Splatterpunk Fighting Back

(WARNING: This review contains spoilers.)I never would've known about this analogy had I not joined the one and only Horror Aficionados on Goodreads, and took part in their January group read with author invite. Being new to the horror sub-genre of splatterpunk, I expected that it would probably involve some disgusting and gruesome "what the hell did I just read?" moments, and I quickly discovered that I was correct. I enjoyed some stories more than others, however as a whole I consider it a great piece of horrifically violent and graphic literature.Listed below are each individual tale, starting with my most favourite. I also thank the authors for being so pleasant to talk with, and for donating all proceeds of sale to charity.* * *Hellscape by Rich Hawkins* * *Even this quick glimpse into this forsaken world left me completely engrossed. A twisted, bloody apocalypse? My cup of tea any day of the week. The Cthulhu-theme fascinated me, as I've actually never read any such thing before (I know, shame on me). Even though it was short, and seemed to drop the reader right in the middle, I was immediately pulled into the maternal desperation of the protagonist, as well as that drive of trying to keep the madness at bay. I loved every gruesome detail and the sheer brutality.* *Feast of Consequences by WD Gagliani & Dave Benton* *Victims fighting back - it's a particular favourite of mine. This one actually began as rather typical, reminding me of the whole Texas Chain Saw Massacre trope, yet it turns into something else entirely. The inclusion of the "Sasquatch" type monsters made my skin crawl, as I suspected the family had a rather... intimate relationship with them. Definitely images I didn't need in my head.*Extinction Therapy by Bracken MacLeod*This one made me think a lot, admittedly a bit more in comparison to the others. There's a belief that we all have it inside ourselves - an animal, primitive, left over from our ancestors. What if that gets tapped into? Even good people can do bad things, and we all have unwanted thoughts that seep to the forefront sometimes. I found Spencer's journey to be fascinating, and I couldn't help but want a full-length novel.Darla's Problem by Kristopher RuftyA classic, isn't it? The monster in the closet, or beneath the bed. I really liked this one and, sure enough, the monster creeped me out! It made me think about how we so readily dismiss children when they speak of monsters or other such creatures that don't fit into our notion of reality - no wonder it's been the plot of so many books and movies. Also, poor Darla.They Swim by Night by Adam MillardIf it's one thing I love, it's mythical creatures, especially when an author involves their own personal twist. Ana was portrayed with such raw sexuality, and I loved the hold she had over the men in her midst. This one in particular sparked my imagination; I couldn't help but ponder over Ana's origins. She struck me as an apex predator, but also something more. Ancient. Malevolent. Like at one point in time her kind were respected and feared, yet they faded away into nothing but stories and superstition.The Passion of the Robertsons by Duncan RalstonWell, this one certainly took religion to the extreme, and delved into the sheer insanity of two individuals. Being an atheist myself, I wouldn't want to get on the Robertson's bad side. Really, I think the couple would've been better suited to the good ol' days of when atrocities in the name of religion were the norm. Whilst I enjoyed it for what it was, it lacked in something to really make an impact. The ending was good, though!Limb Memory by Tim CurranTo think if we lose a part of ourselves, a piece of our soul goes with it. Despite the added humour to the otherwise eerie tone of this one, I didn't favour it as much as the majority of other readers. Disembodied limbs generally don't interest me all that much.Molly by Glenn RolfeMy partner has pediophobia and while I often tease and laugh, I admit that there's something unsettling about dolls. It's the uncanny valley, right? I was left with a lot of questions regarding Molly, and I would've liked a bit more information for the events that transpired to make sense. She was able to clean up after her own murders? I felt like there was perhaps too much telling and not enough showing.Melvin by Matt ShawI admit, this one made me laugh, but there was a tinge of discomfort below the absurdity. The detail was disturbing - such as Claudia's skin darkening from her insides being torn apart. It makes me shift in my seat when I think about it even now. The ending? Well, it was a great ending. However, despite my brief flare of enjoyment, I can't say I favoured it highly.Only Angels Know by George Daniel LeaI get the impression this was supposed to be intentionally hard to follow - as it was a piece written by the character himself, of whom was a very intense and unstable individual. I had to read it twice, and still I'm not sure exactly what happened. I know he had a procedure done to himself, but it doesn't give details, and I'm left wondering if that's the whole point. Whatever we come up with in our minds might be bad enough, if not worse than what George Daniel Lea intended. Was he getting parts of himself surgically removed? Getting parts of other people stitched onto him? Maybe I just missed it completely, and it's lost within his jumbled rambling!The Going Rate by John BodenHonestly, this one was just too short for me to get a real feel of anything. I liked the idea, of a neighbourhood having to give their pound of flesh to appease the demon, but I was left with too many questions. Like a flash, it was just over, offering what I felt like very little. I would've loved this had it been longer.In conclusion - There's something here for everyone, but be aware of the pushing of limits. It's not pretty!© Red Lace 2018

A decent collection of well written stories and sub plots..nowhere near as gory or as gripping as I usually like however, which was nkr what i initially expected when i found the title and read the other reviews.

SPLATTERPUNK FIGHTING BACK, edited by Jack Bantry and Kit Power, is an anthology put together to benefit Cancer Support Charity. All proceeds from this collection go to this charity, and all of the authors generously contributed their stories for free.The selections here push the boundaries of "splatter punk"--each incorporating varying elements to get their story across most effectively. While not every story was a favorite of mine, I give credit to all of these authors, not just for their tales, but for their generosity in being a part of such a worthy endeavor.My personal favorites included:1.) "Molly", by Glenn Rolfe: This has got to be one of the creepiest stories--dealing with this particular, disquieting subject--that I have come across. I could read an entire novel based on this idea!2.) "Limb Memory", by Tim Curran: A nice change from what I was expecting. This one had some incredible "visuals" painted into my mind, and a simply brilliant ending!3.) "The Passion of the Robertsons", by Duncan Ralston: Another five-star read, in my opinion. Each story I read from this author keeps getting better and better. This one you simply need to read for yourselves.4.) "They Swim By Night", by Adam Millard: While I thought I knew where this story was going, the scenes and descriptions here made all the difference.5.) "The Going Rate", by John Broden: Absolutely loved this nice "twist" on a theme I've read before!As with any anthology, different stories "speak" to different readers. When you consider that the proceeds of this purchase go to such a worthy cause, the book is well worth the price of admission. You may even discover a new, or favorite, author among the line-up!Highly recommended!

I am a fan of anthologies. Generally though, there are always a few misses for all the hits in each anthology I have ever read. Splatterpunk Fighting Back is an exception to that rule. I truly loved every single story. Jack Bantry and Kit Power have assembled the best anthology in years. A truly great showcase of work within the Horror genre. I will now be on the hunt for new material from every contributor within these pages. I can not praise this book highly enough, and the fact it’s for charity is always a plus.An absolute must-read, for every horror fan.