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Rock and a Hard Place, Issue 4: Fall/Winter
Meeting cute in a home invasion can’t end well.
Tell yourself dancing is dancing and just do it.
Sometimes the only thing you get to choose in this life is how you check out.
Cue the meth gators. Rock and a Hard Place is back with Issue Four, the downest and dirtiest chronicle of bad decisions and desperate people yet, with contributions Jay Bechtol, Michael Chin, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Laura Dizon, Paul J. Garth, Dan Georgakas, Stephen J. Golds, Bruce Harris, Russell W. Johnson, Wilson Koewing, Diane Krauthamer, Susan Kuchinskas, Jeff Maschi, Jess Messier, Roger Nokes, Andrew Novak, Thomas Pluck, Richard Risemberg, Peter Rozovsky, Jason Mykl Snyman, Stefen Styrsky, N.B. Turner and Jane Young. Rock and a Hard Place is the place for noir that goes beyond crime to a view of the world. Anywhere substance abuse, sex work, dead end jobs and hopeless scams are the obvious choice, you’ll find our authors digging deep. What are you waiting for?
Tell yourself dancing is dancing and just do it.
Sometimes the only thing you get to choose in this life is how you check out.
Cue the meth gators. Rock and a Hard Place is back with Issue Four, the downest and dirtiest chronicle of bad decisions and desperate people yet, with contributions Jay Bechtol, Michael Chin, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Laura Dizon, Paul J. Garth, Dan Georgakas, Stephen J. Golds, Bruce Harris, Russell W. Johnson, Wilson Koewing, Diane Krauthamer, Susan Kuchinskas, Jeff Maschi, Jess Messier, Roger Nokes, Andrew Novak, Thomas Pluck, Richard Risemberg, Peter Rozovsky, Jason Mykl Snyman, Stefen Styrsky, N.B. Turner and Jane Young. Rock and a Hard Place is the place for noir that goes beyond crime to a view of the world. Anywhere substance abuse, sex work, dead end jobs and hopeless scams are the obvious choice, you’ll find our authors digging deep. What are you waiting for?
187 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 4, 2020
A great collection of stories by a great collection of writers.
Rock and a Hard Place is such a wonderful magazine and is really head and shoulders above so many other print zines and anthologies.
Highly recommended
5/5
Rock and a Hard Place is such a wonderful magazine and is really head and shoulders above so many other print zines and anthologies.
Highly recommended
5/5
December 28, 2020
“The dry blacktop bisecting the wide spot in the road might as well be her tongue. It feels like twenty hours since her last drink. Probably more. But with a dead battery in the old convertible, the little clock in the car is as useless as her phone. Not that time matters. Only the drink matters. A drink is a drink is a drink. Without one she’s lost. Literally and figuratively.” —“Off the Furrow” by Jay Bechtol
The latest issue of Rock and a Hard Place Magazine is full of stories about desperate people in dire circumstances that evoke emotion and empathy. My favorites are as follows:
“7-11, True, and Just” by Jane Young: Shelia lives different versions of herself to make it through each moment of her depressing life. The right circumstances, however, serve to unleash the true, terrifying Shelia. The visceral language of this story grabbed me by the throat.
“Off the Furrow” by Jay Bechtol: An alcoholic goes on a road trip in search of her next drink, but she cannot outrun her tragic past. This surrealistic story beautifully illustrates the bottomless pit of alcoholism. I am drawn to stories that focus on addiction of any kind, and this is one of the best I’ve read.
“Gator Baiter” by Susan Kuchinskas: The gators in this story may or may not be on meth, but they really dig turkey necks. “Gator Baitor” had me laughing out loud at the wacky antics of the characters. I crave more of this zaniness.
“Fingerprints on the Razor” by N.B. Turner: A man and the father of the woman he loves try to come to terms with their part in her self destruction. This story has the same power punch as Turner’s most excellent story “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” which is available in Hoosier Noir One.
“The Limo” by Stefen Styrsky: After walking out of a mental hospital, a hitchhiker goes on the ride of his life in a tricked out limo. I’ve been a fan of Styrsky since reading his non-linear tale “Black Flies” in Switchblade issue 9. The ending allows the reader to draw their own conclusions.
“Dream Catcher” by Jess Messier: A man escapes to Vegas in search of the freedom he gave up for his young family and develops a deep connection with another lost soul who appreciates his art. The description of Sin City are spot on.
“88 Lines About .44 Magnums” by Thomas Pluck is an ode to an impressive firearm.
The issue includes a fun maze puzzle which is rightfully described as “a labyrinth of existential dread.”
While I didn’t connect with every story, the ones I did were home runs. For me, this is a four and a half star read rounded up to five. A big thank you to Jay Bechtol who sent me a signed copy. I appreciate his generosity and adored his beautifully written story.
The latest issue of Rock and a Hard Place Magazine is full of stories about desperate people in dire circumstances that evoke emotion and empathy. My favorites are as follows:
“7-11, True, and Just” by Jane Young: Shelia lives different versions of herself to make it through each moment of her depressing life. The right circumstances, however, serve to unleash the true, terrifying Shelia. The visceral language of this story grabbed me by the throat.
“Off the Furrow” by Jay Bechtol: An alcoholic goes on a road trip in search of her next drink, but she cannot outrun her tragic past. This surrealistic story beautifully illustrates the bottomless pit of alcoholism. I am drawn to stories that focus on addiction of any kind, and this is one of the best I’ve read.
“Gator Baiter” by Susan Kuchinskas: The gators in this story may or may not be on meth, but they really dig turkey necks. “Gator Baitor” had me laughing out loud at the wacky antics of the characters. I crave more of this zaniness.
“Fingerprints on the Razor” by N.B. Turner: A man and the father of the woman he loves try to come to terms with their part in her self destruction. This story has the same power punch as Turner’s most excellent story “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” which is available in Hoosier Noir One.
“The Limo” by Stefen Styrsky: After walking out of a mental hospital, a hitchhiker goes on the ride of his life in a tricked out limo. I’ve been a fan of Styrsky since reading his non-linear tale “Black Flies” in Switchblade issue 9. The ending allows the reader to draw their own conclusions.
“Dream Catcher” by Jess Messier: A man escapes to Vegas in search of the freedom he gave up for his young family and develops a deep connection with another lost soul who appreciates his art. The description of Sin City are spot on.
“88 Lines About .44 Magnums” by Thomas Pluck is an ode to an impressive firearm.
The issue includes a fun maze puzzle which is rightfully described as “a labyrinth of existential dread.”
While I didn’t connect with every story, the ones I did were home runs. For me, this is a four and a half star read rounded up to five. A big thank you to Jay Bechtol who sent me a signed copy. I appreciate his generosity and adored his beautifully written story.
January 3, 2021
A chronicle of bad decisions and desperate people indeed. And I'll admit, I didn't know what to expect when I opened this issue of Rock and a Hard Place. Fun was had, however, and I enjoyed the experience. Were there stories I cared for more than others? Sure. But I think you'll find that true of any crime mag or anthology you read. This is not to say there were "bad" stories within, far from it, just ones I didn't connect with as much as I did with others. But there are voices in this issue, strong voices, and reading TRAP CITY by Wilson Koewing I was reminded of Matthew Funk, one of my favorite writers out there in Crime Land. Koewing is not the same as Funk, no, he's a wordsmith all his own, but similar, and all told I'm glad his protagonist ultimately broke free. There was also an ode to the Magnum that was constructed and stuck out (pun intended) rather well by Thomas Pluck. I also enjoyed Paul Garth's contribution, which, if I'm honest, and as I write this, involves a scene I have yet to shake off. Michael Chin's WEDLOCK stood out too, and I've always been a sucker for a happy ending, so there's that. But if I had to choose, I would say the final story of the book is my favorite, even if the subject matter is what it is. EVEN THE MONSTOROUS by Jason Mykl Snyman is just a wonderful tale with so many great lines and a voice with which to spin them. Anyway, as I been known to say: go forth, seek out, purchase and enjoy. Tell 'em another lover of crime fiction sent you.
February 13, 2021
You know when you don’t have a choice and make a bad decision then compound that by making an even worse decision? Do that three more times and you might have a story for Rock and a Hard Place. Stories with people so far down in the hole they can barely recall how the sunlight feels on their skin. But they yearn to feel the warmth of the sun again no matter the cost. And they all pay the price with a piece of their souls.
A ton of stellar stories in here from Susan Kuchinskas, Thomas Pluck, Stephen J. Golds, N.B. Turner, Jess Messier, Stefen Styrsky, and many others. A flash piece that piqued my interest was a dentist visit gone wrong in “Drilling” by Bruce Harris. Wilson Koewing’s “Trap City” was another standout story for me. But the most desperate tale, the story that brutalizes your sense of humanity was “Red of Tooth and Claw” by Paul J. Garth.
This is the fourth volume of desperate stories for desperate times. Read this one then go grab the other three. You will not be disappointed.
A ton of stellar stories in here from Susan Kuchinskas, Thomas Pluck, Stephen J. Golds, N.B. Turner, Jess Messier, Stefen Styrsky, and many others. A flash piece that piqued my interest was a dentist visit gone wrong in “Drilling” by Bruce Harris. Wilson Koewing’s “Trap City” was another standout story for me. But the most desperate tale, the story that brutalizes your sense of humanity was “Red of Tooth and Claw” by Paul J. Garth.
This is the fourth volume of desperate stories for desperate times. Read this one then go grab the other three. You will not be disappointed.
May 3, 2021
Besides some good crime fiction, this edition includes form callisthentics like second person, dialog without open and closed quotes, and present tense prose.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews