Summer’s here! Or almost here. Being trapped inside during this quarantine has allowed me to read oodles of great bizarro and bizarro-adjacent fiction. I had trouble limiting the list to only five books, so here are the top seven. NOTE: These are books I’ve read in spring of 2020, not necessarily ones that were released … Continue reading My 7 Favorite Bizarre Books – Spring 2020
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Work in Progress: GENERICA
I thought I’d take a break from my usual content to share with you the novella I’ve been working on. Fantasy was my first love. Much of my teens took place with my nose in a doorstopper by Terry Goodkind or Terry Brooks. Indeed my first foray into writing long fiction was a clichéd high … Continue reading Work in Progress: GENERICA
Author Interview: Douglas Hackle
Amy M. Vaughn, bizarro author and friend of the blog, describes Douglas Hackle as "the best bizarro absurdist in the business." He is the author of two short novels and two collections and was nominated for the Wonderland Award. I discovered Hackle’s work in the Red volume of The Bizarro Starter Kit and soon encountered … Continue reading Author Interview: Douglas Hackle
Book Review: Terror Mannequin
Terror Mannequin by Douglas Hackle Rating: 8.5/10 Terror Mannequin by Douglas Hackle is the reason why I read bizarro fiction, a blend of humor and the preposterous assembled in the perfect ratio. It’s one of those stories that makes you ask: “How did he ever come up with that?” When I began reading, I thought … Continue reading Book Review: Terror Mannequin
Book Review: Cherry Blossom Eyes
Cherry Blossom Eyes by S.T. Cartledge Rating: 8.5/10 “The sun came up a cherry blossom and burst its rose gold light into the sky.” – Opening line The Orphanarium by S.T. Cartledge (my review here) is among my favorite bizarro novels and one of the most unique books I have ever read. So I was … Continue reading Book Review: Cherry Blossom Eyes
Book Review: Lake of Urine
Lake of Urine by Guillermo Stitch Rating 10/10 “If anybody tells you this story isn’t true, they are lying. It is a true story; I am lying if it isn’t, and I don’t lie.” – Opening line If you ask me my favorite modern bizarre authors, I will immediately spout off the names Danger Slater, … Continue reading Book Review: Lake of Urine
Author Interview: Mark Zirbel
Like many of the Featured Authors on this blog, I met Mark Zirbel at BizarroCon, introduced to me by Charles Muir. At the time, Mark gave me a small chapbook containing his story “Notes on the Propagation of Angels,” a series of vignettes beautifully strung together and set in a fascinating dystopian future. When I … Continue reading Author Interview: Mark Zirbel
Book Review: Cyberpunk Zombie Jihad
Before I start the review, I want to let you know about a new page on my site. Bizarro author Amy M. Vaughn (who you may recall me interviewing here) has compiled a list of bizarro and bizarro-adjacent publishers for this site. Be sure to check it out. She's done a great job. Now, onto … Continue reading Book Review: Cyberpunk Zombie Jihad
5 Favorite Bizarre Books – Winter 2020
This winter has been a good season for reading as I try to catch up on the bizarro fiction that lines my shelves. I’ve discovered some great new authors and returned to some old standbys. Below are the five bizarre books I enjoyed the most. 1. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami Though the … Continue reading 5 Favorite Bizarre Books – Winter 2020
How to Grow Bizarro Fiction, Part 2
Two months ago, I wrote an article entitled “How to Grow Bizarro Fiction.” It was targeted at the grassroots—ways the average reader could help grow this wonderful genre. In response, I received amazing feedback, in particular ways that bizarro fiction could be expanded on a much larger scale. In this part two, I’ve included these … Continue reading How to Grow Bizarro Fiction, Part 2
