Shock Totem

Shock Totem is a magazine which features interviews, both fiction and non fiction offerings, as well as poetry and even flash fiction. I've discovered some phenomenal new-to-me authors through it also, which is why I was saddened to learn that this will probably be the last issue for a while. They will still be publishing books though, so all is not lost, and hopefully they'll be returning to the magazines at some point in the future. So with that business out of the way, this issue was a kick-ass example of all that Shock Totem Magazine can be.

First off, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that awesome cover by Mikio Murakami. As a piece of artwork it inspires me because I can't help myself from thinking what is its purpose?

Barry Lee DeJasu has a few pieces in this issue that I enjoyed-an essay regarding the haunting of his college and an interview with horror author T.E.D. Klein. The man is not very prolific but what he has written is legendary in the genre, and the interview was enlightening. (So much so, that I'm reading Dark Gods by T.E.D. Klein now.)

My favorite story in this edition has to be the first, The Henson Curse by Paul Hamilton. I can't exactly put my finger on why it appealed to me so much, but it did. Perhaps it's just the somewhat whimsical idea behind it-purple fur blowing in the breeze. ( I know this because at the end of the book, there's a chapter where the authors briefly discussed how their stories were inspired.)

Three Years Ago This May by Trace Conger was one of my favorite types of short stories-the "punch you in the gut" style. Turns out, this is one of his favorite types of short stories too, so it's no wonder that we're both tickled as hell at this one. (And after reading his explanation about the inspiration for this story, I've added Jack Ketchum's The Box to my reading list.)

Wasps by Thana Niveau gave me a serious case of the creeps. Something about evil little girls always makes me uneasy. As do, you know, wasps.

Bloodstains & Blue Suede Shoes, Part 8 was a non fiction entry. It's a column that I've enjoyed in the past and that hasn't changed. The mid 90's music scene is the focus of this piece and it brought up all kinds of memories.

I've always enjoyed reading Shock Totem and I plan to pick up the few issues I've missed. There are always a wide variety of articles and stories in which to bury yourself and even if all of the stories don't work for you, the ones that do are well worth the low price of admission. Highly recommended!

*This issue was provided by Shock Totem in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*

… (mehr)

I like to read short story collections. I find a lot of new authors in this manner.
Shock Totem 4 looms large above the average collection.

Running down the stories that I liked the most:
Beneath the Weeping Willow- by Lee Thompson. I liked this one so much I bought some other offerings by Mr. Thomspon. 5 Stars!
Full Dental -by Tom Bordonaro. This was his first published story and it was Freaking Awesome! Fun filled, tongue in cheek and creepy. 5 Stars!
Fade to Black-by Jaelithe Ingold. A different type of cemetary story. 4 Stars!
Weird Tales-by David Busboom. Super short, super excellent! 5 Stars!
Playlist at the End-by Weston Ochse. A short story with a music score. 5 Stars!
Dead Baby Day-by Michael Penkas. It sounds much worse than it is. 4 Stars!

A couple of other things you do not find in most collections of this type:
Bloodstains and Blue Suede Shoes by John Boden and Simon Marshall-Jones. This is a bit of a history lesson concerning horror and music. I loved it, especially the parts about Robert Johnson as I'm a big blues music fan. 5 Stars!

Living Dead: A Personal Apocalypse by the editor of this collection, K. Allen Wood. It is a touching, poignant story about an alcoholic father. What makes this story different is that it is true. 5 Stars

In short, I found this collection to be most excellent and unique. I will be looking forward to more of them.… (mehr)

I reviewed Shock Totem #5 when that came out and found the magazine’s sub-title ““curious tales of the macabre and twisted” to be apt. I said then that Shock Totem was “one of the strongest horror fiction magazines on the market today” and now, having read issue #6, I stand by that assessment.

Let’s start with Shock Totem #6’s table of contents:

* The Spectacular Inspiration Suit, by John Boden (Editorial)
* For Jack, by P.K. Gardner
* Orion, by Michael Wehunt
* The Hard Way: A Conversation with Gary McMahon, by John Boden
* Ballad of the Man with the Shark Tooth Bracelet, by Lucia Starkey
* She Disappeared, by Ryan Bridger (Narrative Nonfiction)
* Strange Goods and Other Oddities (Reviews)
* No One But Us Monsters, by Hubert Dade
* The Cocktail Party, by Addison Clift
* Bloodstains & Blue Suede Shoes, Part 4, by John Boden and Simon Marshall-Jones (Article)
* Lighten Up, by Jack Ketchum
* Magnolia’s Prayer, by John Guzman (2012 Shock Totem Flash Fiction Contest Winner)
* When We Crash Against Reality: A Conversation with Lee Thompson, by K. Allen Wood
* The River, by Lee Thompson
* Howling Through the Keyhole (Author Notes)

Mild plot spoilers for a couple of the stories contained in this issue follow.

There’s too much going on here to go through each item individually, so I’ll just note a few of this issue’s highlights. As with other issues of Shock Totem, this one contains a mix of first-time or mostly unknown authors and some bigger names. I like and respect that. Many readers will be drawn to Jack Ketchum’s story because he’s a big name, but as good as it was, I have to say that I enjoyed some of the other tales in this issue as well if not more than “Lighten Up.” This issue opens with “For Jack,” a strong entry from first-timer P.K. Gardner meditating on the idea of “soulmates” and the compromises that people have to make in relationships. Oh, and a really cool serial killer. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Gardner. Horror fiction naturally plumbs the depths of the meanings of various fears, but “No One But Us Monsters” by Hubert Dade manages to tell a fascinating story of a man who’s afraid to go down into his dark basement. I know that premise makes this sound like a very mundane, small story, but it really resonated with me. This was definitely one of the stand-outs of the collection and was a real testament to Dade’s wordsmithing skill. I normally shy away from politically infused fiction, but “The Cocktail Party” by Addison Clift was a truly horrifying short piece – seriously, it’s a gutpunch once you realize what’s going on – that explores a very visceral side of the raw abuse of power by political elites. Clift’s notes on the story imply that his inspiration involved his disgust over abuses of power during a previous administration, but given recent revelations about apparent government abuses of power and trust, this is an extraordinarily timely piece. I’ve also got to note that Shock Totem continues its tradition of including a substantial author notes section in the back of the issue, which I really appreciate. I always like to read author’s reflections on their work, and I wish more publications would follow Shock Totem’s lead here.

There were no clunkers in Shock Totem #6. The stories ranged from good to wonderful. As with the rest of the magazine’s run, I recommend this latest issue heartily. This is exactly how a horror fiction journal ought to look.

Review copyright © 2013 J. Andrew Byers… (mehr)