young family in tow, when a simple pit stop veers off into horror and depravity. A winter storm awakens a desire to feast on human flesh, a demonic presence waits to be fed, an evil man gets what he deserves on Halloween in a story that made me think if it were a movie I would have to look away and peek at it occasionally through my fingers, not wanting to miss anything but unable to bear the full scope of horror. A mother curses the family who wronged her son with grisly, blood curdling results, culminating in an eerie horseback ride that brought to mind Sleepy Hollow in a far darker and more disturbing way. I may have lost a pound from all the calories I burned due to cringing and squirming in my seat while I read.
I received an advance copy for review.
October 16, 2020
Though a veteran of the horror genre, this collection was my first time hearing of and reading Ronald Kelly. With Silver Shamrock at his side, Kelly took two of his older collections (The Sick Stuff and More Sick Stuff) and added a third entry to the series: Even Sicker Stuff. Altogether, they make The Essential Sick Stuff, which comes in hefty with twenty-three stories (covering the last thirty years) and pictures. Things get even better when you factor in the excellent production value throughout this book. Though the cover spread is good and dark, it’s Alex McVey’s interior art that steals the layout and formatting of this mammoth. Every story comes with a related “cover,” all of which are terrifying and wonderful to see. I don’t know which would be my favorite, though “Suckers!” and “Snakehandler” are probably in the top three.
When I started this collection, I honestly thought it would quickly become a DNF for me. You see, I’m not much for graphic violence, and I am very much against children being killed in stories. Right from the start, The Essential Sick Stuff read like a madman’s disgusting fantasies on paper. “Diary” was all about shock value, and so I had to stop reading it. And “Diary” wasn’t the only story I didn’t read all the way through. I also ended up skipping “Pins and Needles” and “Exit 85,” both for involving infant/children murder. That sort of content makes me sick and deeply upset. But what’s funny is how I nearly skipped “Snakehandler” after seeing an advertisement by Silver Shamrock for the story. It was an image of the priest holding up a snake and saying something along the lines of, “Whose child is next?” Seeing as I had already been grossed out by several stories leading up to this one, I figured it would involve more kids being killed. I came THIS close to not even reading a page of it, but then I decided I would try giving it a shot as I had all the others. I’m glad I did, because it ended up being one of my favorite entries in the collection. It’s hard to say how much of my affection for it came out of my relief that no children were harmed, but either way “Snakehandler” left a lasting impression.
As I read through The Essential Sick Stuff, I jotted down notes for every story. While I’m not going to copy them all here for you - that would be quite the mess, considering the way I scrawl out my thoughts - I will go over some choice stories. “Housewarming” was the earliest story I enjoyed, and the spider thing left me on edge. “Old Hacker” had an intriguing premise and a weirdness to it I found really appealing. It’s the kind of horror that reflects science-fiction. Both “Consumption” and “The Thing at the Side of the Road” were fun creature features that left me uneasy. “Cell Number Nine” was really cool, but people with arachnophobia definitely need to watch out! This story could easily be expanded into a novel, one that I would love to read. The same could be said for “Suckers!” and “Devourer,” both of which came out at the top of my list. I also found the third selection of this book - Even Sicker Stuff - to be the strongest with consistently enjoyable stories, like “Traps,” “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox,” and “Quetzalcoatl’s Revenge” (what an ending!).
Basically, this was a book that grew on me as it went along. There were stories (as mentioned) that I ended up having to abandon, but I made it through twenty of the twenty-three without running away. I’m just not much for excessively graphic violence, as I’ve previously stated - it’s not my favoured style of horror, is what it comes down to. Nevertheless, I was constantly impressed by Kelly’s writing and dark imagination, enough so that I really do recommend this collection to any fan of the genre (especially if you love your blood and gore).
**
Highlights: Very well written, darkly amusing imagination, haunting and horrific
Shadows: Child death, some very disturbing content
For fans of . . . graphic violence, murder, blood and gore, torture, creepy crawlers
Takeaway: The Essential Sick Stuff is exactly what it promises: a collection of violent and disturbing stories that will give you nightmares for weeks to come.
Would I read this author again? Yes
Review by Aiden Merchant
→ www.aidenmerchant.com
Contact: contact@aidenmerchant.com
Social Media: Instagram (AidenMerchant.Official) and Twitter (AidenMerchant89)
When I started this collection, I honestly thought it would quickly become a DNF for me. You see, I’m not much for graphic violence, and I am very much against children being killed in stories. Right from the start, The Essential Sick Stuff read like a madman’s disgusting fantasies on paper. “Diary” was all about shock value, and so I had to stop reading it. And “Diary” wasn’t the only story I didn’t read all the way through. I also ended up skipping “Pins and Needles” and “Exit 85,” both for involving infant/children murder. That sort of content makes me sick and deeply upset. But what’s funny is how I nearly skipped “Snakehandler” after seeing an advertisement by Silver Shamrock for the story. It was an image of the priest holding up a snake and saying something along the lines of, “Whose child is next?” Seeing as I had already been grossed out by several stories leading up to this one, I figured it would involve more kids being killed. I came THIS close to not even reading a page of it, but then I decided I would try giving it a shot as I had all the others. I’m glad I did, because it ended up being one of my favorite entries in the collection. It’s hard to say how much of my affection for it came out of my relief that no children were harmed, but either way “Snakehandler” left a lasting impression.
As I read through The Essential Sick Stuff, I jotted down notes for every story. While I’m not going to copy them all here for you - that would be quite the mess, considering the way I scrawl out my thoughts - I will go over some choice stories. “Housewarming” was the earliest story I enjoyed, and the spider thing left me on edge. “Old Hacker” had an intriguing premise and a weirdness to it I found really appealing. It’s the kind of horror that reflects science-fiction. Both “Consumption” and “The Thing at the Side of the Road” were fun creature features that left me uneasy. “Cell Number Nine” was really cool, but people with arachnophobia definitely need to watch out! This story could easily be expanded into a novel, one that I would love to read. The same could be said for “Suckers!” and “Devourer,” both of which came out at the top of my list. I also found the third selection of this book - Even Sicker Stuff - to be the strongest with consistently enjoyable stories, like “Traps,” “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox,” and “Quetzalcoatl’s Revenge” (what an ending!).
Basically, this was a book that grew on me as it went along. There were stories (as mentioned) that I ended up having to abandon, but I made it through twenty of the twenty-three without running away. I’m just not much for excessively graphic violence, as I’ve previously stated - it’s not my favoured style of horror, is what it comes down to. Nevertheless, I was constantly impressed by Kelly’s writing and dark imagination, enough so that I really do recommend this collection to any fan of the genre (especially if you love your blood and gore).
**
Highlights: Very well written, darkly amusing imagination, haunting and horrific
Shadows: Child death, some very disturbing content
For fans of . . . graphic violence, murder, blood and gore, torture, creepy crawlers
Takeaway: The Essential Sick Stuff is exactly what it promises: a collection of violent and disturbing stories that will give you nightmares for weeks to come.
Would I read this author again? Yes
Review by Aiden Merchant
→ www.aidenmerchant.com
Contact: contact@aidenmerchant.com
Social Media: Instagram (AidenMerchant.Official) and Twitter (AidenMerchant89)
October 23, 2020
I have to admit, I don't enjoy short stories all that much. They sometimes feel like unfinished ideas, or embryonic stories forced into existence before fully maturing. The thing is however, I grew up reading comic books, and not the superhero ones - my favourites were the Dell Ghost Stories, Tales from the Crypt, and Twisted Tales. 'The Essential Sick Stuff' brought me back to these great comic book horror stories; and what a fun trip it was. A twisted compilation that only gets better and better with each stomach-churning, warped and grisly piece. For the most part I was able to figure out the twisted endings, but the dark imaginings of the author and the slick, simple narrative, that fit perfectly with this genre, was well worth the time spent getting lost in these stories. I may have to try some more short stories - at least ones that are essential to my sick horror cravings.
March 9, 2021
I love Ronald Kelly's work. ALL of it. This collection is a brilliant example of how great this man writes. My southern horror king!
September 28, 2020
It it is first important to mention that you should read the introduction so you can understand why these stories are what they are. That said, Vile? Yes. Stomach turning? Yes. Amazingly well written stories? Yes and yes!
Not for the weak of stomach but you have it all in here, demons, monsters, creature feature, cannibals and serial killers and lets not forget? Humor-The Day UPS Brought Zombies ( you go Grandma!) being a gem in the gut splatter. My favorite stories were when the bad guys got their deserved gruesome end but others were those in the wrong place at the wrong time and stir up disaster.
Splatter horror has its own genre and works perfectly in this short story framework as you can take a break to ask yourself “what the hell did I just read?”
I always wonder if I’m a truly sick person to have enjoyed this collection? Nah, I’m a horror reader and sometimes you got to step around some steaming piles of entrails to really see what’s inside the story. Sometimes redemption? Sometimes revenge? Sometimes you just shouldn’t poke around in a hole you know nothing about.
I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did and I’d love for you too let me know! Mr. Ronald Kelly is on my radar and hope to visit his very sick mind again soon!
Not for the weak of stomach but you have it all in here, demons, monsters, creature feature, cannibals and serial killers and lets not forget? Humor-The Day UPS Brought Zombies ( you go Grandma!) being a gem in the gut splatter. My favorite stories were when the bad guys got their deserved gruesome end but others were those in the wrong place at the wrong time and stir up disaster.
Splatter horror has its own genre and works perfectly in this short story framework as you can take a break to ask yourself “what the hell did I just read?”
I always wonder if I’m a truly sick person to have enjoyed this collection? Nah, I’m a horror reader and sometimes you got to step around some steaming piles of entrails to really see what’s inside the story. Sometimes redemption? Sometimes revenge? Sometimes you just shouldn’t poke around in a hole you know nothing about.
I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did and I’d love for you too let me know! Mr. Ronald Kelly is on my radar and hope to visit his very sick mind again soon!
May 11, 2024
This book features all three books, as I've already read the first two, I skipped to the third set of collections.
As you would expect, this one is just as vile and disgusting as the others! Ronald Kelly did an amazing job with all of these stories in three books. With that being said, the first book was my favorite!
3/5
As you would expect, this one is just as vile and disgusting as the others! Ronald Kelly did an amazing job with all of these stories in three books. With that being said, the first book was my favorite!
3/5
April 27, 2021
Well, well, well.... this was something a little different from Ronald Kelly! #netgalley
I have become a big fan of Mr.Kelly’s short stories. I can’t speak to his novels, as I haven’t read one yet, but his short story collections are excellent. The stories I read previously were quite tame, but would always entice me with superb writing and storytelling skills, while also containing a great deal of Tennessee culture. Many of the stories I read also took place in the good old eras between the 1940s and the 1990s, which allowed for charming horror. I read a review that said that Kelly’s stories are all the same and I strongly disagree. In fact, although there was certainly some stories that hinted that they were written by Kelly (eg: recurring location), Kelly bounces back and forth in time, and provides very diverse plots and themes. Also interesting is the layout of the stories in this collection....the mildest stories are at the beginning, the middle section has a Tennessee backwater theme, and the end is a blast!
Most exciting, this was the “sick stuff”, bad-as-I-wanna-be, splatterpunk edition of Ronald Kelly!
The whole book was terrific and all the stories worth reading, but I thought I would mention my favorites:
1. Pins & Needles (did you ever think of the kind of person who puts razor blades in candy on Halloween?)
2. The Abduction (Creepy story with a twist)
3. The Day UPS Brought Zombies (An homage to Keene and Matheson. Hilarious and fun.)
4. The Thing At The Side Of The Road (I thought of “curiosity killed the cat” just before I read it, but “let sleeping dogs lie” was absolutely brilliant)
5. Cell #9 (There were a couple spider and snake tales in this collection. This was the best!)
6. Scream Queen (Excellent storytelling)
7. Traps (Wow! Don’t piss off the exterminator!)
8. Eating Hearty (Great title and storytelling)
9. The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox (Okay. Don’t tell me you don’t already want to read this just by seeing the title!)
I have become a big fan of Mr.Kelly’s short stories. I can’t speak to his novels, as I haven’t read one yet, but his short story collections are excellent. The stories I read previously were quite tame, but would always entice me with superb writing and storytelling skills, while also containing a great deal of Tennessee culture. Many of the stories I read also took place in the good old eras between the 1940s and the 1990s, which allowed for charming horror. I read a review that said that Kelly’s stories are all the same and I strongly disagree. In fact, although there was certainly some stories that hinted that they were written by Kelly (eg: recurring location), Kelly bounces back and forth in time, and provides very diverse plots and themes. Also interesting is the layout of the stories in this collection....the mildest stories are at the beginning, the middle section has a Tennessee backwater theme, and the end is a blast!
Most exciting, this was the “sick stuff”, bad-as-I-wanna-be, splatterpunk edition of Ronald Kelly!
The whole book was terrific and all the stories worth reading, but I thought I would mention my favorites:
1. Pins & Needles (did you ever think of the kind of person who puts razor blades in candy on Halloween?)
2. The Abduction (Creepy story with a twist)
3. The Day UPS Brought Zombies (An homage to Keene and Matheson. Hilarious and fun.)
4. The Thing At The Side Of The Road (I thought of “curiosity killed the cat” just before I read it, but “let sleeping dogs lie” was absolutely brilliant)
5. Cell #9 (There were a couple spider and snake tales in this collection. This was the best!)
6. Scream Queen (Excellent storytelling)
7. Traps (Wow! Don’t piss off the exterminator!)
8. Eating Hearty (Great title and storytelling)
9. The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox (Okay. Don’t tell me you don’t already want to read this just by seeing the title!)
September 24, 2020
I’ve mentioned this before, so please forgive the repetition, but I believe short fiction collections are the best way to get to know a new-to-me author. Emphasis on new-to-me because as a Zebra Horror veteran, it’s hard to label Ronald Kelly as new. The guy’s been churning out quality horror since I was born. This just happens to be my first foray into this territory.
If you are a habitual introduction skipper, do yourself a favor and don’t skip this one, for two reasons. First, Kelly has this way of writing an intro that uses alliteration and creative turns of phrase almost reminiscent of the way we begin an episode of Tales From the Crypt. Second, and potentially more important, because Kelly details what you’re about the read. Many of the stories in this book fit nicely under the umbrella of splatterpunk and Kelly lets us know they were written in an effort to go over the top. And that is exactly where they go.
The Essential Sick Stuff is divided into three sections, two of which were previously released - Sick Stuff, More Sick Stuff, and Even Sicker Stuff. While my go-to way of reviewing a collection tends to be highlighting all my favorite stories, that would take up quite a bit of space, so allow me to highlight just a few favorites from each section.
The Sick Stuff: If the introduction doesn’t prepare you for the worst of the worst, “Diary” will quickly show you what you’re in for. “Housewarming” is a rough read if you don’t like spiders, but whether or not that makes your skin crawl, don’t skip this one. “Pins and Needles” may be the most viscerally disturbing in the bunch. Just try reading about the cake and keeping it together. This portion closes out with “Mojo Mama”, a dark fantasy-esque story revolving around a cursed family whose individual afflictions make for some rough reading.
More Sick Stuff: “Consumption” offers some squirm inducing parasite horror that hangs in and delivers all the way to the last line. “The Day UPS Brought Zombies” is just all-out fun and features a cameo from another big voice in the horror scene. Sure, there’s gore, but you’ll have a blast reading this one. “Snakehandler” features some religious zealotry and highlights one way a con-man could pull the wool over the eyes of an unsuspecting congregation. “Cell Number Nine” proves that Kelly does creepy crawlies super well, and without having to resort to the same tricks.
Even Sicker Stuff: The shortest of the three sections doesn’t let up on the reader at all. “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox” is one of my favorite stories in the whole book, and has a little more depth to it than the title might suggest while also remaining grisly. “Miss Abigail’s Delicate Condition” draws the reader in with a bit of mystery and then lets you have it if you stick around long enough. The final story “Quetzalcoatl’s Revenge” wraps the collection up with some comeuppance-related body horror, assuring the reader that Kelly’s not going to run out of ways to make you feel a bit queasy.
The stories in Essential Sick Stuff are not for the faint of heart or the sensitive of stomach. There are some hard things to read, though Kelly doesn’t rely on rape/sexual assault to increase shock factor. That he has this many stories collected that seek to push the limits, but don’t rely on that sexual exploitation is commendable. It’s a memorable collection to be sure, and a great introduction if you’ve never read Ronald Kelly’s work before.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
September 20, 2021
Ronald Kelly has easily become one of my most favorite horror author! Top Five, for sure!
This collection is called The Essential Sick Stuff and rightfully so…. it’s SiiiiCK!!
These stories should be illegal! They’re wicked! And I’m here for it!! Hit me with the SICK STUFF!!
This collection is called The Essential Sick Stuff and rightfully so…. it’s SiiiiCK!!
These stories should be illegal! They’re wicked! And I’m here for it!! Hit me with the SICK STUFF!!
May 2, 2021
“You see, perversity is my forte. It is normality that drives me insane.” -Jerry Weller in the story Diary
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
May 2, 2021
“You see, perversity is my forte. It is normality that drives me insane.” -Jerry Weller in the story Diary
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
January 17, 2024
The title of this book is very very fitting. Some of these stories were downright sick, and nasty! This was an overall very, very entertaining collection.
November 17, 2020
This is the type of collection that is perfect for a few things: an introduction to Ronald Kelly’s fiction, making you nervous to fall asleep in the dark, and a great way to experience a piece of the good horror that existed throughout the 90s. This was my introduction to Kelly, and from the very first story, within the first two pages, I was shocked and knew the title of the collection wasn’t anything less than a warning. The first story is a vignette, but it set the tone perfectly for what was to come.
In his introduction, Kelly maps out the parts of the book perfectly. He tells you his reasons for writing to shock the reader during the early 90s, which I’m glad he did. I’m not one that enjoys a story when I know the extreme violence is written for the pure sake of shock. I want some characters development, interesting atmospheres, and snappy dialogue. That being said, the intro made me appreciate the shock-for-shock-sake and I really enjoyed the stories. Even the ones that sent shivers through my flesh.
This collection covers so many different types of horror, from a killer creature on the side of the road, to infesting spiders, to science experiments gone wrong, and good old southern-fried horrors based on actual people and events. But the one that was my personal favorite, has the funniest name of all: The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox. At first the title made me laugh, anyways. Then, after I started to read it, it sucked me in like any good serial killer story.
The story begins with our protagonist, a young twelve-year-old boy, who finds a baby jar in his father’s rusted toolbox. In the jar are two plugs of flesh — nipples. Who’s and why they are there is later answered, but the way it’s plotted, the snappy dialogue, the way Kelly took such a bizarre idea and fleshed it out to what it became, is a testament to his ability in both storytelling and inducing terror.
Ronald Kelly isn’t talked about enough. He’s an author that published eight novels with Zebra Horror Books (If you’re unfamiliar with that publisher, seriously do yourself a favor and do some digging online about Zebra and Ronald). He’s a gift to any and all horror fans. You may have heard of his magnum opus, though. One that is revered as his greatest work – FEAR. Some of the most influential writers today love Kelly. Check out this collection, and you’ll see why.
In his introduction, Kelly maps out the parts of the book perfectly. He tells you his reasons for writing to shock the reader during the early 90s, which I’m glad he did. I’m not one that enjoys a story when I know the extreme violence is written for the pure sake of shock. I want some characters development, interesting atmospheres, and snappy dialogue. That being said, the intro made me appreciate the shock-for-shock-sake and I really enjoyed the stories. Even the ones that sent shivers through my flesh.
This collection covers so many different types of horror, from a killer creature on the side of the road, to infesting spiders, to science experiments gone wrong, and good old southern-fried horrors based on actual people and events. But the one that was my personal favorite, has the funniest name of all: The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox. At first the title made me laugh, anyways. Then, after I started to read it, it sucked me in like any good serial killer story.
The story begins with our protagonist, a young twelve-year-old boy, who finds a baby jar in his father’s rusted toolbox. In the jar are two plugs of flesh — nipples. Who’s and why they are there is later answered, but the way it’s plotted, the snappy dialogue, the way Kelly took such a bizarre idea and fleshed it out to what it became, is a testament to his ability in both storytelling and inducing terror.
Ronald Kelly isn’t talked about enough. He’s an author that published eight novels with Zebra Horror Books (If you’re unfamiliar with that publisher, seriously do yourself a favor and do some digging online about Zebra and Ronald). He’s a gift to any and all horror fans. You may have heard of his magnum opus, though. One that is revered as his greatest work – FEAR. Some of the most influential writers today love Kelly. Check out this collection, and you’ll see why.
July 24, 2021
TW/CW: Child Harm/Abuse, Child Abduction, Child Death, Rape, Torture, Snakes, Spiders, Gore, Non-consensual Sexual Encounter
I am a big reader of short story collections. In a collection of a single author, you can sometimes see a range of writing styles, themes, and tropes, like trying on different hats. I have previously reviewed Irish Gothic by Ronald Kelly, a collection of different stories and folklore inspired by the home of Kelly’s ancestors. Beyond that collection, I wasn’t familiar with his writing and jumped at the chance to review The Essential Sick Stuff when it came up on NetGalley.
Growing up on 80’s slasher movies, it takes a lot to gross me out or creep me out. I read the foreword and learned the history behind the stories contained in this collection: a bunch of authors writing the sickest stuff imaginable to try to outdo the others. I was game and ready to go. And I was very wrong, Kelly’s The Essential Sick Stuff got to me.
The Essential Sick Stuff is comprised of two previous collections written by Kelly: The Sick Stuff and More Sick Stuff. This edition has the stories from those collections, along with new sick material. Some of my favorites in The Essential Sick Stuff are:
*Pins And Needles- A serial killer who kills via Halloween candy has struck again, but someone has gives him a taste of his own medicine.
*The Day UPS Brought Zombies- fun and gory story where UPS brings about a zombie apocalypse with a cameo from Brian Keene
*Snakehandler- A preacher comes to town bringing more to fear than just the snakes he handles during Sunday service.
*Suckers! - Scientist begins to experiment on local insects with dangerous results
*The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox- A young boy helping with home repairs gets a grisly surprise that changes his life.
This collection was a wild, gory, and fun ride. I look forward to reading more of Ronald Kelly’s work in the future. There are a lot of potential TW/CWs in this book and I attempted to note them when I found them, but what may be a trigger for me may not be for you.
5/5 Stars
Thanks you to #NetGalley and #SilverShamrockPublishing for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am a big reader of short story collections. In a collection of a single author, you can sometimes see a range of writing styles, themes, and tropes, like trying on different hats. I have previously reviewed Irish Gothic by Ronald Kelly, a collection of different stories and folklore inspired by the home of Kelly’s ancestors. Beyond that collection, I wasn’t familiar with his writing and jumped at the chance to review The Essential Sick Stuff when it came up on NetGalley.
Growing up on 80’s slasher movies, it takes a lot to gross me out or creep me out. I read the foreword and learned the history behind the stories contained in this collection: a bunch of authors writing the sickest stuff imaginable to try to outdo the others. I was game and ready to go. And I was very wrong, Kelly’s The Essential Sick Stuff got to me.
The Essential Sick Stuff is comprised of two previous collections written by Kelly: The Sick Stuff and More Sick Stuff. This edition has the stories from those collections, along with new sick material. Some of my favorites in The Essential Sick Stuff are:
*Pins And Needles- A serial killer who kills via Halloween candy has struck again, but someone has gives him a taste of his own medicine.
*The Day UPS Brought Zombies- fun and gory story where UPS brings about a zombie apocalypse with a cameo from Brian Keene
*Snakehandler- A preacher comes to town bringing more to fear than just the snakes he handles during Sunday service.
*Suckers! - Scientist begins to experiment on local insects with dangerous results
*The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox- A young boy helping with home repairs gets a grisly surprise that changes his life.
This collection was a wild, gory, and fun ride. I look forward to reading more of Ronald Kelly’s work in the future. There are a lot of potential TW/CWs in this book and I attempted to note them when I found them, but what may be a trigger for me may not be for you.
5/5 Stars
Thanks you to #NetGalley and #SilverShamrockPublishing for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 22, 2021
I loved this book, it is one of my favourite reads this year, a lot of fun.
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't at all.
Don’t let the name put you off, sure there are icky bits, and blood and gore, but this is horror after all.
There are quite a few stories including a few different creature features, with creepy crawlies, a large ravenous dangerous but intelligent animal, a mad scientist tale, a few psycho tales, a lovecraftian tale, and some good old fashioned revenge.
I will defiantly be reading more by Ronald Kelly!
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't at all.
Don’t let the name put you off, sure there are icky bits, and blood and gore, but this is horror after all.
There are quite a few stories including a few different creature features, with creepy crawlies, a large ravenous dangerous but intelligent animal, a mad scientist tale, a few psycho tales, a lovecraftian tale, and some good old fashioned revenge.
I will defiantly be reading more by Ronald Kelly!
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
May 9, 2021
Full disclosure: I skipped the story “Housewarming” because of the spiders, so I’m not judging this story at all nor does it factor into how I feel about the rest of the collection. I didn’t read enough of it to have an opinion on it, I’m just too arachnophobic to not have the first couple pages having my skin scrawling.
I’m also not super into half-star ratings, but I think I’m going to round this up to 4 stars, but it’s more of a 3.5 for me.
Some of these stories definitely weren’t for me. Reading Kelly’s introduction, I understand why many of the stories were written in the way they were, having violence and bloodshed almost just for the sake of doing so. Keeping that in my mind, the stories were good for what they were. Sometimes I felt like they were lacking in substance or motive, and I did find myself desiring a little less ‘shock value’ and wanting more in terms of set-up and plot.
The first story I read that gave me both, that turned around my love of this collection, was the story “Mojo Mama.” I love this story. I love the idea of a cursed family and the way the backstory was given alongside the horrifying imagery of bugs eating away at certain family’s insides, and the only living female of the family experincing posssibly the worst version of a period I’ve ever seen described. As a person who menstruates, the absolute horror that Kelly brought to mind was absolutely wonderful, and I was left with chills.
The collection did take a little while for me to read, which may be a signal that the collection either wasn’t working for me, or that I had to be in the right mood for it. This may be the reason the first few stories felt flat to me, while others with the same sort of vibe ended up resonating with me. A few notable favorites in this collection were “Exit 85,” “Snakehandler,” “Pins and Needles,” and “Eating Hearty.” A special runner-up position goes to “Devourer” for making the hairs on my whole body stand on end.
If you’re not into extreme horror, I wouldn’t recommend this collection. If you are interested in dipping your toe into this world, this is a collection of stories I would highly recommend. It gives a range of stories within the subgenre, and gives an interesting look at the genre throughout the past twenty years or so.
I’m also not super into half-star ratings, but I think I’m going to round this up to 4 stars, but it’s more of a 3.5 for me.
Some of these stories definitely weren’t for me. Reading Kelly’s introduction, I understand why many of the stories were written in the way they were, having violence and bloodshed almost just for the sake of doing so. Keeping that in my mind, the stories were good for what they were. Sometimes I felt like they were lacking in substance or motive, and I did find myself desiring a little less ‘shock value’ and wanting more in terms of set-up and plot.
The first story I read that gave me both, that turned around my love of this collection, was the story “Mojo Mama.” I love this story. I love the idea of a cursed family and the way the backstory was given alongside the horrifying imagery of bugs eating away at certain family’s insides, and the only living female of the family experincing posssibly the worst version of a period I’ve ever seen described. As a person who menstruates, the absolute horror that Kelly brought to mind was absolutely wonderful, and I was left with chills.
The collection did take a little while for me to read, which may be a signal that the collection either wasn’t working for me, or that I had to be in the right mood for it. This may be the reason the first few stories felt flat to me, while others with the same sort of vibe ended up resonating with me. A few notable favorites in this collection were “Exit 85,” “Snakehandler,” “Pins and Needles,” and “Eating Hearty.” A special runner-up position goes to “Devourer” for making the hairs on my whole body stand on end.
If you’re not into extreme horror, I wouldn’t recommend this collection. If you are interested in dipping your toe into this world, this is a collection of stories I would highly recommend. It gives a range of stories within the subgenre, and gives an interesting look at the genre throughout the past twenty years or so.
June 25, 2021
The Essential Sick Stuff definitely lives up to it’s title as being a collection of gruesome, sickening and horrifying short stories, and I really enjoyed reading it.
The stories contained within this collection involve parasitic spiders that drive their victims mad, zombies that are called upon from ancient tomes, prophecies and curses leading to the unfortunate demise of their targets, an array of bugs and beats that like nothing better than feasting on human flesh, and some very monstrous humans as well.
I really liked the variety of stories that were included in this collection. Some were quite frightening too which was great. There were a couple that I didn’t enjoy as much, which is less to do with the writing and more to do with my personal horror preferences, but overall I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. The author did a fabulous job at writing these short
stories and making me feel sick and terrified (in the best sort of way).
If you are a fan of body horror, and are like me and like reading horror short stories before you go to bed each night, I recommend you add The Essential Sick Stuff to your collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The stories contained within this collection involve parasitic spiders that drive their victims mad, zombies that are called upon from ancient tomes, prophecies and curses leading to the unfortunate demise of their targets, an array of bugs and beats that like nothing better than feasting on human flesh, and some very monstrous humans as well.
I really liked the variety of stories that were included in this collection. Some were quite frightening too which was great. There were a couple that I didn’t enjoy as much, which is less to do with the writing and more to do with my personal horror preferences, but overall I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. The author did a fabulous job at writing these short
stories and making me feel sick and terrified (in the best sort of way).
If you are a fan of body horror, and are like me and like reading horror short stories before you go to bed each night, I recommend you add The Essential Sick Stuff to your collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2021
Extreme indeed!
Okay, so the thought of extreme horror never appealed to me. Maybe most of it won't, if I decide to try other examples. However, this collection by Ronald Kelly is absolutely brilliant! Southern horror master is a worthy title because I felt as if I could walk into my small Georgia town and meet many of these vibrant characters (though not the evil ones, please!).
So many of these tales struck me hard - not just from the gore, but everything. Mr. Kelly is an exceptional writer and kept me flipping the page even when at times my mind begged for a break. I actually said out loud more than once, "He won't go there... Oh yes, he did."
Some of my favorites included "Diary," "Housewarming," "Old Hacker," "Mojo Mama," "The Day UPS Brought Zombies," "Cell Number Nine," "Scream Queen," "Traps," "Eating Hearty," "The Nipples In Dad's Toolbox." Each of the stories are truly fantastic, but of course, we all have preferences that make some connect a smidge more than others.
There's definitely a lot of darkness in this collection, but it was worth it. I now have a good idea of what I can handle, that's for sure. I was a fan of Ronald Kelly before, but I'm a superfan now!
Okay, so the thought of extreme horror never appealed to me. Maybe most of it won't, if I decide to try other examples. However, this collection by Ronald Kelly is absolutely brilliant! Southern horror master is a worthy title because I felt as if I could walk into my small Georgia town and meet many of these vibrant characters (though not the evil ones, please!).
So many of these tales struck me hard - not just from the gore, but everything. Mr. Kelly is an exceptional writer and kept me flipping the page even when at times my mind begged for a break. I actually said out loud more than once, "He won't go there... Oh yes, he did."
Some of my favorites included "Diary," "Housewarming," "Old Hacker," "Mojo Mama," "The Day UPS Brought Zombies," "Cell Number Nine," "Scream Queen," "Traps," "Eating Hearty," "The Nipples In Dad's Toolbox." Each of the stories are truly fantastic, but of course, we all have preferences that make some connect a smidge more than others.
There's definitely a lot of darkness in this collection, but it was worth it. I now have a good idea of what I can handle, that's for sure. I was a fan of Ronald Kelly before, but I'm a superfan now!
September 18, 2021
Ew. Yuck. Gross. Gag. Blech.
Add in a What-The-Heck-Did-I-Just-Read? And possibly a Why-Can't-I-Stop?
Mix those all together. Then realize that even as you cringed and gagged and were thoroughly grossed out...you kind of liked it.
That's what happens when you read this collection.
It's like a horrible car wreck on the side of the road. You don't want to see it, but you can't make yourself look away.
It's like all the campy creature features of the 1960s had an awful little hell child with the slasher flicks of the 1990s and got as much blood and gore all over everything as possible in the process.
It's terrible and vile and foul, but also kind of fun because it's horrifying but in a ridiculously over the top way...but a very intelligent, well written over the top way that draws you in.
This is definitely not Ronald Kelly's normal subgenre of horror but he does the extreme so well you'd never know it. I will definitely still prefer his (relatively) normal horror but this collection was a bizarre little treat.
Add in a What-The-Heck-Did-I-Just-Read? And possibly a Why-Can't-I-Stop?
Mix those all together. Then realize that even as you cringed and gagged and were thoroughly grossed out...you kind of liked it.
That's what happens when you read this collection.
It's like a horrible car wreck on the side of the road. You don't want to see it, but you can't make yourself look away.
It's like all the campy creature features of the 1960s had an awful little hell child with the slasher flicks of the 1990s and got as much blood and gore all over everything as possible in the process.
It's terrible and vile and foul, but also kind of fun because it's horrifying but in a ridiculously over the top way...but a very intelligent, well written over the top way that draws you in.
This is definitely not Ronald Kelly's normal subgenre of horror but he does the extreme so well you'd never know it. I will definitely still prefer his (relatively) normal horror but this collection was a bizarre little treat.
March 13, 2021
I love a good anthology! An anthology that is short horror stories, even more so. I went in reading this not knowing the author however knowing that he wrote around the same time as one of my favourite horror authors, so I knew it would be good. Each story was entriguing and smart, but with a little bit of horror and gore. Some stories did turn my stomach a little but that is how you know a good horror story. I must admit that a few of them were a little too graphic in the sexual front for me, however it was needed for those perticular short stories. I also found that with a few of the short stories I could predict the ending, however this was towards the end of the book when I had got used to how the author had written them. It did take me a few more weeks than planned to finish this anthology but I really did enjoy it and would look at reading alot more by this author.
August 16, 2021
I’ve always admired Ronald Kelly. Ever since getting my hands on his FEAR in the mid-90s I have been following this man’s career. So what a thrill it is for me to review his collection of short stories, courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers. These are a little bit more hardcore, as he graciously mentions in his preface, but they are still worth your reading time. The one I remember most is the tale with the creepy crawlies. I just loathe any type of insects. So imagine the chills I got while leafing through this one. Best of all, every stories in this collection, from a zombie apocalypse to a Halloween serial killer and his toxic candies, is an almost one sitting read. Ronald Kelly is without a doubt one of the best horror writer of any generation and I urge you to read this collection or anything he has written so far. You won’t regret it.
June 28, 2022
The Essential Sick Stuff by Ronald Kelly is an amazing collection of Southern horror short stories with a little something for everyone.
This collection is my introduction to Kelly’s work and has made an instant fan out of me. The prose is tight and the stories are a magnificent blend of horrific, humorous, and heartfelt.
Kelly has a gift for crafting well rounded, robust characters in a very small word count. In his interview on the Written in Red Podcast, he stated that writing short stories was his “bread and butter”. It doesn’t take much digging into this book to understand why. Awesome characters, amazing atmosphere, original ideas.
Two of my favourite stories in the collection were Snakehandler, and The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox.
This is definitely and author whose work I can binge.
This collection is my introduction to Kelly’s work and has made an instant fan out of me. The prose is tight and the stories are a magnificent blend of horrific, humorous, and heartfelt.
Kelly has a gift for crafting well rounded, robust characters in a very small word count. In his interview on the Written in Red Podcast, he stated that writing short stories was his “bread and butter”. It doesn’t take much digging into this book to understand why. Awesome characters, amazing atmosphere, original ideas.
Two of my favourite stories in the collection were Snakehandler, and The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox.
This is definitely and author whose work I can binge.
October 23, 2020
There should be a "KELLY BOO BOOK" rating here, it would be 4/5. Definitely get what you asked for by the title, this is sick stuff. No taboo left untouched.
I should mention a glaring number of editorial glitches that made reading it ... interesting. Simple stuff. Punctuation, paragraph placement, the omission of key words, (you could tell what they were supposed to be) but still...
These books need better editing, or even SOME editing/ proofreading, before hitting the mass market. Overall, good skin-crawly type stuff. Perfect for pre-Halloween reading. One story was actually tongue in cheek. Meh.
I should mention a glaring number of editorial glitches that made reading it ... interesting. Simple stuff. Punctuation, paragraph placement, the omission of key words, (you could tell what they were supposed to be) but still...
These books need better editing, or even SOME editing/ proofreading, before hitting the mass market. Overall, good skin-crawly type stuff. Perfect for pre-Halloween reading. One story was actually tongue in cheek. Meh.
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