(pb; 2012: horror microstory anthology. Published by Hyperpyrexia
Press.)
Overall review
This is a solid, gory
B-movie story collection. Most of the forty-two entries published here have
something to recommend them. (In an anthology this size, there are bound to be
a few tales that are less wonderful than others.) Worth checking out, this.
Standout stories
1. “Devil’s Commisary” – Michael Faun: A demon cockroach attempts to elevate his staus through especially treacherous
means. Fans of late Sixties rock ‘n’ roll may appreciate this story.
2. “The Avid Collector” – Michael
Bergamotte: The employee of a wealthy family recounts the horrible tale of
the family’s deviant son.
3. “Destiny of Lobster Boy” – Michael
Faun: Short, sharp microtale about odious appetites and fast revenge,
revolving around canries and a grotesque, wealthy man.
4. “Through the Lens of Insanity” – Michael Faun: A questionable monacle inspires alarm and murder ─
are the visions it reveals real? Fun, supernatural crime work.
5. “Destiny” – Michael
Bergamotte: Memorable, excellent piece about a totalitarian government, a
strange stone and a supposed criminal.
6. “The Sodomite of Seville” – Michael
Faun: During the Spanish Inquistion, demonic doings disrupt the
religious-toned purge. Excellent, blasphemous and worth remembering.
7. “The Dread at Scarfolk Cove” – Michael
Bergamotte: Atmospheric, solid Lovecraftian microstory about a missing boy,
a desperate father and an eerie seaside village.
8. “Trent Must Vent” – Michael
Faun: Darkly funny piece about a man’s “therapy sessions” and his
Autophagic therapist (of sorts).
9. “Elixir” – Greg Cole: Youthful rejuvenation takes a messy, stinking turn. Fun
microwork.
10. “The Annual Olfactophilian Award” – Michael Faun: Laugh-out-loud, perverted read about panty-lovers.
11. “Possession” – M.T. Mathieson:
The supernatural and the criminal are merged int his one. Fun stuff.
12. “The Killing Frequenzy” – Michael
Faun: In 1968, a bullied student completes his odd, musical revenge.
Especially entertaining entry in this collection.
(2017; dark/horror/speculative fiction magazine. Published by Sleazy Viking Press.)
Overall review:
The second, limited-run issue of Feverish Fiction is even better than the first. The magazine has expanded its works to include an oddball, chuckle-worthy cartoon (by Justin A. Mank), as well as several pin-ups (in various thematic states of undress). And, of course, there are B-movie-esque stories and a poem to further entertain its readers. It is worth owning, if you are an adult fan of small press magazines and bordering-on-bizarre horror and sex works.
Stories, other works:
1.) "Canvasses" - Lucas Mangum: The phrase "living art" becomes a media-strange reality in this short, sexualized work. Good read.
2.) "A Virgin Among the Frankenwitches" - Alex S. Johnson: A woman (Leelah) discovers that being pursued by would-be rapists and murderers is not the worst imaginable fate. This appears to be a fun, fairy tale-esque hybrid-homage to Jess Franco's cinematic works (or at least one of them).
3.) "In the Dungeon" - K.A. Opperman: Lust, skeletons and BDSM highlight this sensory-intense poem.
4.) "Story of Spaceship, 12 Little Men Probed Today" - Joe Dorris: Amusing news story about a strange 1955 occurrence centering around an alien attack.
5.) "Other Me" - C.M. Saunders: The appearance of a man's doppelgänger presages his dark, twisty end.
6.) "The Happiest Place On. . . Well You Know" - S. Nycole Laff: Satirical take on the shambling undead and Disneyland -- funny and hues-close-to-nightmare-reality story. This is my favorite work in this issue.
(2016; dark/horror/speculative fiction magazine. Published by Sleazy Viking Press.)
Overall review:
This slim-volume magazine, thus far, is an excellent venue for dark and horror fiction works. Its microstories, poems and art are entertaining, humorous, not politically correct and, in some cases, bizarre. It is worth owning, as are the works of its owner/editor, Michael Faun.
Stories, other works:
1.) "The Prized Bottle" - Justin A. Mank: A man (Leon Jenkins) make questionable choices when confronted by a strange little man in his late-hour kitchen. Fun, good tale.
2.) "Amelia and the Coffin Plant" - Alex S. Johnson: Goth-, rock 'n' roll- and plant-themed horror piece about a woman (Amelia), her dead sister (Clara) and comforting seeds. Clever, swift-paced and excellent story.
3.) "Seawitch's Grotto" - Ashley Dioses: A witch enthralls a poet, with dark-hearted results. Rhyming poetry is not my usual reading wont, but Dioses's entertaining visuals made me overlook that pet peeve. Good, worthwhile write.
4.) "Mrs. Krampen" - Patrick Winters: A lust-impelled blackmail scheme backfires on two men (Carter, Brandon). Good, genre-fun read.
5.) "Krampus" - K.A. Opperman: Thoughttful, visually rich rhyming poem. Well-written.
6.) "Mama Lovebeast" - Konstantine Paradias: Solid, cinematic fairy tale-esque piece.
