Stranger in a Strange Land | Bizarro Fiction Review | AstraDaemon

HOLLOW HEART by Ben Eads is like walking into a movie which has already begun and feeling like I missed some important details in the beginning. I was about halfway through before the story made any kind of sense to me, reminding me of bizarro fiction (something I'm not really into). There doesn't seem to be much to the characters either: vets with PTSD, methhead, teen with attitude, etc....not much in th eway of backstory, even with the flashbacks here and there.

However, the concept is very original, and I did remain hooked throughout the story, eager to find out more about The Architect and his project. While not my cup of tea, I think there are many other horror fans who will enjoy this.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Hell's Gates Look Inviting

AT HELL'S GATES: ORIGINS OF EVIL is the second volume of an effort to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. I have already read volume one, and whatever method they are using to choose the stories, it's working well. There is something for every horror fan, including science fiction and fantasy subgenres mixed with classical horror elements, and, if you're not normally a fan of the horror genre, you will be after reading this anthology.

This particular volume had numerous stories bordering on the bizarro genre, so, once again, the volume is unique:

PULSE BY MARK TUFO is a fantastic thriller about a bug zapper, kind of like Borne Identity meets the SyFy channel.

COOKIES FOR THE GENTLEMAN BY C.T. PHIPPS is a dark and hopeless tale about an unwanted visitor.

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY BY EVIN AGER introduces an Army MP with a Lovecraft-type of deployment.

HISTORY'S END BY FRANK TAYELL is proof that even the smartest person can make a really stupid mistake.

A MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE BY J. RUDOLPH is a sad zombie story that will tear your heart out.

PATIENT 63 BY STEVE KOPAS is one of my favorites; this is an excellent outbreak story.

TYRANNICAL ASCENSION BY SHANA FESTA is a twisted apocalypse story that I enjoyed a lot.

INK BY JAMES CRAWFORD is another favorite of mine about the dark meaning of a tattoo.

THE MAN WITH FOUR SCARS BY STEPHEN KOZENIEWSKI is Clan of the Cave Bear meets Night of the Comet, and is one of the very best stories in this volume.

DADDY'S GIRL BY IAN McCLELLAN caught me off-guard with the twist; well-written.

OPERATION DEVIL WALK BY DAVID MIKOLAS is a personal holocaust.

THE INFECTED BY SG LEE shows how a zombie virus is born.

FORGET ME NEVER BY SHARON STEVENSON tells the tale of a starlet's dark secret to success.

MIRAGE BY SEAN T. SMITH is a story that Ray Bradbury would be proud of.

THE MILLSTONE BY LESA KINNEY ANDERS is another favorite in this collection; it's one of the best vampire stories that I've ever read.

GENESIS BY KIT POWER is an intense thriller-prequel to the novel "Godbomb!"

LOCKDOWN BY TIM CALDWELL features a zombie outbreak at a school.

COLLECTION NIGHT BY CURREN GEIST is a gut-wrenching sci-fi story...a damn good one.

THE COLD BY DEVAN SAGLIANI is one of the most unusual stories in the entire anthology.

A DIFFERENT COCKTAIL BY CLAIRE C. RILEY is about a cult meeting that goes horribly wrong for one young man.

A SONG TO SING IN BABYON BY BOBBY METEVIER & MATTHEW BAUGH is very weird...told from a demonic POV.

THE GOUGER BY PAUL MANNERING is a brutal ending to a brutal anthology.

The variety and originality of the stories makes this a perfect gift for horror fans, while contributing to a good cause.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Night Fell

A curtain of blackness has overtaken the planet, bringing despair and hopelessness with it. Two men stand on the threshold of the last lit door. Can they protect it from what lies in the darkness?

THE DOOR by Kenneth Buff is a bit like bizarro fiction, strange and horrific. I felt like I walked into a movie, about halfway through. I don't really understand what is happening, but the imagery kept my attention. The gruesome concept is so random, I wish the author had written a longer story.

While there isn't much detail about the two survivors, I could totally relate to their desire to go out fighting.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Flash Fiction Friday: Bit of Bizarro

Child of Mine by Emrys Apollo is a flash fiction piece centered on a woman's first pregnancy, which quickly becomes a waking nightmare, lasting for days. Laura is certain she is not imagining the terrifying events, but there is the possibility Laura is suffering from hallucinations. While the writing style is quite rough, the author does a good job of keeping readers guessing until the end.

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This story would be better categorized as bizarro fiction, rather than horror because of the grotesque details. Unfortunately, this genre is difficult to nail down, but there are a few key elements to help identify such stories:

1) the plot is surprising
2) the story is strange, as in weird
 and
3) resembles those cult films that aren't big with critics, but still manage to have a huge following

Something most bizarro authors deal with is being accused of crappy writing in general, which isn't helping the genre gain in popularity. Remember that one English professor who told everyone genre fiction is garbage? That same professor would probably describe bizarro fiction as some made-up label to describe writers who can't write decent prose.

Some bizarro stories are more entertaining than others, but none of them are boring.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Zombies vs. Trekkies

Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall is one zombie book that I'll never forget. Now, the zombies themselves might not be the kind zombiephiles are used to, and the science fiction might not be realistic enough of the sci-fi fans, but this book is definitely a thrilling adventure that will appeal to all kinds of readers.

The prologue begins with two employees, at an underground military facility in Houston, TX, making plans to go to a Star Trek convention; while they’re talking, the security system fails, opening some doors that should have stayed closed. Meanwhile, at a hotel in the same city, Jim Pike is having a bad day that is about to get apocalyptic. Jim is a soldier with serious PTSD, and he’s convinced himself that working as a bellhop will reduce his stress. However, he has to help prepare for GulfCon, an extremely popular Star Trek convention. Jim’s younger sister, Rayna is also attending with some friends.

Before Rayna’s group arrives in the parking garage, the hotel staff is already having trouble with violent hotel guests, and employees keep going missing. Jim’s instincts are screaming at him that something horrible is happening, but by the time he is able to convince anyone else that the problem is not just in his mind, the hotel is overwhelmed by zombies. Jim, with the help of a Star Wars fan, tries to rescue his sister and her friends, while Trekkies are dying all around them.

Star trek fans should know that this isn’t just a horror story set at a convention, but I can’t elaborate without ruining the storyline. Zombie fans should know that the undead are shamblers, but able to move as a group, with a very unusual source of infection, which is spread in a similar manner to 28 Days Later.

I also recommend viewing the book trailer.

As always,
AstraDaemon