* Sleep Disorder *
Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee’s Sleep Disorder
A collaboration of short stories by two of the most sought after and talented horror writers!…I couldn’t resist! Each of these stories had a unique twist and lure to them. They were so quickly devoured too! Mmmhmmm good!
#1: I’d Give Anything For You:: Very up-to-date story of a suffocating love story gone way wrong and disgusting. The ending surprised and disgusted me. Good opener tho!
#2: Love Letters From the Rain Forest:: This one had to be well-thought out and had lots of tidbits of info to get the reader involved. So this guy with money lures in a hottie who’s way out of his league; usual storyline with an expected ending….wrong. Revenge well sought, yet completely unintentional, Loved It!
#3: Masks:: This one took me two reads to fully grasp. Masks that change who are when you are wearing them…peculiar, gutsy, and Huh?
#4: Eyes Left:: This was my favorite! It touches on the idea of zombies/undead but the people really are dead; aka the women. This was Ketchum all the way. It was satirical, disgusting, and believable. And right were I chose the excerpt to be from. 
#5: Sleep Disorder:: Revenge again….but very much needed in this story. The main character was a pig! He got what he had coming but it was all too kind of a way to an end. At least it’s just a story…
*standing ovation gentlemen*
Excerpts:
Pg. 62- ‘War on the one side, love on the other. Well, sometimes that’s simply not the case. Sometimes it’s the woman who want a conquest sexually speaking. Wants sex the way a man will. Doesn’t care to be wined and dined, doesn’t want to hold hands in the park or get flowers on Valentine’s Day, couldn’t care less for kissy-face and all that lovey-dovey bullshit. ‘
* One Rainy Night *
Richard Laymon’s One Rainy Night
I was so intrigued by the storyline proposed about this book, but after thirty pages I was begging for a friggin’ plot! Pass the plot please already!! It was just the same incidence over and over again…with not much change and didn’t create much mystery as to what would take place next…I already knew.
But with my my determination to finish what I start, I lullingly finished this book. It took longer than usual, but I did it.
Conclusion being::
The storied continued on just about the same throughout, but the end was summed up with justice and sweet revenge that was very much due. It’s just a shame there wasn’t more intrigue in the postponed plot.
Excerpts:
Pg. 11- ‘….He opened up wide and stretched out his tongue. The rain felt thicker than water. It tasted like blood. … A mile coppery flavor. … It made him long to fill his mouth with the real thing. ‘
Pg. 66- ‘A warm tremor spread through her. She felt an urge to strip naked and roll on the grass. But a different urge was stronger. … ‘
Pg. 93- ‘She had a small, faint scar on her right cheekbone. Like a nick that a sculptor might’ve given his statue because he found it too perfect and felt the need to give it a small flaw for a touch of humanity and vulnerability. ‘
Pg. 128- ‘He swung a hard right…The guy stayed put, riding through the rain like a big, limp hood ornament. ‘
* The Bighead *
Edward Lee’s The Bighead
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This read was gross, disturbing, and very twisted. I read the first chapter and couldn’t take anymore. But, since the following excerpt caught my interest I couldn’t just discard it completely…so I read the back story line that was in italics just so I could figure out what exactly took place nine months ago.
The birth of the mutant and grotesque creature is mindfully painful and gruesome. The mutant disaster is described in so much detail it gives you goosebumps just reading it :: a head shaped like a watermelon, one eye the size of a grapefruit and the other the size of a tennis ball, an awl-shaped mouth filled with jagged sharp teeth, and a low intellect that understands nothing but eating and mating.
Too many details that do more damage knowing than not.
Excerpts:
Pg. 14- ‘But all she could think about, all she could remember, was the begining. Nine months ago- -when that thing had come. ‘
* Off Season *
Jack Kethum’s Off Season
Two days was all it took for me to rip through this read. Page 130 and on I was hand over fist to finish the book. It’s about a group of 6 friends who set off in a country home in Maine, to what they think will be a secluded and relaxing get away from the racket of the city…only to find out that the prior close quarters isn’t so bad compared to the brutality they face.
“feral and psychologically horrifying … utterly primitive, sadistic quasi-humans … not for the feint of heart; this is a visceral, brutal, unrestrained, exceedingly realistic novel that may sicken and disgust those unprepared for such extreme horror. “
Yeah, that about sums it up.
Warning: You may never feel safe again alone, in the seclusion of the country, or with ground level windows… All the gut wrenching suspense is worth the paranoia you’ll feel.
Excerpts:
Pg. 42- ‘It was only when she was clean that she really liked to make love. She could never understand those people who liked to do it first thing in the morning. Obviously morning was your dirtiest time of the day. You’d be wrapped in covers and maybe sweating all night, your mouth smelled like sewer, your hair was limp and ratty. Really, it was a disgusting idea. ‘
Pg. 138- ‘In her heart she slaughtered the man. ‘
Pg. 154- ‘Fighting for your life is a fucking ball. As long as you didn’t get slaughtered. ‘
Pg. 173- ‘With his knife he slit the man open from vent to sternum and, bending over, buried his face in the liver. He looked up, his face smeared with blood , and saw that the others had also begun to eat. ‘
* Hotter Blood *
Richard Laymon, Ray Garton’s (etc…), Hotter Blood
I decided to break away from my normal reading material and shoot for this book that’s full of short stories. They’re easily consumed in minutes and you get to start anew everytime you pick up the book. I picked and chose by way of my favorite authors and was very pleased with my decision.
The first story “The Tub” was typical at first, but towards the end I was very surprised and even still when I thought I had the ending all solved, i was DEAD wrong. Plus, it made me laugh. Interesting result for a horror story, huh.
My second choice was “The Picture of Health”. Which by the way…after finishing this story, I now completely comprehend the title Garton chose. This one confused me a bit and didn’t seem like it fit into the horror genre, but I kept to it and read on. Viola!…it all made cents and dollars. So, it’s all about this rock star who’s swimming in hearsay/rumors…and it’s not until the climax hits that they all unravel…and let me tell you, it’s gross! So!… you should read it! : P
I didn’t read more because I tasted all I set out to devour. Bon Appetite!
Excerpts:
Pg. 21- ‘ The bastard. I’m perfect the way I am. ‘
Pg. 59- ‘And the hands…they chilled her…so patient and motionless as they held up the globe lights. ‘
