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Tales From the Gulp #1
The Gulp
Strange things happen in The Gulp. The residents have grown used to it. The isolated Australian harbour town of Gulpepper is not like other places. Some maps don’t even show it. And only outsiders use the full name. Everyone who lives there calls it The Gulp. The place has a habit of swallowing people.
A truck driver thinks the stories about The Gulp are made up to scare him. Until he gets there. Teenage siblings try to cover up the death of their mother, but their plans go drastically awry. A rock band invite four backpackers to a party at their house, where things get dangerously out of hand. A young man loses a drug shipment and his boss gives him 48 hours to make good on his mistake. Under the blinking eye of the old lighthouse, a rock fisher makes the strangest catch of his life.
Five novellas. Five descents into darkness. Welcome to The Gulp, where nothing is as it seems.
A truck driver thinks the stories about The Gulp are made up to scare him. Until he gets there. Teenage siblings try to cover up the death of their mother, but their plans go drastically awry. A rock band invite four backpackers to a party at their house, where things get dangerously out of hand. A young man loses a drug shipment and his boss gives him 48 hours to make good on his mistake. Under the blinking eye of the old lighthouse, a rock fisher makes the strangest catch of his life.
Five novellas. Five descents into darkness. Welcome to The Gulp, where nothing is as it seems.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
65 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Alan Baxter
135 books526 followersMy book rating system:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brilliant, I bloody loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really good, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable, well worth a read.
I don't talk about ⭐⭐ and ⭐ reads because I only talking up the good stuff. That's why my Goodreads rarely has anything under a ⭐⭐⭐.
Bio: Alan Baxter is a British-Australian multi-award-winning author of horror, supernatural thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. He’s also a martial arts expert, a whisky-soaked swear monkey, and dog lover. He creates dark, weird stories among the valleys of southern Tasmania.
Fond him online at www.alanbaxter.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
July 21, 2024
Look into the Abyss...
Let it in...
THE GULP
Tales From the Gulp (Book #1)
by Alan Baxter
No spoilers. 5 stars. I hesitate to refer to this novel as a collection. It's true that it consists of 5 novellas, but they bleed into one another, creating a cohesive whole about the Australian town of Gulpepper...
The isolated beach/bush town of Gulpepper is weird in daylight, but you don't want to know what comes out at night...
Gulpepper is known to the locals as The Gulp because the town has a way of swallowing people whole... never to be seen again...
The following are the 5 novellas comprising The Gulp. They are all 5 star stories:
OUT ON A RIM
Trucker George is retiring, and this will be his last delivery to The Gulp. He has a trainee with him, Rich. The two become stranded for the night in The Gulp. George decides to wait the night out locked in the truck, but young Rich wants to see the town's nightlife...
MOTHER IN BLOOM:
Teens Maddy and Zack have been caring for their terminally ill mother and conspiring to keep her impending death a secret so that they can keep the house and her government assistance checks... but mom grows on everyone she comes in contact with, and some secrets are hard to keep...
THE BAND PLAYS ON:
Four backpackers, on a world adventure, find themselves in The Gulp. A flyer advertising a local band called Blind Eye Moon lures them to the venue where they make friends with the band and are invited to stay a week in the band's old house in an ancient forest...
48 TO GO:
Young Dace is making a drug run for local thug Mr. Carter when he is robbed of his contraband. Well, Mr. Carter is very unhappy and orders Dace to replace his lost money, $60,000 within 48 hours, or disappear in The Gulp...
ROCK FISHER:
Troy Mackay loves fishing. One day, while rock fishing, Troy snags an egg sac and reels it in. Longing to have a family, Troy adopts the soon-to-hatch egg as his offspring, but the thing growing in the egg calls to family of its own...
Look into the Abyss... and let it in...
This was an excellent horror story collection, and, believe it or not, it was very thought-provoking. This creepy PEYTON PLACE of a town came to life on the pages. All of the stories and many of the characters and places as well as events seamlessly spilled into one another, making it feel like one continuous novel. Well done!
I'm becoming a real fan of Australian authors. If you're looking for another excellent Australian based story, try SOON by Lois Murphy, and you'll see why I am a fan of their work!
Book #2 in this series is also very good. I'm waiting and hoping for a Book #3.
Let it in...
THE GULP
Tales From the Gulp (Book #1)
by Alan Baxter
No spoilers. 5 stars. I hesitate to refer to this novel as a collection. It's true that it consists of 5 novellas, but they bleed into one another, creating a cohesive whole about the Australian town of Gulpepper...
The isolated beach/bush town of Gulpepper is weird in daylight, but you don't want to know what comes out at night...
Gulpepper is known to the locals as The Gulp because the town has a way of swallowing people whole... never to be seen again...
The following are the 5 novellas comprising The Gulp. They are all 5 star stories:
OUT ON A RIM
Trucker George is retiring, and this will be his last delivery to The Gulp. He has a trainee with him, Rich. The two become stranded for the night in The Gulp. George decides to wait the night out locked in the truck, but young Rich wants to see the town's nightlife...
MOTHER IN BLOOM:
Teens Maddy and Zack have been caring for their terminally ill mother and conspiring to keep her impending death a secret so that they can keep the house and her government assistance checks... but mom grows on everyone she comes in contact with, and some secrets are hard to keep...
THE BAND PLAYS ON:
Four backpackers, on a world adventure, find themselves in The Gulp. A flyer advertising a local band called Blind Eye Moon lures them to the venue where they make friends with the band and are invited to stay a week in the band's old house in an ancient forest...
48 TO GO:
Young Dace is making a drug run for local thug Mr. Carter when he is robbed of his contraband. Well, Mr. Carter is very unhappy and orders Dace to replace his lost money, $60,000 within 48 hours, or disappear in The Gulp...
ROCK FISHER:
Troy Mackay loves fishing. One day, while rock fishing, Troy snags an egg sac and reels it in. Longing to have a family, Troy adopts the soon-to-hatch egg as his offspring, but the thing growing in the egg calls to family of its own...
Look into the Abyss... and let it in...
This was an excellent horror story collection, and, believe it or not, it was very thought-provoking. This creepy PEYTON PLACE of a town came to life on the pages. All of the stories and many of the characters and places as well as events seamlessly spilled into one another, making it feel like one continuous novel. Well done!
I'm becoming a real fan of Australian authors. If you're looking for another excellent Australian based story, try SOON by Lois Murphy, and you'll see why I am a fan of their work!
Book #2 in this series is also very good. I'm waiting and hoping for a Book #3.
March 11, 2021
This is my third time enjoying a short story collection from Alan Baxter. I previously read CROW SHINE and SERVED COLD. It's my opinion that an author's skillset shines the brightest when writing short fiction. The plot must be tighter and the character development richer. The author shows discipline and an ability to execute an idea without the safety net of a limitless word count. Precision. No word wasted.
And I believe Alan does this.
THE GULP is 5 inter-connected novellas set in the same fictional town of Gulpepper. Or, "The Gulp" as the residents call it. Think Stephen King's Castle Rock or the show, Eerie, Indiana.
Readers get a real sense of location with Baxter's usage of Aussie slang and dialect. I took note of it right away. In the first novella, A trucker passing through winds up hitting the local watering hole and then staying the night at one of the town's motels and he encounters some of the townspeople as well as some strange phenomena on an evening walk. This set my expectation for later novellas and I thought it was particularly effective but it was my least favorite story of the bunch. It felt like it shared a kinship with his supernatural/crime noir books, DEVOURING DARK and MANIFEST RECALL and I was really hoping for more of a straight horror sampling from Alan.
I was in luck!
My favorite stories were MOTHER IN BLOOM (great character development and suspense as teen siblings work together to deal with their mother's death, lands squarely on the nose for the horror genre) and THE BAND PLAYS ON (I loved the way Baxter flexed his storytelling skills in this one and proved that horror does not have to be infused with gore and violence to satisfy true horror hounds)
I think it's exciting that the last two stories pave the way or "left the door open" for readers to wonder what's next for the citizens of Gulpepper. Baxter certainly developed a universe/mythos here but left some lingering questions and underdeveloped ideas on the page. I'm sure there is more to come. I'm here for it.
And I believe Alan does this.
THE GULP is 5 inter-connected novellas set in the same fictional town of Gulpepper. Or, "The Gulp" as the residents call it. Think Stephen King's Castle Rock or the show, Eerie, Indiana.
Readers get a real sense of location with Baxter's usage of Aussie slang and dialect. I took note of it right away. In the first novella, A trucker passing through winds up hitting the local watering hole and then staying the night at one of the town's motels and he encounters some of the townspeople as well as some strange phenomena on an evening walk. This set my expectation for later novellas and I thought it was particularly effective but it was my least favorite story of the bunch. It felt like it shared a kinship with his supernatural/crime noir books, DEVOURING DARK and MANIFEST RECALL and I was really hoping for more of a straight horror sampling from Alan.
I was in luck!
My favorite stories were MOTHER IN BLOOM (great character development and suspense as teen siblings work together to deal with their mother's death, lands squarely on the nose for the horror genre) and THE BAND PLAYS ON (I loved the way Baxter flexed his storytelling skills in this one and proved that horror does not have to be infused with gore and violence to satisfy true horror hounds)
I think it's exciting that the last two stories pave the way or "left the door open" for readers to wonder what's next for the citizens of Gulpepper. Baxter certainly developed a universe/mythos here but left some lingering questions and underdeveloped ideas on the page. I'm sure there is more to come. I'm here for it.
January 8, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I tweeted this on Twitter recently, but Alan Baxter has found his Castle Rock.
What does that mean for those who might not get the reference?
Stephen King sets almost all of his releases in and around the fictional town of Castle Rock. Not only does this give him characters that can be featured in each book and give continuity/shared universes, but it gives us, the readers, familiarity. When we start reading a book by King, we’ve walked these streets before, smelled the smells, visited the shops.
With ‘The Gulp (Tales From The Gulp #1) Baxter has created his very own Castle Rock, one that has elevated an already stunning writer to that next level.
One can’t help but wonder if the release of ‘The Roo’ was the trigger for this? Baxter himself has written some truly fantastic books; see ‘Devouring Dark’ and the Eli Carver series, but ‘The Roo’ was fully entrenched in the Outback. It was a book you could tell Alan had fun writing and has been really well received as a creature-feature release.
So, in my humble opinion, I’d think ‘The Roo’ has opened this door to Baxter developing the town and area of Gulp and its inhabitants. Either way, we the readers are all the better for this development.
What I liked: Told over five novellas, Baxter introduces us to the creepy town of Gulpepper and doesn’t hold back as in the first novella, two truck drivers get stranded when they suffer a flat tire and a broken rim. In true horror fashion, one driver refuses to leave the truck, while the other goes into town to get some food and a room.
This opening novella introduces us to the underbelly of The Gulp, a number of characters who play various roles as the collection plays out and a theme of ‘once here you can never get out.’ Baxter has crafted such a familiar landscape here that you know these people. Every single one of them will remind you of someone from your life. The joy here is seeing how Baxter takes the modeling clay and creates various incarnations of each and every one of them.
Such is the high standard of writing that even the fifth novella adds another textured layer to the painting, while also teasing us for what the future may hold. Of the five novellas, the fifth was the one that unsettled me the most, with some descriptions that made me cackle with glee and disgust.
Baxter has found his home, a place that I hope he visits time and time again with ‘The Gulp.’
What I didn’t like: Incredibly minor – but the ending to the fifth and final novella felt incredibly sudden. I kept flipping my Kindle back and forth trying to see if it’d skipped some pages. I knew it would set up more tales, but I was hoping for a little finality!
Why you should buy this: Baxter has time and time again released highwater releases, so to see him elevate his game to yet another level was truly stunning and made me smile. This is a collection with no weak links, no dip in quality or storytelling and with the familiarity of each character and the town itself, one that will surely become a classic release.
Baxter has set the bar high in the past, but he easily surpassed it and more. Solid storytelling, real characters and a setting both beautiful and depraved. Baxter hits the ground running here and never lets us get off the thrill ride. We’re all the better for it.
I tweeted this on Twitter recently, but Alan Baxter has found his Castle Rock.
What does that mean for those who might not get the reference?
Stephen King sets almost all of his releases in and around the fictional town of Castle Rock. Not only does this give him characters that can be featured in each book and give continuity/shared universes, but it gives us, the readers, familiarity. When we start reading a book by King, we’ve walked these streets before, smelled the smells, visited the shops.
With ‘The Gulp (Tales From The Gulp #1) Baxter has created his very own Castle Rock, one that has elevated an already stunning writer to that next level.
One can’t help but wonder if the release of ‘The Roo’ was the trigger for this? Baxter himself has written some truly fantastic books; see ‘Devouring Dark’ and the Eli Carver series, but ‘The Roo’ was fully entrenched in the Outback. It was a book you could tell Alan had fun writing and has been really well received as a creature-feature release.
So, in my humble opinion, I’d think ‘The Roo’ has opened this door to Baxter developing the town and area of Gulp and its inhabitants. Either way, we the readers are all the better for this development.
What I liked: Told over five novellas, Baxter introduces us to the creepy town of Gulpepper and doesn’t hold back as in the first novella, two truck drivers get stranded when they suffer a flat tire and a broken rim. In true horror fashion, one driver refuses to leave the truck, while the other goes into town to get some food and a room.
This opening novella introduces us to the underbelly of The Gulp, a number of characters who play various roles as the collection plays out and a theme of ‘once here you can never get out.’ Baxter has crafted such a familiar landscape here that you know these people. Every single one of them will remind you of someone from your life. The joy here is seeing how Baxter takes the modeling clay and creates various incarnations of each and every one of them.
Such is the high standard of writing that even the fifth novella adds another textured layer to the painting, while also teasing us for what the future may hold. Of the five novellas, the fifth was the one that unsettled me the most, with some descriptions that made me cackle with glee and disgust.
Baxter has found his home, a place that I hope he visits time and time again with ‘The Gulp.’
What I didn’t like: Incredibly minor – but the ending to the fifth and final novella felt incredibly sudden. I kept flipping my Kindle back and forth trying to see if it’d skipped some pages. I knew it would set up more tales, but I was hoping for a little finality!
Why you should buy this: Baxter has time and time again released highwater releases, so to see him elevate his game to yet another level was truly stunning and made me smile. This is a collection with no weak links, no dip in quality or storytelling and with the familiarity of each character and the town itself, one that will surely become a classic release.
Baxter has set the bar high in the past, but he easily surpassed it and more. Solid storytelling, real characters and a setting both beautiful and depraved. Baxter hits the ground running here and never lets us get off the thrill ride. We’re all the better for it.
August 9, 2021
A surprisingly good and scary read!
After "The Roo" I was still expecting something more tongue in cheek from Alan Baxter but found instead a genuinely unsettling and eerie "serious" horror collection. Gulpepper, or "The Gulp" as everybody calls it, is a Lovecraftian seaside town where things happen you don't really want to know about. If you're smart you will just ignore it on your next trip to Australia because not only do seriously bad things happen here especially to strangers, it is also setting to every imaginable horror scenario from small town evils over intelligent funghi, to extremely cool blood and life suckers and finally to a much bigger evil, something much more sinister... or maybe not?
I super enjoyed this book and do hope the author maybe expands this universe? There were so many interesting things that are touched on but not really elaborated and it's a shame that potential remains untapped.
After "The Roo" I was still expecting something more tongue in cheek from Alan Baxter but found instead a genuinely unsettling and eerie "serious" horror collection. Gulpepper, or "The Gulp" as everybody calls it, is a Lovecraftian seaside town where things happen you don't really want to know about. If you're smart you will just ignore it on your next trip to Australia because not only do seriously bad things happen here especially to strangers, it is also setting to every imaginable horror scenario from small town evils over intelligent funghi, to extremely cool blood and life suckers and finally to a much bigger evil, something much more sinister... or maybe not?
I super enjoyed this book and do hope the author maybe expands this universe? There were so many interesting things that are touched on but not really elaborated and it's a shame that potential remains untapped.
March 14, 2021
Alan Baxter is a relatively new author for me, but I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve read so far. His newest short story collection, THE GULP, is most certainly my favorite book to date. With five novellas all woven together within a common setting, this collection delighted as much as it intrigued me.
In the rural Australian coastal town of Gulpepper, or what the locals refer to as The Gulp, things are more than a little bizarre. The townsfolk expect the peculiar, but outsiders better watch their backs because things get dark real fast. The Gulp will devour you whole if you stay a second too long. This is the setting for the five novellas, all with very unique stories and some with crossover characters. As a whole, the stories in this collection work perfectly, but even so, each one can be read as a standalone.
We start with an excellent introduction to the mysterious town, which is read from an outsider’s perspective looking in. In this first novella, Out on a Rim, two truck drivers get stranded and one decides to wander into town despite the warnings of his companion. It sounds simple enough to just go grab some food for the overnight stay, but nothing is simple in The Gulp.
The next novella, Mother in Bloom, is my number one standout. It’s a family drama about two teenagers, Zack and Maddy, who decide to conceal their mother’s death. This superbly written novella crept up on me in the best possible way. There is more than meets the eye within this complicated family, including an excellent bonus of body horror.
The Band Plays On is an exquisitely written story about four travelers who follow a band called Blind Eye Moon to The Gulp to see them play. They stay for the extended after-party, but end up trapped in a nightmarish situation. I really enjoyed this hypnotic, vampiric, and propulsive story.
In 48 to Go, we follow Dace, who while trying to show off, was inadvertently robbed of his boss’s contraband. His boss gives him 48 hours to retrieve the cash value of his drugs or he can kiss his ass goodbye. The lengths that Dace goes to will keep you on your toes with plenty of action and a few laughs.
Rock Fisher is fifth and final novella, and the perfect ending to this collection. In this Lovecraftian style tale we follow Troy, who wants nothing more than to have a family. However, by accident, he finds an odd replacement to fill the void: a mysterious egg from the ocean. This oddity draws Troy in with a ravenous appetite.
The Gulp is an outstanding short fiction book that starts and ends in the most brilliant way. Baxter does a stellar job weaving in different aspects of Gulpepper to make a cohesive, creepy collection. And if that isn’t enough he had the forethought to leave the trapdoor wide open for more! I highly recommend you read The Gulp in it’s entirety and chronologically, but if you prefer to dabble with a story here and there, then dabble away.
Thank you so much to the Night Worms for my review copy.
In the rural Australian coastal town of Gulpepper, or what the locals refer to as The Gulp, things are more than a little bizarre. The townsfolk expect the peculiar, but outsiders better watch their backs because things get dark real fast. The Gulp will devour you whole if you stay a second too long. This is the setting for the five novellas, all with very unique stories and some with crossover characters. As a whole, the stories in this collection work perfectly, but even so, each one can be read as a standalone.
We start with an excellent introduction to the mysterious town, which is read from an outsider’s perspective looking in. In this first novella, Out on a Rim, two truck drivers get stranded and one decides to wander into town despite the warnings of his companion. It sounds simple enough to just go grab some food for the overnight stay, but nothing is simple in The Gulp.
The next novella, Mother in Bloom, is my number one standout. It’s a family drama about two teenagers, Zack and Maddy, who decide to conceal their mother’s death. This superbly written novella crept up on me in the best possible way. There is more than meets the eye within this complicated family, including an excellent bonus of body horror.
The Band Plays On is an exquisitely written story about four travelers who follow a band called Blind Eye Moon to The Gulp to see them play. They stay for the extended after-party, but end up trapped in a nightmarish situation. I really enjoyed this hypnotic, vampiric, and propulsive story.
In 48 to Go, we follow Dace, who while trying to show off, was inadvertently robbed of his boss’s contraband. His boss gives him 48 hours to retrieve the cash value of his drugs or he can kiss his ass goodbye. The lengths that Dace goes to will keep you on your toes with plenty of action and a few laughs.
Rock Fisher is fifth and final novella, and the perfect ending to this collection. In this Lovecraftian style tale we follow Troy, who wants nothing more than to have a family. However, by accident, he finds an odd replacement to fill the void: a mysterious egg from the ocean. This oddity draws Troy in with a ravenous appetite.
The Gulp is an outstanding short fiction book that starts and ends in the most brilliant way. Baxter does a stellar job weaving in different aspects of Gulpepper to make a cohesive, creepy collection. And if that isn’t enough he had the forethought to leave the trapdoor wide open for more! I highly recommend you read The Gulp in it’s entirety and chronologically, but if you prefer to dabble with a story here and there, then dabble away.
Thank you so much to the Night Worms for my review copy.
January 18, 2021
If there's one thing I love it's a true blue aussie horror story and Alan Baxter really knows how to scare me so much I'm never visiting a small town in Australia again!
The isolated Australian town of Gulpepper is not like other places. Some maps don't even show it. There's only one way in and one way out. Only outsiders use the full name. Everyone who lives there calls it The Gulp. The place has a habit of swallowing people.
Every now and then it will spit one back out.
This is a book of five novellas that lace together to create a story of The Gulp.
I was not only hooked after reading the first novella but the suspension had me scared shitless and craving more.
The second story was good fun. Plenty of aussie lingo thrown in & some magic mushrooms that on investigating were horrific.
Blind Eye Moon sounds like one hell of a killer band and they have the pleasure of explaining to some tourists how everyone who stays at The Gulp has "the dream". I predicted the third novella's ending from early on but I enjoyed it just the same.
If you're keen on fishing be sure to have a chat with rock fisher Troy before heading down the harbour, you never know what you might reel in. On the other hand if you're looking for company, Troy's the guy to speak to.
These stories are artful, suspenseful, visceral, gruesome and brutal.
There is definitely room for a second book about The Gulp.
I have one small criticism. "Soda". That's all I'll say.
I also love that Alan has been thoughtful enough to add a glossary for all our international friends.
The Gulp will be available for sale January 2021 but while you're waiting I highly recommend The Roo, another of Alan's aussie horror novellas that I'm sure will make many reader's top ten lists for 2020 including mine.
The isolated Australian town of Gulpepper is not like other places. Some maps don't even show it. There's only one way in and one way out. Only outsiders use the full name. Everyone who lives there calls it The Gulp. The place has a habit of swallowing people.
Every now and then it will spit one back out.
This is a book of five novellas that lace together to create a story of The Gulp.
I was not only hooked after reading the first novella but the suspension had me scared shitless and craving more.
The second story was good fun. Plenty of aussie lingo thrown in & some magic mushrooms that on investigating were horrific.
Blind Eye Moon sounds like one hell of a killer band and they have the pleasure of explaining to some tourists how everyone who stays at The Gulp has "the dream". I predicted the third novella's ending from early on but I enjoyed it just the same.
If you're keen on fishing be sure to have a chat with rock fisher Troy before heading down the harbour, you never know what you might reel in. On the other hand if you're looking for company, Troy's the guy to speak to.
These stories are artful, suspenseful, visceral, gruesome and brutal.
There is definitely room for a second book about The Gulp.
I have one small criticism. "Soda". That's all I'll say.
I also love that Alan has been thoughtful enough to add a glossary for all our international friends.
The Gulp will be available for sale January 2021 but while you're waiting I highly recommend The Roo, another of Alan's aussie horror novellas that I'm sure will make many reader's top ten lists for 2020 including mine.
February 16, 2021
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Welcome to Gulpepper, population 8,000, a quaint little harbor town located miles away from nothing. Surrounded by ocean cliffs as well as only one road leading in and out, this natural bay locale is an isolated village that lies in wait. Locals like to call it “The Gulp” for short, for the reason that it tends to swallow people up, never to be let go again. For, you see, The Gulp is just...different.
A mother's unusual relationship with her two children once again proves there is no other love like maternal love. A burglary goes horribly wrong as the thief enters a surrealistic place of residence. A fisherman’s catch of the day brings forth a new meaning to the phrase,"a fish out of water”. These stories and more await the reader’s visit to The Gulp.
Author Alan Baxter gives a freaky tour of the town Gulpepper, where it is rumored the dead out number the living. His eerie concepts and creepy style of writing result in an uneasy fearful sensation that meanders within each story searching for the readers vulnerabilities. Hearing far away thunder, oceanic waves and distant screams, Baxter is a master at foreshadowing unimaginable experiences. These occurrences will begin an unyielding panic gripped momentum that will have a high probability of not ending well.
Come visit the oceanside town of Gulpepper. Attractions such as The Ocean Blue Motel, The Historic Museum and the nearby Monkton Tavern await your presence. Embrace The Gulp, and at all costs try to avoid the naturally growing fungus. This book comes with a strong recommendation that urges the reader to explore their vacation destination.
Welcome to Gulpepper, population 8,000, a quaint little harbor town located miles away from nothing. Surrounded by ocean cliffs as well as only one road leading in and out, this natural bay locale is an isolated village that lies in wait. Locals like to call it “The Gulp” for short, for the reason that it tends to swallow people up, never to be let go again. For, you see, The Gulp is just...different.
A mother's unusual relationship with her two children once again proves there is no other love like maternal love. A burglary goes horribly wrong as the thief enters a surrealistic place of residence. A fisherman’s catch of the day brings forth a new meaning to the phrase,"a fish out of water”. These stories and more await the reader’s visit to The Gulp.
Author Alan Baxter gives a freaky tour of the town Gulpepper, where it is rumored the dead out number the living. His eerie concepts and creepy style of writing result in an uneasy fearful sensation that meanders within each story searching for the readers vulnerabilities. Hearing far away thunder, oceanic waves and distant screams, Baxter is a master at foreshadowing unimaginable experiences. These occurrences will begin an unyielding panic gripped momentum that will have a high probability of not ending well.
Come visit the oceanside town of Gulpepper. Attractions such as The Ocean Blue Motel, The Historic Museum and the nearby Monkton Tavern await your presence. Embrace The Gulp, and at all costs try to avoid the naturally growing fungus. This book comes with a strong recommendation that urges the reader to explore their vacation destination.
January 15, 2021
A solid 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon.
Alan Baxter has created a stunning collection of small town horror that perfectly blends tones and themes of The Twilight Zone, Stranger Things, Castle Rock, The X-Files and Twin Peaks - in an Irresistible concoction of the weird and macabre, small town horror has never had it so good.
What I loved about this collection is how the stories bleed into one another, how there are subtle references that pull this tapestry of a town together, the connecting threads making it a full breathing fully function snap shot of the weird and wonderful and disturbing location of Gulpepper (a place I strangely wanted to visit).
Fictional town or not, Baxter has created a wonderful collection, of unsettling and dark stories, brutal and enlightening - a nightmare vision that showcases how good horror fiction can be!
- Out on a Rim -
Richard Blake is a new driver inheriting the delivery route of the Gulp from his companion George, the old timer driver who’s close to retirement. They’re trying to make the deliver and get out before it gets dark, George says that the town is bad enough in the daytime he doesn’t want to get stuck here at night.
Something happens to their truck and they are forced to stay over in The Gulp. The story flits back and forth between Rich (Richard) and George - Richard checks into a motel (something like the motel in Psycho) and he witnesses something happening in the next room, something that he’ll never forget and something that he’ll never unsee!
Such a great way to start this diabolical collection and setting the scene of this strange and peculiar town.
- Mother in Bloom -
A familial tale that focuses on the brother and sister relationship of Zack and Mandy. They’ve some difficult decisions to make regarding the care of their mother. They’ve been planning for this day but somehow they’re not ready for what needs to be done. They’ve a plan but will it work? Will they get away with this deception and will anyone notice - they’ve fed lies for months leading up to this day, but are they prepared for where things are heading when something starts to bloom on their mother’s flesh.
- The Band Plays On -
A group of backpackers are watching a band in a local pub, they’re transfixed by the bands performance and are soon invited to an after party at the Gulp where the band live. The premise is almost vampiric in its tone and conventions and also of Sirens of the sea (might just be me) the bands music enchants those that hears it. There is some lovecraftian work in this one too, but for me it was my least favourite in the collection, it’s a great story but from what came before this slower pace seemed to stall my enjoyment - it’s strange as if this story was shifted to the start of the collection it might have had a different feel to it - but you can see why it’s here as foundations are laid that cement parts of the overall story on offer by Baxter.
- 48 to Go -
Our protagonist Dace whilst out on a boat trying to impress a girl gets robbed by two masked individuals (pirates) who steal his boss Carter’s weed. Dace is given the ultimatum of getting back the cash worth of the weed or having his parents and sister killed. Dance sets out to rob an old couple, break into their house and steal the money they’ve been hoarding, but once he breaks in he quickly discovers more than he’d ever thought possible! This one is bananas crazy good! So many moving parts but Baxter handles it all like a master - the action sequences in this story were fabulously executed!
- Rock Fisher -
Troy longs for a family, but a discovery whilst rock fishing might have just answered his insatiable paternal longing. This is a fabulous creepy tale, with a delicate body horror that the great Cronenberg would be happy with. Unsettling and disturbing - also a story that ensures that all loose cords are woven together to possibly start a new thread further down the line - and I for one will be eagerly anticipating a follow up collection!
An arrestingly brilliant collection of horror that bewitches its reader and pollutes the mind with Baxter’s mastery of horror in all its dark shades, whatever you do this year, makes sure you take a trip to The Gulp!
Alan Baxter has created a stunning collection of small town horror that perfectly blends tones and themes of The Twilight Zone, Stranger Things, Castle Rock, The X-Files and Twin Peaks - in an Irresistible concoction of the weird and macabre, small town horror has never had it so good.
What I loved about this collection is how the stories bleed into one another, how there are subtle references that pull this tapestry of a town together, the connecting threads making it a full breathing fully function snap shot of the weird and wonderful and disturbing location of Gulpepper (a place I strangely wanted to visit).
Fictional town or not, Baxter has created a wonderful collection, of unsettling and dark stories, brutal and enlightening - a nightmare vision that showcases how good horror fiction can be!
- Out on a Rim -
Richard Blake is a new driver inheriting the delivery route of the Gulp from his companion George, the old timer driver who’s close to retirement. They’re trying to make the deliver and get out before it gets dark, George says that the town is bad enough in the daytime he doesn’t want to get stuck here at night.
Something happens to their truck and they are forced to stay over in The Gulp. The story flits back and forth between Rich (Richard) and George - Richard checks into a motel (something like the motel in Psycho) and he witnesses something happening in the next room, something that he’ll never forget and something that he’ll never unsee!
Such a great way to start this diabolical collection and setting the scene of this strange and peculiar town.
- Mother in Bloom -
A familial tale that focuses on the brother and sister relationship of Zack and Mandy. They’ve some difficult decisions to make regarding the care of their mother. They’ve been planning for this day but somehow they’re not ready for what needs to be done. They’ve a plan but will it work? Will they get away with this deception and will anyone notice - they’ve fed lies for months leading up to this day, but are they prepared for where things are heading when something starts to bloom on their mother’s flesh.
- The Band Plays On -
A group of backpackers are watching a band in a local pub, they’re transfixed by the bands performance and are soon invited to an after party at the Gulp where the band live. The premise is almost vampiric in its tone and conventions and also of Sirens of the sea (might just be me) the bands music enchants those that hears it. There is some lovecraftian work in this one too, but for me it was my least favourite in the collection, it’s a great story but from what came before this slower pace seemed to stall my enjoyment - it’s strange as if this story was shifted to the start of the collection it might have had a different feel to it - but you can see why it’s here as foundations are laid that cement parts of the overall story on offer by Baxter.
- 48 to Go -
Our protagonist Dace whilst out on a boat trying to impress a girl gets robbed by two masked individuals (pirates) who steal his boss Carter’s weed. Dace is given the ultimatum of getting back the cash worth of the weed or having his parents and sister killed. Dance sets out to rob an old couple, break into their house and steal the money they’ve been hoarding, but once he breaks in he quickly discovers more than he’d ever thought possible! This one is bananas crazy good! So many moving parts but Baxter handles it all like a master - the action sequences in this story were fabulously executed!
- Rock Fisher -
Troy longs for a family, but a discovery whilst rock fishing might have just answered his insatiable paternal longing. This is a fabulous creepy tale, with a delicate body horror that the great Cronenberg would be happy with. Unsettling and disturbing - also a story that ensures that all loose cords are woven together to possibly start a new thread further down the line - and I for one will be eagerly anticipating a follow up collection!
An arrestingly brilliant collection of horror that bewitches its reader and pollutes the mind with Baxter’s mastery of horror in all its dark shades, whatever you do this year, makes sure you take a trip to The Gulp!
January 3, 2021
Over the course of five novellas, Alan Baxter introduces up to the secluded Australian harbor town of Gulpepper, aka The Gulp, as it's known to locals. Those who live there never leave, and outsiders know enough to stay away. Thanks to its oddities, The Gulp has a certain Innsmouth-like flavor and shades of Stephen King's Castle Rock, but it's a small town that Baxter has made all his own. Over the course of this mosaic novel, he slowly peels back the various layers of mystery and undercurrents of connectedness that give The Gulp life.
We're introduced to The Gulp by way out of Richard Blake, a deliveryman whose truck has broken down on his first trip into town. While waiting for repairs, Blake takes a room at a local hotel and becomes witness to a crime that will change his life forever. Presenting The Gulp to us through Blake is a smart move on Baxter's part, and we share in this sense of discovery and unease alongside Blake, one outsider to another. "Out on a Rim" introduces us to the darker, seedier side of Gulpepper with its focus on the intersection between organized crime and the supernatural. Supernatural crime stories are something Baxter's done really well in previous stories like Devouring Dark and the two Recall book, and "Out on a Rim" is a fine addition to this oeuvre.
"Mother in Bloom" centers on two teens attempting to cover up the death of their mother, and the thing she has posthumously grown into. Fans of fungal horror will find a lot to enjoy in this entry, and I really dug the way successive entry in The Gulp featured some small callbacks to this piece, albeit oftentimes in the background. By book's end, though, it's clear that this story is going to be quite the lynchpin in Baxter's mythos moving forward. One of the more intriguing aspects of this mosaic novel is the fact that although these stories carry their own weight, each serve up broader implications about this town and point toward a much larger, yet to be revealed, story.
We get some nice background about Gulpepper in "The Band Plays On," which centers around a group of backpackers who catch a rock show at a local pub. Blind Eye Moon gets mentioned from time to time over the course of this book, and this story revolves around them entirely, offering up plenty of curiosities about their natures and inclinations beyond being the best rock band nobody's ever heard. I have to confess, though, that this story was a bit too much on the quiet side for me and lacked the oomph the previous stories had. I found myself missing some of the gorier, more gruesome moments of earlier entries.
Thankfully, "48 To Go," a home invasion gone awry piece, has plenty of WTF moments and a welcome dash of occultism mixed in. Like "Mother in Bloom" and the following entry, "Rock Fisher," "48 To Go" points to a larger mystery happening within Gulpepper off-page, one we are not yet privy to, but the promise of which is thoroughly tantalizing.
In "Rock Fisher," a young man makes a curious discovery while fishing, and Baxter charts his transformation and obsession in light of this odd find. It's another great entry with some moments of pure ick that delighted me. It also closes out The Gulp with an intriguing tease of things to come.
In-text, The Gulp is labeled Tales From The Gulp #1, and I'm eager for more stories about this weird, wild town. Clearly, Baxter is keen to tell more, too, and has set a broad stage to explore. I might not want to live there, but I'm definitely keen to take another trip through town and stroll down these strange streets once more.
We're introduced to The Gulp by way out of Richard Blake, a deliveryman whose truck has broken down on his first trip into town. While waiting for repairs, Blake takes a room at a local hotel and becomes witness to a crime that will change his life forever. Presenting The Gulp to us through Blake is a smart move on Baxter's part, and we share in this sense of discovery and unease alongside Blake, one outsider to another. "Out on a Rim" introduces us to the darker, seedier side of Gulpepper with its focus on the intersection between organized crime and the supernatural. Supernatural crime stories are something Baxter's done really well in previous stories like Devouring Dark and the two Recall book, and "Out on a Rim" is a fine addition to this oeuvre.
"Mother in Bloom" centers on two teens attempting to cover up the death of their mother, and the thing she has posthumously grown into. Fans of fungal horror will find a lot to enjoy in this entry, and I really dug the way successive entry in The Gulp featured some small callbacks to this piece, albeit oftentimes in the background. By book's end, though, it's clear that this story is going to be quite the lynchpin in Baxter's mythos moving forward. One of the more intriguing aspects of this mosaic novel is the fact that although these stories carry their own weight, each serve up broader implications about this town and point toward a much larger, yet to be revealed, story.
We get some nice background about Gulpepper in "The Band Plays On," which centers around a group of backpackers who catch a rock show at a local pub. Blind Eye Moon gets mentioned from time to time over the course of this book, and this story revolves around them entirely, offering up plenty of curiosities about their natures and inclinations beyond being the best rock band nobody's ever heard. I have to confess, though, that this story was a bit too much on the quiet side for me and lacked the oomph the previous stories had. I found myself missing some of the gorier, more gruesome moments of earlier entries.
Thankfully, "48 To Go," a home invasion gone awry piece, has plenty of WTF moments and a welcome dash of occultism mixed in. Like "Mother in Bloom" and the following entry, "Rock Fisher," "48 To Go" points to a larger mystery happening within Gulpepper off-page, one we are not yet privy to, but the promise of which is thoroughly tantalizing.
In "Rock Fisher," a young man makes a curious discovery while fishing, and Baxter charts his transformation and obsession in light of this odd find. It's another great entry with some moments of pure ick that delighted me. It also closes out The Gulp with an intriguing tease of things to come.
In-text, The Gulp is labeled Tales From The Gulp #1, and I'm eager for more stories about this weird, wild town. Clearly, Baxter is keen to tell more, too, and has set a broad stage to explore. I might not want to live there, but I'm definitely keen to take another trip through town and stroll down these strange streets once more.
February 25, 2021
Don't you just hate the coast? You get sunburned, the sand makes you itchy, and then some weird fungus starts growing all over your Mum.
At least, that's the way things often go in Gulpepper, the town at the centre of Alan Baxter's new book, The Gulp. (I was lucky enough to score a freebie.) There are five novellas in this collection, all set in the same town. A delivery driver gets stranded when his truck breaks down, and witnesses a horrific crime in the motel room next door. Two teenagers try to hide their mother's death to avoid foster care, and soon find themselves hiding the thing that used to be their Mum. A backpacker goes to a gig at a pub, and his friends refuse to accept that the after party is going on too long, and the band is a tad sinister. (The band members include Shirley, Howard, Edgar and Clarke - their elderly housemate is Bram.) A drug mule who loses $60,000 worth of product has only 48 hours to pay back his terrifying boss. And a lonely fisherman falls head over heels in love... with an egg he's just pulled from the ocean.
The bizarre happenings in these stories only work because Gulpepper feels utterly real - you'll find yourself checking maps to make sure it isn't there. The atmosphere, the activity and the attitude are all spot on for every small Australian coastal town I've ever been to, but not in a way that demean the locals, which is a nice change. The language is great, too. Baxter knows plenty of synonyms for spongy, slimy and rotten, and the music of Blind Eye Moon is so vividly described that I could practically hear it in my head.
I recently read Uzumaki by Junji Ito, which is not unlike The Gulp - a collection of bizarre stories with vaguely linked events all set in one cursed town. In both books, each story builds and builds... and then ends, a bit matter-of-factly, with the reader feeling confused and uneasy. This is cosmic horror, which is heavy on dread and light on explanation. It works better here than in Uzumaki, because the five protagonists of The Gulp all have depth (not hidden depth, since you find out everything about them in the first few of pages of each story, but depth just the same) and while the rest of the cast leans toward the archetypal, nothing seems false or forced. I've heard it said that two-dimensional characters are a feature rather than a bug of cosmic horror, helping to emphasize the insignificance of humans in a threatening universe. I don't agree, and I'm glad that Baxter doesn't seem to either.
It's impossible not to empathise with the doomed heroes in The Gulp. The band are clearly vampires, or werewolves, or something - why won't Ciara listen to Patrick? Those bumps under Troy's skin where he touched the egg are clearly bad news - just go to the doctor, man! Why doesn't everyone just flee this terrible town?! As each protagonist wades deeper and deeper into a mess of his or her own making, you'll find yourself gritting your teeth and clenching your fingernails - mostly in a good way. Tell you what, though, I'm not going to be eating any seafood for a while.
Jack Heath is the author of Hideout.
At least, that's the way things often go in Gulpepper, the town at the centre of Alan Baxter's new book, The Gulp. (I was lucky enough to score a freebie.) There are five novellas in this collection, all set in the same town. A delivery driver gets stranded when his truck breaks down, and witnesses a horrific crime in the motel room next door. Two teenagers try to hide their mother's death to avoid foster care, and soon find themselves hiding the thing that used to be their Mum. A backpacker goes to a gig at a pub, and his friends refuse to accept that the after party is going on too long, and the band is a tad sinister. (The band members include Shirley, Howard, Edgar and Clarke - their elderly housemate is Bram.) A drug mule who loses $60,000 worth of product has only 48 hours to pay back his terrifying boss. And a lonely fisherman falls head over heels in love... with an egg he's just pulled from the ocean.
The bizarre happenings in these stories only work because Gulpepper feels utterly real - you'll find yourself checking maps to make sure it isn't there. The atmosphere, the activity and the attitude are all spot on for every small Australian coastal town I've ever been to, but not in a way that demean the locals, which is a nice change. The language is great, too. Baxter knows plenty of synonyms for spongy, slimy and rotten, and the music of Blind Eye Moon is so vividly described that I could practically hear it in my head.
I recently read Uzumaki by Junji Ito, which is not unlike The Gulp - a collection of bizarre stories with vaguely linked events all set in one cursed town. In both books, each story builds and builds... and then ends, a bit matter-of-factly, with the reader feeling confused and uneasy. This is cosmic horror, which is heavy on dread and light on explanation. It works better here than in Uzumaki, because the five protagonists of The Gulp all have depth (not hidden depth, since you find out everything about them in the first few of pages of each story, but depth just the same) and while the rest of the cast leans toward the archetypal, nothing seems false or forced. I've heard it said that two-dimensional characters are a feature rather than a bug of cosmic horror, helping to emphasize the insignificance of humans in a threatening universe. I don't agree, and I'm glad that Baxter doesn't seem to either.
It's impossible not to empathise with the doomed heroes in The Gulp. The band are clearly vampires, or werewolves, or something - why won't Ciara listen to Patrick? Those bumps under Troy's skin where he touched the egg are clearly bad news - just go to the doctor, man! Why doesn't everyone just flee this terrible town?! As each protagonist wades deeper and deeper into a mess of his or her own making, you'll find yourself gritting your teeth and clenching your fingernails - mostly in a good way. Tell you what, though, I'm not going to be eating any seafood for a while.
Jack Heath is the author of Hideout.
February 10, 2021
The Gulp is an interwoven collection of five novellas, all set in the small town of Gulpepper.
The Gulp is an interwoven collection of five novellas, all set in the small town of Gulpepper. The first story establishes a sense of place early on, the locality and its inhabitants are vividly portrayed. The reader is provided a sense of mystery, a feeling that things are not quite right in Gulpepper. The whole collection has a Lovecraftian vibe, the notion of the sea having something to do with the weirdness of the place.
I enjoyed all the stories, though as with most collections preferred some to others.
The first story, Out on a Rim, sets the stage for what’s to come. This one is strong, but one scene was a little too graphic for my taste. However, I’m fully aware that others will enjoy that aspect. I loved the supernatural suggestion of ‘letting the dream in.’ 4 stars
The second story, Mother in Bloom, reminded me of Chad Lutzke’s Of Foster Homes and Flies. The characters in this one have such a tragic background. All in all, it has strong characterization and provides nail-biting moments. Some of the more graphic scenes were almost comical in their absurdity, but despite this it got me thinking about family background and its effect on the psychology of the young. 4.5 stars
The third story, The Band Plays on, was one of my favorites. A real page-turner. I loved the whole ‘band’ thing, its vibe and energy flowed from the page. It brought to mind The Lost Boys, in fact the film even gets a mention here, but this story would make a great film in its own right. Here we are granted more of the backstory to The Gulp. Atmospheric, energetic, creepy! 5 stars
In the fourth story, 48 Hours to Go, I really felt for the protagonist. He is not a likable character, but I could not help but pity him for the plight he finds himself in. The way he tries to resolve it draws him in deeper and deeper. This one again has a fair few graphic scenes but also builds a great atmosphere. Wickedly comedic at times, just like story two. 4.5 stars
The fifth and final story, Rock Fisher, was my favorite of all. Again, it has a Lovecraftian vibe, this one sustained my interest throughout. I loved the twists and turns it took and it brought the whole collection to a satisfactory conclusion. An Aussie Innsmouth. 5 stars
Overall a great read. Small town horror at its best. The mythos of The Gulp and its inhabitants feels incestuous and cloying. Trust me, you won’t easily escape its clutches!
To summarize, I rate the collection 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Disclaimer: I received e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Gulp is an interwoven collection of five novellas, all set in the small town of Gulpepper. The first story establishes a sense of place early on, the locality and its inhabitants are vividly portrayed. The reader is provided a sense of mystery, a feeling that things are not quite right in Gulpepper. The whole collection has a Lovecraftian vibe, the notion of the sea having something to do with the weirdness of the place.
I enjoyed all the stories, though as with most collections preferred some to others.
The first story, Out on a Rim, sets the stage for what’s to come. This one is strong, but one scene was a little too graphic for my taste. However, I’m fully aware that others will enjoy that aspect. I loved the supernatural suggestion of ‘letting the dream in.’ 4 stars
The second story, Mother in Bloom, reminded me of Chad Lutzke’s Of Foster Homes and Flies. The characters in this one have such a tragic background. All in all, it has strong characterization and provides nail-biting moments. Some of the more graphic scenes were almost comical in their absurdity, but despite this it got me thinking about family background and its effect on the psychology of the young. 4.5 stars
The third story, The Band Plays on, was one of my favorites. A real page-turner. I loved the whole ‘band’ thing, its vibe and energy flowed from the page. It brought to mind The Lost Boys, in fact the film even gets a mention here, but this story would make a great film in its own right. Here we are granted more of the backstory to The Gulp. Atmospheric, energetic, creepy! 5 stars
In the fourth story, 48 Hours to Go, I really felt for the protagonist. He is not a likable character, but I could not help but pity him for the plight he finds himself in. The way he tries to resolve it draws him in deeper and deeper. This one again has a fair few graphic scenes but also builds a great atmosphere. Wickedly comedic at times, just like story two. 4.5 stars
The fifth and final story, Rock Fisher, was my favorite of all. Again, it has a Lovecraftian vibe, this one sustained my interest throughout. I loved the twists and turns it took and it brought the whole collection to a satisfactory conclusion. An Aussie Innsmouth. 5 stars
Overall a great read. Small town horror at its best. The mythos of The Gulp and its inhabitants feels incestuous and cloying. Trust me, you won’t easily escape its clutches!
To summarize, I rate the collection 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Disclaimer: I received e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 27, 2021
This was my first Baxter and will not be my last!
Why do we (or maybe just I?) find fucked up little towns with dirty secrets so alluring, if not cozy? Who wouldn't want to grab a drink at the Hotel California bar, a coffee in Twin Peaks, or to do the time in Jerusalem's Lot to become a barely tolerated interloper?
Alan Baxter shows us why, and how, so lusciously, believably, and at our own risk. In 5 intertwining stories, we learn the ins and outs of a small Australian fishing town that is easy to miss, and hard to leave. Maybe there are crime syndicates, Mum-shroom-trauma, Lost Boys, and fishing up eldritch horrors to scare you off, but I came away knowing which of the two pubs would be my local (Clooney's all the way!) and feeling a sick fondness for the ghastly denizens of the Gulp when they turn up over and over to wreck the protagonists' lives, and their own.
The pacing gave me pause for a bit at first, but I now think that was a good choice to depict the small town that is used to its own bullshit: nothing happens until it all does and then, whoops, "shit happens," and we all sweep it under the rug and carry on. Many ideas were set up, presumably to be expounded on in the next volume, and I'll be right there to read about em. I did think many characters' voices were quite similar, and that the more blatantly supernatural segments shone better than the crime stories. Yes, as many horror writers have shown us, it takes moral rot to let supernatural decay in, but I sometimes wished the stories interconnected thematically as well as plot-wise.
All that is to say though that this is a town Baxter invented, and which now is a place I believe in, have invested in, regrettably have a stakes in, and cannot wait to read about its future, ideally with it all falling into its own fetid ocean of garbage, blistery kelp, just-okay fish and chips, and human failure. You've got a new fan in me, Mr. Baxter!
Why do we (or maybe just I?) find fucked up little towns with dirty secrets so alluring, if not cozy? Who wouldn't want to grab a drink at the Hotel California bar, a coffee in Twin Peaks, or to do the time in Jerusalem's Lot to become a barely tolerated interloper?
Alan Baxter shows us why, and how, so lusciously, believably, and at our own risk. In 5 intertwining stories, we learn the ins and outs of a small Australian fishing town that is easy to miss, and hard to leave. Maybe there are crime syndicates, Mum-shroom-trauma, Lost Boys, and fishing up eldritch horrors to scare you off, but I came away knowing which of the two pubs would be my local (Clooney's all the way!) and feeling a sick fondness for the ghastly denizens of the Gulp when they turn up over and over to wreck the protagonists' lives, and their own.
The pacing gave me pause for a bit at first, but I now think that was a good choice to depict the small town that is used to its own bullshit: nothing happens until it all does and then, whoops, "shit happens," and we all sweep it under the rug and carry on. Many ideas were set up, presumably to be expounded on in the next volume, and I'll be right there to read about em. I did think many characters' voices were quite similar, and that the more blatantly supernatural segments shone better than the crime stories. Yes, as many horror writers have shown us, it takes moral rot to let supernatural decay in, but I sometimes wished the stories interconnected thematically as well as plot-wise.
All that is to say though that this is a town Baxter invented, and which now is a place I believe in, have invested in, regrettably have a stakes in, and cannot wait to read about its future, ideally with it all falling into its own fetid ocean of garbage, blistery kelp, just-okay fish and chips, and human failure. You've got a new fan in me, Mr. Baxter!
February 1, 2021
Disclaimer: I received e-book version of from the author in exchange for honest reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The town of Gulpepper, known as "The Gulp" to locals, appears to be a small, quiet Australian harbor town. No one wants to stop there, the police won't come if you call them, and locals know that you can never really leave. While things are quiet and business as usual during the day, everyone knows that you shouldn't be out in The Gulp after dark. In these five interconnected novellas are just a taste of what goes on in The Gulp.
We are introduced to Gulpepper in the first story, "On the Rim," by veteran truck driver George on his last shift to The Gulp training his replacement, Rich on his weekly route. George warns Rich to make the trip to The Gulp as quick as you can and then get out of town before dark. Rich takes this as the old man playing a trick on him and ignores his advice. While dropping off their load at a grocery store, there is an accident with their truck, forcing them to stay in The Gulp overnight. Despite George's advice not to go out at night and ignoring his requests for him to stay in the truck until the tow truck comes in the morning, Rich decides that he wants to get to know the town. He heads out and quickly finds himself in more trouble than he bargained for.
In "Mother in Bloom," we meet teenage siblings who are dealing with the aftermath of their mother's death and how to cover it up so that they aren't separated by social services. When the mother's remains morph into something unexpected, the siblings learn exactly just how far they will go to stay together. The characters and events in this story get a lot of callbacks throughout the book. This story, I feel, does have some mild body horror.
The third story, "The Band Plays On," introduces us to the legendary band Blind Eye Moon via a concert attended by four tourists visiting The Gulp while on holiday. After bonding with the band during the show, the tourists are invited back to their house to party afterward, and end up staying at the band's insistence for a few days. The party keeps going and the booze keeps flowing, and soon the nightmares begin. While one of the tourists gets suspicious, the remaining three start looking and feeling haggard from the late night parties and subsequent nightmares. And the band is eager to keep the party going at any cost.
"48 To Go" is my favorite story in the collection, and when you read it, you'll know why. This is without a doubt, one of the craziest stories I've ever read. After getting his mob boss's drugs stolen, a local thug is given 48 hours to collect the $60,000 owed to his boss, or never be seen again. The lengths this character goes to is bonkers. This story has notes of occultism mixed with the supernatural. One thing is for sure, Baxter has changed how I look at guinea pigs for the rest of my life with this story.
The last story in the collection is "Rock Fisher," a tale of both eldritch horror and body horror. After suffering a painful breakup with his girlfriend, a character goes fishing and catches an entity that takes over every area of his life and will change life in The Gulp as we have come to know it.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and was sad to see it end. In creating The Gulp, Baxter has created his own playland mash up of Innsmouth and Castle Rock. There are so many more big background stories to be told and so many more inhabitants to learn about. I hope we get to visit The Gulp again soon.
The town of Gulpepper, known as "The Gulp" to locals, appears to be a small, quiet Australian harbor town. No one wants to stop there, the police won't come if you call them, and locals know that you can never really leave. While things are quiet and business as usual during the day, everyone knows that you shouldn't be out in The Gulp after dark. In these five interconnected novellas are just a taste of what goes on in The Gulp.
We are introduced to Gulpepper in the first story, "On the Rim," by veteran truck driver George on his last shift to The Gulp training his replacement, Rich on his weekly route. George warns Rich to make the trip to The Gulp as quick as you can and then get out of town before dark. Rich takes this as the old man playing a trick on him and ignores his advice. While dropping off their load at a grocery store, there is an accident with their truck, forcing them to stay in The Gulp overnight. Despite George's advice not to go out at night and ignoring his requests for him to stay in the truck until the tow truck comes in the morning, Rich decides that he wants to get to know the town. He heads out and quickly finds himself in more trouble than he bargained for.
In "Mother in Bloom," we meet teenage siblings who are dealing with the aftermath of their mother's death and how to cover it up so that they aren't separated by social services. When the mother's remains morph into something unexpected, the siblings learn exactly just how far they will go to stay together. The characters and events in this story get a lot of callbacks throughout the book. This story, I feel, does have some mild body horror.
The third story, "The Band Plays On," introduces us to the legendary band Blind Eye Moon via a concert attended by four tourists visiting The Gulp while on holiday. After bonding with the band during the show, the tourists are invited back to their house to party afterward, and end up staying at the band's insistence for a few days. The party keeps going and the booze keeps flowing, and soon the nightmares begin. While one of the tourists gets suspicious, the remaining three start looking and feeling haggard from the late night parties and subsequent nightmares. And the band is eager to keep the party going at any cost.
"48 To Go" is my favorite story in the collection, and when you read it, you'll know why. This is without a doubt, one of the craziest stories I've ever read. After getting his mob boss's drugs stolen, a local thug is given 48 hours to collect the $60,000 owed to his boss, or never be seen again. The lengths this character goes to is bonkers. This story has notes of occultism mixed with the supernatural. One thing is for sure, Baxter has changed how I look at guinea pigs for the rest of my life with this story.
The last story in the collection is "Rock Fisher," a tale of both eldritch horror and body horror. After suffering a painful breakup with his girlfriend, a character goes fishing and catches an entity that takes over every area of his life and will change life in The Gulp as we have come to know it.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and was sad to see it end. In creating The Gulp, Baxter has created his own playland mash up of Innsmouth and Castle Rock. There are so many more big background stories to be told and so many more inhabitants to learn about. I hope we get to visit The Gulp again soon.
March 3, 2021
Alan Baxter has crafted a prime example of Cosmic horror with, The Gulp!
Gullepper is isolated, there's only one road in and out, it's not your usual harbor town, strange things happen here, this place, it has a habit of swallowing people, but if you're lucky it may just spit you out! Only outsiders utilize its full name, locals call it The Gulp.
If you happen to have found yourself in Carter's grip, or slave to sentient fungi, maybe indulging in some Blind Eye Moonshine, when the fishers catch is made, the tides of change, are upon you. Everyone dreams of The Fall when they close their eyes in The Gulp, will you fall victim too?
Cosmic horror has a way of unsettling readers, we never know what to expect. The Gulp delivers, by the barrel. Baxter's writing produces an atmospheric dread, with thought-provoking prose he's able to creep into the reader's mind. The descriptive quality of his writing artfully depicts action and motion, providing fear for the reader. The Gulp is his creation, his writing is so authentic, readers will be transported to the Australian coastline, trapped in its clutches.
There are five novellas within The Gulp, all separate entities, but skillfully intertwined. His ability to choreograph scenes will have you sweating, striding through the pages with fervor. Its clear, that this is the beginning for The Gulp, what other discoveries have yet to be made?
Out on a Rim 5⭐️
This one ends with a bang, you won't see it coming, nothing has prepared you for what's going to happen.
Mother in Bloom 5⭐️
In the face of despair, they believed they were granted freedom, it came back.
The Band Plays On 5⭐️
This one is steeped in raw emotion, the brilliant reimagining of a common horror trope, will have you dreaming of the possibilities.
48 to Go 5⭐️
Visceral, brutal, highly descriptive violence, will have you begging for more!
The Rock Fisher 5⭐️
This one, you think you know what’s happening, trust me, you don’t! It will have you reeling.
The Gulp is a special place, we’ve only just breached the horizon.
I would recommend this book to fans of cosmic horror, even if you're not a fan of cosmic, this collection, may cause you to change your mind.
Gullepper is isolated, there's only one road in and out, it's not your usual harbor town, strange things happen here, this place, it has a habit of swallowing people, but if you're lucky it may just spit you out! Only outsiders utilize its full name, locals call it The Gulp.
If you happen to have found yourself in Carter's grip, or slave to sentient fungi, maybe indulging in some Blind Eye Moonshine, when the fishers catch is made, the tides of change, are upon you. Everyone dreams of The Fall when they close their eyes in The Gulp, will you fall victim too?
Cosmic horror has a way of unsettling readers, we never know what to expect. The Gulp delivers, by the barrel. Baxter's writing produces an atmospheric dread, with thought-provoking prose he's able to creep into the reader's mind. The descriptive quality of his writing artfully depicts action and motion, providing fear for the reader. The Gulp is his creation, his writing is so authentic, readers will be transported to the Australian coastline, trapped in its clutches.
There are five novellas within The Gulp, all separate entities, but skillfully intertwined. His ability to choreograph scenes will have you sweating, striding through the pages with fervor. Its clear, that this is the beginning for The Gulp, what other discoveries have yet to be made?
Out on a Rim 5⭐️
This one ends with a bang, you won't see it coming, nothing has prepared you for what's going to happen.
Mother in Bloom 5⭐️
In the face of despair, they believed they were granted freedom, it came back.
The Band Plays On 5⭐️
This one is steeped in raw emotion, the brilliant reimagining of a common horror trope, will have you dreaming of the possibilities.
48 to Go 5⭐️
Visceral, brutal, highly descriptive violence, will have you begging for more!
The Rock Fisher 5⭐️
This one, you think you know what’s happening, trust me, you don’t! It will have you reeling.
The Gulp is a special place, we’ve only just breached the horizon.
I would recommend this book to fans of cosmic horror, even if you're not a fan of cosmic, this collection, may cause you to change your mind.
February 28, 2021
The Gulp by Alan Baxter is a collection of five eerie and brutal horror shorts that are all set in the same small coastal town. Prepare yourself before diving into this one… Hopefully The Gulp will spit you out on the other side.
For those of you that have had the chance to read this one, I hope my photo makes you chuckle 🙂
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
For those of you that have had the chance to read this one, I hope my photo makes you chuckle 🙂
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
January 13, 2021
The isolated Australian harbour town of Gulpepper is not like other places. You see, Gulpepper, known as The Gulp to the locals, has a habit of swallowing people up.
This collection tells five tales about what goes on in the cursed town.
“The sign said ‘Gulpepper, population 8,000’” Torsten said. “That’s not a tiny hamlet”
“Did you saw the bit underneath?” Simone asked, “Someone writed it on”
“What bit?”
“It said ‘but the dead outnumber the living.”
Patrick laughed “well, isn’t that cheery”
This book is a great introduction to The Gulp, with 5 separate but connected stories, which create a Twilight Zone town with creepy tense vibes.
Alan Baxter has a way of writing that brings you right into the town. You will however, be glad that you are not in the town because The Gulp is not a place you want to be, especially after dark.
I look forward to more stories from The Gulp so I can visit with the man with no nose, the pale boy with long, weird, floppy arms and legs, maybe catch a glimpse of the sea witch or the four odd people that stare out at the ocean at night.
4.5 stars because I am so intrigued for more
Thank you to Alan Baxter for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This collection tells five tales about what goes on in the cursed town.
“The sign said ‘Gulpepper, population 8,000’” Torsten said. “That’s not a tiny hamlet”
“Did you saw the bit underneath?” Simone asked, “Someone writed it on”
“What bit?”
“It said ‘but the dead outnumber the living.”
Patrick laughed “well, isn’t that cheery”
This book is a great introduction to The Gulp, with 5 separate but connected stories, which create a Twilight Zone town with creepy tense vibes.
Alan Baxter has a way of writing that brings you right into the town. You will however, be glad that you are not in the town because The Gulp is not a place you want to be, especially after dark.
I look forward to more stories from The Gulp so I can visit with the man with no nose, the pale boy with long, weird, floppy arms and legs, maybe catch a glimpse of the sea witch or the four odd people that stare out at the ocean at night.
4.5 stars because I am so intrigued for more
Thank you to Alan Baxter for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2021
Five stories. Five stars. Full review to follow.
March 9, 2021
Gulpepper, Australia, known to the locals as The Gulp, has a reputation for "strange things happening", just being accepted as a routine in this harbour town. Countless missing photos of residents are plastered throughout the town, residents appear either entirely normal and friendly or completely elusive and other-worldly, there seems to be no in-between. Nicknamed The Gulp by the locals for it's tendency to "swallow people up", we're guided through Gulpepper with little to no knowledge of who or what awaits us.
This book is a collection of five novellas all taking place in the same town. Baxter has this formatted perfectly. He carries just a tiny nugget over from the previous story, a band the characters in the previous story were listening to, or the same sighting of a strange looking resident, that gives you just enough familiarity to remind you that you're in the same place around relatively the same time, just a voyeur to someone else's nightmare across town. This could have been a collection of tales from the same geographical location spread out throughout the years but, it worked really well this way. It makes you appreciate the authors atmospheric writing so much more.
This collection also carried a bit of nostalgia for me. While I do not have any personal experience with man-eating fungus with an agenda of it's own, The Gulp is the Bermuda Triangle of Australia. Didn't every middle-grade child think they were tough enough to enter the triangle and live to tell the tale? That is how this collection made me feel. It made me place myself within The Gulp's boundaries and size up every scenario thinking, surely if that were me, I would have made it out. In reality, I probably would have done the exact same thing as all of the characters however, it made the reading experience far more enjoyable. I WANTED to put myself in this place that you are warned not to enter.
This is my second experience with Baxter's stories and I must admit, I think he may be an auto-buy author for me now. His writing is fluid and his landscapes are rich. If you enjoy cosmic and atmospheric horror, do yourself a favor and check this out.
Thank you to Alan Baxter and Night Worms for providing a copy for this review.
This book is a collection of five novellas all taking place in the same town. Baxter has this formatted perfectly. He carries just a tiny nugget over from the previous story, a band the characters in the previous story were listening to, or the same sighting of a strange looking resident, that gives you just enough familiarity to remind you that you're in the same place around relatively the same time, just a voyeur to someone else's nightmare across town. This could have been a collection of tales from the same geographical location spread out throughout the years but, it worked really well this way. It makes you appreciate the authors atmospheric writing so much more.
This collection also carried a bit of nostalgia for me. While I do not have any personal experience with man-eating fungus with an agenda of it's own, The Gulp is the Bermuda Triangle of Australia. Didn't every middle-grade child think they were tough enough to enter the triangle and live to tell the tale? That is how this collection made me feel. It made me place myself within The Gulp's boundaries and size up every scenario thinking, surely if that were me, I would have made it out. In reality, I probably would have done the exact same thing as all of the characters however, it made the reading experience far more enjoyable. I WANTED to put myself in this place that you are warned not to enter.
This is my second experience with Baxter's stories and I must admit, I think he may be an auto-buy author for me now. His writing is fluid and his landscapes are rich. If you enjoy cosmic and atmospheric horror, do yourself a favor and check this out.
Thank you to Alan Baxter and Night Worms for providing a copy for this review.
March 20, 2021
This is a collection of 5 short stories that all take place in the little town of Gulpepper.
Each story explored a different oddity found in the town, while alluding to others. They carried over and tied into each other - BUT. Each story felt like it ended right as it got good. The stage was set, the character and plot presented: BOOM! Over.
So I was thinking after the 4th story - maybe the 5th would tie them all together and give me a stellar ending while answering some questions about things the author kept drawing my attention to in all the stories.
Sadly, it did not, only gave me more questions. I’ve heard there may be a second collection coming, so maybe we’ll get answers there, or maybe this is how the author likes to write. He has a great, easy going writing style that is enjoyable to read and he is a fantastic storyteller - I just need an ending to at least one of these!! lol
Each story explored a different oddity found in the town, while alluding to others. They carried over and tied into each other - BUT. Each story felt like it ended right as it got good. The stage was set, the character and plot presented: BOOM! Over.
So I was thinking after the 4th story - maybe the 5th would tie them all together and give me a stellar ending while answering some questions about things the author kept drawing my attention to in all the stories.
Sadly, it did not, only gave me more questions. I’ve heard there may be a second collection coming, so maybe we’ll get answers there, or maybe this is how the author likes to write. He has a great, easy going writing style that is enjoyable to read and he is a fantastic storyteller - I just need an ending to at least one of these!! lol
May 14, 2022
I am a huge fan of Alan Baxter, so was ashamedly sluggish in getting around to tackling his five interconnected novellas within The Gulp, which was published early in 2021. However, the delay turned out to be advantageous, as I was able to bounce directly onto the sequel The Fall: Tales From the Gulp 2The Fall, which is equally as impressive. If you have never read Alan Baxter before, his Eli Carver trilogy about a semi-retired mob enforcer is another great place to start. The trilogy opens with Manifest RecallManifest Recall, dealing with incredibly painful personal trauma; Eli begins to see the ghosts of some of his own victims who berate and follow him around. Written in a completely different style to the Gulp books, by way of comparison they highlight the impressive range of Alan Baxter’s writing.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
April 22, 2023
This was my first Alan Baxter. I get why he's a pretty big name around here. This man can write!
I loved how the stories were full of dread and were bleak, and you really had no idea if anyone would survive. The ending was my favorite because he came right back around and connected everything together, and I really was shook. Your actions matter, people. Get it together.
Don't wait as long as I did to read one of his books. I promise he knows what he's doing.
I loved how the stories were full of dread and were bleak, and you really had no idea if anyone would survive. The ending was my favorite because he came right back around and connected everything together, and I really was shook. Your actions matter, people. Get it together.
Don't wait as long as I did to read one of his books. I promise he knows what he's doing.
July 14, 2021
I've never been to Australia, but that certainly doesn't mean I haven't been to one of those quirky towns where things just don't quite feel right. Alan Baxter's spin on this idea takes us to a coastal town, separated from its two near neighbours by thick, impenetrable bush and a single-lane, canopied road which no-one would ever want to traverse at night.
The introductory story here is smartly delivered, with an outsider taking his first tentative steps into The Gulp as we do. Things get weird pretty quickly and Baxter establishes motifs and characters who will come up again and again during these tales.
The variety of horror here is quite unique, with something of the vampyric/ghoulish in one, body horror in a couple more and occult-based human nastiness in still another. There is this background of something cosmic which is only hinted at, but hinted at enough that this reader, at the very least, wants to know more.
I flew through these 200-odd pages, even at a time where I was travelling and a bit all over the place.
I sincerely hope this is just the first visit to The Gulp. Careful though, it tends to swallow people.
The introductory story here is smartly delivered, with an outsider taking his first tentative steps into The Gulp as we do. Things get weird pretty quickly and Baxter establishes motifs and characters who will come up again and again during these tales.
The variety of horror here is quite unique, with something of the vampyric/ghoulish in one, body horror in a couple more and occult-based human nastiness in still another. There is this background of something cosmic which is only hinted at, but hinted at enough that this reader, at the very least, wants to know more.
I flew through these 200-odd pages, even at a time where I was travelling and a bit all over the place.
I sincerely hope this is just the first visit to The Gulp. Careful though, it tends to swallow people.
January 21, 2021
The nitty-gritty: Fancy some Eldritch nightmares? Then look no further. The Gulp is the perfect combination of weird, brutal and creepy.
The Gulp has the honor of being my first horror book of 2021, and folks, it was a good one! Alan Baxter is a well-known Aussie horror author, and I had not heard of him when he asked me to read his book. But I’m so glad I accepted it for review, because I am now an Alan Baxter fan for life. The Gulp is a collection of five interconnected stories that revolve around the fictitious Australian town of Gulpepper, or “the Gulp” as the locals call it. Gulpepper is a small town that sits on a craggy cliff overlooking the ocean, a town where things are a little on the, um, strange side. It’s not the kind of place you want to visit if you don’t have to, and you definitely don’t want to spend the night there. As one local says, “the Gulp swallows some people whole and spits others out.”
Baxter’s stories are steeped in Lovecraftian, cosmic horror and populated with strange people and even stranger creatures. Anyone who spends the night in the Gulp has nightmares of horrific, tentacled beings falling from the sky into the ocean. There’s also a nasty crime element present in the town, which added a nice touch of grittiness. All five stories are loosely linked and various characters cross over and make appearances in other stories.
Here’s a quick recap of each story:
OUT ON A RIM
Newbie trucker Richard accompanies George on a trip to Gulpepper, as George is about to retire and Richard will be taking over his route. George has been to the Gulp before and warns Richard that nothing good ever happens there. George’s advice? Get in and get out, before dark if possible. But when their truck breaks down and they find themselves stranded overnight, Richard brushes aside George’s warnings and heads for town to get a bite to eat. As you might imagine, things don’t go too well for Richard and he gets way more than he bargained for.
This was a fantastic opener and really set the tone for the rest of the stories. Baxter drops hints about the weirdness going on in the Gulp, and the story was unexpectedly violent and disturbing, which really prepares the reader for the stories to come.
MOTHER IN BLOOM
Mother in Bloom is much different but just as good. A brother and sister who live in the Gulp with their invalid mother have just found her dead in her bed. Because Maddy and Zack aren’t yet eighteen, they don’t want her death discovered, otherwise they will be forced into foster care. Instead of reporting it to the authorities, they decide to leave her in bed until they can figure out a way to dispose of the body. As you might guess, this is a terrible idea, and things quickly spiral out of control.
If you love body horror and are a fan of Little Shop of Horrors, then I imagine you’ll really love Mother in Bloom. This story literally made my skin crawl, it was delightfully creepy!
THE BAND PLAYS ON
Two couples backpacking across the continent end up at the home of a popular local band called Blind Eye Moon, after the band members invite them to an exclusive afterparty. But when everyone starts doing shots of a weird, green liquor, one of the backpackers realizes that something is very wrong. All he wants to do is leave, but his friends insist on staying. Even worse, his friends are changing...
This story was good, but it was my least favorite of the bunch. I did love the weird, dream-like vibe, though, and once again, Baxter’s out of town characters dream about the creatures falling from the sky. This had a bit of The Lost Boys feel to it, too!
48 TO GO
Dace works for the local mob boss Carter and is in the process of delivering a large shipment of marijuana to him, when he’s robbed at gunpoint. Carter isn’t too pleased and offers Dace two choices: pay Carter sixty grand for the drugs he lost, or wind up buried in a ditch. And he has forty-eight hours to find the money. In desperation, Dace decides to target an old, cash-hoarding couple in town, but his plan backfires in a big way.
I loved this story! Dace is an incompetent idiot, but boy was he an entertaining character. Both brutal and funny, I’m calling this one “Pulp Fiction meets Lovecraft.”
ROCK FISHER
A local fisherman catches something strange one day while fishing off the rocks, and decides to bring it home with him. The odd, egg-shaped blob is calling to him, urging him to protect it. Troy Mackay desperately wants a family of his own, but maybe this thing could be a good substitute? Little does he know that by taking it out of the ocean, he’s setting events in motion that can’t be stopped.
This story made my skin crawl! I’m a fan of body horror and Baxter did a great job with it here. We also see the overall story arc of the collection come full circle with the conclusion of Rock Fisher, as Baxter brings back characters from his other stories and suggests something big is about to happen.
I do hope Alan Baxter is planning on writing more Gulp stories, as it seems he has barely scratched the surface of what might be going on there. Trust me when I say, I would never want to visit the Gulp myself, but I'll happily read more stories.
Big thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
The Gulp has the honor of being my first horror book of 2021, and folks, it was a good one! Alan Baxter is a well-known Aussie horror author, and I had not heard of him when he asked me to read his book. But I’m so glad I accepted it for review, because I am now an Alan Baxter fan for life. The Gulp is a collection of five interconnected stories that revolve around the fictitious Australian town of Gulpepper, or “the Gulp” as the locals call it. Gulpepper is a small town that sits on a craggy cliff overlooking the ocean, a town where things are a little on the, um, strange side. It’s not the kind of place you want to visit if you don’t have to, and you definitely don’t want to spend the night there. As one local says, “the Gulp swallows some people whole and spits others out.”
Baxter’s stories are steeped in Lovecraftian, cosmic horror and populated with strange people and even stranger creatures. Anyone who spends the night in the Gulp has nightmares of horrific, tentacled beings falling from the sky into the ocean. There’s also a nasty crime element present in the town, which added a nice touch of grittiness. All five stories are loosely linked and various characters cross over and make appearances in other stories.
Here’s a quick recap of each story:
OUT ON A RIM
Newbie trucker Richard accompanies George on a trip to Gulpepper, as George is about to retire and Richard will be taking over his route. George has been to the Gulp before and warns Richard that nothing good ever happens there. George’s advice? Get in and get out, before dark if possible. But when their truck breaks down and they find themselves stranded overnight, Richard brushes aside George’s warnings and heads for town to get a bite to eat. As you might imagine, things don’t go too well for Richard and he gets way more than he bargained for.
This was a fantastic opener and really set the tone for the rest of the stories. Baxter drops hints about the weirdness going on in the Gulp, and the story was unexpectedly violent and disturbing, which really prepares the reader for the stories to come.
MOTHER IN BLOOM
Mother in Bloom is much different but just as good. A brother and sister who live in the Gulp with their invalid mother have just found her dead in her bed. Because Maddy and Zack aren’t yet eighteen, they don’t want her death discovered, otherwise they will be forced into foster care. Instead of reporting it to the authorities, they decide to leave her in bed until they can figure out a way to dispose of the body. As you might guess, this is a terrible idea, and things quickly spiral out of control.
If you love body horror and are a fan of Little Shop of Horrors, then I imagine you’ll really love Mother in Bloom. This story literally made my skin crawl, it was delightfully creepy!
THE BAND PLAYS ON
Two couples backpacking across the continent end up at the home of a popular local band called Blind Eye Moon, after the band members invite them to an exclusive afterparty. But when everyone starts doing shots of a weird, green liquor, one of the backpackers realizes that something is very wrong. All he wants to do is leave, but his friends insist on staying. Even worse, his friends are changing...
This story was good, but it was my least favorite of the bunch. I did love the weird, dream-like vibe, though, and once again, Baxter’s out of town characters dream about the creatures falling from the sky. This had a bit of The Lost Boys feel to it, too!
48 TO GO
Dace works for the local mob boss Carter and is in the process of delivering a large shipment of marijuana to him, when he’s robbed at gunpoint. Carter isn’t too pleased and offers Dace two choices: pay Carter sixty grand for the drugs he lost, or wind up buried in a ditch. And he has forty-eight hours to find the money. In desperation, Dace decides to target an old, cash-hoarding couple in town, but his plan backfires in a big way.
I loved this story! Dace is an incompetent idiot, but boy was he an entertaining character. Both brutal and funny, I’m calling this one “Pulp Fiction meets Lovecraft.”
ROCK FISHER
A local fisherman catches something strange one day while fishing off the rocks, and decides to bring it home with him. The odd, egg-shaped blob is calling to him, urging him to protect it. Troy Mackay desperately wants a family of his own, but maybe this thing could be a good substitute? Little does he know that by taking it out of the ocean, he’s setting events in motion that can’t be stopped.
This story made my skin crawl! I’m a fan of body horror and Baxter did a great job with it here. We also see the overall story arc of the collection come full circle with the conclusion of Rock Fisher, as Baxter brings back characters from his other stories and suggests something big is about to happen.
I do hope Alan Baxter is planning on writing more Gulp stories, as it seems he has barely scratched the surface of what might be going on there. Trust me when I say, I would never want to visit the Gulp myself, but I'll happily read more stories.
Big thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
December 14, 2020
How do you review a collection of horror short stories without spoiling them?
I am at a loss with this question as the author has left me mildly speechless at the end of each story.
What can I say about the great writing forming prose to bewilder and bemuse, I was constantly left wondering what was about to happen, and left stunned by the results.
Trying to be as spoiler free as possible, 5 loosely related stories around the town of Gulpepper or "The Gulp", each of which is tightly formed and loosely connected, leading to a culmination as unexpected as it is sudden.
The quick shot nature of the short story doesn't usually lead to the depth of character involved in the short stories presented here, and while you are waiting for the twist to hit you are struck from the side and left stunned.
I spaced my reading of each story over a day so as to not dilute the presentation and was left rocked each time, I could've sat down and finished the whole book in one sitting but wanted to digest all that had occurred each time.
The surreal nature of the stories and their presentation leaves you slightly offput, and the longer I thought about it the more uncomfortable I felt. Close enough to real country towns and how the people are just slightly left of normal, for whatever reason those small country towns occasionally just don't feel 'right' and these stories add to the brain shudders that holds it together.
I've never been comfortable staying in country towns and because of these stories I have to rate this book "never going to stay in an offputting country town ever again" out of 10.
This book was received as an ARC from the author.
I am at a loss with this question as the author has left me mildly speechless at the end of each story.
What can I say about the great writing forming prose to bewilder and bemuse, I was constantly left wondering what was about to happen, and left stunned by the results.
Trying to be as spoiler free as possible, 5 loosely related stories around the town of Gulpepper or "The Gulp", each of which is tightly formed and loosely connected, leading to a culmination as unexpected as it is sudden.
The quick shot nature of the short story doesn't usually lead to the depth of character involved in the short stories presented here, and while you are waiting for the twist to hit you are struck from the side and left stunned.
I spaced my reading of each story over a day so as to not dilute the presentation and was left rocked each time, I could've sat down and finished the whole book in one sitting but wanted to digest all that had occurred each time.
The surreal nature of the stories and their presentation leaves you slightly offput, and the longer I thought about it the more uncomfortable I felt. Close enough to real country towns and how the people are just slightly left of normal, for whatever reason those small country towns occasionally just don't feel 'right' and these stories add to the brain shudders that holds it together.
I've never been comfortable staying in country towns and because of these stories I have to rate this book "never going to stay in an offputting country town ever again" out of 10.
This book was received as an ARC from the author.
January 16, 2021
Gulpepper, Australia is a creepy, spooky, and mysterious small town. This collection of 5 novellas centers around the goings on with the people and things in and around Gulpepper, or as the locals call it, 'The Gulp'.
I'm a huge fan of 'open world' games where the player is allowed to explore on their own and discover the world. And honestly that's what The Gulp feels like. The first novella follows a trucker as he drives his new route into The Gulp, we discover the town with him. From there the book moves around town leading the reader to uncover mysterious events involving the denizens of Gulpepper. These stories only create more questions about this town. We get see the dark underbelly of the town and Baxter excels at this mix of crime and horror.
What I loved the most about this book is that while we learn a lot as we travel around Gulpepper, there are so many questions and mysteries left on the table for Baxter to revisit. The town of Gulpepper is like a weird onion that Baxter can continue to peel for years to come. I look forward to uncovering the secrets of The Gulp.
Five enthusiastic stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm a huge fan of 'open world' games where the player is allowed to explore on their own and discover the world. And honestly that's what The Gulp feels like. The first novella follows a trucker as he drives his new route into The Gulp, we discover the town with him. From there the book moves around town leading the reader to uncover mysterious events involving the denizens of Gulpepper. These stories only create more questions about this town. We get see the dark underbelly of the town and Baxter excels at this mix of crime and horror.
What I loved the most about this book is that while we learn a lot as we travel around Gulpepper, there are so many questions and mysteries left on the table for Baxter to revisit. The town of Gulpepper is like a weird onion that Baxter can continue to peel for years to come. I look forward to uncovering the secrets of The Gulp.
Five enthusiastic stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 5, 2021
My previous experience with Baxter's writing was The Roo, a fun, wild creature feature, but nothing too deep. The Gulp was surprising in the depths it plumbed and how full of solid, hardcore horror with nods to old school style of horror writing.
Much like Josh Malerman's Goblin, The Gulp consists of five novellas all taking place in Baxter's made up town of Gulpepper, each story having connections, but (mostly) being independent of one another. Most of them have the feel of a nuanced Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt kind of plot. There are heavy Lovecraftian and other cosmic horror influences and occurrences as well as John Carpenter and Bram Stoker. The overall plots of most of the tales are oft used tropes, but where Baxter runs with them is often unexpected and anything but the usual.
The Gulp was unpredictable, scary and cringe-inducing, and solid horror enjoyment from start to finish. 4.5/5*
Much like Josh Malerman's Goblin, The Gulp consists of five novellas all taking place in Baxter's made up town of Gulpepper, each story having connections, but (mostly) being independent of one another. Most of them have the feel of a nuanced Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt kind of plot. There are heavy Lovecraftian and other cosmic horror influences and occurrences as well as John Carpenter and Bram Stoker. The overall plots of most of the tales are oft used tropes, but where Baxter runs with them is often unexpected and anything but the usual.
The Gulp was unpredictable, scary and cringe-inducing, and solid horror enjoyment from start to finish. 4.5/5*
March 10, 2021
TITLE: The Gulp
AUTHOR: Alan Baxter
SYNOPSIS: Strange things happen in The Gulp. The residents have grown used to it. The isolated Australian harbour town of Gulpepper is not like other places. Some maps don’t even show it. And only outsiders use the full name. Everyone who lives there calls it The Gulp. The place has a habit of swallowing people.
A truck driver thinks the stories about The Gulp are made up to scare him. Until he gets there. Teenage siblings try to cover up the death of their mother, but their plans go drastically awry. A rock band invites four backpackers to a party at their house, where things get dangerously out of hand. A young man loses a drug shipment and his boss gives him 48 hours to make good on his mistake. Under the blinking eye of the old lighthouse, a rock fisher makes the strangest catch of his life.
Five novellas. Five descents into darkness. Welcome to The Gulp, where nothing is as it seems.
PUBLISHER: 13th Dragon Books
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Welcome to The Gulp, the Hotel California of Aussie harbor towns.
Out on a Rim
Two truck drivers get stuck in The Gulp. One decides to wander the town and finds more adventure than he bargained for.
Mother in Bloom
Mother dies. She wasn’t a very good mom and the teens decide to keep her death a secret. Then they find mom covered in a fungus...and it's hungry.
The Band Plays On
A new spin on an old trope. Four young adults find happiness in music, partying with a band after a show, but when weird stuff begins to happen, Patrick can’t believe he is the only sane one.
48 to Go
If a crime boss gave you 48 hours to come up with an obscene amount of money, how would you get it? Dace has a very simple way--steal, but when the couple he is robbing turns out to be more than he bargained for, Dace is forced to decide whose life is worth losing. (Hint: it isn’t his family’s)
Rock Fisher
Alan saved the best for last. This creepy tale gives us life, literally. A sinister egg is found by a fisherman and things begin to change for all of The Gulp.
“ The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. But sometimes it spits one out.”
And just like that, The Gulp has spit me out. I survived. I enjoyed my stay, everything cleaned up very nicely in the end and the ending gives us home to a return trip. I would definitely visit The Gulp again.
Alan gave us five distinct stories, some more brutal than others (seriously what is up with the guinea pigs?), but all high in creep factor. There is certainly a weird force around The Gulp and it leads us all to one thing-- the fall.
Thank you to Alan Baxter for a gifted copy of THE GULP in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2021
"The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. But sometimes it spits one out."
The Gulp, what an interesting place! And what a fantastic collection of short stories. I remember first reading Alan Baxter last year through a Night Worms book party opportunity. I really don’t know why I accepted to participate since it was a short story collection and short stories aren’t really my thing, mostly because they are hit or miss. Usually I end up liking 1 or 2 stories at most, it’s just not worth it for me. Well, I’m so glad I took a chance with Served Cold cause I had the opposite experience. I ended up loving all but maybe one. I’m happy to report that THE GULP was exactly the same.
In this short story collection we are following the weird and ominous town of The Gulpepper. Each collection follows a different storyline, which I recommend you read in order. I know many people like to jump around in collections but trust me, read this one exactly as it is laid out, you will get much more out of them. I’m going to be completely honest, I was in a time crunch when I read this. My plan was to speed read as much as possible BUT I JUST COULDN’T. Each story sucked me completely in and I savored each and every word. It’s just not possible to skim through this. Baxter’s writing draws you in in such a way that you get completely enthralled within the story. There is so much atmosphere to experience in The Gulp. I enjoyed all the characters equally, and each story was so unique and entertaining. If I had to choose a favorite it would be Mother In Bloom, but they were all amazing. I can’t finish this review without requesting more of this world. Alan, I need more of the craziness that is The Gulp!
If you love weird ominous stories then I think you would enjoy this one, but be warned once you visit The Gulp it’s really hard to walk away.
Thank you so much to the publisher, author and to Night Worms for this chilling book party!
The Gulp, what an interesting place! And what a fantastic collection of short stories. I remember first reading Alan Baxter last year through a Night Worms book party opportunity. I really don’t know why I accepted to participate since it was a short story collection and short stories aren’t really my thing, mostly because they are hit or miss. Usually I end up liking 1 or 2 stories at most, it’s just not worth it for me. Well, I’m so glad I took a chance with Served Cold cause I had the opposite experience. I ended up loving all but maybe one. I’m happy to report that THE GULP was exactly the same.
In this short story collection we are following the weird and ominous town of The Gulpepper. Each collection follows a different storyline, which I recommend you read in order. I know many people like to jump around in collections but trust me, read this one exactly as it is laid out, you will get much more out of them. I’m going to be completely honest, I was in a time crunch when I read this. My plan was to speed read as much as possible BUT I JUST COULDN’T. Each story sucked me completely in and I savored each and every word. It’s just not possible to skim through this. Baxter’s writing draws you in in such a way that you get completely enthralled within the story. There is so much atmosphere to experience in The Gulp. I enjoyed all the characters equally, and each story was so unique and entertaining. If I had to choose a favorite it would be Mother In Bloom, but they were all amazing. I can’t finish this review without requesting more of this world. Alan, I need more of the craziness that is The Gulp!
If you love weird ominous stories then I think you would enjoy this one, but be warned once you visit The Gulp it’s really hard to walk away.
Thank you so much to the publisher, author and to Night Worms for this chilling book party!
July 21, 2021
I don't spend enough on Amazon to have an opinion there, so I'm posting my review here.
Alan Baxter is the Australian Joe R. Lansdale.
I've read pretty much everything Baxter has ever published. Over the years (like all good writers) he has polished his story telling craft to the point where it is both sublime and hugely entertaining.
In this first volume (please write more!) of the stories of The Gulp, Baxter weaves elements of Joe R. Lansdale's BY BIZARRE HANDS collection, instead of telling stories of the dark and gothic US South, he invites us to explore the town of Gulpepper, Australia.
There are also threads of Lovecraft and Stephen King woven through out this book of five stories. More importantly there is an absolute slathering of Australia where the darkness is so deeply entrenched in this country it is considered normal.
It is what makes The Gulp so disturbing. The fantastical and supernatural are subtle and hinted at. The weird tips its hat to the reader as it passes you in the street, while walking something that may or may not be a dog. But the town and the people in it are immediately recognisable.
The Gulp immerses you in the culture of small town Australia. With all the petty awfulness of small communities and the carefully structured social nuances of a town where everyone knows everyone else - and more importantly - they know the rules. The real-world impacts of alcohol, violence, crime, and xenophobia make fertile ground for a perfect seasoning of weird horror.
The result is a collection of stories that is terrific. The sort of thing Netflix or Amazon should be producing as a series and any fan of excellent horror should be reading.
Alan Baxter is the Australian Joe R. Lansdale.
I've read pretty much everything Baxter has ever published. Over the years (like all good writers) he has polished his story telling craft to the point where it is both sublime and hugely entertaining.
In this first volume (please write more!) of the stories of The Gulp, Baxter weaves elements of Joe R. Lansdale's BY BIZARRE HANDS collection, instead of telling stories of the dark and gothic US South, he invites us to explore the town of Gulpepper, Australia.
There are also threads of Lovecraft and Stephen King woven through out this book of five stories. More importantly there is an absolute slathering of Australia where the darkness is so deeply entrenched in this country it is considered normal.
It is what makes The Gulp so disturbing. The fantastical and supernatural are subtle and hinted at. The weird tips its hat to the reader as it passes you in the street, while walking something that may or may not be a dog. But the town and the people in it are immediately recognisable.
The Gulp immerses you in the culture of small town Australia. With all the petty awfulness of small communities and the carefully structured social nuances of a town where everyone knows everyone else - and more importantly - they know the rules. The real-world impacts of alcohol, violence, crime, and xenophobia make fertile ground for a perfect seasoning of weird horror.
The result is a collection of stories that is terrific. The sort of thing Netflix or Amazon should be producing as a series and any fan of excellent horror should be reading.
July 4, 2024
Rating: 4 stars.
A compelling series of 5 novellas set in the cursed seaside town of Gulpepper, really capturing that 'horrible Australian small town' energy. The horror of powerlessness to save someone you love in The Band Plays On got to me in particular, though all five stories are strong. Only a little disappointed that the stories built to a crossover climax that never really came, though I've definitely added the sequel to my reading list.
A compelling series of 5 novellas set in the cursed seaside town of Gulpepper, really capturing that 'horrible Australian small town' energy. The horror of powerlessness to save someone you love in The Band Plays On got to me in particular, though all five stories are strong. Only a little disappointed that the stories built to a crossover climax that never really came, though I've definitely added the sequel to my reading list.
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