John Claude Smith

4-1/2 stars. This slim volume was very good. I liked this a lot. It would be hard to categorize but I would call it weird horror. The stories are tight and the prose evocative. Smith's worldview is kind of like a Ligotti with a ray of hope. You better be good and cherish what you've got in John Claude's universe.

All the stories are memorable but Becoming Human seemed to me a riff on [a:Michael Shea|7213910|Michael Shea|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png]'s The Autopsy. Not the same story by any stretch but it reminded me of it in a lot of ways. There was a linkage (I'm not telling you what it is, buy the book!) between several of the stories which was kind of cool also. Not for the faint hearted!

This is a print on demand book and one of the things I appreciate in this digital age is there were no typos. Nice cover graphics too.

Oh, and if a dude named Liu shows up, don't make eye contact and go the other way fast.… (más)

Strong short story collection incorporating elements of the uncanny, off-kilter and surreal. Many of the tales employ a liminal setting where marginal people inhabit fringe society, the psychic vacuum acting as an invitation for oppressive and malevolent forces.

A recurring theme is that of transmogrification, especially against the protagonist’s will. Flesh invades physical objects, and the edges defined by natural laws break down. The author successfully utilises aspects of cosmic and body horror to create uneasy tales, many laced with a powerfully foreboding atmosphere.

For me, the most rewarding writing occurs when the author instils the familiar with a sense of menace. This is artfully done in Dandelions, one of the standout stories, where the abundance of nature is amplified in a very subtle way that ultimately suggests terrifying existential dread.

A superior collection of modern horror with great depth.… (más)

4.5 stars!

I don’t know what the fuck that was, but I liked it!

I read John Claude’s collection Autumn in the Abyss and loved it. When he contacted me to see if I would like to read this book, I jumped on the chance and I’m glad I did.

Jane Teagarden hires a man named Terrance Blake to find her missing brother, Marlon. Marlon is riding the heavy drug train-the heaviest of which is “Riding the Centipede”, which is only allowed for one lucky (?) person a year, and this year it’s Marlon. The drug is only obtainable through William Burroughs who is supposed to be dead, and there’s a radiation infused freak who’s on the trail of both Marlon and the centipede. Did you get all that? I warned you that it’s fucked up.

John Claude’s writing is vivid while his descriptions are brief and to the point. He’s able to draw beautiful, sometimes horrible, pictures in only a few words. It’s amazing, really. His characters are beautifully rendered-all of them complex, multi-layered and flat out interesting. By far the most interesting character to me was Rudolf Chernobyl. Born out of the nuclear disaster with his glowing eyes and sparks flying from his fingertips, how could anyone not be mesmerized? A truly original creation that I won’t soon forget.

This book is constantly referencing other books, movies, songs, authors, etc… I’m sure I didn’t catch them all, (I’m not familiar with the work of Burroughs, so I’m sure I missed a lot there). Sometimes that makes the reader feel left out-when they’re not familiar with everything, but this author manages to do it without alienating the reader. I’m sure someone more familiar with Burroughs' work would get more out of it, but those unfamiliar with it, like me, can still enjoy this story.

With hints of Clive Barker, (The Ratman really felt like something Barker could have created), Hunter S. Thompson, (“Buy the ticket, take the ride”), and flavors all his own, John Claude Smith ultimately delivers the goods with this story. It’s imaginative, original, drug infused what the fuckery and I loved every second of it. Bravo Mr. Smith!

Highly recommended for fans of trippy, bizarre dark fiction.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*… (más)

The Land Lord is the first story in The Wrath of Concrete and Steel. Right now, I can't think of a more perfect example of the "evil in a small town" trope. Jeff gives up his own place and moves in with his girlfriend Regina. As he begins to explore her town, he begins to feel that things are "off." Everyone seems to go around in a kind of daze and they keep talking about meetings. As things became clear to Jeff, and to the reader, the dread just builds and builds. I adored the ending to this novella-length tale.

The Wrath of Concrete and Steel was a strange little short story, featuring a serial killer, doing what he feels he NEEDS to do to save the city.

The Wounded Table wins for being the most messed up story in this collection. It's so well written and easily told, that when the reader finally realizes what is actually going on, it's that much more horrifying!

This was a top notch, short collection which really showcases the talents of John Claude Smith. If you haven't yet checked out his work I highly recommend you do so, because you're missing out.

You can purchase a paperback of this book here: https://dunhamsmanor.com/

*I received a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for nothing at all.*… (más)