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King Scratch
"Keith watched a version of himself being dissected, the body parts being used along with those of Lincoln and Booth in order to make some sort of mechanized assassin-victim hybrid. It would spend eternity annihilating itself, finding new ways to explode, puncture and penetrate its own body parts." Moonshine smuggling in New Jersey unleashes a Civil War hangover of squid parts, car crashes, stove pipe hats, urethral insertion fetishism, and a hankering for pancakes. King Scratch, a nightmare from the mind that birthed Piecemeal June and Fistful of Feet. "With King Scratch Jordan Krall has delivered a unique and twisted tale that brilliantly exudes the limitless imagination of the author and, in my opinion, elevates Krall to the upper echelon of the Bizarro lit scene." Kevin Woods, director of Bath, Survival, and Wise Guys VS Zombies "Krall has quite a flair for outrage as an art form." Edward Lee, author of The Big Head, Goon and Brides of the Impaler
100 pages, ebook
First published May 11, 2010
3 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Krall
102 books258 followersBooks include:
TENTACLE DEATH TRIP
FISTFUL OF FEET
MOTEL MAN
KING SCRATCH
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE APOCALYPSE DONKEYS
PIECEMEAL JUNE
SQUID PULP BLUES
NEWLY SHAVEN SAINT
UNFRUITFUL WORKS
PRELUDE TO SPACE RAPE!
SQUID KILLS
THE PISTOL BURPS
ALL POEMS MUST DIE
FALSE MAGIC KINGDOM
BAD ALCHEMY
THE GOG AND MAGOG BUSINESS
YOUR CITIES, YOUR TOMBS
TENTACLE DEATH TRIP
FISTFUL OF FEET
MOTEL MAN
KING SCRATCH
BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE APOCALYPSE DONKEYS
PIECEMEAL JUNE
SQUID PULP BLUES
NEWLY SHAVEN SAINT
UNFRUITFUL WORKS
PRELUDE TO SPACE RAPE!
SQUID KILLS
THE PISTOL BURPS
ALL POEMS MUST DIE
FALSE MAGIC KINGDOM
BAD ALCHEMY
THE GOG AND MAGOG BUSINESS
YOUR CITIES, YOUR TOMBS
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 18, 2011
When moonshine runner Jim Steam gets a call from his ex-wife to check on her father, things quickly spiral out of control in a monsoon of car crashes, squid moonshine, weird fetishes, and pancakes. Will Jim survive the night?
Wow. I don't know what I was expecting with King Scratch but it wasn't this. I was hooked from the first page when . King Scratch is a great Bizarro noir story. All the classic noir elements are there: betrayal, violence, betrayal, sex, violence, betrayal, etc. Throw in the Krall standbys like bizarre fetishes, squids, and crabs, and you've got a winner on your hands.
The writing is the star of the show here. I love how the narrative goes from first person during the Jim chapters and third person in the other ones. After the second car accident, I stopped trying to figure out where the story was going. Moonshine made from squid parts? Yuck!
The characters were up to noir standards. Jim's the down on his luck lead, Peggy's his conniving girlfriend, Laura's his conniving ex-wife, and Kevin is the weird guy you're not to sure about.
Any gripes? It was too short, I guess. I wasn't a tremendous fan of the ending, either. Other than that, no regrets. If you liked Squid Pulp Blues, you'll like this.
To sum up, Jordan Krall has done it again. King Scratch is a non-stop pulp page turner, full of twists and turns. Go buy it right now!
Wow. I don't know what I was expecting with King Scratch but it wasn't this. I was hooked from the first page when . King Scratch is a great Bizarro noir story. All the classic noir elements are there: betrayal, violence, betrayal, sex, violence, betrayal, etc. Throw in the Krall standbys like bizarre fetishes, squids, and crabs, and you've got a winner on your hands.
The writing is the star of the show here. I love how the narrative goes from first person during the Jim chapters and third person in the other ones. After the second car accident, I stopped trying to figure out where the story was going. Moonshine made from squid parts? Yuck!
The characters were up to noir standards. Jim's the down on his luck lead, Peggy's his conniving girlfriend, Laura's his conniving ex-wife, and Kevin is the weird guy you're not to sure about.
Any gripes? It was too short, I guess. I wasn't a tremendous fan of the ending, either. Other than that, no regrets. If you liked Squid Pulp Blues, you'll like this.
To sum up, Jordan Krall has done it again. King Scratch is a non-stop pulp page turner, full of twists and turns. Go buy it right now!
December 10, 2023
Hours after I've finished reading, I'm still puzzled. I usually review right after I finish, but I was so flabbergasted by this novella that I needed a moment to take it in.
"King Scratch" is a weird weird book, with a lot of tough things thrown at your face and you'll just have to take it. It was hard, at times, but I stress the fact that this is Bizarro and not extreme horror, at least to my subjective perspective.
I always try to avoid spoilers in my reviews so I won't be able to tell much. I can say that the book is atmospheric of sort and that the writing is subtle and effective. I was entranced to the story even during the nebulous parts I still now can't really understand.
To sum up: I liked it. Although I'm not sure why...
"King Scratch" is a weird weird book, with a lot of tough things thrown at your face and you'll just have to take it. It was hard, at times, but I stress the fact that this is Bizarro and not extreme horror, at least to my subjective perspective.
I always try to avoid spoilers in my reviews so I won't be able to tell much. I can say that the book is atmospheric of sort and that the writing is subtle and effective. I was entranced to the story even during the nebulous parts I still now can't really understand.
To sum up: I liked it. Although I'm not sure why...
July 15, 2010
Jordan Krall's work redefines "cult", it redefines good taste and it takes you into awful places that you're nonetheless grateful that you went to. The word vertiginous comes to mind when I think of King Scratch, as in dizzying, as in challenging your sense of balance, as in spiraling downward, deeper into something dark and inexplicable. King Scratch is a vertiginous, dantesque night journey into a very special, very demented American Noir Hell of obscure starlets, golden showers and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
January 22, 2017
Squid, hallucinatory freakouts, and infants floating in jars of moonshine
One of my Goodreads friends recommended a book by Jordan Krall. That particular book wasn't available in a digital format, so I grabbed up an ebook of King Scratch, because I'm a sucker for instant gratification. That, and weird novellas involving squid, hallucinatory freakouts, and infants floating in jars of moonshine.
The aforementioned baby booze will get you seriously messed up, which is how I felt reading the book. It starts off intensely weird and never lets up. I felt like I was watching something that would be on Adult Swim if not for the really explicit and, um, non-conventional sex bits. As with the late-night cartoons, I recommend burning a fat jay while enjoying this. If you're grossed out easily, better indulge those munchies beforehand. Pancakes are a good choice.
One of my Goodreads friends recommended a book by Jordan Krall. That particular book wasn't available in a digital format, so I grabbed up an ebook of King Scratch, because I'm a sucker for instant gratification. That, and weird novellas involving squid, hallucinatory freakouts, and infants floating in jars of moonshine.
The aforementioned baby booze will get you seriously messed up, which is how I felt reading the book. It starts off intensely weird and never lets up. I felt like I was watching something that would be on Adult Swim if not for the really explicit and, um, non-conventional sex bits. As with the late-night cartoons, I recommend burning a fat jay while enjoying this. If you're grossed out easily, better indulge those munchies beforehand. Pancakes are a good choice.
December 11, 2010
God, I loved this. I’m a Krall fan already, but if you’ve never read any of his work before, King Scratch would be a good place to start as any. It has all the great themes of Krall’s other books – the utter violence, squids, hallucinogenic drinks; the foot fetish. Sadly, there’s not much of the mysterious Apocalypse Donkey in this one. That’s fine though, because he has a book coming out soon called “Beyond the Valley of the Apocalypse Donkeys”. But the squids, goddamnit, I can’t get enough of the squids. They always show up in some kind of sick and bizarre way. This time that involves rape by a squid person, including anal penetration by squid (YES!) It always makes me want to have a squid around the house – as a pet, live food, and you know, whatever else I damn well please. Gag if you want, but I think chunks of squid would even be great in an alcoholic beverage. Now THAT would be interesting. The foot fetish creeps me out as usual, and those parts of the book are described so graphically that you get a good idea of exactly what that’s like. Which is gross, but very fun to read about. The hallucinogenic MOONSHINE in this book causes the characters to have extremely trippy experiences. Sometimes it’s a mystery as to what’s really happening and what’s not. The writing is always engaging. Jordan Krall is simply a master at creating a colorful landscape of words. You’re bound to be hit in the head with an overflow of disturbing imagery while reading this. I loved that there was a trunk full of dead babies in individual satchels. And babies in jars of moonshine? Love it. The book also describes a wide variety of smells in such a way that it’s not hard to imagine them. The violence is always visceral. The wounds people suffer from car crashes, stabbings, slashings; it’s everything you need to be entertained as a horror fan and then some. There’s some fascinating stuff including late president Abraham Lincoln. One chapter about him is probably the most entertaining thing about the man that’s ever been written, and far more interesting than any of the real crap the dude ever did in real life (the best of which being shot in the head by an assassin, of course.) This is a short novella, and still a mandatory addition to your book collection. There’s also great artwork by William Pauley III. His drawing with one of the characters’ throats slit open is the perfect imagery that adds to the overall feeling of the book. And you can’t go wrong with the cover featuring the famous penny with Lincoln’s profile, where he instead has a squid beard. That’s one of the most creative things I’ve ever seen. This book rules.
December 17, 2013
5 Stars
I have to give this nasty and gross read full marks because there simply are not enough books like these out there. Krall is known for his “Bizzaro” works that cross many genres and are difficult to adequately describe. Krall does not hold back in his descriptions nor does he waste time by trying to fill in all the details for the reader.
King Scratch is a great dark novella that does a great job at showcasing Jordan Krall the writer. This book has graphic violence, obscene language, an indescribable plot line, and of course squids!!!! There are many laugh-out loud scenes that are mixed in with the violent insanity. I loved this fast read and cannot wait to read more from him.
A couple of passages that show off this book:
““Open the goddamn door, asshole,” Keith said. He heard a whimper, a squishing sound and then a wooden thump. “Christ, at least clean up the shit,” he said, this time raising his voice. The smell of the man’s shit made Keith’s penis and balls shrink. He imagined the man-baby sitting in a playpen, brown leakage on his thighs and a thumb in his mouth. A bloated prostitute in her mid-forties lay strangled to death on the couch. She had refused to change the diaper and so the man-baby threw a tantrum, strangling mommy to death while he sucked on his brown thumb.”
““Oh. Oh, Keith,” Mr. Timothy laughed disappointedly. He squatted down, dropped his pants, and let loose an absurd deluge of feces. It wasn’t ordinary feces but a mixture of long wet hair, crab parts, and milk. After only ten seconds, he had left a rather substantial amount of it on the floor. The mess started to bubble and it all came together into a crab-feces hybrid. It had no human features except for the hair on top of its head. It opened a mouth-like orifice and let out a scream that sounded like the gongs of a Buddhist monastery.”
I guess I picked two passages that involve shit which in no way is reflective of how the whole book is…
Highly Recommended!.
I have to give this nasty and gross read full marks because there simply are not enough books like these out there. Krall is known for his “Bizzaro” works that cross many genres and are difficult to adequately describe. Krall does not hold back in his descriptions nor does he waste time by trying to fill in all the details for the reader.
King Scratch is a great dark novella that does a great job at showcasing Jordan Krall the writer. This book has graphic violence, obscene language, an indescribable plot line, and of course squids!!!! There are many laugh-out loud scenes that are mixed in with the violent insanity. I loved this fast read and cannot wait to read more from him.
A couple of passages that show off this book:
““Open the goddamn door, asshole,” Keith said. He heard a whimper, a squishing sound and then a wooden thump. “Christ, at least clean up the shit,” he said, this time raising his voice. The smell of the man’s shit made Keith’s penis and balls shrink. He imagined the man-baby sitting in a playpen, brown leakage on his thighs and a thumb in his mouth. A bloated prostitute in her mid-forties lay strangled to death on the couch. She had refused to change the diaper and so the man-baby threw a tantrum, strangling mommy to death while he sucked on his brown thumb.”
““Oh. Oh, Keith,” Mr. Timothy laughed disappointedly. He squatted down, dropped his pants, and let loose an absurd deluge of feces. It wasn’t ordinary feces but a mixture of long wet hair, crab parts, and milk. After only ten seconds, he had left a rather substantial amount of it on the floor. The mess started to bubble and it all came together into a crab-feces hybrid. It had no human features except for the hair on top of its head. It opened a mouth-like orifice and let out a scream that sounded like the gongs of a Buddhist monastery.”
I guess I picked two passages that involve shit which in no way is reflective of how the whole book is…
Highly Recommended!.
December 5, 2011
King Scratch is a short bizarro novel about the Civil War and moonshine smuggling in New Jersey. The two protagonists: Jim and Black Boned Keith, take part in a sort of hardboiled crime-inspired adventure. (The text itself is rather short so it shouldn’t take more than a few hours to finish, if you are diligent.) Everything begins with Jim, a divorced/down-on-his-luck janitor who quickly finds himself (and his lover/small-time actress, Peggy) experiencing a series of car crashes. Krall then introduces the character of Black Bone Keith, a urethral insertion fetishist who, for some reason or another, deems it necessary to follow Jim and Peggy on their fantastic journey. The story is told from the perspective of both protagonists, effectively creating a pulp-esque sort of tale about: primitive people, foot fetishes, spider appendages, kleptomania, dead babies, crab shells, stove pipe hats and squid-infused moonshine.
The text itself is rich with dialogue, ultra violence, bizarre imagery and (much like any other Krall text) an extremely well-written storyline, in the sort of conversational-tone that mimics the rhetoric of spoken tales. Krall’s knack for character dialogue is extraordinary, and his fanatical obsession with sensory detail and ability to repeatedly conjure extremely plausible (and highly entertaining) squid-themed scenarios is quite fascinating, the true marks of an auteur, easily “elevat[ing] Krall to the upper echelon of the Bizarro lit scene.”
The text itself is rich with dialogue, ultra violence, bizarre imagery and (much like any other Krall text) an extremely well-written storyline, in the sort of conversational-tone that mimics the rhetoric of spoken tales. Krall’s knack for character dialogue is extraordinary, and his fanatical obsession with sensory detail and ability to repeatedly conjure extremely plausible (and highly entertaining) squid-themed scenarios is quite fascinating, the true marks of an auteur, easily “elevat[ing] Krall to the upper echelon of the Bizarro lit scene.”
Read
August 31, 2010Pancakes! That is the one thought (and craving) that sticks after having read Jordan Krall’s latest release, King Scratch. Difficult to describe, yet enjoyable to read, King Scratch is a mix of sex, car crashes, pancakes, moonshine, and of course… squids. There are also several tripped out scenes throughout the novella involving Abraham Lincoln. The novella has some of the nastiest and most memorable scenes ever from the bizarro genre, but it doesn’t stop there. After the King Scratch story is over, there is an appendix section including four more shorts that tie in to the main story. To top it off, there are a few illustrations sprinkled over the course of the book that help you visualize some of the characters Krall has created. I know that I always enjoy envisioning them in my own head, but seeing how another depicts the characters to be and how it compares to my own thoughts intrigues me. King Scratch is foul, fun, and fantastically freaky… everything I expect from a Krall story. I would recommend this book to all fans of the bizarro genre as it is gross and extreme at times. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Sex, Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Sex, Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson
August 13, 2011
Pancakes! That is the one thought (and craving) that sticks after having read Jordan Krall’s latest release, King Scratch. Difficult to describe, yet enjoyable to read, King Scratch is a mix of sex, car crashes, pancakes, moonshine, and of course… squids. There are also several tripped out scenes throughout the novella involving Abraham Lincoln. The novella has some of the nastiest and most memorable scenes ever from the bizarro genre, but it doesn’t stop there. After the King Scratch story is over, there is an appendix section including four more shorts that tie in to the main story. To top it off, there are a few illustrations sprinkled over the course of the book that help you visualize some of the characters Krall has created. I know that I always enjoy envisioning them in my own head, but seeing how another depicts the characters to be and how it compares to my own thoughts intrigues me. King Scratch is foul, fun, and fantastically freaky… everything I expect from a Krall story. I would recommend this book to all fans of the bizarro genre as it is gross and extreme at times. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Sex, Violence
Contains: Adult Language, Adult Situations, Sex, Violence
August 12, 2010
King Scratch is classic Krall, although it feels like an earlier work revisited. All the far-out and funkified fetish refreshments are on glorious display. Also failed Hollywood starlets, the sex-crazed and squid are featured here. Hallucinations that are more real than the reality the characters are slip-sliding through. Characters chasing characters who are chased by those seeming to lend a hand (Fred's my fave).
So, to bottom line it for ya: Good Quality Creepy Bizarro Krall, but not my favorite. But hey, fiction from Jordan Krall is like kittykitty and pizza: 'Even if when it's not perfect, it's still pl-pl-pl-plenty good enough to eat'!
Be sure and check out The Reverend's Faves:
Squid Pulp Blues
Fistful of Feet
So, to bottom line it for ya: Good Quality Creepy Bizarro Krall, but not my favorite. But hey, fiction from Jordan Krall is like kittykitty and pizza: 'Even if when it's not perfect, it's still pl-pl-pl-plenty good enough to eat'!
Be sure and check out The Reverend's Faves:
Squid Pulp Blues
Fistful of Feet
December 30, 2010
Man, that was one depraved story. Yeah, but I liked it!
After reading this book, I will never think about squid in the same way ever again. Squid Lincoln was my favorite by far and the drawings by William Pauley III were really great too.
I like that Jordan Krall can make fun of himself. Unlike the other books I've read of his, this one has a more patched together feel, especially at the end: "I still don't get the ending. Pancakes, something about death, squid, and a desire to sink one's teeth into smelly shoe leather." I didn't get the ending either Jordan but with descriptions like that, I'm sure glad I went along for the ride!
After reading this book, I will never think about squid in the same way ever again. Squid Lincoln was my favorite by far and the drawings by William Pauley III were really great too.
I like that Jordan Krall can make fun of himself. Unlike the other books I've read of his, this one has a more patched together feel, especially at the end: "I still don't get the ending. Pancakes, something about death, squid, and a desire to sink one's teeth into smelly shoe leather." I didn't get the ending either Jordan but with descriptions like that, I'm sure glad I went along for the ride!
June 18, 2010
Jordan Krall's writing is like a restaurant that serves a million different menu items, but manages to construct them from maybe 10 different ingredents. Once you sample a few things it becomes evident that you'll like pretty much everything, but there's enough variation to keep you from getting sick of eating there.
December 27, 2011
Strange and outrageous, a walk on the wildside. This one was a bit too weird for me there is a lot of strangeness and sex together involving at times squids. The story was ok but maybe I wanted to have more seriousness and cleaner images in my mind, then again it is a bizarro read. He has done a good job of messing my head up with this disturbing story that was a bit too over the edge for me.
May 29, 2011
I think Jordan Krall has added his own sub-genre to the amazing Bizarro genre and I call it squid-noir. King Scratch is my Exhibit A.
King Scratch is a story about the seedy world of moonshine smuggling in the ever seedy New Jersey. This pulpy noir nightmare begins with the main character Jim and his lady friend, Peggy, in the middle of some good old fashioned screwing when Jim’s moonshining ex-father-in-law calls. Red Henry (Jim’s father-in-law) babbles a string of nonsense at Jim that happens to stir up an adventure in the making. Jim’s ex-wife Laura calls right after her father and asks Jim to check on the crazy old coot. What follows is pure chaos as only Jordan Krall can unleash. Car crashes, penile insertions, rape, pancakes, men in stove pipe hats, double crosses, psychopathic generals, more squid parts than a calamari processing plant, and the most repulsive moonshine ever are all high lights of this quick reading novella.
To add to the pulpy feel of the story Krall switches back and forth between 1st and 3rd person narratives as he follows Jim, who narrates his own story, and Black Boned Keith, a man following Jim through Krall’s greasy New Jersey town. Wicked visions and hellish reality mix as both men rush towards Red Henry’s home/ moonshine sill. The story twists and warps all the way to the conclusion dragging you through puddles of squid goo to get there.
The novella also features four short appendixes that are all different and equally twisted. Each simultaneously fills in story and twists it even more. The one with General Entwhistle is one of the coolest things I’ve ever read, hands down.
At this point I’m going to admit this novella isn’t for everyone but those that it is for will dig the hell outta it! Krall is an absolute master of the depraved, and he can describe a scene that should make your stomach twist and knot like some people can snap their fingers. There in lies this man’s talent, he is a damn fine writer and can make any story damn good. This is dark twisted pulpy noir story, and a damn fine one at that. I’m a fan of Jordan Krall and his writing, and King Scratch is just one of the reasons why. And, damn.
King Scratch is a story about the seedy world of moonshine smuggling in the ever seedy New Jersey. This pulpy noir nightmare begins with the main character Jim and his lady friend, Peggy, in the middle of some good old fashioned screwing when Jim’s moonshining ex-father-in-law calls. Red Henry (Jim’s father-in-law) babbles a string of nonsense at Jim that happens to stir up an adventure in the making. Jim’s ex-wife Laura calls right after her father and asks Jim to check on the crazy old coot. What follows is pure chaos as only Jordan Krall can unleash. Car crashes, penile insertions, rape, pancakes, men in stove pipe hats, double crosses, psychopathic generals, more squid parts than a calamari processing plant, and the most repulsive moonshine ever are all high lights of this quick reading novella.
To add to the pulpy feel of the story Krall switches back and forth between 1st and 3rd person narratives as he follows Jim, who narrates his own story, and Black Boned Keith, a man following Jim through Krall’s greasy New Jersey town. Wicked visions and hellish reality mix as both men rush towards Red Henry’s home/ moonshine sill. The story twists and warps all the way to the conclusion dragging you through puddles of squid goo to get there.
The novella also features four short appendixes that are all different and equally twisted. Each simultaneously fills in story and twists it even more. The one with General Entwhistle is one of the coolest things I’ve ever read, hands down.
At this point I’m going to admit this novella isn’t for everyone but those that it is for will dig the hell outta it! Krall is an absolute master of the depraved, and he can describe a scene that should make your stomach twist and knot like some people can snap their fingers. There in lies this man’s talent, he is a damn fine writer and can make any story damn good. This is dark twisted pulpy noir story, and a damn fine one at that. I’m a fan of Jordan Krall and his writing, and King Scratch is just one of the reasons why. And, damn.
April 21, 2012
If you want bizarro, Jordan Krall delivers with King Scratch. It's certainly one of the weirder books I've read by him up to this point, the others being
Beyond the Valley of the Apocalypse Donkeys
,
Fistful of Feet
, and
Squid Pulp Blues
.
King Scratch is a weird acid trip of a book involving a couple off to help the man's (Jim) ex-father-in-law (a moonshiner who Jim worked for) while being pursued by another man named Black Boned Keith for unknown reasons. After both are in different car accidents, things get really weird, involving sea creatures (mostly squid), Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, and pancakes. This theme continues into the appendices of the book, which are really more a collection of short stories that are loosely related to the main story.
As I mentioned, this is one of Krall's weirder books that I've read, sometimes to the point that it gets a little confusing. It's also one of Krall's more graphic books in terms of sex and violence, so reader be warned. If books like Fistful of Feet were too tame for you, then you'll probably want to give this one a try.
It's hard to write a review for this one without giving much away because, despite the short length, the book feels dense with plot elements and psychedelic visions. While the common elements that run through much of Krall's books are present (i.e., squids and common characters, like Black Boned Keith; interesting that donkeys don't have much of a presence in this one), the style feels like a departure compared to the Krall's other works I've experienced. It's good but, in my opinion, also felt a little less than Krall's other books.
King Scratch by Jordan Krall earns 3.5 jars of squid moonshine out of 5.
King Scratch is a weird acid trip of a book involving a couple off to help the man's (Jim) ex-father-in-law (a moonshiner who Jim worked for) while being pursued by another man named Black Boned Keith for unknown reasons. After both are in different car accidents, things get really weird, involving sea creatures (mostly squid), Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, and pancakes. This theme continues into the appendices of the book, which are really more a collection of short stories that are loosely related to the main story.
As I mentioned, this is one of Krall's weirder books that I've read, sometimes to the point that it gets a little confusing. It's also one of Krall's more graphic books in terms of sex and violence, so reader be warned. If books like Fistful of Feet were too tame for you, then you'll probably want to give this one a try.
It's hard to write a review for this one without giving much away because, despite the short length, the book feels dense with plot elements and psychedelic visions. While the common elements that run through much of Krall's books are present (i.e., squids and common characters, like Black Boned Keith; interesting that donkeys don't have much of a presence in this one), the style feels like a departure compared to the Krall's other works I've experienced. It's good but, in my opinion, also felt a little less than Krall's other books.
King Scratch by Jordan Krall earns 3.5 jars of squid moonshine out of 5.
April 20, 2012
King Scratch is a story set in the dregs of humanity full of fetish and depravity read through a noir voice that begs for a suitably gravel toned audio book. It is a tale of murder, in fact a tale of murder with squid inserted anywhere & everywhere that you could imagine a squid could possibly be inserted (due to the insubstantial body mass of the squid form, this means anywhere).
Krall's King Scratch reminds me of a David Lynch film, not one particular Lynch film but David Lynch's understanding of a dream world existence. In Lynch films no matter the absurdity of the situation it does not affect your experience of the world, non linear events are taken in stride and your faith in the whole never wavers. In the same way I will always watch anything David Lynch creates I will also now read what Jordan Krall writes.
Krall's King Scratch reminds me of a David Lynch film, not one particular Lynch film but David Lynch's understanding of a dream world existence. In Lynch films no matter the absurdity of the situation it does not affect your experience of the world, non linear events are taken in stride and your faith in the whole never wavers. In the same way I will always watch anything David Lynch creates I will also now read what Jordan Krall writes.
November 26, 2011
After a car crash with new girlfriend Peggy. Jim sprials into a stream of events. Squids, trunk surprises, strange fetishes like Albert Fish and more squids.
Will Jim see another day of a normal life. Let Jordan Krall tell you a story that will have asking what's next to the end.
The appendix at end of book is straight out funny. Abraham Lincoln's breakfast sounds tasty.
Will Jim see another day of a normal life. Let Jordan Krall tell you a story that will have asking what's next to the end.
The appendix at end of book is straight out funny. Abraham Lincoln's breakfast sounds tasty.
July 6, 2010
King Scratch is a hard-hitting novella in which a variety of odd characters collide in a war over moonshine. Plus,there's squid,tons of nastiness,and hallucinogenic moments involving Abraham Lincoln. Edward Lee meets Jim Thompson in this classic bizarro novella.
June 14, 2017
Yuck.
So I think most people will agree that Cough Syrup is pretty gross, right? I concer; and yet, I love it. Maybe it's the anticipation of the feeling it will bring once my fever breaks, or maybe I'm just a sadist. Either way, it's a bitter pill I enjoy. That's King Scratch...in all its abominable glory. And it really is a fucking abomination that forces you to mentally draw some vividly disturbing imagery that will treat your gag-reflex like it's a boxing speed bag.
Well done!
So I think most people will agree that Cough Syrup is pretty gross, right? I concer; and yet, I love it. Maybe it's the anticipation of the feeling it will bring once my fever breaks, or maybe I'm just a sadist. Either way, it's a bitter pill I enjoy. That's King Scratch...in all its abominable glory. And it really is a fucking abomination that forces you to mentally draw some vividly disturbing imagery that will treat your gag-reflex like it's a boxing speed bag.
Well done!
November 11, 2017
This book was up and down for me. Early on it was pretty good but past the halfway mark it just seemed to lose coherence a bit. Some of the really weird stream of consciousness stuff was interesting but overall it just didn't do it for me. The appendices had some interesting material but I thought it odd that the author chose to call them appendices. I like Krall's writing but this isn't his best.
November 10, 2012
Jordan Krall, King Scratch (Black Rainbows Press, 2010)
Jordan Krall's obsession with squid continues apace, and he keeps honing it as he goes along. This is, of course, a good thing, as it guarantees that each book is going to get better as we go along. I can't claim to have read all of Krall's output (he's quite the prolific guy), but it is definitely the case that each of his books that I have picked up, if we go in chronological order, has been better than the last. Which is a pretty tall order when going from Fistful of Feet, which was a pretty singular achievement, to King Scratch. Yes, the latter is better, but on the other hand, comparing the two doesn't necessarily make sense; whereas Fistful is a bizarro take on a tentacled spaghetti western, King Scratch almost has a noir feel to it. So I can get out of having to directly compare them by assigning them to different genres (despite both being far more bizarro than anything else).
Plot: There are moonshine smugglers in New Jersey. Specifically, in the world this novel inhabits, there's Jim and his sometime lover Peggy, who are contacted by Jim's ex-wife Laura, who's worried about her father and who wants Jim to go over and check on him. And then there's Black-Boned Keith, a nasty sort who's got his eye on Jim. So much for the main human characters, because then there's Abraham Lincoln, a psychotic tentacled beast who...
why am I even trying? Summarizing the plot of a Jordan Krall novel is like attempting to explain the uses of the pluperfect tense in Latin to your chinchilla. You can do it, but it's ridiculous to even try, and if anything, you will end up spoiling the surprise (and pleasure) for the recipient of your efforts. What I should just be telling you is “buy this book, squid-face, and read it as soon as you can.” So buy this book, squid-face, and read it as soon as you can. ****
Jordan Krall's obsession with squid continues apace, and he keeps honing it as he goes along. This is, of course, a good thing, as it guarantees that each book is going to get better as we go along. I can't claim to have read all of Krall's output (he's quite the prolific guy), but it is definitely the case that each of his books that I have picked up, if we go in chronological order, has been better than the last. Which is a pretty tall order when going from Fistful of Feet, which was a pretty singular achievement, to King Scratch. Yes, the latter is better, but on the other hand, comparing the two doesn't necessarily make sense; whereas Fistful is a bizarro take on a tentacled spaghetti western, King Scratch almost has a noir feel to it. So I can get out of having to directly compare them by assigning them to different genres (despite both being far more bizarro than anything else).
Plot: There are moonshine smugglers in New Jersey. Specifically, in the world this novel inhabits, there's Jim and his sometime lover Peggy, who are contacted by Jim's ex-wife Laura, who's worried about her father and who wants Jim to go over and check on him. And then there's Black-Boned Keith, a nasty sort who's got his eye on Jim. So much for the main human characters, because then there's Abraham Lincoln, a psychotic tentacled beast who...
why am I even trying? Summarizing the plot of a Jordan Krall novel is like attempting to explain the uses of the pluperfect tense in Latin to your chinchilla. You can do it, but it's ridiculous to even try, and if anything, you will end up spoiling the surprise (and pleasure) for the recipient of your efforts. What I should just be telling you is “buy this book, squid-face, and read it as soon as you can.” So buy this book, squid-face, and read it as soon as you can. ****
December 20, 2010
Jordan Krall brings noir to the literary world better than anyone. This is the Maltese Falcon of your dirty subconscious. Halfway through the story, I had to sop and think how the author got some of his ideas. He had to put on a rubber glove and just pluck something out of a random part of his brain. Whatever he did, it works. He ties in crab meat, doors, anti-smoking squid, more squid, goo, crime, dirty-deeds, feet, and fetus moonshine; and it makes about as much sense as a gunky dream. I absolutely loved this book and while the main story was brilliant, the crowning jewels are the appendixes. Whoa! Krall has some amazing books, and that fifth star is set aside for the penultimate piece I know he will soon write. Killer illustrations by William Pauley III, as well.
November 16, 2010
LIke all of Jordan Krall's work, KING SCRATCH has a great pulp feel to it. The difference with this novella is the weirdness is off the charts. He's taken a story of moonshine, femme fatale and betrayal and infused it with urethra insertion fetishes, squid and dead baby cocktails, and an alternative telling of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln ... bizarro style. Krall has done an outstanding job of blending character perspective and POVs. My favorite part of the book is the last section, APPENDIX IV: PINK MEAT RISING. It reads like dirty Bukowski prose.
KING SCRATCH shows readers that Jordan Krall isn't afraid to flex his FUBAR'D muscles.
KING SCRATCH shows readers that Jordan Krall isn't afraid to flex his FUBAR'D muscles.
October 18, 2014
As a bizarro author Krall brought the genre to a new level. The story is pretty straightforward and is truly classic Krall and may in fact be one of his best books.
If you're looking through Goodreads hoping to find something more like Humanity Is The Devil this isn't going to satisfy you. If you want a book that can be disturbing, contains squid and odd fetishes then this is right up your alley.
King Scratch shows Krall evolving as a writer and this is more than just bizarro story it's a true classic of the genre.
If you're looking through Goodreads hoping to find something more like Humanity Is The Devil this isn't going to satisfy you. If you want a book that can be disturbing, contains squid and odd fetishes then this is right up your alley.
King Scratch shows Krall evolving as a writer and this is more than just bizarro story it's a true classic of the genre.
November 6, 2012
I finished it, but I don't get it.
January 24, 2012
Poetic sickening grotesque weirdness, with a twisted dark plot buried within. I loved it.
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