Review: Shock Totem #2

Rating: 5 out of 5

In July of 2009 a new twice-yearly magazine came out that excited me. It was called Shock Totem: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted. I purchased that little digest-sized publication, dove in, and loved the experience of reading the wicked stories within. In every way this new venture excited me; for too long, dark fiction has been under represented in the literary print market. This was a shining beacon in the perpetual darkness.

Months passed. Then a year. Finally, this past July, the second issue of Shock Totem came out. Sure, that’s a long time between issues, but let me tell you, it was well worth the wait.

Issue two of Shock Totem just might be the best magazine I’ve ever had the opportunity to read. Unlike the first issue, in which I found there to be a couple duds, there were none such here. Every story tipped the scales upward towards fantastic. For my review of the first issue, I simply pointed out my favorite two stories, seeing as I didn’t want to expose the ones I didn’t like. For this issue, seeing as all were fantastic, I will give my quick-hit thoughts on each.

The Rat Burner by Ricardo Bare – A creepy tale of city slums, hidden doorways, and the price upon one’s soul. The tone brought me in and wouldn’t let me leave. Loved it.

Sole Survivor by Kurt Newton – A dark and strangely hilarious take on extreme game shows. In a way, it reminded me of a more concise version of Running Man’s concept.

Sweepers by Leslianne Wilder – Wow. This one grabbed me. A short piece about the waters of the world rising. I’ll never look down from a skyscraper the same way again.

The Rainbow Serpent by Vincent Pendergast – The tale of a man on a bus ride and an ancient creature who’s adapted to the times. Definitely my favorite of all the entries. The tone and themes enclosed within are fantastic.

Hide the Sickness by Mercedes M. Yardley – This is a nonfiction essay by one of the magazine’s editors, but it is such a brave and heartfelt piece of writing that I feel I must include it here. Ever wonder about juvenile sex offenders? Let’s just say that the story of Mrs. Yardley’s experience is one you won’t soon forget.

Pretty Little Ghouls by Cate Gardner – Another quirky and fun little tale. I won’t explain much, because the plot hinges on every word, which takes talent. It’s quite good.

Messages from Valerie Polichar by Gra Linnaea and Sarah Dunn – This, for a while, was my least favorite story. The inclusion of technology and technological terms in a work of fiction has a tendency to turn me off because it can date the tale horribly. However, this one, by the end, I grew to appreciate, and it became my second-favorite. It’s the story of a woman who obsesses with the dead and Facebook. Sound like an odd plot? It is. And it works.

Return from Dust by Nicholas D. Bronson – A man is blown to bits and is reconstructed. A good exploration what it means to be human and the point when we lose touch with that humanity.

Leave Me the Way I was Found by Christian A. Dumais – This short tale is very Ringu-like and eerie, about a video that causes sickness in the masses. There’s a melancholy sense of doom that hangs over it like a cloud of acid.

Upon My Return by David Jack Bell – What would happen if a Christ figure were to appear in the present day? This depressing little story of a misunderstood carnival worker says it all.

That’s it for stories. There is also a review section inside, an interview with James Newman, and Howling Through the Keyhole, a Shock Totem staple, where the authors give their thoughts on the creation of their stories. The editors, led by K. Allen Wood, have put together a master collection of the macabre. All in all, it is a rewarding literary experience.

I highly recommend this magazine, and those to come. The only problem I see with it is this: With the quality found within, the bar has been set, and set HIGH. It’s a lot to live up to for issue #3, which I will be waiting for with bated breath.

Shock Totem at Amazon.com

Shock Totem Website

Review: Nectrotic Tissue #11

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When the first issue of a certain magazine arrived on my doorstep, my wife looked at it, squinted, and said, “I never thought I’d marry a man who read something called Necrotic Tissue.”

Oh, but darling, you did.

As a writer who tends to dip towards horror, I’ve been following this particular magazine for quite some time. I’ve had the opportunity to have a few email conversations with R. Scott McCoy, the editor-in-chief of the publication, and a review of his novella, “Feast”, can be found a few sections down in the Journal. However, I never bought the magazine. Why? Most likely because I can be cheap.

Well, that was remedied when I ordered a subscription, and here I am reviewing the latest issue.

This magazine is chock-full of horror goodness – as well it should be, because it’s subtitled “The Horror Writers’ Magazine”. Inside are 116 pages of terror, more than I would’ve expected from an independent publication. But, independent though it may be, it’s one of the more professional-looking mags I’ve seen.

There are fifteen stories inside, as well as another seven one-hundred word bites. The stories range from tales of monsters and inter-dimensional travel to ones of the little things real people might do to each other in the name of love. There seems to be a theme running through many of the stories, as well, and that is of nature coming alive and turning against us. I’m not sure if this is on purpose, but it works.

Not every single story worked for me – there were three that I found bland – but even those I finished, which says something. However, I would like to point out my two favorites, as these two I can’t get out of my mind.

The first and my most desired is Mr. Klein’s Cancer by T.L. Barrett. It’s the story of an old teacher whose students drive him insane, and the physical manifestation of that hatred that grows inside him. The story is disturbing and funny at the same time, which takes skill. A definite diamond there.

The second is Bodily Harm by William Vitka. It tells the tale of renegade organs and the actions they take against their host, who has neglected them for far too long.

Honorable mention goes out to Meltdown by Matthew Fryer, Adaptation by Eric Hermanson, and Chums by Doug Murano. And to the rest of the authors who contributed their work, as well. They did a great job, even those I wasn’t fond of, for that is a matter of taste. All of them were well-written, well constructed, and consistent in their tone and themes. All deserved to be published, and there they were.

Necrotic Tissue #11 is a fantastic little magazine, folks. And in this market, where lovers of horror have to search high and low to find a periodical that matches their interests, it deserves – no, needs – to be supported.

Buy the magazine. Get a subscription. Read away. Support the writers and the editors who put their own time, effort, and money into creating something wonderful that all of us can enjoy.

Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.

Necrotic Tissue Website